December 11 - 15: Week 3 of Championship Meet
Wednesday Dec. 11
Today was the first BIG bet of the meet. It was also my day to get my monthly eye injection. But I will say this, it was the "best" post injection I've had in the nearly eight months of treatment. Typically my eye is really irritated and bothers me for anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. But today, only about an hour and a half. Wonderful. That allowed me to watch the replay of my big bet and enjoy the bet. The day began with a Todd Pletcher runner in a turf sprint. I was just thinking the other day about how noticeably absent Mr. Pletcher had been through the first part of the meet, but today I noticed he's been four-for-eight, so I guess he's not complaining. Boston Beauties was the pick and my only concern was she was dropping in for a tag in this her fourth start. But, her three Beyers beat anything this field had run and she'd had trouble as the 3/5 favorite last time out at GPW. Luis Saez was up today. They dueled on the inside through wicked splits of :21.1 and :44.1 making me wonder if she'd be cooked late, but once they turned for home she kicked away with authority and my first bet of the week, a triple investment, was a winning one.
Passed the next two and missed in the fourth right before leaving for the doctor's appointment. Once home and I could pull up the replays I watched the fifth, a Maiden Special for juveniles going a mile on the turf. Todd Pletcher was sending out Summer To Remember who figured to be odds-on. Everything pointed to this one being a decisive winner. First, it's Todd Pletcher and Luis Saez with a maiden 2yo in December at Gulfstream; second, his debut Beyer was a furlong better than all but one rival and he was multiple lengths clear of that one (69 vs. 48, 20, FTS, 40, 63, 45, and 39). And perhaps the most important stat - when this colt debuted at Saratoga he was second best behind a 2yo named Decorated Invader who shipped to Woodbine and won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes in his next start. Summer To Remember was also GP analyst Ron Nicoletti's best of the day. He sat just off the 12/1 leader and dueled through the far turn. As heads turned for home you had to wonder if he was going to kick on after a nearly race-long duel. But 'Summer had another gear and opened up to score easily.
How he went off at 1-2 odds is beyond me; 1-9 would not have been a surprise and 1-5 were probably fair odds. But I'll gladly take my $75 in winnings on my biggest bet of the meet to date, a $50 win ticket. Missed with minor bets on the last three, but that's ok, the day had it's highlight.
Thursday December 12
It was nine years in the making. That's right - NINE years that my favorite former Western High School student and "Disney Girl," Amanda and I had gone with seeing each other. As we talked about over brunch we were both thankful for modern technology as we "talk" frequently via Facebook and text messages. But today was the first day I got to see her. She's married with three kids and is a nurse practitioner. But to me she looks nearly the same as she did as a 15 year-old sophomore and 17 year-old senior some 20+ years ago. Always one of my very favorites. Because we have such a Disney connection it was no surprise that she, like me, wore a Disney shirt. Thoroughly enjoyed the morning with her. When I got home I watched my races and for the day I scored with two of five picks despite a sloppy/drying out track and all the grass races coming off the turf. The first win came in the fifth where Overdeliver was running in a non-winners of two claiming event. This guy had won his debut at Tampa and had followed that up with a second in the Pasco Stakes. Way over his head in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial he now was running for Jorge Navarro and if he was right he figured to be much the best. I originally made him a minimum bet, but as post time approached I upped the bet. It was a dog fight to deep stretch but he inched clear late.
In the sixth, it was originally carded as a five furlong turf sprint. The main question for me was who would be riding the inside two drawn runners IF this came off the turf. 1-Kristo Skye and MTO: 2-Take Charge Dude both figured to run well on the main track and Luis Saez was named on both. The betting favored 'Dude, and that's who Saez stuck with. It was a duel to the far turn but then Take Charge Dude took charge and ran away as easily the best.
Friday December 13
Yes, Friday the 13th! But I had a pretty good day anyway. Missed with an even money favorite in the opener but bounced back in third where my top pick was Vicky Apple. It was a 3-lifetime sprint and her paired Beyer figures. Also, two back she'd won a 2L at this tag then last out just missed in a spot like this. Sent off at even money she went right to the front and wired the field.
