Day 24

A MOST  A - M - A - Z - I - N - G  Day

Today was one of "those" days that as a handicapper you dream about.  I have had days similar to these, but I don't think I've ever had a single day like this before.  Fortunately from early on I realized what was happening and I took it all in and enjoyed every minute!  There were soooooo many stories that individually would have been THE story of the day on any other day, but instead became part of the tapestry of one of the greatest days I've every had at the races.  So, without any further ado, let's go back to the beginning of the day and relive this great adventure.......

I left early for Gulfstream because I wanted to talk to the ticket office about the Florida Derby.  I found out that I had my original ten tickets available to me, but as I had anticipated the 20+ I had bought in the box seats on the finish line last year were NOT guaranteed.  I knew this was going to be problematic with the great interest we've had in our Derby outings.  And sure enough, before the races even began and I had a chance to contact anyone other than our original group I had thirteen "I'm in" replies for the TEN tickets.  I can see this will become a major project over the next couple of weeks!  Two other preliminary items deserve mention:  (1) as I was getting ready, I wanted to wear my racing watch Kim had bought me for Christmas, but I had not taken off my wristbands for months.....a luck thing; but I thought as I put the watch on and took the bands off, "we'll see what kind of luck this brings me" - if only I'd had any idea!  (2) as I approached Gulfstream for some random reason the thought ran through my mind, "....what if I don't cash a single ticket today; do I have enough money to last the day?......" Now I never think like that and quickly "responded" to myself that even on a "bad day" I win SOME races.  But it was like having a conversation because immediately the next thought was, "...yeah, but what if....."  Wow, I thought, don't be negative and jinx the day!

My first play was at Aqueduct and as I looked at the monitor it said four minutes to post and the horses were still in the walking ring, without riders.  I could tell by looking at the people in the picture that the weather was ugly, so I assumed the jockeys would mount and they'd go immediately to the gate.  But then it was 0 MTP and no riders.....this went on for a good ten minutes until finally they went out and it was SO UGLY - misty/rainy/foggy - that you could not see anything, seriously.  Even on the worst of fog days/rain days you can typically see shadows of the horses, and get a look at them as they cross the finish line; but not today.  I could follow the race because of the digital "chicklets" along the bottom of the screen and I took the lead on the far turn, as the 8/5 favorite, but caught in mid-stretch, second.  Shortly thereafter all racing was cancelled in New York.  Moments later I was on the rail for the Gulfstream opener.  I had selected Hard Tap in this non-winners-of-2-lifetime spot.  He was owned by the Ramseys, trained by Michael Maker and had Joel Rosario on board.  He looked much the best on the turn back from seven furlongs to six today.  Sure enough, he stalked the pace, drew even, and just as Larry Colmus was about to call a stretch battle he blew right on by the leader to win comfortably! 

I actually thought, as a follow-up to my earlier "conversation," - "...see, I knew I'd win some races!"  Ha ha ha.  The return of $5.80 netted me nearly $30 and I was off and flying.  I recorded a video with the winning ticket and commented, "that's the way to start the day!" - little did I know.  Over the next two and a half hours and a span of eight races I would not lose again!  I had a break until the next at Gulfstream where I had tabbed multiple graded stakes winner Revolutionary as the obvious winner.  I debated while handicapping about how much to invest on him, because he was clearly the one to beat.  After dropping his debut he exploded with a huge win at today's one-turn mile, then won the Grade 3 Withers, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and was third in the Kentucky Derby.  He ran fifth in the Belmont for his final start, so he was coming off a long break AND facing older for the first time.  But, still the drop into allowance company was a Todd Pletcher GP 40% Club play with those kind of moves scoring at 47%!  I did consider the fact that his connections OBVIOUSLY have bigger targets down the road.  I just thought that Pletcher (a) would want to bring him back in a spot that he would win - to show the owners and build some confidence in the horse - without starting out in stakes company.  I was concerned when he was about six off the lead early, but as they hit the far turn he was beginning to make up ground, while wide into the lane.  The front runner was a stakes veteran and had been loose up front, so as they hit the stretch he had another gear!  Jockey Javier Castellano had to ask Revolutionary to run hard, but he never went to the whip.  He seemed to have him measured and in the final fifty yards he ran him down.  WHOOO HOOOO!  I had settled on just a double investment because of all the questions and I knew I wouldn't get a price.  He had floated up to 1/2 at one point, but at post time was down to 1/5.  Still, 2-for-2 on the day! 

