Tom Leach

Tom Leach is “the Voice of the Wildcats” for football and men’s basketball and a contributor to Keeneland.com as well. He is a two-time winner of the Eclipse Award for radio coverage of thoroughbred racing. During race meets, check out Keeneland’s You Tube channel for his trainer and jockey interviews ahead of major stakes races and listen for the weekly “In The Money” podcast with Tom and Jim Goodman at keenelandselect.com. You can follow Tom’s coverage of the Cats at tomleachky.com




Thursday, April 11, 2013

Race 1:  Krutchen (6) takes a class drop and the trainer is good off the layoff.  EXACTA BOX:  6-1/1A-3

Race 2:  I'd like to pick against the favorite but he looks too strong, so Perfect Praise (2) is the pick.  EXACTA BOXES: 2-1, 2-5

Race 3:  both of the Ward-trained horses were scratches earlier in the meet, suggesting they were the lesser half of the entry each time.  Either could still be very tough to beat but maybe this is the spot where another trainer can get to the winner's circle in a two-year old race.  I'll take a shot with Sky America (3) and Zee Stone (8) is an intriguing price play.  EXACTA BOX:  3-8-1/1A

Race 4:  Delightful Magic's (1) last race suggests this one is perhaps getting back to that 2011 form and the synthetic record is strong, too.  And Fast Bobbi J runs well here at Keeneland.  EXACTA BOX:  1-8-9

Race 5:  horses with good Presque Isle form often transfer that to the Keeneland main track and Tessie Flip (2) fits that bill.  EXACTA BOX:  2-4-5

Race 6:  Cost Effective (8) is on turf for the first time but he is bred to love it and he has a top trainer/jock combo.  Batten the Hatches (3) likes this turf course and comes out of a strong race at Gulfstream.  This is a race to spread out a bit if you're betting Pick 3's and Daily Doubles.  EXACTA BOX:  8-3-1

Race 7:  I think the favorite might be vulernable here.  Whatthecatdrugin has won 3 in a row with better speed figs than the competition but he won them all wire-to-wire and I'm thinking he could have a problem if things don't go as perfectly as they have in those last three, so I'll try to beat him.  Pisgah Station (9) likes this track and he's the pick but I'll be spreading here, too, in the late pick 4.  EXACTA BOX:  9-5-6

Race 8:  this is the race that launched Point of Entry's magnificent '12 season and trainer Shug McGaughey has a strong entry again with Reflecting (5).  The 1-1A entry looks strong but I'm taking a stand against the horses coming out of the Fairgrounds' turf races at this meet, given how many times races and training was rained off the turf there.  Belo Acteon (6) is another Gulfstream shipper who looks solid here.  EXACTA BOX:  5-6-8

Race 9:  Scandalo (12) comes off his lifetime best Beyer and I like horses turning back from longer distances when they're running 7 furlongs.  And this owner/trainer/jock combo has been potent at this meet.  EXACTA BOXES:  12-8, 12-7, 12-11

BEST EXACTA RACE:  6

BEST VALUE BET:  Race 4, Delightful Magic (1)

50-cent LATE PICK FOUR FOR $50 OR LESS:  8/3/1 with ALL with 5/6 with 12 = $33

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