Gulfstream Week 9

 Pegasus World Cup Week
January 24 - 28

Well, more than ANY week so far of this Championship season, this week was A-L-L about the big day on Saturday....and in more ways than one!  First, and most obviously the Pegasus World Cup Day is one of THE highlights on the Gulfstream Championship Meet calendar as well as on the international stage of racing events.  And today would be the SEVENTH (of eight) Pegasus Cups that I'd be sitting on the finish line to see the multi-million race.  Typically a "big" Saturday might have 3-or-4 thousand people crowding on the apron and around the track facility, but Saturday it was more than 41,000.  So amazing to be a part of such a big day.  Secondly, from a racing stand point, after scoring in three of eight races over the first two days of racing, I was shut out on both Friday and Sunday.  So, again, clearly the big story was Saturday.  Still, let's see how the week played out.....

Past Pegasus World Cup Days

Wednesday saw me with only three selections.  What was most interesting, to me personally was that in back-to-back races today I not only found but would be wagering on runners who's names were "inspired" by two of my most favorite former students, the "dynamic duo" of Kimmy & Christy.....

I was disappointed that Fast Kimmie failed to run to her form, but with all the money being poured in on Shea D World, I upped the bet to a "Prime Time" play.  Right to the front under confident handling from Paco Lopez....even got the "patented condescending look" under the arm turning for home as if to say, "you don't really think you'll threaten me do you....really?"   And as she ran away got the ever so popular call from Announcer Pete...."She's making 4/5 look like EEEEEAAAASSSSY Money!" :)

Thursday saw my selection sheet with five runners to be played.  The first winner came in Race 2, a starter allowance on the turf.  What Say Thee looked the more likely to run to his form going first off the claim for trainer Mike Maker.  Had concerns as he was at the back of the pack into the far turn.  But when given his cue he inhaled the field going last-to-first for the score!

Missed with a 10/1 longshot that didn't fire and then we came to Race 7.  I had thought Star of Saturn was worth a triple investment on paper.  Based on the comments and the betting I decided to up the bet on the three-year-old favorite in this entry level, six furlong sprint.  I again had concerns when after tracking the leaders to the turn it appeared that the rider was having to push the filly to keep up.  But she was just gathering momentum because once she got her legs going she drove by and drew off.  Best of all, maybe because I'd upped the bet on Wednesday and won, I'd not only upped the bet, but REALLY UPPED the wager to a $30 to WIN play.  Cashed for nearly $50 on what turned out to be the final winner of the week day racing.

Saturday:  Pegasus Day

As I began preparing for the big day, my handicapping started on Monday with a horse-by-horse analysis for all eight stakes races.  I considered only playing Gulfstream races for the day and just enjoy the day.  But the more I thought about I thought even if I played online, I'd enjoy the day more with more "action."  Also, by the time I'd finished handicapping the big 13-race card I was certain I'd want to play other tracks.  Why?  Because - and to be honest, as we headed out on Saturday, I was less enthused about the big day than I can remember from other years because all the races appeared "good," but there were very few that I felt confident in my selections.    Mentally I just shook my head after the first two races were official.  In the opener I'd landed on an Irad Ortiz horse who came calling at the top of the lane but flattened out to be third.  Then in the second, a wide-open Maiden Special for 3yo I had to choose between two Todd Pletcher first time starters.  I went with the John Velazquez riddent sophomore than the Irad Ortiz one on the rail.  They'd worked together and they were hard to separate.  I was surprised that neither was taking betting action but I thought my pick at 11/1 had as good of chance as the other.  Irad Ortiz blew by and drew off by daylight which was bad enough but when the prices were posted at $18.00 for a $2 bet I was thinking it might just be one of "those days" where I'm always zigging when the horses are "zagging."  I got on the board with my third bet, the opener at Laurel where  Dennison Girls was dropping out of a $30K maiden event for top trainer Brittany Russel into a cheaper spot.  I was surprised she was NOT the favorite but not surprised when she won.  The $6.00 payoff allowed me to cash for $30 and suddenly I was ahead after three bets with "my girl" Kimberly - with whom I chatted all day long :)

Over the next hour and a half I didn't have any out of town races, but missed on both my Gulfstream picks.  Race 5 was an allowance on the turf which appeared wide open to me.  I liked Ice Chocolate under Irad Ortiz enough to make a bet, in large part because we were HERE and it was a big day.  But I was not wild about the 12-post he'd drawn and even less so that he'd not been out since October 2022.  BUT when last seen he'd been in six straight graded races.  Willing to play.  But the on-air analysts talked about how he'd be such a favorite and the betting was strong on him.  Game-time decision to up the bet.  Ortiz had him mid-pack to the turn, then began picking off horses.  Had to swing six-to-seven wide into the clear turning for home and at the furlong pole it was still a lot of ground to make up.  But he was flying at at the 16th pole Keith cried out, "You've got it!"  'Chocolate continued his surge and was up in the shadow of the wire.  The price had floated up to more than 2/1 so I cashed for over $30 again and after six races I was hitting 33% and in the black again :)

