Don't Look TWO Gift Horses In The Mouth Come This Christmas

How I would love to go the road less traveled route to an eventual huge end of the year payout by eliminating the two " power couple" of my tickets, but thankfully after cutting myself of the egg nog I've landed back to reality.

The only window of opportunity abet a very narrow one is if they don't come in one/two in the finish and get split up by some stretch closer?! The last time the Alima was run on Christmas, Zenno Rob Roy romped home in record time. I'm going to spread some extra holiday magic on his son, Pelusa , doing the same and resurrect his career off his dismal finish in the Japan Cup.

The Wager : 9-1-4, 1-9-4 , 9-4-1, 1-4,9, ￥3000 Straight Trifectas
4-1-9, 4-9-1 ￥2000 Straight Trifectas

9-(3,7,8,13)-1
1-(3,7,8,13)-9
￥1000 Straight Trifectas ( 8 tickets)

1-4, 4-9 ￥5000 WIDE Ticket


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Saturday December 24th

Nakayama

9th Race...#3 Bewitch Us...

The Wager : # with 1,2,5,6,8 ￥1000 Each-Way Exacta ￥1000 WIDE Tickets

12th Race..#7 Target Machine is ALREADY back. He is finally running well. Strike while the iron is HOT!!

The Wager: #7 with 1,2,3,8,10 ￥1000 Each-Way Exacta ￥1000 WIDE Tickets
7 & 8 with 1,2,3,10,12, ￥1000 Random Trios ( 5 ) Tickets
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**** HANSHIN 11 Race...#12 TRIP Hiroyoshi Matsuda has himself a good looking horse and the name isn't Buena Vista.

The Wager: #12 with 1,2,3,6,10,13,16 ￥1000 Each -Way Exacta
12 & 1,2,3,6,10,13 & 16 ￥1000 Straight Trifecta
12 & 1,2,3,6,10,16 & 13 ￥1000 Straight Trifecta
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Dec 25th, possible play on #1 Omega Blue Line in the 11th at Nakayama

Alfredo Is This Weekends Main Dish

December 18th

Nakayama 11 Race...#3 ALFREDO Coming off a Grade 1 victory last week in Hong Kong and a superb ride on Jorden in the Japan Cup, Craig Williams looks to continue the hot streak and serve up another delicacy on Alfredo. The heaviest horse in the field of sixteen is still brilliantly fleet of foot witnessed by a 33.2 stretch run last time out. Two for two at the distance ,this horse has a real chance to continue his run at being undefeated and MIGHT not even be the favorite come post time. A good value on a horse that encompasses all handicapping merit.

The Wager: #3 with 1,4,6,7,15,16 ￥3000 Each-Way Exacta
3 & 1,4,6,7,15,& 16 ￥1000 Straight Trifectas
1,4,6,7,15, & 3 &16 ￥1000 Straight Trifectas
3 & 1,4,6,7,16 & 15 ￥1000 Straight Trifectas
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December 17th

Nakayama 12th Race

#13 Omega Blue Hawaii... Running well as of late but getting 6.4 because of his inefficiencies at 1600 M ( 0-5). The first time at the course in his 15 race career might prove to his liking.

#13 with 2,4,6,8,10 ￥1000 Each-Way Exactas
#13 with 2,4,6,8,10 ￥1000 WIDE tickets

Hanshin 11th Race

#12 Smile Jack..One of my favorites here. Wont spread him around but at 15-1 I wont need to.
Granted not much as of late but is always capable.

The Wager: #12 with 1,11,16,18 ￥1000 Each Way Exactas
￥1000 WIDE ticket
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10th Race ( Hanshin)

#3 Liberty Valance..Very good dirt numbers and has been very consistent all year. Second outing in the higher class but his effort for 3rd in the last outing is good enough here for a higher spot.

