Horse Pick of the Day – Sunland Park

Race-day: 1/20/2009

Race-time: 4:25 pm cst.

While most eyes will be towards the East where Barrack Obama will be sworn in as the next President of the United States, sports betting fans might want to go ahead and take a peak at the last race on the card at Sunland Park.

Just a peak is all that’s needed. Online racebook fans will be pleasantly surprised to see that there is a nice long-shot in the 11th at Sunland on Tuesday.

It’s a good enough long shot to warrant even more attention than the inauguration – - for at least a minute or two.

Let’s get to it!

Sunland Park – Race 11

Claiming $5,000

For Four Year Olds and Up

6 furlongs on dirt

Brite Maneuvers – - 6/1 online betting odds

Coming out of a 6 ½ furlong race where he finished third by 5 ½ lengths, this son of High Brite no doubt should enjoy the return to a straight six furlong distance. The main knock is that he, like almost everyone else in this race, doesn’t rack them up in the win column. No worries. His trainer, Greg Green, hasn’t had much success at Sunland Park but nationally he’s winning at better than 23%. Brite Maneuvers also gets jockey J.O. Rocha to hop back onto him. Add in his ability to press the pace and he becomes a nice overlay in this.

Echoing Ridge – - 10/1 online betting odds

This gelding out of Aljabar should be able to get a lead in this and go for a long time because there isn’t a whole lot of other early speed. In the speed department, he fails against some of these, but he’s also going first time for trainer Bart Hone. That’s a huge plus in his corner.

Crowning Victory – - 3/1 online betting odds

He won’t go off anywhere near those 3 to 1 morning line odds because based on speed alone, this guy is the one to beat. He is going first time off the claim for a trainer that usually doesn’t do well with claims and he hasn’t raced since late December but let’s not kid ourselves, if he’s on, he wins, but at what online odds?

Wagering Strategy

I like Brite Maneuvers to win and place. I will also use in an exacta and trifecta box with Echoing Ridge and Crowning Victory.

Good Luck!