Day 54

It was a great day at the races today!  I was dressed for the "event," there was a HUGE crowd that roared as they came down the stretch, I cashed a LOT of tickets, and in the end I had a bottom line profit on the day.  Does it get any better (unless you're talking a truly big dollar profit)?  The day started as I was about 20 minutes into the drive to Gulfstream when I realized I did NOT have my phone.  My first inclination was to turn around, but I'd miss the first race AND I knew parking was going to be an issue even with my early arrival.  My next thought was how to record everything for this journal and my web page; and then the thought crossed my mind that this could be a harbinger of a rough day ahead.  I told myself that forgetting my phone has nothing to do with my handicapping, but sometimes......So I arrived over an hour before post time and the lot was nearly full already.  They were having a special giveaway today, a bobblehead of leading jockey Javier Castellano.  You just had to purchase a Daily Racing Form or a program.  I already had a Form so I got in line for the bobblehead.  I picked up my ticket for my reserved seat and settled in.  I would normally have looked up the scratches online, but I had to revert to the "old fashioned" method of watching the scroll on the TV monitors.  By the time that was done it was only about fifteen minutes to post. 

I had three bets in quick succession, first up a double investment in the opener at Gulfstream.  11-Divine Oath was my pick in this nw1x allowance turf event for three-year-olds.  Trainer Todd Pletcher has many GP 40% Club angles, three of which were I play here.  He is 45% with runners coming back in 31-60 days; 47% with runners making a move up in class; and best of all, 49% with runners making their second start of the meet.  As they broke out of the gate for this 7 1/2 furlong test, two longshots set sail on the lead through an insane :45 half-mile split.  You know the closers were going to come running, and leading the pack of closers was Divine Oath.  Right by the surviving front runner and held off the deep closer!  WHOOO HOOOO. 

He had gone off at 8/5 and with my double investment I cashed for a quick near $30 return.  About ten minutes later I was parked under the simulcast flat screens and they left the gate at Aqueduct.  I had tripled the bet on Irsaal who looked to sit a perfect stalking trip after running second (five clear of the show) last out to a former stakes winner.  Sure enough he was right there as they came out of the turn, but was behind a wall of four horses.  He split the second and third to make a move, but a closer had gotten the jump on him and there was a pace survivor directly in front of him.  Jockey Irad Ortiz dove to the rail with a 16th of a mile to go and pushed the "GO" button.  Irsaal responded and edged clear to win!  Cashed for nearly $30 again!  That was no longer official and they were loading into the gate at Calder.  I thought Distinct Affair looked TONS the best.  All the other trainers were a combined 13-for-172 while 'Affair's trainer alone was 21-for-93!  He was 4/5 as they loaded into the gate, which I thought was stealing.  But as they left the gate he was pounded down to 1/5.  Well, as everyone left the gate BUT Distinct Affair.  Dead last after a poor break.  But by the time they hit the far turn he was in fourth and advancing.  But as they turned for home the leader spurted away by nearly five lengths and 'Affair didn't seem to be making up any ground.  The rider asked, and he found another gear.  He ran right by the leader and was clear by daylight on the wire!  THREE IN A ROW and I'm ahead and I've nearly doubled my money to start the day! 

In the next two races at Gulfstream I was third and sixth.  I though my pick would wire the field in the second, but he was outrun to the lead and that one wired the field.  And in the third I went with a Pletcher longshot, who ran like a 6/1 horse.  I picked a longshot in the Kings Point Stakes at Aqueduct.  Moneyinyour Pocket was 9/1 and tracking the leaders through the turn but had no response when asked to run through the lane - sixth.  I then went on another "winning binge!"  In the third at Calder Smart Humor was being sent out by a barn that was winning 51% first off the claim.  Right to the front at odds of 1/2 an wire-to-wire!  I missed at the Fair Grounds at 6/1.  Then in back-to-back races at Gulfstream I scored.  In the fourth Normandy Invasion was making his return to the races for Pletcher.  He was last seen running fourth in the 2013 Kentucky Derby!  So the drop out of three straight graded stakes, and four straight 90 Beyers laid over the field.....IF he was ready.  He was sitting fourth to the turn and looked to be not interested, but then Javier Castellano shook the reins and he EXPLODED right by the field and drew off under wraps as TONS the best!  His final time for the mile was a new track record!  ULTRA-IMPRESSIVE! 

It was a good half hour until my next investment, the next at Gulfstream.  I sat in my reserved seat in "my section" and had the nicest chat with two older ladies.  So I decided to stay there to watch Global Strike run in the 5th.  It was a MSW for three-year-olds.  Yes, he was a Pletcher runner, and yes, Castellano was up!  He stumbled a bit out of the gate, but was sent right to the front.  He was immediately engaged by another.  And the pace duel was on, and lasted through the entire nine furlongs!  And remember, he'd stumbled at the break!  I was sure he'd give in, but instead in the final fifty yards he edged clear!  WHOOO HOOOO! 