Over the next hour I missed on four straight one of which was in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante at Gulfstream going a mile and a half on the turf where I thought Romagna Mia was the most likely winner on the card - as did more than one "professional" handicapper.  Sent off at 4/5 she seemed "disinterested" down the backstretch....I just didn't have a good feeling, but kept telling myself she'd not been asked yet.  Asked on the turn she didn't accelerate at all and finished a dull fifth of six.  Truly looks like "one of those days."  I was grateful to have the bets out of town more than ever now, and was glad to collect first on Galatians at Laurel in a claiming route and then with Bear Oak in a starter allowance over a sloppy & muddy track at Oaklawn Park.  Those two wins got me close to even again and boosted the win average back to 33%.  I thought, "at least I'm winning at a good percentage!"

Missed on four in a row at Gulfstream.  In the Gr 3 McKnight going a mile and a half on the turf my minimum play pick ran 5th at 3/1; in the Grade 2 Inside Information I had "Horse for the Course" Maryquitecontrary who was the 3/2 favorite.  She was a less than enthusiastic third finishing behind a $16 winner who she'd beaten by eight lengths last time out.  WOW.  That winner gave jockey Irad Ortiz his FIFTH win from the first nine races!  I wasn't all that surprised in the Grade 2 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf when Star Fortress didn't win.  She'd popped a huge 104 Beyer in her first US start winning a Grade 3 at Churchill.  And as I wrote and told Keith - she either IS or IS NOT that good.  It was the latter as she finished a well beaten 9th at 3/1.  And finally in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper I took Bob Bafferts very fast Hejazi.  Set sail with a daylight lead turning for home at 6/5 - so clear that I had the video on and was saying "Bob Baffert's Hejazzi wires....." only to see him inhaled in the final 100 yards by an $18 winner.  YOWZA.  Can't find a winner anywhere locally.  Like most Saturdays I was playing the races from New Orleans at the Fair Grounds.  But when I began handicapping the races I thought there had to be a misprint where the Racing Form listed post time for the first race at 4pm EST.  Nope, they were starting late AND had just eight races today.  Hmmm.  After passing the first - when they came off the turf with a lot of heavy rain in the area over the last two days - but I liked Just A Touch in Race 2.  The first time starting filly for Brad Cox was listed as the 3/1 favorite over a last out debut runner who earned a big 77 Beyer.  That had to be a good sign.  Tracked the front runner into the lane then took over and drew off impressively!

The 9th at Laurel saw former Bob Baffert runner Messier entered in an allowance race.  I thought 3/5 was stealing as he turned for home with a daylight lead.  Nailed late - second.  Sigh.....  After a flat fourth at Oaklawn it was time for Laurel's co-feature, the Spectacular Bid Stakes for 3yo colts.  a field of ten had been entered and I liked Guanare who had debuted with a dismal effort at Gulfstream, then changed trainers and shipped to NY where he won for fun in a $40K maiden event.  Last time out he whistled home as much the best with a field-best 88 Beyer to earn a trip to this stakes event.  When I looked at the board after Race 9 went official I was stunned to see that SEVEN of the ten had scratched out.  What the????  The muddy track or fearful of my pick who was a prohibitive 1/9 as the betting began?  I opted in this three horse field to go prime time.  When I went out to the grandstand to watch the Fred Hooper with Keith I remarked "We'll see what kind of racing luck I'm going to have - I've got the 1/9 favorite in a three horse field....you'd think I would HAVE to win, right?"  Came back to watch as Guanare sat behind the dueling pair into the far turn.  Looked to be cruising to the front three wide, but once in front in the lane he failed to draw off.  I kept thinking, at this short price in this short field I SHOULD be a more handy winner.  But in the final yards he did edge clear to a daylight score.  Cashed for just over $25 with my "big bet" and first stakes win of the day.

