Week 5

Wednesday Dec. 28

Today we were in Orlando visiting with all three of our kids AND all three grandsons - it doesn't get much better than that!  That is unless there's a winning day at the races - yes, hard to imagine with the way the last couple of weeks have gone but that's what happened today as we kicked off the last week of December and head into the powerful months of January and February where nearly every weekend is a huge racing event!  I had four selections on the card and I made my plays in the morning prior to the start of our day.  When we returned from an outing at the park my oldest son and fellow racing fan Jeff asked about my "best of the day" and if I'd watch the replay yet.  I told him I needed to watch three races prior, but he was anxious to see the 9th where he too had invested on Todd Pletcher's Par who figured to be much the best.  I ran an event fifth in the opener at 5/2 and then third at 2/1 in the sixth.  Jeff asked again about the race and I told him to hang on I had one more to watch before that - the 7th where I liked Stay Safe With Kitten in a 2yo Maiden Claiming turf event.  She was making her first start for a tag for Michael Maker and the Ramseys.  She moved easily to the front into the lane and ran off as much the best.

And the price was a generous $9.60.  With my double investment I'd cash for nearly $50!  Finally time for the "featured" ninth, a nw2L turf event.  But Par looked clearly the fastest in here.  A longshot set out on the lead and when they hit the far turn that one was still multiple lengths in front, but Par was just being asked.  By the furlong marker he had blown by and ran away as easily the best.

With my "prime time" investment I'd cash for another $30 and finished 2-for-4 with a profit of nearly $40.  WHOOOO HOOOOO!

Thursday Dec. 29

ANOTHER 2-win day was the result when the replays were over.  I made my selections in the morning and when Jeff & his family headed out around 10 am, Kim and I began preparing for our drive back to Fort Lauderdale.  The traffic was heavy and a lot of congestion, making for a long trip home.  But the replays made me feel better.  Missed at 2/1 when 6th in the third, but scored with Alsterone in a maiden claiming event in the fourth.  She had been daylight clear of the rest of the field when third in her Keeneland debut and TEN clear of the field when third at Churchill last out.  Those were for a $50K tag and today she plunged to $12.5K.

EASILY best by at least a pole at a meager 2/5 price.  On the turf for the 7th I was 2nd best as the 3/2 favorite behind my second choice.  Then I won with Chad Brown's Elsyea's World who was the obvious favorite at 4/5.  She drew off as clearly the best to give me my second two-win day on consecutive racing days.

Friday Dec. 30 - Saturday Dec. 31

Lackluster handicapping on both days led to an 0-for-four performance on Friday and the only thing to talk about on the Sunday card was the BET of the Week.  Kim's parents had come for a weekend visit on Friday and everyone had plans for the first half of the day Saturday.  I was excited to watch the two college football playoffs in the afternoon so I had no plans for a full day at the races.  But I contemplated going out for the fifth where I had a "big bet."  But with the way the last two weeks had gone I was concerned about driving 40 minutes out and back to be disappointed.  Figured I could just watch online, so I did.  Todd Pletcher sent out Battalion Runner who had been sent out in early June at 3/1.  He was steadied out of the gate and ran on sharply to be second best behind a colt that returned to be second in a Grade 3 at Saratoga.  It was seven lengths from Battalion Runner to the rest of the field.  No concern for the layoff as that's a Pletcher winning angle, especially here.  Battalion Runner left the gate as the prohibitive favorite and blew by to score in an ultra-impressive performance.

At least I'll feel good about making him the "BET of the Week" despite only having one other win on the day.

Sunday January 1 - Happy New Year

Now the "real" Gulfstream Championship meet can begin as we turn the page to January.  The new year started off with a bang as I tabbed High Security in the 2nd, a maiden claiming event on the turf.  Paco Lopez took him right to the front for trainer Jason Servis.  That barn is a gigantic 60% with runners moving from MSW to MC like this one.  Lopez was hounded on the front end into the far turn and I couldn't tell if he'd had to ask for anything.  I was hoping that this colt was well within himself on the lead and as heads turned for home Lopez hit the "GO" button and he accelerated to a daylight clear and romped home!  Now THAT'S the way I want to start the new year!

And the price, oh my!  A glorious $9.00 so I'd cash for $45 to start the new month.  I missed in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector when Horse-for-the-Course Delta Bluesman was third at 6/5.  But in the sixth I put Glory To Kitten on top in a nine furlong Maiden Special turf event and that one was much better than the short-priced favorite.

Again a fair price, $7.20, led to a big payoff.  Though I lost the last two plays I still scored a profit for the first day of the new year!  WHOOO HOOO!

The Year In Review

I couldn't ask for much more from 2016.....by the numbers, I traveled over 41,000 miles visiting five countries, thirty-four cities (24 of them international major cities) while going on twenty different flights and three cruises.  I visited four different tracks while betting on over 1,700 races and cashing on over 600 tickets!  It truly doesn't get much better than that!  Check out my "2016 in Review" video highlights......

2016 In Review