Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “Daily Analysis and Wagering Strategies” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.
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It is recommended that Jeff’s selections be used to augment the reader’s own personal handicapping, though excellent results can be achieved by applying the rolling exotic strategy specified by Jeff’s analysis. Jeff’s recommended plays are intended for players with a moderate budget; however, readers are encouraged to adjust Jeff’s wagering strategy to fit their preferred investment level.
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Grade A=Highest degree of confidence.
Grade B=Solid Play.
Grade C=Least preferred, or pass.
Grade X=probable winner but odds are not likely to offer wagering value.
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The selections are available every racing day after morning scratches. For updates, please follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing.


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RACE 1: Post 1:10 ET. Grade: B-
Use: 2-Punk Rock Princess; 4-Sugar Fix; 5-New Day Dawning

Forecast: Sugar Fix is the likely choice and the obvious one to beat as she seeks her sixth win of the year in this $40,000 claiming inner turf middle distance affair restricted to 3-year-old fillies. With a good stalking style and speed figures that are solid and consistent, she’s hard to fault based strictly one form. Punk Rock Princess, exiting a series of sprints, lands the rail and should be forwardly placed and have her chance. Her only prior outing on grass was quite good – she was a closing runner-up in an allowance race last year at Laurel Park – and in her present form the daughter of Bourbon Courage looks usable at 6-1 on the morning line. New Day Dawning drops below her claim level and may inherit the lead if she’s allowed to roll along from the start. A nice recent main track breeze should have her on edge. We’ll include all three in our rolling exotics with preference on top to Sugar Fix.
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RACE 2: Post 1:44 ET. Grade: B-
Use: 1-Unrelenting Force; 6-Majestic View; 9-Senrima;

Forecast: This New York-bred maiden $40,000 claiming dash has three main contenders. Unrelenting Force returns to his claim level, shortens to an elongated sprint and a shows a good recent series of workouts after hitting the board in each of his last three starts, most recently with a career top speed figure. If he can negotiate a decent trip from the rail, the R. Handal-trained son of Carpe Diem should be capable of breaking his maiden in this, his seventh career start. Majestic View surfaces in a seller for the first time after flashing good early speed but fading in the lane in both previous outings, one in the mud and the other on grass. With the switch to J. Rosario and at 8-1 on the morning line, the J. Kimmel-trained colt certainly has a right to improve considerably against this group. Senrima, another dropping out of straight maiden company for the first time, adds blinkers, switches to I. Ortiz, Jr., and while slow early in both career outings has shown the ability to close a bit in the lane. Given the connections, you have to consider him.
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RACE 3: Post 2:20 ET. Grade: C+
Use: 2-Foxtail; 7-Rosebud’s Hope

Forecast: This race has the potential to be chaotic, so tread lightly. We’ll try to get by using just two in our rolling exotics but not with any degree of confidence. Churchill Downs shipper Foxtail is a first-off-the-claim for D. Gargan, who has had a slow meeting so far but still boasts fancy first-off-the-claim stats (48% with a massive flat-bet profit with this angle). This drop from $40,000 to $25,000 for new connections normally would be considered a negative, but not necessarily from this stable. With I. Ortiz, Jr. taking the call, she has the look of a live item. Rosebud’s Hope drops to her lowest level ever in this $25,000 claiming middle distance turf affair for fillies and mares and if she can gain her coveted front-running trip she’s likely to take this field a very long way. There’s a bit of speed drawn inside of her, so if she’s forced to accept a stalker’s trip her chances will diminish. On the plus side, she’s a perfect one-for-one over the Saratoga lawn, and after a bit of freshening and van ride up from Monmouth Park the M. Stidham-trained mare should be competitive.
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RACE 4: Post 2:54 ET. Grade: B-
Use: 2-Lour Lady of Loreto; 5-Rousey

Forecast: Our Lady of Loreto, second off a layoff for Rudy (a powerful 26% with this angle), blew a six length lead in her comeback last month in a $32,000 claimer and wound up second, but has a history of running better with a race behind her so we suspect she’ll step forward today with this one-level drop in class. She should be the quickest of the quick. Rousey earned a career top speed figure earlier this month against a stronger (nw-2) $40,000 field and drops to a proper spot today in this restricted (nw-2) $25,000 sprint for fillies and mares. That race was grass, but her dirt form is fairly decent, so we’re not too concerned about her return to the main track, and she certainly looks the most dangerous of the closing types. Yes, she’s picking up a lot of weight today but the possibility of a favorable race-shape could prove to be the deciding factor.
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RACE 5: Post 3:28 ET. Grade: B
Use: 5-Rinaldi; 8-Graded On a Curve

Forecast: Graded On a Curve came off the bench to register a sharp first-level state-bred allowance score last month in his first outing since October and appears capable of repeating on the raise after being kept on edge with a strong, healthy work pattern in the interim for C. Brown. He’s a deep closing type and as such would appreciate a bit of help up front, but while the projected pace flow of this race looks moderate at best the Noble Mission gelding just won when rallying against the grain and can do it again. Rinaldi, lightly-raced with some upside and a solid fit on speed figures, finished a solid runner-up in his recent comeback and is from a stable that does well with the second-off-the layoff angle. The Posse gelding can be tough on the lead or from a stalking position, so if no real pace materializes regular pilot L. Saez should be able to locate an ideal spot. We’ll prefer Graded On a Curve on top but include both in our rolling exotics.
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RACE 6: Post 4:04 ET. Grade: B-
Use: 5-More Mango; 7-Checksandbalances; 11-Kitten’s Romance

