While it's not a part of the all-stakes Pick Four at Louisiana Downs that I expect to be playing Saturday, I thought the following contest was worth a look:
RACE 7 - (F) The River Cities $100k - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf
# 6 Artemus Kitten (Morning Line 7-5) is the clear class of the field; not only is she Graded Stakes placed, she also has over a quarter of a million dollars in turf earnings. That's is not just more than any other entrant in the field; it's more than any two other entrants in this field combined. And no wonder; she’s a descendant of Kitten’s Joy, and all those cats are tough on the grass. But Artemus Kitten has been having some trouble finding the Winner’s Circle lately, going oh-for-five over the past six months. And you can’t just blame that cold streak on the level of competition, as two of those five events were un-graded stakes, on par with today’s contest. Artemus Kitten is definitely the one to beat here; but you certainly don’t want to take too short a price on her.
# 2 Grandma’s Rules (ML 5-2) missed by a neck of coming into this one with two straight stakes wins. Trainer Richard Scherer scooped her up for $25k out of an Arlington Park Claimer a little over a year ago and has been riding the hot hand since, as Grandma’s Rules has kept right on winning as she’s moved on up the class ladder.
# 7 Miss Addison (ML 4-1) took the Matron Stakes at Evangeline two starts back, finishing a length and a half in front of Little Polka Dot; who in turn went on to win the $100k Louisiana Cup Distaff Stakes last month. Miss Addison had a tough trip last time out in the TaWee Stakes, where she drew the rail and found herself with a shortage of running room. She’ll welcome the outside post today, along with a return to the saddle of Jockey Richard Eramia.
# 5 Queenie Vic (ML 6-1) could be the quickest of this lot; she’s also the local hero, with a lifetime four-for-four record on the La Downs Turf. I expect Patrick Valenzuela to be sending # 1 Cho Cho Cat (ML 15-1) hard out of the gate right along the rail. But Cho Cho Cat isn’t a front runner; and she may not be comfortable on the lead. If that indeed proves to be the case, then Queenie Vic may just find herself all alone on the front end early in this one.
As stated above, this race isn’t part of the all-Stakes Pick Four that I’ll be playing Saturday; but I handicapped it because I think that there may be value here, especially if Morning Line Favorite Artemus Kitten gets overbet. I’m currently leaning towards Miss Addison; if she goes to post at 5-1 or higher, then she’ll certainly be an overlay in my book.
Post Time for The River Cities is 4:08 EDT / 1:08 PDT. Good luck to all.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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