Pegasus Week 2025

January 22 - 26

Well, disappointing is the word that most comes to mind as I reflect on the 2025 Pegasus.   Not only was the racing subpar on all the days BUT Pegasus Day (thankful for that!), but the 13 races on the big Saturday were so wide-open that it made it hard to find a winner.  Made even more difficult when the winning payouts on the thirteen races were:  $18.60, $11.00, $15.40, $19.80, $6.60, $16.20, $13.60. $19.00, $40.40, $16.80, $6.40, $17.80, and $7.60.  Add in that the winner of the big race - and I usually have the Pegasus winners, was a horse I never would have bet - and had been defeated at 1/5 odds when I bet him last time out.  The only "consolation" was that after deciding it was "the right thing to do" to not go to the races with my family in town, with Brad & his family in for a one-day visit, and having to take Kim to Miami this week, at least I wasn't out there all day watching pick after pick NOT find the winner's circle.  Enjoyed watching the action, but also still unhappy after Gulfstream had announced earlier in the week that they would probably be closing the facility within three years and selling it off for the real estate value.  WOW.  But I did have some success out of town to somewhat salvage the Saturday of racing.  Here's how the week played out......

My Mom & sister arrived on Tuesday, which was just in time for 40 degree mornings - temps South Florida had not seen in two years.  I posted the photo below showing how it was nearly the same chilly weather - leading to the same outfit for me - here last week as it was when I was sailing down the Danube River with my niece Khloe a month ago.  On board that day, just FYI it was 45 degrees as we sailed thru the scenic Wauchu Valley of Austria.

On the Wednesday nine race card I went 0-for-3 including a 4th at 4/5 odds to go with a 2nd and a 3rd place finish.  On Thursday I had a much better day as I cashed tickets on two of three selections. I ran third at 7/2 odds to start the day but then in R5, a non-winners of two lifetime sprint on the all-weather, it looked to me like Denver's Alley was going to be all alone on the front end.  Broke sharply, cleared the field and never looked back.  And as a bonus, left the gate at a more than fair 2/1 price allowing me to cash for over $30.  

My last bet of the day came in R6, an entry level allowance for 3yo's going 6f on the main track.  No matter how you looked at it, you were either going to take a short price on Neoequos or hope for a longshot to somehow outrun his odds.  He'd tossed the rider on debut then scored in a sparkling win.  First time winners he faced the ultra-talented Rated By Merit in the FSS Dr. Fager Stakes and ran a sharp 2nd.  Faced the same rival next time out in the FSS Affirmed Stakes.  He was seven clear of the field and three of the four who'd come back to run from that race had WON.  Much like the first winner on the day he was quickly in front and never had to be asked for his best as he ran away handily.

On Friday I predicted that Tonight would be overbet in the 2nd, a cheap 3yo maiden claimer and he was when sent off at 4/5 and could do no better than third.  I only had one other bet and that came in R7, a MSW two turn event for 3yo's that got moved to the all weather.  Tuscon was a $1.3 Million sales purchase who'd run a solid 4th sprinting on debut behind a runner who'd come right back to win again.  Irad Ortiz tracked the leaders into the lane while 4th, swung into the clear and ran down the front runners to get the top prize.  I actually had the winner in R9, a second level off-the-turf event.  I'd won with Todd Pletcher's Life's An Audible in a 3yo stakes last winter and he'd looked good to win again this past weekend, but the race got washed off the turf.  When I read we were off the turf again today I just  assumed they'd scratch again.  Didn't and he won as the 3/2 favorite.

Saturday:  Pegasus Day

After handicapping the big 13-race card I told both Kim & Keith that it was the first time all winter that we had a REAL "Gulfstream card" - with fields full of contenders.  I had my son Brad take my picture before the racing began as I sported the outfit I'd purchased for today.....sigh.....

In the first bet of the day I ran 3rd as the short-priced 1-2 favorite.  The second race was second level AOC event which featured 2023 Pegasus Turf Cup winner Atone.  The good news was as a Gr 1 winner over the course he'd posted a string of Beyers that should win here.  The bad news was that the $1.4 Million earner had not won since that 2023 big event.  Oh.  Still I thought he had an excellent chance today.  Perfectly spotted close to the leaders into the lane, got into the clear and wore them down late.  The big $15.40 payoff allowed both me and my son Brad - who was playing along with my selections - to get off to a fast start.  

