More on connections today since some of Sunday’s connection discussion was productive (D.J’s Favorite) and some was not (Elverson). The race to focus on regarding connections was the 7th Sunday at Laurel which was won by Sip of Sunshine (and not Elverson), a Freedom Child filly bred by Mrs J.W.Y. Martin, Jr. The Martin name is long associated with horse racing in Maryland and this is the latest generation. So what you have is a regional breeder, a regional sire, and in John Salzman, Jr., a regional trainer. Outside of NY and California, regional connections can be super solid and a source of good value. Those local connections can come through in NY and California when looking at State bred races. The local connections for this winner even come through in the pedigree with Freedom Child standing in Maryland (in the same barn that his sire started his stud career at Country Life Farm) and her dam being a Maryland bred by . . . Mrs J.W.Y Martin, Jr. The last three generations were all bred by the same person. This goes back over 30 years. Sometimes that is what horse racing is all about . . . the terroir. It’s the ground on which the animals walk and the people that touch them on their way.
Picks for February 26, 2019:
After the rain and wind, the track should have dried quickly and be good to fast today.
Parx Race 3
$7500 n1y for older boys at 6 f. 5-Cardio Cowboy gets dropped to his lowest level of his career and gets the return services of Mychel Sanchez who was aboard for his last three good efforts. He even likes the off going. No one else in the field is close and Joe Taylor strikes at 41% in the third off the layoff. ‘Nuff said.
$10 W/P/S 5-Cardio Cowboy
Parx Race 7
$10K claimer for older fillies and mares at 6 ½ f. Can 4-Tiz Super run back to her last two in a new barn? Can 7-Wildly Good Lookin return to past form now that Juan Serey is back training? Can 6-One Tough Angel continue the positive form cycle after winning 2 straight against weak fields after being a voided claim three back? Lots of intrigue for a Tuesday afternoon. The pick here is 7-Wildly Good Lookin. She was not out of her last race until the final furlong, a furlong not in today’s race. Her win two back looks to be the best recent effort of any runner in this race and jockey Julio Correa has won on 2 of 3 mounts for Serey recently.
$10 W/P/S 7-Wildly Good Lookin
And now for a quickie. . .
Parx Race 4
Maiden for older boys at 8 f. Another great connections race. 1-Mutaraabit is a Shadwell homebred that has been close multiple times but misses each time. 2-Known But to God is a $350K Cash Is King purchase that seems to need a little class relief but that would indicate ownership wanting some tax relief and they may still be hoping. 3-Mission Oberon cost $1700 as a weanling and lacks the stud potential of the first two which is probably why he also lacks testicles. 3-Mission Oberon is the choice given the direction of his recent races and not the depth of his pedigree nor his potential career after racing.