March 13-17: Well THAT Was Interesting.....
In more ways than one this was a MOST interesting week. First, because the primary focus of these journals is to document the racing adventures, Saturday was one of the "worst" handicapping days I've EVER had, and certainly the worst day of the winter as I began the day with SIXTEEN straight losses. But on the upside, my social media gal-pal Lauren Pastrana reached out to me to help me with my next Viking TV project and not only did I win three-of-five to end the week on Sunday, but watched an amazing video preview of our next big adventure to the Mediterranean! Here's how the week played out.....
Wednesday started the week off with a BIG BANG and I had high hopes for the rest of the week. That's because the first bet of the week came in the second race, a maiden claiming synthetic sprint for 3yo. The two Gulfstream analysts BOTH remarked "I don't like Soca in here for Todd Pletcher...." and went on to explain why they were not fans. Oh foolish people - don't you know it's the winter meet and this is Mr. Todd's playground? These are EXACTLY the kind of horses you can make some money on as he wins here at the winter meet with horses anywhere else you'd dismiss. Pressed the longshot leader to the top of the stretch and drew off by multiple lengths. And best of all, paid a whopping $10.80! WHOOOO HOOO! Missed on the other two plays of the day, both minimum wagers so I had a healthy profit when the racing concluded for the day.
Thursday I picked up where I'd left off where AGAIN the two analysts on air remarked that they wouldn't bet Fort Charles at such a short price. I get the whole "value" thing, but to bet JUST on price that I don't get. If you're not willing to take a short price then just watch the race or try to find some horses underneath in exotic wagers. Not me, I kept my double investment and cashed for a small profit when Fort Charles romped easily to kick off the day's racing.
Missed on the next two before Todd Pletcher's Gambling Holiday was a much the best winner and turned out to be the BEST Bet of the Week.
Friday foreshadowed what was to come as I went through the first five races with only a second and three thirds to show for my handicapping. But in the nightcap I finally got a win, but not without some anxious moments. Saffie Joseph's Cotton pressed the front runner in this five furlong synthetic sprint, which has been the most consistent winning trip all winter long in these abbreviated events on the all weather. But he drifted out turning for home then re-rallied and was up in the shadow of the wire.
Saturday was the "big loser" day as I skidded through the first sixteen races without cashing a ticket. Two things of note here - first, typical of the day was the "Best" of the day at Laurel in the H.E. Johnson Memorial. The defending champ was Nimitz Class who towered over the original field. Then there were three scratches reducing the field to only four runners. Right to the front at 1/5 - after being 1/9 through all the early betting - and then had nothing.....finished fourth beaten double digit lengths. WOW. Then at the end of the day, when I'd not cashed a ticket at Gulfstream all day long, I looked back at the prices for Friday and Saturday:
Over the next ten races I had three thirds and a single second place finish. As Kim and I left for the early 6pm puck drop I was 0-for- 14. Was expecting a big effort to defeat our hated cross-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning. But instead they scored :20 into the game and got out to a 4-0 lead. Just when all seemed lost we rallied to make it 4-3 and then got a 5-on-3 power play. HERE WE GO! Had two glorious chances but could not bury the tying goal. At least it was exciting. Came home and opened up the replays. In the Grade 3 Whitmore at Oaklawn I knew Tejano Twist was a deep closer, but he was clearly the one to beat. Flying on the outside.....PHOTO FINISH.....
That's me on the outside, and by looking at this photo you'd THINK I won. But no, second best, again. Missed with my "best" at Gulfstream before in the tenth at Oaklawn - with a small, minimum wager, of course - Rocket Can rallied from off the pace to give me FINALLY my first winner on the day.
The one and only stakes winner, and only added money winner came with The Chosen Vron in the Grade 3 San Carlos at Santa Anita. And ironically I didn't even get the past performances for Santa Anita, I just "knew" he would be the best and bet him.
