Week 13

February 22 - 26

"One-A-Day" Week

Well, at least that's the theme for the week.  After back-to-back spectacular results, it seems like we've returned to reality this week.  I wasn't surprised to only cash on one ticket on Wednesday as it was pouring down rain throughout the day which (a) took all the turf races off the inner course and (b) caused a laundry list of scratches for the entire day's racing card.  Initially I had five selections from the eleven race card, two of which were on the turf.  When both of those were washed off I was left with three main track selections, but my pick in the fifth also scratched, so I had but two "live" races.  In the second it looked to me like L'il Meatball was clearly the one to beat - IF and only if you were willing to forgive the dismal effort he put forth at this level two races back.  I was considering that he was coming back that afternoon on a quick two weeks rest.  At the bottom of his past performances I thought it noteworthy that as a two-year-old he'd been a stakes winner.  He was second off the claim for Jorge Navarro after being raised up in class first off the claim.  Today he looked like his "old self" and took off in mid-stretch to draw away for an easy score.  

The crowd wasn't buying the bad race either as he was sent off as the 4/5 favorite - meaning I'd cash for less than $10 on my minimum play.  In the tenth, Todd Pletcher's Heckuvashot was sent off as the 3/2 favorite, but he gave way on the far turn after pressing the pace three wide going two turns.

Thursday's card was "back to normal" as we were on both the turf and main track.  But my horses did not perform to my expectations.  Quant was a runner-up in the second going nine furlongs on the turf in a 3-way photo (the winner was 15/1).  In the 6th Alsinaafy came up empty after a perfect trip into the stretch and faded to sixth at 4/5.  In the seventh it looked to me like a two-horse race between Veblen Good and Legendofthekitten.  I took the former who again had a perfect trip.  Midway on the turn when I thought the rider should have made his move he sat confidently waiting for the top of the lane, meanwhile the rider for 'Legend made his move, swooped by and was by my pick into the lane.  Never could make up the difference - 2nd at 8/5.  In the eighth Northern was a solid pick in a 3yo MSW event.  He'd been allowed to duel through wicked splits last time out as a short-priced favorite, and my pick.  So today I knew his new rider wouldn't make that mistake.  Instead he was "wrangled back" as the announcer described it to sit mid-pack and never made up any ground....fourth at 3/2.  Finally in the 11th and final race Olimpico set the pace at 6/1 to midway on the turn before fading to 10th.  An 0-for day :(

Friday we were in Orlando to visit our most adorable grandson, Oliver (and his parents).  I made my bets before we made the drive and then watched the replays later in the evening.  Keeping with the them of the week I only scored once - in the fifth of the day.  I did have a second and three thirds from my other races, but only Pawley's Express produced a positive result.  He pressed the pace three-wide to the stretch and then drew off as much the best despite coming off a layoff and going the difficult distance of seven furlongs.  

He was the even money favorite in this entry allowance spot, so my double investment only returned a little over $20.  Saturday I again made my bets in the morning and then enjoyed the day with the family.  I particularly enjoyed our afternoon adventure to Walt Disney World and "Disney Springs."  One stop we made was in the "Chapeau Shop" where I found my Florida Derby hat!  

Next Saturday is Fountain of Youth Day at Gulfstream where the three-year-olds pointing for the Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks get their final warm-ups.  Well, today was that same kind of program in New Orleans at the Fair Grounds where it was Risen Star Day - sophomores here were getting their final tune-ups in anticipation of the Louisiana Derby and Fair Grounds Oaks.  But the racing action for today actually started while we were sleeping!  Yes, you read that right, WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING!  Friday night while looking through racing news I read an article about the Australian super-mare Winx who was shooting for her fifteenth consecutive victory.  That start was scheduled to come at Randwick International Racecourse in the Group 1 Chipping North Stakes going a mile on the turf.  When I saw that this race was "today" I went into xpressbet and looked around until I could find the program, then made my "BEST BET" investment before heading to bed.  Saturday morning, before placing the bets for this afternoon's racing action at both the Fair Grounds and Gulfstream I pulled up the replay.  Winx was patiently handled while being confidently ridden in mid-pack until the field rounded the course into the "straight" as it's called internationally.  The rider barely moved his hands and the response was instantaneous as she blew by handily.  

A heavily favored 1/5 chalk, I didn't make much money, but enjoyed "being right" with a prime time investment to start the day!  The rest of the day, well, much like the previous three days unfortunately.  In the second Diplomatic Affair rallied through the stretch to be second at 6/5.  And in Gulfstream's fifth I was second, AGAIN, after pressing the pace to the turn and taking over the lead - but outfinished late.  At the Fair Grounds I scored with my first bet there when Tiznoble wired the field, holding on by a desperate nose.  There was some bumping in the stretch and it would not have been an unreasonable call if the stewards had taken her number down, but luckily for me it stayed up and I cashed for nearly $30.  Immediately after watching this race I flipped over to the Gulfstream replays and watched the sixth from So Fla - the Texas Glitter Stakes, the first of two five furlong turf sprints with an added money purse.  I thought that Derek's Smile looked like a promising upset candidate - listed at 5/1 in the program.  But when I pulled up the replay with the final post-time odds he was the prohibitive even money favorite.  Just as I'd expected he went right to the front and wired the field in hand.  The payoff of $4.20 meant I'd at least crack the $10 mark on my payout, but just barely.  I got one more win later at the Fair Grounds, but the remainder of the races - including all of them at Gulfstream - was more of the rest of the week's kind of results - 2nd at 4/5 in the Colonel Power Stakes at the FG, fourth at 7/2 in the 9th at GP, 2nd in the GP tenth at 4/1 in a turf second allowance event; 2nd at a big 9/1 - so close - in the Grade 3 Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds when International Star was FLYING up the rail;  third at 3/2 in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra for 3yo fillies in New Orleans and a just-miss 2nd in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint when Mind Your Biscuits, who'd last out won the Grade 1 Malibu, rallied from what I thought was too far off the pace of the what turned out to be the lone front runner, Unified.  He'd been in the #1 hole and I thought would have company up front, but the rider quickly established the lead and unfortunately everyone let him go.  Photo finish but I knew I'd missed.  The lone win came in the Daisy Devine at the Fair Grounds when Believe In Bertie set a new course record going wire to wire as the 3/5 favorite.

The four wins (counting the Australia early-morning win) was better than the single wins to date, but far below what normally I get from my handicapping.

Sunday, the final day of racing for the week had five chances to get some wins.  Again I made the bets in the morning and then after we drove home from Orlando I watched the replays.  I thought just maybe I'd get back into a multiple win day when I scored with Todd Pletcher's Spice Lady in the second, a MSW for three-year-olds.  After breaking slowly jockey John Velazquez hustled her up three wide to catch the leaders mid-way on the turn and then edged away in a solid effort.

I'd doubled the bet so the $4.60 payoff got me back nearly $25 to start the day.  But that was it for the day.  Third at 6/1 in the next race, then fifth at a big 8/1 price.  Closed the day and the week with back to back second place finishes as the favorite - 4/5 in the 11th with a minimum bet and then in what has become a bothersome trend to the meet, normally top riding Javier Castellano again did not give his horse the best of opportunities when he waited way to long to move in a 3yo maiden claiming event on the turf.  This was complicated by the fact that despite being in a short five horse field with THREE of them across the track heading into the turn he got into trouble and had to check and steady his mount, losing all momentum.  When finally getting clear it was too little, too late when 2nd at 2/1 on the board.  Not the best of weeks - but the month was full of highlights and sure enjoyed seeing the little man in Orlando!