I enjoyed the day - and I particularly enjoyed spending the day at the races with my buddy Keith. But I have to say that it was more than a touch frustrating that I had a 12-for-34 day at the track (35%) and managed to lose money. And it was disappointing that I didn't hit ANY of the Sunshine Million stakes events. I typically do pretty well on those. But as I told Keith before we got there - there were not any real "solid" selections, but they were all good "betting races." Here's how the day played out......
The first bet of the day came in the Gulfstream opener, an entry level allowance sprinting five furlongs on the turf. I thought it was a wide-open affair where I went with Goodbye Sorrow who was was a front runner that if able to duplicate the :43.2 half mile she'd put up in an earlier win here over this course would be long gone. She had to work a little harder to get the front, but was clear into the stretch and held on to mid-stretch before being caught, but she saved the place - not that this helped my win bet ticket. At Tampa I thought the opener, a non-winners of three lifetime, was a virtual match-race between Tribal Dance and Sonoma Crush. I preferred the latter who'd earned big figures in a MSW win at the Fair Grounds and then in an entry level allowance here. My concern was why they were dropping in for a 3L tag when after the entry-level allowance they could move to a second level allowance? When I discovered Tribal Dance scratched I upped the bet and watched 'Sonoma "crush" the field under a hand ride as the prohibitive 1/5 chalk. In the opener at Laurel Barin had two recent figures of 50 & 47 which are nothing special, but against a field where a 33 was the top number he looked much the best. Sent off at 3/5 he couldn't even get second as he finished third under the wire. The third at Gulfstream was the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf and my top choice scratched. As Keith and I sat in the paddock I told him that the winner was CLEARLY going to be one of the two favorites and after the race you could make a solid case for either - but before the race you had to question BOTH of them. Frosty Friday, who I ended up going with was coming off an entry level allowance win and had Javier Castellano. So you could say she was improving and had found just the right field to beat in her stakes debut. Because the post-time favorite was Grade 3 winner Family Meeting who won that graded event at Del Mar in November 2015....and had not won since! But, if she wins you could say that her only competition was a last-out allowance winner (who'd been 6/1 that day) making her stakes debut. The two of them duked it out through the lane and in the final strides it was Family Meeting who scored - second, again. The fourth at Gulfstream was the Sunshine Millions Distaff, cut back to six furlongs this year. You Bought Her looked to be sitting on a big effort with the perfect pace flow to come from off the pace. John Velazquez had her perfectly rated to the stretch, she swung out with a full head of steam and Keith and I were certain we were about to blow by. But instead she could not get by the winner and finished second - again - just missing :(
At Tampa Chance of Luck was a perfect 2-for-2 heading into this the Pasco Stakes at seven furlongs. That he'd won his maiden at Laurel at this distance and then won HERE in the Inagural Stakes showed he was clearly the one to beat. As I remarked in my analysis I wouldn't blame you for looking elsewhere, but no one looked like a legitimate threat. Sent off at 7/5 he was wide throughout and was simply outfinished......second, again. At Aqueduct Flick of an Eye was a winner vs. $50K 3-lifetime runners then tried back-to-back allowance events. Today he was back in for a tag, an open $25K and it looked like the perfect spot. Right to the front and long gone as the 6/5 favorite. I was third at the Fair Grounds at 7/2 in a second level allowance but KNEW I'd be getting my first winner at Gulfstream in their fifth, a Maiden Special for 3yo. No, not a Pletcher runner, but as good an angle. Northern had debuted at Saratoga where only the most highly regarded 2-year-olds run. He was second best that day in an OPEN Maiden Special behind a colt named Practical Joke. That guy exited his maiden victory to win the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga, the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont and finished his 2yo season with a strong third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Steady works for trainer Wesley Ward said his colt was ready to roll. As I told Keith afterwards, if I were the owner or trainer I'd be shooting jockey Tyler Gafflione. Off the layoff with CLEARLY the best horse he dueled through a wicked :21 and change and :44 and change pace with a double-digit long shot. Sure he won that battle but by mid-stretch his colt was dead tired. Off the board 4th at 3/5. WOW. The first page of selections came to a close when at Laurel O Dionysus was sent off as the prohibitive 2/5 favorite in their Frank Whitely Stakes for three-year-olds going seven furlongs and he could not hold on - 2nd, yet again. First race on page two of the selections was the Marshua Stakes for three-year-olds, again at Laurel - this going six furlongs. Star Super had thought enough to try the Grade 1 Frizette last fall but that was too much. All her other efforts were sharp and were in stakes. She exited a best-of-the-rest 2nd while over half a dozen clear of the show filly and had top Maryland rider Trevor McCarthy. Forged to the front turning for home, but instead of accelerating away the second choice came to her and they dueled throughout the stretch.....
