What a great way to start the winter season! As I told Kim, it's one of the best things I enjoy about my hobby - the way a day can turn on a dime :) If you'd stopped me about 2:30 in the afternoon and asked about how the day was going you'd have heard a completely different story than what you will read below, because as it turned out I won TWELVE races (from 35 selections) and have tickets on my desk that are worth nearly $300 to cash on my next visit, giving me a profit on the day of over $80 to kick off the Gulfstream meet! So let's take a look back at how this all unfolded......
I had not been at the races, live on track, since October 1st when Keith and I were at Churchill Downs in Lousiville; and I had not been to Gulfstream since Labor Day weekend. It was a planned "vacation" from racing because this time last year I began handicapping on a daily basis the first weekend of December through the Gulfstream meet. I had a ten day break when we were in France, but still......as soon as Gulfstream closed I handicapped daily at Keeneland to kick off the Triple Crown season and that led me to handicapping daily at Monmouth which took me through Labor Day - again, I had a break when we spent two weeks in Alaska. I had selected weekend picks in September and October - most notably the trip to Philadelphia for Pennsylvania Derby Day and Louisville with Keith for "Day at the Downs." But then I only played the Breeders' Cup weekend and now come in refreshed. I did in fact wonder how I'd do "fresh off the layoff" because so much of handicapping is intuitive. In the opener at Gulfstream, it was a MSW for two-year-olds, and right off the bat there was a Pletcher runner. Now the problem was it was a turf race where he's not as effective, but they typically pay better. Who could have figured that Psalmody would be a huge 6/1 at post time and as he took the lead heading for home I was so excited. But he was caught late by my second choice, a Ramsey-Maker colt ridden by Julian Leparoux. Second. Missed at Aqueduct with the 9/5 favorite who faded through the lane and then at Parx I rallied belatedly to be fourth. At Gulfstream I upped the bet in the 2nd on another Pletcher 2yo on the main track, Le Pin. Bet down to even money he pressed to midstretch but instead of kicking clear he faded to 4th. FINALLY cashed my first ticket on a maiden claiming event at Tampa with The Cookie Man. He had been the 5/2 favorite in his debut but broke dead last of eleven, rushed to the lead before hitting the quarter pole then stopped badly. The drop in for the tag today made him very dangerous if away with the field. Broke sharply, right to the front and drew off as much the best at 6/5. Cashed for over $20. And NOW we're going to roll I thought. At Laurel Tactical Hero looked to be the odds-on winner and was at 4/5 as he led comfortably into the lane....then was nailed late to finish 2nd. The first of NINE Claiming Crown stakes events here at Gulfstream was next and I went with Forest Funds. She rallied wide into the lane in the Distaff Dash on the turf at 2/1 to finish fifth. Second again at Laurel where AGAIN I was on the lead through the lane and caught in deep stretch. As they went to post in the fourth at Gulfstream I was looking at a single win on my first sheet of selections and I began to think that the theme of today was that it was simply good to be back at the races, but I was destined to see my picks just not getting the job done. The fourth was the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit, a seven furlong dash. As I looked over the field my impression was that this race was ripe for a "go figure winner. I could not find anyone that didn't figure, that figured :) and so I went with a Gulfstream 40% Club play on Shaft of Light. Trainer Jorge Navarro had been money in the bank for me all summer at Monmouth and over the last two years here at Gulfstream when he gave a leg up to Ermiso Jaramillo they won at a 44% clip. Shaft of Light was a multiple winner at the distance and had been burning up the track in the morning with four bullet works. Broke just a step slowly but quickly got his feet under him and blew by to the front within the first two hundred yards....opened up by daylight and as the announcer said, he "bid this field a good afternoon" at the furlong pole as he drew off with style. FIRST WIN at Gulfstream Park, and my first stakes winner on the day.
