S E C O N D
Thursday May 9
Yes, that about sums up the day. The first sign of "trouble" came while I was handicapping on Wednesday. As I went through the cards I was thinking, so many conditioned claimers who were inconsistent and a lot of muddled pace scenarios. I found about a dozen and a half races from four race cards, but in retrospect I probably should have only had about ten races that were playable. Even with stretching my races with an "edge" I still found myself with a lot of time between races. The day started well enough - I was second at 3/1 in the opener at Churchill and then a miserable 6th at 4/5 with a horse at the Downs who had won 3 of his last 4 races and was 5/4-0-1 at the 8 1/2 furlong distance.....go figure. Then I won back-to-back added investments at Calder in the 2nd and 3rd, thanks to Team Calabrese. In the second #5 Winking Star was moving from turf to dirt, a 27% move for trainer Kirk Ziadie and owner Frank Calabrese....off a layoff - 39%; and the rider was winning 46% for them. Easy-peasy-pie!
Right back in the third where I tripled the investment on #2 Credit Voucher who was first off the claim (an amazing 41% angle) and the same jockey. This was the DRF "Best" of the day. He too was the easiest of winners.
Suddenly I'm 2-for-4 and ahead for the day. I guess it was a good day to head to the races I was thinking......not so fast my friend! The first race at Churchill that I'd lost earlier was with a Wesley Ward 2-year-old maiden, and they never lose....really. But I'd read that he had found a young apprentice rider that he liked. So I went along. Well in the opener the Ward juvenile broke slowly, and in a 2yo race that is the kiss of death, the distances are so short and it's simply who is quickest out of the gate that usually carries the race. Not a good sign I thought, but I'm willing to give the bug rider a pass. Well, in the third it was another Ward 2yo and again he broke slowly....5th at 9/5. I'm done with the new rider! At Belmont it was raining, but that was ok because I liked the main-track-only Regal Warrior. So did the crowd, at 6/5. But he was a dismal 8th. Then at Calder on the turf I was second with Fightingforfreedom at 7/2. Right back to be second, again, at Churchill at 7/5. Missed with my "upset of the day" at Belmont at 5/1. Now it was going to be an hour to my next race, so I headed home. I won for the third time with a triple investment at Hollywood. Bodaway was tons the best - but at a cheap 3/5. That was it for the day. Second at Belmont, second at Churchill with my "best", SECOND AGAIN at Churchill with a triple investment....wow. And two off the board finishes at Hollywood closed down the racing. This was not what I was hoping for as a weekday diversion! Oh well, so it goes with racing :) Headed back out on Saturday for Opening Day at Monmouth Park.
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