After two misses it was time for my "best" of the day in the eighth. It was an entry level allowance going a one-turn mile but THE only question was this, "Would ANYBODY run with Flashing Diamond on the front end?" He'd drawn the rail under last season's top rider, Irad Ortiz. And he showed three races where he cleared early and never looked back. NONE of his rivals had ever gone for the lead. I had originally planned on a $10 bet by I tripled that to a $30 WIN bet before they arrived at the gate. EASILY to the front and cantered home as much, MUCH the best.
The ONLY surprise turned out to be why the crowd allowed him to go off at 3/5 odds and pay $3.40 on such a "gimme." WHOOOO HOOOO.
Friday December 14: Louisiana Champions Day
Today I headed out to the races where the weather forecast was for a hot 86 degree afternoon with a very likely chance of thunderstorms. Shows what "they" know! It was in the low 80s at best with a very pleasant breeze all day AND not a drop of rain. To be honest I had a difficult time coming up with horses that I really liked both at Gulfstream and around the country. But in the end I had picks in ten of the eleven at GP and had several selections at the Fair Grounds. As I told the "ticket lady," who always takes good care of me......one thing I LOVE about the races is that there is always a story, and for me there's almost always many stories! Today was no exception. The first thing that was worth telling is that I asked about the status of Florida Derby tickets. I was told that a temporary grandstand is being constructed (which makes me wonder about Pegasus Day - will it be ready in time? Ticket prices?). And I was told that in all likelihood I would be contacted shortly after the holidays since I'm a returning ticket holder. And the most likely scenario appears to be I'll be offered discounted tickets in the terrace dining room or the temporary grandstand seats. I'd enjoy the restaurant IF we were guaranteed window seats, but that seems unlikely. We'll see. The second story comes from my first selection at Woodbine, in their third race, the Display Stakes. I had the heavy favorite Elusive Knight. And post time was scheduled to be close to one of my Gulfstream races. But watching the post time on my phone the "minutes to post" was not changing. So I walked out to the simulcast tent and checked out the screen.....there was a "Track Maintenance Delay" because it was snowing so much they had to plow the snow off the all weather track! Now THAT my friends has never happened to me!
The other stories can be shared during the race day recap as they involve actual races and bets. So the opener at Gulfstream was a maiden 2yo event going two turns on the grass and there was little to pick from. BUT I did think that Just A Bit Sassy, a first timer from the Ralph Nicks barn with Tyler Gafflione up was worth a minimum wager. Oh she was TONS the best as I scored right off the bat. That winning the first race has become quite the frequent event for me this winter here!
It wasn't for another two hours that I had my next winner. When I handicapped the races I was happy to see that top national trainer Chad Brown was finally running some horses today. And in the fifth he was sending out Sayyaaf in an entry level allowance going a mile on the grass. Sayyaaf had never been two turns and had nearly always faded through the lane. So the question today was two-fold, (a) would he be able to negotiate a mile trip and (b) would be hold on to the lead. With Javier Castellano up I figured he would get to the front with ease and maybe slow the pace down to control the race. He did just that and he opened up on the run to the wire as MUCH the best!
The fifth at the Fair Grounds was the first of the Louisiana Champions Day Stakes and it was for two-year-old fillies, the La Champ Lassies. I liked Vacherie Girl from the Steve Asmussen barn despite the fact that she'd only been out once. In that debut had rated off the pace then blown by the field with ease to draw off by over 6 1/2 widening lengths. With Florent Geroux in the irons I looked for a repeat of that effort. I have to admit I was a little concerned when she was still multiple lengths behind as they approached the far turn but through the long New Orleans stretch she wore down the leaders and edged clear for the win.
And as I watched the early betting I'd decided to double my original bet from $5 to $10. HORRAY! The eighth at Gulfstream was the Grade 3 Rampart Handicap for older fillies and mares going a one turn mile. Not a single one of the runners entered in here was a graded stakes winner, and there was very little experience at this one-turn mile configuration. And so I gave the upset call to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey's Pink Sands on a couple of angles. First, she had run well here in the past with two wins in three starts. Second, one of those wins had come at this one-turn mile. Third, in her last start, the Pumpkin Pie Stakes in New York she'd finished third in what had to be a prep for this because she is NOT a sprinter. And, the decisive winner that day had come back to be a best of the rest second in last weekend's Grade 3 Go For Wand behind a multiple Grade 1 winner. Lastly, Jose Ortiz was on today and he'd been on board for three of Pink Sands' wins. There looked to be a lot of speed in here and I expected her to rally past the tiring leaders. Well, on the far turn she was DEAD last and as she was fanned wide turning for home she was still far back. So far back I didn't even have my camera ready to film. But then she seemed to be gaining quickly so I began the video and in the final 16th she blew by to be a clear cut winner.
