It was an extended five day racing week as the Belmont Stakes Festival was held at historic Saratoga from Wednesday through Sunday with stakes races on every card. The weekend was highlighted by my visit to Orlando where I got to see both my grandson and son play hockey and went to a lecture on Ancient Egypt with my daughter Julie. Just a wonderful weekend from start to finish. Racing kicked off on Wednesday which was largely devoted to NY-breds. The day started off with a bang as I won two of the first three bets of the day. In the Mike Lee Stakes, a 3yo seven furlong test I preferred Train the Trainer who was coming off of his MSW win in his second start. He'd changed barns after running second on debut in So Cal where FIVE horses exited to win next time out. He looked like he might be the speed of the speed. Right to the front and never looked back.
The next bet was a MSW turf sprint where I was a distant ninth at 3/1. Next up was the nine furlong Commentator Stakes. The big question for me (and for handicappers in general) was if anyone would run with Mama's Gold who had the rail and looked loose on the lead. He'd upset my pick, Bank Frenzy in this event at 40/1 but today I didn't think that would be the case. But the race played out as expected with 'Mama shot right to the front. Bank Frenzy caught her turning for home but 'Mama would not let go and re-took the lead inside the 16th pole before 'Frenzy edged clear late.
Unfortunately in last five races I ran second three times, one of which with the "BEST" of the day, which would become a theme for the week....and third in the other two races. So we moved on to Thursday where two of the first three races were two-year-old stakes races. In the opener, the Tremont for the colts I found it VERY intriguing that (a) trainer Jorge Delgado would ship from Gulfstream to Monmouth and on to Saratoga to run his FILLY against the boys when he could have entered her in R3 which is the companion 2yo stakes for the girls. But Mythical looked to be the quickest of the quick and if he thought this was her best shot, I was on board. Rocketed out of the gate and was clear by daylight before the boys could get out of the gate and never looked back, drawing off through the final 16th impressively.
My selection in the MSW second scratched so the next wager came in the Astoria where a field of 2yo fillies would race for top prize money. Much like the angle in R1, Sassy CW looked to be quickest early. I commented in my analysis that perhaps in the long run 'Sassy may not prove as talented as one or two of the other fillies in this field, but it was all about TODAY's match up. I also thought it very interesting that in twenty years of handicapping races regularly I don't think I've E-V-E-R seen a horse earn the comment "Rocket ship" to describe how they left the gate. I was watching the races from Churchill the day Sassy C W debuted for Larry Rivelli and that description was no exaggeration. Expected much the same today and sure enough the gates opened and as the other fillies took their first two strides Sassy C W was a bit slow into stride and there wasn't a clear leader. That didn't last long as by the time they'd cleared the opening quarter she had put a daylight lead on the field and never looked back. Two-for-two to start the day!
Ran 4th at 9/5 in an entry level turf event before betting on Velvet Vortex in R6. This was a mile race and Saratoga a couple years ago built a chute at the bottom of the clubhouse turn so that mile races are now 1 1/2 turns - very unique and it doesn't favor one-turn mile runners or two-turn mile runners. But I thought she fit the profile of an entry level allowance like this - a lightly raced maiden winner who'd shown ability against winners. And it was top rider Flavian Prat for top trainer Brad Cox. Broke from post eight so she was wide to the back stretch but then cleared the field and drew off as much the best as the 4/5 favorite with my double investment on board. 3-for-4 to start the day!
But much like Wednesday, that proved to be the end of the cashed tickets as in the last three races I ran 2nd twice and third in the other race. I was really excited about Friday because it was as big a day as any day in racing with six graded stakes, the last three of which were all Grade 1 events. Started the day running second at 4/5 in a MSW race before Works For Me got me my first cashed ticket. This race was a turf sprint for second level allowance runners. His last two Beyers were the best on the page, and for me it was a plus that the first of the pair was earned in a stakes last November, then the latter came off the bench in a just-miss try. Flavian Prat was on board. As the field turned for home there were literally seven lined up across the track but Prat cleverly had stuck to the rail and shot through a narrow opening saving all the ground. Burst through at the 16th pole and edged clear late. Had been 8/5 in the program but the crowd let him go off at a juicy $6.60 price so I cashed for over $30!
Ran second at 2/1 in another second level allowance before the graded stakes action started. As I've often said, there are many "tools" in your box when handicapping and it's all about figuring out which "tool" is the right fit for today. In the Grade 2 Bed O'Roses Chad Brown's Ways and Means was my pick. Several in here COULD win but 'Ways had run 3rd on Derby Day behind the division leader to set her up for this. Had fired a best-of-45 bullet for this, but the KEY was she had run HUGE over this track last year winning the Grade 1 Test. She loves it at Saratoga and when she was asked for her best turning for home she put on a show drawing off effortlessly. In fact the "America's Day At The Races" analysts remarked that that may have been THE performance of the week. So, SOOOO much the best. The rain began to fall but R8 stayed on the grass and Asbury Park circled the field and drew off like a graded stakes winners facing maidens in a MSW turf test to give me my third winner on the day.
