Fall Stars Weekend

Racing Towards The Breeders' Cup

This weekend was Opening Weekend at Keeneland and the "Fall Stars Weekend" featured multiple graded stakes on all three days!  I handicapped the full card for each day and here's the results.....

Friday October 7

I had five races where I had a selection from the ten race card on Opening Day.  I passed the first two races and it was a good thing as both winners ($16.60 and $8.20) were not even mentioned in my analysis of the top contenders.  In the third I liked Scarly Charly who was sent off at 5/2 in a seven furlong, third level allowance.  Trailed from the get-go and showed nothing.  In the fourth I passed, writing it was a "wild and wide-open maiden claimer for two-year-olds."  The winner was a $26.00 upset runner.  Good decisions on the races I've passed so far!  In the fourth we were sprinting six furlongs in a non-winner of two-lifetime claiming event.  It's rare that top North American trainer Todd Pletcher has a claiming horse, much less one entered in a 2-lifetime event.  But that was the case with Sir Alfred.  The Beyer figures he'd earned in his last four were easily, EASILY the best of these and he'd never seen a tag or a 2-lifetime event.  But after a dominant win at Gulfstream to break his maiden at odds-on by fifteen lengths he'd faded in each subsequent try and today would be his sixth consecutive different rider.  No problems today however as he tracked the leaders four wide into the lane, engaged the leader and dueled to the wire, forging ahead narrowly in the shadow of the wire!  

My first win of the Fall Keeneland meet!  Right back into the winner's circle in the sixth - a MSW race going 8 1/2 furlongs with a "first finish line" in the short stretch.  Valadorna looked much the best to me.  When I handicapped the race and typed up my selection sheet I had indicated I would triple the bet.  But when I printed it out I missed that - for some reason my printer when I print a word doc of my selections, it cuts off 1/2 of the icon I use to indicate an increased wager.  This isn't a problem for double investments because the icon is still visible.  But when I add an asterisk, which is my sign for a triple bet, the asterisk is often so close to the icon that I miss it - such was the case here.  Valadorna was wide throughout, but when swung out five wide off the far turn she accelerated to the wire and won going away under a hand ride by at least half a dozen lengths.  

Cashed for nearly $20 (should have been nearly $30, but what are you going to do?).  I passed on the 7th where I had no clue on anyone to even mention with a chance - the winner was a Ramsey horse on the turf which had caught my eye, but the 1-for-17 record was really hard to swallow, especially at a short price.  The 8th was the Grade 2 Phoenix and the prohibitive favorite was AP Indian who was working on a five race win streak, including back-to-back Grade 1 victories at Saratoga most recently.  I had never been a fan and I was eager to go against him.  I liked Ami's Flatter who was a nice 9/2 price.  In all five of his one-turn events he'd won or been close and his biggest speed figure had come in a Grade 3 win, HERE.  AP Indian was being hammered early at 1/9 and I considered switching my bet.  But as I came close to doing that I was reminded that he'd been pointed for the Grade 1 Vosburgh last weekend but had passed due to the off-going.  I never like to bet horses who have last minute changes in planned outings.  My pick came flying late, without being a serious threat to be third at a nice 9/2 price while AP Indian was life-and-death at 2/5 in an oh-so-close photo finish, but he won.  Definitely one to bet against in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.  I had a minimum bet on Diadurda in the 9th, the Grade 1 Alcibiades for two-year-old fillies but she was a distant 10th at 7/2 while a $26.60 upsetter scored.  In the finale I had no inkling, so I passed.  Two-for-five on the day, I'll take it.

Saturday October 8

Today was a big day of racing and I had picks from not only Keeneland but a few from both Belmont and Santa Anita.  As I went through my analysis I wrote very detailed descriptions of not only my choices, but why and a little about the race conditions because my nephew Eric, who lives in Cincinnati, had messaged me that he and some friends were headed to Keeneland for a day at the races.  I was hopeful that I could provide him some winners.  I was at home watching online while I watched college football all day as I would not get to see any games for the next two weeks due to my upcoming river cruise in western France.....ooooh la la!  I lost the first bet when Data Room was a fading eighth in the 2nd at Belmont.  But I bounced back with Bella Bailar in the opener at Keeneland.  This was a non-winners of two lifetime and she was the only one who had never seen a tag or a 2L condition.  She went wire to wire handily.  

And best of all she paid a generous $7.20.  I only had the minimum because I'd been very conscious of trying to structure my bets around my BET of the Day on Tepin in the Grade 1 First Lady later in the day.  I didn't know how Eric was planning to make his bets, but it had to be a positive that we'd won the opener, and I was hoping he'd would impress his new girlfriend.  I texted him but he replied that they had arrived too late and he'd missed making the bet.  Bummer.  I passed the 2nd at Keeneland and ran 5th at 7/2 in the Grade 1 Frizette for two-year-old fillies at Belmont.  I liked Whateverybodywants in the third at Keeneland and he was 7/2 in the early program.  But everyone saw what I did and hammered him down to 7/5 due to him being lightly raced and with a big upside.  He bobbled at the break and then was in traffic throughout the entire race.  A non-eventful fourth.  Boooo.  In the fifth at Belmont Todd Pletcher had two runners and I liked Tommy Macho who was 6/1 in the early program but a tepid favorite at 2/1 at post time.  His stablemate went wire to wire to give Pletcher the win (as the "other 2/1" favorite) while Tommy was a non-threatening fifth.  No bet in Keeneland's fourth and then it was time for my BEST of the day at Belmont, the Grade 1 Flower Bowl for older fillies & mares going a mile and a quarter on the turf.  Lady Eli had been a sensational juvenile and Breeders' Cup Champ and then had a great start to her sophomore season before coming down with what is almost always a fatal disease.  But after a year off she was remarkably back on the track and just missed in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa last time out.  With one under her belt I thought she'd be really hard to beat today.  She made her winning move on the far turn and while it was as sensational as her first six wins had been, the fact that she'd won a Grade 1 event after being off a year with an ailment that many anticipated would not only end her career but take her life made this a remarkable fairy-tale ending.  