Pink Sands paid a juicy $11 and I so wished I doubled the bet, but still cashed for nearly $30 on a minimum play for my second win on the local track. I was a photo finish second when nailed on the wire with a prime time bet in an Aqueduct race with the 6/5 favorite, grrrrr. But minutes later it was time for the seventh at the Fair Grounds, the Louisiana Champions Ladies Sprint. In here I REALLY liked Minit To Stardom. She been sensational in her first three starts, two here and one in a Churchill Downs allowance win as a 2yo. She'd gone off form but then last summer she surprised the Grade 2 Honorable Miss and then was a good second behind another graded stakes runner in a Belmont graded sprint. That was her only loss in the last five starts. Still, there was a strong field to overcome and so I had a $10 ticket on her as they approached the gate. Minit To Stardom was the 6/5 favorite as the horses lined up to go in then the board flashed and suddenly she was 3/5. WOW. I looked over my shoulder in the Silks Simulcast area and no one was at the teller windows. I walked over and got another $10 WIN ticket. She pressed the leader through the far turn with the teletimer clicking off wicked splits. She edged to the front and was ready to pull away. But the long time leader to her inside had something left. The battled, then the other filly began to edge clear. Then she drifted out and brushed with Minit To Stardom. The thought that flashed through my mind immediately was "that wasn't good, but it wasn't bad enough to warrant a DQ." The two separated for about fifty yards and then the inside filly made a sharp right hand turn coming out about six or seven paths causing my rider to check sharply and take up. She then continued on to a daylight win. Everyone standing around me said nearly in unison, "She's coming down." And when they showed the head-on it was oh-so-obvious. But the stewards looked at the replay over and over, some fifty times for over ten minutes. It was such a delay I said to one guy watching with me, "WHAT could they possibly be looking it? It's so clear." He agreed and FINALLY they put her up. Smart move to up the bet and lucky that the "winner" got DQ'd - makes for a great story though!
Minutes later I was in my seat watching the field get into the gate for the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale going nine furlongs on the turf. As has been the case through 2019, if it's a stakes race on the turf all you need to do is look for the Chad Brown runner. But, it's also been a frequent dilemma that he has more than one in the field. And such was the case here. The one I liked was Flavius. He'd won a stakes in Europe which is a great sign of talent. And in his last he was coming off a thirteen month layoff so you knew he'd move forward today. To prove that he'd notched two bullet works for today's race. The "other" Chad Brown runner had a history with me. I'd told Kim that my experience today at Gulfstream would bring to mind memories of my great friend Jim Anderson who suddenly passed away last March. I miss him terribly as a friend and a track buddy. In January 2017 he and I had been at the Fair Grounds on their Super Saturday card which featured a race for three-year-olds as the first step towards the Gr 2 Louisiana Derby and eventually the Kentucky Derby. My pick that day had been west coast invader Instilled Regard and he'd won at a very generous 4/1 price. Since then he'd only won once and had been moved recently to Chad Brown's barn. He'd run close in a turf race last time but still was 0-for-3 on the grass. I like him as well, but in the end I thought (a) Flavius is proven on the grass and (b) I probably "like" Instilled Regard because I know of him. As the field turned for home it was going to be a mad scramble to the wire with at least half a dozen horses in position to get the win. But it looked to me as I watched that the runner with the most momentum was Flavius, who'd gone off at a nice 3/1 price. Without about a furlong to run he was in front and I thought for sure I was going to win. Then just in the shadow of the wire two other horses burst by and I was third. Yes, you guessed it, the winner was Instilled Regard. At least he was only 3/1 and not a big price, still I really had liked him. Sigh.... The final great story of the day came in the very next race from the Fair Grounds, the Louisiana Champions Juvenile where I liked Chimney Rock. He was making his first start on the main track since last summer but in between he'd run second three times to top notch turf sprinters finishing a half length, a head, and 3/4 of a length behind the winner. I just thought he looked much the best on numbers. As the field was warming up I went