Pegasus World Cup Week

January 23 - 26

It's Pegasus Week, and as cool as last week was with the first of the big "Premier Stakes Saturdays" on Sunshine Millions Day, this would be one of THE biggest.  Just the price of tickets should tell you all you need to know.  To sit in the grandstand along the stretch last week for Sunshine Millions was a $20 ticket....for the Pegasus World Cup Day:  $215!  It was a great day of racing, and while it wasn't the most successful or profitable day I did win 35% of my picks and as I often say on days like today, "I'd like to have a high win pct. and make money, but TODAY it's all about being here."  Literally people from all over the world were watching the Pegasus World Cup program and saying to each other, "Wouldn't it be cool to be there?  To go to the Pegasus Cup one day?"  And here I am, attending my third Pegasus.  So fortunate!

Thursday January 23
There was a LOT of rain today and so all the races were off the turf.  My picks in the 2nd and 3rd were main track races, but neither got a confident vote.  Off the board with both.  The fourth was carded for a mile and a sixteenth on the turf for three year old maiden claimers and it was supposed to be my best of the day.  When I watched the handicapper's show prior to the racing starting the two analysts talked about this race and how in spite of it going to the main track, Elusive Molly would be tough to beat.  That's my horse!  I looked her up in the form and with all the angles - best speed figure, on the drop, and her trainer thinking it was ok to run on the wet track - I decided to stick with my bet.  Top rider Irad Ortiz put her immediately in front......after the opening quarter of a mile she was cruising along by daylight, a full length in front while in hand.  After a half mile it was two lengths and Ortiz hadn't moved a muscle.  After six furlongs she had glided to a six length lead and now all the other riders were desperately trying to gain some momentum, Ortiz still not moving.  At the top of the lane he asked and she immediately widened to ten lengths.  Through the final 16th of a mile she was geared down but still the margin grew.  Ultra impressive for my first winner of the week.

In both the 7th and 9th I thought I had excellent chances, but instead ran fifth in both races.  The finale was on the turf and my pick scratched.  But during the middle of the day the handicappers, in explaining their pick-4 and pick-5 tickets both remarked about how Donegal Aces in the finale looked really hard to go against as the lone speed.  She'd been my second choice and so I opened the past performances again and it DID look like she would be all alone on the lead.  And she had the hot riding Irad Ortiz on board.  Made the bet.  Much like Elusive Molly earlier, right to the front and was never in danger.  Didn't draw off like 'Molly but no one gained any significant ground either.  Considering the weather and race changes I was content with the way the Thursday had gone.

Friday January 24
Today as I watched the races I was putting together my racing selections for tomorrow and looking at tracks out of town.  In mid-afternoon it was announced that the Pegasus World Cup favorite, and my BET of the Weekend, Omaha Beach had been scratched due to an injury.  Not only disappointed by that but with his scratch and also the scratch of the second favorite earlier in the morning, this big $3 Million Grade 1 event became a race with ONE runner who had ONE Gr 1 win.  Hardly the kind of stellar event you'd expect for the second richest dirt race in North America.  But still, the excitement for the day was not going to change.  National TV, big celebrities, a packed house and many, many stakes races were ahead.  The weather today was sunny and warm, but because of all the rain previously AND the big day tomorrow with multiple turf stakes, all races were kept off the turf.  I had passed the first, second, third, fourth, and my horse scratched from the fifth.  BUT, since I was handicapping I kept the live feed on.  And as the horses walked around the paddock before the first race it caught my ear when they said there was a Todd Pletcher runner in the field.  WHAT?  He'd been listed in post position 14 waiting to draw in and now he would get in, just not on the turf.  A field of ten were still running but he was being heavily played.  Todd Pletcher - 3yo maiden - at Gulfstream?  Who DOESN'T bet?  I doubled the bet and he came rallying from mid-pack on the turn, caught the leader and they dueled to inside the final one hundred yards before Days of Spring edged clear!  Cashed for over $20 on my last minute adjustment :)

Now there was no action until the sixth.  I wasn't a fan that Monforte was stepping UP into allowance company today but he had three wins and the rest of the field each had a single win - three of them in turf sprints.  So this 7 furlong dirt affair looked right up his alley....stuck with the minimum play.  Dueled for the first half mile, got daylight in front on the turn and no one made up any ground on him.  Didn't make much money, but hey....a win is a win.

