June 20 - 23
Well, the weekend was originally to be highlighted by the Northern Stars Turf Festival at Canterbury with a 6pm post time on Saturday. But at around 5:30 when I went to check for scratches, I discovered it was raining and all the turf events were moved to the main track. Had six selections from the eight races and five of them were scratched. Sigh....so I abandoned the card and called it a day. Kicked off the week with a few picks on Thursday and again on Friday where Monmouth ran their first mid-afternoon Friday card that will continue through the end of the summer season over Labor Day weekend.
Thursday kicked off the racing week as I had twilight selections from Churchill and Woodbine. But as I was starting to watch the FanDuel broadcast they were about ten minutes out from the start of the 9th race at Gulfstream. EVERYONE noted that Great Venezuela was an almost certain winner of this five and a half furlong starter event over the all weather and would be pointed towards stakes action next. Well, if they're "giving money away" why not. Invested in the race and watched as Great Venezuela tracked the speed into the turn, eased by and ran off as easily best.
Only had one more winner on the day (from five selections) but Papilio was the "best" of the day at Churchill Downs. Since arriving in North America he'd run in EIGHT graded stakes and seven of those saw him run very strongly. OK, so he'd only won once, but the drop into this second level allowance made him the clear class of the field. Tracked behind a wall of horses into the far turn, found a seam at the top of the lane, burst through and was long gone.
Friday marked the first time Monmouth would be running three times each week. I had five picks from the late afternoon, eight-race card. In the second, a 2yo MSW I thought firster Noble Force was a solid choice in spite of the fact that all seven were making their career debut this afternoon. A best-of-85 bullet work, oh my, for trainer Jorge Delgado (19% win rate with FTS and 29% with his 2yo) and with Paco on board he looked ultra-live. Pounded down to even money he broke a step slowly, recovered to get to the front before the opening quarter mile was done. Challenged immediately by a 7/1 outsider he put that one away turning for home and drew off as MUCH the best.
Passed the 3rd and the 4th before coming to another maiden event, this one for 3 and up going a mile and a sixteenth on the grass. When stretched out to two turns on the grass after a dirt sprint debut Main Beach had improved her Beyer significantly. Closed with a rush to be 2nd best. The $525K filly looked like a good bet to me. By the time they'd turned down the backside she'd put her head in front and that was the end of that. Went off at a generous 9/5 so I cashed for almost $30 on my final winner of the day.
Saturday's racing was "highlighted" by the Ohio Derby card at Thistledowns in Cleveland, but with the exception of the Derby the other races were not anything to really write home about, so by and large it was just "a day" at the races. I was very much looking forward to the 6pm post for Canterbury Park where it was Northern Lights Turf Festival Night and I had six selections. But around 5:30 pm when I checked in there it was rainy and all races were off the turf, costing me five of my six picks to I scrapped the entire card from my selection sheet. Got started right out of the gate in the Monmouth opener, a claiming turf sprint. On the Dot had beaten $40K rivals last time out and her four Beyers beat every one of the most recent figures from her rivals by a pole. Tracked in third and cried out for running room into the lane. Finally got clear, surged and was up in time.
The opener at Thistledown went off less than five minutes later, a MSW going a two-turn mile. Normally I'm not a fan of horses like Gut Instinct who was exiting back-to-back seconds in races like this. Especially at a smaller venue like TDN. BUT his last two Beyers were better than anything else on the page. Right to the front, collared and headed into the lane ("this is over") but re-rallied and edged clear late at a very nice $8.40 payoff.
Missed at Churchill & Monmouth before, surprisingly, got back to the winner's circle with a starter optional claiming at Thistledowns. My top pick was NOT a bet, but as the wagering opened, Reckless LJ was being pounded in the multi-race pools and the WIN pool. Looked at the Form and figured everyone else must "know something" that I wasn't seeing, so I jumped on board - I'm sure the won on Thursday with Great Venezuela as a hunch play figured into the back of my mind. Pressed the leader while under a strangle hold to the top of the lane then ran off handily as MUCH the best.
Missed at Monmouth before getting my first winner in Louisville. Outadore had been pressed when breaking from the far outside in a similar 5f turf sprint through wicked splits. Looked long gone to me. Burst the the front and that my friends was the end of that.
