#2 Posted: 3/10/2012 1:01:32 PM #8 Rousing Sermon has a ton of talent and should compete here. His effort in the Lewis was sort of ho-hum and he faded placing third through a DQ, but his 2-year old campaign showed that he has the potential. He tends to go wide, which costs him ground, so I expect that jockey Talamo will try to move in a bit against a field that has some real speed. I don’t think he can win, but he can certainly figure.
#10 Empire Way drew badly and I will not be surprised to Harrington scratch him. He’s had some racing trouble in his four career starts and this post with those inside moving to save ground doesn’t help his cause. This son of Empire Maker might not do it today, but I think he has a very big future.
#9 Tiz Point……I heard this morning on the Dave Johnson-Bill Finley XM radio program that Gomez took off his mounts today due to his heel injury. While Tiz Point has had much success (6/2-2-1), he doesn’t seem to have the speed the rest of these possess. Unless it breaks down near the end and he comes ripping up the middle, I see only a minor piece for him. The problem with this scenario is that he likes it upfront and out of the 9 hole will probably get out early to contend, so move at your own risk.
If there is a big upset in this race, I think it will be #1 Blingo who would be the one to do the deed. This Artie Schilling gelding appears to be headed for the grass full time at some point in his career. So far he has handled affairs properly in his two race career. Last out in the Cash Call he finished 6th, but just 2-3/4 behind winner Liason after being bumped hard at the start in a 13 horse field. His maiden was won on the turf and the Cash Call was on the poly, but I have to trust trainer John Shirreffs’ judgment. I am not crazy about the one post, but I think Blingo can transition to the dirt with jockey Mike Smith, who knows every inch of this track.
My picks:
#1 Blingo to win and place
$12 exacta box 1,2,7
$6 exacta wheel: 1,2,7/3,6
$2 tri wheel: 1,2,7/1,2,3,6,7/1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10
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