out to the Gulfstream paddock to get a look at my pick in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday, Prince Lucky who was trained by Todd Pletcher and had Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez up. When the horses left for the track I went back inside and saw that the FG race was over and the video was showing the slow motion replay of #7 winning. I looked and saw my horse, #2 had run second. There was an objection and when they showed the video replay it was at the break and didn't give me much hope of a DQ yet again. Still the race was not official for the longest time. #7 was walking into the winner's circle but still no "OFFICIAL" sign. Time to head out to the rail to watch the GP race. I reached into my pocket to get the losing ticket to toss it but then thought, I'll wait until it's official. Watched Prince Lucky get pulled up on the back stretch and as I walked back inside I pulled up the results on my phone. Wait.....my horse was Chimney Rock....and the results showed the winner was #7 Chimney Rock. WHAT? Had I mis-read the number because of my vision? I looked at my sheet and though a bit blurry it looked like a "7" - put my glasses on, yes, it WAS a "7." Had I mis-read it when I made my bet? You've got to be kidding me! Pulled out my ticket......Ha Ha Ha.....I HAD bet on the 7! I AM A WINNER! WHOOOO HOOOO! Glad there was that objection and I had not tossed the ticket blindly away!
Missed on the remaining races and hustled home to get Kim and head to the hockey game. We were supposed to meet up with our friend Melissa. But we were later arriving there than she was and we missed her.
Sunday December 15
Today Kim and I went to the movies and really enjoyed "Jumanji" - the second re-make starring the Rock, Dwayne Johnson. I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so many times. Great times. When I watched the replays from my selections I have to admit that I was surprised. When I handicapped the card I even told Kim, "There's a good chance that I'm going to be wrong on all my picks, but I think they have a good chance." In the opener I picked Dancing Destroyer from the Norm Casse barn. Looked best as the morning line favorite and rallied by the field in mid-stretch to win as the 6/5 favorite.
Didn't get another win until the last bet of the day, but it was a good one. In the ninth, a five and one half furlong main track sprint under allowance-optional claiming conditions Ray'swarrior looked to be MUCH the best. In fact the stakes winning runner looked too good to be true. Granted his last had not been good, only a 79 Beyer compared to his consistent lower 90 figures. But even if he "only" ran that 79 he'd beat all but one lifetime figure in the field. With Paco Lopez up for Jason Servis - a near 50% winning combination I had little doubt this was a "pad your stats" win for the barn. Right to the front, dueled briefly then widened without asking and scored as much, MUCH the best. My THIRD "big bet" victory of the week. It was a very good week. Check out the highlights here:
How he went off at 1-2 odds is beyond me; 1-9 would not have been a surprise and 1-5 were probably fair odds. But I'll gladly take my $75 in winnings on my biggest bet of the meet to date, a $50 win ticket. Missed with minor bets on the last three, but that's ok, the day had it's highlight.
Thursday December 12
It was nine years in the making. That's right - NINE years that my favorite former Western High School student and "Disney Girl," Amanda and I had gone with seeing each other. As we talked about over brunch we were both thankful for modern technology as we "talk" frequently via Facebook and text messages. But today was the first day I got to see her. She's married with three kids and is a nurse practitioner. But to me she looks nearly the same as she did as a 15 year-old sophomore and 17 year-old senior some 20+ years ago. Always one of my very favorites. Because we have such a Disney connection it was no surprise that she, like me, wore a Disney shirt. Thoroughly enjoyed the morning with her. When I got home I watched my races and for the day I scored with two of five picks despite a sloppy/drying out track and all the grass races coming off the turf. The first win came in the fifth where Overdeliver was running in a non-winners of two claiming event. This guy had won his debut at Tampa and had followed that up with a second in the Pasco Stakes. Way over his head in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial he now was running for Jorge Navarro and if he was right he figured to be much the best. I originally made him a minimum bet, but as post time approached I upped the bet. It was a dog fight to deep stretch but he inched clear late.
