I had spent most of Friday handicapping six cards on what looked to be an exciting day of racing, only to return home disappointed in the lack of wins for the day. The lone silver lining was that I hit on my BET of the Day. To be fair, in looking back, I was on the board in 18 of 31 selections, it was just not my day for good racing luck. And as I told Jeff on the phone late in the afternoon, I just seemed to be zagging when I should have been zigging. In brief.....
The opener at Calder I broke behind the field at 4/1 and was a fast closing 4th; led to the far turn after setting a far-too-fast pace over the Gulfstream turf - the first of many front runners NOT to score for me; lost with a Wesley Ward 2yo first-timer at Keeneland where he scores at over 40% with those kind; split horses in mid-stretch to surge to the front at Calder only to be nailed on the wire by a 30/1 runner. I finally won my first race of the summer when Sokitumi Samurai blew to the front going seven furlongs at Aqueduct and was life-and-death to hold on. But hold on he did and I had my 4,864th win! At Calder I was checked from third to last down the backstretch and closed quickly to finish a close third; at Keeneland I looked to be in perfect position when for no apparent reason Rosie Napravnik pulled County Corrections to the back of the pack and tried to make a late run - 6th. At Tampa in the Sophomore Stakes I stalked the lead, as anticipated, and glided to the front, opened up heading for home and looked gone.....but was nailed by two closers on the wire. At Gulfstream I had the lone speed and Beccawhit opened up with a swift :21.4 opening quarter, daylight lead into the lane and caught late at 3/5. At Gulfstream on the turf I seriously considered changing my selection to a runner that was 5/1, but stuck with my pick who ran flatly to be third while, yes, the 5/1 runner won. In what could have been a big difference maker on the day the 5th at Keeneland was an allowance test on the turf which had three Grade 1 winners in he field. I went instead with upset choice Tricky Hat who was 7/1 and the only front-runner in the field. Led all the way to the final two jumps, only to be nailed by Boisterous who suddenly rediscovered his form after I'd bet him at Gulfstream on Donn Day and he showed nothing......sigh. At Calder I went down at 3/5 when Hot Sirachi pressed the pace to the turn and stopped. But I finally caught another win, this one out west at Santa Anita when Storm Fighter loose on the lead AND DID hang on! At Aqueduct I dueled on the lead to mid-stretch and gave way with Todd Pletcher's Catron. At Tampa in the Distaff Turf Stakes EB Ryder was making a winning move entering the stretch when the leader took a right hand turn into the second place horse and slammed him three paths to the outside....she pinballed into me and caused EB Ryder to lose her stride for two jumps before recovering and just missing in a three way photo. OBVIOUS foul resulting in an INQUIRY. No question the winner comes down, and while it may not have been the second place finisher's fault she slammed into me, she did, costing me the win. No action on that one :( Then two of my best bets of the day.......
Ben's Cat was going for his FIFTH Mister Diz Stakes and just laid over the field. As they approached the gate, Kentucky Derby-bound Ring Weekend loaded into the gate at Calder as the 1/5 favorite. Pressed the leader to the turn and while it was true the jockey was having to push him, he was getting to the winner when he suddenly looked like he was going to clip heels and wheeled to the right. Second best and after a long inquiry no change. I raced inside as they hit the far turn at Pimlico and Ben's Cat glided right by the front runner without ever being asked.....MUCH the best. And I thought I might make a late charge to close to maybe break even on my better bets of the day.
Legal Laura was easily the fastest in the Sophomore Fillies at Tampa, but gave way as they turned for home at even money.....3rd. But I did win three of my next six, cashing for nearly $75 and I had hope........Footstepsinbronze was much the best down the hillside at Santa Anita in a Maiden Special; Myositis Dan proved how much he liked the Keeneland synthetic main track at even money when I tripled the bet; and Old Time Hockey confirmed he SHOULD have won the Sunshine Millions Turf when he came flying late to win the Tampa Turf Classic. Of the three I lost, the one that hurt most was in the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct when Kobe's Back shipped from Santa Anita and turned back to his best distance. But he again had gate problems and spotted the field at least five lengths if not more. Flying late while very wide, he was a very close third (gray on outside)......
But then the day closed with all of the decisions I made going wrong. At Santa Anita I went against the lone speed and with the class of Ria Antonia. Big move on the turn at 6/5, could not get by the front runner. At Gulfstream went WITH the speed....set the pace to the turn and was long gone at 7/2, weakened in the final 100 yards to be third. At Aqueduct in the Gazelle went AGAINST the lone speed for the classy Sweet Reason, ranged up entering the turn, but couldn't get by the front runner. Evolution Rocks had run three straight 100+ figures and had a triple figure advantage.....broke behind the field, third at even money. Tiz A Dynaformer was my best at Gulfstream for Bill Mott on the turf. In perfect position on the rail into the turn, blocked, steadied, no where to go through the entire stretch....6th. In the Grade 1 Wood I told Jeff that I'd bet $50 that a closer would win at double-digit payoffs. I went with 7/1 Harpoon. But it was Dave Liftin's pick that he gave out in the DRF that was flying late to win and pay $20.....sigh. At Santa Anita in the Grade 3 Providencia on the turf Diversy Harbor was locked into coming up the rail, but had to wait for room until mid stretch, and by then it was too late to catch the second choice in a close finish - 2nd. At Aqueduct Golden Ticket ran evenly at 7/2 to be third in the Grade 1 Carter. And finally at Santa Anita in the Santa Anita Derby California Chrome was TONS the best, I thought he would either bounce or show that he was simply a good Cal-bred. Instead he's the likely Kentucky Derby favorite off yet another sensational win.
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