Was 2nd at 7/5 in the 7th and really surprised that JS Bach didn't win in the ninth (4th).  But I had two wins and I was fully prepared for tomorrow's big day!

Saturday January 25:  Pegasus World Cup Day
With first post at 11:30 am Keith and I headed out at 10 am.  Just before we left I went only to see how many seats in the new grandstand - which had not gone on sale (or at least it was not widely known to be available) until about two weeks prior - were still open.  In our section (#108) - which is just behind the outrider's head of the #5 horse in the photo above - there were two seats left.  But in the two sections moving away from the finish line - which you can see between the #5 and #4 horses in the post parade above - there were well over 100 seats available.  Too bad it wasn't a packed house, but Keith and I quickly discovered that in the front row here, with multiple seats between us so we could "spread out" were great seats.  Once we parked, and we got very good, up close parking - which I'd been smart enough to pre-purchase - and got through security, we found our way to our seats and took the obligatory photos .....

It was about 40 minutes to the first race and unfortunately my top pick scratched.  The second was a maiden event for 3yo and there were TWO Todd Pletcher runners.  I didn't really like either, both had lost as the favorite for me last time out.  You could make a case for Tycoon Candy since John Velazquez opted to ride there, but I went with Gimme Some Mo.  Turning for home the two of them were daylight clear of everyone else and ran 1-2, yes I ran second.  And to top it off it was the "famous 3-6" combination (that and 2-4 almost always come in together to complete the exacta) - the two Pletchers, a 3-6, and still paid $43.40 for a $2 Exacta wager.  In the first at Laurel I was making the kind of bet that I next to never bet, and that "value" handicappers would never EVER make.  I liked Odd Story in this cheap maiden claimer.  He was a TWELVE time, yes 12x maiden.  Oh that's really hard to swallow.  But EVERY horse eventually finds a field he can beat and this was his.  His last two Beyers were slow 28 & 37 figures, but he was facing a field with last out Beyers of -0, -0, 14, 19 and 5.  SURELY he'd win here.  Right to the front, easily in command to the furlong pole then noticeably began to shorten stride.....oh so close, but still the first winner on the day, whew!

In the third at Gulfstream it was the World of Trouble Turf Sprint.  I'd seen program favorite Shekky Shebaz win last time out on Claiming Crown Day, and he'd been my BET of the Day that day as he dropped out of the Breeders' Cup to run in a restricted stakes.  But when I saw him in the entries here my first thought was he was a "bet against" because he should have buried that field last time and he won, narrowly at that.  But hard as I looked I couldn't find anyone who SHOULD beat him.  Ran fourth and looked about the same as when I'd seen him.  Didn't like the winner.  In opener at Aqueduct which was up next, Modernist looked tons the best on paper.  It was a Maiden Special for 3yo going nine long furlongs.  Modernist had exploded from a 59 Beyer in his sprint debut to a 79 in his second time route try.  He was third that day in a one-turn mile.  Now he had to go two turns, AND a full furlong farther.  But he was the DRF's Mike Beer's BEST (and he NEVER likes the favorite) and the runner-up who finished in front of Modernist had come right back to score.  Right to the front and when the field closed in coming to the lane he opened up and drew off by a widening half a dozen lengths, coasting under the wire under wraps.

The fourth at Gulfstream was another MSW for 3yo and I came oh-so-close to making Todd Pletcher's Market Analysis my BEST BET of the day.  Sometimes runners just jump off the page and I've become accustomed to seeing many Pletcher 3yo....some look good, some don't, and some are like OH MY GOOD.  That was the way Market Analysis appeared to me.  I stuck with my original bet however because on the TVG handicapping show they mentioned this colt and two of them remarked he was bred to be a good one, but a route runner.  The consensus was today's seven furlong distance might be too short for him to show his best.  Well, he wasn't as dazzling as a lot of Pletcher 3yo are, but he was a decisive winner.

