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!

A VERY Good Day At The Races

Thursday March 7

I had six betting selections today, including three of the first four races so I decided to head on out to Gulfstream for the first part of the afternoon.  It was a crisp day with beautiful blue skies and the highs barely got to 70 degrees, so I enjoyed wearing my jacket to ward off the always present Gulfstream breezes on the grandstand side.  My first selection was in the opener where I knew Divine Child would be the favorite, but as I walked through the breezeway I was surprised she was being hammered to 1-9 in the early betting.  Then I noted that out of the seven horse field there were three scratches.  Checked my selection sheet and the only two runners I thought had a legitimate chance to take down the favorite - owned by Ken & Sarah Ramsey, trained by Michael Maker, ridden by Joel Rosario....a very lethal combination all meet long - had both been scratched.  I doubled the bet to compensate and hoped there would be a some action from the "value players" who would try to beat the obvious winner.  And there was, her price floated up to 3/5 which was a huge overlay.  She broke on top and just pranced around the track opening up by double digits under a firm hold through the lane!  WHOOO HOOOO!  

I had to take a photo in the winner's circle as I've cashed SOOO many winners with this owner-trainer-jockey combination.  I passed the second, so I took advantage of the free time to finish my handicapping for Saturday's card.  I had been such a clever fellow by printing off the last four races so I could do this at the races in between races.  

In the third I had labeled the race my "UPSET of the DAY" when I put Workin For Hops on top who was listed at 8/1 in the program.  It was a 8 1/2 furlong turf event for older runners and Workin For Hops had earned a half million dollars on the grass, and was a mutliple stakes winner.  BUT....he had not won in almost two years.  Still, today he went first time for trainer Chris Block and he had good workouts.  I also thought he looked to either be loose on the lead or pressing an easy pace.  If he was even close to the horse he used to be, he was a very likely winner.  I was encouraged that Gulfstream Handicapper Ron Nicoletti also put him on top....but I was disappointed that his odds were depressed down to 2-1 through the betting.  Luckily when they left the gate he had floated up to 5/2 and I felt better.  I have to also add that not only did I double the bet on Workin For Hops, but I went AGAINST a Todd Pletcher horse!  Just as I expected, Workin For Hops went right to the front and was L-O-N-G gone.....easy, peasy, pie!  Got back nearly $40!  YEEESSSSSS!  

In the next it was one of my two "best" of the day.  In her debut Calistoga had gone out for Bill Mott and crushed her maiden special rivals earning a huge 97 Beyer.  With horses like this you always have to ask yourself, do they legitimately have talent or will they bounce off the big number debut.  I was convinced she would move into stakes company next time out, and the crowd bet her accordingly.  She was 1/9 for the longest time, briefly floated to 2/5 which I thought was higher than she ought to be, but settled at 1/5.  And she ran like a 1/5 runner.....walked with it, and I'm 3-for-3!  

I made my bets for the last three races and headed for home - delighted with the way the afternoon was going.  In the 7th I was 3rd at 7/2 and in the 9th I was a fast-closing 2nd at 7/2, but in between was the 8th....my "BET OF THE DAY."  My pick in the 1 3/8th mile allowance test was #1 Aigue Marine.  She had earned a 104 Timeform number in her final European start, shipped to the US and ran 3rd in the Grade 3 Long Island, beaten less than a length.  Using the standard -14 conversion for Timeform to Beyer, that meant she had basically run her race here.  And those two numbers were clearly superior to all the LIFETIME best figures earned by her rivals today.  I was all in, prime-time.  She broke cleanly, sat just off the leader, then on the turn glided to the lead and romped home by daylight....my fourth win of the day!  

For the day I finished a super 4-for-6 with a second and a third, and profited over $40 for the day!  A great start to the week.  And how ironic I thought after the day's races were concluded.  I had just been telling Kim after Sunday's races that it is so very hard to win at Gulfstream, and that I needed to pick up my win percentages locally!

A G-R-E-A-T Way To Start The Week!

March 6

As I worked through the handicapping of the Wednesday card I thought to myself that it wasn't a very strong card - not a lot of runners that I had strong feelings about, but I did find a "routine" number that I felt gave me an edge.  And then there was a little voice in the back of my head that said, ".....you never know when you're going to have a big day....."  One of my best days last winter had come when I had only five selections and didn't invest more than $10 in any race......and so the week and the day's action kicked off.  I passed the opener, but I had doubled the bet in the second where it was another Michael Maker, Joel Rosario, Ken & Sarah Ramsey runner in Young Dude.  He was there to the turn but then was put away by my third choice - second.  "Just as I thought, a routine day" was the flash I had as they crossed the finish line.  

