April 22 - 23
If you thought last weekend was an abbreviated weekend of racing, this one was even more so. And it was made that way because I only played the Friday card at Keeneland and then very limited selections for Saturday, which was Apple Blossom Day at Oaklawn, because Kim and I would be in Cape Coral for our eldest grandson's first communion ceremony. Here's how the abbreviated racing weekend played out.......I'd looked at the entries for the early part of the week and it did not look like there was anything really of interest to me. But then I read online that the Friday feature at Keeneland was the Grade 3 Doubledogdare and in the entries was 3yo champion filly, Malathaat. She'd won the Grade 1 Ashland here at Keeneland for me last spring and then won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and the Grade 1 Alabama for me last spring and summer. I didn't think she needed her absolute best to win here so I decided to handicap the Friday card. I ran third with my first bet but I got my first win of the week in the fourth, a starter allowance going a mile and a sixteenth to the first finish line. Jump Into The Fire qualified for this $10K starter based on his maiden win three back at Churchill for that price tag. I was hopeful that handicappers would somewhat overlook him as he exited two races at "minor league" Mahoning Valley. But the crowd was too sharp and sent him off as the 7/5 favorite. Right to the front and never was threatened, drawing off by daylight.
Passed the fifth then had a triple investment in the sixth, an entry level allowance for 3yo going seven furlongs. I thought there was a lot to like about Jonathan Thomas' filly, Mouffy. She'd made her debut on the Gulfstream Tapeta surface and had scored impressively with a big 81 Beyer figure. In her second, and most recent start she'd run in an allowance on the "real dirt." That day she faced a winner who was scoring for the third time, the second time under allowance conditions, and who would run next time out in a Tampa stakes. That Mouffy was running in just her second career start, while switching surfaces, AND winners for the first time - then was 2nd beaten a head while almost half a dozen clear of the field made her very appealing. The second out improved Beyer of 85 sealed the deal. The crowd thought the same and sent her off at 3/5. She was handled patiently, saving all the ground into the far turn while a close fifth. Rather than swinging wide the rider waited and sure enough the rail opened up - big enough to drive a Mack truck through! She shot through and ran away to score handily.
Passed the next two before it was time for the big one. Anyone who did NOT want to wager on Malathaat at a short price would not get any kind of argument from me as she was coming off of a layoff and obviously had bigger targets in mind through the season leading up to the Breeders' Cup. But with that said, I WOULD have issue with anyone who tried to convince me that they had a lot of confidence in BETTING AGAINST her. She'd been out eight times and won six with a second and a third. That show finish came facing older, at Del Mar in the Gr 1 BC Distaff. And she'd only lost by 3/4 of a length. Anything close to her "B" game would be good enough I thought - and it was an added plus she'd won the Ashland here last year - and off a layoff - at this same distance. Two longshots sped off to open up a big lead while John Velazquez sat chilly on the favorite in fourth to the far turn. Began eating up ground through the turn and collared the front runner at the top of the lane. She had to be driven out but she was clear by daylight and should move forward off the race. Malathaat was the BEST Bet of the Weekend for me and while I didn't make money, I was rewarded for my confidence in her as a top notch WIN bet.
Saturday we were leaving in the morning for the west coast of Florida. Not sure how the day would play out I made all my bets before we left for the drive across the state. The day got off to a good start as Writeitontheice won at Laurel paying $7.60, so I cashed for $19.00 on my minimum bet.
Ran fifth and second twice before I took the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn. I've never been a fan of Latruska, well not so much not a fan, just I don't believe she's nearly as good as everyone thinks. But she seems to ALWAYS find herself in a graded stakes where the field is suspect at best and/or she is loose on the lead. A short field of five was all the racing secretary's office could come up to contest this $1 Million feature. Perhaps it was due to the new schedule at Oaklawn. In years past Oaklawn opened at the end of January and the racing season ended the week following the Santa Anita Derby/Wood Memorial/Bluegrass Stakes weekend with the Gr 1 Apple Blossom on Friday and the Gr 1 Arkansas Derby on Saturday, closing day. This year Oaklawn opened in early December and will be running through the first of May. The Arkansas Derby came on Florida Derby Day and today's placing of the Apple Blossom put it just two weeks away from the Kentucky Oaks & Derby weekend cards which have plenty of big money races. Regardless, Latruska AGAIN found herself the lone front runner. I just could not go more than a double investment because there were two other quality graded stakes runners that I thought COULD beat her. But as is almost always the case, lone speed rules the racing world and she went wire to wire.
So I was off to a 2-for-5 start and in the black. But I had four seconds, two thirds, and a fourth over the span of the next eleven races with only a single winner - Eastside Cool in a second level allowance at Oaklawn.
Next week I'll be in Ohio and unless I find some spot plays I'll be passing on the week's races and looking to get wins #9,994-10,000 over Derby weekend! And oh yes, we were oh-so-proud of our grandson Cameron at his first communion! Truly he IS "Cam the Man!!!"
Social Media This Week....
First, on Wednesday my former student and current Delta Airline Attendant Michelle posted a photo remarking about it being a good day to fly and her red lipstick. It marked the first day that flights were going to go without a mask mandate so I remarked it was a good thing so people could see her pretty smile, which resulted in several smiles of appreciation.
Second, the Thursday night CBS-4 news featured my gal-pal Karli Barnett on the anchor desk and as per usual we exchanged messages WHILE she was on the air :) Never gets old for me!
And finally, Saturday at our son's house one of my favorite peeps from the Oasis football experience came to join the celebration, "Coach Kelly." Just out of college when Kelly joined the Oasis staff she quickly became a favorite of all the coaches. So sweet, so cute and very personable. Was great to see her again!
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