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Class drops turn into winning moves
By Tom Tolmich
I have compiled some noteworthy winning moves by a pair of trainers over the past two meets. I'll start with Tim McCanna.
McCanna is absolutely the class-drop king. Some examples:
Ash Panache was claimed for $12,500, ran fourth against $20,000 stock, then dropped to $10,000 and won at 2-1.
Cielo Pete was dropped off a decent try for $10,000 then won at 9-5 for $6,250. S.S. Hawkeye was dropped from $20,000 to $10,000 and won at even money.
Ackey Nite went from $8,000 to the basement in a romp.
Blue Knight was dropped from open $5,000 to $3,200 nonwinners in a year and won easily, only to be claimed and jumped back to $5,000 where he won again at 11-1. Simply Sportin was a $16,000 maiden who showed good form, then dropped to $6,250 and won. Last year, he had two maiden class-droppers on the same day -- both from $25,000 to the bottom level -- and they won at even money in a romp.
Finally, Impatient Princess ran a good second for $25,000 in her 1999 debut, then double-dropped to $16,000 and broke her maiden.
In sum, if Tim McCanna has a horse who shows decent form and is tumbling in class, it may be foolish to bet against him.
Richard Occhiuto routinely brings cheap claimers from northern california and finds his way into exactas, often at a price:
Dancing Beau was a Golden Gate shipper who ran second in his first start here at 5-1.
Oscars Lastchance was a $6,250 Golden Gate claimer who won here in his first out at 6-1.
Airborne Shuttle was a Golden Gate allowance horse who ran in the Portland Meadows Mile, and then nearly beat Military Force in his first start here, losing by a neck at 14-1.
Big Gentry was a Bay Meadows claimer who ran poorly here for $5,000 as the 8-5 favorite. He then stepped up to $8,000, then was was dropped to the basement, where he finally won at 3-1.
Finally, he brought up Loyal Nat from Golden Gate. He won his first out at 17-1, only to be disqualified. He won again the next time out at 3-1.
If Occhiuto has a low-level claimer from Northern California and brings it up here, it may be worth it to play him in the exacta somewhere. He fires first time at the track with them, almost always at a price.
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