Th Nomination Is In: December 12, 2009; The Queens County Handicap Grade III on the Inner Dirt at Aqueduct

Two horses running in today's 104th running of the Queens County Handicap at Aqueduct, Naughty New Yorker and Stud Muffin, are horses with names after my own heart. Unfortunately neither of these hard knocker's are The Turk's chalk and that distinction belongs to Researcher, the defending champion. The weather in Ozone Park is chilly but dry. As always, understand the weather, the scratches, and the intricacies of a particular track before building your handicap. Let's Go!

Race 8 Aqueduct Post Time 3:44 ET; The Queens County Handicap Grade III; 1 3/16 miles on the Inner Dirt Course for 3 YO and Up.



Researcher is the defending champion, the morning line favorite, and a previous winner on the inner track, a tight cornered affair that not all horses do well with. Comes in training sharply and off a Place at one mile and a big 108 BSF on the slop in October. Winner of 7 of the last 16 entered. J. Velazquez is up for Trainer Runco who wins 25% of his routes but doesn't get many entered in stakes.

Rodman is another inner track winner and comes in off a 102 BSF at 1 Mile at the Big A in early November. Distance will be the issue for the 4 YO who has mostly stuck to 6, 7 and 8 furlong affairs.

Honour Devil (Arg) is a nifty Argentinian with A. Garcia up today. Enters 4th race since coming from Mike de Klock's barn in late September and is looking for a break out win in the States. Comes in off an OC 100K win where he was loose on the lead. 4 Wins in last 9 starts, none at distance or at Aqueduct, but at least all on Fast Dirt.

Naughty New Yorker is making his 53 start here at the end of his 7th year. 9 of 11 in the money on the inner track but only 1 win in last 12 starts and only 3 of last 12 in the money. The son of Quiet American may be near the end.

So what do we do with this? I must say, I'm not wildly impressed with the field, but beggars can't be choosers this time of year when it comes to graded stakes.

10 Cent Supers are in fashion. I'm going to watch the tote closely and try to find value on my base handicap. That may mean a few boxed Supers and then a few exactas with value, such as Honour Devil on top and a few others in the Place spot. Again, I'm not sure where the bettors will go with this and where the tote board goes will determine how deeply I play. Bet responsibly.

I'd like to thank Equispace for joining me this morning at the 1st Annual Symposium on Horse Racing and Cigar Smoking.

Have Fun, Turk Out!

Post Race Analysis for Race Day June 12, 2009: The Kashatreya $65,000 at BEL

The Turk and his sidekick, the Appleton Turk, tried to make something out of this race, and we did about the only thing we could: We went trifecta. Two bets were placed, with the only difference being the swap between Joe Corrigan and Naughty New Yorker. This is exactly how I laid it out in the pre race analysis and I just stuck to the game plan.

Now mind you, I'm not bragging about nailing a trifecta on a five horse field with one obvious toss out and a chalk who had no chance of losing. My point is as handicappers we can sometimes over complicate the obvious. $2 returned $10, and that pick was a walk in the park. You won't be the king of the OTB, but you might as well nail the easy score when it's starring at you.

To the race fans and not the bettors, it was great to see mighty Commentator out there having a workmanlike effort and prepping for Saratoga. Yes, this Turk is getting excited about the Spa's return.





Turk Out!

The Nomination Is In: June 12, 2009; The Kashatreya $65,000 at BEL

Kind of a ho-hum 1 mile race that generally the Turk would pass on, but remember I am a race horse fan first and I get excited when the stars come out. Which brings me to this race, a $65,000 3rd race at Belmont that features horses bred and foaled in NY State. Currently none is grander or mightier then Commentator, who makes his first return to NYS dirt since the Whitney last July. He's a 1-5 morning line selection, and I don't think I'll make much of a case against him not winning, but it's a five horse field, lets see what we can do with this!

Race 3 BEL: Post Time 4 PM ET: The Kashatreya $65,000; 1 Mile on Dirt for 3 YO and Up foaled in NYS.



I'm not sure what we can do with this really. The chalk, the overwhelming chalk Commentator I believe will win this race. With that belief I will fashion just a few straight TRI bets following my base handicap. I will jostle with Joe Corrigan and Naughty New Yorker for Show and I have tossed Commissioner Chris completely. No more then 6 bucks with maybe one straight that puts Stud Muffin on top and Commentator in the two spot. Not worth boxing this one. I don't think track condition will make a big difference, but the below link will get you to updated information from Belmont.

BELMONT PARK
TRACK & TURF CONDITIONS FOR FRIDAY, 6/12/2009
TRACK CONDITIONS

Weather: Showers
Track: Sloppy
Turf: OFF
Races off the Turf: 2,7,8,9
For the most up to date Track conditions please view the Scratches/Changes page on NYRA.com

Last Updated at 6/12/2009 7:27:27 AM

Turk Out!

Post Race Analysis: November 15, 2008

Race 8 at the Big A, the 1 1/8 G3 Stuyvesant Handicap was raced across genuine NYS dirt turned to pure slop. Helsinki and Phil the Power scratched and exercised good sense. My choice, Temporary Saint, went to the front and only surrendered the lead at the end of the stretch run. The Little Turk's eye for horse flesh was rewarded again today as he cashed tickets on Dry Martini who paid $10.20 to win. Stud Muffin, whom I dismissed as a pre-race contender, had a good run to take Place. To those who read the Blood Horse, there was a great article on Trainer David Jacobson (who claimed Temporary Saint earlier this year) in the issue that arrived today.

Race 9 at CD, the 1 1/8 turf stakes G3, Cardinal, was a race I watched the tote board closely on up until post. Pre-race I liked Callwood Dancer, but the prerace chalk went off at paltry odds and I decided to look in other places. I settled on a Kent Desormeaux mount, Indescribable. I liked Lady Digby, but her odds were unacceptable as well, going off as the bettors second choice. I'd call this bet a flyer, an informed guess.

The Little Turk liked Long Approach. I placed a straight exacta bet down on the 10-3, Indescribable and Long Approach and was rewarded with a $15.40 win bet and a $199 exacta take.

One of those good, semi-unexpected days.

I did take sometime looking at WO Race 8, the 7f Glorious Song. I thought the chalk, Selva, would win and she did. No bet, but a horse to watch is just as good.

For those keeping track, Big Turk is now up $157.64 in operating income in this current Breeders Cup to Breeders Cup cycle. I bought a month's worth of PP's today from DRF, but I hit big on the win and exacta.

My current expenses are at $67.45 and earnings are now $225.09. The two dollar bettor can scratch out good days.