Missed at Laurel and then it was the Ladies' Turf Sprint.  Girls Know Best had lost last time, as my choice in an off-the-turf sprint.  She'd won off the turf before, but clearly her favorite surface was turf.  I was surprised the close second choice was a filly who'd never been on turf.  To be fair she'd won over Arlington's synthetic but I just didn't think she could run down the speed 'Girl.  Dueled into the stretch and she finally got the best of my pick in the final 16th of a mile.  Second.  The sixth was the South Beach Stakes going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf.  Mitchell Road was going to be the favorite, but when she ran here last I was completely against her.  EVERYONE that day loved her.  Went off at 2/5 and won for fun.  She LOOKED best on paper, but still it nagged at me that I just didn't think she was as good as advertised.  And in this field there was a lightly raced Pletcher filly, Atomic Blonde.  I liked that Atomic Blonde had come back off a layoff, ran over yielding ground at Aqueduct and was third but still nearly duplicated her 3yo best figure.  With one under her belt and firm going today I thought she could surprise.  I also thought that Mitchell Road was blessed last time with the easiest of leads and that would NOT happen today.  Right out of the gate Mitchell Road broke poorly and was near the back of the pack.  I said to Keith, "And THAT is why I didn't like her!"  Jockey Luis Saez sat chilly on Atomic Blonde on the rail through the far turn, resisting the temptation to swing wide to look for racing room.  And sure enough, a seam opened and he burst through.  Mitchell Road by contrast got going, was wide and closed with a rush, but could not get to my pick!  When the toteboard flashed official, this is what we saw.....

And with my double investment I'd cash for $65 - whooooo hoooooo.  Missed out of town and missed locally in the Fred Hooper when a price play scored and my 9/5 favorite was out of it in sixth.  Was nearly certain I'd win the next one with Chad Brown's Lady Paname on the turf in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante.  Runner got loose on an easy lead and my filly beat the field, except for the front runner - 2nd.  My next pick was from Santa Anita in a five horse field, a maiden claiming sprint where Ready To Smile figured to be odds-on.  On the bad side, she'd backed up in all five career starts.  On the upside ALL FIVE Beyers beat the rest of the field's best numbers.  Broke poorly, dead last.  Then the horse to her outside tossed the rider.  Does it get any worse?  But 'Smile was so much the best that she cruised up four wide, circled the field and won going away.  I'll take it.

At Gulfstream, the next was the day's BEST in the Gr 2 Inside Information.  Spiced Perfection had a big class edge as a two time Gr 1 winner, both at THIS distance.  In her last eight starts she'd won five of them and all three losses were to horses that would be 1/9 here.  She tracked the leaders, forged to the front with a furlong to go and I thought she'd edge clear when out of the blue from the back of the pack came Shug McGaughey's Pink Sands to blow by everyone.  I'd had her when she won last time out and she was my second choice today.  Sigh.... Next up was Aqueduct's feature, the Jazil Stakes.  And as I said to Keith, it's not like this is some big handicapping nugget of a find, but how did anyone bet AGAINST Mr. Buff:

And yet two horses were 5/2 and 4/1 in a six horse field against him.  Filter out the graded stakes tries and he looked tons the best.  Now add in that he'd won five in a row at Aqueduct at this nine furlong trip, was 8-for-11 at the trip overall AND 6-for-11 at Aqueduct.  Duh.  Right to the front and won for fun.

Ran fourth in the Gr 3 McKnight at GP and then won at Santa Anita in a starter where Stackin Silver was simply the best.  No wonder he was Brad Free of the DRF's best bet.

Time for the two big ones.  I really, REALLY wanted to bet Magic Wand across the board because though she was CLEARLY the class of the field with over $4 million in earnings, her record was just 22/3-8-2.  To be fair she'd run second and third to some of the best horses in the world, including Horse of the Year in this Pegasus Turf last year when she was 2nd, and she was 2nd to that one in the Grade 1 Arlington Million.  I decided to stick with the smaller win bet.  From post 12 she went right to the front - and I was happy because the turf has been playing to speed all meet long.....