So close, but I was the winner! Whew! Tripled the bet on the even 1/2 favorite, so I cashed for a little over $20. In Gulfstream's sixth, the Sunshine Millions Sprint, again I thought it was wide-open. But Awesome Banner was dropping out of a sharp effort in the Grade 1 Malibu in So Cal AND was a "Horse-for-the-Course" with a local record of 9/6-2-0. I did not like the favorite, Delta Bluesman who just looked to be on the decline - and I was right about that as he faded late. But Awesome Banner could not get to the winner, Early Entry who I had named as my third choice and noted that IF he could run back to his back-to-back triple digits of his last two races - though those were a YEAR ago - he'd be tough. He did, and he was at 4/1 under Paco Lopez while I was third at 9/5. Missed at Tampa where Realism had the perfect trip in a MSW turf event for 3yo. The Bill Mott trainee was coming off a debut at Saratoga but had no late run - fourth at 5/2. Missed at Tampa again whee I had solidly priced Royal jewelry at 7/2 and did not like the favorite, No Fault of Mine who had run in four graded stakes in her last five starts, but all on the turf. This, the Wayward Lass Stakes was on the main track. On the far turn Royal Jewelry swept to the lead and opened up by daylight. I am home free I thought.....then No Fault of Mine came flying through the stretch to get up in the final strides.....second again. Racing at the Fair Grounds today was a series of stakes races which featured their first legs towards the Louisiana Derby and Fair Grounds Oaks with several supporting stakes. The first of which was up next, the D.F. Kenner stakes, a sprint going six furlongs. Holy Boss was a graded stakes winner but had not been out in several months, so I gave the upset edge to Yockey's Warrior who had run recently and won locally. But that one scratched. I thought that was basically a "gimme" to Holy Boss so I made him my double investment play. He dueled to the top of the lane and then showed why he's a graded stakes winner as he drew off easily as the 2/5 favorite.
I was a good second at a big 5/1 at Aqueduct - yes, second again. Next up was another stakes event, this one from Laurel, the Native Dancer. Page McKenney was the defending champion and loves this course with a 13/5-4-1 local record and even better at this mile and a sixteenth distance (9/7-2-0). His numbers from his "most recent" were best in the field, but the concern was his last start was in April. Would he fire right out of the gate? He was a generous 7/5 - I thought that was more than fair - and made his move spinning out of the turn. He got to the front and was grinding his way to the wire. You could just tell the way the old pro was running that maybe it wasn't his "sparkling best" effort but he was NOT going to let anyone get by him today!
The triple investment meant I'd be due a payout of close to $40. Next up was the 8th at Gulfstream and it turned out to be the story of the day! Funny how that works out with all the stakes action and it's a non-winners of two lifetime, a turf sprint - which typically I'm not as good at handicapping as well. In the lineup here of ten runners only one horse, Black Eagle had NEVER seen two-lifetime company. Running for Bill Mott with John Velazquez up, he looked solid. Also his first nine races had been in two-turn routes and had showed little. But when given the chance to sprint on the turf AND got Velazquez up in a Saratoga sprint he won and came right back to be close in a Belmont turf sprint. The Beyers of 77 and 79 would win this easily. I also noted earlier in the day when Gulfstream analyst Ron Nicoletti showed his Pick-5 ticket he SINGLED Black Eagle! Probably going to hurt his 6/1 program price. But at post time he was a solid and big 4/1. As the field hit the far turn however he was still near the back. I had my camera on, but was about to turn it off when track announcer Pete Aiello called that the front runner was tiring and several were coming, including "Black Eagle making a big move down the middle of the track...." It was a blanket finish, but the front runner had clearly held on, who was 2nd, 3rd and 4th seemed to be the only question. But as the camera zoomed on the apparent winner Aiello announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please hold all tickets as there IS a steward's inquiry into the stretch run involving the unofficial winner and a claim of foul by the third place finisher....." As soon as they showed the head-on it was oh-so-obvious that the winner had drifted out about eight lanes and clearly slammed into the #3 horse who was inside of me. I'd had no trouble, but when the photo came up for who was 2nd, it was me. Now the inquiry was a significant affair for me. They kept showing the replay and showing both the "winner" and Black Eagle circling around waiting for the decision. I kept thinking that while I knew it was unlikely, I could just imagine Nicoletti in the stewards booth saying "that's my single you better take down the winner!" It took nearly ten minutes until finally Aiello called out, "Ladies and Gentlemen.......(dramatic pause)........we have a disqualification....." YES!
