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Free Selections
Courtesy of TrackMaster and Youbet.com

Simon Says: Podcast
Horse racing podcast presented by Youbet.com, hosted by Derek Simon.
Episode 34: The Good 'Ol Days (11/20/09)
Can the Sport of Kings re-capture its former glory? Is it necessary? (24:50)
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The Simon Says Podcast is available Fridays.
Derek Simon’s Picks
Weekend picks from industry author & handicapper.
All selections (unless otherwise noted) are made in light of the conditions existing at the time of entry. Races taken off the turf, or modified in any way, should be passed.
BEULAH PARK * Race 6 (47%) * 8.5 Furlongs * Dirt       

4-Indian Ink (5/2)      
Fair Odds: 3-1      
6-Gathering Dreams (12/1)      
Fair Odds: 9-2      
3-Money Card (3/1)      
Fair Odds: 8-1      
      
COMMENTS: If she’s allowed to coast on an easy lead, INDIAN INK could prove tough to catch.
        
BET(S): WIN on 4 (at odds of 5-2 or greater)      
      
CHURCHILL DOWNS * Race 8 (67%) * 6.0 Furlongs * Dirt       

7-Custom For Carlos (2/1)      
Fair Odds: 2-1      
5-Run Brother Ron (10/1)
Fair Odds: 8-1
2-Grand Traverse (6/1)      
Fair Odds: 6-1      
      
COMMENTS: CUSTOM FOR CARLOS is a young, improving racehorse who earned a career-best 111 Beyer figure (tops in the field) and -6 late speed ration (LSR) in his latest effort. RUN BROTHER RON has the speed to shake loose early. GRAND TRAVERSE enters today’s affair fresh off an allowance score at Keeneland.
        
BET(S): WIN on 7 (at odds of 2-1 or greater) & PLACE on 5 (at odds of 8-1 or greater).   
      
CHURCHILL DOWNS * Race 9 (50%) * $100,000 Purse * 9.0 Furlongs * Turf       

1-You Go West Girl (6/1)      
Fair Odds: 4-1      
3-Acoma (5/2)      
Fair Odds: 3-1      
7-My Baby Baby (7/2)      
Fair Odds: 9-2      
      
COMMENTS: YOU GO WEST GIRL was outstanding in her latest, posting a lifetime-best 93 Beyer figure and a ridiculous +12 LSR, despite steadying early, in a conditioned stakes race at Belmont Park. ACOMA is clearly the class of the field, but her last (non-) race raises questions. MY BABY BABY switches back to the green.
        
BET(S): WIN on 1 (at odds of 4-1 or greater).       
DEREK’S FREE SELECTION STATS
Races (Selections): 105 (113) 
Wins: 28 
Rate: 26.7% 
Return: $268.13 
ROI: +18.64% 
(All published selections through 11/14/2009)   
Frank Cotolo's Harness Play
Youbet’s resident Harness expert gives you his play of the week.
Sunday, Nov. 22
Dover Downs
Race 5, #9 Ditchdamagicdragon
 
Here is a horse that the public is bound to deem a loser in this field for a few reasons but that just makes our interest in wagering upon him peak. "Ditch" had a great race last week, coming first over from fifth to be fourth and then second by only 1/4 length. He held well for third money at 25-1. Driver Corey Callahan is listed to stay with this guy as he tries to win via the grind method again, though don't be surprised if Corey leaves for the top or a better position than last week. Not having to battle first up again, the pacer could give us all a deserved double-digit win mutuel.

Keeneland Free Picks
From Keeneland's expert handicappers—Mike Battaglia, Bill Howard and Kim Nelson.
Take advantage of Keeneland’s Free Picks to help your handicapping.

Case The Race
Free picks based on equine athletic ability using biomechanics.
Case The Race measures the athletic ability of a thoroughbred. So whether you are a speed, pace, or class player, or maybe have your own approach, Case The Race offers you new data that will work with whatever you are doing now. Case The Race technology is based on a science called equine biomechanics and proprietary processes it has developed to produce a truly different set of handicapping data – data that can help any handicapping strategy and any level of player. Check out the Case The Race, “Race of the Day” below.

