February 15 - 19
Napa Valley Weekend
The wonder of today's racing world where you do NOT have to go out and purchase the Daily Racing Form nor actually be AT the races to play them! This weekend Kim and I were off to Napa Valley for a five day, four night adventure......
Click HERE to visit our Napa Valley webpage
I've put in a key photo from each day in this week's journals, but there was a LOT to the extended visit. Still, this is my racing adventures journal, so that's the focus here. With the new age of racing I was able to continue my Gulfstream 2016-17 Project by handicapping each and every live race offered, despite being in a bed & breakfast in Northern California AND had time to watch all the replays each evening. How did the week turn out.......
That's the short version, let's take a peak at the day-by-day results......
Wednesday February 15
Today was spent largely packing and making final preparations for tomorrow's early morning, cross-country flight to San Francisco. But I'd gone through the card yesterday and so I was able to place my bets and watch the races during the afternoon while I was preparing for the trip. In the 2nd we were going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf in a non-winners of two lifetime event. Appa had shown some ability in his previous starts and was lightly raced. I thought it curious that the connections moved him UP in class today. He stalked the pace to the turn, rallied five-wide into the stretch and swooped to the front to draw off late. The price was an excellent 5/1, but as he'd gone by the leaders in mid-stretch one of them looked to have taken up and I thought "this might be a problem." Appa was clearly all alone at the wire, but did he interfere with the one horse who ran evenly to the wire. Sure enough the INQUIRY and OBJECTION lights came on before it could go official. The stewards took a look and finally determined that the problem was actually caused by the tiring front runner who finished behind the horse that was bothered - I win!
Wish I'd invested more than the minimum, but the $12.40 payout meant I'd start the week with an additional $31 in my bankroll! WHOOO HOOO! Passed the third and in the 4th Eminent Force was FLYING late to be a best-of-the-rest 2nd at 2/1. I really thought Eminent Force was the winner on the far turn after the front-runner had set a pace of :22-:45-1:08 - but he kept on going to the wire. In the fifth my original plan was to play the minimum on Bourbon City because his "winning form" had come on the turf and this was a maiden claiming sprint on the dirt. Was this a set-up for a turf race to come or was he well meant? One thing was for sure, I liked my pick better than those of the DRF analyst who were a first time starter for an 0-for-26 rider and an 8x maiden with an 0-for-28 rider for an 0-for-19 barn. When Bourbon City was being hammered at the windows I doubled my minimum play and watched he blow by in mid-stretch to win going away!
The short $2.80 payoff was ok as I earned nearly $15 back on win #2 for the day. The sixth was a Maiden Special for three-year-olds sprinting six furlongs. You know the drill - is there a Todd Pletcher? You betcha, #3 Diamond Jim. But here's the deal, unlike most Gulfstream 3yo MSW runners for Pletcher Diamond Jim had missed in a very ugly debut. My thinking was that (a) this would darken his form and if other handicappers were unwilling to forgive that I'd be getting a more than fair price on a Pletcher 3yo MSW runner here at Gulfstream. Then the winner that day was another Pletcher sophomore, Malagacy who'd run away with his next start as an ultra-impressive performance. AND the third place runner had also returned to score. The DRF's Mike Welsch made mention that Diamond Jim had been working in company with Malagacy and other Pletcher known commodities and had looked good. This all sounded excellent to me so I doubled the bet. I was against the Chad Brown first time starter who was the program favorite. But in the early betting the Brown runner, Switzerland, was 1-5. Am I missing something? When a first timer is getting pounded like that it's time to pay attention. So much so that I cancelled the bet and put it on Switzerland. But the longer I sat there the more uncomfortable I was. What if the Pletcher horse DID run well and score at a price? I'd never forgive myself. Then I noted that Gulfstream's analyst Ron Nicoletti not only put Diamond Jim on top, but made him his "BEST" of the day. Cancelled the bet again and re-bet Diamond Jim. Right to the front and never looked back! And check the price.....