Sunday, one of the non-racing highlights came when I found a series of videos on YouTube from a couple who were on the EXACT same trip Kim and I are going on in late April/early May. AND they went in the same direction (Athens-to-Venice) as we are going A-N-D did the post-extension to the Italian Lakes we are doing. I've been very excited for this trip all along, but the daily videos of the cruise were so SO much better than I thought it would be and I became REALLY excited. Then when I found they went to the Italian Lakes and saw those videos I became OVER THE TOP excited. I wanted to share the videos with Kim but after a few minutes of watching the first one she said she'd seen enough and wanted to be surprised. I've found this to be true about travelers. You either DO or you DO NOT want to know ahead of time what you're going to experience, there's no in between. I don't get the NOT wanting to know. For me it builds the excitement and anticipation of what we are going to get to do and see. And often times some of the highlights are NOT explained by the guide and you'd miss it if you didn't know what you were looking at. But to each his own....I loved all the videos and can't wait for our next big adventure!
I hit three of five for the day and enjoyed the first more than the others because, again, the GP analysts did NOT like the Todd Pletcher runner, Permed. Coasted home easily - wish he'd been as big a price as the Wednesday winner but he was the 7/5 favorite. Came right back with another winner with my second bet. Ironically lost the two middle bets which were the "biggest" bets of the day. And then closed out the day with an even money favorite. That I went 3-for-5 and was a dollar, yes ONE DOLLAR ahead for the day was OK with me after losing both the "big bets." Next week is Louisiana Derby Day at the Fair Grounds and it should be a big day at the track!
Social Media this week......
This week I had several social media interactions, making it a very fulfilling week for me to know that I DO have pals out there. I particularly enjoyed the interactions with Karli Barnett and my most-fav Kimmy, BUT CLEARLY the best of the week was my "conversations" with Lauren Pastrana of CBS-Miami News. First, on Monday when the Florida Panthers roared back to erase a 3-1 deficit and win 4-3 I imagined her in the newsroom jumping up and down as she's shared videos of her doing that before, but when I reached out to her she replied she'd missed it :( But the.....THE BEST came when I reached out to her that I had begun working on my script for my next Viking TV episode. The first one I was recorded "live" at home but for the next one the cameras will be following me around the ship, much like a news reporter does when doing a feature or a story. So you may recall I'd reached out to Lauren and had asked if she would be interested in helping me with this. Then she'd said she would. But nothing had come of that of late. So this week when I began working through the "script" I reached out to her and asked if she was still willing/interested. Her reply within minutes "I'd LOVE to check it out" made me so happy...and when I asked for an email to send my "script" she readily shared it. More to come from this I'm sure :)
Even though similar exchanges have happened before, FOR ME it was just so very cool that when Karli Barnett posted about her and her Atlanta News First team being at a St. Patrick's Day parade, and I commented, not only did she reply but she KNOWS that "mallanracing56" is my handle on Twitter, and she replied to me by my name "Mark." She IS a real gal-pal via social media!
Gal-pal Chloe who will be at the Florida Derby this year interacted with me after she posted pics with her Mom & Dad, two of my most favorite people in the world.
I've said many times, Kimmy is my all-time......ALL TIME most favorite former student and I am so very VERY happy we are adult friends. I reached out to her twice this week to share our experience at Moulin Rouge and about being on a hockey podcast, then to share that "I've still got it" after putting in a nearly five mile walk one morning.
Melissa worked at Cypress Bay the last year that I was there but I really came to become good friends with her and her husband Ben through our Facebook interactions. This week the two of them were on a ski trip enjoying the snow and I was SO jealous to not be there with them.
Unlike Melissa, Kim and I have been very close friends with Shelly for MANY years, dating back to the Piper HS days....and that my friends is a LONG time back. She posted a pic this week where her eyes were so very blue that I commented and she replied.
Kim and I worked with Mishele at Cypress Bay before retiring. She's since changed schools and had to postpone her retirement after going through a divorce. But we're so very happy for Mishele as she's found a new love of her life and seems OH-SO-Happy. She and her boy Jeff went to the same production of Moulin Rouge as Kim and I did last weekend.
Sunday morning, gal-pal and weekend morning news anchor Teri Hornstein replied to my post about enjoying my Saturday mornings with her, and complimenting her story on how to save money at the grocery.
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