December 14-17: The WET Week
I was disappointed I didn't get out to Gulfstream to watch the races live, but it would have been a miserable experience regardless of the day I would have picked as a big weather system moved through early and the week and didn't clear out until later in the afternoon on Sunday. But the good news was that I had an EXCELLENT week of handicapping as I hit on 45% of my selections and made nearly $50 for the week's entertainment.
The week kicked off another 4-day racing schedule with a nine-race Thursday card. The first three races saw the winners pay $15.60, $21.00 and $11.00 - the only race in the sequence that I had a pick I was third at 4/5. Ran second as the even money favorite and then I got the "day maker" when the fifth race was run at a mile-70 on the all weather after moving from a mile race on the turf for Maiden Optional Claimers. Burnaway was one of the rare horses that was exiting a race where I liked a horse who had faced some of the same rivals he'd see today. But he'd been the 7/5 favorite that day and it had been run on the synthetic. Pressed the pace to the far turn, cut the corner inside on the rail and cleared the field. The $7.40 payoff, coupled with my double investment meant I'd get a return of nearly $40 and I'm ahead for the day!
Two more selections on the sheet, but certainly the day's outcome would come down to my next pick, Storm Brave in a non-winners of three lifetime event scheduled to go a one-turn mile on the main track. As the on air analysts said, he was a single in the multi-race events and he SHOULD be the winner. If not then certainly he was destined to be hard pressed to win again. His last saw him run 2nd behind an odds-on winner while EIGHT clear of the show in his first try on real dirt. His "paired" Beyers indicated he'd probably move forward today. Got leading rider Irad Ortiz AND looked like the lone speed. Pressed two longshots who insisted on the front to the turn. Took over willingly without being asked and ran away prompting Announcer Pete to call out, ".....Stormy Brave is making 1/5 look like EEEEEEasy money!" The day is destined to be a winning one! Ran third with my last pick where the winner paid $32.40. Ironically all these longshots today were among the few for the week as the vast majority of the winners through Sunday were much more formful with relatively short prices.
The consistent rain, albeit a lot of misting and light rain, continued throughout the day again on Friday. The ten race program saw me only find four runners with enough of an edge to wager on. And my day was done early with three straight "PASS" calls to end the day (four of the last five in fact). I needed to make my bets well ahead of the first post because today I was meeting my "Disney Girl," Amanda. She's a former student from way back in the Western HS days. Now in her early 40's with three boys she looks remarkably the same :) We text regularly but it's been two years since we'd seen one another. When this Facebook memory appeared two weeks ago we set today to meet for lunch. Had the best time as we chatted over our meal and wine for nearly three hours.
Passed the first race (where the lone horse I commented on won) and then saw my pick in the second go off at odds on - watching the replays - and clear off by double digit lengths. El Torreno had drew off over the PID synthetic for trainer Christophe Clement. Irad Ortiz was up and while he doesn't usually ride for the barn, when he does he wins at a sharp 30% clip.
Passed the third and ran 2nd at 3/2 in the fourth (where my "other" horse won). The fifth was at a mile and a sixteenth, now on the synthetic. Therapist had won Monmouth's Grade 1 United Nations so this comeback in a Starter Optional Claiming was obviously a softer spot. The questions was the surface (as well as the layoff) and knowing that he certainly had bigger targets down the road. But even his "B+" race should be good enough. Near the back to the far turn he began picking off horses four wide. Six or more wide into the lane was just, JUST up in time for the win. WHEW. He was the "best" for today (a triple investment).
Saturday started out with a BANG! In the New York opener the field of this MSW 2yo dash looked particularly weak so first time starter Strat O Matic (who's name obviously was based on the board game "Strat O Matic" which I played faithfully for years as a teen) looked very strong. Was clear heading for home and then J-U-S-T held on! Came right back in the GP opener when Mauna Kea Bound was the easiest of winners. Right back in the second race at both venues when Bargaining Power was the odds-on choice in NY and ran to the odds. And then Heals The Soul took off as an easy winner in South Florida.
