Gulfstream 2012-13

Closing Week - A GREAT Day at the Races

Wednesday April 3

After a very disappointing week, from a handicapping standpoint, I considered giving the winter an early finish by simply closing the books with the end of March.  But then I thought to myself that I had made myself a promise to handicap every card through the end of the meet and I would do so.  But, I thought to myself, I'll be conservative about my investments.  So I started to handicap for the week I also considered heading out on Wednesday.  When I had finished handicapping the opener and found that I really liked Who's Mary's Daddy with Javier Castellano on the turf.  So I decided I would go for at least a little while.  As I went through the card I wondered if I was forcing the plays because I eventually had a pick in every race!  I was a little worried that when I got to the races I'd regret having so many plays, but told myself to enjoy Gulfstream and the great weather.  Well, my handicap was spot-on and I had a glorious day!  

In the opener Who's Mary's Daddy was the favorite and had the lead all to herself, never being threatened.  She wired the field handily.  That's a great way to start the day!  

 I then went on a three race losing streak.  The second in the sequence my runner was pounded down to 1-5.  No way was she worth that price.....I should have switched to my second choice who's trainer had a $5+ ROI with second time maidens - she won and paid over $30!  When I went to make the bet in the fifth I said to the gal that I typically bet with, "I want a WINNING ticket - push what ever button you have, but I'd like a winning ticket please."  I went against GP Handicapper Ron Nicoletti's "best" and stuck with my pick, Helluva Hunch who was the second choice.  As they turned for home the favorite, Nicoletti's pick, was alone on the lead but at the furlong pole track announcer Larry Colmus called that he'd thrown in the towel!  Helluva Hunch came flying up the rail to score by daylight!  

In the very next race I had my first Gulfstream Park Handicapper 40% Club play in Riverboat Queen, who was being sent out by Todd Pletcher.  I doubled down on her and she tracked the pace to the far turn.  John Velazquez asked for run as they turned for home and she blew by the field!  TWO IN A ROW!  

The 7th was my co-best of the day - and it turned out to be THE best because the other one scratched out of the 8th.  I liked Capitalism At Risk in spite of the fact that five of the six runners wanted the front end, including him.  But I thought he was the speed of the speed and had the ability to sit just off the pace if the race played that way.  He broke best and was in front as they headed into the turn.  As they came out of the turn the speed horse to his inside saved ground and got about a half length in front of him, but he re-rallied and drew off late to WIN!  THREE IN A ROW!  Collected over $30 :)  WHOOO HOOO!  

With the scratch of my top pick in the 8th at Gulfstream I looked at the Aqueduct card and discovered one of my favorite older horses, Smash was the favorite.  I decided to play him.  He was the 3/2 favorite as they got into the gate.  But just as he finished loading the #4 horse broke before the bell.  This startled Smash and apparently the handler in the gate because when the gates sprung open the handler was still clutching the reins!  Smash tossed his head and the jockey nearly flew out of saddle!  We had spotted the field about ten lengths.  That was the last you saw of him on the tv screen.  I thought, "That isn't right!" and knew the #4 would be DQ'd for leaving early.  My hope was that somehow I would be declared a "non-starter".....and sure enough I was!  So I "won" by getting to cash my ticket.  Watch the video to see how bad all this was :)  In the 9th there were two Todd Pletcher horses so I went with the adage of "take the longer price of an uncoupled entry" - should have stuck with the lower price as that Pletcher runner won.  In the finale I liked Why Katherine.  She had already won two of three starts here, and both were at today's one mile distance with identical speed figures.  The only other time she raced at this distance she lost by a neck in a photo and earned a nearly identical speed figure.  Look hard to beat, so I doubled the bet and she was the easiest of winners!  

So for the day, counting the Aqueduct cashed ticket as a "win" :) I was six for ten on the day and had profited over $30.  What a WONDERFUL way to start the week!