Week Two - Off To Europe!

 December 7 - 11

I'm In Europe On A Christmas Markets Cruise!

The second week of racing kicked off on Wednesday as we returned to a full, five-day racing calendar.  But unfortunately for my handicapping, the longshots continued to roll in at Hallandale and it wasn't until Thursday that I got back into the winner's circle.  On Wednesday I was 2nd in three out of four races at odds of 5/2, 1/2, and 3/5 while the winners paid $32.20, $12.60, and $9.40.  Thursday I started off with three fourth place finishes sandwiched around a third before it was time for the featured allowance event going 8 1/2 furlongs on the main track - racing through a short stretch to the first finish line.  Super Corinto has come off a layoff to make his first start in the US last time out and had been nailed on the wire by multiple stakes winner and Gulfstream Horse-for-the-Course Noble Drama.  In his native Chile he'd won four of six, including a Group 1 over Pegasus World Cup bound O'Connor from the Saffie Joseph barn.  On the far turn he was asked to run from a pressing position on the turn.  Made a clear lead into the stretch and then had to hold off the 5/2 third choice.  I'd originally planned to go with a triple investment, but upped the bet to $30 to WIN!  And if I do say so myself, I was proud of ME that in spite of the losing skid I still had the confidence to go "all in!"

Friday Khloe and I left for the airport about 9 am for the airport, but I made my bets before I left.  We flew to Newark, landing around 3 pm.  While waiting for our international flight I watched the races from Gulfstream.  In the third my pick, Trace of God was sent off as the favorite and walked with it handily.

And in the BEST of the Day Friday came in the 7th, a conditioned allowance event going seven furlongs.  Todd Pletcher sent out Favor who had run 2nd in the Grade 2 Fair Ground Oaks as a 3yo then seemed to regress in two tries, so she went to the shelf.  Mr. Todd is THE MASTER of layoff runners at Gulfstream, especially on the main track.  Had Luis Saez up today.  She broke just behind the leader but pressed that one on nearly even terms for the opening quarter before saying "enough of this" and then took off to draw away as much, MUCH the best with my prime time investment on board.

Saturday we arrived in Europe in the morning, Belgium time - about 2am EST.  Got into our hotel room right away and then shortly thereafter walked around the area for about 45 minutes.  We had dinner across the street at a "hip" food court set-up and then I watched the races for as long as I could stay up.

So when the racing started around noon at home it was already after dinner here in Brussels.  I scored with two early races at Gulfstream when Wheelingndealing came roaring off the turn in a starter optional claiming sprint to score at a generous $9 - wish I'd had more than the minimum bet in play.  And then Todd Pletcher, once again showed why he's an "automatic" play at Gulfstream when his first time starter OK Boomer won a MSW turf route in the sixth race at a very generous $8.60, allowing me to cash for nearly $45.

And in my lone win at the Fair Grounds Ova Charged wired the Louisiana Champions Ladies' Sprint as my "best" in New Orleans.  I went to bed shortly after this - at almost 11pm with three bets on the table.  Lost in a photo after a stretch-long duel in the first at 3/5; then was third as the 1/2 favorite.  Then off the board with a minimum bet at 5/2 odds.

Sunday was a full day in Brussels.  We were on the bus - with just half a dozen others from another Viking tour - at 9 am and did a panoramic bus ride through Brussels.  Got off for one photo op.  Then when we arrived back at the hotel we began a two hour walking tour.  Only the four of our group and one lady from the other group were along with the two Viking guides and the one local guide.  Then we had the afternoon free before going to the Lights & Sound Show in the central square - really cool - before walking around the Christmas Market and having a glass of mull wine with the group, courtesy of our guide Astrid - see photo at the top of the page.

When we returned from our evening at the Light & Sound Show & Christmas Market racing was about mid-way through the Sunday card.  I had one pick in the third where I ran fourth.  No more selections until Race 7.  In the seventh I had Todd Pletcher's Alpha Bella who was a stupid 10/1 on the DRF line.  I was hopeful that maybe, just maybe the crowd would let her go at a short price.  No such luck.  Sent off as the legitimate even money favorite she tracked the pace to the turn, surged to the front, then dueled to the wire.  Looked at the 16th pole like her rival would go by but she found another gear and edged clear.

In the next I liked Battle Cry under the starter conditions.  That she'd won previously at this one-turn mile was a big positive (4/2-2-0 in fact).  The hot riding Luis Saez was on board.  Right to the front by daylight.....opened up by four widening lengths into the lane, extended it to NINE big lengths while under wraps under the wire as I cashed for nearly $25.

And in the BEST of the Day I scored my third consecutive win!  After the Battle Cry win it was after 10 pm here in Brussels.  But I was awake enough so I read my book and waited for the 10th and final, a maiden special event on the turf going a mile.  Todd Pletcher had a filly who I knew would be a fair price but Erna was way too good to pass up.  She'd set all the pace last time out before being nailed on the wire by a Chad Brown filly.  Daylight clear of the rest of the field that would have been a good enough angle to bet her.  But the fact that the Brown filly exited the race to ship to Del Mar and win a Grade 3 made me tab Erna as the BEST of the Day and make her a prime time play.  Rated confidently in third by Luis Saez, going for his FIFTH win on the day, she coasted to the front turning for home by an open length.  But she had to run to hold the late running challenger safe on the wire.  But win she did and I cashed for nearly $45 to have a big winning day to close out the week......all the while traveling in Europe - oh the wonders of technology!

I would have liked to have had a couple more wins on Saturday, but considering the 2-for-3 Friday and the 3-for-4 Sunday results I was content with the results and glad to have some "normalcy" return to the racing world :)  I am planning to try to handicap the racing cards for the week while cruising.  Was able to get the Wednesday-thru-Saturday cards while in Brussels on Sunday so hopefully I can get those selections made and posted in between outings!

Social Media this week....

One of THE BEST "social media things" EVER happened Thursday.  Khloe and I were at the hockey game and between periods I checked Facebook.  Saw that one of "my girls" - former Western High student Jen had posted a bunch of photos of her family's trip to Georgia.  As I scrolled through them I came upon a photo of her with "my Disney girl" Amanda and it was captioned, "This one is for Coach Love."  My heart just melted.  I messaged them both and then later they both messaged me at midnight (what were these two moms doing up - they both have multiple children and here we were chatting into the wee hours!).  Seems Amanda was there with her family, saw Jen from afar, and had not seen her high school pal in TWENTY-FIVE years, but they'd seen each other on FB.  Amanda called out, went over - her family apparently didn't even notice her walking away for the briefest of moments - and they snapped the pic, thinking of me.  I was so touched.

I reached out to answer Lauren Pastrana when she did a segment on favorite Christmas movies and found we liked several of the same ones :)

I happened to tune into Kelly Clarkson show and she did an interview with a young man from Philadelphia who had a nice cause for a project.  He was sitting next to an attractive woman who I was nearly certain I recognized as former CBS-4 morning anchor Frances Wang, who I'd befriended on Twitter.  I looked it up and sure enough it was her.  I sent her a message and minutes later she messaged me back - cool.

CBS-4 Evening Anchor Lauren Pastrana had been off for several days before on Tuesday she was back on the air.  I snapped a photo of her on our big screen with the tree in the photo and wished her Happy Holidays and a welcome back.  Wasn't long that - while on the air - she messaged me back :)

CBS-4 Weekend Anchor and social media gal-pal Karli Barnett had been on vacation to see her parents this past week and on Monday she was on the evening anchor desk.  I messaged her and she wrote back to me.