By Kevin Oklobzija
Spot Play Hot Plays for Wednesday at Batavia Downs
Some competitive races early, then several prohibitive favorites late (Back On Board in the seventh, Airliner in the ninth, Box Car Johnnie in the 11th). Thus, just two plays in the middle of the card.
Race 4
No. 3 Hands Off Frank (5/2 morning line). Ships up from Pocono Downs with just one win on the year. He appears too fast for this group. However, if you’re playing the Pick 5 (there’s a $3,500 guaranteed pool since it wasn’t hit early or late on Saturday) you’d better include No. 1 Western Expression. Michael Whelan will be intent on getting the pocket trip behind Hands Off Frank, and he won in this class the last time he visited from southern Ontario.
Race 5
No. 5 Drinkin N Dancin (4/1 morning line). I’m taking a shot here because this mare should get a dream pocket trip behind favorite Bet On Me Hanover. And as long as No. 2 Can U Be Fun stays pacing, then she should be first-over and she’ll give Bet On Me Hanover everything she can handle. My play will be to box the 5 with the 1, 2 and 4 in exactas.
Recapping the weekend SPHPs
Friday
Race 4
No. 3 Rebel Soldier. Winner. Ray Fisher Jr. put him right on the lead and he wired the field as the 7/5 favorite.
Race 5
No. 3 Corleone Hall. Fourth. I was hopping Billy Davis Jr. would leave the gate, and he tried, but Dunks Brother and Jayport All Muscle were faster, and he was forced to take back. Then attacked first-over but the previously mentioned front-runners were too tough.
Saturday
Race 4
No. 8 A F F Bigdaddy. Sixth. He was very live at 8-1, leaving the gate and tucking in fourth. He then pulled coming to the half, but the moment he tipped three-wide to go around stalled cover, he dropped anchor.
Race 10
No. 3 Out of Texas. Fifth. Never in it.
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