A furlong out and I thought my thinking had been right....she was simply the best horse, with the best rider in the world who recognized the way the course was playing.  Then up the rail in a flash came Zulu Alpha at 15/1 odds to beat her.  In watching the replay there were several times when Zulu Alpha could EASILY have been blocked or stopped, but each time like the wave of a "magic wand," no pun intended, the rail kept opening up for the dream trip.  And had I played $20 across the board I would have collected over $80 for my $60 bet on Magic Wand.  Oh, woulda, coulda, shoulda.  And in the $3 Million Pegasus World Cup, the lone Gr 1 winner was Higher Power who'd been working lights out and was the betting choice.  Three wide all the way around he made the start of a move into the turn the stopped, finishing last.  The "other" pick for me, Mucho Gusto from the Bob Baffert barn ran away with it under the hottest jockey on the planet, Irad Ortiz who won his fourth race of the day.  Still it was a fabulous day at a premier international event!

At the bottom of the page some pics of some of my celebrity peeps, like my girl Jennifer Lopez.

Sunday January 26
I had a few picks at Gulfstream and a few picks from Sam Houston Race Park where it was the Houston Racing Festival.  I only got one win at Sam Houston, in the Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint when Real News won a thrilling stretch duel.

Ran third in the featured Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic.  And at Gulfstream I only had one winner, but it carried the day.  In the eleventh Hey Dakota had earned Beyers between 86 and 97 in six of the last seven - all would win here.  The best figure, that 97 came first off the claim for Jason Servis last time out.  And today Irad Ortiz (see above re: hottest jockey) was on board.  He gave this one a MASTERFUL ride, finding the seams at just the right moment and burst between runners at the furlong pole to win for fun late.  Best part of the story, check out the price....

Oh yeah baby - cashed for $90 to carry the day, whoooo hoooo.  Back at it on Wednesday with next Saturday's card being Holy Bull Day, the first step to the Florida Derby.  AND my Mom will be with me :)

Pegasus World Cup Day Highlights

Fashion Pics from the Pegasus Cup Day

Sunshine Millions Week

January 15 - 20

Sunshine Millions Week

There were multiple highlights this week!  The racing week was bookended by two fairly below average days as on Wednesday despite having seven selections on the day I could only come up with a single winner.  I should have at least two because in the 4th, a maiden claiming sprint on the turf I had the obvious 3-5 favorite.  But Javier Castellano gave one of his more recent "what is he thinking" kind of rides.  The filly was a front runner, but somehow he didn't get to the front.  OK, that happens, but then he found himself between horses and behind dueling leaders.  When I saw him grab the reins I wasn't happy but thought, he's easing outside to give her clear run because she's so much the best.  But once she was not between runners he continued to restrain her until she'd fallen about a half dozen off the lead.  When he finally let her run she bolted outside and he couldn't control her.  WOW.  But the positive highlight of the day was when the highly regarded Premier Star won his second straight in very impressive fashion.  Won't be surprised to see him in two weeks in the Grade 2 Holy Bull on the Florida Derby trail.

Thursday January 16
I knew, looking ahead to the weekend that despite Saturday being a BIG day of the meet I probably would not be out here and if I was it would be a short stay.  Why?  Because our grandson was flying in on Friday and staying through the middle of next week.  And with his Mom & Dad only being here for Friday and Saturday I was reluctant to miss the family time.  So I went out today as I had picks in races 2-5.  I was proud of myself passing the opener when the winner was a $60 upset.  I won the second race when Bundi Bundi went to the front and refused to give in despite becoming very leg-weary through the final 16th of a mile.