I had doubled the bet and was going to cash again, this time for over $15.  I had invested "prime time" in him, and was counting my lucky starts as they loaded in the gate and he was 1/2.....but the late money knocked him down to 1/5.  Back inside to watch Scotus be way too far back at 4/1 in a one mile claiming event - sixth.  And then I won again, my seventh on the day, at the Fair Grounds with Deciptive Vision.  This guyhad been out last exactly 365 days ago, on February 22, 2013.  But he'd won two of three career starts and if able to run anything close to those races he would win.  He did, and he did with authority.  He paid a generous $6.60, but I only had the minimum on him.  They had no longer crossed the line than I made my way to the rail for Gulfstream's 6th.  As I headed towards the rail a young guy gave me "that look" and I paused - is he a former student?  He said, "Are you Mark?"  I said "I am," and he stuck out his hand and introduced himself as my oldest son Jeff's good friend.  I said, you're the video guy from Miami aren't you?  He said yes.  And as we waited or the sixth to start we discussed Jeff's situation trying to get the head Video Coordinator job at the University of South Florida in Tampa.  We are sooooo hopeful to have him, Antoinette, and our grandson Cameron only a few hours away!  My pick in the 6th was Constitution, who I'd seen run an AMAZING race in his debut a month ago.  Broke behind the field, raced up to press the :44 and change pace and then drew off going seven furlongs.  Today he was trying to stretch out to 8 1/2 furlongs around two turns for Pletcher and Castellano.  Right to the front and under mild pressure all the way to the top of the lane where the pressers made their bid.  Constitution was having NONE of it and drew off to score as MUCH the best! 

I was just amazed that the crowd had let him go off at better than 2/1, so his payoff of $6.60 resulted in a return of almost $50 to me!  WHOOO HOOOO!  I'd run off five wins in seven selections over a span of an hour......what a great day I'm having!  And several of the tellers have remarked how nice I look today!  I missed with Dave Liftin's "best" at Aqueduct when Woke Up Tired was a non-threatening third and then Macho Bull was 6th at 6/1 as the DRF "best" of the day at Calder.  But then I came right back to score two quick ones in a row.  Salsita was my co-best of the day at Santa Anita.  On the negative side she was a SIX time maiden.  That's stretching my limit on how many starts I'll bet a maiden.  But......all six Beyers were ALL better than anything her rivals had ever run; the other trainers were a combined 2-for-47 and Salsita's trainer, Peter Miller was 16-for-79; ad she had the rail as the LONE speed!  WOW.  Couldn't get much easier, and that's the way it played out.  She went right to the front and when one came to her heading for home she opened up and it was all over.  Unfortunately she too was odds-on and I didn't make much money.  BUT, I'd invested prime time and was rewarded for being right by putting my money where my mouth was.  Next up was the feature at Tampa Bay Downs.  It was the Super Stakes at seven furlongs.  liked Our Double Play who had run in back-to-back Grade 1's late last spring and early summer and had been off since then.  But he'd fired THREE bullet works over this deep Tampa track for today.  He stalked the leader, was pushed four wide coming out of the turn, but turned on the jets at the 16th pole and scooted away to win by daylight! 

I had tripled the bet and he paid $4.40, resulting in a pay off of over $30 for me!  My TENTH win of the day!  Todd Pletcher's barn is so stocked that not only did he appear to be loaded here at Gulfstream but he had the odds-on favorite, and my "best" at Calder in their featured Pica Slew Stakes for three-year-old fillies.  Co Cola had been second in the Old Hat to her stablemate Sweet Whiskey, so she looked heads and shoulders above these local runners.  She broke slowly and could only rally late for second. I then missed with back-to-back 13/1 runners.  Gourmet Dinner made a middle move in the Stymie at Aqueduct but flattened out; and then Donna's Fly girl set the pace into the stretch over Tampa's turf before giving way.  Enough of this losing!  And I embarked on another streak......The first was at the Fair Grounds where Glacken Too was trying for the third time to break his maiden.  But his back to back seconds had come, unfortunately, to two of the most impressive MSW three-year-old winners in New Orleans.  Today was his day - right to the front and drew off with authority!  I had doubled the bet on him.  Five minutes later at Santa Anita I thought it was oh-so-obvious that Room For Me was an easy loose-on-the-lead winner.  But she went off as the second choice at 8/5.  She set the pace, running in hand while the 4/5 favorite pressed her.  When that one tried to gear up as they turned for home Room For Me took off and drew off convincingly!  Nearly $30 on that one!  Then At Calder I thought the field was a set up for Her Special Way.  She looked to stalk the pressured pace and draw off.  She was first time out for Bill White - a $50% win angle and he had top rider Edgar Zayas up.  The gate opened and Zayas sent her right to the front!  Wire to wire at a nice 2/1 price.  I cashed for another $30.  Then it was time for the co-feature here, the Grade 2 Davona Dale for three-year-old fillies.  It was the prep for the Gulfstream Park Oaks on Derby Day in five weeks and then on to the Kentucky Oaks. Todd Plecher's Onlyforyou was my "BET of the DAY" here at Gulfstream.  It was only her fourth start, but she'd won as TONS the best to kick off her three-year-old season; came back to run even better in the Grade 2 Forward Gal.  And the only question today was her ability to negotiate two turns.  She broke right on top and set the pace to the far turn.  The pressers made their move as they spun out of the turn and straightened for home, but she was clearly in a class of her own.  In spite of drifting out some in the final 100 yards she won by daylight!  YES!  My fifth win on the day at Gulfstream, I'm having a G-R-E-A-T day! 