But in the very next race my horse Determinato proved well worthy of his post time favoritism.  He had won back-to-back turf sprints at this AOC nw2x level.  The last one he'd had to race, like today for the $62,500 claiming price having won the condition.  Both of them he went gate to wire and I thought if he got loose on the front that would happen again.  But it seemed no guarantee and certainly the riders and trainers could read the Form....who would let him do that again?  And yet, that's exactly what happened!  Right to the front, clear by daylight into the stretch and never asked to run until the final furlong....much the best!  First winner of the week, and though he only paid $5.00 I quickly calculated in my head that I wasn't but a couple dollars behind after two races - still a chance to break even or make a small profit!  

In the 4th I went against the favorite and put Piano Man Ted on top.  As the HRTV analyst noted afterwards, he had been beaten a combined 45 lengths in his last three starts!  And I was surprised he was 4/1 in the program, hoping for about the same at post time.  What appealed to me was the old angle, "early speed - class drop."  Piano Man Ted had dueled on the lead through the opening quarter and was still pressing at the half mile against $25K company.  Today he dropped down to $15K.  That has been a highly successful angle for me for several years, and it proved so again today.  'Ted dueled to the far turn and when the question was asked, instead of folding or struggling he drew off with authority!  He went off at 5/2 and he paid a nice $7.20.....I collected nearly $20 and was in the BLACK for the day!  Whooo Hoooo!  If I hit the last and other double investment in my final race, I'll profit for the day I thought.  

I knew I had a bet in the next race, but hadn't checked it yet as I was working on the Florida Derby program and "watching" HRTV.  In the background I heard the commentators saying "we're approaching post time of the 5th at Gulfstream" and I glanced up at the odds along the bottom of the screen.  I thought I had one of the more inside drawn runners but they were all big odds.  And I thought it was the #4 but he was 12-1 as the horses approached the gate....that can't be me - can it?  So I picked up my selection sheet and YES it was!  What????!!!!!  I re-read my analysis:  

So, I thought, "I might have something here!"  As they left the gate he broke cleanly and was on the lead with another runner, but as they hit the first turn he'd established the lead.  I thought, "this is how upsets happen!"  Down the backstretch he was easily on the lead!  They hit the far turn and now the running started!  As I have often written, when you have a front-runner there are three key parts to the race you HAVE to pass to spring the upset / win the race......first, a front runner has to break well and be in front early.  Seems obvious, but if a front runner isn't in front at the start, it's all over.  Second, on the far turn and through the turn you have to maintain your advantage - if the pressers and/or closers are cutting into the lead and building momentum you are going to have trouble hanging on.  And finally, when heads turn for home you have to have a spurt to put more distance between you and your rivals.....if all three of those things happen you have an excellent chance of hanging on.  For #4 Arion Silver no one cut into the lead on the turn and he made the spurt turning for home!  

I had noticed that his 12-1 odds had floated up to not just 13/1 but 14/1 as the final money had come in!  He was easily clear on the wire and I was a BIG-TIME WINNER!  YEEESSSS!  The payoff was a big $31 meaning I was cashing for nearly $80!  I am going to have a great day no matter what happens in the last two races!  

It seemed a mere footnote to watch the last two races - although I will say I thought my final pick, my other double investment - Rapacious in the 9th - was gliding up like a handy winner at 2/1 but then he hung in the stretch.  So I'd kicked off the week with a 3-for-6 day and a profit of nearly $70 on the day!  Now THAT is what I'm talking about :)

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.....

 

Saturday March 2

"Big 'Cap Day"

A Chilly But Excellent Day of Handicapping!

My focus for today was at Gulfstream and Santa Anita.  In fact I was VERY selective at the other tracks when looking through the Daily Racing Form.  I decided with the chilly weather, and with my leg still a little bothersome (diagnosed with a blood clot this past week - YIKES!) to get a seat inside the simulcast area known as "Silks" at Gulfstream so I'd be indoors, warm and off my feet the vast majority of the day.  I got off to a winning start in my first bet, at Gulfstream where Pistoria scored on the turf.  Two back he won a 2L turf event by sitting mid-pack first off the claim for Team Calabrese.  In his last he was in a spot like this but too close to the pace I thought.  Today jockey Joe Rocco settled him mid-pack, made a move on the far turn and drew off as much the best.  And the even better news - he paid a very healthy $9.60, so I got back nearly $25 to start the day!  

