Off To Columbus - Holiday Trip
Gulfstream Trio Of Victories Kicks Off Christmas Week
A year ago when we visited Ohio and Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving with our youngest son Brad and his wife Lauren we had such a nice visit that we began making plans to spend the Christmas and New Year's holidays up north. And so today was the day we began the twelve day adventure. We had coordinated our flights so that Kim and I would arrive from Ft. Lauderdale shortly before Brad and Lauren from Orlando. We had a direct flight and were actually a little early while they had a layover in Baltimore and were delayed, so we waited for them at the Columbus airport for a little less than an hour, but it went by quickly and soon the four of us were off in the rental car for the short trip to my Mom's. We had been hoping for a nice "winter vacation" and to be able to enjoy some cold weather and snow, but upon arrival it was in the 60s and overcast - even poured down rain later in the evening. The forecast is for more of the same here in Ohio, but maybe we might see a little wet snow in Pennsylvania when we get there next week. My Mom was waiting as well as my sister and niece when we arrived. Later in the evening I was able to watch the Gulfstream replay show to see how my selections had done.
I had handicapped the card on Monday and had found seven selections that I felt were worthy of investing in. In the opener we were going a mile on the turf and I liked Aplomb from the Michael Maker's barn. He was lightly raced and had only two turf starts. He'd won his turf debut at Mountaineer and then went to Belmont to run in a stakes race where he was beaten only three lengths while finishing fourth. In his most recent he went seven furlongs on the main track at Churchill. That was against open $50K runners and today he'd face $30K "beaten" claimers. The return to the turf, the stretch in distance, and the significant class drop all pointed him out as a likely winner to me. And I liked the fact that jockey Luis Saez was up since he'd been piling up the wins lately. Right from the gate Aplomb was sent to the front from his rail draw. But he was hounded the entire by another runner. The two set reasonable, but fast fractions as they cleared off from the field and hit the far turn. The challenger made his move through the turn and actually had his head in front as they began to spin out of the turn, but the ground-saving trip allowed Aplomb to regain the advantage and as they hit the furlong marker he was narrowly in front. The two dueled all the way to the wire, but my pick was able to hang on and I had my first win of the week!
In the program Aplomb had been listed at 5/1 and I'd gone in for just a minimum play. Fortunately he paid a nice $8.40 so I was going to collect over $20 to start off the racing week. The second race was a six furlong sprint, again for "beaten" claimers. The conditions read, "....for three-year-olds and up that have never won three races, or three-year-olds...." When I find races like that I always prefer the multiple winning sophomores and such was the case with Right On Ready. He held a huge advantage I thought because while NONE of his rivals today had won more than two races, he was a FOUR time winner with two coming for this price level and at today's distance. He was first off the claim and was getting an apprentice rider that would save him ten pounds. I am typically reluctant to bet when there is not a solid rider, the paired speed figures and the distinct edge under today's conditions made Right On Ready a solid play. The gates opened and he was away slowly. But by the time they hit the first quarter pole he had glided up to challenge for the lead. He dueled with a 6/1 runner through the turn while well in hand. When they hit the top of the lane he took over effortless and ran away from the field as a convincing winner. Two-for-two to start the Christmas week of racing!
The crowd was not fooled by the apprentice rider and made Right On Ready the even money favorite. With my double investment I was cashing for another $20 and change. I passed the third race, a maiden special going a one turn mile. Spinning Wheel looked best, but she'd already been twice beaten as the favorite and I was reluctant to bet considering that was a runner from the Ralph Nicks barn - he's been very hot of late - who looked strong, as well as a Pletcher runner. My top pick won and paid a little more than $5 as the favorite. In the fourth race we were back on the turf with $50K winners who had never won two races. Bill Mott sent out the likely favorite, Robe, who was coming off the layoff while racing for a claiming tag for the first time, and in restricted company for the first time. She run in MSW races at Saratoga & Belmont and then in allowance company when facing winners. I thought she looked really strong, so I tripled the bet. She had no early speed and as they turned into the backstretch she was next to last. But she made a strong middle move to reach third as they hit the turn while less than two off the leaders. She was looking for racing room through the turn and finally found it up the rail as the field turned for home. She was near the front but then a cavalry charge of runners came flying up to join her. On the wire there were SEVEN across the track separated by a nose, a head, a nose, a neck, a half length and a neck. The winner, not me paid $9.20 while Robe was 7th in the blanket finish at 3/2. In the fifth there were two that looked likely to win, a Woodbine invader and Yo Esta who had dominated at this level last time out. But she'd also been beaten by ten lengths at this level and distance back in September so I passed while listing her as the second choice. She ran her "A" race today and won, paying an even $10. The seventh was a maiden race with every runner coming from a low percentage barn and every rider was a "no name" jockey with the exception of Corey Lanerie who was on 13-time maiden runner Battleback John. I listed him for that reason alone but had no interest in betting him.....he finally got his first career win and paid $6.40. The seventh was a MSW for two-year-olds - where's the Pletcher runner. THERE WERE TWO! I went with Outzap who was the 5/2 co-favorite. He was midpack to the far turn and then stopped finishing ninth. Fortunately the other Pletcher runner did not win as a 19/1 upset lit up the tote board. The eighth was a rare opportunity to get a Pletcher runner at a price. Tybalt's Queen was listed at 10/1 in the program for a starter optional claiming event on the turf. She was a juicy 8/1 at post time and was stalking in third into the turn.....I might have something here! But when the real running started, she stopped, finishing a well beaten eighth. In the ninth I had mixed feelings about Todd Pletcher's Tiger Moth. On the upside this 3yo filly had run speed figures in her last four that beat 67 of the 72 numbers earned by her rivals today; and three of those had been earned by her stable mate that had never gone beyond six furlongs, and today was a one-turn mile event. The downside was that Tiger Moth had run second in FOUR STRAIGHT, and two of those she was beaten as the odds-on favorite. Still, coming off a 31-to-60 day layoff she was a Gulfstream 40% Club play. Combine that with the figure advantage and I made her the double investment play. Well, in spite of the downside the crowd hammered her down to 1/5 odds. Not sure that was a good idea, but she was well in hand on the rail through the turn, eased out three wide and blew by to win like an odds-on favorite should. Only paid $2.40, so I cashed for less than $15, but had my third winner on the day!