Oh that's right baby, paid over $8 and I cashed for over $40! Sometimes I'm so smart I could just jump back and kiss myself! Incidently, the Brown colt, second best as the short-priced favorite :) I passed the 7th; my pick scratched out of the eighth and so I was left with one last selection in the 9th. This was my "best" of the day. It was an entry level allowance for three-year-olds and Pletcher sent out Ghalia who had won for me most impressively earlier in the meet. Right back I figured. The crowd agreed and sent her off as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite. Right to the front and cruised as much the best!
For the day, a sparkling 4-for-5 with a second place finish and a profit of over $60! WOW I'm having a good month!
Thursday February 16
Travel Day To Napa Valley
Because I knew we'd be in the air most of the day and occupied during the evening I made my bets before we left for the airport AND downloaded the Friday card to look at on the plane. We landed in San Francisco about 1:30 PST and were on the road with our luggage and rental car at a little before 3 pm. We arrived in Calistoga at the Wine Way Inn Bed & Breakfast where Kim's twin sister Karrie and her husband Randy were waiting for us. A glass of California Rose on the front porch welcomed us (above). After dinner we retired to our room where it was only about 9 pm, but that was midnight to our bodies and I watched the replays of the four races I'd made investments in. In the third it was a maiden special for sophomore fillies. Seemed too obvious that Florida Fabulous was the one to beat. She'd drawn a huge $400K sales bid, but I thought it interesting that after all that money she was sent to local conditioner David Fawkes. The bad news was he was not winning much here, but the good news was he was 32% with debut runners. Right to the front and never really asked to produce her best throughout the entire one-turn mile journey. Doubled the bet on the 1-2 favorite.
The fifth was a claiming event for three-year-olds and none really appealed; still Alsterone had been visually impressive enough in his MC win to earn a minimum bet. Sixth at 2/1. The sixth was the race I felt most confident in. It was a maiden claiming sprint going five furlongs on the turf - not typically my specialty - but Cool had pressed a :21.1 and :43.3 half in her previous when a best of the rest second. She'd have no problem going to the front and slowing it down under Paco Lopez I thought. Instead she was outhustled to the lead and that one wired the field as Cool ran evenly to be third as the 6/5 favorite. The final race of the day was a no conditions allowance event on the turf. As I wrote in my analysis, easily anyone of half a dozen would have been no surprise. A strong and typical Gulfstream event. But give it's Gulfstream the fact that Todd Pletcher sent out American Patriot off a layoff and dropping out of four straight graded tries (note - he'd won the Gr 3 Kent at Delaware last summer as my choice!), that seemed a good enough edge to me. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez had the newly turned four-year-old in mid-pack position to the turn. He accelerated while traveling four-wide and picking off horses to collar the leaders in mid-stretch; then edged clear late to WIN! And the best part - check the price.......
That's right - over nine dollars and I cashed for almost $50 to finish the day a super 2-for-4 with a profit of over $20. Second winning day in a row!
Despite the rainy conditions in Northern California - which is MOST unusual (figures right?) we had a great day. In fact Kim and I had talked ahead of time that we didn't mind the rain or chill at all coming from mid-80s and sunshine here....a nice change of pace. The gourmet breakfast was delightful, the wines were great, and the tours were excellent. Couldn't ask for a better day - except at the races. I had six selections on the day....in the opener I had the perfect trip with the 4/5 favorite right off the 15/1 leader. Made a smooth move to challenge, couldn't get by - 2nd. In the third I was third at even money; in the fifth I was even money again, stalked a slow pace set by a 16/1 front runner; caught him, but was caught on the wire, 2nd again. n the sixth I track in third as the 6/5 favorite, but wasn't good enough to win, 2nd, AGAIN. In the 7th Paco Lopez sat in the back too long at even money behind a slow pace and closed with a rush to be SECOND AGAIN. Closed the day when fourth when weakening at 7/2.