And in the third I was a winner again.  I didn't like the first two program choices, and I thought that Saffie Joseph might spring yet another surprise with first off the claim Queen Nekia under Tyler Gafflione.  As they approached the starting gate she dropped a click down to 5/2, which I still thought was a fair price.  But when they rounded the turn onto the backstretch the odds underneath the video feed showed her as the co-even money favorite.  WOW, someone has been reading my analysis and dropped a ton of money on her.  Considering it was only a five horse field I wasn't all that confident when she sat last of five and the pace wasn't torrid.  On the turn Gafflione made his move - as it was a first finish line race.  Swept to collar the leader and edged clear late.....I'm two-for-two!

In the fourth my pick broke slowly and in the fifth I led into the lane but was outfinished, second.  Just two wins on the day, but that's ok, I made money on the bets I made at Gulfstream.  And I got new seats for the Pegasus Cup next weekend (and saved enough to pay for the parking) AND found out some more info about the Florida Derby.

Friday January 17
I know you can make numbers say anything, but today was a HUGE day.  First, our grandson Oliver got his first plane ride.  He'd come to the airport to pick us up last summer when we returned from Alaska and he'd been so excited.  So I suggested to our son Brad that we'd pay to fly them down to give him his first plane ride.  We know he loves being here, but it's a long drive for a 3yo.  And we were so happy when his Mom & Dad agreed he could stay for several extra days with just us.  When they landed and he came running out he was so SO excited and could not stop chattering about his big adventure.

Got home and turned on the races while we all enjoyed being together.  Have to mention that Oliver's big treat for the day was watching Grandpa dive down under water in the cold pool to get his toys.  He loved it - what you won't do for your grandchildren :)  In the opener, a turf sprint for 3yo maiden claimers I knew that Drop A Hint would never be 10/1 as listed in the DRF morning line.  The Into Mischief filly was trained by Todd Pletcher and bred up and down for grass.  I was happy that another filly took more money and was even money allowing me to get 3/2 on my choice.  The top two dueled through the far turn and then Drop A Hint drew off and I cashed for $25 to start the day.

I passed races 2-3-4-and 5 before landing on Rakeez in the sixth.  This was a nine furlong turf test for older maiden specials.  Top turf trainer Chad Brown had two in here and while I'd preferred that Irad Ortiz had stuck with my choice, because Javier Castellano was now on, I just liked Rakeez better because she had an inside post and positional speed.  If you re-read the story of Castellano's ride on Wednesday, this is why he's such a handicapping factor now....he gave Rakeez the perfect ride!  Sat just behind the 5/2 leader, collared him at the top of the lane and edged clear before the late runners, his stablemate most notably could make up enough ground.  AND I got an $11.80 payoff, so I cashed for nearly $65 on my second winner of the day.

Passed the 7th where I didn't like anyone and then came back in the 8th with Chiclet's Dream.  This was a mid-level non-winners of two lifetime and this one had hit the board in NINE of TEN with just a single win.  I made the comment that maybe the "best bet" was to bet her across the board.  But despite the woeful resume I thought she was simply the better horse.  Left the gate at 3/5 and won by daylight....only had the minimum bet on board due to the record, but hey - I'm three for three!

I was really looking forward to the ninth which saw the return of 3yo sensation Hidden Scroll.  He'd caught the national headlines when earning a whopping 104 Beyer in his debut win here on Pegasus Day, we were there.  But he disappointed in the Gr 2 Fountain of Youth and Gr 1 Florida Derby; then faltered in an allowance on the Kentucky Derby undercard.  If he ran back to his debut promise he'd win for fun.  Unfortunately there was a Todd Pletcher runner in here who had showed talent.  Sniper Shot won his debut here in the summer - so immediately he's downgraded as a "second string" from that powerful stable.  And the 48 Beyer he earned paled in comparison to Hidden Scroll's.  But Sniper Shot came back to be 2nd in a photo to a horse who won a stakes next out and earned a huge 97 Beyer.  So which of the two promising colts would run "their race?"  I went prime time on Hidden Scroll.  But as he loaded into the gate he became fractious and tossed his rider.  After looking him over he was scratched.  Well, that made my bet easier as I then played Pletcher's colt who drew off for fun to close the day....a perfect 4-for-4!