It was another twenty minutes before the next on my sheet, and it was from Calder.  I was a maiden claiming event for sophomores and to me Spa Town Parade was an obvious choice.  Of the 52 races showing for all her rivals ONE Beyer compared to either of her last TWO numbers; and she had a big bullet work. But when I looked at the board with ten minutes to post she was 4/1!  I re-examined the Form, checked the number and nope, I was right.  WOW.  But the betting eventually centered on her and she left the gate at 5/2.  If you watch the video you can truly understand when I tell you that on the turn I was nearly certain she'd lost, and at the top of the stretch I still would have sold you my ticket.  The leader was a good six to eight lengths in front heading into the stretch.  But at the 1/8th pole Spa Town Parade had found her best stride and was making up ground with every stride.  Then about the 16th pole the leader began to tire and shorten stride noticeably; it was going to be close, PHOTO FINISH!  But I felt pretty sure her nose was in front on the bob, and I was right!  WHOOP WHOOP!  Three wins in a row!  She paid a very big $7.40 leading to a pay out of nearly $40.  And here's another side item to the day......as you'll see, I was not hitting with short priced favorites all day!  Less than ten minutes to the 3rd at Gulfstream.  We were on the turf in a high level claiming event that could have passed for a Sunday afternoon listed stakes event. 

My pick was Charming Kitten for the Ramseys and Todd Pletcher.  He had run three BIG races here last winter when he just missed in the Dania Beach, scored in the Kitten's Joy and finished the winter with a best-of-the-rest second behind then red-hot Rydilluc in the Grade 3 Palm Beach.  Another plus was Pletcher's GP 40% Club numbers on class droppers.  Jockey Joel Rosario had him perfectly placed in the clear and just behind the leaders.  As they swung out of the turn he put him into high gear and as they flew by me standing at the rail he drew off to win!  The field had been so competitive I'd only bet the minimum, so I was delighted for the $6.60 pay out, but was wishing I'd at least doubled the bet on the Pletcher stakes winner.  Back to Calder for the next.  The race was scheduled for the inner course, but as is so like Calder's management, under sunny skies and 80 degrees we were off the grass at Calder - not at Gulfstream you'll notice!  But my pick, Singmetothemoon had good main track form and I had written he'd be my pick regardless of the surface as he was dropping from open allowance runners to a non-winners-of-two lifetime today.  He pressed the leader to the far turn and without the jockey flinching a muscle she quickly opened up as the spun out of the turn.  Calder announcer Bobby Newman called, "....he's in front by three, five, eight, now maybe ten...." and it was all over!  Five in a row - what a day I'm having!

Less than ten minutes to post at Gulfstream.  This race was what is makes Gulfstream the premier winter track.  A maiden special for sophomores which look like they are stakes-bound this summer!  Like nearly every one of these I was drawn to the Pletcher runner, Constitution.  If you've been following the journals you should recognize him from last week.  When at the races with Danielle, Constitution was going to be my "best" of the day, but Pletcher scratched him for Vinceramos, who I thought was at least a couple notches less and that one WON!  My plan was to double down on him, but as the betting started the crowd was hammering him.  I considered just how talented and even this field had appeared to me, and if the crowd seems that certain of his chances I should ante up....so I tripled the bet.  As I stood at the rail and watched them break from the gate on the jumbo-tron my heart sank when Larry Colmus said, "Oh my, Constitution did not break well and trails the field."  Sigh.....Pletcher top-notch runners are typically quick from the gate and wire the field.  Jockey Javier Castellano must have thought he truly had the best horse because he was not patient at all.  Immediately Constitution was on the move and was quickly into third before the field had gone a quarter of mile.  But the time they hit the far turn he was on the rail dueling for the lead.  With the swift fractions AND going seven furlongs I've seen this story before......catch the leaders and have no stretch punch. This is especially true when dueling on the lead as he was.  And the duel didn't end as they turned into the stretch.  The three quarter time was wicked and I just knew that both these colts were going to be inhaled by the off-pace runners.  But inside the 1/8th pole Constitution re-broke and began to edge away!  OH MY, what a race!  Even Colmus called as he crossed the wire, "How good is Constitution!"  He'd left the gate at even money, so the $4.20 pay out netted me over $30 with my triple investment. 

At this point I'd rattled off SIX wins in a row, and was now a perfect four-for-four at Gulfstream!  I am truly having a wonderful day!  On Friday I'd talked for quite a while with my oldest boy Jeff and he had asked if I was going to the track today because he was heading out in Houston.  We had arranged to "go together" virtually.  About the time that I was winning my second race at Calder we began to text and call.  As I cashed on the Constitution race he remarked how hot I was and I asked him what he thought my chances were of continuing at this pace!  Well, it was far from over!  I passed the fifth at Gulfstream, but I could even consider that race a "win" because of my analysis.  I wrote, "A full field of ten sophomores who have faltered in the maiden special ranks; hard to find anything to hang your hat on....I'll take a pass here in a real puzzler.  Somebody wins at a big price I think."  Check out the payouts:

