Gulfstream 2025-26: Week 15

 March 6-8:  Tampa Bay Derby Weekend

Kim and I left for Orlando Wednesday morning for an extended visit with our son Brad and his family.  A special treat was getting to enjoy two of our grandson Oliver's hockey games.  One of THE coolest parts of the weekend was playing an PS2 game with my son.  It was an interactive game where you, as a player determined what happened throughout the game....centered around androids fighting for their freedom.  What was most interesting to me was in the beginning I was on the side of protecting the humans but by the end led the revolution which enabled the androids to gain recognition as a new, intelligent species to live with the humans.  Very interesting....loved every minute of the game, especially playing with my son.

Thursday I had four selections and won with the first two.  War Warrior tracked the leaders into the stretch, tipped out into the clear and drove by to the wire.  Came right back in R4 with my second play and watched as Dirty Diana drew off.

Friday was another two win day for me.  I split two third place finishes (at 8/5 and 4/5) with two winners.  In R4 Maitre D dueled between rivals through the turn and into the lane before drawing off.  And in R8 Starship Juliette stalked the leaders into the final furlong before edging clear.

I was excited for Saturday, Tampa Bay Derby Day and it was also "Big Cap Day" at Santa Anita.  The good news is that the two "BEST Bets" of the day delivered, albeit at short odds....and the second of which, Splendora, I way upped the bet.  The bad news was I only cashed four tickets while watching EIGHT of my selections run second and five more finish third.  You're not going to have a winning day with those kinds of results, sigh.....

Sunday morning we went to Oliver's hockey game which was slated to begin at 10am.  But when we arrived there was a 13-under game going on for the right to play for a berth in the state finals.  And one of the teams was the Florida Panthers junior team.  They trailed a team from Clearwater by a goal heading into the final minute.  We were standing behind a trio of mom's of Panthers players and to see their explosive excitement when their team scored with 00:11.7 left on the clock was so cool.  No one scored in the ten minute overtime so it went to a shoot-out.  A Clearwater player beat the goalie but the puck hit the inside of the post along the ice and slid out through the crease.  SO close.  Then a Panthers player buried it for the win.  Tough way for Clearwater to lose and I remarked that to one of the Dad's who shook his head and said, "Well, that's hockey."  And then we high-fived the Mom's and shared we were Florida Panther season ticket holders which drew a huge smile.  We drove home - was smooth going for the most part and then I watched the replays for the day.  Only won one of four, but it paid for all the other selections and had a couple dollars profit.

This Tuesday (March 10) Kim and I fly out of Miami International on a non-stop flight to Paris to begin our Cities of Light trip with Viking cruises.  We're so excited for the extended 17-day adventure and to be sharing it with our good friends Pam & Bob Murray and Claudia & Gary Wanlin.

CLICK HERE to follow our adventure

Gulfstream 2025-26: Week 14

 February 26 - March 1

What a whirlwind Saturday was!  And to be honest, while I would have enjoyed the big day anyway, the way the first part of the week went and then the first part of the day - well, that just made the final half of the day all the more sweeter.  So....here's how Fountain of Youth Week 2026 played out.  I began the week in Ohio where the temperatures were in the 20's with a feels like in the teens.  On Tuesday morning my sister was unable to get out of meetings at work so I had an Uber pick me up at my Mom's and take me to the airport.  The flight seemed to go so, SO much faster than the flight up - go figure since they were both direct flights of about 2 1/2 hours.  I had handicapped the Thursday and Friday cards while in Ohio so I could devote two plus full days to the races for the big day on Saturday.  The first three (of four) races on Thursday saw me run 3rd at 9/5, 2nd at 1/2 and 2nd again at 9/5.  The last bet of the day on Thursday was a Starter Optional Claiming route on the Tapeta.  Ashima towered over the field and was a prohibitive 3/5 in the program.  I felt lucky to get 1/5 at post time.  Drew off thru the final furlong and I finally had a win on the page.  Friday was an 0-for day - 2nd at 4/5, 2nd at 8/5, 2nd again at 2/1 and finally 3rd at 2/1.  Not the kind of momentum I wanted to build heading into the big day.