On to the Breeders' Cup for Lady Eli! My pick in the Grade 3 Woodford at Keeneland, a 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint was Front Pocket Money who was 30/1 in the DRF program.  I knew he would not be those odds but I did think he'd be a big price.  He was a huge 19/1 at post time and he was a close third - have to be happy with the pick even though he didn't win.  But it was a big disappointment when Stonetastic looked to be the lone speed in the Grade 2 TCA Stakes in Keeneland's 6th and was sent off at even money, but gave way in the final 16th after being loose on the lead throughout.  Just not good enough.  I was second again, and again at a short price when Fantasy Luck was 2nd best at 4/5 in the 2nd at Santa ANita.  At Belmont Favorable Outcome- who had been one of the most impressive 2yo maiden winners of the Saratoga meet - was my pick in the Grade 1 Champagne.  I'd been smart enough to make Favorable Outcome a prime-time play in his debut and he'd paid a huge $9.40 so I cashed for nearly $100 that day.  He was a good 5/2 price and tracked a sizzling pace into the lane before weakening to be third.  Now it was time for the Tepin race.  I KNEW she'd win - after beating the best European males at Royal Ascot two back and then a sharp group of North American males in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last time out, today she faced fellow fillies and mares.  Of the 135 combined races run by her rivals today ONE number could match her last FIVE numbers.  Even if not at her best I KNEW she'd win.  But when 30/1 Photo Call, a Todd Pletcher mare bolted to front.  No worries because Tepin likes to have a target.  But despite average pace splits Photo Call was eight lengths ahead and I was concerned.  She would have to have a complete collapse to not hold on, even if Tepin were at her best.  Tepin made "a move" on the turn but it was far too late.  Easily best of the rest but there was no catching Photo Call who paid over $60 to win on a $2 ticket.  Eric texted me his surprise and I was equally so.  This probably will cost me any chance of a profitable weekend I thought.  Some of the sting was taken out when less than a half hour later Lord Nelson won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint but the 1/2 price did little for the bottom line.  The eighth at Keeneland was the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity for 2yo colts with a ticket to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the line.  I liked Classic Empire who had been the favorite in his most recent when he tossed his rider out of the gate.  The crowd wasn't fooled nor dissuaded by the eleven post.  He made a bold move on the turn and ran away as much the best - impressive as the 8/5 favorite.  

I was happy that Eric should have that one, even if it was a short price.  In the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont I thought Effinex looked much the best and he was the 6/5 favorite.  But he was caught in the shadow of the wire by Bob Baffert's Hoppertunity.  Second for me, again.  The 9th at Keeneland was the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile.  I had thought this was where Tepin would run today and she would have been a prohibitive favorite, as this was not a strong field of milers.  But with her in the First Lady, trainer Graham Motion sent his filly, Miss Temple City here to take on the boys rather than face Tepin.  Ironically, he'd done the same thing in the spring when Tepin ran in, and won, the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, and Miss Temple City had upset the boys in the Grade 1 Makers' Mark Mile.  In fact that race had earned her a lifetime best speed figure.  She was coming in her off of back to back troubled trips and with the field being far from formidable I thought she had a good chance to upset the field.  She immediately was in a good stalking position and as they went down the backside I could tell that the rider had plenty of horse under him.  I began to get excited because I knew I had a very real chance of getting the upset.  Out of the turn she was let loose and she opened up by four lengths.  She seemed home free when here came a late running closer just FLYING on the outside.  Too little, too late - Miss Temple City had sprung the upset!  And check out the price!  

Even better, I'd doubled the bet so I would be cashing for $87 - that took a lot of the sting out of the Tepin loss and I was excited to think that Eric would have the upset winner.  In the finale at Keeneland Commandeering was second as the 9/5 favorite end my day at Keeneland with a record of three for eight and a two dollar bet on them would have cost $16 and returned nearly $30.  I texted Eric and told him I hoped he had stuck with the picks and was rewarded.  He texted back how disappointed he was because he had planned to bet $40 and $60 on those two winners but his friends had wanted to leave early so he didn't get to make the bets - cost him over $500 and he'd missed the earlier winner on the day.  What a disappointment, but a great track story!  My day ended late that evening when Om was second best in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on the turf.

Sunday October 9

The final day of the weekend and I was at first undecided about playing just the single race I was interested in or the entire card.  And then it was decided when I recalled that the deal with my new online account, Xpressbet.com is that any DRF card of past performances I download is FREE if I make at least one $2 investment.  Well, I knew that was going to happen so I got the past performances Saturday morning prior to the start of GameDay on ESPN and handicapped the card.  Nothing in either the first or the third and my pick in the 2nd, Winkadatdawat was fourth at 3/1.  In the fourth we were traveling seven furlongs on the main track in a Maiden Special for two-year-olds.  I liked both of the two runners who formed a powerful entry for Mark Casse, but it appeared that only one would run with one stuck on the also eligible list.  And fortunately for me I liked Speedmeister the best of the two  He had been purchased by owner John Oxley for a huge $650K at the Fasig-Tipton sales and had a sizzling work over the Churchill Downs main track going a wicked :59.3 in a best-of-26 move.  With Julian Leparoux riding, who seems to always do his best work here (except for the Tepin ride yesterday, grrrrrrr) I thought I had a good chance to score.  He tracked the pace four wide (being an entry he was NOT in the 1-slot, but instead posted in gate #9) into the turn and when Leparoux let him loose he took off as TONS the best!

And at a generous $6.40 price I was cashing for over $30 on my first winner of this Sunday afternoon.  I was disappointed in the fifth when Imperia looked easily best on paper and was the DRF Byron King's Best Bet of the afternoon.  This was an entry level allowance going 9 1/2 furlongs on the turf.  His last two figures were better than any of the 59 numbers run by his rivals.  But the rider kept him inside in a bulky field and he was trapped behind horses through the turn, but found room into the stretch; then when given a chance he took off, only to have to slam on the brakes, and then check sharply a second time in deep stretch.  Remarkable he was third as the 3/2 favorite considering all the traffic issues.  In the sixth I couldn't find any 2yo in this 2-lifetime allowance that caught my fancy.  The 7th was a third level allowance-optional claiming and I liked Kathballu who appeared to be a sister or daughter to multiple graded stakes winning Kathmandu who had been a favorite filly of mine several years ago.  She had experience over the track and though she'd not won, both were sharp efforts including a near-miss in the Grade 2 Raven's Run last fall.  She was sent off as the 8/5 favorite and stalked the pace in fourth to the turn.  She glided up easily three wide, and then despite being fanned five wide into the lane she accelerated past her rivals and drew off with authority!  WHOOO HOOOO - two wins and again, at a fair price. 

