Online Horse Racing: Stay Thirsty Prevails at Jim Dandy Stakes
Monday, August 01, 2011
by Bodog Racebook
On Saturday, DOMINUS, the 19-10 betting favorite in the Jim Dandy took the lead in the upper stretch, only to be defeated convincingly by second choice STAY THIRSTY and 37-1 shot MOONSHINE MULLIN.
On Sunday, 3-2 favorite SHACKLEFORD, the longshot Preakness winner, took the lead at the top of the stretch in the Haskell, only to be caught in the shadow of the wire by the lightly raced COIL, an improving horse trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
With the defeats of these two latest betting favorites, we are struck by a repeating pattern that has existed all year: In fact, nothing has changed since the Triple Crown concluded with RULER ON ICE’S upset victory in the Belmont Stakes. From January through the end of July, we have seen few betting favorites win any of the prep races that led up to the Derby, Preakness and/or Belmont Stakes. And of course all three of those prestigious spring stakes were won by different horses, all longshots.
The cumulative effect of so many upsets has left the 3 year old division in complete disarray, with no true leader, a division further weakened by the injury that put Kentucky Derby winner ANIMAL KINGDOM on the shelf for the rest of the year. Also, as suggested in this space on Friday, the inconsistency of this year’s glamour division has opened the door for horseplayers to discard the majority of betting favorites while accenting plays on horses at good odds in dozens of situations.
Next up for the group will be the 143rd running of the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga, Aug,. 27, Most, if not all the horses who made an impact in the Jim Dandy and Haskell are expected to be back for another go round.
With so much evidence in hand, it seems reasonable to expect more favorites going down to defeat. It certainly seems to make better sense to expect the trend of upsets to continue. On the other hand, maybe Stay Thirsty—who was a good second in the Belmont Stakes before the Jim Dandy—might emerge as the best 3 year old of 2011? Or, perhaps Coil is now ready to emerge as that horse, the one who finally can win two or more important stakes in a row.
Should Stay Thirsty, or Coil push their good recent form forward to a higher level in the Travers, the season will take a new turn. But if they fall short as so many before them have failed, we will see more of what we have seen so many times this year: More upsets, more chaos and fewer reasons to believe that there are any special horses in this year’s 3 year old crop.
Added Notes: Speaking of special horses, trainer Todd Pletcher is reporting that the 2010 Juvenile Champion, UNCLE MO is training forwardly for a start in the 7 furlong King’s Bishop Stakes on the Travers card, Aug. 27. Uncle Mo has recovered from an intestinal disorder that forced his connections to scratch him from the Kentucky Derby.
Also, Bob Baffert not only won the Haskell on Sunday, but his top sprinter EUROEARS won the Bing Crosby at Del Mar on Sunday in 1:08.17, setting a new track record for the 6 furlong distance on the Del Mar Polytrack. Get all your online horse racing odds in the Bodog Racebook today.
Related Articles
- 2011 Travers Stakes Results: Stay Thirsty Win at Saratoga
- Horse Racing: The 142nd Travers Stakes At Saratoga Race Course
- Online Horse Racing: 2011 Travers Stakes and Pacific Classic Odds
- Belmont Stakes Results: Ruler on Ice Wins the 2011 Belmont Stakes
- 2011 Belmont Stakes Betting Tips: Nehro Will Come Out On Top
Category
Tags
animal kingdom - belmont stakes - bob baffert - del mar - dominus - euroears - jim dandy stakes - kentucky derby - moonshine mullin - ruler on ice