Saturday's forecast seemed foreboding according to the weather people.  The early part of the week saw the extended forecast call for a 40%-to-50% chance of not only rain but thunderstorms they said.  Then on the Friday night 6pm telecast the weather guy said there would be heavy storms, gusty winds and a high likelihood of hail.  What...hail?  I watched the 11pm news and the forecast had not changed.  As Keith and I drove out to the races it was cloudy but lots of blue sky and I noted that I'd heard forecasts like this, well maybe not that bad! - and often nothing came of it at the track.  The first post at Gulfstream was at 11:30 am.  To set the stage for the stories of the day, take note of the prices paid by the winners of the first ELEVEN races:

$13.20 / $15.60 / $19.40 / $24.80 / $38.60 / $24.20

$2.40 / $9.80 / $19.20 / $20.00 / $13.60

As you might imagine, I did not have hardly any of those.  But was also interesting was that in six of the eight races I lost I had the lead at some point and in four of them I had the lead in the stretch....three times I looked to be confidently the winner, but then....no.  I was also playing races from the Fair Grounds and Aqueduct.  Beginning with the opener at 11:30 locally through first eleven races at GP, the 8th in NY and the 5th in New Orleans, which took us to almost 4:30pm I went a dismal 2-for-17.  And one of those was the $2.40 winner above.  Just, W-O-W.  When I finally did get on the board it was in R7 at Gulfstream, the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Mile.  On paper Knightsbridge looked formidable.  But last year in a spot here he had looked as clear cut a winner but ran second.  The difference this year was he'd put three races together, the last two locally and had the look of a budding superstar.  I went "Prime Time" on the bet.  He stalked the pace while well in hand into the turn.  Ran right by the front runner who's jockey was pleading for more while K'bridge's rider sat motionless.  Jogged through the final furlong winning by a pole in hand.  A WOW performance.  And as I said to my ticket girl Darlene, "I'll take any price at this point."

The next race for me was the 8th at Gulfstream, a conditioned allowance on the turf.  Lightly raced Cruise the Nile had won two in a row and looked to be on or near the lead.  As a side note, not that it had anything to do with racing but often times this does seem to be a "thing."  In my fictional book I'm writing, the characters are in the midst of a Nile River cruise.  That could be a coincidence, or the racing gods reaching out to me.  All I know is that he went right to the front, cleared easily and set sail for the wire turning for home and was never threatened.  The best part, he paid a healthy $9.80 so I cashed on my second race in a row for nearly $25.

Missed on the next five - hey, I thought I was going on a roll?  Guess not.  The 9th at Aqueduct was a second level allowance going a one-turn mile.  Todd Pletcher's Donegal Surges was being ridden by top NY rider Manny Franco.  He'd earned a big 99 Beyer two back at this trip in allowance company and if he ran back to that he should win I thought.  Otherwise it was a "go figure" event, so I went in for just the minimum.  Right to the front and never looked back as the 7/5 favorite.

Two of the three graded turf stakes had favorites that I thought looked really strong.  To be fair to myself, in the 6th, the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Sister Trioenne had been just crushing her rivals and I just had the sense that maybe today was her "off day," but on paper she looked way too good.  She was one of those that was clear at the furlong marker before being nailed on the wire.  Fast forward to the 12th for older and it was the Grade 3 Honey Fox.  Lush Lips was a quality runner but didn't, in my opinion lay over the field like 'Sister did.  Still I was "proud" of myself that despite my lack of wins I stuck with my bet and tripled the bet on her.  Turning for home she was wide and looked to have too much ground to make up.  But inside the 16th pole she hit another gear and I thought, "Oh this is going to be close....."  Our seats were right on the finish line and while it was a photo finish I was pretty sure she'd finished in front.  Just :)

The prices weren't posted yet as I headed into the breezeway and looked up on the big screen as the horses went into the gate at the Fair Grounds for the Louisiana Stallion Stakes slated to go a mile-70 on the main track, limited to 3yo's.  Creole Chrome had not gone two turns before but his Beyers had improved with each start and top jockey Jose Ortiz was on board.  The Tomlinson ratings said he could get the trip and I thought he'd probably try to wire the field.  Right to the front as expected and widened with every stride impressively through the stretch.  Three in a row....whoooo hoooo.