I had doubled the bet, so the $5.20 payoff generated a return to me of nearly $30!  The eighth was the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf for juvenile colts.  Ticonderoga was my pick and he was the 4/5 favorite for Chad Brown and Javier Castellano.  But while making what looked like a winning move into the stretch he began weaving around and was gawking at the grandstand.  Castellano tried to straighten the colt out but he continued to run greenly the length of the stretch and it cost him the race as he was a fast closing second when he finally got into gear.  The final play of the day was the BET of the Day - in the featured Grade 1 Spinster.  This race is typically a big prep for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, but this year while the winner would have to be considered, it's clear that undefeated three-year-old sensation Songbird WILL be the odds-on favorite in the Distaff and either Beholder or Stellar Wind will be the second choice with the other most likely being the third choice.  But today belonged to I'm A Chatterbox.  I did not want to see her on the lead and as they hit the first turn she was trying to make the lead, but jockey Florent Geroux smartly kept her outside, letting her drift into the three path so the speed horse on the rail would get to the front.  Chatterbox tracked her while full of run to the far turn and when allowed to run she sprinted clear under a hand ride as T-O-N-S the best.  Easy-peasy-pie!

I cashed for over $40 on my final win of the day.  For the day I finished an outstanding 6/3-1-1 and a nice profit.  For the weekend I was 10-for-28, an excellent 38% on the weekend.

And now it's off to France and my solo Viking River Cruise!  See ya' later!

Click here to follow my river cruise adventure

Chateaux, Rivers and Wine

October 1

Breeders' Cup Preview Day

A Day at the Downs

When Keith and I were at the Breeders' Cup last fall in Lexington at Keeneland, Keith remarked to me that he had never been to Churchill Downs.  He asked how close we were and I explained that he had passed Churchill on the way to Keeneland, so we agreed we'd have a racing adventure this fall.  After going through a variety of dates we finally came up with this weekend.  As part of my visit to Ohio this fall, we would meet for a quick adventure in the middle of my family visit.  Three quick stories, which you can read more details on my travel journal for this adventure (click here) were.....(a) when I booked the hotel I got it for free through my Expedia rewards!  (b) the car rental for the week was going to be $250 but I was able to get a car for just the three days and got it down to less than $75!  And, (c) the night before the day at the races we went out to eat at what used to be the original Galt House (very famous and expensive hotel/restaurant in Louisville) in the Troll Pub Under the Bridge.....  

Saturday morning we got up and went to the Derby Museum and by 11:30 we were at Churchill Downs for a day of racing.......After getting reserved seats right on the finish line, under cover (in anticipation of in-climate weather during the afternoon) I had Keith take a photo of me to post on my Facebook page and then we went down to the rail for a photo of the two of us......

When Keith had sat down with the Daily Racing Form last night at the hotel he remarked how much the card seemed like a "Calder card" with very few solid plays.  One of the things which was certainly an amazing thing to see, live, because I'd obviously seen it on broadcasts of the races, but it was new since I'd last been here, was the GIGANTIC jumbotron.  It's mounted over 90 feet in the air and you can fit not one, not two, but THREE NBA basketball courts on the screen.  Now THAT is big!  And it is such a high quality high definition picture, amazing.

I had selections in seven of the eleven races, but with the recent weather two of those scratched out when the races came off the turf.  The opener at Churchill was a mile and a sixteenth claiming event and I liked Compass Stone who left the gate as a tepid 2/1 favorite.  He was in an excellent stalking position three wide into the far turn and stopped once the sprint to the wire started, sixth.  I passed the second.  At Belmont in their third Todd Pletcher's debuting colt Gotta Curlin was 20/1 in the DRF morning program - I wrote in my analysis, "...show of hands, who thinks a Pletcher FTS for Stonestreet Stables with John Velazquez on board will be 20/1...." Sure enough, 5/2 at post time.  Pressed the pace to the stretch and stopped, fifth.  The third at Churchill was a maiden special on the turf.  Now it was off and my horse was scratched.  I made an initial second choice, but then decided against it.  Good thing as he did set the pace as the lone speed, as I thought.  But then stopped like he was shot and was last under the wire at 6/1.  The fourth was an interesting race - it was a maiden special weight going a one-turn mile, and I liked Ma Can Do It - see if you can see my concern:

She obviously has talent, as is obvious from her third place finish in the Grade 1 Alcibiades as a 2yo followed by a fifth in the Breeders' Cup; then a sharp second in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan this year.  But she was odds-on in the June 18th Churchill race, I know I bet her and she was a badly beaten fourth; then in the turf event she again faded as the favorite.  But, as I said to Kim, today I thought she might be a fair price BECAUSE of the nine losses (track psychology that she'd win today) and I thought that going a one-turn mile might be the ideal trip for her.  She was 8/5 as they approached the gate but was hammered late to be 3/5 as they hit the far turn.  She swooped by on the turn, opened up and won as much the best.

I upped the bet on her and Keith pounded her - winner, winner, chicken dinner!  I didn't like anyone in the fifth - we took advantage of the break and had lunch.  Next up, another maiden event, this time 8 1/2 furlongs for two-year-olds and I liked Silent Degree who had improved in each of her three starts.  She also stalked the pace to the stretch, opened up and looked long gone.  But if you watch the highlight video you'll see how in mid-stretch she ran erratically and I thought she had lost the race.  But she found her best stride in deep stretch and held on!  There was an objection and Keith and I were concerned.  But without a steward's inquiry I felt pretty comfortable.

