Gulfstream 2012-13

SHOULD Have Won Today - The "Official" Photo?

Friday March 8

Things started off sweetly, but then I just had to shake my head when I "officially" did not win for the day.  In the opener I had Swear Me In on the turf.  He was allowed to go off as the 5/2 second choice instead of the short-priced favorite.  He split horses at the top of the stretch and then drew off as much the best......I only had the minimum investment, but got back nearly $20.  

In my second of four investment plays I ran a distant 6th at 5/1 with a Todd Pletcher turf horse.  That's the good and the bad about Pletcher on the turf I've found.  The bad news is they don't win with nearly the consistency as his main track runners, but that's offset by the fact that win they win, it's at a nice price.  My pick in the 6th scratched, but in the 7th we were back on the turf with maiden special 3-year-olds.  And yes, there was a Pletcher runner, Path of Dreams.  John Velazquez sent him to the front, he turned for home with a clear lead; had a clear lead at the 16th pole and then it was oh-so-close with my third choice on the wire.  But even the slow-motion seemed to indicate I'd won.  I showed it to my best pal Keith who is visiting for the weekend and he said, "Oh yes, clearly the inside horse won, you got it!"  And the frame was frozen as the "official" finish.....then the announcement - I was second.  You look, what do you think?  

In the finale I was second best, again, when a Kirk Ziadie/Team Calabrese runner - a Gulfstream 40% Club play was beaten by another 40% Club Play trained by Jason Servis.  So for the day I was 4/1-2-0 and lost a little.  On to tomorrow where it's a BIG day of racing and Keith and I will enjoy the day at Gulfstream together!