Days 76-77

March 21 - 22: Weekend Highlights

From a racing standpoint, I've seen FAR better weekends. On Saturday I cashed a single ticket as the favorites went down in flames.....the only consolation at the track was that I wasn't the only handicapper who missed all over the board. And I gladly would trade those losses at Gulfstream for the EPIC win by our Florida Panthers Saturday night before a packed house of 17,000 intense fans. The game was the epitome of all the cliches in sports: "do or die," "win or go home," "there is no tomorrow," etc. We are chasing the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot with eleven games left with three of them against the Bruins. We scored first, but they tied it. After a desperate overtime period it went to the shootout and as you can tell by my photo, we WON! Awesome.  On the Sunday card I had eight selections - have to give myself credit for sticking with the handicapping project, and with the betting.  I've learned that in the long run my selections WILL win out at better than 30% so if I go through a stretch where I'm winning at less than that level I know that a day WILL be coming where I will have a big day (or series of days).  I thought it might just be today as in the first race I was betting, the second.  Tsonga had run two Beyers in the 50's in his last two starts (57-52), and while that's not a particularly strong set of figures, of the twenty-five other races run by his rivals nlyONE figure compared to those two....and that one figure was earned by a 19-race maiden!  Tsonga looked to be in complete control from the moment they approached the far turn in spite of being some six or seven lengths off the top four.  But the rider was sitting confidently and when he shook the reins Tsonga started gobbling up the ground and picking off runners one-by-one.  By the time they reached the top of the lane he collared the front runner and just kept on putting daylight between himself and the rest of the field.  He left the gate as a well deserving favorite and was much the best.  But then, more of "the same racing luck" set in.  In the third I was 5th at 6/5 when Acapulquito led into the stretch and gave way;  in the 5th Friend's Pro was also 6/5, and was outrun before finishing a non-threatenin 4th;  Tricoastal was Javier Castellano's first mount of the day and was 4/1.....no threat, 5th at 4/1.  Wow.  Artemis was the 5/2 second choice and was rallying late....second in the 8th.  Simple Love pressed the pace as the 9/5 favorite in the 9th.  But when they hit the far turn she stopped like she was shot and faded off the screen to finish ninth.  The 10th was my "Best" of the day with seven rivals having a total of six turf wins from 43 combined starts; meanwhile Double The Energy held a 7-for-17 turf resume....AND had Javier Castellano.  Completely, COMPLETEL outrun from the start - 6th as the 3/2 favorite.  Wow-squared.  But I have to say that I DID have the thought run through my mind as I clicked over to the next and final replay in the 11th....."you never know."  As they finished loading into the gate I saw that Super Spender had been 4/1 at post time.  Uh oh - he was a Gulfstream 40% Club play for me - class droppers for trainer Jane Cibelli make the club list - so I had the automatic double investment.  A quick mathematics calculation told me a win here would get me back at least $50 and make my day!  He was sitting in mid-pack some seven lengths off the lead as they approached the turn in this five-furlong turf sprint.  But he was hugging the rail saving all the ground.  I could read the jockey's mind - go wide and lose valuable ground, or take the inside route, a much more likely path to the finish line, BUT risk a troubled trip and being stopped.  He held the rail!  As they swung for home he'd closed to forth and a gap opened.  Super Spender accelerated into the opening between horses and BLEW BY TO WIN!!!!!! 

The $10.60 payoff netted me $53 to close the day and bring me back to even in spite of going 2-for-8.  I'll take it!  A great way to finish the weekend and now look forward to Florida Derby Week!