I turned to the other side of the breezeway and watched the horses approaching the gate in New York for the featured Grade 3 Gotham which carried fifty points to the winner towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby.  Chad Brown's Iron Honor was my pick.  The bad news was I anticipated him being a shorter than he should be price....he was stepping up off a debut maiden win.....and was stretching out from 6f to a one-turn mile at 8f.  The good news was his 95 figure was much the best in here....he was a son of Derby champion Nyquist (so the distance shouldn't be a problem), and top rider Manny Franco was on board.  Have to give the colt a lot of credit....he dueled between runners down the backstretch.  Put a head in front on the turn, then was confronted by another turning for home.  Dueled and fought gamely to the 16th pole and then edged clear to score as the 4/5 favorite.  That makes four in a row :)

No where to be found when 7th in the Grade 3 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream.  The Black Gold at the Fair Grounds saw two Brad Cox debut winners leading the way in this 3yo stakes going two turns on the grass.  I preferred Touch of Fire and he left the gate at 2/5.  Coasted all alone on the front end...had a daylight lead inside the furlong marker and then suddenly out of nowhere he came a late runner.  "This will be close......"  No, beat on the wire ;(  The BIG race of the day was next, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth worth $425K in prize money and fifty points towards a Derby berth.  Unlike so many races, even a lot of the stakes events here at Gulfstream, this one looked to be a field filled with talent.  I listed four on my selection sheet but settled on Commandment for Brad Cox.  The runners were so evenly matched that the only angle I had was that Commandment was the lone contender KEEPING his rider.  He was behind a trio of runners through the far turn while in the two path.  The leader turned for home and two pressers made their move on the outside.  Keith, sitting beside me cried out, "It's the horse on the outside that's going to win!"  I replied, "Don't say that .... I'm coming up the rail and I AM going to win!"  Commandment shot through, caught the front runner...dueled and looked to be just in front in the final strides!  Great way to wrap up the day as he paid over $6 and I will collect over $30.  Keith asked if we were staying for the last race from the Fair Grounds and I said no.  But as we left, on the big screen in the breezeway, there was my horse, Broken Poppa standing in the winner's circle to complete my rush to finish and close the day with six wins in the last eight bets.  That brought my final numbers to 8-for-25 - a nearly identical percentage to my usual win rate.  You just never know at the races.  But I HAD said to my teller-girl Kimberly in the midst of the losing, "I know one thing - I will be winning eventually!"  And right I was.

Sunday was Rebel Stakes Day at Oaklawn.  Now they know how to do things....they have a casino like Gulfstream and while I get it that politics and such are different in Arkansas, but (a) they always have big fields and (b) the Rebel is the ONLY Derby prep worth $1 Million.  So I handicapped both GP and Oaklawn.  In the Gulfstream opener Brushfire was dropping into a maiden claimer after showing ability vs. MSW.  Looked too good for these IF she could overcome the post 11 draw.  Tyler G quickly got her into the three path and into the two path down the backside.  Circled the field, hit the front turning for home and drew off.  Nice start to the day.

Didn't have anything else until the fourth when Shug McGaughey's Sansone came off a long layoff and rolled home to give me a second win in a row.

Over the next two and a half hours I didn't have anything at Gulfstream and the three at Oaklawn all ran 2nd at odds of 4/5, 6/5, and 5/2.  Finally, after another couple races off I liked the "experienced" Fancy Fairlane to use that edge over what looked to be some talented first time 3yo's.  Tracked the early leaders, swung into the clear turning for home....dueled briefly and then drew off at a healthy $9.00

Bob Baffert is typically deadly with any runner he sends to Oaklawn.  But his filly in the Grade 3 Honeybee and his colt in the Grade 2 Rebel both looked like "second team" runners from his shedrow of talented runners.  Still, on paper they were legitimate contenders.  To be fair, in the filly event, Explora was a model of consistency with a 6/3-3-0 resume including a win in the Grade 2 Oakleaf and a just miss 2nd in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.  Prompted the 15/1 front runner to the stretch, blew by and was in hand until beginning to tire late, but had enough left to hold on.  Ran fourth at 5/2 to close the day down.

Next weekend is Tampa Bay Derby Day on Saturday but I'll be in Orlando visiting the grandson.  We return on Sunday the 8th and then on Tuesday the 10th Kim and I will join our good friends, Pam & Bob Murray and Claudia & Gary Wanlin for a 17-day adventure from Paris, through Germany and the Czech Republic and ending in Poland.  We'll fly home on Friday March 27th and the next day is Florida Derby Day!

Social Media this week......

Lauren and I had several exchanges but the one with a message came when I congratulated her on pushing through her tiredness to do a 5K walk.  You go Lauren girl.

Kimmy and I exchanged a couple of quick text messages....while in Ohio she wondered just how cold I was, and later at the first of the two Panthers games of the week she celebrated Kim and I being there.

