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.