We had such a good time today visiting our friends from the 2015 Fall Leaves Cruise, Gary and Claudia Wanlin. They lived about 1 1/2 hours north west of us and we drove to meet them and then go out to lunch and go to a couple local, smaller wineries. We arrived back in Calistoga about 7:30 and went out for a late dinner with Karrie and Randy and then again, I was able to check the replays before working on my Napa Valley Journal. A much better day than Friday to be sure! One of the reasons that this weekend adventure came about was because when I looked ahead at the winter I saw on our calendar that this was the ONLY weekend from December through April where there was not only any big local races at Gulfstream, but there was no home hockey games. With the day off on Monday for Kim it was the perfect weekend to head out of town. But this past week I noted that while there was only a single stakes event at Gulfstream there were six at their sister track, Laurel in Maryland. So I handicapped both cards. I ran second in BOTH the first two races on my sheet - that makes makes SIX runner-up finishes in my last eight picks. WOW. In the Grade 2 Royal Delta it was one of those "great handicapping, but no reward" kind of things. I did not and have never liked the favorite, Curlin's Approval. I was able to pick the upset winner two back but she got me last time on Pegasus World Cup Day. Today I thought she was vulnerable around two turns and went with Mo Green. Listed at 6/1 in the program she was a HUGE 13/1 at post time and made a bid into the stretch, but was no match for the favorite. In Laurel's third I also got a good price on Spring Quality who was 2nd best at 9/2. The fifth at Gulfstream was a mile and a sixteenth claiming event and it looked like Jorge Navarro's Over The Limit would be hard to deny. But still it was a cheap claiming event so I went with the minimum play. He tracked an 80/1 longshot to the turn, ran by to open up and then held on through the short run to the first finish line.
Finally, back in the winner's circle! Right back in the sixth at Gulfstream where Little United was the tepid 9/5 favorite in a three-year-old claiming sprint. Looked to be the lone speed on the rail for Paco Lopez. I was a bit concerned that both of her previous wins had been at GPW, so I kept the investment to a minimum. Broke a step slowly, but quickly got to the front and was long gone. I cashed my second minimum bet ticket for almost $15.
I thought for sure I had the winner in the fifth at Laurel in the Maryland Racing Media Stakes when Wait Your Turn was the prohibitive 1/5 favorite. But from the get-go she was very wide. I wasn't too concerned because I'd rather the best horse was in the clear than in traffic. But when finally asked on the turn she had no response and was a non-threatening fifth. One of the best things about the Championship Meet at Gulfstream is the three-year-old maiden special races where they are typically loaded with future stars and it was two of these that made the difference in the day for me. The first was up next, the seventh - a three-year-old turf raced going 8 1/2 furlongs. Any of at least half a dozen would have been no surprise, but with it being on the grass HERE I looked for the Chad Brown runner. And this winter I've gotten a fair price more than once when I went AGAINST normally top rider Javier Castellano who seems just a click off this year. So when I saw Joel Rosario on Brown's Bricks and Mortar at 5/1 in the program I thought I might have a chance at a price score. Rosario rode the colt patiently to the far turn, then asked for his best. 'Bricks accelerated five wide past horses, caught the favorite at the top of the stretch and drove to the wire. The price - oh, yes, a good $14.00 payoff!
With the double investment I would cash for an even $70! WHOOO HOOOO! I picked up first - and is it turned out ONLY - win at Laurel in their Miracle Wood Stakes for three-year-old colts. O Dionysus had been the 4/5 favorite last time out at seven furlongs against several of these but had trouble and ran out of ground. Today the race was at a one-turn mile and it seemed to me a clean trip and the longer distance was ideal. He was confidently handled to the turn, allowed to run into the stretch and drew off handily as MUCH the best!