In the sixth, it was originally carded as a five furlong turf sprint. The main question for me was who would be riding the inside two drawn runners IF this came off the turf. 1-Kristo Skye and MTO: 2-Take Charge Dude both figured to run well on the main track and Luis Saez was named on both. The betting favored 'Dude, and that's who Saez stuck with. It was a duel to the far turn but then Take Charge Dude took charge and ran away as easily the best.
Friday December 13
Yes, Friday the 13th! But I had a pretty good day anyway. Missed with an even money favorite in the opener but bounced back in third where my top pick was Vicky Apple. It was a 3-lifetime sprint and her paired Beyer figures. Also, two back she'd won a 2L at this tag then last out just missed in a spot like this. Sent off at even money she went right to the front and wired the field.
After two misses it was time for my "best" of the day in the eighth. It was an entry level allowance going a one-turn mile but THE only question was this, "Would ANYBODY run with Flashing Diamond on the front end?" He'd drawn the rail under last season's top rider, Irad Ortiz. And he showed three races where he cleared early and never looked back. NONE of his rivals had ever gone for the lead. I had originally planned on a $10 bet by I tripled that to a $30 WIN bet before they arrived at the gate. EASILY to the front and cantered home as much, MUCH the best.
The ONLY surprise turned out to be why the crowd allowed him to go off at 3/5 odds and pay $3.40 on such a "gimme." WHOOOO HOOOO.
Friday December 14: Louisiana Champions Day
Today I headed out to the races where the weather forecast was for a hot 86 degree afternoon with a very likely chance of thunderstorms. Shows what "they" know! It was in the low 80s at best with a very pleasant breeze all day AND not a drop of rain. To be honest I had a difficult time coming up with horses that I really liked both at Gulfstream and around the country. But in the end I had picks in ten of the eleven at GP and had several selections at the Fair Grounds. As I told the "ticket lady," who always takes good care of me......one thing I LOVE about the races is that there is always a story, and for me there's almost always many stories! Today was no exception. The first thing that was worth telling is that I asked about the status of Florida Derby tickets. I was told that a temporary grandstand is being constructed (which makes me wonder about Pegasus Day - will it be ready in time? Ticket prices?). And I was told that in all likelihood I would be contacted shortly after the holidays since I'm a returning ticket holder. And the most likely scenario appears to be I'll be offered discounted tickets in the terrace dining room or the temporary grandstand seats. I'd enjoy the restaurant IF we were guaranteed window seats, but that seems unlikely. We'll see. The second story comes from my first selection at Woodbine, in their third race, the Display Stakes. I had the heavy favorite Elusive Knight. And post time was scheduled to be close to one of my Gulfstream races. But watching the post time on my phone the "minutes to post" was not changing. So I walked out to the simulcast tent and checked out the screen.....there was a "Track Maintenance Delay" because it was snowing so much they had to plow the snow off the all weather track! Now THAT my friends has never happened to me!
It wasn't for another two hours that I had my next winner. When I handicapped the races I was happy to see that top national trainer Chad Brown was finally running some horses today. And in the fifth he was sending out Sayyaaf in an entry level allowance going a mile on the grass. Sayyaaf had never been two turns and had nearly always faded through the lane. So the question today was two-fold, (a) would he be able to negotiate a mile trip and (b) would be hold on to the lead. With Javier Castellano up I figured he would get to the front with ease and maybe slow the pace down to control the race. He did just that and he opened up on the run to the wire as MUCH the best!
The fifth at the Fair Grounds was the first of the Louisiana Champions Day Stakes and it was for two-year-old fillies, the La Champ Lassies. I liked Vacherie Girl from the Steve Asmussen barn despite the fact that she'd only been out once. In that debut had rated off the pace then blown by the field with ease to draw off by over 6 1/2 widening lengths. With Florent Geroux in the irons I looked for a repeat of that effort. I have to admit I was a little concerned when she was still multiple lengths behind as they approached the far turn but through the long New Orleans stretch she wore down the leaders and edged clear for the win.
