July 13

Saturday July 13

Arlington Million Preview Day

Summer At Gulfstream!

I have to say I'm very sad that Calder and Gulfstream cannot seem to resolve their issues as they both have their place in South Florida racing, but if a choice has to be made Gulfstream Park management has worked and spent money to make their "Racing and Casino" facility a nice place to spend the day while Calder "Casino and Racing" (note the emphasis difference in their titles!) have done little to make their facility a nice place to visit - if anything, over the last couple of years they have shut down areas that used to be favorite spots of mine.  So today I went to Gulfstream.  I was surprised that to sit at my own simulcast monitor would cost me $10, but today was largely about the races from around the country and I didn't want to stand all day, especially with the threat of heavy thunderstorms I the forecast. 

I missed in the opener at Gulfstream when My Uncle Cardie led from the opening of the gates to the final fifty yards before being caught.  But I bounced right back with back-to-back-to-back wins!  I scored in the opener at Delaware with Avie who was part of a strong entry for trainer Juan Vasquez.  I actually preferred the 1a-Curlamorous, but most of the time I will defer to the trainer.  Avie went wire to wire in a hand ride. 

Then I nailed my first price play of the day when The Big Deluxe won at Belmont.  He'd won in his first try over the grass in Maiden Special company and after trying allowance company, while drawing post 11 in back-to-back races today he was better drawn and making his first start for a claiming tag - a powerful class move.  He paid $11 and cashed for nearly $30! 

And then I won my first Gulfstream Summer race when Madness n'Mayhem drew clear late.  He'd been 2/1 as they left the gate, but was 7/5 by the time he crossed the wire. 

I celebrated with a photo op in the paddock! (it's a good picture of me I thought - does me justice by showing off the nearly 20 pounds I've lost since March - go me!) 

I missed with back-to-back seconds (so at this point I've had three wins and three seconds!) - the second of which was a double investment on Dan and Sheila. I'll always remember that horse because he was a pick of mine on the day I was visiting the Fair Grounds in New Orleans in their feature race and I had been invited to join the handicapping show on air with announcer John G. Dooley and hottie handicapper Katie Mikolay.  She specifically stopped the show to ask me who I liked in the race :)  Such a sweetie! 

Back to racing.....I was back in the winner's circle with my only selection of the day at Calder.  Princess Mlia consistently earned speed figures that her rivals today only showed in their lifetime best efforts.  She opened up as they turned for home and was the easiest of winners, my fourth score of the day. 

Missed with two more, including a nailed-at-the-wire loss at Belmont before getting my first "added investment win in the 3rd at Arlington Park.  Cameo Appearance had wired his maiden field in just his second start last time out, earning a big 101 Beyer speed figure.  While I knew he'd probably regress today, his main rivals had never earned anything above the mid-80s and Cameo looked to be loose on an easy lead.  He was indeed, running a half mile split that was nearly ten lengths slower than his last, so he had plenty left for the final furlong to put away his more battle-tested foes today. 

I came right back with another triple investment at Belmont where Stop Sign looked loose on the lead dropping from a $50K to a $20K race; and he was DRF Dave Liftin's "best" of the day!  Led all the way to final strides, second!  Grrrrr.  I missed in the fifth at Gulfstream with Maid in Heaven.  Prior to the race I got a text from a close pal from Cypress Bay, Stephanie Anderson who was at Gulfstream with her husband Jim. Neither of us had the winner.  But I came back to win again at Delaware.  Their turf races were moved to the main and I was undecided about what to do with Wandering Kitten.  The trainer left him in, always a good sign, and he was being well bet - an even better sign.  He made a big move entering the far turn and ran right by the field at a very healthy 2/1 - letting me cash for $15!  My sixth victory! 

 

I had a great selection at Arlington in their 4th when I picked Excellent Chance at a huge 12/1.  A late running, but best-of-the-rest second.  That would have been nice.  The next selection on my sheet was on track at Gulfstream. It was a starter allowance field with at least three runners who needed the lead.  I thought it was an ideal spot for a closer.  Silver Sandles fit the bill and was dropping weight with an apprentice rider today.  As I walked to the paddock I ran into Stephanie and Jim and I told them, "You know I'm almost always backing one of the top favorites.  But my pick here is the #7, Silver Sandles, and he is 8/1!"  The both looked at the horse, but had a better idea.  Too bad for them because as the speed burners ran each other into the ground, Sandles was flying late, collared the surviving front runner inside the 16th pole and edged away late!  Even better.....his odds had floated up to a whopping 14/1 at post time!  WHOOOO HOOOOO!  He paid $31.20 and I cashed for nearly $80! 

Over the next 45 minutes I missed on four straight double investments when I was 2nd twice and third once - two of them I led all the way into mid-stretch before giving way.  Sigh..... Finally I was back on the board with my first stakes win on the afternoon.  Hollywood Park's second race was the Landaluce Stakes for 2-year-olds. The first stakes race of the summer season for juveniles.  DRF Handicapper Brad Free had commented that She's A Tiger was very quick and could be "something special."  She looked like the speed of the speed to me, and she was - LONG gone on the front end! 

