Memorial Day Racing Thoughts

Memorial Day is here, and there is great stakes action around the country. This is my favorite racing day of the year. Not Derby Day, not Breeders' Cup Saturday, not any day except the last Monday in May. The turf racing is always solid on this day, the weather always seems to cooperate and everyone seems to be a good mood on this day of remembrance. Due to the fact that I'm posting this on Memorial Day itself, I will go bullet point style to get through some of the stakes action.

Hollywood Park has two stakes today, the G3 LA Handicap and the G1 Gamely Stakes. In the LA, Cost of Freedom will once again attempt to go gate-to-wire for the John Sadler barn. He will look to turn the tables on M One Rifle, who beat him last time out. Amazombie looks to continue his hot streak, but can he keep the win streak going, especially with M1 now third off the layoff? Should be a solid race.

A half hour later, older females go 1m & 1/8th on the turf in the G1 Gamely. The top 4 finishers from the Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita have a return engagement against one another. Malibu Pier defeated Cozi Rosie, Restless Soul and Turning Top last time. The four of the them will be taking on new shooter Dubawi Heights. This daughter of Dubawi has climbed the ladder all the way to the top with her win in the Grade 3 Wilshire Handicap. The extra distance would appear to be no problem for her, and she is this blog's pick for the race.

Now we head to Lone Star Park, where two blog favorites will be making their 2011 debuts. Wasted Tears attempts to win the Grade 3 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes for the third year in a row. Flat Out steps up into graded stakes company in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap. He is stepping into the deep end of the pool with this race, facing off against grade 1 winners Awesome Gem and Game On Dude along with the local prep winner Thiskyhasnolimit. While Wasted Tears will be the heavy favorite, Flat Out will be a huge longshot. This blog will be cheering hard for both to make successful 2011 debuts.

Also hoping that Rodman will hit the board at a price in the Met Mile but ultimately finish behind Haynesfield or Tizway at the wire.

Good luck this weekend folks!