Day 59

TWO WINS Thursday

I was hoping to bounce back off a one-win Wednesday, and while I did win twice, I missed with two seconds and a third with fair-priced runners.  But, unlike yesterday, my "best" of the day - also in the opener (very unusual) was a winner!  The opener today, like yesterday, was a mile and a sixteenth on the grass.  Makaket Millie just jumped off the page to me.  While the rest of the field had struggled against "beaten" claimers at this price level or against 2-lifetime foes, Madaket Millie was dropping out of allowance company and running for a first time tag.  Toss in the rider change from 5-for-118 Joe Bravo to top riding Javier Castellano and it appeared she'd be odds-on.  Such was the case.  The only thing that did NOT go as expected was the pace of the race.  Woderfully Wild, a 10-1 shot, set off on a lonely lead and as they turned onto the backstretch the first pace call flashed up in a glacial :26 flat.  Meanwhile Makaket Millie was mid pack expecting to rally.  The half mile was up in an equally slow :51 flat.  So as they hit the far turn and Millie made her move, Wonderfully Wild had plenty for the sprint to the wire.  But as they ran home you could tell Millie was gaining with each stride, it was a question of getting there before the wire......JUST got to her late in an well-judged ride by Castellano! 

I had tripled the bet, so I cashed for nearly $25.  In the second Just Got Out figured to rally into a speed duel, and he did....but too far back and too late on his move, 3rd.  I didn't have a selection in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th.  In the 6th we were sprinting on the turf.  Tripski was 5/1 in he program and had not been out since last March.  But his numbers fit and he had Castellano.  The pace was wicked, but he was pretty far back.  When heads were turned for home he was FLYING and JUST missed on the wire at a fair 2/1 price.  In the 7th Purely Boy was working on a five-race win streak for Michael Maker.  He'd been a top selection since his last in at least two if not three spots, but had not run.  Once he scratched at the gate and once it came off the turf.  But today he was allowed to go off at a generous 5/2.  He's generally a pace presser or stalker, but in this event Paco Lopez had him at least a dozen off the leader.  He rallied up the inside and was getting to the winner, but was still 3/4 of a length shy at the finish.  Sigh.....  In the 8th Remarkable Teresa was Ron Nicoletti's "best" and deservedly so.  The field had fifty-three races on their collective resumes with a grand total of three combined 80 figures.  Two of Teresa's last three were at that level.  Javier Castellano was winning at a 50% clip for trainer Jane Cibelli.  But like the other also-rans today she was too far back and could not get to the front-runner.  Finally in the 9th I had the front runner.  Isabella Sings was being sent out by Todd Pletcher.  In her debut she'd won sprinting on the turf.  Off that debut she was sent two turns in the Grade 2 Natalma at Woodbine and was a dirty nose short of winning.  Off to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf where she set the pace for six furlongs before giving way late.  So today it was the "early speed, class drop" angle.  The only question was her fitness having not run since the first weekend in November.  But Pletcher returnees, especially 3-year-olds who are coming of sharp juvenile seasons, nearly always run well at Gulfstream for Pletcher.  John Velazquez put her right on the lead and she was clear early.  But she was being tracked and as the two separated themselves from the field, that one collared Isabella.  It was "a show" as track announcer Larry Colmus described it.  The two fillies dueled the length of the stretch but Isabella would not be denied and edged clear in the final 100 yards! 

The price was a short $3.00 but a win is a win!  Finished the day with yet another late runner who was too far back and came up short when Bird Maker was 4th at 3/1.