Off the board in Gulfstream's eighth when Gold Lace was 6th at 9/2 - minimum play. I thought, as did the crowd, that Horse-for-the-Course Page McKenney would win the John B. Campbell at nine furlongs, but after having a dream trip and bursting to the front and clear of the field into the lane, the 3/5 front runner was no match to a $47 winner who blew by from the pack of the pack in deep stretch. Second, again. The second of those Gulfstream MSW events was next in the ninth. This was a one-turn mile event for sophomores and yes, it was time for a Todd Pletcher runner. It's rare that his 3yo starters don't win but I reasoned that why Patch was 6/1 in his debut was that the six furlong was too short, and maybe he's wasn't quite primed for his best. The winner returned to be a good 4th in the Grade 2 Swale so it appeared this had been a strong group. A bullet work and then a near-bullet work said today he WAS ready. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez who's been on most of Pletcher's winning runners sealed the deal. He stalked a 50/1 front runner into the stretch - moved three wide to the front, wore him down and drew off through the final sixteenth. Here's what made the win even more special - (a) the price was a generous $8.20 and (b) I TRIPLED THE BET!
I was cashing for more than $60! In the first of the two graded events at Laurel By The Moon was clear in the stretch at 7/5 but was caught late - 2nd. In my GP Best Bet Trombelaine was confidently handled while tracking a 20/1 front runner going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Had all the momentum and came to the leader......couldn't get by, 2nd. In the second graded event at Laurel, the Gr 3 General George it looked clearly like a two horse race - I ran 2nd at even money behind the 5/2 second choice. And finally I was 7th in the Gulfstream finale. When the replays were over I knew I'd won some races, but it seemed to me without adding up the numbers that it was probably a little less than even on the profit line and probably a little less than my typical 30% and change winners. But no - I finished 5-for-14 which was over 35% and I made a clear profit of nearly $40!
Today it was a drizzling day but that couldn't dampen the fact that we were visiting the iconic Castello di Amorosa, nicknamed "The Castle." We took several photos from up on the ramparts and then enjoyed six different wines that were very good - one that was nearly $100 a bottle and another that was about $10 less. In the afternoon the four of us went to another very high end winery, Ledson, and had a private tasting in one of the upstairs rooms. Really cool. That evening back at the Bed and Breakfast there was a young couple and I watched the race replays while the others began a game of "Men are from Mars, Women from Venus" which I joined in later - good times with the six of us on our last night evening there. But the races.......I had six selections on Sunday, the first of which was in the opener - a non-winners of two allowance on the turf. Conquest Babyaga was lightly raced and stakes placed for Chad Brown. Need I tell you more? She was off slowly and I was concerned as she sat near the back through moderate pace being controlled by the 2/1 second choice. But on the turn she opened up and quickly inhaled the field and drew off as much the best.
Cashed for nearly twenty dollars on my first winner of the day! My next selection was in the fourth, a claiming event going six furlongs. The program favorite looked suspicious to me because while he'd just had a five-out-of-six winning streak snapped, all those wins came against summer rivals - it's a different ball game here over the winter months. Conversely, Flash Jak was third at this distance last out at this level but had MUCH stronger speed figures than the favorite. Just "felt right" to me. Paco Lopez stalked the leader and then as only Paco can do, he glided to the lead knowing he was on MUCH the best runner. As described at Monmouth by the announcer, he took a "condescending look" back for the competition and there was none. Flash Jak drew off easily under a hand ride without being asked.
And even better, he was sent off at better than 2/1 so my double investment returned well over $30 on my second win from as many races! In the sixth, a MSW on the turf Chad Brown's Dhukhr was bet down from 6/1 program odds to 3/1 at post time. Tracked a hot pace, rallied mid-race, then nothing - 5th. The seventh was another MSW, this one for sophomores on the turf. As I put it in my analysis, ".....the most obvious selection on the Sunday card is here in Christophe Clement's Dover Cliffs...." The colt debuted six weeks ago, stalked the pace, dueled the length of the stretch and lost a head bob while earning a huge 82 Beyer figure. Rider switch from Joe Bravo to Joel Rosario sealed the deal for me. Apparently for the crowd as well as he was sent off as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite. Pressed an 8/1 frontrunner to the stretch then edged away late. I tripled the bet to score my third winner of the day.
Blank Slate ran evenly at 5/2 to be 5th in the 10th and then the big score of the day - and another for the week's collection came in the day's finale.....the 12th was a 3-lifetime claiming event on the turf. I looked up and down the past performances and then I saw it.......