Missed in an allowance at TDN and then was surprised, somewhat in Churchill's Grade 3 Chicago when the favorite, Vahva - who I'd had last time - won again. I really thought Society would control from the opening bell and she did go right to the front but backed up late to be third. The seventh on the Jersey Shore was just like oh-so-many races there over the years - it's all about are you looking for a good price or are you looking for the most likely winner. Todd Pletcher was dropping Good Medicine into a claiming spot, and I've found that on the few occasions that the Hall of Famer does this he drops them into a spot where they have a great chance to win. Racing near the back to the far turn, he rallied but found himself blocked behind horses. Shot thru on the rail and surged to the front to provide me with my fifth winner on the afternoon.
Missed on the next four - twice at Thistledowns at odds-on before cashing my next ticket. The 9th at Monmouth was their feature, the Goldwood Stakes going five and a half furlongs on the turf. SIX of the ten entered were exiting the The Very One Stakes at Pimlico and I tossed them all. Why? Because the 2nd and 3rd place finishers - both in here - had gone off at odds of 22/1 and 28/1. That CANNOT be an indication of a strong race. I went with Beauty of the Sea who was NOT exiting that race. Paco Lopez was up for trainer Joe Orseno and those two hook up at a near 30% clip. Off a six month layoff she'd posted back-to-back career best Beyers and now was going third off the shelf. Was away sharply, but was third into the turn then was checked sharply having to take up - an almost certain kiss of death, especially in an abbreviated turf sprint like this. Recovered stride but was blocked behind horses. Looked to have a seam turning for home, went for it, SHUT OFF. How much bad luck can she have? Paco dove inside and she surged to the front to WIN going away!
While I missed in the highlighted Grade 3 Ohio Derby I did win one of the stakes races, the Lady Jacqueline Stakes going nine furlongs on the main track. When my top pick scratched, I didn't have a second choice listed, but I looked at the past performances and when the first flash of the odds board came up I felt confident to stick with my double investment on Misty Veil. Tracked the dueling long shot runners into the turn, accelerated quickly to the front and drew off by a pole impressively.
Sunday saw me start the day with back-to-back second place finishes in "typical" race track logic fashion. New York Strong was the prohibitive 2/5 favorite, had dead aim on the 7/1 front runner. Made his move and could not get by. Then Eyeing Clover was the prohibitive 3/5 favorite....took the lead into the far turn, opened up as much the best and was nailed inside the final 100 yards by the 8/1 outsider. WOW. Came back with two straight wins in my next two plays but both of them, Ebben in the 6th and Few and Far in the 7th were hammered in the final minutes of wagering to go off as odds-on favorites. Still cashed tickets and ended the day 2-for-5, 40%....can't argue with that.
On Tuesday night our Florida Panthers had a chance to close out the Stanley Cup Final at home but despite desperate efforts in the third, fell short 3-2. Then Friday they were in Edmonton, again with a chance to close the deal. Rather than go to the Watch Party we had sixteen friends and family over to watch with the game playing in both the family room and living room, only to fall again. One final chance will come in an epic Game 7 on Monday night!
Social Media this week.....
Early in the week our "adopted daughter" Jillian posted photos from a family trip, with her parents, to Alaska. Kim and I have been SIX times and have a seventh booked for summer 2025. I commented to Jilly how happy I was that she got to experience this wonderful adventure.
For several years our gal-pal Shelly worked with us and was even Kim's assistant volleyball coach. This week she posted that she only had a couple more days of being 49 - how can young Shelly be turning 50? What does that make me? LOL.
Fashionista Jayce asked how everyone's Saturday was going, so I replied and she "liked" my reply :)
Sunday evening we were watching TV and Kim wanted a short break. I opened Facebook and saw my gal-pal, former CBS-Miami weekend anchor Karli Barnett was hosting a live Facebook chat. I also saw she was close to finishing up so I jumped on and said Hi! Out of the blue Karli commented about how big a fan I was of the Florida Panthers. Ahhhh, my girl knows me so well :)
My gal-pal Lauren and I messaged several times this week. I shared our pic from the Watch Party for Game 4 and she very quickly "liked" the pic. Last week Lauren had shared that she had a big story coming out. What I didn't realize was that the CBS-Miami station gave up the entire 7-7:30 news program to air her special. It was so well done and so heart-felt. I messaged her after the short 3 minute piece at 5:30 and then we exchanged several messages after the airing of the complete piece. And I also messaged with her the next day after I shared the link on both Facebook & Twitter. At the end of the week I was happy to see her back on the anchor desk and she remarked about how hard she'd been working on her special. She also liked and commented when I shared with her that we were hosting 16 people for a Watch Party for Game 6 - and shared the disappointment of our third loss afterwards. THEN over the weekend she posted about ANOTHER piece that she'd put together where she - this is so impressive - had written the entire script AND did all the camera work. WOW.
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