And the $10.80 payoff combined with my triple investment meant the stewards had awarded me with over $80! WHOOO HOOOO! I really thought I was about to go on a roll because the next race, the 9th at Gulfstream was my "BEST" of the Day locally. Chad Brown was sending out What's In A Kiss to run 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf in an entry level allowance for sophomores. Top go-to rider Javier Castellano was to ride. This filly was shipping in from Europe where she'd had a win, two thirds and a just-miss fourth in a Group Stakes behind a multiple Group winner last out. Was near the back - too far I thought, but was gobbling up ground into the far turn when her running lane was shut off; had to hit the brakes, then alter course before re-rallying. But the trouble was already done - third at 3/2. That hurts. Ran 4th in the Louisiana Stakes at the Fair Grounds at 2/1 with Iron Fist when he hung - only had the minimum bet. But then I rattled off three wins in a row! At Tampa, their co-feature was the Gasparilla for 3yo fillies going seven furlongs. R Angel Katelyn had already won three of four starts including TWO stakes races, one of which was the six furlong Sandpiper here. Figured to be very tough. She was even money and stalked the leader to the turn, cruised by and was clear by daylight when the second choice made a run. You could see it - at the furlong pole BOTH fillies had had enough and they staggered home with both weaving around the track. The 2nd place finisher was a good three lengths back at the wire, but at one point the rider did seem to take up on her when Katelyn veered outward. Sure enough the win was on hold while an objection and inquiry took place. Is it possible for me to survive TWO inquiries - one in my favor and one not upheld, also in my favor? YES! WHOOO HOOO!
While the $30 I cashed for wasn't even half the $81 on the GP inquiry win, I was still delighted with the way the racing stewards were ruling today! Right after the ruling was made official at Tampa I met Keith in the stands to watch My Girl Corey run in the 10th at Gulfstream. This was a non-winners of one allowance and this filly was also sent out by Chad Brown. She was lightly raced and had yet to run a bad one. After winning a dirt sprint debut she just missed in her first try vs. winners in a dirt, one-turn mile while ELEVEN clear of the show. Moved to the turf last out at Aqueduct she was second, beaten half a length by a 4x turf winner. Castellano was not riding this filly, or anyone else in the field so I wasn't going all in. Local top rider Tyler Gafflione (who had not ridden well on Northern earlier) was the jockey. She rallied from mid-pack and was grinding away. At the top of the stretch I thought she'd go right on by, but by mid-stretch I would have given you my ticket as she looked to be hanging. But in the final 16th she had one more push and got by in the shadow of the wire!
My double investment returned nearly $20. I walked in to cash my ticket and saw the slow-motion replay from the third at Santa Anita......yep, that's number five, my filly and DRF's Brad Free's "best" of the day winning a starter allowance by daylight. Another near-$20 for me! A month ago I had been surprised when Chocolate Ride had run a close fourth in a Fair Grounds stakes. But I was willing to give him one and figured he'd run big time today in defending his Grade 3 Colonel ER Bradley title. A no-show 6th at even money. Sigh.....what's the deal with my "best bets" today? This made me a little antsy about the next pick - my "BET of the Day" at Tampa in an entry level allowance on Earring. This filly towered over the field and as I wrote, a loss here would be an "epic upset." I was more convinced when the only filly in the field that looked to have a legitimate chance scratched out. She came calling for the lead on the turn and ran away handily! WHOOO HOOOO! It's not the payoff, but as I often say that I put up big money to make my statement that this horse was a big-time winner!
No sooner was it official than Princess Ashlyn edged clear at Santa Anita in a nw2L sprint. My eleventh winner of the afternoon. Disappointed when Go Around set sail on the lead for Bill Mott and Javier Castellano in the Sunshine Millions Turf but gave way late to be 4th at 9/5. Untapped did not live up to her big sister's reputation (Untapable) when fading to fifth in the Fair Grounds Silverbulletday Stakes, the first leg towards the Fair Ground Oaks. I made my last six bets and Keith and I headed for home. The first of those was the Grade 2 Santa Monica for older fillies & mares at Santa Anita. The star attraction was Finest City who was last seen winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. But as Brad Free pointed out, nearly all BC champs fail to run well in their first start after the World Championships. Still, on paper she just looked tons, TONS the best. She battled on the lead, while well in hand and drew off as much the best.