Even without a play locally I still won two more to run the streak of winners to eight.  At the Fair Grounds I thought Ronson looked like a 1-9 shot on paper....lone speed and plunging in class.  But the crowd let him go off at even money - horray - but the jockey decided he'd try to rate off the pace today.  Really?  But as they turned for home he engaged the front-runner, who quickly began to edge away at the furlong marker.  But Ronson would have none of that and re-broke to re-catch him and then drew clear through the final 16th!  The double investment was another $20 return.  And then at Calder I won my third in a row there when Blings Express was easily best at 6/5.  Next was the 6th at Gulfstream on the turf.  I talked with Jeff on the phone and pointed out my pick, Notability was 8/1!  "Really?" he asked.  By post time he was down to 9/2 but he sat a perfect trip right off the leader.  As they turned for home we willingly went to the front and opened up by two lengths.  I thought, "how amazing is this, am I going to win NINE in a row?"  But in the final 100 yards my second choice caught him and though it was technically a photo finish it was clear I was second best.  I got back into the winner's circle with the featured Minaret Stakes at Tampa.  Fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs and I tabbed Risky Rachel despite the fifteen month layoff.  I wrote that I saw her sitting right off the leader to the turn, saving ground from the rail draw and then running by the leader.  I was prophetic in every way as she did just that and drew off without taking a deep breath! 

What happened next was HIGHLY UNUSUAL, for today - I lost back-to-back races!  At the Fair Grounds my "lone speed" gave it up on the turn and finished third, then at Santa Anita my front-running fool got into a duel - out ran the pace foe, but didn't have enough to hold off the closing favorite.  Back to Gulfstream for the 7th.  It was a nw1x and I liked Elnaawi.  he'd went wire to wire in a two turn event in his second start at Aqueduct and off that effort last spring he went in the Grade 3 Withers against the then star Vyjack and was a close fifth next out to the very talented Verrazano in the Grade 1 Wood.  He had been working sharply since that spring Grade 1.  I commented, "I expect a big effort today."  Joel Rosario sent up out to the lead immediately and he was coasting along to the far turn.  As they rounded the far turn the pressers and closers were getting underway, but he was still clear turning for home.  Then the field seemed to gain momentum.....it was an 8 1/2 furlong race with the alternate finish line a 16th of a mile closer to the turn and I was hoping he would hang on, but then he found another gear and was GONE!  YEESSSSS!  My fifth win of the day at Gulfstream! 

The next was the featured allowance at Calder - the two top favorites had just run second and third to today's program favorite in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope, Csaba.  I liked On The Loose Again.  He had a big bullet work, but was third to the other runner from the aforementioned race.  On to Tampa and a turf sprint.  It was a stakes quality nw3x field and I thought the veteran Silver Cloud would sit behind lively fractions and run by the field to score.  But right out of the gate he went up to duel with the longshot leader.  When the first quarter mile split came up, :20.3, I knew I was cooked.  But the two of them were clear by daylight to the half-mile pole in an insane :43.4!  Now I knew, especially on the closer-friendly Tampa turf that I was about to be inhaled.  But the rider hadn't really asked for run yet, and once he hit the furlong marker and DID ask, Silver Cloud was clear to the wire!  What an amazing run!  My 11th winner on the day!  I am having a VERY good day! 

Next up was the 6th at the Fair Grounds and the first of a trio of great stories that even I had to laugh at myself about.  I liked Too Dim who I thought would be flying in this six furlong sprint from the back of the pack.  Why?  There was a lot of speed, he was turning back from a two-turn mile and had a big bullet work.  As they hit the first quarter mile pole the #6 was pretty far back, but I told myself that he would have a big late kick and that the Fair Grounds was always kind to closers through their long stretch.  He began to make up ground on the turn, but when heads turned for home he was still too far out of it.  I shifted my attention to the leaders and the #5 had assumed command and was drawing clear impressively.  I looked at the Form, who is the #5?  That's MY HORSE, TOO DIM!  Ha ha ha, I'm watching the wrong horse and I win!  WOW, what a day!  At this point Jeff and I had been in constant communication and his text arrived, "you are simply unconscious right now!"  I laughed and again remarked, "how long can this go on?"  And he replied, "when you're hot, you're hot!"  I filmed a short video recap and went to the paddock to see multiple graded stakes winner Summer Front who was my "BEST OF THE DAY" at Gulfstream in the featured Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes on the turf.  He was exiting a disappointing loss by the narrowest of noses in the Grade 2 Citation at Hollywood Park, but had been working well and was the clear class of the field; and this was his best distance.  Jockey Joe Bravo quickly got to the rail from post six before they hit the first turn and was saving all the ground behind a trio of front-runners.  I kept thinking, "don't get trapped on the rail, get clear on the outside...." But when they hit the turn he couldn't get out - decision time, swing extremely wide and probably compromise his chances or wait for an opening.  Bravo proved why he's a master on the turf as he sat chilly and when the pace setter set sail for home and gained some separation from his rivals a seam opened for Summer Front.  He crossed over two paths and then found a whole other gear as he blew by to win!  OH MY!  My BEST of the Day and my S-I-X-T-H win here!  WHOOOO HOOOOOO! 