Saturday January 18:  Sunshine Millions Day
Not only was this a big day in So Fla racing, but today was the "Kickoff To The Road To The Derby" day at the Fair Grounds were there were multiple stakes, including two big three-year-old races as the sophomores begin their quest to run in the Gr 2 Fair Ground Oaks and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.  I played Gulfstream, the Fair Grounds, and just a few races from Santa Anita.  I had handicapped the Gulfstream card early to gauge if I wanted to spend any time at the track.  When I had mixed feelings I decided I did not want to have a full slate of races because I'd be home with the grandson and his parents.  I was 11/1 in the opener and as they hit the top of the stretch for just a moment I thought MAYBE....no, faded to 11th.  In the second, a non-winners of two lifetime all of the runners looked pretty average.  But Beast Mode was shipping in from Hawthorne and had yet to run a bad race.  AND he was dropping from $20K to this $8K spot with Luis Saez up.  Sat in a stalking spot fourth to the far turn, took the lead and looked to be home free.  But Saez seemed to be surprised when the 7/5 second choice flew from the back, collared him and headed him in the lane.  But Saez got busy and Beast Mode re-broke and drew clear late.

After missing in the fourth at Gulfstream the stakes action kicked off at the Fair Grounds.  I thought that Bobby's Wicked One was the clear speed of the race and was likely to wire the field as he'd done on Opening Day here in the Thanksgiving Handicap.  But, I was only going to triple the bet because I thought he'd be a short price and if someone ran with him there was a Gr 1 winner in the field.  As I logged into the FG race program I saw that four runners had scratched so now there were only three horses in the race and Bobby's Wicked One was 1-9.  I considered upping the bet from $15 to WIN to $20, but if he won I'd get back A DOLLAR for betting five more.  I was content with the play.  He floated up to 1/5 and close to 2/5 which considering he was the ONLY speed I thought was giving money away.  I mean all the rider had to do was not fall off.  Right to the front, quickly clear by three he galloped in a swift time of 1:08.2 after a swift half mile of :44 and change.

Missed in two maiden events and an entry level allowance before Gulfstream's 7th provided my next winning bet.  Bad Little Beast was 10/1 in the program but I thought he had a legitimate upset chance.  Well so did the crowd as he was bet down to 2/1.  Jockey Irad Ortiz sat patiently in sixth well off the dueling leaders - the favorite and the third choice.  Then on the turn 'Beast began picking off horses and eventually collared the top two at the furlong marker, then edged clear late to score and I was collecting over $35.

Missed in another FG allowance before the Sunshine Million Stakes races began at Gulfstream.  And the first of those was my BET of the Day in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf.  On paper Starship Jubilee just towered over her rivals.  She had won this race the last two years and had won a Grade 1 race at Woodbine this summer.  Now in restricted company she looked as good as it gets.  But I had two reservations....first, in both of the last two years I'd had her on SSM Day, but she'd disappointed in the prep for today.  Obviously the plan is to get one in her to acclimate her, then she wins.  Well today was her first start of the winter.  Hmmmm.  And secondly, Javier Castellano was on board.  How would he ride her?  She liked to be forwardly placed but could come from off the pace.  Would he be smart enough to NOT duel or NOT get caught off the pace without room to run or fast fractions to close into?  But in the end what made her my BEST BET was the fact that of the combined 146 races run by her rivals today, NONE of those had earned Beyer figures good enough to to Starship Jubilee's LAST SEVEN figures.  AND she was 8-for-15 locally.  Right to the front she was in hand.  When the opening fraction was :25 and change I was nearly certain the race was over.  Then when the opening half mile was :50 and change I KNEW I was the winner, just a question of by how much.  Easy....

I'd upped the bet from a "prime time" $20 WIN to thirty to win before the race and cashed for over $40 and had the satisfaction of knowing my BEST was indeed BEST today.

