Day 26

A G-R-E-A-T Day At Gulfstream

It was indeed a great day, the kind of day that lingers with you and makes you want to come to the races for this kind of experience.  Big crowds, beautiful weather, great racing, and cashing lots of tickets.  It doesn't get any better than this. 

But it didn't start out like it would be that kind of day; but then again, that was one of the things that DID make it a great day.  When I arrived at Gulfstream the first thing I did was check for scratches.  I had big plans for a "frantic" day of racing as I'd handicapped SEVEN different venues and had more than forty selections. Not to be.  The complete Aqueduct card was cancelled due to snow and cold.  Tampa, Laurel, Gulfstream and Santa Anita all had scratches and now I've got thirty picks which is a busy day, but my picks ran late into the evening so from 12:30 to 6:30 I was operating on races about every 20-30 minutes, which is OK, but not the frantic pace I had thought I'd enjoy.  So, out at the races a little early my first pick was still about 25 minutes away in the opener at Gulfstream when I went inside the simulcast center and looked up.  On the Tampa monitor the opener was less than five minutes to post and the #7 was hovering at 3/5.  Hmmmm, I opened the entries on my phone and saw it was an Antonio Gallardo runner who'd been 8/5 in the program.  I thought, "I've got all this Aqueduct money, let's fire away!  Gallardo had Blending stalking the pace into the lane, surged to the front and held the runner-up at bay through the final 100 yards.  I WIN!  This could be a very good day if this is the way my racing luck will go I thought!  I'd doubled the bet and collected over $15.  Well, uh, no.  When Blending crossed the finish line a little before 12:30 pm I was destined to not cash another ticket until after 3 pm.  That my friends is a long afternoon and can shake the confidence of even the most avid racing fan.  The opener at Gulfstream was a maiden claiming turf sprint for sophomores.  There looked to be a chance for an upset as all the major contenders were exiting the same race and none had distinguished themselves in any other races.  I went with Bigger Than Boss who was a first time starter for Michael Maker. 

Bigger Than Boss broke a bit slowly but when he swung wide into the lane he was absolutely flying late, a clear best-of-the-rest second to the free on the lead winner.  And it was a big 6/1 - that would have been nice.  At Tampa Flow's Strawberry went right to the front and was well held while the closest chasers were being hard ridden.  I thought I was long gone at 8/5, but she weakened late to fourth.  In the third at Gulfstream it was a good time to probably play against Commissioner who was certain to take money.....last seen finishing second in the Grade 1 Belmont last June at big odds, he was in 2x allowance company, but off a long layoff.  Todd Pletcher had him working sharply and he'd won here last year at this distance.  He went right to the front, but wasn't clearly the best as he had to fight.  But he was in front 100 yards from the line, but was third in a 3-way photo.  I got my second win of the day, and the only one in this streak when Lots o' Lex scored at Tampa.  Now typically speed is NOT the way to go over the Oldsmar course, but it has seemed to play more fairly this winter.  Last out Lots o' Lex had faded going a mile, but I chalked it up to facing winners for the first time and I thought that the longer distance today - nine furlongs - would allow her to relax.  Right on point Mr. Mark.  She cleared the field early and was never threatened.  At Laurel Final Forest chased the loose-on-the-lead front runner from start to finish, third at 5/2.  At Gulfstream Xtra Spice was looking to buck the trend of Bill Mott first-time starters.  Only 4-for-85 over the last two years, but this filly was working sensationally with four straight bullets.  I thought it was not a good ride as she was pinned inside throughout and when finally able to get off the rail was full of run, but well behind the winner - 2nd.  But wait, objection!  Memories of the win on Thursday came back as the claimed foul was not that serious, but it did impede another......no, results stood.  At the Fair Grounds Rosie Napravnik's husband Joe Sharp is off to a great start (34%) and winning over 40% with new horses to his barn.  Such was the case with Bellamy's Verdict.....but second best all the way around the oval at 3/5.  Then at Laurel Iknewuweretrouble dueled on the lead from the gate to the final 16th, then weakened to be third at 8/5.  I turned the page with only two wins on my selection sheet to start the day.  I was wondering what kind of day this was going to be, but I told myself (a) enjoy the day of racing, (b) stick with the program, you never know until the end of the day what kind of day you'll remember this as, and finally (c) the big races were still to come. 