#3 with 2,6,9,13,14 ￥1000 Each Way Exacta

* I'll play around with Shonan Alba in tomorrows main, also on Sunday in the 8th in Nakayama, Crawford, could be an intriguing choice.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

UPDATE* Will post Crawford as a blog post

Nakayama 8th...# 3 This Sunday Racing fillie won her last race quite impressively I felt. Going up in class but not getting much attention at 13-1. I like her chances here.
The Wager #3 with 4,8,11,13,16 ￥1000 Each Way Exacta
￥1000 WIDE Tickets

Juvenile Fillies

Nakayama 9th Race #9 Hiraboku Bijin Two out of two at the distance and course. The last three races, her weight has fluctuated from 452 to 486? to her most recent at 466. Coming off a summer layoff it looks like a potential fire here especially with Goto back on board.

The Wager #9 with 1,2, 4,11,13 ￥1000 Each Way Exacta





Hanshin 11 Race...#12 La Scintillante...Ran 1600 M last time out in a winning time of 1.34.4 and fastest last furlongs at a 34.9 clip. Most of the field coming from shorter distances so will stick with a horse that has already proven her merit at the same call and has room for further maturity here.

The Wager: #12 with 2,8,11,13,16,18 ￥2000 Each-Way Exacta

Target Machine's Last Stand

Nakayama 12th Race..#11 Target Machine....came in 3rd last time out paying in a 45,000￥ trifecta.
This is the shortest interval between races and another class drop for a horse that is primed to finally break through. A bullet workout on Dec 6th is a indication that Munakata finally has this horse primed for a big effort and an eventual successful Spring campaign.

The Wager: 11 with 1,3,4,5,6,7,8 ￥2000 Each-Way Exacta
￥10,000 WIN Ticket ( morning odds 4.2)
1,4,5,6,7,8, & 11 & 3 ￥2000 Straight Trifecta
11 & 1,4,5,6,7,8, & 3 ￥2000 Straight Trifecta
11 & 3 & 1,4,5,6,7,8 ￥1000 Straight Trifecta
1,4,5,6,7,8 & 3& 11 ￥1000 Straight Trifecta

* not putting the favorite #3 on top since a probable ticket with Target in the mix probably wouldn't pay all that well anyways. Will take the risk on that one.

Turquoise Stakes

Nakayama 11 Race: #9 Ginza Bonanza....Between July 2nd and August 20th, Bonanza hit the boards at three different tracks and at three different distances. Particular enlightening is the July 2nd 1600 m race at Nakayama where she tuned in at 1.32.9, which if repeated can put her back on the boards after two " off races".

The Wager: #9 with 6,8,11,12,14 ￥2000 Each-Way Exacta


THE JAPAN CUP DIRT
Hanshin 11 Race

#9 Wonder Acute...4th last time out off a record race time in May. Getting 18-1 on a horse that has five career wins in Hanshin and all with the same jock on his back.

The Wager #9 with 6,16 ￥3000 Each-Way
6,9,16 & 6,9,16 & 6,9,16 ￥1000 Straight Trifectas

Hanshin 10th race..#11 Suzuki Scorpion
The Wager: #11 with 7,9,12 15 ￥1000 Each-Way Exacta

THREE'S NOT A CROWD IN THE JAPAN CUP

< PELUSA






Much like one ditsy blond, a level headed brunet, and a swinging bachelor dominated the American TV ratings in the late 70's likewise a similar Threes Company should dominate the boards in tomorrows running of the Japan Cup.

The cast of characters in this race include the two female leads Buena Vista and Danedream and Pelusa inheriting the role made famous by the late comic genius of John Ritter.

The Script: A dazzling 33.6 stretch time in his last race off an ill advised attempt at 3400m hints at an even bigger effort here especially on a predicted fast turf has #7 PELUSA, finally accepting the invite to the G1 winners circle after a career long campaign of simply being a contender. Ticket holders will no doubt need ice water in their veins as Pelusa 's proverbial late kick will once again make for another climatic stretch run.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

#2 Buena Vista... There seems to be a silent majority that thinks Vista is vulnerable to another bad outing here. I'm not one of them. The comments from the connections about " revenge" from last year and the jockey insisting there will be a better ride than the error filled Tenno holds water with me. The fast track and course shapes up to be another superior run by the best horse in Japan if not the world.

