Week 16

 March 15 - 19
Ohio Visit

This week was NOT a big racing week, but it was one filled with "adventure," sub-freezing temperatures, good friends, and multiple social media "conversations as I headed off to Ohio to visit the family this week.  And along the way I played strictly the races at Gulfstream Park.  The week started on Tuesday as Kim and I prepared to head out for a week apart doing our own adventures as we had dinner out at our favorite venue, Cooper's Hawk.  The next day she drove to Daytona for an extended weekend with her girlfriends and I headed to the airport to fly to Ohio.  Then on Friday I had lunch with my high school girl-friend Gayla.  Saturday morning I dropped my Mom off at work and drove two hours to Northern Kentucky (just across the river from Cincinnati) to visit with our friends Mary Pat & Tom.  Spent the day, the evening and the night with them before driving back to my Mom's early Sunday morning.

All the while I was playing the races each day.  As I was getting ready to head to the airport on Wednesday I played the races at Gulfstream, but I only had four picks, all minimum bets.  I only won one of them and ironically it was the one race that I decided to up the bet.  The fourth today was a starter optional claiming event going seven furlongs, limited to three-year-olds.  Pouncival was claimed for $25K and the new barn moved him UP to $35K where he whistled the field earning a big 79 Beyer.  That was in January so EITHER he would bounce off the big effort or the extended time was enough for him to recoup.  He was in the clear some five wide into the turn, swept by and was clear by a length turning for home.  But then the additional furlong began to get to him.  He was shortening stride late but held on to win.

Thursday I was playing while at my Mom's house and I had six selections on the nine race card.  As I watched I saw my horses run 3rd, 4th, 2nd, and 6th.  And as we got to the seventh race I DID actually think, "stay with it, you never know how the day is going to turn out until the day is actually over."  In the seventh it was a MSW for three-year-olds and up - we've reached that point in the season where the sophomores are pitted against older, sometimes.  There were a couple in here but I liked Chad Brown's first time starter Acede.  He was a Juddmonte home-bred who had some bullet works and leading rider Irad Ortiz on board.  Stalked the pace through the turn, dove down between rivals into the lane and spurted clear to win going away.

No bet in the eighth and in the finale we were going a mile on the turf with maiden specials, restricted to 3yo.  Despite the outside draw I liked Chad Brown's Preliminary.  He was one of only two first time starters in the field and those with experience did not inspire me.  He was hung out five wide through the first turn, got good position on the backstretch but was behind most of the field.  Began to pick off horses three wide on the far turn then launched his bid some six or more wide into the lane.  Got to the front nearing the 16th pole and drew off under a hand ride.  And the best part.....after cashing for almost $25 on Acede, this winner produced a very generous $8.80 payoff and I cashed for almost $45 to turn an 0-for-4 start into a 2-for-6 day with a flat bet profit.  WHOOOOO HOOOOOO - and THAT my friends is why you stick with it!

Friday was St. Patrick's Day.  And in what's somewhat unusual for a weekday card I had SIX bets from the nine race card.  In the first race it was a real mind-boggler as the field came from oh so many different events - different distances and surfaces.  But three of them had gone to two turns on the turf and those would PROBABLY produce the winner.  Well, two of them had been beaten double digits last time out so toss those.  That left me with Chad Brown's Kalik.  His first try had been a nondescript dirt sprint. Second start a turf route with a sharp second and a 78 Beyer.  But that was in October.  Leading rider Irad Ortiz was up.  A wide trip throughout saw him challenge into the lane, go six wide turning for home and struggle to get by, but inside the final 50 yards he inched to the front to score.