At Gulfstream, the grandstand which had been maybe 50-60% full to this point was now packed as was the apron below.  So much so that it was difficult to find your way from the simulcast area inside to the stairs to your seat!  Obviously it was time for the BIG SHOW!  First up was the Grade 1, $1 Million Pegasus Turf.  My pick was European invader Warm Heart, a filly taking on the boys.  Much like the pick in the Filly & Mare Turf I told Keith, in my opinion she either WAS or WAS NOT the clear winner.  Here were the facts...... last fall top international trainer Aidan O'Brien had sent her to Santa Anita to run in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.  Shed been nailed on the line, finishing second by a neck to a mare that's widely considered the best female turf runner in the world.  So you KNOW if Warm Heart had been entered in the Grade 2 $500K Pegasus F&M Turf she'd have gone off at 1/5 or less and probably won for fun.  But instead O'Brien wanted a piece of the boys.  Second, you had to believe that top international rider Ryan Moore - who you could easily make a case that he's THE BEST jockey in the world - came to South Florida specifically to ride here.  And finally, after traveling from So Cal to Japan - where Warm Heart was 3rd in the Group 1 Japan Cup against the boys - and now all the way to Florida for her career finale....you had to believe they didn't come here to pick up a minor check.  I debated while handicapping just how firmly I believed she WOULD win as I was convinced the connections believed she would.  In the end I thought I'd go "prime time" and put my money where my mouth was.  None of the three "professional handicappers" for Gulfstream picked her on top!  The "buzz" horse was Shug McGaughey's newly turned 4yo Integration who was a perfect 3-for-3.  McGaughey rarely has them ready to go at first asking, and often it takes several races to hit their best stride.  But this colt won at first asking in a Colonial MSW (first "hmmmm" for me); then won the Virginia Derby in his first start against winners, and topped off his 3yo season with a win in the Grade 2 Hill Prince.  But I thought this race was a whole different kind of animal he'd be facing.  My opinion was solidified when I watched a video by hottie Acacia Courtney - who I so miss her being an analyst here - when she said much the same.  On a side note, it was so good to see long time GP handicapper Ron Nicoletti back after a bout with cancer.  Today was his first day back and he looked great.  And the pic with Acacia she posted on Twitter brought a big smile to my face - those two were so great together and so enjoyed each other's company as well.  Back to Warm Heart..... I was so very surprised that as the horses came onto the track that Integration was a short price and solid favorite.  I said to Keith, "I just don't think that's right" and was wondering if the tepid play Warm Heart was getting maybe indicated she wasn't as likely a winner as I thought.  They left the gate to a huge roar from the overflow crowd and sat the ideal "garden spot" trip in third behind two embattled front runners.  As they hit the far turn Announcer Pete voiced what I was thinking - what would Ryan Moore do now, swing three wide on the turn and probably be four or more wide turning for home, or patiently wait on the rail.  In what was later referred to - and I completely agreed with - a "Hall of Fame ride" Moore hugged the rail and then shot through a very narrow opening to the front before they hit the furlong pole.  Warm Heart opened a daylight lead and while the closers capitalized on the quick early pace to make up a lot of ground late, they were too late to catch the filly who crossed the wire to the wild cheers of the fans, including THIS handicapper!  When the prices were posted at nearly $7 I was cashing for almost $70 and suddenly we're having a VERY GOOD time at the Pegasus!  And this moment is worth not one but TWO photos :)

Now it was time for "THE BIG ONE" - the Grade 1 $3 Million Pegasus World Cup.  And while this most certainly was "the big one," it wasn't as big as it once was or had been for several years.  The original Pegasus was a $12 Million race and featured Horse of the Year Arrogate.  Then it became a $10 Million race and featured Horse of the Year Gun Runner.  As the purse dropped we still got the Breeders' Cup Classic winner two years in a row.  Then we had a less than big name, but followed that up with a match-up between the Breeders' Cup Classic winner against the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner two years in a row.  But last year the field was decidedly NOT a $3 Million quality field.  And this year's was much the same.  BUT......I thought of the full field of "good horses," if Bob Baffert's Grade 1 Preakness winner, National Treasure could repeat his photo finish loss in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile to Horse of the Year and 2x BC winner Cody's Wish he would be the winner.  This talented, newly turned 4yo was speedy and I thought he'd shoot right to the front like Todd Pletcher's Life Is Good had done two years ago.  But like that race, there APPEARED to be other front runners and so the question for me was COULD he get to the front.  If he dueled on the lead it could set it up for Brad Cox's talented and lightly raced First Mission.  But my opinion on this horse was similar to that I had on Integration in the Turf.  The races he'd run in as a 3yo did not have the kind of horses with established graded stakes talent like this one.  The starting gate was right in front of us as we sat on the finish line and I LOVED the roar of the crowd as the gates sprung open.  Immediately I knew this would NOT go the way I had envisioned it.  National Treasure was asked for speed from jockey Flavian Prat but was outquicked to the front by Grade 2 Cigar Mile winner Hoist the gold.  Prat smartly settled National Treasure right off his flank and the two opened up on the field.  They went quick but I kept thinking back to an interview I'd read from trainer Bob Baffert where he said how happy he was the owners were racing 'Treasure as a 4yo because he was bigger, stronger, and a better race horse now.  I was counting on this as Prat asked him to take command.  He easily glided to the front and had a multi length lead approaching the furlong pole.  But from the back, dead closer Senor Buscador was flying with all the momentum.  The lead began to dwindle but I was confident we had enough to last - and we did!  WHOOOO HOOOOO!  And just like in the Pegasus Turf the crowd was so wrong in the betting as they sent First Mission off as the short priced favorite allowing National Treasure to float up to better than 5/2 odds.  The $7.20 payoff meant I'd cash for over $50.  Oh now it's a VERY GOOD Pegasus World Cup Day for me!  

