One of the all-time winningest jockeys, Terry "TD" Houghton (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.houghton.39) joins the crew, Rich, Terry, Shawn and Thomas to discuss racing at Mahoning Valley.
TD gives horseplayers some incredible insight on how to tell if Mahoning is running fast or slow. You'll want to play frontrunners if its fast and closers if it's slow.
He also shares his thoughts on his mounts in races 5, 6, 7 and 8 on Saturday afternoon (12-19-2020). He is on some prices and could make for live longshots.
The info is too good to pass up, give it a listen!
One of the winningest jockeys ever, Terry "TD" Houghton joins
the podcast crew and throws some serious Mahoning Valley Knowledge at us! It's
so good, he let's us in on which running style plays at Mahoning based on final
times.
Mahoning Valley Race 5: $75,000 Bobbie Bricker Memorial
Handicap
Shawn:
Commentary:
#3 Edge of Night- A lot of these horses seem to have the same running style.
Looks like a couple of the horses need the lead all the others want to sit
right off. The #3 looks to be in a great spot right outside the 1 and 2 who
should be a part of the pace. The #3 also seems to be the horse improving the
most and with the best results lately. He is very good on a fast dirt track and
that should be the case Saturday.
Use #4 Grizabella in exotics another versatile horse that
should be sitting right off the pace.
#1 intriguing at 10/1 morning lines, 19 of 29 lifetime in
exacta; concerned about back-to-back layoffs.
Wagers:
$30 Win #3
$1 key Exacta Box 3/1,4
Terry:
Commentary:
#3 Edge of Night - this is a very open race. She appears to be in top form
and has a good jockey/trainer combination.
#4 Grizabella likes the track and distance-Finished 13 out
of 17 in the money.
#1 True Cinder is my longshot. She has been working
consistency for a return this track.
Wagers:
$5.00 to Win #3
$2.00 Exacta- #3 / 1, 4
$2.00 Exacta Box- #1, 3, 4
Thomas:
Commentary:
#4 Grizabella this 6-year-old mare sat behind the pace in last race. Lost by 9
to Edge of Night who was all in last. Appears to be prepared well with a couple
of maintenance works. She has beaten some these horses in the past at the same
level. The trainer with horses 31+ days off at 32%-win record. She ihas 4 wins
from 18 starts at the distance.
Wagers:
$10 to Win #4
$5 Exacta Box 1-4-8
Rich:
Commentary:
Inside speed rules, unless the track is deep and slow. I am counting on it
being fast. #3 Edge of Night should be on/near the lead and can handle the
distance. #1 True Cinder won the last time she rode Mahoning's rail.
Wagers:
$0.50 Pick 4: 1,3/2,5,8/6,7,8,11/1,1A,4,6 (3 if 4 or 6 scratch)
Mahoning Valley Race 6: $75,000 Joshua Radosevich Stakes
Shawn:
Commentary:
#8 Sweet Lemon Drop- The #8 is stretching out for the first time off of a
four-month break. Seems to be working out good. The #2 is the only other horse
that will contest for the lead but also can sit off so I think the #8 will be
the leader from the start and we will see how far the #8 Sweet Lemon drop takes
them.
#5 Weekend Buzz- Always seems to come at the end and be
there besides the last race. I'm going to throw that race out and hopefully get
some value here and use in exotics.
#2 First Song- Definitely deserves to be the favorite won 2
out of 3 career starts one was wire to wire and last race closing after a
terrible start. I just saw value in using the other 2 in front.
Wagers:
$20 Win #8
$1 key Exacta Box 5/2,8
Terry:
Commentary:
#2 - First Song can win either on top or come from behind. The only race he
did not win he did not have a clean trip as there was trouble during the race.
#7 - Big Truck closes well and should be right there.
#6 - Run Bubba Run is my long shot. He has one of the
highest Beyer number in the race.
Wagers:
$6.00 to Win #2
$2.00 Exacta- #2 / 6, 7
$2.00 Exacta Box- #2, 6, 7
Thomas:
Commentary:
#2 First Song hopped at the start last time and came on the win by 1 length.
Had trouble in the stakes debut the race before and finished 3rd. The horse was
gelded before last race, has that made the difference? He should be one of the
favorites because some of these have traded wins.
Wagers:
$10 to WIN #2
$2 Exacta Box 2-4-7
Rich:
Commentary:
It's all about speed again, conditions permitting – listen to the podcast and
you will know. #2 First Song had trouble early in his last, spotted the leaders
14 lengths and still won; otherwise, she's usually upfront. TD Houghton tells
us #5 Weekend Buzz is tons better than his last, I believe him.
