Day 30

My Second 3-Bagger Of The Month

It's a different mind-set when I'm working on a Handicapping Project that entails daily handicapping and selections.  Unlike a typical day at the races where I'll have 20 to 30 selections and it's not uncommon to win at least seven or eight races, winning more than two is a rare treat on a daily basis when you only have five to seven selections.  And you have to accept this as you follow your results on a daily basis knowing that over the course of a week or a month you'll get your share of winners, just not in the same kind of bunches they come in on a full day of racing.  So, today was one of "those days" where I upped the winning totals by cashing on three different winners and two of them came at nice prices!  The first win didn't come until the fourth race.  In the opener I was third at 2/1 with Latent Fire, and that is significant because not only did it cost me money by losing, but it cost me money I WOULD have made with my winning selection in the fourth.  Here's the story......in Latent Fire's last race, it was a "beaten" claiming race for this same $6K price tag.  She had been second-best in that race behind a multiple winner and well-clear of the show horse who had come right back to win in open company.  So the drop from "beaten" claimers to restricted claimers was big.  This is significant because the winner of that race was No Act, who was my top selection in the fourth race.  I wrote in my analysis that if Latent Fire were to win in the opener and with the show horse already having come back to win, then I would consider upping the bet on No Act.  Well, Latent Fire did not win, so I stuck with my double investment.  No Act was also a Gulfstream 40% Club Play for Jorge Navarro.  Over the last four seasons when bringing back a horse first or second off a 30 day or more break he'd won with five-of-seven....so when No Act won last time out that moved up to six-for-eight!  Should have upped the bet - with No Act near the back as they hit the far turn he accelerated effortlessly and inhaled the field.  Blew by under wraps to score with ease!  Make the Navarro angle SEVEN-for-NINE!  And I had my first winner! 

In the 7th it was a marathon turf event going 1 7/16 miles.  Last time out Change of Command had bested Belisarius.  Change of Command had coasted on an easy lead, then dueled with Belisarius through the lane before both were caught near the wire by a deep closer.  I thought Change of Command would have more pace pressure today and that would set the table for his rival.  The crowd agreed and made Belisarius the 7/5 favorite.  But instead, Change of Command was loose on the lead again and coasted home as the wire-to-wire winner; I settled for second.  I had two plays left in the last two races of the day, both on the grass.  In the ninth it was an allowance-optional claiming race with a $100K price tag so you know these guys have some ability.  But the "story" of the race was the jockey on my pick Sky Blazer.  Rajiv Maragh is a top rider - in fact he was the regular rider for one of my all time favorites, multiple Breeders' Cup Champion Groupie Doll.  Back in October in the Grade 1 Jockey Gold Cup at Belmont he'd broken his arm in a spill and today marked his first race back....on my horse.  Sky Blazer was 24/2-3-4 at all other tracks, but at Gulfstream he had a 6/3-1-0 record.  He, like his jockey, had not been to the races in months (since November) but his pp's showed four excellent races first off the shelf.  He had a bullet work and there seemed to be several speed types to set the table for his patented late run.  He was last as they hit the far turn, but then he was FLYING through the lane and in a perfectly judged ride was JUST UP IN TIME!  How exciting for Rajiv Maragh....and for me! 

And the price....he paid $6.20!  Then in the finale it was an even better pay out.  I liked Lightouse Sound who was coming off a six week vacation last time out when just missing.  With one under his belt, and considering he was three clear of ELEVEN other horses off the shelf I thought he was set for a big effort.  He was chasing Fan Base, who'd won on the lead for me last time, but like Change of Command in the earlier race today I thought he'd have pressure. And he did while I sat just off the pace.  Lighthouse made his move to the lead at the top of the stretch then held off the closers late to WIN!  The payoff was generous $10!  So for the day I finished 3-for-5 and cashed for nearly $60 and made a profit of almost $25!