With her mutual pay off of $4.20 I cashed for over $60!  I missed with a 10/1 longshot to close out the Aqueduct card.  Then in the Bayou Handicap at the Fair Grounds Eden Praire led into the stretch but was nailed late.....second.  I was a late running fifth down the hill at Santa Anita and 6th at 6/1 in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf here.  IN the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds - their prep for their Oaks stakes later this month, I commented that Untappable was sitting on a big race, NEXT time out and would be my pick in the Fair Grounds Oaks.  But she was ready today and dominated, leaving my pick, a Bob Baffert shipper I the dust.  It was time for the Fountain of Youth.  I was on the rail and did NOT like Pletcher's Commissioner, nor did I like the late-running favorite trained by Shug McGaughey.  I also did not like Wildcat Red who had been second in the one mile Gulfstream Park Derby but dominated the Hutcheson a few weeks ago.  I did like Michael Maker's General A Rod with Javier Castellano on board.  Remember, he's the subject of the bobblehead giveaway?  Well heading into this race he'd won SIX races on the card!  The gates opened and Wildcat Red and General A Rod went at it. On the turn the General poked a head in front, then Wildcat Red seemed to have the advantage as they turned for home as he cut the corner on the inside.  But with a hundred yards to go General A Rod was even, maybe a nose in front.  All this in spite of an insanely fast :46 half mile going two turns!  The surged to the wire, PHOTO FINISH!  Here's the oh-so-close finish: 

I thought they announced the winner awfully quickly, and trust me, it was closer than this photo shows.  Yes, I'm on the outside :(  Finally I watched Daddy Nose Best rally too late in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap over their turf.  So I headed to the car after making my last five bets.  As I went to the car I did a quick count.....for the day I was 14-for-36, nearly 40% and up about $20.  But with the late bets I needed to win two of them to end up with a profit.  How ironic I thought, if I were to lose them all.....have 40% wins, including my "BET of the Day" and not one but two prime-time bets and still end up behind.  But I also thought, sometimes it's like that.  For me it's the handicapping, being right, and enjoying the adventure, especially on a day like today when I'm dressed up with big crowd at the track.  Still........

So, I get home - and oh, did I mention, two of the five bets were my "best" at other tracks?  I was sure I was a profitable winner for the day as I sat down to watch the replays.  In the Gulfstream finale nearly every card ends with a Maker-Ramsey-Castellano winner on the turf.  Ghost to Ghost was such a runner and was 5/2.  Late run......then nothing, sixth.  Not good.  At the Fair Grounds in the Grade 3 Risen Star, their prep for he Louisiana Derby, my "best" of the day was Vicar's In Trouble who'd won the prep for this impressively and had a double BSF advantage over the field with top rider Rosie Napravnik.  Bold move on the turn, then seemed to hang.....third, double not good!  And the winner was a Pletcher shipper from Gulfstream with Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith up....sigh.  My "Best" at Santa Anita was in their featured Sensational Star Stakes down the hill.  Lakerville under Gary Stevens looked much the best and was the 4/5 favorite......second....oh, really not good.  My chances of finishing with a profit seemed lost.  The next to last race on the replay list was the last of the graded stakes at the Fair Grounds, the Grade 3 Mineshaft.  Prayer for Relief was the favorite and I had him three back, but he had been dull two back as my pick and a heavy favorite.  I was against him.  And I didn't see a standout.  So I backed Bradester.  On New Year's Day 2013 he was ultra-impressive at Gulfstream.  I waited all year for him to score for me, but he was second in an allowance at Saratoga when I was there for he Travers; then second in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby.  But last out he was really impressive winning an allowance here at Gulfstream.  The move to this graded stakes might be an indication that trainer Eddie Kenneally thought he'd turned the corner.  I doubled the bet and he was 6/1 in the program.  He left the gate at 3/1 and he was perfectly positioned right off the leader from the start through the far turn.  Then leading FG rider Rosie Napravnik asked him and he responded!  He drew even and pulled away late! 

The payoff was a giant $15.40....and with my double investment I would be cashing for $77, and that my friends guarantees a winning day! I though I'd add to the totals when Profire looked like the lone speed in the Santa Anita finale, but he pressed the pace and was four wide turning for home, which cost him when he was a very close second :(  But, a great day with FIFTEEN wins, well over 40% and a flat bet profit!  Check the video, lots of highlights!