She stayed up - but only paid $4.80, and I only got $12 back on the minimum play.  We headed down to the paddock to check out the horses before the 7th, but I had no bet because it was an off-the-turf event.  I wanted to bet because it was a stakes race, but in the end I couldn't find anyone I liked.  Again a good decision as the horse I liked was a beaten nearly a dozen lengths when fourth at 9/2.  The biggest setback of the day came in the 6th at Belmont when Flintshire was the prohibitive 1/5 favorite in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch going 12 furlongs on the turf.  He was the overwhelming favorite for next month's Breeders' Cup Turf and has been so impressive in three straight wins here in North America.  Today he faced only three rivals and it looked like a foregone conclusion.  Instead a Todd Pletcher runner, who had moved into his barn this year and was WINLESS since 2014 went wire to wire and paid $20 IN A FOUR HORSE FIELD no less, while Flintshire was a dull second.  He will probably not get my vote in the BC Turf after that effort.  The $50 BEST BET investment lost here ended up costing me a profitable day when all the numbers were counted despite some good scores still to come.  I was fifth in Belmont's Grade 2 Gallant Bloom after Wonder Gal made a middle move at 2/1 and then hung; I was a badly beaten 7th with Scurry in Churchill's eighth at 2/1.  Then in the "best" of the day at Churchill Downs Breeders' Cup Sprint Champion came back for his first race since December and stretched out to a one-turn mile in the Grade 3 Ack Ack.  I questioned the trainer who'd only started two horses in all of 2016 - does she know what she's doing? - and the stretch out.  But even if he ran five or six clicks behind his last several Beyers he would win.  He was 1/9 until right before post time when he went up to 1/5.  I thought that was fair.  He pressed the pace but looked from the beginning like he wasn't comfortable.  No response through the lane as we watched from the rail, fourth.  He is another that won't get a dollar of my money on BC weekend.  In the Grade 1 Vosburgh, a six furlong sprint at Belmont I liked AP Indian, but with the wet conditions he scratched.  My first indication was to pass the race - but I'd had many of these already!  My second thought was to go with the horse that initially had been my pick, XY Jet who was shipping up from South Florida.  But like Runhappy he had not run since the spring and was coming off an injury.  As I told Keith, if it was a Gr 3 maybe - but at this level, on the sloppy Belmont track?  As the favorite to boot?  No way.  So I thought I'd pass.  Then I noticed that Joking was on a two race win streak, with numbers good enough to win.  AND best of all, if XY Jet faded after setting fast fractions, which I thought was a very likely scenario, Joking would be running late.  And the VERY BEST of all, on off tracks he was 4/3-1-0.  Well, XY Jet set a rapid :44 flat pace to the stretch and like I thought, stopped as the 6/5 favorite.  But if you'd offered to buy my ticket at this point I'd have sold it to you as Joking was next to last and coming VERY wide.  But through the lane he was F-L-Y-I-N-G and was up in time!  WHOOO HOOO!  And best of all was his price -

Yes, that's right he was 4/1 and I had doubled the bet so I was cashing for $50!  The third stakes of the day at Churchill Downs was the Lucas Classic and I thought that Breaking Lucky would be closing into a contested pace at a nice price.  I told Keith as they were approaching the gate that my pick was overbet as the mild 2/1 favorite and that if either Noble Bird - who'd wired the Grade 1 Clark two years ago or Bradester, who'd wired the Grade 1 Clark this past year, got loose on the lead it was all over.  Noble Bird wired the field at 9/2 while Breaking Lucky showed little.  As they left the gate in Louisville they were running the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont where Forever Unbridled was my top choice as a prime-time play.  As we walked into the simulcast area we could see on the far wall the slo-mo replay of the winner crossing the wire in New York and Keith said, "....it looks like a white saddle cloth...." (which would me it was #2, which was our number).

Sure enough, she'd been TONS the best and I'd be cashing for over $30!  TWO big wins at Belmont, so that's a photo op!  In the finale my pick was Missile Bomb and Keith took the vast majority of his profits for the day and put it on him - he was 16/1 with ten minutes to go, then dropped to 8/1 and finally 4/1.  As they turned for home and he made his move for the lead I really thought Keith was about to cash for nearly $1000, but Missile Bomb could not get by - third.  We headed to the car and I dropped Keith off at his auto at the hotel and we headed out.  I was home by 9:30 - it was a great drive with it staying light until after 7:30 as I drove through the northern Kentucky hills.  First thing once I got home was I watched the replays from Santa Anita.  In the 2yo race, the Grade 1 Forerunner my pick Klimt was grossly overbet to 1/5 and trailed to the far turn.  FLYING late, but way too late, second.  In the Grade 1 Awesome Again, the prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic, the best horse in the world currently, California Chrome, romped under a hand ride.  You know if a 2yo was 1/5 he had to be 1/9, right?

Somehow he got away at 2/5 and my BET of the DAY investment got me back $140!  I had told Keith that the day's profit would be determined by Beholder's performance in the Grade 1 Zenyatta where she looked to get revenge on Stellar Wind who upset her in their last meeting.  I was certain she'd win because today she would NOT be forced to be on the front end and I think she's much more effective from off the pace.  Instead she went right to the front - Stellar Wind came to her at the top of the lane and they dueled to deep stretch before Stellar Wind edged clear, again.  For the day a solid 5-for-15, but lost a little money on the day.

It was a great racing adventure and yet another great trip to add to my collection of retirement trips!  Next up in two weeks, the solo cruise in France!

A Day at the Downs

October 1, 2016

Day at the Downs

While visiting my family in Ohio Keith and I met at Churchill Downs for a quick 36 hours and spent the day Saturday at Churchill Downs.  Like ALL racing adventures, multiple stories worth telling - just adds to the continuing fascinating adventures I am so fortunate to enjoy during my retirement! Two excellent tales to tell ..... for the detailed racing day, CLICK HERE

When I booked the trip I went to Expedia to find a hotel close to Churchill Downs and the Interstate for convenience.  Found a Howard Johnsons Express Inn and when I went to pay for it my Expedia account popped up a window saying, "Congratulations, you have earned enough points to pay for your hotel stay!"  So the hotel was FREE!  Next I needed to get a car for transportation from my Mom's home in Columbus to Louisville.  I tried adding on a car to my flight on Southwest airlines but when I went through the purchase process the total price was going to be $250 and change for a week's rental.  I don't think so.  I then googled car rental agencies close to the house and found one for about $110.  I'll take it!  Then when my Mom picked me up at the airport and I asked her about taking me to the car rental place late on Thursday she asked which agency it was.  When I said Enterprise she reminded me they would pick me up!  So I called them and arranged that, which also allowed me to cut a day off of the rental.  The Enterprise people picked me up about 10 am on Friday and I returned the car Sunday morning.  What could have been about a $400 weekend expense for hotel and car turned out to be less than $75!  WHOOOO HOOOOO!  The next great story to tell was about the first evening in Louisville.  Before leaving Columbus I asked my Mom if she could think of any good restaurants from when we used to visit Louisville that we could go to.  She said the only one she could think of off the top of her head was the Galt House - which is a VERY nice (and expensive) restaurant.  I knew we wouldn't want to spent that much money so I figured I'd ask at the hotel.  When we arrived Keith told me he had a place he wanted to try that was recommended to him from a guy he works with in Illinois who graduated from the University of Louisville.  The name of the restaurant is the "Troll Pub Under the Bridge."  Keith told me he was told it was right under a bridge, across the street from the basketball arena in downtown Louisville.  Because Keith had never been to Churchill Downs we decided to head over to the track and check it out.  This would enable Keith to get a Racing Form to handicap the races and get a quick tour of the iconic facility before the big race day.  As soon as we walked in I checked out the gift shop because for over five years I've been looking for a Churchill Downs polo shirt, but all they have had is Kentucky Derby shirts.  Even when we visited here in 2011 for the Breeders' Cup and 2013 for "Downs After Dark."  I'd looked many times online but to no avail.  But today, lo and behold a full selection and so I purchased one and a lapel pin!  We walked around and I showed Keith the "biggest jumbotron in the universe," the iconic twin spires, and where we'd sat for the Breeders' Cup (right on the rail at the 16th pole; where we had seats for the 2012 Kentucky Derby; and where we were - and planned to be tomorrow - for Downs After Dark in 2013.  We then headed over to the Derby Museum to check out the hours for tomorrow morning prior to our day at the races.  After finding out they opened at 8 am - plenty of time to see it all before racing began, we set out for dinner.  We found the pub using the GPS but as we "arrived at your destination" we could not see the pub until it was too late and we passed it.  Unfortunately we were on "the bridge" from the name of the place and this carried us across the river to Indiana!  We made a U-turn and found a parking lot right across the street.  We descended the stairs - a la "Cheers" and found a really cool pub with a unique menu.  But here's the best part....when we asked the waitress about what the building had originally been she told us that it was the ORIGINAL GALT HOUSE!  How ironic.....we were going to eat at the Galt House and in fact we did!  When we left the pub and looked, not only was it genuinely across the street from the arena, you literally could walk out of the arena after a U of L basketball game and within fifty yards be in the pub - after walking, as the name implies, under the bridge!  A very unique experience as you can tell from the photos below. 