See it? Three back Par was in for a $25K 2L tag and ran a sharp second; dropped in for a $16K tag and won off handily. Last out, bumped up to a $25K 3L tag, ran reasonably well....today drops in for a $16K 3L tag. Bonus points that top jockey Luis Saez sticks. He dueled with the 3/2 favorite from the first turn to the stretch....the length of the lane they were one head up and one head down but he refused to give in......
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! And as the caption tells you - the price was a very generous $11.40 leading to a payout of nearly $60! Closed the day with four wins from six picks and made $65 for the day. What a great way to end the week! Speaking of, the totals for the week.....
The fifth was a claiming event for three-year-olds and none really appealed; still Alsterone had been visually impressive enough in his MC win to earn a minimum bet. Sixth at 2/1. The sixth was the race I felt most confident in. It was a maiden claiming sprint going five furlongs on the turf - not typically my specialty - but Cool had pressed a :21.1 and :43.3 half in her previous when a best of the rest second. She'd have no problem going to the front and slowing it down under Paco Lopez I thought. Instead she was outhustled to the lead and that one wired the field as Cool ran evenly to be third as the 6/5 favorite. The final race of the day was a no conditions allowance event on the turf. As I wrote in my analysis, easily anyone of half a dozen would have been no surprise. A strong and typical Gulfstream event. But give it's Gulfstream the fact that Todd Pletcher sent out American Patriot off a layoff and dropping out of four straight graded tries (note - he'd won the Gr 3 Kent at Delaware last summer as my choice!), that seemed a good enough edge to me. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez had the newly turned four-year-old in mid-pack position to the turn. He accelerated while traveling four-wide and picking off horses to collar the leaders in mid-stretch; then edged clear late to WIN! And the best part - check the price.......
That's right - over nine dollars and I cashed for almost $50 to finish the day a super 2-for-4 with a profit of over $20. Second winning day in a row!
Friday February 17
Peju & Inglenook Winery Tours
Despite the rainy conditions in Northern California - which is MOST unusual (figures right?) we had a great day. In fact Kim and I had talked ahead of time that we didn't mind the rain or chill at all coming from mid-80s and sunshine here....a nice change of pace. The gourmet breakfast was delightful, the wines were great, and the tours were excellent. Couldn't ask for a better day - except at the races. I had six selections on the day....in the opener I had the perfect trip with the 4/5 favorite right off the 15/1 leader. Made a smooth move to challenge, couldn't get by - 2nd. In the third I was third at even money; in the fifth I was even money again, stalked a slow pace set by a 16/1 front runner; caught him, but was caught on the wire, 2nd again. n the sixth I track in third as the 6/5 favorite, but wasn't good enough to win, 2nd, AGAIN. In the 7th Paco Lopez sat in the back too long at even money behind a slow pace and closed with a rush to be SECOND AGAIN. Closed the day when fourth when weakening at 7/2.
Saturday February 18
Visit to Pleasanton
We had such a good time today visiting our friends from the 2015 Fall Leaves Cruise, Gary and Claudia Wanlin. They lived about 1 1/2 hours north west of us and we drove to meet them and then go out to lunch and go to a couple local, smaller wineries. We arrived back in Calistoga about 7:30 and went out for a late dinner with Karrie and Randy and then again, I was able to check the replays before working on my Napa Valley Journal. A much better day than Friday to be sure! One of the reasons that this weekend adventure came about was because when I looked ahead at the winter I saw on our calendar that this was the ONLY weekend from December through April where there was not only any big local races at Gulfstream, but there was no home hockey games. With the day off on Monday for Kim it was the perfect weekend to head out of town. But this past week I noted that while there was only a single stakes event at Gulfstream there were six at their sister track, Laurel in Maryland. So I handicapped both cards. I ran second in BOTH the first two races on my sheet - that makes makes SIX runner-up finishes in my last eight picks. WOW. In the Grade 2 Royal Delta it was one of those "great handicapping, but no reward" kind of things. I did not and have never liked the favorite, Curlin's Approval. I was able to pick the upset winner two back but she got me last time on Pegasus World Cup Day. Today I thought she was vulnerable around two turns and went with Mo Green. Listed at 6/1 in the program she was a HUGE 13/1 at post time and made a bid into the stretch, but was no match for the favorite. In Laurel's third I also got a good price on Spring Quality who was 2nd best at 9/2. The fifth at Gulfstream was a mile and a sixteenth claiming event and it looked like Jorge Navarro's Over The Limit would be hard to deny. But still it was a cheap claiming event so I went with the minimum play. He tracked an 80/1 longshot to the turn, ran by to open up and then held on through the short run to the first finish line.
