Ellis Starr’s Blog

Key Races & Bets for Saturday February 24th, 2024

Lightning City Stakes – Race 7 at Tampa Bay Downs -Post Time 3:23 PM Eastern Top Contenders: Howboutdemapples, Play the Music HOT HOT HOT should be the early pace scenario in this field and even though speed does well at five furlongs on grass much of the time there are just TOO MANY “Early” pace types for any to hold on late to the pair of stalkers and closers in the form of Howboutdemapples and

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Key Races & Bets for Saturday February 17th, 2024

Barbara Fritchie Stakes – Race 8 at Laurel -Post Time 4:02 PM Eastern Top Contenders: Last Leaf, Disco Ebo, Intrepid Daydream Last Leaf didn’t win her last race like Disco Ebo, nor was her last race a stakes like Intrepid Daydream, so I’ll start with her as she may go to post at the highest odds of the three contenders to win. Last Leaf ships in from Kentucky off a very strong second place effort

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Key Races & Bets for Saturday February 10th, 2024

Minaret Stakes – Race 7 at Tampa Bay Downs -Post Time 3:43 PM Eastern Top Contenders: Bazinga C, Dreaming of Snow Although a case can be made for most of these to win or to be part of the exacta, there are TWO strong contenders, both at decent odds, to hone in on. Bazinga C has never ONLY gone to post at higher than 5 to 1 one time in 16 career races (and she

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Key Races & Bets for Saturday February 3rd, 2024

Withers Stakes – Race 8 at Aqueduct -Post Time 3:55 PM Eastern Win Contenders: Speed Runner, Uncle Heavy, Lightline Speed Runner is the ONLY horse in the field to have won at this mile and one-eighth distance, having done so on December 8 in only the second start of his career, and off a two month layoff. After stalking the leader in second for the first three-quarters of a mile, Speed Runner engaged that horse

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Key Races & Bets for Saturday January 27th, 2024

Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational – Race 10 at Gulfstream – Post Time 3:45 PM Eastern Win Contenders: Star Fortress, Ruby Nell Exacta & Trifecta Contenders: (2nd and 3rd) Fluffy Socks, Queen Goddess, Didia, Mission of Joy Star Fortress brought a one for seven record into her U.S. debut two months ago (on 11/23/23) in the Grade 3 Cardinal Stakes at Churchill Downs, at this distance, and emerged with her second career

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