November 17 - 18: Opening Weekend at The Fair Grounds
Originally I thought I'd take the three weeks between the Breeders' Cup and Opening Day at Gulfstream (December 1) off to "recharge" for the daily handicapping. But after taking off one week I decided to play JUST the Fair Grounds on their Opening Weekend cards Friday November 17 & Saturday November 18. They carded multiple $75K state-bred stakes on both days and it was good to be back to racing, even in a limited way. Didn't hurt at all that it was two winning days! The opener on Friday was a cheap $5K "beaten" event going six furlongs. Most races under "beaten" conditions read something like this, "......for 3yo OR non-winners of two races...." so that the 3yo get an advantage b being able to be a multiple winner while facing older. But today's race had conditions which read, "....which have never won FOUR races OR have not won two races since May 17...." A much different set of circumstances. One of the qualifiers was Herd Immunity who showed wins on his page against $6.25K, $12.5K, and just two back was 2nd beaten a length against that same $12.5K level. He also had a work over the track. Sat mid pack to the turn, moved three wide to challenge and edged clear late over the second choice. One bet....one WIN to start the winter racing season! WHOOOO HOOOO.
My "Best" of the day came in the first stakes race, the D. Hebert Memorial. Free Like A Girl had won many times for me and she was shooting to become a millionaire if she scored today. My concern was two fold - first, her last three had all resulted in disappointment at short odds. And second, today she was turning back to a sprint. Add in that she was cross-entered in a route stakes event later on the card. I thought she stood an excellent chance to bounce back to form here and I liked that all three public handicappers in the Racing Form made her their best. The on-track analysts were both against her and didn't even put her in the top three. I love to win races like this where I'm against what advice is being given to the crowd! She was well back in the pack and between horses which I don't like to see as they ran down the backstretch. But the rider, on board for the first time today, smartly asked her for some run and she responded immediately to get into the clear and move into third into the turn. Caught the leader turning for home and opened up. Got a little short late but I never doubted she'd hold on for the win.
On Saturday I had six bets from the ten races with two that I thought MAYBE I'd bet depending on the way wagering developed. Ran 4th in the opener and passed both the second and third. In the fourth it was a starter-optional claiming event on the turf. Skykat had earned Beyers of 73 in four of her last five AND showed eight wins on the grass. I thought she looked clearly best. Raced near the back up the back stretch, reached a contending spot into the lane. Split rivals at the furlong marker into the clear, accelerated and ran down the leader in the shadow of the wire for the win. I thought the 3/2 price was more than fair.
The fifth was an "interesting" race for me. It was a 2yo stakes, the JR Peluso Memorial and I liked El DInero who had hit the board in all four starts (4/1-1-2) and after running close in his debut had broken his maiden in a state-bred stakes. I also liked the rider upgrade today to journeyman Jimmy Graham. What made it interesting to me was that he broke slowly from the outside and trailed the field into the turn. I was focusing on the #10 horse who began rallying wide, but looked to be too far back when announcer John G. Dooley called out in deep stretch, "Here comes El Dinero up the rail!" And I thought "that's not my horse" but in fact it was and he drew off late to score - last to first as a 2yo....has some promise moving into his 3yo campaign!
Passed the sixth and J-U-S-T missed in the second stakes of the day when 2nd. Non-threatening fourth place finish and even less interesting 7th seemed to finish the day for me. The first of the two "wait and see" bets of the day saw my top choice, who was 12/1 in the program floating at 30/1 close to post time so I just watched. I watched in wonder as she rallied furiously at 44/1 through the lane, chasing a 17/1 front runner and finished 2nd in a photo. Oh I'd have been so upset had she got up in time! So as we approached the finale I was even more interested in my "optional" choice, Undercover Girl who was making her debut for trainer Brad Cox. She was immediately made the favorite and was a short price throughout the betting. This normally would have been an automatic bet for me but I wondered WHY he'd worked her a dozen times over the synthetic surface at Turfway and shipped here on real dirt for her debut. In the end I trusted one of the top trainers in North America, and the bettors. Much like El Dinero earlier, 'Girl broke at the back of the pack and was quickly well behind. I wasn't overly concerned because typically the New Orleans track plays to off-the-pace types, and that seemed to have been a winning style through the first two days of racing. Began advancing three wide but was still about four back into the long stretch. Found another gear and ran away in an impressive debut. Led to announcer John G. Dooley posting on Twitter that she was a filly to watch through the upcoming winter season!
Social Media since the Breeders' Cup.......
Over the nearly two weeks since the Breeders' Cup I'd had several contacts with my social media pals - always makes me happy since I have very little "in person" human contact (or friends locally). CBS Evening anchor Lauren Pastrana was a multiple contact person but clearly the best of those came when I'd sent her information about my Viking TV presentation and she wrote back to me!
Gal-pal Karli Barnett (formerly of CBS-Miami and now with Atlanta News Now) reacted with a message when I told her about the presentation, then commented on it on her FB Live Chat. Then when I sent her the updates about doing a "series" and filming in London she was even more excited and messaged me. Brought a smile to my face :)
Shared the Viking TV "series" news with "adopted daughter" Jillian who was also excited for me.
Same was true for my most favorite former student Kimmy who reacted to my news.
Had an exchange of messages with daughter of best pal Jeff Nelson from CBHS Chloe online when she posted about going to the UCF football game with her dad, my pal.
Trish Christakis messaged me in a delayed reply to a comment I'd made about visiting her home country of Greece a month or two ago.
Jen Cook - a pal from CBHS - who's kept alive the idea of her becoming my "track assistant" once she retires indicated interest in becoming my "TV producer" upon her retirement :) LOL
Finally, got shout-out reactions from CBS Weekend gals KC & Teri, as well as a reply to birthday wishes for former CBHS Office manager and gal-pal Shasha; and got a rare reply from my waitress friend from the Osiris, Petra.
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