The next race on my sheet was a turf claiming event at the Fair Grounds.  Abena had the top rider, James Graham, a 5/2-2-0 local record, and the perfect stalking style for this event.  He was a nice 9/2 price, but as they hit the first turn he took up sharply and then was floated about ten wide losing all chance.  My son Jeff called.  He was at the track in Houston but all but two tracks were blacked out due to a contract dispute and one track he could play was the Fair Grounds and this happens to start his day.  He left within the hour, felt bad for him that he couldn't have enjoyed what was going to be a good day for me in the end.  I finally was able to cash a ticket in the sixth at Gulfstream.  We were on the turf for an starter-optional claiming event.  Javier Castellano was on board Empire Knight for Michael Maker, making this a Gulfstream 40% Club play.  The pace was very quick so Castellano had his horse in mid-pack to the far turn.  Then he moved up with authority and blew by to win as much the best!  Not only am I finally in the winner's circle, it was at a nice $6.80 price! 

At the Fair Grounds Catherine's Dream pressed the pace and stopped to be fifth, but then came the first of many BIG wins on the day.  The 7th at Gulfstream was the Grade 3 Hal's Hope, the first of three graded events on the day.  In this race last year Lea had made his first start since moving into the Bill Mott barn.  He'd entered into Mott's care with a solid turf resume, a Grade 3 win and a runner-up performance behind Horse-of-the-Year Wise Dan.  But Mott put him onto the dirt and I picked him, with thoughts of the same move with the great Cigar.  He won last year and paid over $17 then came right back to win the Grade 1 Donn Handicap.  But then he'd fallen ill and had not been seen until today.  He'd worked sharply and he'd won off layoffs before.  I made him my "BEST" of the day at Gulfstream.  It was a short five horse field and he found himself blocked behind all four others as they swung out of the turn and into the stretch.  As jockey Joel Rosario later told the press, he was waiting for a horse to move in or to move out to create a seam, but by the time they passed the final furlong marker he was still blocked.  Rosario swung Lea five wide and stepped on the gas.  The acceleration was sensational and he blew by them in the shadow of the wire where I was standing!  YEEESSSSSS! 

He'd been a nice 2/1 early in the betting but was bet late to go off at even money.  But with my investment I cashed for $40.  Walked inside and was disappointed when Russell Baze - the jockey who RULES Golden Gate Fields was third at 8/5.  But moments later it was time for the feature at the Fair Grounds, the Pan Zaretta Stakes, a turf sprint.  Good Deed was the obvious choice, but she'd been beaten in this spot last year at odds on and the rider was struggling at the meet.  To be fair she'd won with her in the prep for this.  You either are a Beyer guy or you're not - I am.  Of the last 98 races by the five rivals she'd face today only three races would be competitive with her last four turf start figures:  99-110-90-97.  But all three were earned by a nine-year-old who was 12/1 in the program trained by a 1-for-33 conditioner.  Add in the last out sensational score AND a best-of-59 bullet since and Good Deed looked tough.  She was indeed.  Right to the front and in hand throughout to score by daylight without really having to take a deep breath.  Yet another stakes event was up next on the simulcast monitors, the Turf Dash from Tampa.  The two runners I liked best were Green Mask and Bold Thunder.  The latter was a VERY quick sprinter and had had success here at Gulfstream, even winning a stakes race.  But that figured here because the turf course, and most especially in turf sprints, speed holds.  But at Tampa typically speed is NOT the way to go.  Considering my earlier comments that the course has been more fair, this wouldn't make me go against Bold Thunder.  What I did not like was he was in post ten AND there were at least three to his inside who figured to sprint full bore out of the gate.  Sure, he'd clear on his quickest day, but with the wide draw and the early effort I thought he'd be susceptible to a closer.  Such was the style of Green Mask who went off at a generous 9/2.  And I was right that he was the closer as he was FLYING late blowing by the entire field.....save Bold Thunder who'd cleared the field, set insane fractions and won in track-record time!  The first bet of the day at Santa Anita was next and Glory ran to her 4/5 odds and ran away from the field providing me with my 7th win of the day!  The day has now officially turned around :)  I had tripled the bet and cashed for nearly $30.  Next on the sheet was the second of the graded events here at Gulfstream.  When I'd seen that Parranda was running in the Grade 3 Marshua's River I wanted to try to beat her.  I've always thought that she might be more highly regarded that she deserved.  But when she was transferred to Jerry Hollendorfer out west she'd won a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 and nearly won a Grade 1 when edged by multiple Grade 1 winner Emollient in the Rodeo Drive - the prep for the Breeders' Cup.  Her last was a close sixth, beaten less than four lengths after setting the pace.  Typically horses do not run well first out of the Breeders' Cup, no matter how much time passes by.  But the field looked to be inferior to her ability on her best day, she had four bullet works, AND was a Horse-for-the-Course (6-for-12).  She was sent off at a generous 6/5 (considering all the info I just listed) and stalked the front-runner all the way to the turn.  I knew she was just waiting to blow by and win and was confident throughout.  She made her move and ran away for fun!  WHOOOO HOOOOOO! 

