Horse racing betting

One of the ways astute horseplayers try to get a leg up on the competition is to not only isolate horses that had trouble but to find the not so obvious examples so that value will still be in the mix.

Last week there were some possible value runners that did not get the best of trips and should pay dividends in the future.

First, let’s go to Belmont. Babies took the center stage for the second race and the horse that was intimidated by the rail should run huge next time.

The horse is named Settle for Medal and he will be going for the gold next time.

Trained by Mark Hennig, a former D. Wayne Lukas assistant who is very patient, the son of Medallist had just trained okay for the debut for a conditioner that is under 10% with first time starters in the last year or so.

At the break, this guy lunged and was scared by the rail to be dead last but yet finished like a horse with a future when completing the trifecta and was over 5 lengths clear of his nearest rival.

He has a right to have a bright future as both of his siblings to race won at 2, one in the debut and his half sister Mani Bhavan was a Grade 1 winner and banked over $260,000 taking half of her 6 starts.

With more real estate and a better post, Settle for Medal will be a handful next time.

Fortitude will not be a maiden long himself. He made the lead between calls in his second career start after catching a freak in the debut that won by over 11 lengths.

Trained by veteran Richard Schosberg, the sophomore son of Aptitude was much more keen to run with the blinkers in his second start and was only beaten a length and a nose for all the money while 3 lengths clear of the 4th finisher.

The blood is there for this guy to star. His dam banked over $600,000 and he is kin to three others, all winners including a full brother that banked nearly $200,000.

Double down if he gets a chance to go 8 and a half or 9 furlongs next time.

Now to the Left Coast and Hollywood Park.

Honesty is not usually a trainer’s forte but Ron Ellis was nothing but truthful last Sunday in his paddock assessment of his runner Truest Legend, and it’s a great example why bettors that gamble on the computer have to pay attention to the racing feed on TV.

On TVG’s ‘all access’ Ellis was telling jockey Victor Espinoza in the paddock that the horse he was about to ride, Truest Legend, will give you all he has but don’t whip him. He said, ‘the owners are okay with that’ and it was exactly the way the race unfolded.

Legend was getting out early, had the lead, was dead short as Ellis knew he would be going 6 and a half furlongs and Espinoza covered up on the colt in the stretch like a coddled baby.

Get down next time on Truest Legend.

Most long-time horseplayers agree the rail can be a negative for some horses especially young runners and a case in point is the filly Sipnzin.

She drew the rail in her debut and came out running but had nothing left when collared and was beaten by eventual repeat winner Can’t Topper.

She again had to be hard used last week from the fence and was just zapped from the experience.

Bred to win early as her sire took his juvenile debut and won a Grade 3 at 2, the filly has 4 siblings that banked 6 figures including juvenile winner, Group 1 winner and near $250,000 earner Mecke Daughter.

Finally, Sipnzin is trained by a guy, Terry Knight, who is high percentage year in and year out without getting the top echelon stock.

It’s only a matter of time.

Good luck.