TRI’s Picks April 6 Cal-Expo

Cal-Expo Pick 4, Races 12-15, Friday, April 6, 2012

For fans on Harnesslink, this is a Pick 4 ticket involved with the USTA Strategic Wagering Program. The premise is to make a profit and get more fans involved in the sport. Now, after a short break, we are back with another edition of the Cal-Expo Pick 4. I’d like to say for any Pick 4, you watch these horses in their next start and bet them if they are 4-1 and up. Good luck!

$2 Play: 7/3/3,4/2,7 = $8

Analysis:

Race 12- (7) Tj Beach Poker was suspected to do good in his last start as the public made him one of the favorites. Although he did not provide, he is likely to improve off that effort tonight.

Race 13- (3) Serious Art closed from off the pace last week. He was a beaten favorite and should be live tonight with post 3.

Race 14- (3) Gutsy Winds Ahead made a strong first over move for the lead last time, which killed him. As long as he gets a pocket trip, he should be tough. (4) Hey Scoob went the worst trip possible at Cal-Expo, he was first over for two calls. The public was confident on him then and he should be competitive once more tonight.

 
Race 15- (2) Brooklets Drifter attempted to take the lead last week, but had to duel for it. This killed her, but she should get a good position from post 2. Watch out for her. (7) Minettastuppence was bet last week and showed no rally. Generally, Cal-Expo horses can do this and come back well. That’s what I suspect tonight.

A Personal Letter to Gov. Corbett

Lately, the Republican Party has been aggravating me. Recently, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett proposed a budget that would cut $72-million from the state standardbred industry. 

Dear Gov. Corbett,

I am a twelve-year-old enthusiast in the harness racing industry. I also follow politics. I find it ridiculous how you would cut $72-million from the sport. I understand you need to lower our debt and some stuff requires sacrifice but I don’t think you understand the severity of cutting money from this sport.

With the harness racing industry comes thousands of people employed as track hands, tellers, horsemen, drivers, jockeys and trainers. By cutting support money from the sport could see perhaps several thousand layoffs at the six tracks in the state. It’s contradicting when you want to make jobs but make a budget that would lose jobs.

As the industry is trying to recover after many tough years, some states are doing their best, like New Jersey and New York. Pennsylvania was one place where many horsemen wish to work but if tracks lose the support of the government there’s no point to be in Pennsylvania.

Drivers like Tyler Buter, who was ambitious enough to leave Illinois and venture east, started at Pocono and has become a top driver on the east coast. Pennsylvania used to be a top state in agriculture and this industry is a major key in horse racing. If we want to be a top agricultural state, we need to help the sport as much as possible.

You may not have known this, but in California (where harness racing used to be a major part of the state), Cal-Expo is in danger. At its peak, harness racing was held at Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Los Alamitos and other tracks. But all that is left is Cal-Expo; the state has cut support over the years and the sole track is in danger of closing if no one buys it privately by August. Although most tracks in Pennsylvania are privately owned, it is possible your cuts will bring less exciting racing and lower handles, which would damage the sport dearly. If Pennsylvania suffers like California, the sport will be permanently bruised. 

The decrease in support may also bring the elimination of the stake racing. With prestigious races such as the Adios, Battle Of Brandywine, Colonial, Valley Forge, Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, Currier & Ives, Governor’s Cup and others, the sport attracts horsemen and fans, which create business and income for the government as well as the sport.

Thank you for your time and hopefully some one will take action. I want to be involved in this industry in Pennsylvania, contributing to helping it thrive, but my future looks dim if the sport takes a violent spiral down.

                                                Sincerely,

                                                            Ray Cotolo

                                                            Editor of The Racing Inquirer

TRI’s Picks March 23 Cal-Expo

Cal-Expo Pick 4, Races 12-15, Friday, March 23, 2012

Last week, we had no winners. We came close with Blissful Kassie, finishing second at 26-1. Tonight’s ticket looks a lot better than last week’s. Good luck!

$2 Play: 7,8/2/8/2 = $4

Analysis:

Race 12- (7) Majestic Lass made a first over move at the three-eighths last week. She took the lead, then quit. She can’t make a strong move like that until the end to win. (8) Bewareofthisaffair dueled first over last week. She took the lead, then lost it to Frankly Scarlett. She should get a good position and close hard this week.

Race 13- (2) Cherry Tree Kate sat far off the pace last time. She gapped her cover into the turn and recovered to finish third. That start seemed to be her “wakeup” and she should do better tonight.

Race 14- (8) Dynamite Express was in the race last week. But he lost ground heading down to the finish. Looking at this field, he is not going up against anyone special. So he should do very well tonight.
 
Race 15- (2) Devilish Donnie made an early first over move from the outside last week and he quit. He draws an inside post tonight and should improve.

TRI’s Picks March 16 Cal-Expo

Cal-Expo Pick 4, Races 10-13, Friday, March 16, 2012

After a long break, we return with the Cal-Expo Pick 4. Tonight’s ticket looks good. Good luck!

$2 Play: 8,10/3/2/5,7 = $8

Analysis:

Race 10- (8) Jen’s Delight gapped her cover in her previous start. She recovered and closed to finish second as the second choice. It is likely that the bettors will ignore her because of her outside post, but it might benefit her closing technique. (10) Precious Few made a strong early move for the lead last time. He lost the lead and came first over again at 53-1 to recover the lead, but faded to fifth. He should do well tonight.

Race 11- (3) Blissful Kassie worked for the lead from post 8 last time. At three-quarters, she still had the lead, but faded badly in the stretch. She draws post 3 today and should be able to save energy to provide an upset.

Race 12- (2) Adora closed well in her last start. She came from post 8 and sat 14 lengths off the lead and regained 11 lengths to finish fourth. She draws post 2 today and should sit closer to the pace and be able to provide an upset. 
 
Race 13- (5) Wrangler Reward got hung badly in his last start. He was first over in fourth at the quarter, then challenged the leader at the half and faded at three-quarters. He will need a better trip to be in the race tonight. (7) Coal Younger traveled a horrible mile last time. He dueled with the leader (a 19-1 shot) at the half and three-quarters and faded badly. As long as he saves his energy, he should be a monster tonight.

TRI’s Picks November 12 Cal-Expo

Thank you for reading these picks. This will be like what I did for the Meadowlands during their championship meet. The special feature about the pick 4 at Cal-Expo is that it is a zero percent takeout. I encourage and applaud you if you bet these horses to win. Good luck!

$2 Play: 246/29/1/8 = $12

Analysis:

Race 9- (2) Youremyaddiction sat mid-pack in her most recent start and closed to finish second at 20-1. Post 2 should help. (4) Red Star Gilda was impeded in her performance last week and still finished second. That performance showed how tough she is and she is likely to improve. (6) Cinnamon narrowly beat Red Star Fiona last week at 5-1. He will likely be bet in here.

Race 10- (2) Pedal Pad sat behind the leader last week and just lost by a head at 13-1. He will likely be able to get another leisure trip with his post, which should likely result in victory. (9) Devilish Donnie traveled a first over mile last week and faded badly. He will need a better trip for a victory.

Race 11- (1) Cigarchompin Mona sat first over in The Bronte Epilepsy race and faded to fifth. This company should be right for her.

Race 12- (8) Red Star Penney was hung last week and faded badly (Similar to Devilish Donnie’s trip). She will hopefully get a good position and show her endurance that she used last week.