Only risked a double investment so I didn't make a lot of money on the 2/5 favorite, but a win is a win. But that was it for the day.....Camboida third at 2/1 in the Fair Grounds' Marie Krantz Memorial; Awesome Slew third as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite in the Sunshine Millions Classic; Takeoff took the lead in the stretch in the Grade 3 Lecomte for 3yo colts at the Fair Grounds at a big 6/1 with my double investment.......faded to third. Sigh......then Town Champ was third at 9/5 in the 7th at Santa Anita, a MSW and Denman's Call was third at 3/1 in the 8th out west in my final pick.
So for the day I was 12-for-34 and lost a little. I always think it's OK when I lose if I can look back and say one or two races a 2nd or 3rd place finisher that would have won would have made the difference. And that was the case here.
While the $30 I cashed for wasn't even half the $81 on the GP inquiry win, I was still delighted with the way the racing stewards were ruling today! Right after the ruling was made official at Tampa I met Keith in the stands to watch My Girl Corey run in the 10th at Gulfstream. This was a non-winners of one allowance and this filly was also sent out by Chad Brown. She was lightly raced and had yet to run a bad one. After winning a dirt sprint debut she just missed in her first try vs. winners in a dirt, one-turn mile while ELEVEN clear of the show. Moved to the turf last out at Aqueduct she was second, beaten half a length by a 4x turf winner. Castellano was not riding this filly, or anyone else in the field so I wasn't going all in. Local top rider Tyler Gafflione (who had not ridden well on Northern earlier) was the jockey. She rallied from mid-pack and was grinding away. At the top of the stretch I thought she'd go right on by, but by mid-stretch I would have given you my ticket as she looked to be hanging. But in the final 16th she had one more push and got by in the shadow of the wire!
My double investment returned nearly $20. I walked in to cash my ticket and saw the slow-motion replay from the third at Santa Anita......yep, that's number five, my filly and DRF's Brad Free's "best" of the day winning a starter allowance by daylight. Another near-$20 for me! A month ago I had been surprised when Chocolate Ride had run a close fourth in a Fair Grounds stakes. But I was willing to give him one and figured he'd run big time today in defending his Grade 3 Colonel ER Bradley title. A no-show 6th at even money. Sigh.....what's the deal with my "best bets" today? This made me a little antsy about the next pick - my "BET of the Day" at Tampa in an entry level allowance on Earring. This filly towered over the field and as I wrote, a loss here would be an "epic upset." I was more convinced when the only filly in the field that looked to have a legitimate chance scratched out. She came calling for the lead on the turn and ran away handily! WHOOO HOOOO! It's not the payoff, but as I often say that I put up big money to make my statement that this horse was a big-time winner!
No sooner was it official than Princess Ashlyn edged clear at Santa Anita in a nw2L sprint. My eleventh winner of the afternoon. Disappointed when Go Around set sail on the lead for Bill Mott and Javier Castellano in the Sunshine Millions Turf but gave way late to be 4th at 9/5. Untapped did not live up to her big sister's reputation (Untapable) when fading to fifth in the Fair Grounds Silverbulletday Stakes, the first leg towards the Fair Ground Oaks. I made my last six bets and Keith and I headed for home. The first of those was the Grade 2 Santa Monica for older fillies & mares at Santa Anita. The star attraction was Finest City who was last seen winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. But as Brad Free pointed out, nearly all BC champs fail to run well in their first start after the World Championships. Still, on paper she just looked tons, TONS the best. She battled on the lead, while well in hand and drew off as much the best.
Only risked a double investment so I didn't make a lot of money on the 2/5 favorite, but a win is a win. But that was it for the day.....Camboida third at 2/1 in the Fair Grounds' Marie Krantz Memorial; Awesome Slew third as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite in the Sunshine Millions Classic; Takeoff took the lead in the stretch in the Grade 3 Lecomte for 3yo colts at the Fair Grounds at a big 6/1 with my double investment.......faded to third. Sigh......then Town Champ was third at 9/5 in the 7th at Santa Anita, a MSW and Denman's Call was third at 3/1 in the 8th out west in my final pick.
So for the day I was 12-for-34 and lost a little. I always think it's OK when I lose if I can look back and say one or two races a 2nd or 3rd place finisher that would have won would have made the difference. And that was the case here.
Sunshine Millions Recap
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