One of the highlights of the year is the annual Florida Derby Day gathering. This week we had a party of ten and kicked things off with dinner at Sea Watch on the Ocean on Friday night with Sue, Dan & Lori.
Saturday was a glorious day at Gulfstream with fourteen big races. My former student, and player Shawn Maas drove all the way over from the Naples area to enjoy a day at the races with us and we were soon met by our great friends Jeff & Gina Nelson.
Kim and I posed for a photo and OVER SIXTY people liked or commented with nearly ALL of them remarking about how my hot wife rocked her Derby outfit! That's my wife :)
As the racing day began, like so many other days this winter I got off to a slow start.....my top choice scratched in the opener; no bet in the 2nd; missed in the third. But then I got the ball rolling when Todd Pletcher's Bright Futures rolled home to score with my triple investment on board. But then I missed on three straight. Time to pick up the pace and get some winners, so I had Kim get me a Florida Derby drink in a souvenir glass. That did the trick!
Rattle off three in a row, beginning with a "prime time" play on Amazing Grace in the Grade 2 Orchid. It was an exciting moment as I flashed my big winning ticket!
Came right back to win with Weyburn in a thrilling finish to the Sir Shackelton Stakes and then I upped the wager to $30 to WIN on Chad Brown's Marketsegmentation in the Sands Springs Stakes. Traffic trouble on the turn before surging in deep stretch to SCORE for my third straight win.
Passed on the eleventh then came back to score with Todd Pletcher's Steady On in the Appleton Stakes before it was time for the big race.....the Grade 1, $1 Million Florida Derby. Two-year-old champion Forte was the prohibitive favorite but drew a wide post. Farther back than usual he was in traffic on the far turn but showed all his heart as he surged late to be UP IN TIME! It was the BET of the Day for me and capped a sensational 6-for-12 day at Gulfstream!
What a sensational week to end the Winter Championship Season! I have to admit that I was a bit concerned as the big day arrived because I'd had such a good week, winning at well over 40%. And that came largely due to the amazing Wednesday I had where I won four-of-five races. In the third, a non-winners of two lifetime time claimer on the all-weather I liked Chess Not Checkers who moved to a new barn that was winning at a 23% clip with those at a huge $3.58 ROI for every $2 bet. Confidently near the back to the turn then behind horses into the lane. Tipped out five wide and rallied to draw clear as easily best. Missed with the next at 6/5 when 2nd to a longshot - is it going to be one of those days I wondered. But then I got a break when somehow I managed to NOT bet the fifth race where I would have run second. In the sixth the power of the top rider, Irad Ortiz was demonstrated. Lunar Rocket was a woeful 14/1-3-6 for her career, but TODAY the top jockey was on board. Swooped by to score handily for my second winner.
Right back in the seventh with a late adjustment. Both my top choice and my second choice scratched leaving the morning line favorite, Charlie's Wish as a much-the-best favorite. He loomed boldly into the lane and ran off as Announcer Pete call it was "EEEEAAASSSSSY MONEY!" And topped off the day as Irad got his third win on Laniakea Storm in the finale - moved to the Tapeta after all the rain we had on Monday & Tuesday. Swept by four wide while in hand and was LONG gone. What a way to start Derby Week!
Thursday I had five picks but could only find the winner's circle once. Ran 2nd with both the first two selections at 4/5 and 6/5, then lost a pick to a scratch. Fourth at 5/2 before the sixth, a claiming event going seven furlongs. As I listened to the analysis I re-read my own write-up and looked at the Form again. Man On The Moon, with top jockey Irad Ortiz was the one and ONLY front runner. Upped the bet to a triple investment and she aired as easily best! Missed with my last pick but I was ok with the two day total of 5-for-10!
Friday I had finished all my handicapping and prep work for the Florida Derby and just enjoyed the racing before Kim and I went down to the ocean front to enjoy a pre-Derby Dinner with our great pals Sue, Dan & Lori. I ran third in the opener at even money and then didn't have a race again until the sixth where Todd Pletcher's $1.6 Million purchase, Sgt. Peper continued to remain a maiden running fourth at 3/1. In the featured seventh I really liked Spirit Wind. She'd won her maiden by 15 plus lengths on debut then won back-to-back stakes. Followed that with a sharp second against multiple graded stakes winner Ce Ce in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney as she tried older for the first time in July. Away since then, she looked tough if ready. Loved that of the 79 Beyers earned by the rest of the field only ONE number would challenge Spirit Wind's last two. Right to the front, and clear. But was collared entering the lane.....stretch duel, headed but came back to win as I'd upped the bet to a "prime time" play! Heading into Saturday's races I was now 6-for-13 for the week. Would the big day "even out" my week's percentages, or was I hot and would continue with a big day?
Dinner at Sea Watch on the Ocean
Delicious Key Lime Pie tops the evening
Saturday April 1: Florida Derby Day
We arrived at Gulfstream around 10:30 am and as soon as we got out of our car we met our great friends Jeff & Gina Nelson. Walked in with them and went to the Silks Box office where I thanked Brittany who'd been such a help getting the tickets for today for everyone. And we no sooner walked into the breezeway when my former student and football player Shawn Maas who was coming to the races for the first time. Drove all the way from the Naples area to join us.