I ran 2nd in the GP Turf Sprint at a generous 5/1 price before picking up my first win of the day at Oaklawn where it was Southwest Stakes Day - their first big graded stakes prep on the Kentucky Derby trail - on a car that featured SIX stakes events.  Rapture was an expensive 3yo colt trained by Brad Cox.  He's run 2nd in a one-turn mile at Gulfstream on debut but was more than a dozen clear of the field that day.  Despite breaking from post eleven he quickly was near the front and tracking the longshot front runner to the far turn.  Took command turning for home and was long gone.

Two non-threatening finishes at Gulfstream (6th and 7th) were sandwiched around a 2nd at Laurel before I got back into the win column when I tripled the bet on Bishops Bay at Oaklawn.  It was a second level allowance but the conditions read, "....which have not won $24K twice...." and his second level allowance win had paid out $21K at Horseshoe Indiana so he qualified.  Sent off as the legitimate 1-2 favorite he pressed the pace to the stretch then drew off impressively.  And at this point in the day I stood at four-for-ten with a flat bet profit.  Over the next fourteen races I'd only cash three tickets - and one of those was a Xpressbet "money back" promotion when Locked ran 2nd in the Pegasus World Cup.  The "worst" losses came in the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream when prime time bet Emery rallied under Tyler Gaffalione - who was up in the nick of time in two other stakes - and fell less than a head short on the wire and at Oaklawn in the Martha Washington, a 3yo filly stakes where favored Quietside broke last - shocking that my pick would do so, not - and was too late to catch the winner when second at 1-2 odds.  The two wins I did have were in stakes at Oaklawn when Kinetic justified by prime time investment as the "BEST Bet" at Oaklawn in the General MacArthur and when the Wine Steward proved best when edging clear in the final fifty yards of the Fifth Season Stakes.

Sunday's card was "better than usual" as I found six horses playable in the first nine races.  But probably was a little too ambitious as I won with only two minimum bet plays - and both were short priced favorites.

With the end of the racing weekend we've reached the conclusion of the first two months of the winter season.  This time last year I'd had 462 bets and had won with nearly 40% of them while showing a flat bet $2.01 profit for every $2 bet.  I honestly don't think it's my handicapping as much as it's the quality of the racing as this year I've only had 341 bets and won with only 31% of them while showing only a $1.62 ROI.

Social Media this week.....

I had "conversations" with former student Jen on two occasions this week.  First, she posted pics from her snowy home in Atlanta.  You may recall that last week she had done the same and I'd inquired about coming to visit :)  And the second exchange was when I wished her a happy birthday :)

Monday night was the college football national championship and gal-pal Shelly, who worked with Kim and I at Piper and Cypress Bay posted a pic of her in an Ohio State hat.  We exchanged messages regarding that - the Buckeyes went on to win the title!

This week former childhood friend of our youngest son Brad, Jilly posted a pic of her new hair style and I commented, and got a reply.  

Poor Teri, my weekend CBS-Miami anchor friend had to have surgery on her ankle after breaking it.  She and I had a conversation about my leather jacket & sweatshirt when it was really cold earlier in the week, as well as about her poor ankle/

Always have multiple exchanges with my best only gal-pal Lauren.  This week I had several exchanges with her as she gave reports from Washington D.C. on Monday's Presidential inauguration day events.  And then more at the end of the week when she returned home and to the anchor desk.

Road To The Derby Day

 January 18

Finally got back to my typical winning ways, and I don't think it's any coincidence that it came when I played two tracks with legitimate runners in the line-up.  I did handicap the Gulfstream card and over the span of their eleven race card I did find three horses I liked enough to wager on.  But with the Friday night rains all the turf events were moved to the all weather and that cost me one of the bets.  I had the even money favorite in the opener, only to watch him get run down by a 12/1 longshot being ridden by Irad Ortiz who's been ice cold over the last couple of weeks.  Go figure.  The opener at Laurel, which had just opened for their winter meet, was a maiden claimer where initially I wrote that I'd be interested in the race if one of the two favorites were to scratch, OR if one took a lot of money.  At first glance at the board, New Boots was taking all the money.  The Brittany Russell trained runner was plunging from $30K maidens to this $12.5K basement level with top Beyers on the page.  Took pressure early on, but shrugged that rival off on the turn and romped home easily.