National photo - me highlighted

NBC screen shot during post parade

NBC screen shot pre-race

As of this writing I have not had a chance to watch the NBC broadcast of the Pegasus races, but I'll be more than a little surprised if Keith and I are not on camera.  One of the photos of National Treasure scoring the big win was taken from the infield and you can clearly see (if you know what you're looking for!) us standing there.  I'm in my blue sport coat and white Pegasus polo and have my phone in front of my face filming the race (see above).  (UPDATE: watched the broadcast and found myself on a couple of occasions, see above).  We watched the trophy ceremony and then headed to the car.  I knew I'd had a "good" day but also that I had a few races left to watch at home.  Won two of them, both from the Fair Grounds as Gun Pilot drew off as much the best with my triple investment on board, then Foxfire was a decisive winner at a generous $6.80 with my double investment on board.  

I didn't cash out my Pegasus winning tickets and obviously brought home the Fair Grounds tickets.  So when I return to Gulfstream this next week I'll be cashing out for nearly $200!  Oh I like doing that my friends!

 Pegasus World Cup Day Highlights

The totals for today....and with next week bringing the first of a new month, I ran the numbers for my two month totals at Gulfstream.  Pleased with my results hardly expresses my satisfaction with the way the first two months have gone.  I just LOVE this time of year!

Pegasus Day 2024 - WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Social media this week.....

I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm so thankful that I DO have "friends" on social media, because without them I'd have very little "human contact."  One of the most frequent of those, Lauren Pastrana from CBS-Miami had several "exchanges today.  The local CBS station put together a promo for the upcoming Super Bowl which Lauren posted and I commented that I'd watch the telecast if she and her co-anchor would do the commentary.  She "laughed" at that.  Another one of "those" cool exchanges that I enjoy came when I noted she was back on the anchor desk after missing back-to-back broadcasts.  You can see below I posted a phot of her and welcomed her back at 5:14pm while they were on the air delivering the news.  Four minutes later, at 5:18pm WHILE ON THE AIR Lauren not only noted my post by wrote back to me about an upcoming story that was the reason why she was not anchoring as she was "on assignment."  When I told her I'd be interested immediately she again, while on the air, "liked" my reply comment.  When she posted on Instagram about that story she "liked" my curiosity comment.  And for the first time, when I commented on another Instagram post she replied to me through that social media platform. 

One of my favorite exchanges of the week came with gal-pal, former CBS-Miami weekend anchor Karli Barnett.  Not only that she messaged me, but for the first time since mid-December when Facebook Messenger stopped linking with Instagram, Karli replied to me ON Instagram :)

Our "adopted daughter' and "noted author" Jillian posted a pic of her interacting in a classroom which I commented on and she replied to me......

Pretty Slovakian gal-pal from the Viking Osiris, Petra and I had several exchanges back and forth as she's home on vacation.  I'm happy we've kept contact, she was so sweet to us on board.

Jayce Birch always posts her fashion from the Channel 10 morning news and when ever I comment, she likes them.

Finally. another two of my all-time favorite formers exchanged text messages with me.....Tatiana and Kimmy....

 

Gulfstream Week 8

 Road To The Derby at the Fair Grounds

January 17 - 21

It was a big day in New Orleans on Saturday with six bit stakes races.  The weather took a real turn to the chilly side as the weekend rolled around, and I can't tell you how very much I enjoyed spending the vast majority of the day outside in the coolish South Florida weather watching the racing.  But first, how the week unfolded leading up to the big day........ My Mom & sister were still here through Wednesday morning and I hated to see them go, always enjoy their visits.  Before I took them to the airport I stripped their bed and did the sheets because around 11am we were expecting our good friends from Northern Kentucky, Tom & Mary Pat to arrive before they continued on to the Keys for a wedding.  That night was a bobblehead night at the Panthers game so MP and I headed out to the game.  