In the fourth race - my next bet - I liked Father Delay.  It was a $35K maiden claimer for 3yo and I'm ALWAYS skeptical of those kind of races....if a 3yo is already in for a tag at this point in the year you know they aren't very good.  But Father Delay had debuted with some late interest in a Churchill MSW and now was dropping in class.  OK, some interest - but Irad was up for Mike Maker and over the last two years he'd only been on fourteen horses for Maker winning with SEVEN.  OK, THAT has my attention!  Pressed the pace into the turn, and then took off turning for home.  Clear by two...by four....by six and nearly a pole under the wire.  Should have upped the bet, but the precipitous drop on just the second start made me not want to invest more than the minimum.  I'll take the "pad your stats" win and be happy.  

Right back in the fifth where I liked Beth's Dream a lot more so I doubled the bet.  It was a conditioned allowance and the question was, "WHICH Beth's Dream would we get?"  After being absolutely buried in her first two starts she was not seen for MORE THAN A YEAR!  Returned and ran four really big Beyers (85, 89, 95, and 88) while going from a MC $16K win to a just-miss 2nd in Monmouth's Lady's Secret Stakes.  Then she set the pace in the Gr 3 Molly Pitcher and stopped badly.  That ended her 2022 campaign.  Began this year in Tampa's Wayward Lass where she dueled into the lane before weakening to finish third - that was an "OK" effort but those last two Beyers were only 68 & 77 - those would make her "one to consider" in here.  But the previous four would make her a decided favorite.  Jose Ortiz had her stalking the pace way out in the middle of the track as they raced down the long backstretch run of this one-turn mile.  Took command on the turn and opened up by double digits while under a hand ride.  Under wraps to score decisively.  THREE-for-THREE to start St. Paddy's Day!

Ran second in the sixth and third in the seventh before my final bet in Race 8.  It was a starter allowance going a mile on the turf course.  Masterofthesenate had won at first asking over the Colonial Downs turf and then run in back-to-back allowance events.  In his fourth and most recent start trainer Jimmy Toner had put him in a $50K nw2L.  Trainer Mike Maker claimed him as owners Ken & Sarah Ramsey forked out the big ticket price.  Now in a spot where he could not be claimed and with an improved Beyer in EVERY start I expected him to run strongly under top rider Irad Ortiz.  Near the back to the turn he surged to challenge the leaders and wore them down in deep stretch to produce my FOURTH WIN on the day.  Oh it was a very good day at the "virtual racetrack!"

Saturday morning I dropped my Mom off at work and then headed south towards the Ohio River where I would arrive on the "Kentucky side of Cincinnati" to meet our friends Mary Pat & Tom Bischoff.  We'd met them on our 2019 Portugal Viking River cruise and have been fast friends ever since.  It's become standard on my Ohio itinerary that any time I come visit my family I'm requested to drive down and now spend the night with them.

Even though Saturdays are typically the "BIG" days of the racing week there were not any really "BIG" races this weekend.  That fit perfectly into my plans since I'd be spending the day with our friends and would not be wanting to follow the races.  So I had four picks from Gulfstream.  The bad news, only won with one of them.....the good news, it was the BEST Bet of the Week in the featured Hutcheson Stakes.  Super Chow had won five of seven career starts with his only two losses coming in Saratoga's Grade 2 Saratoga Special in his second career start off the maiden win; and then his last when he led into the lane and weakened in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes going the extended seven furlong sprint distance.  Today, back at 6f and with listed stakes opponents he looked much the best.  My only concern is that hottie model/jockey Chantal Sutherland always lets him free wheel to the front and there looked to be other "need to lead" types in here.  Even if they dueled I still felt confident 'Chow was way too good for these and would not weaken before the wire at today's distance.  I'm certain it was not the plan, but when the gates opened Super Chow was caught flat footed and was fourth behind a trio of front runners.  Chantal, not only very hot to look at but an excellent rider as well patiently let the colt settle into stride, let him go into the clear on the turn and run away as EASILY the best.  You go Chantal!

