May 24

Biggest Day Of The Week!

I had decided that Monday, Memorial Day, would be my on-track day.  If no one hits the Gulfstream Rainbow Pick Six by then the pool could clear $10 million, and that would be an exciting day!  Today at Arlington Park they were running their first three graded stakes of the summer, and so I decided I would handicap their card and play those races with my Churchill Downs selections.  Kim went to the beach so I was handicapping while I was watching HRTV and making my bets.  The second at Churchill was the first play of the day.  I liked Determined Yankee who was a Churchill Downs 40% Club play for trainer Greg Foley.  Runners off a 61-to-90 day layoff have won 44% for Foley.  Technically Determined Yankee was off 92 days off a layoff, but it didn't bother me as Foley as over 30% with any layoff runner.  Right to the front and LONG gone!  I only had $5 to win so I cashed for $13.00.  Right back in the fourth with my second bet where I tripled the bet on Quiet Force.  She was dropping out of back-to-back graded events, and was yet another CD 40% Club play.  Michael Maker with Rosie Napravnik - I need to look up how many times I've scored on this angle - but it was the surface switch of dirt to turf that made this a triple-play for me.  Maker runners moving onto the turf have won at a big 44% rate over the past two summers.  She sat in the pocket while fifth to the turn, moved four wide and drew off under a hand ride!  This was Rosie's third win of the day, and the second for me! 

At a $5.20 payoff I collected nearly $40!  The first of the Arlington "bonus plays" as next and Talent and Grace moved boldly on the turn but was only second best.  But I came back in Arlington's fifth with Bank Account who went wire to wire very handily as much the best and cashed out for over $10.  Next up were the two best scores of the day.  First at Churchill Downs yet ANOTHER Michael Maker-Rosie Napravnik double-team on Saffron Hall.  The crowd was all over another runner and let this one go to post at better than 3/1!  Well besides the obvious - CD 40% Club with Rosie riding - there was the fact that she was owned by Ken & Sarah Ramsey.  Two-thirds of all of Maker's wins over the last two springs have come with runners in the red & white silks of the Ramseys.  Add in that the field was a combined 4-for-17 on grass and Saffron Hall was a 4x winner herself.....how do you NOT play this one?  She stalked to the turn, drew along side the leader and wore that one down late.....Rosie's fourth win on the card and my fourth win on the day!  WHOOO HOOO! 

And best of all, the price - $8.20 to win meant I was cashing for over $40!  But my "BET of the DAY" was now coming up, and it is a good story.  While waiting for the races to start and I was handicapping I had on HRTV.  In the hour prior to racing there is the West Rock Coffee First Call show which features Aaron Vercruysse and Jeff Siegle.  I had met these guys on Breeders' Cup Friday and told them I often watch them. We talked about their nice job of providing winners, and many at good prices.....they rarely if ever go with a favorite.  And each day they each give out three "Daymakers" - horses that will "make their day" if they win.  Well, while watching that show Siegle said that Saythreehailmary's was his first in the 6th at Belmont.  He went so far as to say that he knew she'd be the favorite, but quite simply if the course wasn't wet he'd have called her a "mortal lock."  And the only thing keeping him from saying that today was the wet track.  Hey, that's good enough for me.  So it was time for the 6th in New York shortly after Saffron Hall scored and the filly did not disappoint.  Stalking under a tight hold to the turn, she drew off by TONS the best by seven widening lengths while never being asked for her best. 

I had invested a "prime time" $20 on her and got back nearly $40!  Next on my list was the 9th from Churchill Downs and I tripled the bet on Tres Belle.  She was another 40% Club play being sent out by Bob Baffert.  Dirt sprinters for the "silver haired fox" win at an amazing 67% over the last two years, and I've already cashed on a couple of these.  Couldn't ask for a better jockey either, yep, Rosie!  She started slowly, but moved up quickly to press the pace on the turn and drew off as MUCH the best.  That was a new Churchill record for wins in a day, five, for Napravnik, and my SIXTH win today.  I am having a VERY good day!  The $4.60 payoff times my triple investment netted another near $35.  That was it for the day.  I wish I would have had a stakes score to write about.....especially since I had played Arlington for their three graded stakes.  But in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap Forte Dei Marmi was fourth trying to chase a slow pace.  In Arlington's Grade 3 Matron Frivolous chased a loose on the lead front-runner and was a best of the rest second.  In the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup in Chicago Pass the Dice went off at a juicy 5/1, was right with the leaders for the stretch run and actually got his nose in front close to the wire but was outfinished to be third, beaten about a nose and a head.  In the final stakes Chief Barker was an even 4th at 5/1.  Still, for the day I was a amazing 6-for-12, yes another 50% day!  And I'd made a profit of $70!  What a great Saturday of racing!  AND I got to have Rosie on four of her record five winners on the day!