March 31 - April 2
Florida Derby/Wedding Weekend
For the first time in more than a dozen years we were NOT at the signature day of the Championship Meet, but with good reason as we were at our daughter's marriage ceremony. It was a most unusual week besides those two items because instead of the usual Wednesday card, Gulfstream hosted the Fasig-Tipton Horse Sales. Then the Thursday card was the normally abbreviated eight-race card, sigh. I found only three races I liked and I ran 4th, 8th, and 2nd. On Friday we drove to Orlando for the Friday evening rehearsal so I made my wagers before I left, then checked the results later that evening. The Friday opener was a two-turn Tapeta event for a cheap $12.5K tag. It was hard to separate Sonic Kitten from Stolen Money, but the two had a common opponent that Sonic Kitten had beaten but 'Money had lost to that foe. Sonic Kitten sat near the back of the pack to the far turn then blew by to win going away.
The second was a non-winners of three lifetime for a tag of $12.5K, again on the all-weather but this time going only five furlongs. Campeador was dropping out of a $20K nw3L after beating nw2L in the previous start. Secondly, he had five straight improving speed figures; and third, the last time he cut back from a two-turn event to a sprint, he'd won. Finally, two back he'd switched to Luis Saez to win, and today he was switching back to him again. Much like the first race he sat near the back before sweeping up to engage the leaders turning for home and then edged clear through the final furlong.
Passed the next two before we got to the fifth which was a $16K starter. Financial System was exiting a win for $12.5K when claimed by Gilberto Zerpa. I viewed the step up as a move of confidence, and it added to the appeal that Irad Ortiz was signed on. Looked to be the controlling speed. Right out of the gate from the rail, right to the front and led them through the far turn. Was headed turning for home, but in a move that's rarely seen in thoroughbred racing he would not give in and surged back to the front to score for my third winner in a row.
After passing the next race I had a pick in the 7th which was the cheapest of cheap events for $6.25K going a one-turn mile. None stood out, but Blessed Journey was first off the claim for Jorge Delgado who wins at a 31% clip with those. Sat just off the pace in fourth to the turn, then rallied and was just up in the shadow of the wire to give me my fourth consecutive winner!
Missed on the final two picks of the day, but was pleased to have scored in four of six races. and so we moved on to the big marriage ceremony day, which was also THE BIG DAY of the meet. I had handicapped the big day on Thursday and had picks in all fourteen races. The pre-wedding activities were not until 4pm so I was able to watch the first nine races live and the rest afterwards. In the opener my horse was scratched. So I was down to thirteen bets. In the first two races where I had plays I ran fourth and third. My good buddy Jeff Nelson and his lovely wife Gina were in our seats and we were texting back and forth and he reached out and said it would be better to win late than early and I replied to just hang in there because I was confident I'd have several winners. The fourth race was a maiden special weight for three-year-olds and "yes, Virginia" there was a Todd Pletcher runner - but unfortunately there were two of them. Still, I liked Quality G was moving from dirt to the Tapeta and was going two turns for the first time. BUT I liked him A LOT. He was exiting a sharp try at Tampa where he'd earned an 86 Beyer speed figure. And that was the ONLY speed figure on the page which was above the par level for this class. Also, he'd run fourth in that debut chasing Chad Brown's Vive Bien who was second that day and came to be a runaway winner here as the prohibitive favorite. The filly tracked the front runners in third on the rail saving ground to the top of the lane, swung out three wide into the clear and wore down the leaders late to give me my first winning ticket for the day.
The fifth race was the second stakes event of the day, this was the Cutler Bay for 3yo going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. I noted in my analysis that I wouldn't be surprised if any of these guys won, but for me Main Event looked to hold a distinct edge. After starting his career on dirt trainer George Weaver moved the colt to the turf and immediately not only did his Beyer jump significantly but he won. First off the maiden win Weaver sent the colt into the Palm Beach Stakes going a little bit shorter - one mile. He forged to the front in the stretch only to be run down late by my top choice, Coinage. And that's significant because while Main Event was making his first start in stakes - as well as vs. winners - Coinage had already faced winners, IN STAKES COMPANY, five times. And he was already a stakes winner with three show finishes for the big money. The gates opened and Main Event easily cleared the field and the chase was on. Never threatened he ran away handily with my triple investment on board. WHOOOO HOOOO.
Right back in the sixth at Gulfstream which was the Grade 3 Ghostzapper going nine furlongs. Early in the meet Todd Pletcher's Fearless had been a big play for me in the two-turn Harlan's Holiday going a mile and a sixteenth. When he came back in back-to-back one-turn mile tries I thought he was an even better play, but he lost both times to a horse that "people" say is a graded stakes quality, rising star. I just never bought in. Today that one is not in the field and again Fearless looked like a standout if he could get the trip. He'd run well at a mile and an eighth before, but never had won at the distance. If you were a Beyer figure believer, which I am, you would have been all in with me. The last ten, yes.....the LAST TEN Beyer figures for Fearless would beat 60 of the 61 combined lifetime numbers posted by the rest of the field. And his last three beat all sixty-one. Duh, hello - and it's Todd Pletcher! Tracked the two leaders from a clear position in third on the outside to the far turn. Took over in hand and ran away as TONS the best as my Co-BEST BET of the Day.
