north or south?

Under the category of "keeping your options open is always a good thing," (cough, cough, let's hope Kate fails to read this particular post), I'm likely to enter Veiled Reference in two spots next Sunday, the one overnight stakes race in NY that I've mentioned, as well as an allowance race down in West Virginia that's in the newest condition book for Charles Town. I'm hopeful that the spot in NY comes up as a good one for her, of course, but in the event that it's a touch salty for our liking, we'll just send her back south to run in what would be a much softer spot. Entries for both are later this week; we'll see what things look like and make a call. If she's got a better than fair chance of hitting the board at Aqueduct, it makes sense to be a little aggressive and take a shot for the money and black type. Plus, it's a haul down to West Virginia, no joke. She worked 3/4ths in 1.16 on her own yesterday morning at Fair Hill. From a quick look at the tab, I'd say that it was a solid move. She should be plenty fit for the added ground in NY if that's the way we play it. We'd know soon enough whether she's fast enough, too.

Platinum Couple is the horse in the stakes in New York today (race 8). The Equibase boys must have been setting up a play, I guess, when they wrote in the 1/16 chart that he raced inside and weakened last out. In actuality, PC was fanned seven-wide into the first turn, closed traveling wide and was checked in the lane late while finishing fourth, beaten two lengths and change for it all. He gets more ground today, pace should be honest and he's back in against state-breds. He's coming back a little quick, but is still a solid play provided the Equibase crew doesn't bet him down to 6-1. I'll use him underneath the logical ones, too, if the price is right.