Canterbury’s paddock analyst Brian Arrigoni is providing Saturday selections for Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet which runs through April 3 at www.danonymousracing.com .
Gulfstream Park offers a premier winter race meet with excellent turf racing, a well-rounded stakes schedule, Kentucky Derby prep races, and the richest purse in horse racing with the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 28. Just watching the broadcast from sunny southern Florida has to make those of us hunkered down in this cold Minnesota winter feel better as we long for spring.
“I will provide a column each Saturday with analysis for my top three selections and an overview for each race,” Brian said. “I break down my analysis into two categories, my top three selections and then a ‘contender’ group which includes all the horses I would use on my exotic and multi-race tickets.”
The Championship Meet began last Saturday with the Claiming Crown, always a pari-mutuel puzzle.
“Last week was challenging when some of the industry’s best claimers battled for the Claiming Crown,” Brian said. “The heart and soul of the sport was on display as the best blue-collar horses from around the country competed. This week will continue to show no mercy on the handicapper as the entire card is filled with 2-year-old races, which includes six stakes races as well. I am hoping to improve on a sub-par performance last week, although there were some bright spots. Our Hammer Tyme cruised home a winner, and two other winners were sniffed out by many when their 10 to 1 and 8 to 1 morning lines were bet down. The bright spot was a $90 horse being involved in the ‘contender’ selection keying huge payoffs.”
Gulfstream’s 11-race card on Saturday begins at 11 a.m. central time. The Canterbury Park Race Book opens at 10. Look for sound reasoning on a 20 to 1 in Brian’s analysis. But you need to go to www.danonymousracing.com Saturday morning to get that exclusive selection.
Brian will begin his second season at Canterbury when live racing returns May 5. “I am living out a boyhood dream. A year ago, I would have shoveled manure with my bare hands to crack into the industry and now I am blessed to be paddock analyst at my home track,” Brian said. “I grew up watching the great Kevin Gorg in the paddock, and not only loved his analysis but his passion for the game that shined through in his presentation and would love to follow in his footsteps. Ultimately my goal is to educate people on the challenge of horse racing. Every day is humbling, and every day you learn something new which makes it so appealing. When you begin to develop your own tendencies, you can bet with confidence and be rewarded. Horse racing is the only gambling option where your knowledge is the key to success. You don’t have to try and beat the house, you just have to try and beat other bettors and that is what makes it so competitive and fun. I hope to provide some enjoyment and some winners to race fans this winter and thank the people at Danonymous Racing for the opportunity.”
Follow Brian on Twitter @MrB_CBYanalyst