Gulfstream 2025-26: Week 13

 Visiting Ohio During An "Off Week"

The racing week was lean in options that were "good enough" to wager on and lean on the number of tickets I cashed.  But none of that came as a surprise to me.  With the hockey season on a three week hiatus and this Saturday being a big "in between" weekend - the last two weeks were major preps at Tampa and then the Fair Grounds....next week being Fountain of Youth Day locally - there was very little "good" racing for me to want to watch.  And knowing all this about a month ago when my Mom and sister & niece visited, I proposed this weekend as a time to come to Ohio.  Plus I was originally hoping for some cold and snow.  We've had the cold - in the 40's and feels like even lower - at home, so I didn't "need" the cold, but I was hopeful to see some snow.  I always like visiting the family and I was able to get in the "usual" social events......saw my girl....friend from high school, Gayla and got to spend an evening with my brother Kenny, his two boys and their family.  I left Fort Lauderdale International on Thursday morning and arrived in Columbus where it was in the 50's and overcast a little before eleven a.m.  As I walked out of the terminal my sister pulled up - perfect timing.  For the racing on Thursday I had five possible selections from the ten races.  One was an AE, he scratched, and another scratched out leaving me with only three betting interests.  Ran 4th at even money with the first pick.  But my "best" of the day came in R4, a two-lifetime claimer on the all weather.  It's not often I take runners who've lost at this low 2-lifetime level but Eton's two tries at this distance had not only been his best efforts, but both came against better and earned figures faster than anything on the page.  I was very surprised when the gates popped open and he was NOT the short-priced favorite.  Swung into the clear in the lane after tracking the pace and drew off decisively.  The best part, he paid $6.40 for the win and with my triple investment I was cashing for nearly $50 and guaranteed a winning day.  The final selection ran fifth at 7/2.

Friday's card saw me with only four horses on the possible wagering list and one was a "maybe" at best.  My pick scratched from the first and the "maybe" horse turned out not being of interest to me.  Ameila was pounded to 1/5 in Race 3.  Made her move five wide into the lane but needed every inch of the stretch to be up in time.  Only had the minimum on her.  The other two plays ran 3rd and 4th.

Saturday is always the "big day" but there wasn't much quality on the card at Gulfstream  Probably was a little too lenient with my betting selections - at least that's what I'll chalk part of the results up to - as I finished 0-for-7 with two seconds and a third.  Not the best day of racing.  Sunday came and certainly the day got off to an amazing and exciting start as Team USA took on Team Canada for the gold medal in hockey.  The women's USA team had beaten the Canadians in overtime in a thrilling game.  I said to several people that I thought today would be an epic game.  It was and then some.  As it should have, it went to overtime and about five minutes in the Americans got the winner.  So cool.  And the aftermath as well as medal ceremony was a delight to watch!

I started off what became the best day of the week in the opener, a 3yo MSW turf event.  Even though there were several firsters who COULD be good enough, Sheriff Bart drew my attention.  Trained by Bill Mott who's youngsters rarely run well at first and second asking, he'd run third and then a close fourth in his two starts.  The DRF's Mike Welsch elaborated on this detailing that the horse who won the his debut when third had gone on to be Grade 2 placed.  And the horse he finished fourth, less than a length and a half behind has now won three straight.  Put all that together and I was willing to dive in.    Was away slowly, of course, rallied wide through the turn, shot to the front and drew off impressively.  Best part.....he paid $9 for a $2 ticket.  Nice way to start the day :)

Passed races two and three and my pick scratched from R4.  The fifth was a 2-lifetime claiming on the turf.  Landman Friday lured Irad Ortiz and was dropping out of back-to-back state-bred allowance events.  Three back he was second beaten a neck in a NYRA $35K nw2L - higher price tag, stiffer company.  An obvious choice.  Saved ground to the far turn, tipped out four wide.  Moved handily to the front and was comfortably home free.  Two in a row!