I had doubled down on her and cashed for nearly $20.  I missed in the feature at Gulfstream, taken off the turf (think I would have won had it stayed on).  My "best" at Arlington on their "Arlington Million Preview" card was Ioya Bigtime in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes.  I thought he had a chance to steal it on the front end as the lone speed;  he was 4/1 and I was looking at a $100 payoff, but after coasting on the front, he was passed without much of a fight by the tracking favorite, and weakened to fourth on the wire.  Next up however was my "BEST of the Day" at Belmont.  The Grade 1 Man O'War was a mile and 3/8th on the turf and should have had a short priced favorite in Point of Entry, owned by the Phipps family and trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.  But in his last (when I had him in the Grade 1 Manhattan) he'd exited the race with an injury.  So the Phipps and McGaughey put in another quality runner, one of my favorites Boisterous.  I didn't think he was a legitimate Grade 1 runner, but the field today was NOT filled with superstars.  And in fact the post-time favorite, Optimizer, had proven himself a solid Grade 3 runner, in spite of running second to Wise Dan.  I was surprised DRF Video Analyst Mike Beer strongly supported him.  Didn't change my mind, I went PRIME TIME on Boisterous.  He sat in mid pack to the far turn, made a big move to collar the leader and kicked on with it inside the final furlong!  Y-E-S!!!!!!  He paid $5.10, so I collected over $50 :) 

One more race to watch live before heading home through the summer monsoon rains!  Strathnaver was my triple investment selection in Arlington's Grade 3 Matron.  She ran a very dull 8th.  I made my last series of bets and headed home through pouring rains.  It was awful - I-595 was nearly flooded the entire way home, but no problems getting home.  I walked in and turned on the DVR to catch up.  In the 9th at Arlington, the Grade 3 American Derby my longshot Moro Tap was in good position through the far turn at 7/1 but had not stretch punch....fith.  In the Belmont finale I thought Freight would go right to the front and steal it.  The rider thought better of it and sat 4th....behind a loose-on-the-lead runner who wired the field.....sigh.  Finally, it was time for the fourth and final of the big four stakes on the Arlington Million Preview card.  Veteran millionaire Rahystrada had won this Grade 3 Arlington Handicap last year, for the second time, and was going for an historic third win.  Last year he'd come off a layoff with two competitive races and scored here in his third off the shelf.  Today he was third off the layoff - with both of them being competitive races - uh oh!  I thought he looked to be tracking a slow pace and would get first jump on the closers.  It worked out exactly the way I'd forseen it - and he paid a very generous $8.80, meaning I will cash for well over $40!  AWESOME! 

I missed in a Hollywood allowance when Dinvar Diva was 4/5 and instead of flying late with a big stretch punch she ran evenly.  I thought Muppet an would be loose on the lead in the Coach Jimi Lee Stakes going seven panels on the all-weather main track at Arlington, but he sat just off the speed and was an oh-so-close second at 9/2.  Then it was time for my "BET of the DAY" at Hollywood.  It was the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap.  Teddy's Promise was my top pick to win, but I'd noted that if the front-running Rennesgotzip scratched from her rail draw that would leave Teddy as virtually the lone speed and a near-certain winner.  'Zip did scratch and I was on board!  The TVG analysts pointed out the obvious speed advantage, and then they had an interview with one of the trainers of an inside runner.  She said that she was hoping her filly would show speed.  That could be a problem I thought.  Sure enough, Teddy stalked the pace, but had to run pretty quickly early.  She put away the longshot turning for home, but inside the final 16th she didn't have enough to resist a late running graded stakes winner.....second, my TENTH runner-up horse of the day!.  The feature race at Hollywood was NOT the A Gleam, but the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies going a mile and a quarter on the turf.  I really liked Emollient here.  As I noted, I didn't think Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott would ship his New York base filly to California, to make her first, yes FIRST start on turf, in a Grade 1 if he didn't think she really had a good chance.  She'd been my pick in the Gulfstream Park Oaks on Florida Derby Day and disappointed.  But she came back on just seven days rest to win the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on Keeneland's synthetic track - which plays like turf.  She could be forgiven for not firing in the Black Eyed Susan when she'd gone to her knees at the start.  So I tripled the bet.  Jockey Mike Smith would probably put her on the lead because the California front runner in the race (who'd won the prep for this) was not fast at all.  But Emollient broke flat footed, so Smith let her settle in third.  The pace was glacial - a :50 and change half mile!  I knew I was going to be in trouble, but that is why Mikey is a Hall of Fame rider.  Sensing the pace he moved Emollient midway down the backstretch to pressure the leader.  As they came out of the turn she proved to be much more talented.  But the early move had taken some of the starch out of her finishing kick and the closers were coming fast.....but not fast enough.  If you watched the gallop out past the wire, even without the momentum she refused to let any other filly pass her :)  I will cash for over $30 when I take my tickets to the track :) 

I lost the finale at Hollywood, but finished with ELEVEN wins on the day (32%) and a profit.  Good times!  Friday I start my "Summer at the Spa - Saratoga 2013" Handicapping project where I'll handicap every card, every day of the anniversary 150th meet.  The highlight will come August 23rd and 24th where I'll be on track with my brother-in-law Jason for the signature race, the Grade 1 Travers!