Missed when my pick in the SSM Sprint was second best but I got my second Millions winner in the Turf.  Trainer Mark Casse had three in the race and any could win but I liked March To The Arch.  The downside was he'd only won twice since September 2018, but nine of his last ten starts, and his last six had come against graded company.  AND in only two of those, both over off going, was he beaten more than five lengths.  The class of the race.  Jockey Tyler Gafflione sat back until beginning his run on the far turn.  Gathered momentum and was flying while wide through the lane.  OH SO CLOSE, PHOTO FINISH.  But I was pretty sure I was the winner, and I WAS!

Paid a generous $7.40 so I cashed again for nearly $40.  At Santa Anita it was Sunshine Millions / California Cup Day and of all the stakes events I only liked one of them, the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint.  Here Just Grazed me figured to be odds-on and a winner.  She was working on a three-race winning streak, including a last out win in the OPEN Grade 3 Ken Maddy on this course at this distance.  She was Brad Free's BEST BET and of the combined 101 races only ONE race would be competitive with the last two numbers earned by Just Grazed Me.  I thought she was TOO patiently ridden and once she started running the front-runner had been left alone too long and she was second.  At the Fair Grounds I liked Quebec in the Marie Krantz Memorial Stakes.  Going back to November 2018 if you filter out all but her turf routes you're left with Beyers of 87-92 in every start except a Grade 2 try.  Those would win by daylight.  Right to the front, extended the lead into the long Fair Grounds stretch but was all out to hold on, but hold on she did!

The Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes was next in New Orleans and Silver Dust looked to be an easy winner.  My analysis was only three sentences long with the key being that of the combined 101 starts by his rivals only one race competed with his last three Beyers.  Confidently handled in third to the far turn the rider glided up on the far turn, opened up and won going away, geared down.

After missing in the Colonel Bradley on the turf it was time for the two big 3yo races.  In the filly race, the Silverbulletday Stakes Steve Asmussen was searching for his career 1000th stakes win with Finite who was working on a two-race graded stakes winning streak - both at Churchill Downs.  Her Beyers in her last two figured to make her odds-on and she was.  Cruised to the leaders as they spun out of the turn but right away I knew there was trouble.  Because instead of lengthening stride and pulling away she was in a dogfight with not one filly but two, and she was in the uncomfortable spot of being between horses.  But she was courageous and inside the final fifty yards she edged clear as my Fair Grounds BEST BET!

Missed in the Grade 3 Lecomte for the colts when I was second, but for the day I'd won eight times and had a very good day!

Sunday January 19
I passed the first two races and my pick scratched out of the third.  In the fourth, a MSW for 3yo on the turf I ran third.  Then came the highlight of the day in the fifth.  It was a nw3x claiming event going a one-turn mile and here are the past performances for the rail runner, Chase Runner:

And here's my analysis:

You can see how I've highlighted the pp's to reflect my thoughts.  Jockey Edgard Zayas took Chase Runner right to the front.  As they moved through the turn I was thinking, I have a real chance here.  And as they turned for home he had a daylight lead.  But inside the final furlong the field was closing in but Zayas would not give up and pushed his mount to fight and he held on to the wire.  Check out the nice price....

Oh yes, cashed for nearly $65 sealing another winning day!  Another scratch and a pass led to the final win of the weekend with Todd Pletcher's Largent.  Pletcher had two in here and while both could win I thought it was significant that Largent had broken his maiden here then just missed on the Preakness undercard when second by a neck.  But what was key was the winner of that race came right back to win a Grade 3 at Delaware.  The pace was quick, but Largent pressed the leader while well clear of the rest of the field.  On the turn he took over at will and opened up to draw off by nearly half a dozen while geared down.  Watch for this one in a stakes next month!

For the three-day weekend I'd cashed on over 40% of my selections and made a flat-bet profit of over $100 - whooo hoooo.  Check out the highlights of the weekend's racing, and a special video of Oliver on his first plane ride!

Sunshine Millions Weekend Highlights

Monday January 20
Like Wednesday's racing I had several picks and several horses I REALLY thought would win, but my only winner came with the smallest bet of the day.  Took a little of the luster off the week, but I'll just remember the weekend's racing :)