I had originally planned to double the bet, but with the success I was having and after re-examining my comments I tripled the bet!  The move paid off as I collected over $30.  Russell Baze disappointed at Golden Gate again, and I started to think of abandoning my picks here which I'd made almost exclusively because Baze wins "every" race at GG.  I lost again at the Fair Grounds when Calipari's Ktten was second at 6/5 behind my second choice who wired the field.  But I got back in the winner's circle for the third time at Tampa when Chelios rallied in an entry-level allowance at 9/5.  I had added money - doubled the bet - so I collected nearly $30 again.  Bureu de Change was third at Gulfstream after a slow start, beaten by my second choice.....this seems to happen frequently!  But FINALLY Russell Baze paid off at Golden Gate.  Look Quickly was the DRF "Best" of the day and she tracked the 4/1 leader, collared her at the top of the stretch, but then dueled in a terrific horse race to the wire where she was JUST up in time! 

I had gone prime time so I cashed for over $25....not a great profit, but considering I'd lost two already here I'll take it.  I now seriously considered dumping the last three Golden Gate picks.  But then I said to myself, you know what will happen.....Baze will win and I'll be shaking my head - stick with the plan!  Missed at Tampa when Kathy's Kitten did not fire at even money in the finale over the turf, but minutes later it was time for the final graded event, the featured Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale, here at Gulfstream.  The class play would have been Za Approval who had been second several times to Wise Dan and was a multiple graded winner.  And though his form looked off, you could make the excuse that his training had been off when forced to miss a prep for the Breeders' Cup due to soft turf.  But, there was not only this but he was moving to a new barn, coming off a layoff AND had an outside post.  I went with Todd Pletcher's Mshawish.  He'd been my top pick on Haskell Day in the Grade 3 Oceanport when making his first start in North America.  He was too far back and moved too early under Joe Bravo.  Next out he won at Saratoga and I had him!  But he got DQ'd.  But in his last, the $100K El Prado here he was sensational.  That might have seemed like a peak effort, but if his Euro numbers could be trusted he still had room to move forward again.  He was being bet as the favorite, but I thought the 9/5 price on the board was much higher than it should have been.  I had mixed reactions when GP Analyst, the lovely Christina Bossinakis remarked on the inter-track broadcast that the Thoroughgraph number Mshawish earned last out, a "0," was much faster than anyone in here.  That kind of number on that scale is the kind that horses often bounce off of, but again, I thought he was still improving.  Mshawish tracked the leaders, floated wide into the lane and then sprinted home.  The final margin was close, but I never doubted he would or did win! 

Again, I'd tripled the bet, and at 9/5 I collected well over $40!  And with this victory I completed a sweep of the three graded stakes!  WHOOOOO HOOOOOOO!  Missed in the finale with a Michael Maker FTS turf sprinter - the way I had started the day - second best, just like the opener.  Then missed again at Golden Gate Fields with a Baze favorite, 2nd at 4/5.  The last race I was watching live was the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita, the first step towards the Kentucky Derby on the California trail.  The heavy favorite figured to be Calculator, and he earned that respect by running a best-of-the rest second behind the clear leader out west, American Pharaoh in not one, but TWO Grade 1 events.  The problem was, he was STILL A MAIDEN!  But he looked much the best of these and I went "prime time."  He waited patiently behind a fast pace about five off the leaders until they hit the turn.  And then here he came with the classic winning move.  You love horses that are gaining on the leaders through the turn as they have the momentum entering the stretch.  But best of all, when they are moving by runners without being asked, you know you are looking good.  Once heads turned for home he opened up and won with authority! 

My ELEVENTH win of the day!  I headed home with four plays left on my sheet, two of which were from Golden Gate.  And I was certainly glad I'd kept to the program as they BOTH won, including Elmonte Cristo who was 2/1 - unbelievable with Russell Baze - and I cashed for $30 to close the day down. 

For the day I won with 13-of-31, a whopping 42%.  And here's an interesting side story.  Before I left for the day I told Kim I was wearing the new watch she'd given me for Christmas/Anniversary and that we'd find out if it was a "lucky watch" because if I lost it had to be the bad karma of the watch.  I said this because I remembered one day last year where I'd worn a watch for the first time and had a good day.  So the day goes by and obviously the watch has a "good vibe."  So I go to write my summary on my web page and I look back to last year's Fort Lauderdale Stakes Day to see how I'd done as I knew it was a good day, but I couldn't remember how good.  Well that day I'd won two of the three Gulfstream graded events, I'd won 18 races including the Sham!  But here's the freaky coincidence.  As I scrolled down the journal I see one of my first remarks in 2014 was how on THAT DAY I'd worn a watch for the first time!  You can't make this stuff up!  Check out the day's highlight video below: 

January 10th Highlight Video