While he was a short 7/5, still at this point, only my second winner from ten selections, I was just happy to cash a ticket, and especially a Gulfstream ticket! Right back in my next selection where Cincy Belle got the call over the Tampa turf. This maiden claiming event had two likely win choices who were both dropping out of MSW tries with similar figures. But Kissthebutterflies had earned hers in her maiden claiming debut, then was in MSW last out and faltered with a slower figure while my pick had debuted in MSW and earned her number there. That was the difference for me. Stalked the pace to the turn, dueled through the lane and edged clear late as the 6/5 favorite - another nearly $25 cash for me! Missed with Ken & Sarah Ramsey's Littlemissperfect in the Claiming Crown slipper when she was never in it at 3/1. and then lost the Parx feature when Indominus Rex loomed boldly on the turn, and ran evenly home. The sixth at Gulfstream was the Claiming Crown Express and I liked Jorge Navarro's Defer Heaven. He'd won five of six here last winter, losing his GP finale in the $100K Sir Shackleton on Florida Derby Day, so not only was he a Gulfstream 40% Club play with Jaramillo up, but he was an obvious Horse-for-the-Course. My biggest concern was that like Shaft of Light he was coming off a layoff, but his works had not been nearly as impressive AND it looked like there might be company on the front end that could compromise his chances. Still, he looked strong if he ran back to his 2015 GP figures and he was taking money on the board. I toyed with the idea of upping the bet, but decided it was a better idea to let the day play out as I'd planned it. As they hit the far turn the rider had smartly rated off the dueling leaders and now made his move as heads turned for home. Defer Heaven surged to the front, opened up and had plenty left to hold off the closers.
BEST of all he'd floated up to nearly 5/2 and paid a juicy $6.80 allowing me to cash for $34 on my second win here at Gulfstream! I cashed immediately again at Aqueduct on Whitmore in a second level allowance. I was only disappointed in that the odds-on favorite, Summer Revolution had been scratched - I did not like him and thought I'd get a price. Instead Whitmore was bet down to even money, which was really too short a price. He was the class of the field, but his last appearance on the track.....in the Kentucky Derby on the first weekend of May! OH MY! Into the turn the rider had plenty of horse, but was behind a wall of four horses. No where to run. As they straightened for home a seam opened, Whitmore burst through and drew off like an even money should. Whooo hoooo!
Four wins in six selections - I am on a roll baby. Not so fast my friend as reality came back in a hurry.
The theme from earlier day returned at the Fair Grounds where A Fashion Affair was 2/1, took the lead into the lane, was clear.....and was caught late, second. Then, the most bizzare story of the day. In the 6th at Gulfstream, Defer Heaven's win, I'd missed the break from the gate because the pa system went dead at Gulfstream. Apparently sound was still functioning on the simulcast networks because we continued to see the analysis and paddock reports but no sound. The 7th was the Claiming Crown Iron Horse going 8 1/2 furlongs where the runners would end the race at the first finish line up the track. So I found a spot on the rail - the starting gate a 16th of a mile down the track to my right. My horse was #12, Racetrack Romance. He was a delightful 4/1 when he loaded into the gate. He had a light colored cap which would help me follow his progress I thought. They broke from the gate and as the FOURTEEN runners hit the far turn and my line of vision was no longer blocked by the gate I searched for my horse. I thought I saw him in the back third of the field and when I looked out at the jumbotron where the number chicklets were displayed I could not see a "12." Am I so far back that my number is not displayed? Looked out on the track and there were no stragglers - I must be in and among horses; one of the number blocks obscured between runners on the animated display. They hit the far turn and I thought I saw my light colored cap gathering momentum on the leaders, but as they ran through the stretch I didn't see a "12" anywhere - obviously not one of the leaders. I watched the slow-motion replay of the finish and STILL did not see a "12" go under the line. Did my horse pull up, toss the rider? I looked around the track - no broken down horses and the ambulance was still sitting near the winner's circle. What gives? Then I see the "INQUIRY" sign posted. Maybe I did pull up after an incident. By now I was watching the replay and they were showing the start of the race from a head-on view. The gates open and thirteen runners burst out - #12, Racetrack Romance just stood there and literally looked side-to-side as if to say, "Hey, where you guys going?" Literally didn't move, ever. This was more