Finally, back in the winner's circle! Right back in the sixth at Gulfstream where Little United was the tepid 9/5 favorite in a three-year-old claiming sprint. Looked to be the lone speed on the rail for Paco Lopez. I was a bit concerned that both of her previous wins had been at GPW, so I kept the investment to a minimum. Broke a step slowly, but quickly got to the front and was long gone. I cashed my second minimum bet ticket for almost $15.
I thought for sure I had the winner in the fifth at Laurel in the Maryland Racing Media Stakes when Wait Your Turn was the prohibitive 1/5 favorite. But from the get-go she was very wide. I wasn't too concerned because I'd rather the best horse was in the clear than in traffic. But when finally asked on the turn she had no response and was a non-threatening fifth. One of the best things about the Championship Meet at Gulfstream is the three-year-old maiden special races where they are typically loaded with future stars and it was two of these that made the difference in the day for me. The first was up next, the seventh - a three-year-old turf raced going 8 1/2 furlongs. Any of at least half a dozen would have been no surprise, but with it being on the grass HERE I looked for the Chad Brown runner. And this winter I've gotten a fair price more than once when I went AGAINST normally top rider Javier Castellano who seems just a click off this year. So when I saw Joel Rosario on Brown's Bricks and Mortar at 5/1 in the program I thought I might have a chance at a price score. Rosario rode the colt patiently to the far turn, then asked for his best. 'Bricks accelerated five wide past horses, caught the favorite at the top of the stretch and drove to the wire. The price - oh, yes, a good $14.00 payoff!
With the double investment I would cash for an even $70! WHOOO HOOOO! I picked up first - and is it turned out ONLY - win at Laurel in their Miracle Wood Stakes for three-year-old colts. O Dionysus had been the 4/5 favorite last time out at seven furlongs against several of these but had trouble and ran out of ground. Today the race was at a one-turn mile and it seemed to me a clean trip and the longer distance was ideal. He was confidently handled to the turn, allowed to run into the stretch and drew off handily as MUCH the best!
Off the board in Gulfstream's eighth when Gold Lace was 6th at 9/2 - minimum play. I thought, as did the crowd, that Horse-for-the-Course Page McKenney would win the John B. Campbell at nine furlongs, but after having a dream trip and bursting to the front and clear of the field into the lane, the 3/5 front runner was no match to a $47 winner who blew by from the pack of the pack in deep stretch. Second, again. The second of those Gulfstream MSW events was next in the ninth. This was a one-turn mile event for sophomores and yes, it was time for a Todd Pletcher runner. It's rare that his 3yo starters don't win but I reasoned that why Patch was 6/1 in his debut was that the six furlong was too short, and maybe he's wasn't quite primed for his best. The winner returned to be a good 4th in the Grade 2 Swale so it appeared this had been a strong group. A bullet work and then a near-bullet work said today he WAS ready. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez who's been on most of Pletcher's winning runners sealed the deal. He stalked a 50/1 front runner into the stretch - moved three wide to the front, wore him down and drew off through the final sixteenth. Here's what made the win even more special - (a) the price was a generous $8.20 and (b) I TRIPLED THE BET!