Our Derby pic....I was SO proud of my hottie wife! She was hesitant to wear this "fun" Derby dress/outfit despite everyone telling her how amazing she looked. She decided to "rock it," and when I posted this on Facebook we got over 60 likes and comments with nearly everyone remarking about how amazing she looked. She is so cute, adorable, and she's MY hot wife! :)
Soon we were joined by Sue, Dan and Lori and later by our friend Ron who's married to one of my best gal-pals from my days at Western High. I had selections in twelve of the fourteen of the races but my choice in the opener scratched. Started off slowly - as has happened several times this winter - when the opening race scratch, passed the second and ran 4th at 2/1 in the third. But then I got on the board in the fourth. It was an AOCnw1x event going a one-turn mile. Todd Pletcher is "famous" for running horses over the summer or fall who flash talent in a small number of races; then laying them off and bringing them back off the shelf here where they almost always run big. Bright Future had won HERE in his debut last year with a big 91 Beyer at this same one-turn mile. Ran fourth in an allowance first time winners and then was put away. Sent off as the even money choice he pressed the pace to the top of the lane and pulled away as easily best to give me my first win.
But then I missed on three straight. Uh oh - guess the stats are "evening out" as I am now 1-for-5 on the day. But I told everyone, this happens from time to time and I COULD rally for a big finish to the day. To help "settle me down" I asked Kim - who was going to the casino - to get me a Florida Derby signature drink in a souvenir glass.
That did the trick as in the 8th I had my first BIG bet of the day. It was the Grade 2 Orchid Handicap going a mile and a half on the turf. Christophe Clement was starting Amazing Grace who was a Group winner in Europe. ALL SIX of her TimeForm numbers - if translated to Beyer figures would beat everything on the page from her rivals. She was near the back to the far turn, split rivals and got into the clear and was up in time as my "prime time" play!
Came right back when I backed Weyburn in the Sir Shackelton Stakes. He'd won this last year and if he ran back to his Gulfstream form, around one turn which seemed to be what he was best at, he'd win. Again my choice was near the back, but circled the field on the turn got to the front. Was headed in mid-stretch but surged late to edge clear for the win!
The tenth was the Sands Springs and I made Chad Brown's Marketsegmentation a B-I-G bet play. This lightly raced filly had just missed last time out in the Grade 3 Endeavour. Sent off at 3/5 she was 4-5 wide down the backstretch, got between rivals on the turn and had to steady briefly and was on hold while crying out to run. Finally got clear and dueled through the lane but was up in time to win!
Passed on the eleventh, the Sanibel Island and was fifth at 2/1 in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks before it was time for the Appleton Stakes going a mile on the turf. I liked Todd Pletcher's Steady On in what looked like a very evenly matched field. Leading rider Irad Ortiz was shooting for his FIFTH win on the afternoon and I know that brought the price down to 9/5. Tracked in fourth on the rail through the far turn. Swung out and dueled for a 16th of a mile before surging to the front late for my fifth win on the afternoon. I'm having a very good day!
I didn't handicap any other tracks as I knew it would be crowded and I wanted to enjoy the day with all our friends. But, it was Arkansas Derby Day at Oaklawn. I saw that my top choice for the Kentucky Oaks, Wet Paint was running in the Grade 3 Fantasy as her final prep for this big event on the first Friday in May. I used my TwinSpires app to make her a prime time play. The pace was quick but she was dead last into the far turn. Then suddenly she accelerated and picked off fillies one by one. Swinging five wide into the stretch she was a close fourth. Once they'd straightened she found a whole other gear and blew by as easily best. She's on talented filly!
Time for the Grade 1, $1 Million Florida Derby. Todd Pletcher's two-year-old champion and current favorite for the Kentucky Derby figured to be the prohibitive favorite. He was stuck in post eleven and was going nine furlongs for the first time. But his last FOUR Beyers were better than anything on the page. AND the field had zero Grade 1 wins but Forte had FOUR. SHOULD be much the best and I made him my BET of the Day! He broke sharply but was carried wide into the first turn and was farther back than usual. The only other horse taking money was the very lightly raced Mage who'd exited a six furlong maiden win to run 4th to Forte in the Fountain of Youth last month. I thought he had a chance to improve and be best of the rest. He was behind Forte to the far turn then he blitzed by and got to the front turning for home. Forte was fourth but picking up momentum. At the sixteenth pole he still had work to do as the crowd roared! Accelerated late and caught the leader and edged clear in the final strides much to nearly everyone's delight, especially mine!
My sixth win locally (and seventh overall) sealed an amazing day. And who was the best handicapper on the day? Not either of the guys PAID to do it, but me!
We fly out tomorrow morning for Amsterdam and a Viking river cruise for ten days. And once I return it will be time to kick off the Triple Crown racing season!
Derby Week Highlights
Social Media this week.......
My girl Karli Barneet, now an Atlanta anchor posted a pic of her new coffee mug and I suggested she get a frozen cappuccino. After reply, the next morning I got one and offered to bring it to her - which she happily invited me to do so!
Last week I'd messaged with Chloe Nelson about a horse "named for her." She got back to me and told me it "made her day." She is so very adorable as you can see from her pics.....
Hottie WPLG morning anchor had on a striking blue outfit this week and I commented, which she appreciated.
When we were staying in Cape Coral a couple years ago I became great friends with Jessica, a waitress at Ford's Garage. We've stayed in contact and it was her birthday this week :)
After Miss Chloe and I exchanged messages about "her horse" I "asked her out" and she accepted :)
On Saturday, hottie handicapper and former Gulfstream analyst Acacia Courtney posted about being in New York. I messaged her saying we wished she were here....she replied, wishing us a fun day!
Finally on Florida Derby Day I got well wishes from my gal-pal Kimmy!