Wasn't surprised when I lost the Gr 1 Ogden Phipps which looked wide open (ran 6th at 5/1) but I have to admit I was surprised and very disappointed in the result of the Grade 1 Acorn for 3yo fillies. Good Cheer was unbeaten and had won the Gr 1 Kentucky Oaks by daylight earning another speed figure that "paired" with her two back number beat 40 of the combined 41 Beyers earned by the rest of the fillies in the field. Never picked up her feet as my BEST BET and was a dismal fifth. Not to be dissuaded I was "all in" with a "prime time" play on She Feels Pretty in the Grade 1 New York going nine and a half furlongs on the turf. She had to work a little harder than usual but drew clear late to get me back on track. Thought I'd close the day with two in a row when Excellent Truth was flying late inside the 16th pole in the Gr 1 Just A Game but came up just short behind the 10/1 upset winner.
I'd been looking forward to today for a LONG time as today I was spending the day with my daughter Julie and we were attending a lecture by the leading Egyptian archeologist at a hotel near Universal Studios. Unfortunately from a racing perspective the skies open up to torrential downpours early in the day that washed all the turf races off to the main track, and it was so bad that the two big turf races late in the card were cancelled completely and moved to Sunday. Missed in the second after passing the opener as the 3/5 favorite when caught late to be 2nd. Scratched in the third, passed the fourth and fifth. The sixth was the Grade 2 Wonder Again scheduled on the turf for 3yo. Mark Casse's Nitrogen has been so, SO much the best 3yo turf filly that she was a prime time bet for me. But after the rain the field was reduced to only three running the unique mile trip. I was surprised that Casse left his star filly in the field, so I thought "who am I to question how good she is on dirt?" She pressed the leader to the far turn, took over effortlessly and drew off in what announcer Frank Mirahmadi called "nothing more than a public workout." That I got paid at all was amazing considering how much better she was than her rivals.
Came right back in the Grade 3 True North with Book'em Danno. I thought the race set up for someone who could finish and sure enough the pace was hot. Collared the surviving front runner at the furlong pole and drew clear as I cashed for a generous more than $30 on the 2/1 price.
Much like Friday I thought that Fierceness was the BEST of the day in the Grade 1 Met Mile. Was right on the hip of the front runner into the lane and looked ready to roll then never got by. ALMOST as surprising as Good Cheer not winning the Acorn. Off the board in the Gr 1 Woody Stephens before it was time for the Belmont. While this was running Julie & I were at the Egypt lecture. After the presentation there was an open Q&A session and I told Julie I wouldn't mind staying for a few minutes, largely because I wanted to watch the Belmont. Sovereignty was my pick and I told the several people who asked who I liked that I thought the Derby winner would run even bigger today. Sat closer to the pace to the far turn when he waited and let the favored (false favorite I thought, ever since the Derby) Journalism take off and assume command. Jockey Junior Alvarado swung into the clear with dead aim on his rival and it appeared briefly like we were in for a real showdown between the Derby and Preakness winners. But Sovereignty never broke stride and drew off to a decisive and emphatic score. As the 5/2 second choice I was rewarded with a nice $70 payoff to ensure a winning Saturday at the races in spite of the weather and changes :)
Sunday wrapped the week. I had two wins at Monmouth - both triple investments; had an impressive 2yo debut winner in Angel Gift at Saratoga; and won the Soaring Softly Stakes which had been scheduled for five and a half on the turf but was run on the main track.
The Orlando Weekend - Had such a good time in Orlando. Got to see my grandson Oliver play in his ice hockey league and was so proud of how hard he competed. Got to watch the dramatic double overtime win by our Florida Panthers with Brad & Lauren which ended at about 12:30am. Then Saturday the Egypt lecture and day with my daughter Julie. Topped the weekend by watching Brad play in his Sunday night playoff game before driving home and arriving at 10pm......so I'd be rested for Monday night's Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at our arena!
Social Media this week.....
I had more than the usual "conversations" this week. Early in the week it was my "Disney Girl" Amanda's birthday. Despite being in her late 30's and with three "kids" (one in HS), she is still a huge Disney fan. So for her FB birthday wish I looked up what happened in the Disney trivia on this date. When I messaged her it was the day that the animated film "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" debuted she wrote back and said she'd have to watch it. Then that evening she sent me a photo of their living room TV with the movie on :) Love my Mandy - what a great gal-pal.
At Cypress Bay High, the principal's personal assistant Sha and I worked closely every year on Graduation. We've stayed close friends ever since, though we've only gotten together once in person. When it was the FB Memory of the Day about our epic graduation at Marlins' Stadium where we hosted then Vice President Joe Biden, Sha and I had a conversation. She asked if I'd be interested in meeting for lunch I of course said I was so very interested and so we made a date for two weeks down the line.
Jennifer was one of my teacher pals and I congratulated her on finishing another year of teaching. She's been talking about retirement for several years and I "offered" her the position of assistant track player :) But she plans on going back in August.
I was so very proud of my gal-pal Chloe who's a successful Country DJ in Orlando this week. She was offered to host a TV commercial for a local car dealership. And when I saw the video on YouTube I had to immediately reach out and tell her what a natural she is.
Finally, as usual I had several interactions with Lauren. She was amused at how ironic it was that Oliver's team was the Oilers - who we are playing in the Stanley Cup Final. And she reacted when I complimented her on yet another community project she took part in.
Finally, I so SOOO very much enjoyed "chatting" with my girl Petra who you may recall we met on our Nile River Cruise. I sent her a photo of my daughter and I at the Egypt lecture and the next day we chatted for almost half an hour. She's such a pretty girl but so sweet and Kim and I are both glad we've stayed in touch.
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