Wagers:
$1 Exacta Box 2,5,7,8
$1 Trifecta 2/5,7,8/5,6,7,8
Mahoning Valley Race 7: $29,000 Allowance
Shawn:
Commentary:
#1 Blistering Pakshi - Always there at the end 7 seconds out of 13 races. Only
one win does concern so definitely cover yourself with using this horse in
exotics and not just a win. The one win did come at the first career start at
Mahoning 2 starts ago and then last race was a ½ length from making it
back-to-back. Never ran this distance but I think the extra ground will help a
horse like this. 10/1 ml so should provide nice value
#10 Kandy Charge-
Will use in exotics. Very consistent horse lately. Has been in the exacta in 6
out of the last 7 races he's been in. Only concern is this will be the horse's
third race in just over two-weeks.
#11 Who Dat Mo-
Might finally catch a fast track after having back-to-back races of a muddy
track then a sloppy track. Has one the leading riders in Sonny Leon.
Wagers:
$10 Win #1
$1Exacta Box 1,10,11
$1 Trifecta Box 1,10,11
Terry:
Commentary:
#1
- Blistering Pakshi just missed last time out and I think the extra distance
will serve him well
#6 - Spin Doctor
has won over 25% of his races.
#7 - It's a Mans
World is in the money over 70% of the time and is a horse to use in the
exotics.
#8 - Jedi Temple
only need repeat last race
Wagers:
$4.00 to win #1
$2.00 Exacta- #1 / 6, 7, 8
$1.00 Exacta Box- #1, 6, 7, 8
Thomas:
Commentary:
#6 Spin Doctor Since he's been claimed, the horse has a record of 1 win 2
places and 1 third against lesser company but a speed rating of 82 last time
out finishing third and the jockey lost the whip. He has faced similar 4 races
back in an allowance race for Ohio Breds.
Wagers:
$10 to WIN #6
$1 Exacta Box 1-6-9-11
Rich:
Commentary:
It's weird that inside horses struggle at 1 mile and 70 yards but not at a
mile? That first or last 70 must really be tough sledding on the inside. With
that in mind, I'm outside the inside four all day in this one with #8 Jedi
Temple, #11 Who Dat Mo, #6 Spin Doctor and #7 It's a Man's World (great James
Brown song, IMHO).
Wagers:
$1 Exacta Box 6,7,8,11
$1 Trifecta Box 6,7,8,11
Mahoning Valley Race 8: $20,000 Maiden
Shawn:
Commentary:
#9 Go Estrella- I like the changes. Gets a new trainer who does ok first off of
a claim. Ran Gulfstream and Gulfstream Park West. Last start hit gate then
previous start veered in start. Maybe the changes and a good start the speed
could carry. Also best career finish of third was the only time the horse had a
fast track
#3- Will be your betting favorite this race. Only career
start was at Churchill and had a slow start. This should be a softer spot and
gets the leading jockey.
#1 Gray Royality- Has not had a clean, good race yet; hopped
start and a very wide stretch run so far - could turn it around here.
Wagers:
$8 Win #9
$1 Exacta Box 1,3,9
$1 Trifecta Box 1,3,9
Terry:
Commentary:
#1 - Gray Royality with Terry Houghton riding has a couple of great workouts
getting ready for this race
#4 – Star of Shanghai closes well. She has a good
jockey/trainer combo.
#6 – Cevicheis is ready to graduate, this may be the race.
#2 – Amari S. - She has a good jockey/trainer combination
and a last nice work.
Wagers:
$4.00 to win #1
$1.00 Exacta- #1, 4, 6 / 1, 2, 4, 6
$1.00 Trifecta- #1, 4, 6 / 1, 2, 4, 6
Thomas:
Commentary:
#9 Go Estrella shipping in from Gulfstream West (Calder) showed speed and back
out of the races in the 3 starts. Blinkers off and a change of racetrack may be
what this horse needs. The trainer is at 20% win with horses 31+ days off and
20% with horse removing the blinkers off. Let's see if we can get a price.
Wagers:
$16 to WIN #9
If I had any money left, I would play a Trifecta Box 3-6-7-9
Rich:
Commentary:
Maidens, everybody's favorite and the most fun way to close out a Pick 4. It's speed again. You have to like getting two
horse for the price of one, have to have the 1 and 1A entry, also like #6
Ceviche, # 4 Star of Shanghai and #3 Cupp of Class is going to attract money
coming from Churchill. She's had one good work since but sold on her in this
spot.
Wagers:
$1.00 Trifecta 1,1A,4,6/1,1A,4,6/1,1A,3,4,6
$0.50 Trifecta 3/1,1A,4,6,9/1,1A,4,6,9