April 29

Another Winning Day!

Derby Week kicked off with a ten race Tuesday card and while I had six selections on the card, I did not have any "BEST" bets.  But I did have three runners that I was doubling down on and I told all my Facebook friends that they were my top selections of the day.  I did not have a selection in the opener and my second choice won the race and paid over $9, while my top choice pressed the issue for a half mile then stopped to be 7th, beaten over twenty legths.  In the second Battle Hardened was a Churchill Downs 40% Club play for Michael Maker.  Rosie Napravnik is a 47% winning angle for this barn and Battle Hardened was a perfect 2-for-2 going a mile.  He was dropping in class and the fans made him a short 2/1 second choice at post time.  He tracked the front runner into the far turn and while he crossed the line second he was never a threat to the runaway winner, Tarpy's Goal who was my second choice and paid another nice price - $11.20.  I finally got into the winner's circle with the first of three consecutive double investments - the three I'd posted on Facebook.  Tres Belle was a CD 40% Club play for Bob Baffert.  Though based out west, when he sends a dirt sprinter to Churchill they have won at a huge 67%.  Her two best efforts had come on "real dirt" and her past performances were littered with stakes runners.  She had a near bullet work locally and looked hard to go past.  The crowd bet her down to even money.  She sat fourth of five to the far turn letting the top three battle it out.  But as they came into the lane she moved four wide and surged to the front.  Through the final furlong she poured it on and was drawing clear by three plus widening lengths under top jock Rosie Napravnik! 

She paid $4.20 and I cashed for over $20.....whooo hoooo.  Right back in the fourth with another double-down play.  Miraculousmo had had four sensational works since his last, three bullet works....a best of 89 at Gulfstream, followed by a best of 24 at Gulfstream, and then a best of 43 here at Churchill Downs in a very quick :47.1.  As the gates sprung open the 3/5 favorite was unhurried running 7th of 8 down the backside.  Then, much like the winner in the third, he swung wide (six wide to be specific), caught the leaders and drew off under top local rider Corey Lanerie. 

Didn't pay much, only $3.40, but hey.....it's my second win of the day!  It was also interesting, at least to me that the official order of finish was 3-7-4 and my top three picks were (3) Miraculousmo, (4) Kamachatka, and (7) Windgate....the $2 Tri paid $48.20 :)  I passed the fifth, but listd Gettem Up Girl as my top selection.  She was sent off as the short-priced favorite and won convincingly. 

The sixth was my final double investment play, and I made him so on the thinking that this turf race would be rained off to the main track.  Jimmy Simms had decent turf form, but he had very good dirt form.  He'd won by daylight HERE over a sloppy track at this class level last fall.  He'd only been in for a tag three times and had won twice.  The other time he was sent to the lead by Julian Leparoux - which is not his style of running. The switch to jockey Shawn Bridgmohan was a big plus for me.  Jimmy Simms sat just off the leaders around the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch.  On the turn he moved quickly four wide and swooped by easily.  He drew off under wraps by six widening lengths! 

I felt fortunate that he'd been allowed to go off at 6/5 considering how good he looked on paper.  Much like the fourth, my top three made up the trifecta, which paid $48.20 for a $2 bet.  The three-race win streak brought my money total to $60 and even with two races to go I was guaranteed to win on the day.  I passed the 7th - my third choice won and my top three made up the trifecta, again......$61 for a $2 investment.  I had bets in the last two races and both were price plays.  Primed for Passion was a good third at 5/1 and Fab Autumn Girl was also third at a big 7/1.  So for the day I won four of ten giving me a 6-for-18 record overall through two days - and I feel good that Jill Byrne is 5-for-18!  Even better, with races that I've had investments on I've scored with a whopping 5-of-12 for a 42% win rate.  AND after publicly listing my selections, I'd won with all three of them!