My buddy Jeff Nelson was just beside himself that we were on a three race roll. I replied, that I'd told him to just be patient because it's a rare day I don't have multiple winners on a card! Right back in the seventh for the Sand Springs Stakes back on the turf going a mile and a sixteenth. Because I was doing the handicapping for today earlier than usual I was using the DRF early morning line which is frequently way, WAY out of whack. It listed Crystal Cliffs at 9/2 and I was hopeful that the crowd would buy into that price because (a) she'd not won since May of 2020 AND (b) had not run since last June. But for me, she'd arrived from France off a five month layoff to win an allowance at Churchill Downs and then missed by a head in the Gr 3 Regret there. Away for ten months she was second beaten a nose in the Dahlia Stakes at Pimlico then closed out 2021 with a late-running third in the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth. So she'd proven she could run with better AND that she could fire fresh for trainer Graham Motion. She was near the back approaching the far turn but looked ready to roll when jockey Tyler G would ask. Swept by four wide on the turn and took off in full flight for the wire, winning handily. And the best part, she DID leave the gate at a generous 3/1 price. I'd tripled the bet so I cashed for more than sixty beans! WHOOO HOOOO.
Todd Pletcher's Inventing went off at 5/1 in the next race, a MSW for 3yo and was a just-miss 2nd to snap the winning streak. The ninth would be the final race I'd see live on the afternoon before the festivities kicked off. This was the Grade 3 Pan American going a three-turn mile and a half trip on the grass. Hottie handicapper Acacia Courtney-Clement had recently married Miguel Clement who is the son and assistant to his father, long-time trainer Christophe Clement who is well known for his great work with turf runners. He trained Gufo who had been one of the best 3yo turf runners two years ago and then was an enigma last year. After his first few starts they had put blinkers on the horse and he'd responded with back-to-back winning performances. After both those races Clement had remarked in the post race interview how more focused he had become with the shades on. He ran a disappointing third in the Grade 1 Manhattan in the fall then failed to fire in the Breeders' Cup. So today he showed up WITHOUT the blinkers. I thought those were a good thing, so that was a real "hmmmm" for me as I analyzed the race. IF you were willing to dismiss the whole blinker thing, he looked to be much the best on class today. I went with him, but paired down the bet to just a double investment. Near the back to the far turn he split horses as he ran by rivals, then swung five wide into the lane. A sudden burst of acceleration and he was clear and gone. One of the best postings on social media I saw was a short video of Acacia cheering on her father-in-law's horse from the viewing stand on the finish line at Gulfstream (photo at left).
Gufo was my fifth winner from eight bets. I'm having a good day! Oh how I wish, in so many ways, I was there. The tenth was the seven furlong Sir Shackelton Stakes. The first, second, third, and fourth place finishers from an allowance on March 4th were all in here today, but I don't like that scenario so for me they were ALL a toss. The timid play went to Weyburn who'd shown flashes of talent and on his best he could win this. He won the Gr 3 Gotham as a 3yo and then was a neck shy of winning the Pegasus at Monmouth over the summer. Was a "good" fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy behind 3yo champion Essential Quality then showed nothing in the $1 Million Grade 2 Pa Derby. Not seen since that September try he showed up here with at least an outside chance as the "new shooter" to the party. He was taken back to the rear of the field to the far turn, began moving up and at the 1/8th pole he took off to score. AND at a handsome 4/1 price.
Was 3rd in the Sanibel Island for 3yo fillies on the turf before it was time for my second Co-BEST Bet of the Day in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks. On New Year's Day I'd taken my Mom to Gulfstream and in the Cash Run Stakes I'd made Shug McGaughey's Kathleen O my pick. As I stood on the rail near the finish line I could see she was left well behind the field out of the gate. But she blew by the field to win going away. When she came back in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at a mile and a sixteenth here in the prep for today I again made her the bet. She sat closer to the pace and again ran right by the field. As I wrote in my analysis, I think she's probably at least the third best 3yo filly in the country. I made her the second prime-time play of the day. Well off the pace - so far that she wasn't even in the TV screen watching the race as the fillies approached the far turn. Then here she came with her quick turn of foot and quickly went from last to even terms with the leaders turning for home. Continued to lengthen stride and was long gone as much, MUCH the best.
That would prove to be the final winner on the day but it was a great day indeed, especially considering I wasn't there at Gulfstream Park. Every year I make Florida Derby Day the final day of the winter season, and as we were driving back from the wedding weekend it was a good choice to do so again this year. One thing I saw on social media Sunday that made me both happy and sad was that "our girl" Acacia Courtney-Clement was leaving Gulfstream for good to be a full-time employee for NYRA and Fox Sports' "America's Day At The Races." Sigh....I love watching her analyze the races and being her social media pal on Facebook and Twitter. But as I messaged her, I'll still "see her" regularly from the "Sunrise Simulcast Center."
Wedding Pics - Highlight photos from the wedding event - such a great time at the reception!
Social Media......
Early in the week I saw that it was gal-pal Jessica Jordan's birthday. She's best known as my favorite waitress at Ford's Garage in Cape Coral. There were several evenings when Kim was not in town and I would go there for dinner and she would "keep me company" as we shared stories about our lives and our kids (and grandkids for me).
During the week Acacia Courtney posted how cool it was to do the post-stakes race interview with your own husband and I reached out to her.
