Friday January 11 - Winning Day!
I spent the morning handicapping for tomorrow, which is the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes Day at Gulfstream, as well as simulcasts from Aqueduct, Tampa, the Fair Grounds, and Santa Anita. By the time I'd finished they were off and running at Gulfstream. When I'd handicapped today's card I found only two selections from the first seven races. I was disappointed, but at the same time I was happy that I was disciplined enough NOT to bet just for betting. Both the first two races had near identical angles.....Jamie Ness, claiming race less than $40K, for Midwest Thoroughbreds. All over 40% angles.... in the 3rd the pick was Sapphire County. She went off at 2/1 and was fifth down the backstretch....when they hit the turn she had nothing and faded to 8th and last. Uh oh.....
In the 4th the pick was Miss Julia. She had all the same angles, but in addition she was coming off a long layoff, yet another 40% angle. She rated off the leaders and then like most of the other Ness-trained Midwest Thoroughbreds she glided to the front while three wide and then drew off with ease to score! Her 7/5 odds paid for both bets and left me in the black so far!
In handicapping the remainder of the card, the 8th presented a "BEST" of the day. It was a maiden special for sophomores.....I was looking for a Todd Pletcher horse, and there he was! #6-Majestic River had all the looks of a future champion....a $425 Fasig-Tipton purchase who had been training since mid-November here in Florida. I was just a bit concerned because there was a Chad Brown first-timer and that combination had burned me a couple times, but I felt very confident today. Majestic River stalked the front-runner - a Ken & Sarah Ramsey owned colt ridden by Joel Rosario - but as they turned for home John Velazquez asked Majestic Future and it was over! WHOOOOO HOOOOOO! He had been allowed to go off at 6/5 so my prime-time investment netted nearly $50 and I was assured of a winning day!
In the 9th I liked Fog Happens who had won for me a few weeks ago but was DQ'd. I didn't like her as much today, and she was way, way back before rallying for 4th. In the finale I tripled the bet on a Christophe Clemente turf maiden, first-time starter Lotta Heat. According to the Gulfstream Park Handicapper Clemente was a 40% winner with FTS at Gulfstream, but was a whopping 75% winner with horses owned by Preston Stable LLC....all the case with Lotta Heat. She was right up with the front-runner through quick fractions, but seemed to be well within herself. Turning for home she opened up a clear lead, at 3/1 I might add. But then the favorite (my third choice) came running late....PHOTO FINISH! I could tell by the head bob that I was on the short end....so close to another $50 and it would have been an AWESOME day! Instead it was just a very good day with a profit :)
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