Four-for-four to start the day! Ran second at 3/1 at Tampa then went on another winning streak. Fight'n Ready was the obvious choice in the Oaklawn opener and edged clear at the 16th pole to score. Ran eighth at GP with the favorite, wow but bounced right back to score in a Tampa maiden claimer with Bold Blue who was a daylight winner. Thethrillofvictory was a runaway winner of the fifth at Gulfstream. I thought Tiz Herself would be a big time winner of Tampa's fifth and tripled the bet. But she never was close, finishing fourth. Then I had Rocket and Roll in NY - split rivals in mid-stretch and surged to the front in the shadow of the wire.
The winning slowed at this point, but the next one was my "best" of the day at Gulfstream. It was a maiden claimer and top rider Irad Ortiz was on Lucy's Cookie who was dropping out of MSW company. All three recent Tapeta Beyers beat the lifetime best figures of her rivals. Right to the front, clear by daylight and drew off despite drifting out to the middle of the track through the stretch.
The co-features at the Big A were two $500K 2yo stakes for NY-breds going five furlongs. My Shea D Lady had stakes experience and it was appealing that her name recalled one of my favorite students, Christy Shade, who is still a FB friend to this day with the "handle" of Sea Shady. She was blocked through the turn but once she found a seam she burst through and drew clear as much the best.
The fifth at Oaklawn was a maiden claimer for 2yo's. The only runner with a figure that was equal to or better than par for the level belonged to the Steve Asmussen trained Chip Shortage. Right to the front and scored at 5/2 giving my bankroll a nice boost.
My biggest bets at Gulfstream were in the final three races but with the storm intensifying they cancelled the last three races. I broke a five-race losing skid when at Oaklawn Nautical Star was way, WAY out of it hitting the far turn by blew by like a tropical storm to win going away!
The featured stakes event at Oaklawn was the Tinsel Stakes and I didn't like either of the two likely favorites. That's because they BOTH looked like they wanted the front. War Campaign showed the ability to finish strongly AND that was the style that had been winning regularly in Hot Springs. He sat a tracking spot on the rail behind the dueling favorites. Got into the clear turning for home and burst clear to win going away. And the best part....went off at a big 6/1 price paying $14.60 and allowing me to cash for almost $40 on my final win of the day. A BIG DAY with thirteen wins from twenty-seven selections with a big profit on the day! WHOOOO HOOOO.
Sunday we headed to Orlando so we could watch our youngest son Brad play the final game of his adult league ice hockey and to be closer to the port for the Monday afternoon disembarkation. I originally had five picks on the Gulfstream card which was run under the clearing and sunny skies in South Florida. The lone win came when Just A Care was a wire-to-wire winner.
Saturday's Selections / Results
40 / 18 - 7 - 4
WIN: 45.0% ROI: $2.28
I'll be "passing" both the Thursday and Friday live racing cards this week while we are cruising the Caribbean, but I will have picks for the big stakes-laden days at both Gulfstream & The Fair Grounds for Saturday on what's being called "Super Santa Stakes Day."
Social Media this week......
I had contact with gal-pal Lauren Pastrana multiple times this week. First when letting her know because of the late Panthers games I'd be up late for the 11 pm news. Then late in the week the CBS Miami team was NOT on the air. I reached out to her and she answered almost immediately - that's my girl! Then I let her know how appreciative I was to see her and the team and she replied and re-posted the pic. Finally she reacted to my news about heading out on the Christmas Cruise.
My other gal-pal news anchor Karli Barnett reacted to my comment regarding her pretty holiday pic and smile. Then she was so sweet to react and reply to my comment about heading out on the cruise AND sent a Mickey on the beach GIF :)
Former waitress and girl-friend Jessica from Ford's Garage posted a pic of her cute daughter in her school Christmas pageant - she reacted to my comment.
I had quite a long conversation with Osiris gal-pal Petra, and what was most cool about it was that SHE started the conversation :)
Saturday morning my pal Teri was on the anchor desk. I shot her a pic and let her know I'd miss next weekend's broadcast to be on the cruise and she wished us well with a reply.
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