I should have been 3-for-3 an hour later, but the stewards had other ideas!  My second investment was in Gulfstream's third race where I doubled the bet on a Jamie Ness runner - he is scoring at a 47% win angle with horses racing for less than $40K and Many Crowns came to the 7-1 leader at the top of the lane and they dueled to the wire.  I was standing just past the finish line and as I was second it looked to me like my horse took a bad step.  My first thought was to wonder if he'd been interfered with....sure enough an OBJECTION and an INQUIRY!  I watched the head-on view and it was clear that through the final 16th of a mile the winner was bearing out on me.  I probably would not have had a problem if he had simply forced me out - though I have seen less result in DQ rulings - but right near the wire he slammed my horse, and that was what caused the "bad step."  So to me, the combination of the forcing me out and then the risk he put both my horse and rider in were worth taking him down.  There was the longest time lapse as the stewards reviewed the video over and over again, which usually means they are trying not to decide whether to DQ him or not, but where to place him.  Finally the ruling - NO CHANGE!  Wow.....But within minutes I was back in the winner's circle inside the Silks Simulcast center when Readtheprospectus scored at Aqueduct.  He had beaten nw2x state-bred allowance, and today was taking on nw1x OPEN runners.  Surging through the stretch he won, and like my first winner, paid a very nice price - $9.70 and I again collected nearly $25!  

Two close losses with double investments came next --> A Todd Pletcher 4/5 favorite started slowly and couldn't make up the ground to be third at Gulfstream and then at Aqueduct I backed Dave Liftin's "BEST," a Todd Pletcher lightly raced colt with two consecutive big wins in his last two starts.  He seemed to have the second choice measured and headed him in mid-stretch.  The jockey, it appeared to me, was convinced he was going to draw off and never asked him, and certainly never used the whip.  But the rider on the inside would not quit pushing his horse and in the final strides I lost.  Ironically I'd missed it somehow in my handicapping.  The Pletcher horse I'd backed was being ridden by a "second string rider" for Pletcher, Chris DeCarlo....the winner was ALSO trained by Pletcher and had "go-to" rider John Velazquez who was in NY for the stakes races......and he paid a better price....wowx2!  The opener at Santa Anita was next.  I doubled the bet on the favorite, who was being ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who has recently come out of retirement to ride - while keeping his on-air TV analysis gig going!  Storm Fighter won like a 3/5 shot should....no problem through the lane as she drew off by open lengths under wraps.  I missed in the 2nd at Santa Anita when Foxy Boss took the lead in mid-stretch but was caught inside the final fifty yards by two deep closers, and again at Gulfstream where I backed a longshot at 9/1 - he ran ninth.  Back-to-back stakes wins followed.....horray!  In the 7th at Aqueduct it was the first of three graded events, the Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap for older fillies & mares.  My selection was Summer Applause who had been one of the best sophomore filles last year.  I had seen her win on my visit to New Orleans, and had seen her last race of the year when she was 4th in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill.  She returned off an injury layoff a month ago in a small stakes in Texas, but somehow the rider lost his irons and she lost all chance.  Many "so-called experts" said we still didn't know how good she was and if she'd improved as a 4-year-old.  First-time for Chad Brown (27% win angle) and John Velazquez just added my confidence, and she won for fun!  I had tripled the bet and cleared nearly $35!  

RIght back to the window to cash on the feature at Laurel.  If you follow my racing adventures you know it is very rare indeed that I bet Laurel.  But when reading through the articles in The Form Friday I saw a headline about an unbeaten filly running in the feature at Maryland.  The entire article seemed to indicate she was a layover this field.  And though anything can happen in racing it appeared to be a "free bingo square" to me so I invested "Prime Time".....Walkwithapurpose drew off by double-digit lengths through the stretch and scored with ease!  Go me!  

I lost with five of the next six races, but here's the good news:  the five losses were all with minimum investments (two doubles) and the winning race was probably THE most exciting race of the day - nationally!  If you read my journal last Saturday I liked Comma to the Top to wire the Grade 2 San Carlos at seven furlongs.  Instead of being loose on the lead he had to duel through just wickedly fast splits, including a :43 and change half mile.  He put away the big price challenger but he'd been zapped of valuable energy and he just failed to last while third beaten less than two lengths.  When I looked at the past performances for the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap for today, who was in the inside speed?  Comma to the Top.  I read the article and the trainer said the owner had asked on Sunday if there was any reason NOT to go to New York on just a week's rest; the trainer said that Comma to the Top had come out of the race good, ate good, appeared fit and strong, and was a good traveler.  So they went across the country, on less than a week's rest to go for the money!  As expected he went to the front and was clear through slower fractions - though at the time as I considered he had not had to work as hard as last week, I also knew that the Santa Anita surface plays a LOT faster than the New York surface.  As they turned for home he was still clear, but here came challengers to his outside, to his inside, and another to his outside.  While the track announcer was calling off those three, and even one who headed Comma to the Top he was ignoring the fact that Comma to the Top was NOT backing down.  Inside the final fifty yards top rider Joel Rosario pushed for more and he responded.  On the wire it was a PHOTO FINISH!  