While visiting that afternoon I had five races I had an interest in.  In four of the five races I ran second (at odds of 9/5, 2/1, and 2/1).  The best price of the day, ironically, was with my lone winner on the afternoon in the sixth, a claiming event going six furlongs on the main track.  Just Take Notes had only been out seven times and I thought she had legitimate excuses in three of them, enough to toss.  The other four were more than good enough to win here.  Tracked the pace inside in fourth, then shot through an opening on the rail turning for home and drew clear.  The $9.80 payoff allowed me to cash for nearly $25 and cut my losses for the entire day in half.

Thursday our guests left just after the racing started and I spent a good deal of the rest of the day handicapping multiple cards for Saturday's big day at the races.  The first bet of the day came in the third, a non-winners of two lifetime event going a one-turn mile.  Goodbetterbest was the DRF Best of the Day and I noted how "sad" it was that the current state of racing in South Florida where this time of the year it's promoted as "World Class Racing" and the best bet is in a 2L event.  Used to be that every week day was like a Saturday at any other track, but those days are long gone.  At any rate, she looked a legitimate favorite.  She'd been a just-miss second in a $25K nw2L two back and then jumped up to a $25K starter allowance around two turns over the Tampa turf.  Back down to a one-turn mile, and back on the dirt she should get her second win I thought.  Right to the front by daylight and never gook a deep breath.  Should have bet more in retrospect, but a win's a win baby!

Was off the board with the next two plays before we got to the sixth, an entry level allowance, again at a one-turn mile.  Scanning down the past performances for Todd Pletcher's Goddess of Fire you'd have to think she'd be a prohibitive favorite and a daylight winner in a first level allowance like this.  She'd run 3rd in the Grade 3 Pocohontas, 2nd in Tampa's Gasparilla Stakes, 2nd in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra and 2nd in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks last winter.  Also a 3rd in a listed stakes here AND 3rd in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga last summer.  Just totally outclass her rivals, right?  Well in her last she'd come off the bench at Aqueduct in a nearly identical entry level allowance and ran on the pace, then stopped badly.  Oh that can't be good.  BUT maybe she needed one?  I was willing to consider that, and I also have seen time and time again Pletcher horses almost always run lights out at Gulfstream and often not as well at other venues.  As she took a lot of money I upped the wager a notch.  Tracked the leaders while under a very snug hold to the top of the lane.  Moved through along the rail and ran off by daylight, AND geared down through the final 100 yards.  WHOOO HOOOO!

Saturday:  Road To The Derby Day

Disappointment led the way to the big day Saturday.  First, the Friday card saw me go winless in four races, three of which I was second, once as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite.  NOT the kind of lead-in I was looking for.  That morning Kim set off for a weekend in Orlando and I went to the Panthers hockey game alone (did meet my buddy Enzo there).  During the game I saw on social media that both Aqueduct and Laurel had cancelled their Saturday cards because of the snow and cold.  This after I'd spent hours handicapping both tracks' races.....and I'd already had to avoid Oaklawn, where I'd planned to play, because on Wednesday they cancelled for the weekend.  The Panthers did not play well and trailed 5-2 with twelve minutes to go.  I told myself I'd leave at the first time out after the ten minute mark, but then our boys cashed in twice in less than a minute to make it 5-4.  Were all over the Minnesota goalie for the remainder of the game but couldn't get the tying goal - still, very exciting, but disappointing as we lost for the fourth straight time (twice in overtime).  And so I headed out Saturday with Keith in tow, and despite the late cancellations I still had nearly thirty bets on my sheet as I played Gulfstrstream, Tampa, the big card at the Fair Grounds, and Santa Anita.  Missed in the GP opener when third at 5/2 but within minutes I was on the board.  The opener at Tampa looked to go strictly through Beer Bali who towered over these $10K maiden claimers.  Her Beyers indicated she'd win by a pole.  But that's the thing about cheap maidens, they don't run them that cheap without good reason, and often if they've had trips to the post without winning AND are running cheap that's a problem.  Sent off as a prohibitive 2/5 favorite she made her move at the top of the lane but didn't go by.  Life and death to the wire until finally in the last few strides she edged to the front.  WOW that was close!

