July 4th

July 4th - Happy Birthday America

New Month - BIG WIN

After travelling all day yesterday (left at 3:45 am from Hiawassee and arrived in Ft. Lauderdale around 4 pm) I didn't really feel like a full day of handicapping, but I saw that one of my favorite runners, Data Link was running in the feature - the Grade 3 Poker - at Belmont.  So I decided to check out the other video previews for the holiday.  Both Mike Beer and Dan Illman remarked that Data Link should win the Poker, but like me they had reservations about his off form of late.  I decided that I would invest in him anyway, cut scale back the investment. 

I had seen that Hollywood Park was hosting the Grade 2 Swaps for 3-year-olds and so I watched that preview as well.  Both of them remarked that the set-up could not have been scripted any better for Chief Havoc.  He was an in-form front-runner in a field of four.  His three rivals today were a deep closer, a stone-cold closer, and a come-from-the-clouds closer.  Chief Havoc figured to break on top, be a good four lengths on the lead down the backstretch under an easy gallop and canter home.....unless, as Dan Illman said (and I thought) something wacky happened, which DOES happen in thoroughbred racing!  So I went to the Betfair Hollywood site and checked what Mike Silverstein had to say.  More of the same, he put Chief Havoc on top.  But the opinion that I really wanted was DRF Handicapper Brad Free......he is very good, especially with his "Best" selections.  Well, Chief Havoc was his "BEST" of the day, and as he wrote, it was more like a "most likely to win" than a "best investment."  I considered the possibilities of something wacky happening and concluded that even given such events, it was a slam dunk in such a short field.  So I made a "BET OF THE DAY" investment......$50 to WIN! 

Later in the day I watched the replays.  From the get-go I could tell Data Link was not running smoothly.  And the one horse I'd been fearful of, King Kressa (because he could get away as the lone speed) did exactly what I was afraid of.  He was loose on a very easy lead; with Data Link not running to his past form, the speedster was gone and Data Link was all out to try and hit the board.....4th.  Then at Hollywood, just as I feared as well, NOT the way it looked on paper......

The rail runner, a closer, was sent right to the front by Mike Smith.  Really?  Chief Havoc's rider was clever however, he didn't try to engage him or out-sprint him.  And by the time they had run through the first turn the Chief was in front, but only by 3/4 of a length.  And another closer, ridden by Julian Leparoux was stalking close to the pace!  This is not at all how I'd seen the race unfold in my mind!  Chief Havoc opened up as they hit the far turn, but Smith asked his horse for run and was gaining some ground.  Leparoux tried to split horses and as heads turned for home it looked like a three-horse race to the wire.  But Smith's horse had had enough of running early and he stopped; Leparoux - as he typically does - had moved too soon and his mount hung through the lane.  Meanwhile Chief Havoc extended his stride and drew off with authority!  WHOOO HOOOO!  I cashed for $70 and was ahead for the day and the new month! 

Saturday is Summit of Speed Day at Calder with six big stakes races, four of them graded; and Game On Dude is going in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup to defend his crown.  I will be on track for a short time (daughter Julie will be in town before heading out on her adventure to Peru).