difficult to follow because remember, there's no sound. Am I getting a refund? I keep seeing the replay over and over - yeah, that's me; yeah, I didn't break. OBVIOUSLY a "non-runner" and due a refund. Then "OFFICIAL" is posted and the runner-up's odds shift from 4/1 to 3/1. The prices roll and CERTAINLY there will be a message - since they cannot tell us - of a refund. Nothing. I go to cash my last two winners with "Kim" - one of the twins I like and I ask. No refund. The teller next to her tells me that the rule is if the gate opens it's a "fair start" and no refunds are allowed. Wow. Go figure. My "luck" continued in the 8th at Parx where Gambler's Ghost dueled on the front end from the start, put a neck in front turning for home but was out head-bobbed on the wire, second. Then the 8th at Aqueduct, their feature, the Grade 3 Go For Wand - saw my pick, Bar of Gold leave the post as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite. Made a bid on the turn and then.....nothing. Well beaten fifth. At Tampa I was certain I'd snap the string of lossed where Nalfah was the very short priced 3/5 favorite and deserved this based on the figures. My only fear was that Dynatail would get loose on the lead. At 7/1 that one went right to the front and coasted while my pick rallied for a distant third place finish. WOW. Turn the page to the next set of selections. Went to make my first bet at Del Mar - scratched. Sigh.....At Laurel my pick, Coltimus Primed dueled on the lead at 4/1 then stopped to finish 7th. As I climbed back up to "my seat" in Section 101 for the Claiming Crown Tiara I was again mulling over the theme for today - just another Opening Day....it's not about the winning, it's about being happy Gulfstream is open again; the results WILL come over the next four months. My pick in this turf race was 12/1 in the program but was bet down to 6/1.....maybe. As they hit the first turn, my filly, Marabea was near the back. Down the backstretch - no gain. On the turn she did pick up her feet, but didn't make any progress. I had turned my camera on to film the stretch run, but no sense in getting it focused because turning for home I'm STILL in the back - 9th officially. Just as they are a quarter mile out I hear the announcer say, "...and now Marabea is making progress on the outside...." WHAT? I quickly get the camera focused on the leaders and sure enough, here comes the #7 - Marabea. The announcer picks up on her momentum and calls, "....and Marabea finds her best stride! MARABEA surging to the front - MARABEA WINS!" Oh my! I look at my ticket - I've GOT this one. I thought the board read 5/1 as I filmed my exciting win, but when the prices came up I was delighted to see it was 6/1 and the $2 payoff was a huge $15.60 - I'll collect almost $40!
Oh, I'm back in this thing Webby! Dropped the next two though - when I was 4th in New Orleans in a Fair Grounds turf sprint and a dismal 10th at 6/1 in the Tampa co-featured Sandpiper Stakes. At Del Mar, I had a pick in their third race - a mile and a sixteenth turf event for mid-level claimers. There are oh-so-many factors to consider in handicapping, but one general truism for claimers is that they are consistently inconsistent. It's not typical for a claiming runner to come right back to win. But as I looked over the field of this field of turf runners Buymeabond was a 3x winner at Del Mar - ALL at this distance and an ELEVEN time winner on the grass. One of my favorite handicapping angles has always been, "turf winners win turf races" and that's the key here I figured. But as they hit the far turn she was at the back. She was picking off horses, but there's no running room, and so it's a wide trip. No worries as she completely circled the field, was some six wide at least into the stretch and reached the front inside the 16th pole to WIN! Another very fair price at 2/1 so my double investment resulted in over $30 in cash. My last live race to watch was up next and it was my BET of the DAY - the Claiming Crown Jewel with a purse of $200K. Royal Posse had won this race last year after earning a 92 Beyer in the NY-bred Empire Classic when 2nd. This year he'd WON the Empire Classic with a figure of 100! He had two bullet works and looked strong to repeat. But what sealed the deal was his resume - at all other distances he was 22/3-8-0; but at today's nine furlong distance he was 11/8-2-0 with earnings of over $675K (from lifetime earnings of $900K). CLEARLY this is his trip and he's cycling up in TOP FORM. As they approached the far turn he was stalking in fourth, but then instead of making a bid he dropped farther back. No - seriously? Then, midway on the turn it was like a light went on and he said, "OK, it's GO TIME!" He began grinding down on the leaders picking them off one by one. At the sixteenth pole three of them were across the track but he had ALL the momentum and while the final margin of victory was not all that decisive the rider was riding confidently. WHOOO HOOOO!
