Thursday December 20
HORRAY! I Rebound In A Big Way!
And I Am Very Proud Of Myself!
(Florida Derby Tix!)
As the day started I was STILL very unhappy with the loss by El Padrino yesterday. An article appeared in the Daily Racing Form (below) and you can see that the writer indicates there was a troubled trip.....I would dispute that. AND I still believe that as they came through the stretch the horse was not extended in an all out effort to win. I get that if he is well beaten, but he had a legitimate chance to win.....sigh.
Anyway, my main point here is that it would be very easy coming off the disappointing week, and then the huge disappointment of yesterday to have backed off my handicapping and wagering. But instead I was even more determined to WIN! I headed out to Cypress Bay High to meet with my best friends Jeff Nelson and Shari Bush. Jeff gave me money for ten people for Florida Derby tickets and I had decided I would take the money to the bank, with the funds I already had, and head out to Gulfstream to get the tickets. When I got out there I could only lock in the first 17 of the 23 I wanted, but I'm guaranteed to get the others. I am more than a little intrigued that we might get one of the new box seats for the bulk of our group - and for the same price! They are closer to the finish and the track.....but no overhead protection. More on this later.
So, while I was out there I wanted to make my bets for the day with my track cash (since I'd lost a chunk of it yesterday!). I had the minimum on Defer Heaven in the 2nd. He was debuting today, but going for the top owners of the young meet (Ken and Sarah Ramsey) and for hot trainer Wesley Ward with top rider Joel Rosario. When I watched the replays later in the afternoon I enjoyed watching him sprint clear early and win in a cakewalk! WHOO HOO, back in the winner's circle!
Then came not only the "BET of the Day" but the bet that in many way defines me as a handicapper. I have had similar moments before, but still in spite of years of racing experience and over 11,000 bets in my database STILL you question yourself when you are on a losing streak. I LOVED Marjor Marvel in the 4th. He was my pick on Opening Day in one of the Claiming Crown stakes races and was second, very narrowly beaten. In fact in his last four appearances he was been in three stakes and a $100K allowance. Today was a starter allowance for $10K! The last two times Major Marvel raced at this level he romped! The highest speed figure earned by any of today's rivals on the turf was an 88 - in Major Marvel's last SEVEN races he had earned speed figures that would top that....a 7-times Beyer Advantage. I planned to bet $40 to WIN - BEFORE the El Padrino incident. Instead of backing down, I just KNEW I was right and was willing to not only stick with my bet, but to go in even deeper as an even bigger show of confidence in my handicapping.....$50 to WIN! He was TONS the best! Right to the front, and seemed under pressure from the get-go to the far turn, but then Javier Castellano opened him up and he was G - O - N - E!!!! WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!
My next bet was in a Maiden Special for two-year-olds. Is there a Todd Pletcher runner? Indeed there is! Just the fact that a Todd Pletcher horse is running is a Gulfstream Park Handicapper 40% Club angle! But one thing I've learned is that Pletcher is simply outstanding with debut runners and/or sophomores at Gulfstream, just as he is with juvenile first timers at Saratoga. Highestmaintainence has Javier Castellano on board - a 45% angle; and is owned by top New York owner Michael Repole, who if nothing else LOVES to win! He doesn't enter horses to "get a race in them" - he wants to win. The sharp series of works at Pletcher's Palm Meadows base said she was ready to roll today. I was amazed, as I usually am with Pletcher runners, that she was allowed to get away at 9/5 (probably some people reluctant after yesterday's Pletcher dual disappointments), but not me! I tripled the bet and was handsomely rewarded when Highestmaintainence came rolling home in a dominant fashion! I cashed for over $40!
For the day, three-for-four....profit of $50....and got the Florida Derby tickets. A WONDERFUL day at Gulfstream! Back again tomorrow; see my selections online:
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