We were both tired from a long day of driving and were asleep early.  Saturday morning we awoke, checked out and asked for a close by breakfast spot.  So happy to discover that within two blocks of us was one of my favorite breakfast restaurants, a Cracker Barrel!  By about 8:45 we were at Churchill Downs to check out the museum.  An added benefit was we had arrived before it cost to park and found a spot right on a side street, saving us $10.  Got inside the museum in time to see the next showing of their featured film, "The Greatest Day In Racing" followed by a half-hour tour of the Churchill Downs track which included a walk around the paddock and out to the track while learning several things about the history of Churchill Downs!  Didn't know we'd get to do that and it was very interesting, even to me who has been here several times and seen most of these things.  Pics from the morning's walk:  

We then headed into the museum and looked around for about an hour.  We had about an hour before the gates opened so we walked across the street, got a soft drink and chatted out in the car before goin inside.  We got box seats right on the finish line and found a table in the simulcast area to "hunker down" for the day.  I won two races on track and scored with three simulcast races from today's "Breeders' Cup Preview" programs at Belmont and Santa Anita, including my BET of the Day at Santa Anita with California Chrome.  More photos of the day and race-by-race analysis and stories can be found on my racing journal, click here.  Right after the final race we headed back to the hotel to pick up Keith's car, say good-bye and head out on our separate journeys.  The weather for the drive back was gorgeous and I made great time, arriving back in Columbus about 9:30 pm.  The end to another great adventure of my retirement!

A Day at the Downs

Recap Video

September 25

Closing Day At Monmouth

We can officially move into the "Fall Championship Season" now as the summer racing season can be closed as racing on the Jersey Shore comes to an end today.  I made my bets from the hotel room in Philadelphia before we left to come home and then watched the replays after dinner at home.  I had six bets on the final card at Monmouth, the first of which was in the opener, a non-winners of three lifetime sprint where Warp Nine was a the final Monmouth 40% Club play of the meet.  When Kathleen DiMasi gives Jose Ferrer a leg up they have won at club levels and he was on board while dropping in class.  The fact that he'd been on the pace dueling through :21.4 and :45 flat fractions told me he'd be winging it on the front end.  Sure enough, he gunned to the front and was long gone at the furlong pole, but then began to shorten stride.  JUST enough to last to the wire!  

I had doubled the bet and he went off as a very nice 2/1 price, so I cashed for $30 to kick off the Sunday action!  In the third I had Big Yum on the turf but he was checked not once, but twice on the far turn before flying late to grab third.  In the fourth it was another restricted sprint, this one for non-winners of two lifetime.  Scotland Bay was trained by the meet's leading conditioner, Jorge Navarro and it looked like his uncoupled entry would help ensure a lively pace so that Scotland Bay would have a target to close on.  When first claimed, Navarro had won three in a row with this guy before he had his streak snapped by a loose-on-the-lead winner (that I had at a nice price!) and then most recently he'd been in allowance company.  The drop in for a tag AND restricted company along with a best-of-71 bullet work told me he was well meant.  He tracked the leaders to the top of the lane, dueled to the final two hundred yards and edged clear for my second win on the afternoon!  

I had tripled the bet and the 9/5 final odds allowed me to add over $40 to my Xpressbet account.  In the sixth I had the prohibitive 3/5 favorite, Rosie P.  She dueled with my second choice, Runaway Train who was the 6/5 second choice but couldn't keep pace late, second.  But I won again in the eighth with Foxhall Drive.  This was a claiming event on the turf and when I looked over the past performances it was clear to me that if 'Foxhall ran either of his last two turf numbers - where he'd been a just-miss second for $25K and a dominant winner for $20K - then he'd win today.  It was a "duh" selection for considering today he was dropping in for a $16K claiming tag.  Listed at 6/1 in the program was stealing if he went off at even half those odds.  He was given a superb ride as he rallied from off the pace while riding the rail and got a fast front-end set-up.  Drew off as clearly the best through deep stretch for my THIRD winner!  

Almost paid the hoped-for half of the program price as he was 5/2 on the board and paid $7, so I cashed for $35 to ensure a winning day on the final day of racing her in New Jersey.  I was pretty confident I'd win one more as Visionary Ruler was the odds-on 2/5 favorite in the featured second level allowance sprint.  He was cruising on a daylight lead before getting nailed on the wire!  Second, boooo.  But for the day I made over $30 and was 3-for-6.  The final day enabled me to post these final numbers for the Monmouth Handicapping Project:

Monmouth Handicapping Project Highlights

Summer 2016

September 25

Pennsylvania Derby Day

THIS is exactly the kind of adventure I had envisioned when I retired.  I have to admit that I thought nearly all of my retirement trips would be very much like this, and for quite some time they were.  But then I branched out and have begun to take BIG adventures for multiple weeks to international destinations.  But last spring I laid out a plan for 2016-17 that would include more weekend racing adventures.  The first was intended to be a week ago to Erie for the Presque Isle Masters Stakes, but Kim's health forced us to cancel.  With her well on the way to recovery I was free and clear to head out this weekend.  What makes this THAT kind of adventure?  It had all the elements - fly to a different city/state (check) where there is a big race (check); WIN the big race (check); have a good dinner following the racing adventure (check); and fly home relatively soon after the adventure (check)!  Add in that this trip included being able to share the day with my buddy Jim Anderson AND that I had probably the single best day of handicapping on a racing adventure (or at least close to it) and you've got the recipe for a phenomenal weekend.  Here's how it all went down......

