Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Scott Ehlers handicaps the Monday, February 9 racing card at Turf Paradise, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 4.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Mission Beach (4th race)
Fourth Race
1. Mission Beach
2. Lansdowne
3. Coastal Jazz
MISSION BEACH returns home and strings three races together. He draws best with this attack post going this tricky distance. This guy missed a Beyer top by 3 points the last time he ran here. He likes this distance and is reunited with win rider in Americano (riding quite well). Just think what this guy could do if he just broke a little better. LANSDOWNE is feeling good and hails from a top shelf barn. How do you not like a horse that has hit the exacta on this dirt in six of ten starts. Show bettors should note his 80% show win here. We like how this guy switched to the turf previously and held his form when losing by only a length at almost 8-1. The rail draw is the only knock. COASTAL JAZZ might prove quickest as he adds two full furlongs. This guy has hit the board going this far in 9 of 10 starts. McGregor gets a leg up and is 36% for this barn locally.
Here are Scott’s thoughts on the other seven races on Monday’s Turf Paradise card.
First Race
1. Invinsable
2. Relentless Trick Db
3. Jj the Boss
Quarter horses.
Second Race
1. Silverbullitbadger
2. First Call
3. Pop d’Oro
SILVERBULLITBADGER just likes to win compared to the place/show and we always like that. Everyone gets a good trip in a five horse field. This gelding was working well before his return win but his most recent drill was only 6th best of 23. Good. What? We think connections have this guy right where they want him and simply don’t need a sharp work. FIRST CALL has speed and the rail. Main pace foe sits next door, right? Class jump makes sense and win rider stays put. POP D’ORO returns in 9 days and that is something we see often from team Diodoro. This gelding can pass runners and nobody wins a pace duel if thinking of trying the rail runner early.
Third Race
1. Fifth Street
2. Tygra
3. Barrister Proof
FIFTH STREET exits a key race where 2 of 7 returned to win with figs of 77 and 75 (another finished 2nd with a Beyer of 63). The long layoff just doesn’t scare us while works are plentiful. Team Evans are 20% with new runners and 41% off a long layoff. TYGRA has speed and could find the front end. We like how this guy broke better in his most recent. Form cycle hints at better as this guy puts three races together and even has some upside. BARRISTER PROOF just won nicely at 10-1. Did this guy learn to pass runners in said win? Americano stays with the Silva Jr runner but that was expected. Team Gilmour are having a fine meet and now this horse strings three races together.
Fifth Race
1. Pleaseusetheportal
2. Dekudylan
3. Without Equal
PLEASEUSETHEPORTAL is feeling good and not even a barn switch could change that. He returns right on time and now moves over 4 slots to the rail where he can save all the early ground. Race flow is more than fair for a stalking/closing trip. DEKUDYLAN out ran his odds the last time that he tried the dirt. Class drop could prove the tipping point. Team Tubbs are 13% going turf to dirt. WITHOUT EQUAL has some hidden speed. He never got a breather two back. Recent figs figure and Lopez stays put. ITS PALADIN TIME exits a key race where 2 of 3 returned to win (lone available Beyer is 53).
Sixth Race
1. Fort Langley
2. El Siete Leguas
3. Mister K
FORT LANGLEY got some pace to chase last out and took advantage when 2nd at 8-1. That was a nice win going this distance only three back. The only question we have is if this gelding can put good tries together? EL SIETE LEGUAS blew up the tote two back when scoring at 66-1. He couldn’t duplicate that in his most recent but there is a reason why horses are at this level and consistency is not one of them. This guy could still be a new route horse. MISTER K looks off form and has done next to nothing on this dirt. We still spy some tries up in Canada that fit with these. That sprint try three back wasn’t horrible. What if this guy just hates an elongated sprint? Bombs away.
Seventh Race
1. Guiltyofhavingfun
2. Bingo Baby
3. Catalina Cocktail
GUILTYOFHAVINGFUN is a solid turf runner that just likes this sod. She has some speed and that is going to help with her trip and this outside post. Class drop fits and regular rider tags along. BINGO BABY has done all of her winning on the turf. Current form is fine and you get a high percentage barn in your corner. This filly got Beyers of 70 and 79 the last two times she tried this sod and either of those could win this if duplicated. We would love to get that 4-1 morning line but highly unlikely. CATALINA COCKTAIL is feeling good. She draws inside and just got a nice confidence boost. A return to the green is what we like best and team Hone are 17% going dirt to turf.
Eighth Race
1. West Side Okie
2. Smooching
3. Gi Gis Map
WEST SIDE OKIE is going to be a big price if anywhere near her 20-1 morning line. This filly showed speed in her earlier starts but was able to sit just off it last out when winning above her conditions. What if she improves second time here? She draws outside again and gets in light with the apprentice up. SMOOCHING blew the start last out and that had to hurt. Those tries two and three back were rock solid. She draws outside today and gets some pace to chase if all stay in. GI GIS MAP has speed and just loves it here where she has yet to miss the exacta in three starts. Win rider stays put while this barn are 26% with their repeating winners.
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