Day 63

A Day At The Races With My Mom

Well, our day at the races was supposed to be last Saturday, but then came the big washout.  So my Mom felt short changed.  We initially talked about going yesterday, but because Gulfstream hosted the Fasig-Tipton Sales, there was no racing yesterday.  With her flight later today we had time to head out Gulfstream for the first five races.  Right away I got the 14th week of racing at the Championship Meet off on a winning note.  My top pick was Westoniana who left the post as the 4/5 favorite.  A longshot gunned to the lead going this one-turn mile and Paco Lopez had Westoniana right on her hip.  When the opening half mile was called at a sizzling :45 and change I thought I had little chance to hang on.  But as she blew by that longshot leader she quickly opened up five lengths into the lane and no one looked to be making up any ground!  She bounded home in front a daylight winner in spite of getting just a little leg-weary through the final 16th of a mile. 

I had doubled the bet so I cashed for nearly $20.  In the second my choice was Naevia who left the gate as the 6/5 favorite.  She sat mid-pack to the turn and then rallied up four-wide but could not catch the winner who had enjoyed a rail-skimming ride.  I passed the third, but in the fourth I thought that perhaps Yes Mz Olga could provide a little value over the likely favorite La Marquesse.  My pick was a front runner, and had the benefit of the rail.  But, there were other speed types to her outside so there would be no easy lead.  Most significant was that 'Olga had no been to the races since LAST MAY!  But, I was willing to overlook this because her trainer - Michael Petro - had a 40% win rate with long layoffs and a gigantic $10.40 ROI for every $2 bet on his returning layoff horses.  The package was complete for me when I noted he put a seven-pound apprentice rider on board with what I was sure were instructions to "gun to the front and hang on!"  I told my Mom that this was the only question for me, if she got out quickly and did not have to work to get the lead I thought she had a real chance.  The gates popped open and she was in front by two before the others could even get their hooves underneath them.  From there it was a matter of how much as she took them coast to coast.  I was right also right in picking La Mrquesse second as she rallied late to close the exacta.

The pay off was a nice $7.60 and I collected another near $20.  Too bad my Mom had picked these two to bet on, but she bet on La Marquesse to win and Yes Mz Olga to show, so she didn't get much back.  By the time we left after the next (I ran second with Kizuna on the turf) Mom had lost $8.80 on the races, but turned a profit on the day by collecting $10 in winnings at the slots.  Good job Mom!  I had three late picks, but none of them won so I finished two-for-six, a solid 33% to start the week!