Thursday December 6
A Great Story / Another "BET of the Day" WINS!
A Great Story / Another "BET of the Day" WINS!
This morning as I was handicapping the Saturday card it occurred to me that with it being a great day, weather-wise, and knowing I had selections in the first four races, that today would be a good day to head out for a while. And so I did.......the story of the first race was SO worth being there to experience it live, and then to see my "BET of the Day" win live capped off a great adventure.
In the opener I had selected #8 Lord Chelsie. According to the "Gulfstream Handicapper" his trainer, Edwin Broome was 4-for-104 with all horses EXCEPT those making the turf to dirt move - which Lord Chelsie was doing. Those won at an amazing 78% clip! Knowing that the favorite, #6 For All Who Conga, would be odds-on I thought this would be a great chance to make some money! But, when I looked at the board with 10 minutes to post Conga was indeed the favorite, but a prohibitive 1-9......so much money was bet on him that Lord Chelsie was the third choice at a HUGE 25/1! I had planned to bet $10, so that means if I was right I'd collect over $250! I re-examined why I did NOT like the favorite and was convinced I had the right horse. As I headed to the windows both analysts on the inter-track TV were talking about how hard it would be to beat Conga. So, I stopped and looked at the board.....IF he did win and I ran a good second, the exacta paid $16. So, I thought, if I collect $250 I'd never miss the $2 for an exacta; but if I did run second I'd be able to profit. So I made the bet......$10 to win on #8 Lord Chelsie and a $2 exacta: 6-8. Now, if you know me and have followed my racing adventures you know I am frequently behind the favorite and NEVER bet anything but to win.......keep that in mind!
As they hit the far turn two longshots were in front, Lord Chelsie was in the garden spot, clearly third, and two lengths farther back was Conga. I thought I've got the jump on him and should get a much easier trip to the wire.....and it was just as I'd seen it. I swooped up three wide and Conga was caught behind horses. With a 16th to go (and by the way, I'd been bet down to 6/1) I was in front by about a length and a half and the surviving longshot, #4, was in second outside of me and Conga was rallying. Conga tried to come to me inside the #4, but as he reached even terms with him Conga shifted out a bit and the #4 shifted in noticably causing a bump. As they neared the wire track announcer called, "Oh For All Who Conga had trouble!' Conga seemed to drop back and it was a photo between me and the #4, but I knew I'd won. I wondered if there had been contact between me and Conga because it appeared he MIGHT have gotten squeezed. As they showed the replay the OBJECTION and INQUIRY sign went up. Sure enough, Conga had definitely been hit by the #4, but he had come out; and after pinballing off him I had shifted out and he had been bumped again. I thought it was too close to the wire to matter, but would not have been out of the question that I'd be disqualified. It would do me no good to be DQ'd because I didn't have a 4-6 exacta....if there was a change it had to involve the #4, not me! It took forever but then the announcement........"Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a DOUBLE disqualification!" You have to be kidding me! But wait......the #6 For All Who Conga was moved to first; the #4 was moved to third, and my horse #8 Lord Chelsie was moved to 2nd.....I HAVE the exacta! WHEW!!!!!! It only paid $12.20, but I'd bet $12, so I "WIN!" WHOOO HOOOO!!!!! I missed on two minor bets in the second and third - second in a photo in the third. And then it was time for the fourth race......
TODAY'S BET OF THE DAY
Graydar, #3, was a Todd Pletcher layoff horse and qualified on THREE angles for the "Gulfstream Handicapper 40% Club" - he'd broken his maiden here last season in his debut at this distance with a 100 speed figure. I thought he looked much the best and had originally planned to bet the "typical Todd Pletcher bet" - $10. But the more I looked at it, he was a standout; so I made him a "BET of the Day" play and doubled the investment to a prime-time $20. He WALKED with it! And he was 1/100th of a second off the track record. Ironically I was here the day Commentator set the track record!
I left having hit on two of four, and made my last two bets before driving home. I watched the replays about an hour after getting home and in the 7th I cruised to the lead at 7/1 (with a double investment) and looked home free - I was counting the big $80 payoff, but when the closers came and my jockey asked for a finishing kick I had nothing.....3rd. Then in the final race #11 Don'twait Toolong was flying on the outside and was certain to inhale the leader, but then seemed to lose action while running for about four strides, then regained his momentum.....PHOTO FINISH!
Arrrrrggggghhhhh! Second.....wow, that would have made for a profitable day! Still, it was a fun day at the races - a great adventure, a great story, and a "BET of the Day" win! Tomorrow's picks are posted on my selection page:
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