What a great way to end the live racing day! As I headed home, thinking I'd beat the traffic, I had six tickets for late races in my pocket. I sailed along to I-595 and as I merged onto the interstate traffic slowed and then came to a crawling halt. Surprised so much traffic is merging on from I-95 I thought. But when I came to a crest in the road I could see nothing but tailights glowing ahead. I later found out that there had been a tanker spill and so the road had been closed. It took me over two hours to make what should have been a twenty minute trip from the airport area. So much for getting home early. Luckily I was in a good mood and had the SEC Championship to listen to on the radio. After dinner with Kim, I sat down to watch my races. In the sixth at the Fair Grounds Tough Customer dueled through the stretch and then forged to the lead right at the wire - WIN! Doubled the bet on this 2/1 winner, I'll cash for $30. In the 7th here I had Voodoo Spell in a turf sprint. A HUGE 11/1 he was FLYING through the lane - photo finish, but I knew I was second. Still that would have been very nice! The fifth at Del Mar was a turf sprint with two obvious choices. But the post time favorite, Home Journey had not won a race since April 2015. I went with Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens on the "other" contender, Paquita Coqueta. Right to the front and never challenged. And at a big 3/1 price - I will collect $40 on this winner. Oh this is going great! The bottom line will be greatly impacted by the next race I know - it's my "best" at Del Mar, in the co-featured Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap. I really liked Vale Dori. She looked a very likely winner on paper but what made me up the ante was when I read DRF analyst Brad Free's comments that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had seriously considered running her in the Breeders' Cup Distaff despite the fact that multiple Grade 1 winners Beholder, Songbird, and Stellar Wind were in there. WOW he must have a lot of confidence. Instead he ran her in an allowance when she coasted to victory by double digit lengths. Top rider Mike Smith was up today. He placed her right off the hip of the big priced leader and when they hit the turn he gave the reigns a shake and it was all over. Much, MUCH the best!
Even though she was the 1/2 favorite I still was adding another $30 of income to my bankroll with my "prime time" investment! I was 3rd at 7/2 in my last bet at the Fair Grounds, but it was only a minimum play. The final race on my sheet was the national highlight race - the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar going nine furlongs on the turf for three-year-olds. When I looked over the field my first impression was that this was a "good" field and all the top 3yo turf runners were here. But none of them had separated themselves from the rest. Maybe it's a "no bet" race. Then I noticed - Javier Castellano is riding for Chad Brown on Annals of Time. Hmmmm. First, it's NOT a surprise that Castellano rides for Brown, on the turf in particular. But here's what got me thinking. As the three-year running riding champ here Castellano always gets the best mounts. With NINE stakes races worth $100K or more he could have had a field day in So Fla, but instead he's here in So Cal. Again, not that surprising, except, look at the record for Annals of Time.....
