Gulfstream 2012-13

Sunday January 27 - Strong Finish To Good Week

Today was another multiple win day at Gulfstream and provided a winning profit to finish off the fourth week here at Gulfstream.  It appeared to another frustrating day as in the opening two races I AGAIN had the short-priced favorites who AGAIN failed to deliver.  Whipsaw City came up the rail in the 2nd, going five furlongs on the turf, and then couldn't get by the front runner, and my second choice who surged late to win.....3rd.  Then in the 5th I had the odds-on Poised To A Tee sprinting, second best....wow.  But then it was time for my "Best" of the day in the 6th.  It was a nine furlong turf route for sophomores.  Tokyo Time ran a field best 80 speed figure and was six clear of the show horse in her last....behind a runner who came right back to win.  Javier Castellano had the mount for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.  The gate sprung open and Tokyo Time went right to the front.  He opened up early and never looked back; in fact through the lane he extended his lead with a powerful finish as M-U-C-H the best.  

In the next three races I had a Todd Pletcher runner in each.  If you'd asked me, I would told you that the most likely winner would have been in the 9th, with the second most likely being in the 7th....and by far the least likely in the 8th.  Want to guess?  Right, it was in the 8th that I scored.  And here's another lesson for those of you who may not have gotten the memo on Todd Pletcher.......it doesn't matter what the circumstances, you simply CANNOT GUESS when to back Pletcher and when not to at Gulfstream in the winter.  This is a spectacular case in point.  In the 7th and 9th it was 3-year-old Maiden Special sprints - a staple of the Pletcher winners, and both disappointed in spite of the multiple 40% win stats provided by the Gulfstream Park Handicapper's 40% Club.  The book, which has been helpful in pointing out multiple winners at the meet, details that the ONLY category where Pletcher is not at his best is on the turf, and especially in turf routes.  So the 8th was an entry level allowance going 1 3/8 miles on the turf!  An obvious chance to beat a Pletcher runner.  But, as I've said repeatedly, you cannot guess, and you may get a price here.  Sure enough, Seanchi was 3/1 in the program, but left the gate at 4/1!  He went right to the front, held the field at bay going around the first two turns and down the backstretch.  When they hit the far turn and the field began to accelerate, he found another gear, separated from the field and was gone!  Paid an amazing $10.40......whooooo hoooooo!  

Missed in the Sweetest Chant Stakes for sophomore fillies in a three-way photo, when my pick, the improving Caroline Thomas (#4) was just outfinished on the wire.......

Then in the finale, the first thing that caught my eye as I scanned through the past performances was the name of the #7 horse - Keri Keri.  Though not the same spelling, the name was that of my wonderful sister-in-law, Kari.....my wife's identical twin, and let me tell you, they are indeed identical.  But, as I handicapped the race it was clear that she was a most likely winner.  She had earned a field-best 75 speed figure in a Maiden Special turf event at Delaware this summer in her last and was dropping in class for a first time tag today by trainer Michael Matz.  The only question I had was how much stronger a MSW contest at Delaware was compared to a maiden claimer at Gulfstream.  But the others in the field did not look to have legitimate chances.  I doubled the bet and as they turned for home she drew up along side the other favorite on the board.  But the difference, as called out by track announce Larry Colmus, was that the filly on the lead was being driven by her jockey, and Keri Keri was under a hand ride by my jockey Joe Rocco.  He shook the reins ever so slightly and she was GONE!  Best part of the story, she was allowed to leave the gate at better than 2/1 and paid $6.60!  My double investment led to a return of well over $30 and a clear profit for the day.  A great finish to a good week of racing.  I will be limited in my on track appearances this week as my Mom flies in on Thursday and then Brad, Lauren, and Julie all arrive on Friday for a weekend with their grandma.....highlighted by a Saturday night out at the Broadway musical, "Wicked!"