I was cashing for more than $60! In the first of the two graded events at Laurel By The Moon was clear in the stretch at 7/5 but was caught late - 2nd. In my GP Best Bet Trombelaine was confidently handled while tracking a 20/1 front runner going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Had all the momentum and came to the leader......couldn't get by, 2nd. In the second graded event at Laurel, the Gr 3 General George it looked clearly like a two horse race - I ran 2nd at even money behind the 5/2 second choice. And finally I was 7th in the Gulfstream finale. When the replays were over I knew I'd won some races, but it seemed to me without adding up the numbers that it was probably a little less than even on the profit line and probably a little less than my typical 30% and change winners. But no - I finished 5-for-14 which was over 35% and I made a clear profit of nearly $40!
Sunday February 19
Highlight Of Napa Valley - "The Castle" Visit
Today it was a drizzling day but that couldn't dampen the fact that we were visiting the iconic Castello di Amorosa, nicknamed "The Castle." We took several photos from up on the ramparts and then enjoyed six different wines that were very good - one that was nearly $100 a bottle and another that was about $10 less. In the afternoon the four of us went to another very high end winery, Ledson, and had a private tasting in one of the upstairs rooms. Really cool. That evening back at the Bed and Breakfast there was a young couple and I watched the race replays while the others began a game of "Men are from Mars, Women from Venus" which I joined in later - good times with the six of us on our last night evening there. But the races.......I had six selections on Sunday, the first of which was in the opener - a non-winners of two allowance on the turf. Conquest Babyaga was lightly raced and stakes placed for Chad Brown. Need I tell you more? She was off slowly and I was concerned as she sat near the back through moderate pace being controlled by the 2/1 second choice. But on the turn she opened up and quickly inhaled the field and drew off as much the best.
Cashed for nearly twenty dollars on my first winner of the day! My next selection was in the fourth, a claiming event going six furlongs. The program favorite looked suspicious to me because while he'd just had a five-out-of-six winning streak snapped, all those wins came against summer rivals - it's a different ball game here over the winter months. Conversely, Flash Jak was third at this distance last out at this level but had MUCH stronger speed figures than the favorite. Just "felt right" to me. Paco Lopez stalked the leader and then as only Paco can do, he glided to the lead knowing he was on MUCH the best runner. As described at Monmouth by the announcer, he took a "condescending look" back for the competition and there was none. Flash Jak drew off easily under a hand ride without being asked.
And even better, he was sent off at better than 2/1 so my double investment returned well over $30 on my second win from as many races! In the sixth, a MSW on the turf Chad Brown's Dhukhr was bet down from 6/1 program odds to 3/1 at post time. Tracked a hot pace, rallied mid-race, then nothing - 5th. The seventh was another MSW, this one for sophomores on the turf. As I put it in my analysis, ".....the most obvious selection on the Sunday card is here in Christophe Clement's Dover Cliffs...." The colt debuted six weeks ago, stalked the pace, dueled the length of the stretch and lost a head bob while earning a huge 82 Beyer figure. Rider switch from Joe Bravo to Joel Rosario sealed the deal for me. Apparently for the crowd as well as he was sent off as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite. Pressed an 8/1 frontrunner to the stretch then edged away late. I tripled the bet to score my third winner of the day.
Blank Slate ran evenly at 5/2 to be 5th in the 10th and then the big score of the day - and another for the week's collection came in the day's finale.....the 12th was a 3-lifetime claiming event on the turf. I looked up and down the past performances and then I saw it.......
See it? Three back Par was in for a $25K 2L tag and ran a sharp second; dropped in for a $16K tag and won off handily. Last out, bumped up to a $25K 3L tag, ran reasonably well....today drops in for a $16K 3L tag. Bonus points that top jockey Luis Saez sticks. He dueled with the 3/2 favorite from the first turn to the stretch....the length of the lane they were one head up and one head down but he refused to give in......
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! And as the caption tells you - the price was a very generous $11.40 leading to a payout of nearly $60! Closed the day with four wins from six picks and made $65 for the day. What a great way to end the week! Speaking of, the totals for the week.....
35 Selections / 15 WINS (43%) and a profit of $130.50
Two Week Totals
63 Selections / 29 WINS (46%) and a profit of $262.50
How hard is this game? :)
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