First of all you'll note that his lone win was a photo finish in MSW company. Second, in his most recent, his stakes debut - in a GRADE 3 event, remember today is a Grade 1 - he was a good third, BUT was beaten by two of today's rivals, BOTH trained by Chad Brown AND these were the two program favorites. And most importantly, note the riders who've been on board Annals of Time. Ortiz and Velazquez - NEVER Castellano. So, let me get this straight......top Gulfstream rider Javier Castellano, with his pick of mounts in NINE $100K or more stakes gives up ALL those opportunities to fly to So Cal (where he had only one other mount on a non-contender) and ride a horse he's NEVER ridden, who's been beaten by the two favorites in the race and who has never won a stakes race OR raced in Grade 1 company? WHAT does he know that I don't? In a wide-open race, that's enough to make Annals of Time my pick. Last night talking to Jeff on the phone about the upcoming racing day I even went through all this with him. They hit the far turn and Annals of Time is near the back but I could tell he was accelerating. Maybe.......he begins to pick off horses as they make the turn for home. Castellano swings him four wide, but between horses. A seam opens, but then the outside horse begins to move inside, it's oh so tight, but Annals of Time gets through - we'ere at the sixteenth pole and now with a clear run he hits another gear and BLOWS BY to win going away! OH MY! The prices come up and at 5/1 he pays a whopping $13.80!
With my double investment I'll cash for almost $70 on this upset winner! I've swept the two graded features at Del Mar and collected TWELVE winners today. What a G-R-E-A-T day!
Sunday December 4
Oh, I'm back in this thing Webby! Dropped the next two though - when I was 4th in New Orleans in a Fair Grounds turf sprint and a dismal 10th at 6/1 in the Tampa co-featured Sandpiper Stakes. At Del Mar, I had a pick in their third race - a mile and a sixteenth turf event for mid-level claimers. There are oh-so-many factors to consider in handicapping, but one general truism for claimers is that they are consistently inconsistent. It's not typical for a claiming runner to come right back to win. But as I looked over the field of this field of turf runners Buymeabond was a 3x winner at Del Mar - ALL at this distance and an ELEVEN time winner on the grass. One of my favorite handicapping angles has always been, "turf winners win turf races" and that's the key here I figured. But as they hit the far turn she was at the back. She was picking off horses, but there's no running room, and so it's a wide trip. No worries as she completely circled the field, was some six wide at least into the stretch and reached the front inside the 16th pole to WIN! Another very fair price at 2/1 so my double investment resulted in over $30 in cash. My last live race to watch was up next and it was my BET of the DAY - the Claiming Crown Jewel with a purse of $200K. Royal Posse had won this race last year after earning a 92 Beyer in the NY-bred Empire Classic when 2nd. This year he'd WON the Empire Classic with a figure of 100! He had two bullet works and looked strong to repeat. But what sealed the deal was his resume - at all other distances he was 22/3-8-0; but at today's nine furlong distance he was 11/8-2-0 with earnings of over $675K (from lifetime earnings of $900K). CLEARLY this is his trip and he's cycling up in TOP FORM. As they approached the far turn he was stalking in fourth, but then instead of making a bid he dropped farther back. No - seriously? Then, midway on the turn it was like a light went on and he said, "OK, it's GO TIME!" He began grinding down on the leaders picking them off one by one. At the sixteenth pole three of them were across the track but he had ALL the momentum and while the final margin of victory was not all that decisive the rider was riding confidently. WHOOO HOOOO!
What a great way to end the live racing day! As I headed home, thinking I'd beat the traffic, I had six tickets for late races in my pocket. I sailed along to I-595 and as I merged onto the interstate traffic slowed and then came to a crawling halt. Surprised so much traffic is merging on from I-95 I thought. But when I came to a crest in the road I could see nothing but tailights glowing ahead. I later found out that there had been a tanker spill and so the road had been closed. It took me over two hours to make what should have been a twenty minute trip from the airport area. So much for getting home early. Luckily I was in a good mood and had the SEC Championship to listen to on the radio. After dinner with Kim, I sat down to watch my races. In the sixth at the Fair Grounds Tough Customer dueled through the stretch and then forged to the lead right at the wire - WIN! Doubled the bet on this 2/1 winner, I'll cash for $30. In the 7th here I had Voodoo Spell in a turf sprint. A HUGE 11/1 he was FLYING through the lane - photo finish, but I knew I was second. Still that would have been very nice! The fifth at Del Mar was a turf sprint with two obvious choices. But the post time favorite, Home Journey had not won a race since April 2015. I went with Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens on the "other" contender, Paquita Coqueta. Right to the front and never challenged. And at a big 3/1 price - I will collect $40 on this winner. Oh this is going great! The bottom line will be greatly impacted by the next race I know - it's my "best" at Del Mar, in the co-featured Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap. I really liked Vale Dori. She looked a very likely winner on paper but what made me up the ante was when I read DRF analyst Brad Free's comments that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had seriously considered running her in the Breeders' Cup Distaff despite the fact that multiple Grade 1 winners Beholder, Songbird, and Stellar Wind were in there. WOW he must have a lot of confidence. Instead he ran her in an allowance when she coasted to victory by double digit lengths. Top rider Mike Smith was up today. He placed her right off the hip of the big priced leader and when they hit the turn he gave the reigns a shake and it was all over. Much, MUCH the best!