Race of the Day:
Hollywood Park
BobIkePicks.com
Bob Ike covers the SoCal circuit on his website as well as on local radio. Get more picks from Bob at www.bobikepicks.com

Hollywood Park--8th race (Hollywood Prevue)
 
AMERICAN LION (7-5) shipped to Keeneland and turned in a big maiden win while earning a strong number second time out. The son of Tiznow won at this 7 furlong distance and is definitely the one to beat in his West Coast debut.
 
LAST WEEK'S RESULT: DANCE WITH GABLE ran out in On Trust Handicap.

TrackMaster Picks
Picks and analysis of the weekend’s best races from the expert at TrackMaster.
Saturday, November 20th
Saturday, November 21
Handicapped by THE WALKER GROUP for TrackMaster.com
Hollywood Park- Race 4 - SA - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $25000 Class Rating: 90

FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE BROKEN THEIR MAIDENS FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $40,000 OR LESS OR CALIFORNIA BRED OR SIRED HORSES WHICH HAVE BROKEN THEIR MAIDEN FOR $50,000 OR LESS AND WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 122 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE JUNE 1 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE IN 2009 ALLOWED 4 LBS.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 4 TERRIFY 9/2

# 3 CLASSY ATTRACTION 5/1

# 7 YOU CAN DREAM 9/2

My selection here is TERRIFY. Looks very strong to be up on the front end at the first call. Is a solid choice - given the 87 speed fig from her most recent race. Has quite good Equibase Speed Figures and has to be considered for a wager in this race. CLASSY ATTRACTION - Seems to have a respectable class edge based on the recent company kept. Is difficult not to examine based on speed figures which have been decent - 90 avg - of late.



Saturday, November 21
Handicapped by TURF CLUB ANALYSTS for TrackMaster.com
Aqueduct - Race #4 - Post: 1:52pm - Maiden Special - 8.5 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $42000 Class Rating: 82

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

Choice Plays:

#14 BULLSTAR (ML=4/1)
#4 MONASTIR (ML=5/2)
#16 MILITARY STAR (ML=12/1)

BULLSTAR - This campaigner coming off a solid try in the last month is a strong challenger in my opinion. That recent bullet 48.7 work shows that this gelding is ready for a top effort today. MONASTIR - When Garcia and Hennig team up on equines the ROI has been fantastic at +58. Forgive the out of the money finish on the off track last time around the track. Under normal track conditions, has a chance in today's race. Ranked numero uno in (EPS) earnings per start. Another notice that this horse has class. MILITARY STAR - You always have to be on the prowl for money generating jockey/conditioner tandems; we have one right here. Sub-par effort last time around the track at Aqueduct was due to the off-going (he ran eighth). Has to do better right here under normal track conditions.

Vulnerable Contenders: #8 TALK THERAPY (ML=3/1), #1 FRANKLIN DELANO (ML=5/1), #11 SARATOGA STEVE (ML=6/1),

TALK THERAPY - Doesn't seem to be worth 3/1 this time around. Pass on him this time. FRANKLIN DELANO - This colt just doesn't seem to like the 1 post. His running lines show that he doesn't fare well from there. SARATOGA STEVE - This gelding is always close, but just doesn't finish on top. Hard to bet on him on the win end.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:

Go with #14 BULLSTAR on top if we're getting at least 5/2 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:

14 with [4,16]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:

Box [4,14,16] Total Cost: $6


Saturday, November 21
Handicapped by TRACKMASTER GREG for TrackMaster.com
Yonkers Raceway

P#

PP

HORSE NAME

M/L

DRIVER - WIN%

POINTS

RACE 2
7 7 AREYOUINOROUT 6/1 Bartlett, Jason - 23 574.81
2 2 ABSOLUT HALL 8/1 Gregory, Jeff - 14 555.24
6 6 DAVE AINT HERE 8/1 Bouchard, Stephane - 11 548.42
3 3 JJTHEJETHORSE 3/1 Anderson, Ryan - 17 538.01
4 4 FOREST VIC A 4/1 Smith, Steve - 9 536.54
1 1 IDEAL MICHAEL 5/1 Schnittker, Ray - 11 528.89
8 8 P H BESTMAN 12/1 Stratton, Jordan - 12 511.31
5 5 RUNNING BOOK 6/1 Dube, Daniel - 18 498.48