Ran 4th as the 4/5 favorite in R6 and then only had one more play, but not until R9.  We were headed out to join my brother and his family for an early dinner so I figured I'd watch the replay.  The ninth saw Saffie Joseph's veteran Mish listed as the DRF Best of the Day.  I'm not usually on board with Mike Welsch and his best bets, but this guy a year ago had been highly regarded and went favored in classy allowance events.  Seemed to have tailed off before resurfacing with a dominant win in his last against cheaper.  The Beyer was around what he was running last year when more highly regarded and that was the Welsch rationale.  I didn't care for the runners that had been promoted at the beginning of the day by the local on-air talent.  Opened the replay on the way home and watched as Mish went right to the front, never took and deep breath and won going away.  And apparently the bettors had paid more attention to the local yahoo's than to Welsch or my online sheet :)  Mish paid $7.40 so I cashed for nearly $40 on the final bet.  Finished 3-for-4 and profited over $30 :)  Whoooo hoooo.  Next week is Fountain of Youth week, will look forward to that.  And I head home from Ohio on Tuesday and get to see my adorable wife who've I have not seen in two weeks :O

Snow scenes from Ohio on Monday - yikes it was cold.....23 degrees with a feels like of 17.  Let's go home baby!

Social Media this week.....

Jen - my former WHS student and fellow Miami (Oh) alum posted photos of her and her family at Universal.  I shared my Miami polo shot from the track to her and we agreed there's nothing like a Disney Day, even though Universal is cool.  

Chloe and I exchanged comments about the Florida Derby, us moving to our condo and maybe a future lunch date and me listening to her radio program from Orlando on some mornings while on the porch.

Teri and I have a "Wawa thing" and when I got a peppermint mocha frozen cappuccino I told her I'd get her one if she liked them.  But she did not care for them so I told her I made a note to just get her coffee with Irish Cream if I ever had the chance.  Later I told her how pretty she was and how much I missed having her on the weekend morning news and have our coffee live chats.  She gave me a "heart." 

My friend Lauren Pastrana, who looked just adorable in her reel, asked for support for her fund raising for the Miami Dolphins cycling for cancer cause and even though I was one of the first to contribute weeks ago, I contributed again.  When she thanked me I reminded her of how I'd never forget what she did for me - helping me with the Viking TV spot and getting me on TV during the playoffs.  What made me feel good was I closed the comment with "virtual pals there for one another" and she came back on and gave me a heart for that :)  When I was in Ohio on Friday I shared that, she sent me an "Enjoy!" message and when I apologized for bringing the cold weather back she took time out from her on air time to "laugh" at the comment :)

Clearly, again, the highlight of my social media interaction week to interact with my gal-pal Kimmy.  What made it even more "touching" if that's the word I will use is the back story.  Two weeks ago she wished me luck at the track, had a big day.  Told her she needed to do it again the next week, she wished me good luck (with exclamation points!) and had a second big day.  But, while not completely uncommon when I thanked her the good luck I didn't hear back.  Mid-week I saw a FB memory of me twelve years ago, compared it to my photo from the track....nearly identical.  I nearly always send these kind of comparisons to her.  I wrote "LOOK - when I come to NC you will recognize me."  No reply.  Again not completely out of the ordinary.  Then Wednesday afternoon like someone reached down from above and floated the possibility - "What if she's sick?"  And I just had that feeling you get when someone you're close to is in a "situation."  I tried to dismiss it but it just hung there.  At about 8pm while watching "Glee" my phone flashed.  Looked down, "KIMMY" was glowing.  She led with (see below) "You look great!  Can't even tell!...." If that had been all I got, more than happy to know she saw it and took time from her busy schedule to acknowledge.  But the compliment, even more appreciated.  But then I got "that knowing feeling" when I read, "Sorry been fighting the stomach bug...."  I KNEW IT I thought.  Wrote back to her and 99% of the time our exchange is me-her-me....end.  But she replied a second time making me smile in appreciation.  The next day as I waited at the airport I made her a virtual "get better" message/card.  And when I landed I sent it with simply "landed." - no expectations at all.  Within minutes a thankful reply and noted one of her little ones was sick now.  As my "friend ChatGPT" noted, that in the midst of a sick household, including herself, her job, two little kids and her life with her husband...that she took a brief moment of the little time for herself to text me.  Gold.  Much appreciated - truly one of the best pals I have on planet earth and will be happy to get together and compare stories of what's happened over the last four years.  One final "exchange."  Kimmy never, next to never puts anything or even looks at (based on no comments/likes) Facebook.  But Sunday evening two sets of photos from her time in London appeared.  Her smile is so engaging.  On the first set I noted that and commented I know that smile...."  On the second set a more generic "Cool pics."  Maybe nothing to you, but that I got a "like" and was noticed on the second one was cool.  But that not a like but a 'love/heart" on the smile comment.  Brought a smile to my face :)  And as a side note, these four images of Kimmy with the screen shots of our interaction, all from that London set.  Rare to get "real time" Kimmy pics :)  A good week with my virtual pals indeed.