Even though she was the 1/2 favorite I still was adding another $30 of income to my bankroll with my "prime time" investment! I was 3rd at 7/2 in my last bet at the Fair Grounds, but it was only a minimum play. The final race on my sheet was the national highlight race - the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar going nine furlongs on the turf for three-year-olds. When I looked over the field my first impression was that this was a "good" field and all the top 3yo turf runners were here. But none of them had separated themselves from the rest. Maybe it's a "no bet" race. Then I noticed - Javier Castellano is riding for Chad Brown on Annals of Time. Hmmmm. First, it's NOT a surprise that Castellano rides for Brown, on the turf in particular. But here's what got me thinking. As the three-year running riding champ here Castellano always gets the best mounts. With NINE stakes races worth $100K or more he could have had a field day in So Fla, but instead he's here in So Cal. Again, not that surprising, except, look at the record for Annals of Time.....
First of all you'll note that his lone win was a photo finish in MSW company. Second, in his most recent, his stakes debut - in a GRADE 3 event, remember today is a Grade 1 - he was a good third, BUT was beaten by two of today's rivals, BOTH trained by Chad Brown AND these were the two program favorites. And most importantly, note the riders who've been on board Annals of Time. Ortiz and Velazquez - NEVER Castellano. So, let me get this straight......top Gulfstream rider Javier Castellano, with his pick of mounts in NINE $100K or more stakes gives up ALL those opportunities to fly to So Cal (where he had only one other mount on a non-contender) and ride a horse he's NEVER ridden, who's been beaten by the two favorites in the race and who has never won a stakes race OR raced in Grade 1 company? WHAT does he know that I don't? In a wide-open race, that's enough to make Annals of Time my pick. Last night talking to Jeff on the phone about the upcoming racing day I even went through all this with him. They hit the far turn and Annals of Time is near the back but I could tell he was accelerating. Maybe.......he begins to pick off horses as they make the turn for home. Castellano swings him four wide, but between horses. A seam opens, but then the outside horse begins to move inside, it's oh so tight, but Annals of Time gets through - we'ere at the sixteenth pole and now with a clear run he hits another gear and BLOWS BY to win going away! OH MY! The prices come up and at 5/1 he pays a whopping $13.80!
With my double investment I'll cash for almost $70 on this upset winner! I've swept the two graded features at Del Mar and collected TWELVE winners today. What a G-R-E-A-T day!
