Day 8

Hit My "BEST BET" To Close The Week

I was nearly certain that today would be a "balance out" day of racing. After winning but a single race on the Gulfstream card Saturday, I thought the week would end with multiple wins. When I had handicapped the day's races I at first thought this would be a day with very few plays. The first four races not only produced a single horse I liked, but the three passes were all quickly dismissed with little to write about. But through the second half of the card I found back-to-back double investments and a "BET of the DAY" in the eighth. I was a close third in the opener and a very distance 10th in the fifth. My selection in the sixth was a huge 15/1, and was a Gulfstream Handicapper 40% Club play; I was thinking I was about to make the meet's first big score until Mr. Candy ran ninth and last. Sigh.....In the 7th I had the 2/1 favorite in Dancing For Glory who was a generous 2/1. With my double investment I was about to win my first race and suddenly be in the black for the day. She was settled in second comfortably behind a 40/1 front runner. When the rider asked, she responded kindly, only to discover the longshot had plenty left....really? Second again! My top pick in the featured South Beach Stakes scratched; and then it was time for my "BEST" of the day. Onlyforyou was being sent out by Todd Pletcher. She had blasted maidens at Aqueduct 35 days ago, qualifying her as a 40% Club play with Pletcher winning 45% of his starters off a 31-60 day break. And with the step up to face winners here, she was also a Club play with Pletcher winning an astounding 47% with his horses moving up in class. Toss in his 42% win ratio with dirt sprinters and it was a no-brainer. Over the years one of the most common Todd Pletcher winning profiles is this kind of runner. They win big, and typically in their maiden. Then Pletcher gives them time off, and they resurface here sporting solid works.

Onlyforyou stalked the second choice while being pinned inside two other rivals on the rail through the turn. But as they spun out of the turn the outside runners couldn't go with the top two. Javier Castellano eased Onlyforyou off the rail, came to the front runner and let her go. She drew off powerfully as MUCH the best on the day. The near $40 payoff nearly brought me even for the day in spite of a one-for-five record.