Three "PASS" races and a scratch at the Fair Grounds saw me without action until the fourth at Gulfstream Park.  Saffie Joseph reached out to top rider Irad Ortiz to guide Lady Emily Kathryn over the lawn in a Maiden Special event going a mile.  She'd run fine on the all-weather but her best efforts were clearly on the grass and at this trip.  Sent right to the front she looked like she'd lead them on a merry chase.  But at the top of the lane she was collared and even briefly was back to second.  But she rebroke in the final furlong and edged clear for the win!

Ran my winning streak to three then four in a row when Paper Mansion wired a starter handicap over the Tampa turf and Tarifa dove down to the rail to score in a rich $100K nw2L claiming event at the Fair Grounds to give me the first of multiple wins in New Orleans.

My top pick in the first stakes event at the Fair Grounds scratched, so I opted to go in on the lone speed, Just Might in the DF Kenner, a turf sprint.  Right to the front, clear into the lane....nailed on the wire, 2nd.  Ouch.  Missed at Gulfstream when Paco Lopez took Toscanito right to the front and also was clear into the lane, then caught in deep stretch by the favorite.  Ouch-squared.  Next on the sheet was the the fifth from the Fair Grounds, a maiden special going a mile and a sixteenth on the main track for 3yo.  I noted in my analysis that I believed several trainers would look to this race as an indicator if their colts were Derby material.  I really liked the looks of  Hall of Fame for trainer Steve Asmussen.  The $1.4 Million son of Gun Runner had finished second in his debut after breaking poorly.  As he took a lot of money I opted to up the wager.  He tracked the leader while holding position on the rail and effortlessly took off at the top of the lane to the front.  Through the final furlong the margin widened to nearly a pole while geared down.  Stakes action is almost certainly in his immediate future.  

As I went to "my girl Kimberly" the teller-twin, I was considering upping the bet as well on Todd Pletcher's Triple Espresso in Gulfstream's seventh.  This too was a Maiden Special event and it was obvious that the connections regarded this colt highly.  After debuting at Colonial Downs - why would Pletcher send a colt there? - where he broke poorly and closed with a rush for second, Pletcher sent him out - as a maiden - in the Grade 2 Pilgrim.  A good try to be fourth.  Back into the maiden ranks he was sent off at 4/5 from a wide post but disappointed to be third.  Today.......knowing how Pletcher runners always run big here I thought maybe I'd up the bet.  But that Colonial start coupled with a disappointment at 4/5 odds last time out led me to just hold solid on the double investment.  Through the first turn and down the backstretch he lagged at the back and I was thinking, this can't be good.  Asked by Irad Ortiz to pick up the pace he began picking off horses on the turn but was forces some seven or eight wide into the lane, still near the back.  Kicked into high gear and flew through the lane to be up in time!  WHOOOO HOOOOO.  That's SEVEN wins in my last nine bets - oh I'm enjoying my day very much thank you :)

One of the highlights of the day - in a non-racing event - came around this time when my phone flashed indicating an email had arrived.  Gal-pal via social media, former CBS Weekend Anchor Karli Barnett and I used to stay in touch on a "regular" basis via FaceBook messenger.  But in mid-December that program stopped linking with Instagram - which was where Karli would see my private messages.  Since then we'd not been nearly as "connected."  For what ever reason, this morning before leaving for the track I'd sent her an email.  And now, when I opened the email message she'd written back to me.  That was very cool :)  See the message below in the "Social Media This Week" section.  Next up on the racing schedule was the opener from Santa Anita.  Bob Baffert was sending out not one but two very pricey ($900K and $1 Million) colts.  I preferred Maymun under Juan Hernandez.  The board supported my choice.  Burst to the front shortly after the break, in complete control to the top of the lane.  Widened the margin willingly and was geared down late in a very impressive debut.

I picked up my third win in New Orleans in a second level allowance on the grass with trainer Michael maker's Chasing The Crown.  I had mixed feelings about his chances seeing that he'd faltered at this level THREE times and all at short odds, AND had not been out since September.  But the three bullet works said to me he would run his "A" game today.  Split rivals at the top of the lane and drove to the wire a clear winner.  Missed in the Gulfstream feature (see more below) and then was surprised when Sherlock's Jewels was NOT the favorite in the 8th at Tampa, but was pleased when he collared the favorite in deep stretch to allow me to cash for almost $30.

Picked up another winner out west in Santa Anita's third, an entry level allowance on the grass.  Mo Fox Given might have been overlooked for my betting purposes but I always put a great deal of stock in what DRF analyst Brad Free says and you could tell he thought she'd run well.  Had my doubts when she was trailing the field into the turn, but swooped up and by the draw off with authority to give me yet another winning ticket.