Gulfstream Park Opening Day Highlights
December 3, 2016
Saturday's Final Totals:
35 / 12-7-4 (-$335 / +$417 = PROFIT: $82.00)
35 / 12-7-4 (-$335 / +$417 = PROFIT: $82.00)
Sunday December 4
So many times, it seems - especially at Gulfstream - after a big day AT the races on Saturday I play the Sunday card and have an "off day." Such was the case today, but to be fair it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I handicapped the card on Friday night as I watched college football and I tried to be selective with my picks. Of the ten races I found selections worthy of a wager in six of the races. But by post time my selection in the 6th race had scratched leaving me with only five bets. I passed the opener where my top choice was the 8/5 favorite and ran second behind a 7/1 runner. In the second, a non-winners of two lifetime sprint I liked Wild Good who was a GP 40% Club play for trainer Victor Barboza. Over the last two winters he's sent out three class droppers and they ALL WON! Wild Good pressed the pace at 7/2 to the stretch, took over and I was all smiles! That is until my second choice caught him in the final 100 yards! Hey, this sounds oh so much like yesterday's races! I passed the third - my top choice was 5th. In the 4th race, another 2-lifetime sprint Homer Matt, my top choice from the Jorge Navarro barn, was the prohibitive 3/5 favorite. But the race was over as soon as the gates sprung open as he hesitated at the start and quickly was at the back. Eased after a half mile of running. I finally got a winner in the 5th and ironically it was the ONLY bet of the day that was the minimum play - figures. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is widely known in handicapping circles to rarely have his debut runners ready to roll. So if you see one that runs very well at first asking they probably are talented and will produce next time out. Such was the case with Mr. Meister who was a sharp third in his debut. That was even more impressive in that he was steadied that day AND was seven wide into the stretch! He was hammered down to 3/2 favoritism as they left the gate. He dueled outside a Ken & Sarah Ramsey colt to mid-stretch and then edged clear. I'm on the board!
I thought that with my "best bet" of the day later I'd still have a good day. The scratch was in the 6th - ironically my top two picks scratched and my third choice was 6th at 8/5! A wise "no bet" decision! In the 7th I passed again as there was a Pletcher debut runner but he had been second in a GPW debut and I have found that most Pletcher winter runners that race at GPW without winning don't usually win. Sand Shark did at 3/2 odds. In the 8th it was my "best bet." Bingo Kitten raced for Ken & Sarah Ramsey with trainer Michael Maker and jockey Julian Leparoux. Even though it was a nw2L race, of the 122 combined Beyers earned by the rest of the field NONE of them had earned a figure that would beat three of the last four BSF that Bingo Kitten had earned. Leparoux rode him confidently, three wide, around the far turn and cruised to the lead. But when asked to accelerate to the wire he ran evenly. Third at even money - sealing a losing day. In the 9th I had a "no bet" - my top choice was 9/2 and was eased....another wise decision! And in the finale I had Leparoux riding for top trainer Mark Casse. Not sure he would have won or even run well but all chance was lost when a runner inside of him didn't take the first turn well and floated me some eight wide. Leparoux made up ground down the backstretch to be in position but then he stopped badly.
Racing resumes on Wednesday and we'll have a full five days of championship racing this week! Saturday there are multiple stakes, all for juveniles and it's Louisiana Champions Day at the Fair Grounds. I also hope to get out to the races either Wednesday or Thursday.
I thought that with my "best bet" of the day later I'd still have a good day. The scratch was in the 6th - ironically my top two picks scratched and my third choice was 6th at 8/5! A wise "no bet" decision! In the 7th I passed again as there was a Pletcher debut runner but he had been second in a GPW debut and I have found that most Pletcher winter runners that race at GPW without winning don't usually win. Sand Shark did at 3/2 odds. In the 8th it was my "best bet." Bingo Kitten raced for Ken & Sarah Ramsey with trainer Michael Maker and jockey Julian Leparoux. Even though it was a nw2L race, of the 122 combined Beyers earned by the rest of the field NONE of them had earned a figure that would beat three of the last four BSF that Bingo Kitten had earned. Leparoux rode him confidently, three wide, around the far turn and cruised to the lead. But when asked to accelerate to the wire he ran evenly. Third at even money - sealing a losing day. In the 9th I had a "no bet" - my top choice was 9/2 and was eased....another wise decision! And in the finale I had Leparoux riding for top trainer Mark Casse. Not sure he would have won or even run well but all chance was lost when a runner inside of him didn't take the first turn well and floated me some eight wide. Leparoux made up ground down the backstretch to be in position but then he stopped badly.
Racing resumes on Wednesday and we'll have a full five days of championship racing this week! Saturday there are multiple stakes, all for juveniles and it's Louisiana Champions Day at the Fair Grounds. I also hope to get out to the races either Wednesday or Thursday.
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