#13 Danedream...I cant remember the last time I had a foreign entrant rated this high. What impressed me more than her " Ark" victory was that literally a few days before the race Japanese owner/breeder Teruya Yoshida bought majority shares in her and now is sitting on a gold mine. Most new owners merely run the Cup as the last race before retiring to stud in Japan. Not Danedream. The financial windfall of not only this race, but her bright future as a 3yr-old and beyond is not going unnoticed by anyone, including the connections that will have her ready for a big effort here.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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4 yr-old class

Yes, this brilliant group is not heading into the Cup with the same fanfare as last year but I'm not going to leave out any of these trifecta busters due to a disappointing race or layoff.

#3 Rose Kingdom, #6 To The Glory, #8 Victoria Pisa, #15 Eishin Flash
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THE WAGER... 7-2, 7-13, ￥10,000 One Way Exacta
2-7,2-13,7-13, ￥10,000 Quinellas

Straight Exactas:( 2,7,13) &( 2,7,13) & (2,3,6,7,8,13,15) ￥1000 36 Tickets

Insurance Savers #7 with 3,6,8,15 ￥1000 Each-Way Exactas
#2 with 3,6,8,15 ￥2000 Each-Way Exactas

Total Ticket Package Outlay: ￥100,000
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SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTIONS:

BEST BET TOKYO 9TH RACE
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TOKYO 9th Race....# 4 HUNGRY JACK...# 10 ADMIRE BURTON
Matsuda trained Burton looks poised to make his debut mark at Tokyo a successful one. A fast running track looks to be a ideal set up for a horse that had a 32.7 time two races out. Hungry broke his maiden here last year in impressive fashion and a repeat visit to the winners circle is a very possible outcome.


The Wager: #10 with 1,2,4,13,14,15 ￥2000 Each-Way Exacta
#4 with 1,2,13,14,15 ￥1000 Each-Way Exacta
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8th Race Will buy BRACKETS on the outside contenders #15 #16
The Wager: BRACKET QUINELLAS 2-8,5-8,7-8,8-8 ￥3000 Each

11th Race: An ending race day wager again dutching two horses #5 and #16

The Wager: #5 with 1,3,7,9,16 ￥1000 Each-Way Exacta
# 16 with 1,3,7,9 ￥1000 Each-Way Exacta

TVK SHO

< Target Machine..My Derby Horse and Bankroll Builder

Tokyo 9th Race....#6 Target Machine A real " Ugly Betty" on the recent form . Last four results respectively 11th,10th.4th and most recent at 40-1, a 13th finish but his probable odds tomorrow 6-1!!

A true class drop that will only be dampened by the surface. Tough to figure how Target or any of these horses will handle it thus I cant pull the trigger as much as I would otherwise be inclined to, but a real chance for a good effort.

The Wager] #7 with 1,2,6,8 ￥5000 Each-Way Exacta #7 with 3,4,10 ￥2000 Each-Way Exacta
# 7 & 2,3,4,6,8,10 & 1 Straight Trifecta ￥1000 6 tickets
# 7 & 1,2,3,4,8,10 & 6 Straight Trifecta ￥1000 <>

1,2,3,4,8,10 & 7 & 6 Straight Trifecta ￥1000 <>
2,3,4, 6,8,10f & 7 & 1 Straight Trifecta ￥1000 <>

Kyoto 11 Race Mile Championship

# 11 Grand Prix Boss....Throw out the Swan Stakes and his attempt overseas and we have a very good looking 3yr old that has already TWO G1 victories under his young saddle and getting 13-1.

The Wager #11 with 5,7,8,13,17,18 ￥1000 Each Way Exacta