Brisnet Nuggets in contentious races at Arlington, Calder and Churchill.

The most contentious race on Friday at Calder is race 9, an optional claimer over one mile on the main track. A field of 10 is entered with Catch Ricki installed as the luke warm morning line favorite. Catch Rikki will be stepping up in class and distance off a win in which he earned the highest Speed Last Race rating as found in the BRIS Ultimate Race Summary. Although today's race is tougher, it is worth noting two of his defeated opponents in his last race won their next race. Information on "Horses Exiting Key Races" can quickly be found in the BRIS Insider Picks and Power Plays sheet. 

Also on the Insider Picks and Power Plays sheet, Catch Rikki is noted as a "Clocker Special" based on his recent five furlong work. Another Clocker Special in this race is Strike It Ritz who also qualifies as a "Blue Chip Trainer Play" through his trainer, Martin Wolfson, winning with 38% of starters running for him for the first time.

Top ranked on the BRIS Prime Power in the 9th at Calder  is Colonial Causeway who is also top ranked of the Average Class Last 3 category.  The Class Ratings for each of the runner's races can be found under the column headed "CR" in the BRIS Ultimate Past Performances. Meanwhile a Race Rating, which just reflects the class of the race itself without taking into account the performance of the individual horse in that particular race, is seen in the column headed "RR". From looking at these figures, one can ascertain fairly quickly that Colonial Causeway is taking a drop in class.

Also seen to be taking a drop in class in this race by looking at the Class and Race Ratings is Too Many Toyz. He is second highest on the Prime Power and, as indicated on the Insider Picks and Power Plays sheet, is a "Horse for the Course" with six wins from 14 starts at Calder. Being 12/1 on the morning line these factors may indicate that Too Many Toyz is a decent longshot play.

A field of eight will go to post for the ninth race at Churchill Downs on Saturday, a seven furlong maiden for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up. Ruth E is ranked top on the Prime Power and in two other categories in the Ultimate Race Summary. Additionally she is a Blue Chip Trainer Play on the Insider Picks and Power Plays sheet through Bill Mott winning with 26% of his runners switching from all weather surfaces to dirt. However, being winless in six start, Ruth E had chances to win and may be best opposed.

Amazon Lily is also noted as a Blue Chip Trainer Play as David Carroll wins with 26% of his second time starters and the grey owns good SPI pedigree figures for her sire and damsire. A look at the Race and Class Ratings for Amazon Lily's lone start at Saratoga last year shows that she raced repectably against better than any of the other runners in here have faced. At 5/1 in the morning line, Amazon Lily may offer value with Julien Leparoux in the irons.

The featured tenth race at Arlington on Saturday is the Chester House S. over a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Eight are entered headed by Artic Cry who was last seen finishing a close second in the Appleton H. (G3) at Gulfstream. He is top on the Current Class category in the Ultimate Race Summary and is the morning line favorite. However, offering more value may be Tiger Woodman who is fresh off an impressive win in a decent allowance event at Keeneland. Tiger Woodman earned the highest Speed Last Race and Late Pace Last Race ratings for that effort, is the top ranked on the Prime Power and is the 9/2 third choice on the morning line.

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Tim Holland 5-8-09.