As I went in to cash my ticket Jeff called and told me how the guy sitting next to him had asked if I published my picks, because I was having such a day.  I was proud when Jeff told me he'd told him I did publish them and regularly won over 30% of my picks.....nice to hear to boy bragging about his old man :)  I wanted to record a video with the winning ticket, so I went to cash another ticket and bet the Fair Grounds and Santa Anita before the video.  I gave my last winning ticket to one of my favorite tellers, but she gave it back and said, "This race has not run yet.  Hmmmm, I thought I was current, but what ever.  I shot the video and then came back in to watch my two races.  I checked my tickets and then I saw it......this is the second story.......the ticket that "had not run yet" was the upcoming Fair Grounds race, which I had just bet - AGAIN!  I briefly thought I should go back and cash it in.  But then it occurred to me, duh.....with the day I'm having?  NO WAY.  Sure enough Kendall's Boy wired the field and now I had a double investment on him!  LOL.....Jeff texted and said again, "you are simply unconscious!"  The Grade 2 Sham was next from Santa Anita and I liked the favorite, Bob Baffert's Midnight Hawk.  Not only had he been impressive winning last out, but he had money-rider Mike Smith.  They dueled with the "wise guy / other favorite" but instead of this weakening him, he turned for home with plenty left and scored another impressive win.  First step towards the Santa Anita Derby for this guy! 

Jeff called again and he was going on and on about the day I was having.  And then I said, did you see who I like in the next race?  He's up there at 8/1!  Here's the story on my upset pick......

In retrospect I wish I'd invested more, especially with the way the day was going, but I was going to get a nice pay day even with my $5 bet.  I did not like the favorite, Csaba....as I told Jeff, I'd seen him run and had bet him two back, but in that spot, the Grade 3 Hooper he should have buried that field, but was all out to win.  Then next out, here in the Harlan's Holiday he ran evenly as the favorite.  They broke from the gate and Csaba immediately went to the front, but right there on his hip was Lea.  They hit the turn and Csaba's rider was asking him to run while Lea was passing him with the jockey motionless!  I knew, I KNEW I am about to win AGAIN!  They turned for home and jockey Luis Saez asked Lea to run and opened up widening his lead with every stride!  AMAZING....and it was Saez's 1,000th career win!  The $15.80 payoff was awesome!  But the best was yet to come.  When Jeff called he proceeded to tell me, with great excitement, that he'd loved my story and had put $10 to win on Lea....he was cashing for nearly $80.  But even better, he explained that he'd come out to the races with $100, and after betting Lea he had $4 left in his pocket....now he was on his way again! 

I was not only delighted for me and my amazing day, but it meant even more to me that Jeff was also benefitting from my big day.  And I have to admit that it made the day more special to me that he was experiencing the amazing success I was having as it happened.  It's one thing to tell someone about what a great day/experience you're having, but sharing it with someone is so much better!  I missed on the finale at Gulfstream at 5/1, finishing with seven wins from nine selections as CLEARLY the best handicapper on track: 

But there was one big story left to tell......I had read in the DRF that the feature at Oaklawn Park today, the Fifth Season Stakes marked the return of multiple graded stakes winner Cyber Secret.  He was coming off a layoff but looked MUCH the best to me, with ironically the only one with even a remote chance to beat him was his stable mate, Drogue.  Cyber Secret had rattled off multiple stakes wins here last year from off the pace and as they hit the far turn he was in full flight with dead aim on the leaders.  He was a bit wide through the turn, but I could tell when he hit he top of the lane he was done with his big run.  And while he had collared the pace pressers, he was not going to get to the horse who'd won the pace duel as that horse drew off under a hand ride, widening his margin of victory under Calvin Borel with each stride, without being asked.  But get this (great story #3) the winner was, wait for it........YES, the entry-mate, #1 Drogue (Cyber Secret was the 1a).  Ha ha ha ha ha, wow, even when I don't pick the winner, I have the winner!  Go figure!  WHAT A DAY! 

It was merely a footnote to the day that I lost with the final two selections that ran after I left; but it is worth mentioning that after the win on Lea Jeff rattled off a series of wins and ended up leaving with over $120 in his pocket; had a great day; bought the form and had lunch - all courtesy of the races.  Ahhhh, you gotta love this game!  Especially on a day like today.  Simply amazing.  I'll be talking about this day for many years :)

Relive the day.....Video recap, Part 1:

 

Video recap, Part 2 (can't fit EIGHTEEN winners into a single video...ho ho ho!)