I thought live, and in every slow-motion view that I'd won....and when it was official, it was Comma to the Top who was victorious.....awesome!  GREAT race!  

The last of the six race sequence saw another Todd Pletcher highly regarded 3-year-old fail to score when Overanalyze was flat in the Grade 3 Gotham.  Missed two more following that when Tutipaesi was too close to a very slow pace in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream and then with a 5/1 shot at Tampa failed to fire.  I had two races left before I was heading home to watch the Santa Anita Handicap on the big screen.  The Grade 1 Las Virgenes featured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies champion Beholder squaring off against improving new filly star Fiftyshadesofhay.  I was happy that many people bet on the new filly because I had seen all kinds of excuses for Beholder when she disappointed at odds on sprinting in her 3-yo debut.  Her works leading to today - as well as the comments from her trainer and rider - said to me she would fire big today.  I went "Prime Time" on her.  Never threatened as she wired the field for fun!  WHOOOO HOOOOO!  

Went right to the rail and watched yet another Pletcher 3-year-old colt disappoint when Forty Tales ran evenly, and didn't even hit the board in the Grade 3 Swales at Gulfstream.  I headed for home to have dinner with Kim and then watch the HRTV broadcast of the last four races from Santa Anita.  The first was an optional claiming event and I doubled the investment on what I was sure would be a price play, American Blend at 6/1.  He was FLYING late and was a just-miss second at 6/1....that would have been over $70 in the profit column and made for a HUGE day....sigh.  Mr. Commons, one of my favorite turf runners, had won but once in a disappointing 2012 campaign.  But today he looked solid in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.  His speed figures are routinely 100+ and only two of his rivals had hit the century mark - both of them ONCE in a career effort.  He had a new rider today, so I figured he'd right a very smart race to impress the trainer.  Instead he (a) dropped too far back, and when Mr. Commons was full of run - even track announcer Trevor Denman could see it and called it - the rider (b) tried to run through traffic on the rail.  Checked, steadied, no where to go....sigh.....couldn't get out until too late, 4th as probably the best runner on the day.  Disappointing, fire that guy.  Next, the "BET OF THE DAY!"  And for me a profit for the day if I won, and another losing day if I did not.  It was the Grade 1, one million dollar Santa Anita Handicap, the "Big 'Cap" as it's known.  There were several intriguing runners, but it was so crystal clear to me that Game On Dude was going to win.  He was unbeaten over the Santa Anitia surface, with one exception, when he lost the Breeders' Cup Classic (when we were there) and probably the "Horse of the Year" title by breaking slowly and not utilizing his speed.  That resulted in a rider change to Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, and in all his rides on 'Dude he'd gone right to the front and rationed is speed perfectly.  Well, in the pre-race build-up both Smith and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert were quoted as saying Game on Dude was bigger and stronger.  His works were sizzling.  And more importantly to me, both were quoted as saying there would be no "strategy" to the race.....'Dude wanted the lead, he would be put on the lead, and woe to anyone who tried to run with him!  As they broke from the gate he was a delicious 6/5 on the board (he's been 1-5 or 1-9 in nearly any other spot I've bet him) and Smith got him away cleanly down the middle of the track.  No one appeared to want to challenge, so he swiftly moved to the rail - and from there I knew, everyone knew....it was all over!  Watch the move on the recap video - as they HRTV analysts said, it was a "Hall of Fame move" and it won the race.  The only thing we did NOT know was how crushing and devastating the win would be.  As Trevor Denman called, it may have been the easiest Big 'Cap win, EVER.  And my bet, a nice Ulysses S. Grant....so at the 6/5 odds, I scored for nearly $120!  I am a winner for the day!  

