August 3

The Birthday Weekend Winds Down

Today was another really good day, too bad the birthday celebration is over now and the kids have gone home.  But, not to worry.....the Ohio family is still here and Wednesday we are trekking up to Orlando to revisit the "children" and see their homes.  The Ohio family has not seen Brad & Lauren's apartment and none of us have seen Julie's new townhome.  But today was also the last day of racing for the week.  I made my bets early again because the entire group, including Lauren - who had joined us after working the entire weekend on the opening of a new Mathnasium in Weston - was heading to Jaxsons for a "official" Jaxsons birthday trip.  Everyone enjoyed their ice cream and when we got home we played Brad's new game, Munchkins.  Then the kids announced they were staying to watch "Big Brother" with us - HORRAY - to extend the weekend.  So I finally went out to watch the races.....

While we were at Jaxsons Jeff had called to tell me they were off the turf if I wanted to adjust my bets.  I didn't, but I did lose two to scratches.  In the second I had It All Adds Up who I wrote, "....is a very likely short priced favorite, and a very likely winner....."  Truer words were never written. He left the gate at 2/5, dueled to the turn an drew off like a short priced favorite should. 

The miserly $2.80 payoff netted me just under $15.  I didn't have another bet until the 7th, and as I sat down to watch the replays we were $20 minutes away from the 9th.  I doubled the bet in the 7th on Clash and Cash with Paco Lopez up.  It was a Maiden Special juveniles and Lopez was riding for top trainer Eddie Plesa.  The price was big at 3/1 and as they hit mid-stretch Lopez split horses to move to the lead.....but he was nailed on the wire!  So close.  In the 8th Gfted Ruler had stayed in the field despite I coming off the turf early in the day, but was no scratched.  In the 9th I watched as they loaded live.  I had Nevsky who had a double Beyer advantage, but he was second best, rallying from fourth, at 6/5 odds behind the second choice, another Lopez winner, at 5/2. 

As the wagering began on the featured Tyro Stakes for 2-year-olds, my pick was scratched.  But when I'd seen this earlier today I looked at my second choice, since this was now on the main track, and I liked the chances of Super Colossal.  He'd won his debut back in early June as the 3/2 favorite; was being sent out by top connections:  Plesa/Lopez; and he had a best-of-86 bullet work.  My only concern, with a lightly raced horse like this, was he'd drawn the rail.  The betting opened and for the first ten minutes he was 1-9!  I looked at his rivals today and I thought, "......he lays over this field IF he gets away cleanly....."  But I also reasoned I would not raise the bet if he was 1-9 - to go from a $10 to a $20 bet would only earn me a dollar.  But I told myself if he floated to 1/5 or better I'd up the bet.  He went to 2/5 with seven minutes to post and I tripled my bet to $30 to win!  They broke from the post and he had a slight stumble but quickly righted himself and was easily in front before the first quarter mile had passed.  As they hit the far turn and Lopez had a firm hold on him I knew I was home free.  He galloped home without being asked for his best and I'd scored with the "BET of the Day!"  He had been 3/5 at one point late, but settled at 2/5 officially. 

The $2.80 payoff with my $30 ticket netted me $42 and I was nearly even for the day despite going 2-for-4 and winning with two 2/5 favorites!  For the weekend I finished a strong 28/11-10-3 ...... that's 39% wins and a big 86% in the money.  It was a great birthday weekend!