Day 44

February 8 - FIVE 2nds

Chalk took a beating today and soooooo many of my horses did as well. It was a day filled with seconds that could have been "day-makers" but just could not get it done. The two "worst beats" of the day came with my "Best" at Gulfstream in the Grade 3 Suwanee River where I had Riposte making her first US start. I saw an interview with trainer Bill Mott early in the day and he expressed concern about the lack of pace and her come from behnd clouds. I agreed, but just thought she was WAY the class of the field. The pace was simply absurdly slow, a :51.1 half mile! The winner came home in an amazing :11 seconds flat, so when I tell you Riposte closed made up at least four lengths skimming up the rail, making her come-home time an amazing :10.1 and still couldn't get to the winner, you can see how the adage, "pace makes the race" determined the outcome. Then at Santa Anita multiple Grade 1 winner Game On Dude just LAID over the field at 2/1. He was 7-for-9 at Santa Anita and if you toss the two mysterious flops in the last two BC Classics, he was a perfect 7-for-7. $372,000 of $440,000 bet to show was riding on him, but he dueled through absurd :22 and :46 splits before fading to fifth. All three show payoffs were over $25!  I did score in the Gulfstream finale and I nailed the upset winner of the Gr 2 Robert Lewis at Santa Anita as Candy Boy made his statement that he was on the Kentucky Derby Trail. Looking for a M-U-C-H improved day tomorrow on Donn Handicap Day!