Day 57

Could He Be THE Derby Horse?

Today was the final full day in New Orleans and it was a GREAT day.  After a great breakfast at Ashton's B & B we headed downtown to the waterfront to get on the bus for our "Super City Tour" of New Orleans.  I enjoyed the nearly two-hour tour, but what was really satisfying was when Kim's Dad remarked that he'd lived in the New Orleans area for many years and didn't know most of what we found out today.  The highlight of the morning was the stop in the City Park and then when Kim and I had lunch at Frank's on Jackson Square where we enjoyed traditional New Orleans fare - Muffalettas and a Hurricane to drink

After lunch we took another bus across the river where we went on a nearly two hour Swamp & Bayou tour and saw many alligators in the wild and got to hold one!  When we got back to Ashton's I was able to check the race replays, and I was MOST anxious to see one race in particular.  In the fifth today was my "BET of the Day" where I thought Todd Pletcher's rising star, Khozan was much the best.  But let's start at the beginning.  In the third race Burning Time looked solid in spite of the barn's 3-for-60 record at the meet.  He'd won three of four at this level and in his last two he faced much tougher than today's group.  He was the 4/5 favorite and was well back throughout before making a mild run to finish fifth.  Valiant Knight in the 4th looked even stronger.  He'd debuted in January in MSW company and today was dropping down for a tag.  The Eddie Kenneally barn was 35% with second time maidens and the fact he had finished only three lengths behind the winner in that MSW start pointed him out.  The crowd sent him off at miniscule odds of 1/5.  He pressed the leader into the lane, apparently ready to pounce, but when the running started he couldn't get by.....second.  Finally, time for Khozan.  He had debuted from post 14 on Holy Bull Day in early January and had dazzled that day in spite of the draw.  He'd been working sharply since and today would be the day that we found out how much talent he might have.  As a half brother to multiple Breeders' Cup champion Royal Delta I thought he might be a super star in the making.  The fact that his connections had been willing to pay $1 million for him at the Fasig-Tipton sale only further made me believe in his natural ability.  The odds were at 2/5 as they left the gate, but were 1/5 by the time the numbers showed for the first time; and that quickly dropped to 1/9 as they moved down the backstretch.  Jockey Javier Castellano had him under a strangle hold as he pressed the leaders into the far turn.  When he finally let him go Khozan did it all naturally as Castellano sat still as a statute.  With every stride he drew clear by more and more lengths and won by at least half the length of the stretch without ever taking a deep breath.  This young colt is OBVIOUSLY something special.  I immediately thought, Florida Derby good?  And later in the day I read online that trainer Todd Pletcher remarked that the Florida Derby was the "next logical" spot for him.  As I reflected on the impressive win I was reminded of how last year's Derby winner, Constitution had won his maiden at the meet, then was even more impressive against entry-level allowance runners before taking the signature race - just like Khozan this winter.  Uh oh! 

But the day was not over!  After running 3rd at 7/5 in the 6th on the turf I had my second winner on the day in the 8th, another Pletcher 3yo.  You may remember my story about Itsonlyactingdad from about a month ago.  He'd left the gate at 9/1 and came within a nose of making my day.  So today, second time out I figured he'd be a short priced favorite, but still he owed me!  He pressed the pace just like in his debut, but today when it was time to put the field away at the 16th pole he accelerated to the wire as much the best. 

But the price - OH MY!  How did the crowd let him go off at that price?  I was delighted to collect nearly $50!  I was a dismal 10th at 8/1 with another Pletcher horse - but hey, just as 'Dad shows, you never know!  Then in the finale I bet on Perfect Tay.  I wrote "....is a value play in a race where the two likely betting favorites have issues...."  Two back he'd scored for this price, but in 3L conditioned company.  Last out in open company he rallied for third.  But, as I noted, what was important was that in that race he was going a full furlong shorter AND he was chasing a loose-on-the-lead runner who a couple of years ago had won a stakes here!  No such opponent today.  He rallied wide and then drew clear in deep stretch. 

Much lie Itsonlyactingdad, the price......wow!  So for the day I made nearly $40 in profits.  And for the week, in spite of the 2-for-12 Saturday (granted I was robbed not once but twice and had the worst kind of racing luck!), I finished with ten wins for a 31% winning average.  Check out the highlights for this week:

Week 12 Highlights