The finale on the Wednesday card was a MSW on the turf. Tracking Stock was sent out by Chad Brown and was stepping up in class today. BUT, that has been a Gulfstream 40% Club angle for Brown over the last two winters, producing winners at a huge 44% rate. He was a fair 2/1 price when then left the gate and had good position just off the leaders on the rail. As they turned for home he had no late punch and finished evenly to be fourth. So for the day I was a good 3-for-7, a big 43% winning average. No racing tomorrow on Christmas Eve Day, nor on Christmas Day. But racing resumes on Saturday where it is also Opening Day at Gulfstream's sister track, Santa Anita in Southern California where they have four big graded stakes on their holiday card. I will have selections for bot tracks!
The crowd was not fooled by the apprentice rider and made Right On Ready the even money favorite. With my double investment I was cashing for another $20 and change. I passed the third race, a maiden special going a one turn mile. Spinning Wheel looked best, but she'd already been twice beaten as the favorite and I was reluctant to bet considering that was a runner from the Ralph Nicks barn - he's been very hot of late - who looked strong, as well as a Pletcher runner. My top pick won and paid a little more than $5 as the favorite. In the fourth race we were back on the turf with $50K winners who had never won two races. Bill Mott sent out the likely favorite, Robe, who was coming off the layoff while racing for a claiming tag for the first time, and in restricted company for the first time. She run in MSW races at Saratoga & Belmont and then in allowance company when facing winners. I thought she looked really strong, so I tripled the bet. She had no early speed and as they turned into the backstretch she was next to last. But she made a strong middle move to reach third as they hit the turn while less than two off the leaders. She was looking for racing room through the turn and finally found it up the rail as the field turned for home. She was near the front but then a cavalry charge of runners came flying up to join her. On the wire there were SEVEN across the track separated by a nose, a head, a nose, a neck, a half length and a neck. The winner, not me paid $9.20 while Robe was 7th in the blanket finish at 3/2. In the fifth there were two that looked likely to win, a Woodbine invader and Yo Esta who had dominated at this level last time out. But she'd also been beaten by ten lengths at this level and distance back in September so I passed while listing her as the second choice. She ran her "A" race today and won, paying an even $10. The seventh was a maiden race with every runner coming from a low percentage barn and every rider was a "no name" jockey with the exception of Corey Lanerie who was on 13-time maiden runner Battleback John. I listed him for that reason alone but had no interest in betting him.....he finally got his first career win and paid $6.40. The seventh was a MSW for two-year-olds - where's the Pletcher runner. THERE WERE TWO! I went with Outzap who was the 5/2 co-favorite. He was midpack to the far turn and then stopped finishing ninth. Fortunately the other Pletcher runner did not win as a 19/1 upset lit up the tote board. The eighth was a rare opportunity to get a Pletcher runner at a price. Tybalt's Queen was listed at 10/1 in the program for a starter optional claiming event on the turf. She was a juicy 8/1 at post time and was stalking in third into the turn.....I might have something here! But when the real running started, she stopped, finishing a well beaten eighth. In the ninth I had mixed feelings about Todd Pletcher's Tiger Moth. On the upside this 3yo filly had run speed figures in her last four that beat 67 of the 72 numbers earned by her rivals today; and three of those had been earned by her stable mate that had never gone beyond six furlongs, and today was a one-turn mile event. The downside was that Tiger Moth had run second in FOUR STRAIGHT, and two of those she was beaten as the odds-on favorite. Still, coming off a 31-to-60 day layoff she was a Gulfstream 40% Club play. Combine that with the figure advantage and I made her the double investment play. Well, in spite of the downside the crowd hammered her down to 1/5 odds. Not sure that was a good idea, but she was well in hand on the rail through the turn, eased out three wide and blew by to win like an odds-on favorite should. Only paid $2.40, so I cashed for less than $15, but had my third winner on the day!
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