The best score of the day came in the second from the Fair Grounds which was hosting multiple stakes races on their "Road To The Derby Day" card.  As a side note to the racing quality, this race went to post an hour after the Laurel win as I passed two Gulfstream races, two from Laurel, and the opener at the Fair Grounds.  CC Short Drive was making her second career start in this 3yo MSW sprint and while there were a few others who would be no surprise, what caught my eye was that CC Short Drive had debuted in the Louisiana Futurity Stakes against the current top 3yo sprinting filly on the grounds, Secret Faith.  That one had run away in hand, but IN STAKES company, 'CC had finished third.  You had to believe this group of maidens would be easier.  Yet she was not taking much betting action.  From her post position ten she broke sharply and pressed the pace while wide into the turn.  Came off the turn into the stretch at least six wide but wore down the front runner late.  The big 4/1 price led to a payoff of $50 even :)

The next four wagering selections were all from Maryland in their 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th races three of which were stakes events.  But in yet again a lesson for young horse players, the one ticket I cashed in the sequence, on Monday Morning Qb, came in the one NON-stakes event.  Noting they pay just the same at the mutual windows!  Ran second twice and fourth in the stakes, but 'Qb showed three wins in her last four starts and loved the Laurel track (7-for-18 here while 1-for-15 elsewhere).  Mid-pack through the turn before picking up momentum into the lane.  Split rivals, burst through and drew off as handily best.

I got my one and only win locally with Wistucky who had been odds on in both of his last two but failed to deliver.  But today was clearly his day.  Took some pressure early but you could tell the rider had plenty of horse and when he turned for home the colt lengthened stride and was long gone.  Thanks to the so called "value players' his 1-9 early betting odds floated up to 1-2 and I cashed a little extra cash.

Rain had not only changed the racing surface at Gulfstream, but also at the Fair Grounds where several races were on the turf.  FanDuel hottie handicapper / analyst Gabby Gaudet led me to two different winners on the day, and for that I treat you to a photo of the pretty young mom.......

Following the win at GP I ran second in three straight races - two from the FG and one from Gulfstream before it was time for the the off-the turf Marie Krantz stakes.  I had looked at the past performances and had some interest in Stir Crazy who appeared to be the only one with decent off-track form.  But when Gabby noted on air that she looked clearly best to her I made the substitute call.  Joel Rosario was chasing the leaders through the far turn when suddenly he made an abrupt left hand turn and dove to the rail with no apparent place to go unless veering way wide.  A narrow opening materialized and Stir Crazy shot through and drew off as the easiest of winners.

Our Florida Panthers were hosting the Anaheim Ducks with an early 6pm puck drop so it was right after this winner that I headed out with my buddy Keith for the arena.  When I came home following our exciting 3-0 win over the Ducks I had three races to watch, all from the Fair Grounds.  Chasten faded to fourth in the Silverbulletday - the 3yo filly prep on the road to the Oaks but I scored in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes for older handicap runners with Brad Cox's Hit Show.  He'd had his three raced graded stakes winning streak snapped last time out in the Grade 2 Clark at Churchill, but he looked much the best to me here.  Taken to the back early on he trailed the field into the far turn before he began picking off horses.  Swung wide into the lane and blew by them all to reach the front in the final fifty ards!

My pick in the Derby prep, the Gr 3 Lecomte scratched and I didn't have a strong opinion until I listened to hottie handicapper Gabby again.  She talked about having had two conversations with trainer Brad Cox, and she said she was convinced that his colt, Disco Time was the real deal.  That was good enough for me.  In a near carbon copy of Hit Show's run to the wire, Disco Time trailed early, swung at least ten wide into the stretch and reached the front in the shadow of the wire!

For the day I finished with outstanding numbers of :  15/7-6-0 with a profit of nearly $40 :)  Sunday I only had two selections on the card, but one of them scratched.  In R6 Santos to Wilson ran away with the one-turn mile claimer at a nice $7.80 price which deposited nearly $20 in my account to finish off the week!

Social Media this week.....

The week's social interactions with my virtual friends began when snow arrived in Atlanta and my former student Jen posted a reel of her house amidst the winter wonder and I messaged her to ask if I could come visit and build a snowman, to which she quickly replied "Absolutely!"  Maybe some day Jen.