First, making the reservations.  I had considered making this trip ever since early August when I read that unbeaten champion Songbird was targeting the Grade 1 Cotillion on the Pa Derby card.  But every time I looked for flights on Southwest Airlines web page the best I could find were to leave on Friday and return Sunday which required two nights at a hotel.  And while I'd done that in 2012, I really was more about just flying in, enjoying the day and returning home (since, at the time I was schedule to be in Erie the previous weekend, Ohio the next weekend, and then in three weeks I'll be in France on a solo river cruise).  I just wasn't happy with this set-up.  Then about mid-month I tried looking on Expedia.  And lo and behold there was the perfect set-up on American Airlines.  I made a preliminary booking and discovered I could get round-trip airfare - direct flights no less - that would put me in Philadelphia the morning of the race and return by 1 pm the day after, with a hotel and a rental car for about $280.  I decided to sleep on it and the next day I told Kim I was going for it.  I went online to book it and the rate had changed.....it was LESS!  The total package price was a little over $260 and I purchased it.  So Saturday morning I was up around 4 am, at the airport by 5 am and we boarded about 5:45 am.  Landed in Philadelphia at 8:45 and when Jim and I exited the terminal to catch the shuttle for the rental car we were greeted by delightful 62 degree weather!  This is nice!  We got the car easily and I set the GPS for the hotel which was located near the track.  Since the trip from the airport to the hotel was less than 45 minutes according to our directions we would have plenty of time to check in before heading to the races since the first post was at 12:25.  We got off of I-95 and followed the directions to a traffic light where we were to turn left - sure enough, there was the Extended Stay America hotel less than 200 yards to our left....but if we turned right, there was Parx race course!  HOW CONVENIENT!  We were unable to get the keys to our room but the "check-in" was simply having them see our reservation.  The girl told me she'd have everything waiting for me when we returned after our day at the races and/or dinner.  So we headed across the street to Parx.  As we waited at the light, there on our left - a parking lot distance from the hotel - was one of my favorite restaurants, Carrabbas.  We agreed that would be perfect after our day of playing the ponies.  We parked, walked in and immediately got our free hat (Jim is wearing his in the photo below).  We checked out the shirts for sale and it was disappointing - the only polo shirts had the Parx logo, nothing about the Derby/Cotillion like they had had in 2012, and the logo was MASSIVE.  No thanks.  The weather was so cool Jim remarked he might have to get one of the fleece sweatshirts!  We went out on the apron and had one of the Parx staff take our photo before the beginning of the big day!  

We headed upstairs to check out our table that I'd reserved in the clubhouse.  This became the second, and fortunately last disappointment of the day.  When I'd come in 2012 the staff had been so very nice and I had a table that overlooked the track.  Nearly every table does.  But today when we checked in the hostess said she recognized my name, but I could tell as she looked down the list that she wasn't seeing it.  So she said "Here's your table" and gave us a table up against the wall, away from the windows.  Not what I wanted.  I asked about one with a view and she apologized but remarked that it was easy to "get up and look over the ledge" and that was true.  Not ideal, but ok....at least we have seats for the day.  Then they brought "the menu."  It was a $26.99 three-course special.  After having drinks we asked for a menu with more choices, "Sorry, that's it for today."  So let me get this straight, we have a table, where we can't see the races, and a menu that requires us to purchase a full dinner/meal (which we were not happy with the items anyway).  Jim and I quickly agreed we could do better on our own so we told them they could give our table to someone else as we were moving on.  And so we headed down about 30  steps right up against the glass here on the fifth floor where we had a bird's eye view of the stretch and finish line (you can see in the video at the bottom).  At the top of the steps were the betting windows and monitors for simulcast races.  Who could ask for anything else?  And as a "side benefit" the trips and and down the steps would be "good exercise" for the day (at the end of the day my FitBit showed I walked nearly 4 miles and covered 18 flights of stairs!).  We were ready for some racing!  

I have to admit I was a big anxious because when Jim had traveled with me last fall to Toronto for the Woodbine Mile I'd had one of my worst handicapping days.  It was a great trip and we enjoyed the racing, but I'd gone 0-for the day.  So the first race saw both of us on the rail runner, Apache Queen who looked to take them wire to wire.  She was a healthy 9/2 and the short-priced favorite wasn't even in my top three.  The gates popped open to start the day and the announcer's first statement was, "Apache Queen reared at the break and was left way behind."  Really?  Yes, really.  Trailed the entire trip and was a distant tenth.  Wow.  And the favorite won.  In the second I liked Pea Shooter Pro.  Sat farther off the pace than I thought he would, made a strong bid on the turn at 2/1 then hung through the stretch as a 35/1 horse won and I was a well-beaten sixth.  Next up was my first play from Monmouth where I thought Irie Mon looked much the best.  Sent off at 4/5 he stalked the pace, and then ran evenly to be fourth.  This is NOT going the way I envisioned the day!  The third race at Parx was on the turf, going nine furlongs in a 2nd level allowance event.   I thought Best Bard looked really hard to go against in here.  First of all he was the only one with experience at the nine furlong distance (brought to mine the racing adage that you "never bet a horse to do something he's never done before"), including a WIN at the distance last time out.  Also, he was shipping in from Woodbine which I would say is a notch better company than runners here at Parx.  He he'd won twice this summer over the Woodbine course.  Finally, he was bringing top Woodbine jockey Eurico DaSilva.  I typically don't often like horses coming off of a win - unless they are consistent stakes winners - so that was a knock against Best Bard.  Conversely three of his last four Beyer speed figures would win this by daylight.  Two back he'd been a very close third against a horse named Glenville Gardens who had exited that race to set the pace in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last weekend.  Best Bard tracked the pace to the top of the stretch and DaSilva made his move.  As they passed the sixteenth pole there were five of them head-bobbing for the lead.  Three of them hit the wire together PHOTO FINISH!  I was pretty sure from my vantage point that I'd been just in front.  And the photo proved me right.  Best Bard had been the favorite, but at a fair 9/5 price so with my triple investment I cashed for over $40 and suddenly I was nearly even for the day!  WHOOO HOOO!  