Because Kim was out of town and there was no hockey tonight I'd told Keith that we'd be staying late.  But either he wasn't paying attention or forgot, and when I reminded him of this mid-afternoon he hesitated telling me he'd told the dog sitter he'd pick up his dog between 5:30 and 6 pm.  Sigh...... so we agreed to leave after the Gulfstream finale and I'd watch the last several races online.  I'd missed on three straight from out of town heading to the finale when I made the "automatic" bet on Todd Pletcher's Coinvest in a maiden special for 3yo on the turf.  I liked a Bill Mott Euro invader but his debut in Great Britain came at a track I'd never heard of so it was easier to bet on Irad Ortiz & Mr. Pletcher.  Sent off at a big 6/1 he was daylight clear in front, oh my it's a "day-maker" bet!  But nailed inside the final strides by the favorite.  Oh that was close.....good bet, no money.  The first of the out of town races I watched upon return was the Silverbulletday Stakes for 3yo fillies at the Fair Grounds.  This would serve as the prep for the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra and on to the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks as the fillies targeted the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.  West Omaha had been a runaway winner in her second start at 7f then was a best-of-the-rest second in the December Untappable Stakes, the first of the 3yo filly series here.  She'd finished behind a stablemate who was NOT in the line-up today.  She tracked the leaders through the far turn, swung into the clear under Luis Saez and opened up at will in a very impressive performance.  Will be interested to see if she and her stable mate both show up in the next leg!

I was "proud" of myself with the next winner in the sixth at Santa Anita.  Why?  Because it is not often that I loosen up the bankroll and go "prime time" unless it's a proven stakes winner.  In this entry level allowance going six and a half furlongs on the main track, Scary Fast Ride was the DRF's Brad Free's BEST Bet.  As I mentioned, his opinion weighs a lot for me.  I loved the fact that 'Ride's Beyers had improved with each start and that she'd run 2nd in a stakes last time out to a FIVE-time stakes winner.  Her last two Beyers topped 95 of the combined 97 Beyers for her rivals today.  Normally in an entry level allowance this would be a double investment that I'd probably triple because of the Free opinion.  But I went "all in."  Tracked the four front runners without being asked into the far turn.  Unleashed she blew by and drew off with authority.  LOVE IT.

Brad Cox's lightly raced Saudi Crown looked to be the controlling speed in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes at the Fair Grounds.  I doubled the bet, having just a little concern that the newly turned 4yo would be facing older for the first time.  All, and I mean A-L-L alone on the front end he coasted wire to wire as tons the best.

Missed on the last two stakes bets, both of which were BIG bets for me.  And had either won I'd have finished with a handy profit.  But, despite winning a whopping thirteen of twenty-six on the day I came out just a little shy of even.  Even worse than the two late losses, the two oh-so-close photo finish losses at Gulfstream cost me nearly $100 - oh it COULD have been a wonderful day!  "Woulda, coulda, shoulda".....gotta love the track, eh?

Road To The Derby Day Highlights

Sunday I had five, possibly six bets on my selection sheet as we wrapped up the week's racing.  Was third at 3/5 with a horse I wasn't that confident in but still thought she'd win on the class drop then ran 7th at a huge 17/1 with a Todd Pletcher runner.  Heading into the far turn he was right there and I had a fleeting "OH MY" feeling before he faded.  In the fourth race I'd found a horse that had no business what so ever winning or luring my wager.  But I noted that perhaps if some money showed, I'd be on board.  Check my analysis out......

Had no business being considered a contender, and certainly some of the betting action was because Ortiz was up, but what's up with that?  With the betting action I opted to put the minimum wager down.  Comfortably (for him, not me!) at the back to the far turn, Ortiz gave him the cue and he circled the field, caught the leaders and drew off as easily best.  The nice $10 payoff meant I'd cash for $25 and suddenly I was even on the day :)

Here was another decision and wager that I was "proud" of - because I again I went in heavily on a likely winner, but it was the kind of race that I'd typically never do so on.  The seventh was a non-winners of two lifetime event seven and a half furlongs on the turf.  Emboite HAD to cause you some concern noting that he had ONE WIN in TWELVE starts.  But part of that was offset when noting the first ten were in open company with the only one for a tag being his WIN in a $75K maiden claimer.  Dropped into a $35K nw2L two back on the synthetic he was 2nd.  Dropped again to $25K nw2L last time he was second going a mile on the grass.  Claimed out of that event by Maryland-based trainer Brittany Russell - who made history in 2023 by being the FIRST female trainer to lead the Mid-Atlantic circuit in wins - she got Irad to ride today for the same $25K price tag.  I'd planned to go in a "big" $15 but when both analysts at GP noted she'd be a "short priced favorite" in the pre-race handicapping show AND she was being pounded early in the wagering I upped the bet to a week-high $25 to win.  She was in between runners into the far turn, but got clear race track when cut loose five wide at the top of the lane and she drew off as easily best :)

