Back when NYC OTB had an advertising budget and a TV presence, OTB ran an ad
which featured boxing champ Rocky Graziano. An off camera voice asked the champ
something like "How do you pick a winner champ?" Graziano replied by pounding
his forehead with the heel of his hand and saying "Sometimes it just hits me!"

(I guess if you watch the NTRA "Who do YOU like today?" commercials you can see
how much Racing advertising has evolved in the last 30 years--not at all).

But I had a Graziano moment while handicapping the Sprint this afternoon. There
are 5 runners in the Sprint that sport perfect 1/1 records at Monmouth. They
are: Attila's Storm (won allowance race in 2005); Idiot Proof (won Gr 3 stake
TG negative 4);La Traviata (won Post Deb Stake TG negative 1); Smokey Stover
(Icecapade Stake at odds of 1/10, TG negative 3); and Talent Search (Teddy Drone
stake, TG negative 3).

Of those 5, I will exclude Attila, who is 1/8 in 06-07.

Talent Search is the least accomplished of the remaining 4 and will offer the
best value. TS comes into the race with 5 consecutive negative #s. He has been
second to Fabulous Strike twice (distant seconds at that) and second to
Diabolical. Talent Search, who has done his best running on the lead will
probably need to rate just a bit and I am not sure that strategy is attainable.

Others: Bardonaro (beaten recently by Gregs Gold, In Summation and Idiot Proof,
off board 3 of last 4 starts); Commentator (only 1 lifetime race at 6 furlongs);
In Summation (only 2 negative efforts on synthetic, best TG lifetime on fast
dirt = 4); and Park Avenue Ball (0/4 lifetime at 6f).

Greg's Gold is an honest and talented runner but has never competed outside of
California and I have always tried to beat these horses venturing out of
California for the first time. Kelly's Landing on the other hand has been
victorious on many different surfaces, and should have a garden spot behind
speed and stalkers (which will be most of the field) and in front of Benny the
Bull.

Benny will get a favorable pace to run in to, but will probably have to pass the
entire field (including some staggering pace refugees) to strike the front.
Lots of respect for Dutrow in sprints but this one may get going too late. A
reluctant toss for me.

Lets see, who am I missing. Oh right Midnight Lute. Watched his Forego replay.
He had a perfect pace and positional set up, outside of 2 horses who dueled
each other to dust. Trying to beat this short priced favorite one must hope that
his planets were aligned at Saratoga and that he is not able to repeat his
monster effort on Saturday. He is one of the least seasoned runners in the
field, and his efforts other than the Forego make him no faster than the rest
of these.

Sprint Facts courtesy NTRA: In 23 Sprint runnings, the race has been won by 6
3YOs including 3YO filly Very Subtle. 3YOs have won 3 times since 01.

Between 1984- 1993, only 1 favorite, Eillo, was victorious. Between 1994- 2006,
favorites or co- favorites prevailed 6 times.

Enough Already. On my ticket-- the 4 members of the Monmouth Class of 07--
Idiot Proof, La Traviata, Smokey Stover and Talent Search plus Kelly's Landing.