 

 

I saw there were three stakes at Sam Houston late tonite, and though I didn't handicap them I did bet them.  I liked Departing in the Texas Heritage Stakes for 3-year-olds.  He was undefeated and would have been one of the short priced contenders in the Grade 2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds last weekend, but he scratched with the wide draw.  He won for fun.  But I was disappointed in the 3rd place finish of Bind, one of my favorite sprinters, and I gambled that Hurricane Ike would steal the Gold Cup, but he had too much pressure and couldn't last - third.  So on the day I finished with a 9-for-28 scorecard, 32% wins, and a clear profit on the day!  Great times!  Check out the recap video:  

March 2:  Big 'Cap Day Recap Video

Quick Start To March!  YAY!

Disappointing Finish To The Day....Boooo

Friday March 1

It could not have started any better - the old adage, "March roars in like a lion" was in play!  In the opener on Friday I had backed Kissin Gentleman who was first off the claim for Michael Maker and top owners Ken & Sarah Ramsey.  Hot riding Joel Rosario was on board.  Apparently everyone read the same thing and he was sent off at a meager 1/5.  But he was TONS the best.  1-for-1 in March!  

My next two selections both scratched, including the odds on favorite in the 3rd, Medea with two minutes to post time.  So my next investment was in the 4th where Bernie the Maestro was trying to stretch his speed around two turns......Loved the fact that it was the same trio of human connections as my winner in the opener, and the result was an even more decisive win - at a better price!  Two-for-Two!  And my "BEST" of the day was yet to come!  

But there in was the rub.....the first two selections had been minimum investments.  I doubled the bet in the fifth and Rustler Hustler (at 4/5) looked home free until Joel Rosario won his THIRD race of the day, sneaking up the rail to nail me in deep stretch.  I was no where to be found in my 4th when 3/1 on Bargain Blitz.  And then was my "Best" of the day.  Can I just start the story by telling you I did NOT bet the Todd Pletcher runner.....you know how this comes out, sigh....... In the 9th it was the Primal Force Stakes.  A stakes race on Friday?  Yes, it was obvious that the race had been written specifically to give Grade 3 Schylerville and Grade 1 Spinaway winner So Many Ways a spot to return in.  As I watched HRTV through the afternoon they had her owner, Maggi Moss on and she talked about how excited she was to bring her back to the races.  And through the course of the conversation she mentioned she had not ruled out a run at the Kentucky Oaks.  Obviously she was odds on in this spot.  One of the four rivals was Fusaichiswonderful who had been 5-for-5 in South America before moving into the Todd Pletcher barn.  His first start with her was in the Grade 2 Forward Gal, so you knew he had some confidence in here.  Still, on their best days, So Many Ways would win for fun.  I even wrote in my analysis, "....still, I hope I don't regret ignoring my own advice to 'never guess with Pletcher runners!...."  I most likely had the right one on top, but when the gates sprung open, So Many Ways broke dead last.  I knew right then it was over.  Right to the front went Fusiachiswonderful and she never looked back.  Wow......  So for the start of the month I went 2-for-5, an excellent 40%, but managed to find a way to finish in the red, sigh..... Tomorrow is "Big Cap Day" at Santa Anita and I'll be at Gulfstream for all the action, including two graded stakes locally.  Hoping to have one of "those days" - still seeking my first BIG day at the windows

SOOOO Close To Finish February

Wednesday - Thursday February 27-28

I was so very close to adding a big financial boost to the month as the week started, but it was not to be.  It was a stormy day on Wednesday and I lost all but two of my selections.  I won with the first one (no photo, sorry!) when Manly was much the best.  I had doubled the bet and he went off at even money in a 3-lifetime sprint.  In my only other investment I missed with Longer Terms Doug who was bet down from 3/1 to 7/5 at post time and was an even third.  The weather cleared and on Thursday I had a "Bet of the Day" in the third race, with another play in the 4th.  So I decided to get out of the house and drive down for an hour, then I'd make my other five bets and watch at home.....we had Panther tickets so I didn't want to stay and press my luck.  I had no longer walked in when I discovered the horse I'd come to see, my "BET of the Day" had scratched.  Wow......So I cashed my tickets from Saturday and collected over $100 :)  

And then I made my bets.....and settled into a box seat to watch the "other race" I'd come to see.  Frolic's Revenge was a good 5/1 and was a close third.  I headed home with four tickets in hand.  I'm telling you I must be so paying for the run of winners recently because I was oh-so-close in all four.  Three seconds and a third!  Three of the four were leading with a 16th of a mile to go and the other was flying at the finish....sigh.....two in particular were price plays and would have added $135 to my total for the month.  Even just one of them would have been nice.  

Still, my month statistics were good:  

And now we move into March and look forward to the Florida Derby at the end of the month!