Early in December on the live feed from Gulfstream the analysts noted that a new trainer was running her horses here in South Florida for the winter.  Former jockey-turned-trainer Brittany Vanden Berg had brought a string of runners and at the time they noted that the hottie trainer was a consistent winner typically.  And it was noted that she nearly always put her husband-jockey, veteran Chris Emigh on board.  I've followed her runners with interest and bet on several of them, but she's just not been able to find the winner's circle at the tough winter meet while compiling a 23/1-2-2 record.  I've shied away from her and her husband of late but today she had entered in today's 7th.  Ms. Britt had enticed the ownership group to lay out $50K to claim the 7-year-old veteran at Keeneland.  She brought the five time winner (from 27 starts) back in a richer $62.5K claimer at Churchill and he ran a good 3rd.  Dropped back to $50K and into a "softer" beaten race last time here, he'd been third again at a big 9/1 price.  Today Ms. Britt was dropping him significantly to $20K.  I can tell you if I were an owner who'd laid out $50K I'd not be too excited here.  But the math for Mailman Money looked like this.....the two show finishes had earned back about $12,000.  A win today would generate another $20K in earnings and if by chance he was claimed for the $20K tag that would bring the total for the four events to earnings of $52,000 - a slight profit for the short time span.  Ok, horse race ownership is a gamble so I guess I'd be "ok" with that.  BUT....what lured me to the bet was none of this - it was for the first time, that I could remember seeing the blonde hottie horsewoman was NOT putting her husband on board, but would give a leg up to the hot riding Paco Lopez.  I think they're serious here.  Tracked the leaders while patiently handled in fifth through the turn.  Shot through a narrow opening on the rail and burst into the clear for the big win.

For the week my numbers totaled:  45 / 19 - 11 - 6 for a big 42% winning average, I'll gladly take that!  Next week is the first REALLY BIG weekend of racing as Gulfstream hosts the Pegasus World Cup event.  I skipped the inaugural running when tickets were over $300 for a seat and regretted it immediately.  A world-wide big racing event in my own backyard at MY track and I let money stand in the way?  Ever since we've gone (Keith and I) and we will be there in the grandstand next Saturday for the big six-stakes laden card!

Social Media this week......

I had three "interactions" with gal-pal Lauren Pastrana from the CBS-Miami evening news.  On Monday when there were NFL playoff games on the local CBS channel she sent out an Instagram post that anyone who wanted to see a "friendly face" could find them on their sister station Channel 33.  I immediately opened the streaming news on my app and "found" her.  Sent her a message at 5:07 pm that I indeed liked her friendly face and while on the air at 5:23 she replied and reposted my message :)  Also got reactions when I noted her wavy hair and "pretty in pink" outfit on Friday.

My Slovakian gal-pal from the Viking Osiris, Petra reached out to me a couple days after I'd checked in on her.......

Saturday morning before heading to the races I had the CBS-Miami morning news on and my "friend" Teri, who recently got engaged, was hosting the program with her gal-pal KC Sherman.  I reached out on both Facebook and Twitter and she reacted/replied to both.

It's that time of year with Panthers hockey that you can re-up for next year's season tickets.  Kim and I are all-in with our 'Cats and I paid the bill.  Sent a message to our account manager, the very cute Emma who promptly replied.

Coach Kelly worked with us at Oasis High and we've remained pals since.  Her Dad has had some medical issues of late but seems to be making a good recovery.  But I thought of her Friday when I was at the game, alone, as the Panthers were facing the Minnesota Wild, and Kelly is from Minnesota (dontchaknow).  We'd talked at one time about her visiting for a game so I sent her a message and she replied back :)

I've been going back and forth about visiting my Mom in Ohio this spring, and largely it was because my "girlfriend" Kimmy and I have not been able to connect since she's moved to North Carolina, got married, AND had two children.  But we've talked about my visiting on the way to or from my Mom's.  Looked like maybe this April we'd connect, but then she messaged me she'll be out of town....sigh.....

Finally, I felt so happy when I saw gal-pal Karli Barnett's email.  Obviously - if you read it - it was NOT a standard "thanks for reaching out" kind of message.  While we've never met we are legitimately friends, and I think she'd agree with that.  This made my day Saturday.  But then that evening I saw she was back with a Facebook "LIVE" chat for the first time in weeks and I hopped on.  When I said "Hi" she replied AND then thanked me for reaching out to her.  THAT was very cool my friends :)