The next race on the sheet was the 4th from Parx.  This was an entry level allowance sprint and Javier Castellano was on board Imperial Hint who was my top choice.  The race looked very competitive, but there appeared to be a lot of speed signed on.  With the wide draw in post 12 I figured he'd get a good pressing/stalking trip.  He'd debuted with a blow-out victory at Tampa then won the state-bred Sophomore Stakes with a big 94 Beyer.  Either of these would win today.  After that he'd been in back-to-back graded stakes without success.  Off for several months he'd returned to be a solid second at Monmouth while clear of a next-out winner who was third.  AND since that race he had two sharp works - a near bullet in a sizzling :59.2 and a best of 83 bullet work.  He broke sharply but Castellano let him settle as he glided down inside in front of the majority of the field.  They hit the turn and while he was wide, he was fourth and in a perfect spot.  As heads turned for home he was asked to open up and he burst away from the field!  TWO IN A ROW!  I'd doubled the bet so I cashed for nearly $30.  

I told Jim that already it's been a VASTLY better day than Woodbine Mile Day was :)  I was third as the 1/2 favorite in the first stakes of the day at Laurel when Two Notch Road finished evenly.  I passed the fifth at Parx and made a series of bets which included the sixth here.  I backed up to look at the monitors to check the prices on my three runners and noted that my horse here at Parx was a remarkable 9/1.  OK, granted it's early in the betting, but that doesn't seem right.  Checked my analysis and I noted that he was the program favorite.  Hmmmm.  Opened up my program and saw that my horse was #5, but I'd listed him as #6 on my sheet.  Uh oh - NEVER return a ticket like this, the "racing gods" may be trying to give me a $100 bonus.  I considered keeping it, but then thought better of it and took my ticket back to my new-found teller friend.  I told her what I was doing and she might want to bet the #6!  At Monmouth Rhythm Queen was a juicy 5/1 and led into the final 100 yards then was nailed in the final strides.  Man, that would have been nice!  In the sixth at Parx my 5-horse, A Fleet Attitude beat every runner in the field, except the 25/1 lone speed.  Best-of-the-rest second.  Thankfully that winner was NOT number six!  The next race on my sheet was the first of two stakes races on the turf at Belmont Park, the Ashley T. Cole.  This nine furlong race was a state-bred stakes and there were four in here that had taken turns beating each other, and I recognized three of them who'd been doing this for several years.  So when I see this kind of collection I always look for the "new shooter" to the race.  No good ones.  Did any of the "old pals" look to have an edge over the others?  I found it!  Kharafa - who've I had winning tickets on before - was the ONLY one of these who likes this extended distance with a career mark of 3/2-0-1.  I also liked that two back he was a sharp second in the Grade 3 Oceanport at Monmouth for jockey Antonio Gallardo who was riding today.  This is all good enough for me!  Gallardo gave this one a masterful ride as he saved ground all the way to the turn, then when he could have steered him outside to be clear for the stretch run, he smartly saved ground to the stretch.  The longshot leader had separated himself and a seam opened up.  Gallardo hit the GO button and Kharafa took off.  He got a big jump on the late running favorite and was easily clear to win.  

And best of all, despite being 9/5 in the program he was 5/2 at post time!  The $7.50 mutual meant I'd cash for nearly $20 on a minimum play!  NICE!  In Laurel's 5th, the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks I liked Stella Rose.  I was encouraged when Laurel handicapper, and GP analyst last winter, Gabby Gaudet also liked her.  She was the 8/5 favorite and made a strong bid on the turn but was carried wide into the lane.  She was fourth under the wire and while the incident didn't help her chances I'm pretty certain she would not have won anyway.  Next up was the first of the four stakes races here at Parx - The Alphabet Soup Handicap.  Ever since I was here in 2012, Pennsylvania Derby Day has always been a big day for me (much like Preakness Day has been).  And on that day when I was last here I won this very race!  I thought this was a toss-up race, but last Monday I made the mistake of not siding with top national rider Florent Geroux and his horse beat mine in the featured Grade 2 Masters at PID and paid $22.20 for winning the headbob.  I vowed not to let that happen again.  So with all other factors being equal, I went with his mount, Granny's Kitten trained by Michael Maker and sporting the familiar silks of Ken & Sarah Ramsey.  He had him stalking the pace into the stretch, made his move up the rail, but he could not get away from the top two.  Stretch duel to the final 100 yards before the Kitten edged clear by a narrow margin!  My THIRD WIN at Parx!  Sent off as the 7/5 favorite I only had the minimum, but still, I'd rather cash for $12 than toss the ticket.  As an added bonus Jim had the winner as well!

I missed at Monmouth before it was post time for the next at Parx, the Pennsylvania Derby Championship - not the Pa Derby mind you.  This race also looked wide, wide open.  But as I went through the race I determined I did NOT like four of the seven slated to go.  Mr. Jordan had been DQ'd from a win in a listed event at GP when he was TONS the best.  But he came back to win the Grade 3 Pegasus as a 3yo a year ago June.  But since he'd lost eight straight including a simple handicap on the Tampa Bay Derby undercard where again I thought he was tons the best and bet him.  He's NOT for me.  Encryption had two stakes wins locally in similar races, but he'd twice been badly beaten by Mr. Jordan - toss.  Bodhisattva was a deep closer who was too slow.  And War Story  had last won in a 3-lifetime race in the slop at Thistledowns - no.  Two others looked to be destined to run each other into the ground leaving me with my top pick, Cyrus Alexander.  This colt was listed at a big 6/1 in the program and was trained by Jerry Holldendorfer who was here with his star, Songbird.  Top west coast rider Rafael Bejarano was slated to ride and he looked like he'd stalk the dueling leaders.  He exited three straight graded stakes, including a win in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap three back.  I was spot on with my handicapping as one of the front-runners emerged with the lead into the lane with Mr. Jordan in hot pursuit.  Cyrus Alexander was in third but at the furlong pole but was spinning his wheels.  As they raced to the 16th pole I knew I was not winning.  But suddenly it was like he opened his eyes and accelerated like his hair was on fire to be just up in time to hand Mr. Jordan his ninth consecutive loss and I was cashing my fourth ticket at Parx.  I am having a pretty good day!

