Disappointing Day at the Races
March 4
BUT - EXCITING END TO THE WEEK!
I really, REALLY thought I'd be writing about a multiple win day for Sunday March 4, but instead it was a single winner on the card. I tried to be very selective in my handicapping and couldn't find anyone I liked well enough to support through the first three races. Ironically as I watched the races on HRTV I had the winner in all three - but they were all my third choice in my analysis and all paid good prices. In the fourth I had a powerful entry from Team Calabrese. Either one would be a big selection, and one of them did scratch so I wasn't the least bit concerned. The crowd saw the same thing I did and sent Trini Spice off at 3/5. Weakened late, 3rd. In the sixth I debated back and forth between Summer Front and Big Blue Kitten. The former was a multiple graded stakes winner and I thought had an excuse in his last three when sent ten furlongs in Grade 1 company. He is a miler I think, and that was where he has performed best, including a win in the Dania Beach here last winter off a layoff. My concerns were that he'd never faced older and his speed figures, if you went on them alone did not say he was the fastest runner. Big Blue Kitten on the other hand had run faster, including a good 3rd in the Ft. Lauderdale here earlier. But his wins had been in a maiden claimer, a claiming race, and a starter allowance. I settled on Summer Front. The HRTV analysts echoed my thinking saying he was "simply the better horse." And he just might be, but in one of the rare poor rides of the winter Joel Rosario decided it would be a good idea to try to find a seam along the rail to run through while Javier Castellano went four wide out of the turn. Checked, steadied, blocked.....third - while Big Blue Kitten won. Wow....sigh.... So in the 8th I had Javier Castellano on Dancing For Glory who had run against much, MUCH classier in his last several races. No surprise he was 3/2 at post time - big surprise that when asked to run from the back of the pack he didn't pick up his feet...a dismal seventh. FINALLY a win in the 9th when Antipathy dueled to the top of the lane, and instead of caving as so many of my Gulfstream runners seem to do - often at short prices - she went on with it and drew clear late at even money. She had been beaten last out by Todd Pletcher's Majestic River, who had come back to run a big race when second to a strong Kentucky Oaks contender Emoillent. I cashed for $30 to salvage some of the day. I should have known better for the feature.....I didn't like Charming Kitten much; I'd backed him to his win in the Kitten's Joy in his last, the prep for today's Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes. But was unimpressed with the way he won that day. But as I looked over the field I really was not enthusiastic about any of the other runners. I kind of liked Rydilluc as an up and coming runner, but he only had a maiden win and a first level allowance win. And then there was the whole "Pletcher thing" ..... I had gone against him this week in backing a short priced favorite who on paper looked best, only to have Pletcher beat me for guessing, at a nice price. So I didn't want to have the Pletcher runner win without me. I should have either not bet or gone with the improving horse as Rydilluc drew off impressively at nearly 5/2. And I was a non-threatening 4th in the finale......one for six to end the week.
Two items of interest however - Game On Dude earned a big 116 Beyer for his crushing win in the Big 'Cap - I was so right in making him my "BET of the Day!" And then to end the weekend a most exciting event. We went to the arena to support our Florida Panthers (who are struggling by the way). But I got a phone call Friday afternoon that I would be honored during a time out as the "Season Seat Owner of the Game" tonight! Got an autographed stick signed by all the players and was on the jumbotron :) Also got to meet the very cute Andrea Ocampo, who is the in-game host - I must say she is QUITE the hottie! She went to give me a high-five, but I took and warm embrace instead ;) Good times, check out the video below.....
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