Weekend CBS anchor Teri Hornstein and I chatted, which is not unusual, but it was NOT while she was on the air, but rather all day off and on during the week as we chatted about Kim's knees and my future travels.

I had reached out to Kimmy - my most favorite former student - last week when Kim had to go through her procedure to bend her knee 120 degrees and she'd given me support so I felt that having reached out while worried, she should hear from me now that things have vastly improved.  And like last week, my girl was quick to reply and tell me how awesome the progress truly was.

I exchanged messages with Lauren Pastrana this week, where her big news was she had been assigned to travel to Washington, D.C. to cover the inauguration live.  But what was really interesting to me was that while I was at the Panthers game on Thursday and Saturday we exchanged messages....first about the "big changes" coming to CBS-Miami (getting a new studio) and then her initial reports from D.C.

Sunshine Millions Part 1 Week

 January 8 - 12

The best part of the week came on Thursday....Kim had received the news that her knees were not progressing correctly and she'd need to have a manual manipulation done under anesthesia.  We were both very disappointed and somewhat emotional about it.  Later that afternoon I was talking with our son Brad, as he often calls on the way home from work, and I was complaining about the neighbors blocking the street by parking in front of OUR house.  When I'd finished the story he said, "Well, all I can tell you is I didn't have any problem pulling into your driveway."  I said, you are NOT in our driveway, and he replied, "Maybe you should come look."  I opened the door and there stood our amazing son.  Just started crying :)  As I told him later, how he knew that THIS was a time when we really needed our boy I'll never know but it was one of the highlights of my adult life to have him come to support his Mom and I.  Sigh..... There's not a lot of racing stories to talk about this week.  I've found that since the "Championship Meet" started, the quality of racing has steadily declined and it's reached a point for me that I've had to come to the realization that just because it's January at Gulfstream does NOT make the horses better if they are not.  So over the first two days of the week I only had a combined seven selections - which would be typical for even a nine-race card in the past.  And I only managed two second place finishes of those seven.  On Friday I continued the skid with a 2nd, 3rd, and 5th before in R8, finally, Stormy Mitole went right to the front and never looked back.

Saturday was a stakes day in Tampa and Cal Cup Day at Santa Anita.  But the wildfires raging in southern California postponed those races.  Brad and I went to the hockey game for an early start as we played the Boston Bruins.  I watched during the period break as I had the winner in the Tampa second and in the 3yo colt stakes when Owen Almighty drew off as much the best.

But during the second intermission when I looked for a photo of Owen Almighty online the first thing that came up was "Owen Almighty DQ'd From WIN In Tampa Stakes."  WHAT??????  In what was a very poor judgement call by the stewards as he ran a straight line around the turn the rail runner took up when trying to squeeze thru and he got the punishment.  Set the tone for the day as I only had one more win on the entire day's selection sheet - that when Dream On won a 3yo entry level allowance turf sprint at Gulfstream.  And I topped the week by going winless on Sunday.  

What turned out to be the highlight of the racing weekend was when Keith and I went down to the track for their "Breakfast at Gulfstream" program and saw Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan work, then took a backside tour by tram.

The Panthers Game was so very exciting and it was such a treat to enjoy it with my boy.  We rallied with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, but lost on a fluke goal with 1.2 seconds left in overtime.

Social Media this week......

This week was difficult when we found out Kim needed to have a new procedure on her knee.  I reached out to my gal-pal Kimmy and she was very helpful and encouraging, answering me right away.  Then on Saturday when I sent her my pic from Breakfast at Gulfstream she replied right away with a photo from where she and her family were for the weekend.

Former weekend anchor at CBS-Miami, Karli stays in touch but is frequently multiple days behind my messages, so I was "understanding" when her New Year's wishes came somewhat delayed :)  It's all good knowing she knows I still follow her and she recognizes me :)

I shared the story about Brad with my gal-pal Teri and she messaged me back, again while on the air about what a good son he is :)

Both Teri and my other CBS-anchor gal-pal Lauren reacted to my photo I sent them about the chilly morning and getting to wear my leather jacket :)  Lauren too replied to my story about Brad, she's a great pal :)  And finally I sent the pic of me from the GP Breakfast to Lauren and got her "like" reaction.