September 13

Woodbine Mile Weekend

With few exceptions, it was a disappointing weekend on the racing scene.  The first selection was the Grade 3 Bold Ruler from Woodbine where Black Hornet looked like the lone speed.  While he didn't break sharply the rider didn't even try to go to the front.  Disappointing 3rd at 7/2.  In the second, Don't Leave Me was the 5/2 second choice in the Grade 2 Natalma at Woodbine going a mile on the turf for 2yo.  Evenly, never threatened, 6th.  I was sure I'd win the next race when Winning Cause was the 2/5 favorite in Parx's PHSTA President's Cup over a soft turf course.  He was coming off a win over Grade 1 winner Big Blue Kitten in his last and was clearly the best horse in the field.  Prompted the pace to the far turn then had no response through the lane....3rd.  Finally the winner's circle.  It was the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at Belmont and I went with European invader Annecdote.  The pace was very slow and he lagged at the back.....great I thought, not even a thrill for my selection.  But when they turned for home he exploded through the stretch and blew through the entire field to score at 4/1! 

The $10.20 payoff brought me back to nearly even despite the minimum play.  In the Open Mind Stakes I thought 3/2 favorite Flower Spell would control the pace from the start.  She seemed in control under Rosemary Homeister, Jr. heading into the far turn, but she ran evenly to the wire, 4th.  The highlight of the day came in Kentucky Downs' More Than Ready Mile.  Regally Ready has won many, MANY races for me and I thought he was a standout today.  He'd paid a big price last time out on the West Virginia Derby undercard when the race came off the turf, but today he was on his favorite surface.  The only question was the European style course where they run downhill down the backside and then uphill through the long Franklin, Kentucky course.  Rosie Napravnik was riding and I had a lot of confidence.  He was 6/5 with minutes to post time and I had tripled the bet.  I just had a sense that he was TONS the best, so I flipped to the handicapper's view of the field on twinspires.com and he was their "bet of the day."  I considered it, hesitated, and then went ahead and did it.....I added a $25 win bet to make it $40 to win!   He rated just off the leader to the far turn, glided to the front and then was easily best! 

His price had dropped to even money at post time, but still I cashed for $80!  Whoooo hooooo.  The Grade 3 Pucker Up at Arlington featured Aurelia's Belle who figured to be the short priced favorite.  The first sign of trouble was that with five minutes to post time she was still a cold 6/1 on the board.  Could I be that wrong?  She eventually took late money to be 3/1, but she ran to the cold odds, disappointing fifth.  Corporate Culture was my upset play of the day and went off at 5/1, but ran without any sense of urgency, evenly in 5th in the Kentucky Downs Ladies' Sprint.  The featured Grade 3 Kentucky Cup was next and I went with favorite War Dancer.  I agreed with the DRF "Race of the Day" video analysis - he was the class of the field but has disappointed many times more than he should have.  Still, I thought today was his day.  Nope, disappointed to be third at 6/5.  In the final race on the selection sheet I had planned to double the bet on I'm Already Sexy in the Kentucky Downs Ladies' Turf.  She was the class of the field and looked like she SHOULD win.  I had a similar "feel" as post time approached so I upped the bet from a double to a triple bet.  She seized control early and was cantering home easily! 

Paid even money so I cashed for $30.  And for the day I finished 3-for-10 and made two dollars.  But hey, I'm not complaining about finishing in the black.  I really thought I had two winners, at least from the three stakes races at Woodbine on their big day.  The temperature was a fall-like 57 degrees, and that was of interest to me because my plan is to be in Toronto next September for that big event!  I told myself before I handicapped the races that I should focus on the Europeans.  But there didn't seem to be any "stars" entered for today.  I have always been a big fan of The Pizza Man, but he owns Arlington Park.  How would he run against Grade 1 company over a different course?  I agreed that he was razor sharp and now was the time to try.  The DRF video even supported him and that guy never backs the favorite.  Still, the one Euro was a concern IF he ran his best race - I listed Sheikhzayedroad as my second choice.  The Pizza Man was perfectly placed heading into the far turn at 6/5, but had nothing for the stretch. In a stirring finish Sheikhzayedroad came flying up the rail to score at better than 3/1....sigh.  In the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes I was correct in going against 6/5 favorite Lexi Lou who was taking on older for the first time and basically unproven on the grass - she was last.  My pick was Solid Appeal who was the 5/2 morning line, but allowed to float up to 4/1.  After making a mild bid into the turn he stopped and was next to last.  Still, the featured Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile could provide me with a winning day and ensure a winning weekend.  I really liked Kaigun.  He'd run second to Wise Dan in the spring and had nearly upset the Grade 1 Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard.  He had the perfect prep when rallying to win the Grade 2 Play The King at 7 furlongs over the course.  My only fear, again because of the Euro factor was Trade Storm who had run third in this spot to Wise Dan.  But his numbers just didn't seem to support the wager.  The two of them rallied side-by-side through the lane, but I was only second best (pink silks on outside).