Horse Race Betting

Racebook Betting – Presious Passion Gets No Respect
Posted on 8/15/2008 5:45:29 PM

Racebook Betting – Presious Passion

 

Compared to Presious Passion, the late Rodney Dangerfield got treated like royalty. Talk about no respect…it started for Presious Passion when they misspelled his name. Then he was gelded… no doubt a lack of respect for his potential as a stallion.

Then he became a racehorse to bet on. He started out his career with a creditable record of 19-4-3-1. Still, he got no respect at the windows or from the racebook oddsmakers. In his 20th start, he won the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at The Meadowlands, and paid $23.40 (as part of an entry). In his last 10 starts, he’s won three times (including the Grade 1 United Nations Handicap), returning juicy mutuels of $136.20, $42.60, and $29.60 to his handful of backers.

On Saturday, Presious Passion starts in the prestigious Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga. At least he got an invitation! This equine version of Rodney Dangerfield is listed at 15-1 in the morning line, the second-longest shot in the field. Ignore him at your peril. He’s the only speed in the field, and could prove tough to run down, regardless of the condition of the course.

Of the closers, the venerable 9-year-old Better Talk Now figures to make his presence felt in the lane. Dancing Forever has been on a nice roll, finishing no worse than second in his last six starts. However, he’s now spotting three pounds to Better Talk Now, which is a negative 4-lb. shift since their last encounter in the G1 Manhattan Handicap.

In other Grade 1 action on Saturday, 3YO filly heavyweights Proud Spell and Music Note face off in The Alabama at Saratoga, and a contentious field of ten will head postward in The Del Mar Oaks.

Music Note looks like the new boss of the 3YO filly division, having posted four dominant victories in a row, including one over Proud Spell in the G1 Mother Goose.

Bear in mind, though, that Proud Spell had a horrific trip in the Mother Goose, and returned just two weeks later to capture the G2 Delaware Oaks in a gutty effort. She’s had plenty of time to recover from that race, and is a proven road warrior, having notched graded wins at Delaware Park, Belmont Park, Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs. Music Note, on the other hand, has yet to venture out of the Big Apple, so is unproven in strange surroundings. This time, I’ll look for Proud Spell to get the jump on her main rival, and hold her safe at the wire.

In the Del Mar Oaks, a case can be made for most of the entrants, but I’m leaning toward Satan’s Circus, who gave a good account of herself in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly (France), and again in the G1 American Oaks, in which she finished second at odds of 14-1. Top turf trainer Christophe Clement will give Garrett Gomez a leg up on this Gone West filly. I’ll bet her to win at odds of 3-1 or better.

Pete Mitchell has been handicapping horses since his teenage years. He has been a professional horse player for many years, and came to BetOnline.com’s attention through multiple referrals from industry insiders/sportsbook owners. Pete is revered for his horse handicapping opinion and industry experts acknowledge his impressive career winning record. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.

Did you enjoy this article? If you liked what you read, then share it with a friend. Email this article to a contact.

Send

Subscribe to this section

Send
January 2009 Archives December 2008 Archives November 2008 Archives October 2008 Archives September 2008 Archives August 2008 Archives July 2008 Archives June 2008 Archives May 2008 Archives