Forecast: Here’s a competitive maiden claiming $40,000 middle distance turf event for fillies and mares. More Mango, first off the claim for M. Maker after finishing third at this level last month at Belmont Park, adds blinkers for her third career start and can be expected to produce a significant forward move in a race in which the pace projects to be moderate at best. The daughter of More Than Ready sports a healthy work tab since changing barns, is drawn comfortably toward the inside and should find herself on or near the lead throughout with the switch to the barn’s “go to” rider J. Ortiz. Checksandbalances was disappointing when fifth in her debut vs. maiden $75,000 foes last month but I. Ortiz. Jr. stays aboard for a barn hits at a remarkable 35% with second-timers. Based on pure numbers the Irish-bred filly is a major player for C. Brown. Kitten’s Romance is drawn farther out than we’d prefer but after finishing third in her debut in a productive heat last month at Churchill Downs the W. Ward-trained filly seems likely to improve and be a factor from off the pace.
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RACE 7: Post 4:40 ET. Grade: X
Use: 5-My Man Flintstone; 8-Mister Bobby
Forecast: My Man Flintstone earned a career top number when a respectable second as the favorite (while more than 10 lengths clear of the rest) in a restricted (nw-2) $50,000 claiming sprint at Keeneland last month and today is protected in starter’s allowance company in a sign of confidence by trainer K. McPeek. The son of Into Mischief has enough speed to be on or near the lead throughout and with only a slight bit of improvement should be tough to run down. Mister Bobby, from his cozy outside draw, should inherit a good pace-stalking position and have dead aim on ‘Flintstone throughout. In his second off a layoff for the Bond barn (superior stats with this angle), the Shanghai Bobby gelding is a strong contender, although it’s not likely he’ll be offering any real value at or near his morning line of 7/5. Both should be included in rolling exotic play; we’ll give My Man Flintstone a slight edge on top.
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RACE 8: Post 5:14 ET. Grade: B-
Use: 2-Blue Atlas; 3-Short Pour; 8-Barrel of Destiny

Forecast: Short Pour, a sharp runner-up sprinting on grass last month in her first start since November, projects as the controlling speed and will take this field as far as she can. The M. Hennig barn boasts terrific stats with the second-off-the layoff angle and shows excellent previous form on grass at Saratoga, where she won a two-turn affair gate-to-wire last year. She offers wagering value at or near her morning line of 9/2. Barrel of Destiny, a $16,000 claim two run back and a winner of a first-level allowance state-bred turf miler last month, moves up another level in class for M. Maker and looks to be a major player once again, though L. Saez, who was aboard her last time, jumps off to ride Short Pour. The daughter of Bluegrass Cat is winless in four prior starts over the local lawn but clearly is a better type now and should settle in mid-pack and then make her presence felt from the quarter pole home. Blue Atlas is listed at 6-1 on the morning line and is worth including somewhere on your ticket at that price. Protected after a nice score vs. $25,000 claimers earlier this month in her first outing since October, the daughter of English Channel is a fit on figures, protected in a sign of confidence, and retains J. Ortiz while drawing a nice inside post position.
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RACE 9: Post 5:46 ET. Grade: B
Use: 4-Admundson; 5-Bankit; 6-Funny Guy

Forecast: This extended sprint handicap for New York-bred older horses brings together familiar faces in a race that requires a spread in rolling exotic play. Amundson has won four of 10 career starts and was most recently a strong second in a highly-rated allowance race at Belmont Park at this seven furlong trip last month that produced a career-top speed figure. The Curlin gelding seems likely to be the controlling speed, just as he was when winning the Hollie Hughes Stakes vs. similar company at the Big A last winter. Funny Guy just won the Commentator Stakes with a powerful triple-digit Beyer speed figure (a career top) from off the pace, but today shortens to seven furlongs and may find this trip a bit sharp, especially if the pace is slow to moderate. Still,, he’s been first or second in eight of 11 starts, retains J. Rosario, and probably will go favored. Bankit is a deep closing sprinter with races that make him dangerous, but the projected pace flow may compliment his style. In the frame in five of his last six starts but obviously pace dependent, the son of Central Banker probably is worth including as back-up or a saver but not much more than that.
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RACE 10: Post 6:18 ET. Grade: B
Use: Boom Boom Kaboom; 4-Tempesta

Forecast: The finale is carded for maiden claiming New York-bred turf sprinters; we’ll try to get by using just two. Boom Boom Kaboom shows up in a seller for the first, adds blinkers, and earned a speed figure in his last start that his better than par for this level. The G. Weaver-trained son of Emcee should be within striking range throughout and have no excuses. Tempestawas good third (beaten a neck) in a representative race for the level last month and won’t need much more to earn his diploma. The son of Noble Mission likely will settle in the second flight and produce his run when called upon.