And as I watched the early betting I'd decided to double my original bet from $5 to $10. HORRAY! The eighth at Gulfstream was the Grade 3 Rampart Handicap for older fillies and mares going a one turn mile. Not a single one of the runners entered in here was a graded stakes winner, and there was very little experience at this one-turn mile configuration. And so I gave the upset call to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey's Pink Sands on a couple of angles. First, she had run well here in the past with two wins in three starts. Second, one of those wins had come at this one-turn mile. Third, in her last start, the Pumpkin Pie Stakes in New York she'd finished third in what had to be a prep for this because she is NOT a sprinter. And, the decisive winner that day had come back to be a best of the rest second in last weekend's Grade 3 Go For Wand behind a multiple Grade 1 winner. Lastly, Jose Ortiz was on today and he'd been on board for three of Pink Sands' wins. There looked to be a lot of speed in here and I expected her to rally past the tiring leaders. Well, on the far turn she was DEAD last and as she was fanned wide turning for home she was still far back. So far back I didn't even have my camera ready to film. But then she seemed to be gaining quickly so I began the video and in the final 16th she blew by to be a clear cut winner.
Pink Sands paid a juicy $11 and I so wished I doubled the bet, but still cashed for nearly $30 on a minimum play for my second win on the local track. I was a photo finish second when nailed on the wire with a prime time bet in an Aqueduct race with the 6/5 favorite, grrrrr. But minutes later it was time for the seventh at the Fair Grounds, the Louisiana Champions Ladies Sprint. In here I REALLY liked Minit To Stardom. She been sensational in her first three starts, two here and one in a Churchill Downs allowance win as a 2yo. She'd gone off form but then last summer she surprised the Grade 2 Honorable Miss and then was a good second behind another graded stakes runner in a Belmont graded sprint. That was her only loss in the last five starts. Still, there was a strong field to overcome and so I had a $10 ticket on her as they approached the gate. Minit To Stardom was the 6/5 favorite as the horses lined up to go in then the board flashed and suddenly she was 3/5. WOW. I looked over my shoulder in the Silks Simulcast area and no one was at the teller windows. I walked over and got another $10 WIN ticket. She pressed the leader through the far turn with the teletimer clicking off wicked splits. She edged to the front and was ready to pull away. But the long time leader to her inside had something left. The battled, then the other filly began to edge clear. Then she drifted out and brushed with Minit To Stardom. The thought that flashed through my mind immediately was "that wasn't good, but it wasn't bad enough to warrant a DQ." The two separated for about fifty yards and then the inside filly made a sharp right hand turn coming out about six or seven paths causing my rider to check sharply and take up. She then continued on to a daylight win. Everyone standing around me said nearly in unison, "She's coming down." And when they showed the head-on it was oh-so-obvious. But the stewards looked at the replay over and over, some fifty times for over ten minutes. It was such a delay I said to one guy watching with me, "WHAT could they possibly be looking it? It's so clear." He agreed and FINALLY they put her up. Smart move to up the bet and lucky that the "winner" got DQ'd - makes for a great story though!
Missed on the remaining races and hustled home to get Kim and head to the hockey game. We were supposed to meet up with our friend Melissa. But we were later arriving there than she was and we missed her.
Sunday December 15
Today Kim and I went to the movies and really enjoyed "Jumanji" - the second re-make starring the Rock, Dwayne Johnson. I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so many times. Great times. When I watched the replays from my selections I have to admit that I was surprised. When I handicapped the card I even told Kim, "There's a good chance that I'm going to be wrong on all my picks, but I think they have a good chance." In the opener I picked Dancing Destroyer from the Norm Casse barn. Looked best as the morning line favorite and rallied by the field in mid-stretch to win as the 6/5 favorite.
Didn't get another win until the last bet of the day, but it was a good one. In the ninth, a five and one half furlong main track sprint under allowance-optional claiming conditions Ray'swarrior looked to be MUCH the best. In fact the stakes winning runner looked too good to be true. Granted his last had not been good, only a 79 Beyer compared to his consistent lower 90 figures. But even if he "only" ran that 79 he'd beat all but one lifetime figure in the field. With Paco Lopez up for Jason Servis - a near 50% winning combination I had little doubt this was a "pad your stats" win for the barn. Right to the front, dueled briefly then widened without asking and scored as much, MUCH the best. My THIRD "big bet" victory of the week. It was a very good week. Check out the highlights here:
Gulfstream Highlights: Dec. 11 - 15
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