Like Granny's Kitten I had the favorite and had only bet the minimum.  But again, I'd much rather cash for nearly $15 than toss the ticket :)  Typically I do not like to add up my numbers for wins and losses, but especially don't like to add up the bets & wins for fear of trying to "get back to even" so my guess was I was probably near even for the day as we headed into the final two hours of racing.  And now was "fish or cut bait" time because the last ten races on my selection sheet were all added money investments with seven of those above the double down play and three of them being "Best of the Day" bets.  First up I was looking for a big upset in Monmouth's 7th with Battle Tale who loved the distance of this allowance race.  He was 6/1 - fifth without much of an effort.   Then I KNEW if I won any races at Laurel it would be with American Patriot, a Todd Pletcher turf horse, in the Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby - my "Laruel Best."  He was cooking at 8/5 into the stretch, then ran evenly while finishing a close fourth.  Booooo.   Here at Parx the first of the graded stakes was the Grade 3 Gallant Bob, a six furlong sprint.  I had Castellano on Threefiveindia at 3/1.  Strong move up the rail and bid for the win.....couldn't get by, third.  Because there is no outdoor grandstand I knew there'd be a HUGE crowd at the rail to watch Songbird in the 10th, the Grade 1 $1 Million Cotillion Stakes so Jim and I headed down.  While we were waiting at the rail I opened up Xpressbet to try and watch the feature from Monmouth, a second level allowance, but the race had already finished!  I watched the replay later and my top choice, Fuzzy Muzzle looked out of it on the turn and the announcer even remarked in his race call that he "didn't have it today."  But as they hit the stretch he came FLYING up the inside and was up in time!

I'd doubled the bet and would cash for over $20.  It was approaching time for the Cotillion and this looked to be a great race.  Many national handicappers had said that today was "the day" to get Songbird.  She was coming off of back-to-back wins at Saratoga and had shipped across the country to run in those races in the heat and humidity AND had been tested to a degree she'd never been tested, though to be fair she won by daylight in both.  In addition she now was coming back across the country, running on a new track, AND was obviously pointing for the Breeders' Cup in her next start against older star mare Beholder.  She wouldn't want to have a taxing race today so you could believe she wasn't 100% cranked up here.  In addition she'd face to two best 3yo fillies other than herself in Grade 1 Acorn winner Carina Mia who made Songbird work hard in the Grade 1 CCA Oaks, and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia.  This filly also had the advantages of (a) being based here, and had been visually impressive in the prep for this race HERE a month ago.  She was the strong 5/2 second choice in the betting.  Early in the day Jim asked me what price we'd get and I said I'd be surprised if we didn't get 2/5 and probably 3/5 because of all these factors.  But with minutes to post time Songbird was 1/9 on the board!  The starting gate was just down the stretch from us and we got to see the break and watch as these great fillies blew by the first time.  Songbird broke sharply, but conceded the lead to Carina Mia (surprising she'd go to the front, but hey, they'd tried rating off of her and that didn't work) into the turn.  I wasn't sure but it looked to me heading into the far turn that Mike Smith was having to ask Songbird to run, but then she glided up to challenge and I thought "HERE WE GO!"  But instead Carina Mia wasn't about to concede easily and now Cathryn Sophia had begun her run and was closing in from third.  They turned into the stretch and it looked like a horse race!  But then as we were cheering on the rail Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith gave Songbird the "go ahead" cue and under a hand ride she accelerated to the finish line in an easy, daylight score!  Well worth the price of the trip to see the unbeaten champion run right by us!

When Smith was the regular rider for unbeaten champion Zenyatta he took her to the middle of the track in front of the grandstands on several occasions so the crowd could appreciate her.  Today he did the same with Songbird and when he turned her to face the crowd they were right in front, and I mean RIGHT IN FRONT of Jim and I.  Truly a memorable moment and I captured it all on video - watch the highlights below!  I had debated about how much to bet, and had been a little leery because we'd traveled here and what the "experts" were saying.  I didn't want to "lose" the day with one single bet, but the more I thought about the more I was convinced that this is simply one special filly who probably could win the Pa Derby coming up next against the colts.  I was ALL IN with a BET of the Day $100 investment!

The crowd had poured in the late money on Carina Mia, knocking her down from 40/1 to 6/1 in the final minutes and this allowed Songbird to float up to 1/5, which honestly was a fair price.  Then she paid a click higher at $2.60 and I was cashing for $130 on my second win in a row and FIFTH of the day here at Parx!  We decided to hold down the fort at the rail so I opened my phone to watch my "BEST" of the day at Belmont in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel where I liked Ms McDougal.  Like the Monmouth race the results were already in.  If I'd watched it I would have known to be concerned because this filly is a stalker or closer but right out of the gate she went to the front.  This cannot be good.  But through the stretch she widened her margin with every stride and ran away with ease!

My "prime time" play earned me over $40 for my third win in a row!  I changed tracks on my phone and was in time to see the field hit the far turn in The Oakley Stakes at Laurel - a 5 1/2 furlong sprint.  Rapid Rhythm was in mid-pack as they turned for home and looked too far back.  But she too found a whole other gear and ran by the first five like they were tied to the rail to win going away!

I had tripled the bet here and so would cash for nearly $25 more!  In the Pennsylvania Derby I told Jim that I thought the most likely outcome was that a "go figure" longshot would win.  But I also thought I'd give Kentucky Derby champion one more chance.  If he would just rate off the leaders I thought he had a good shot.  I read on Friday that that was the plan and I felt even more confident.  He sat third off the pace to the stretch and made his bid for the lead......and ran evenly to the wire to be 4th at a fair 6/5.  The winner - 10/1 on a Javier Castellano-ridden horse.  For Chad Brown no less.  Wow.  We went inside as they were getting into the gate for my final race, the Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel.  My pick Rose Brier was the heavy favorite but she was fourth into the turn and I had my doubts.  But top Maryland jockey Trevor McCarthy had a ton of horse and when he let her go she blew by and won by double digit lengths as TONS the best - my FIFTH win in a row!

When I went up to the teller's window I was able to hand over winning tickets that added up to $232 in winnings and now I was pretty certain I'd had a good day :)  In retrospect it didn't take that long to get out of the crowded parking lot, though at the time it seemed to be moving slowly.  We shot across the main road to Carrabbas and sat down at the bar and ordered drinks and dinner.  Jim and I reviewed the day and added up our totals - I finished an amazing 10-for-22 on the day and made a profit of well over $100.  WHOOOOO HOOOOOO!  What a great day!  We watched college football for a while then were up around 6 am for a 7 am departure to return the car and head to the airport.  While we waited to board I picked up the local paper and read the write-up on Songbird's impressive win.  

We were boarded around 9:30 and flew incident free back to South Florida where we landed about 12:45.  By around 1:30 I was sitting at home with a giant smile on my face from a great racing adventure.

Pennsylvania Derby Day 2016

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