Sunday morning the three of us were all up by 7 am and had a cup of coffee together before I headed out, braving the 18 degree early morning temperatures for my drive back to Columbus.  I arrived back well before 10 am and had plenty of time to set up the virtual racing and make the bets.  I had six races I liked and in the opener Chad Brown's Root Cause looked so much the best.  I originally planed to make it a double investment but his odds were 1/9 until late when they "floated up" to 1/5.  So I upped the bet and he walked with it under a hand ride.  And the final win of the week came in Race 6 on the Tapeta track where I liked Short Circuit.  This is an interesting story because it's become quite the "thing" at Gulfstream this winter as they've added Latin handicapper/analyst Claudia Sparado to the broadcast.  She is an excellent handicapper but as you can see she's also very attractive.  Well the "thing" is when she's analyzing a race on the synthetic, it's so cute how she pronounces "Ta-peet-tuh" and it makes who ever is sitting with her smile.  Well, I do follow her on social media but I don't think we've ever interacted.  But we DID this week when she and gal-pal, former GP analyst, hottie Acacia Courtney, went to a Miami Heat game together (see pick/comments below).  So for this race Claudia was one of the two analysts pre-race and she made Short Circuit her BEST Bet and a single in her Pick-4 wager.  He stalked the pace and blew by at a very generous 7/2 price.  Well done Claudia!  You deserve a reward for that pick!!!

It was a good week - not only visiting with friends and family but at the races.  Two additional stories, non-racing related......on Wednesday I participated in a Viking TV chat where they highlighted our August 2024 Viking Oceans "The British Isles" itinerary.  I prefaced my questions by noting that this itinerary would mark our SEVENTEENTH adventure with Viking.  The narrator of the presentation noted (a) that's more trips than he's had with Viking cruises and (b) that I should be on Viking TV and share my many experiences.  I reached out to the Viking TV email and summarized that exchange and offered to do just that......waiting for a reply.  That WOULD be cool.  And as I write up this journal entry it is exactly two weeks from today that Kim and I begin our next wave of adventures as we'll be flying to Amsterdam to meet our great friends Claudia & Gary for a Viking river cruise through the Netherlands.

Social Media this week......

On Monday "our little girl" Jillian gave a presentation about her books to a group of elementary kids and I commented, to which she reacted.  And later in the day daughter to one of my best pals, Chloe posted about being on an Orlando radio station and we exchanged comments.

On Tuesday, gal-pal and former CBS-4 Weekend anchor Karli Barnett responded to one of my last comments regarding her hosting chats now that she's re-located in Atlanta and was very enthusiastic about my joining in.

Wednesday, CBS-4 evening anchor Lauren Pastrana (and social media gal-pal for a long time) announced on Facebook about how the local station was making some changes.  I responded and shared that I would be going north to experience some REAL cold weather.  Lauren replied and wished me a good trip, so sweet.  Also Wednesday, the first day of racing for the week, Latin handicapper for Gulfstream Claudia Sparano (who I follow but rarely interact with) posted a picture of her and one of her besties, former GP analyst and hottie handicapper Acacia Courtney-Clement - who I DO interact with a lot, as they enjoyed an NBA evening together.

Thursday I saw a series of photos from former colleague and good Gator-pal Mishelle who's turned her life around and now seems so very happy.  I also reached out to my gal-pal Kimmy, and while she didn't respond this time, I was thinking about her alot this week as I shared my Viking TV story.

Friday, St. Patrick's Day Karli posted pics on both Facebook and Twitter and shared a photo of her on the set of her new Atlanta newsroom.  I commented on all three and she replied back to me.  Glad we will remain "close" even though she's not local any longer.

Saturday after I'd arrived in Cincinnati I saw a post from our very attractive gal-pal Michelle who used to work with both Kim and I at two different schools.  She was visiting with her girlfriends and they looked to be really enjoying themselves.  So I reached out to her and she responded sweetly, as she always does to me.  :)  Later that evening while we were in between courses of dinner I just happened to open up Facebook on my phone and saw that Karli was hosting a short, impromptu chat.  I jumped in and she gave me a big smile as she replied to my various comments.