Photo Finish - Photo Finish - PHOTO FINISH
2nd - 2nd - 2nd
After an 0-for-5 day Thursday, and there really isn't anything to say about that day where I was second at 3/1 in the feature but that was the only time I was even close, I thought for sure I'd bounce back today. In the third on Friday I thought Miss Darla had a legitimate chance and she was 4/1 in the program. She had run for a $35K tag and had TRIPLE the career wins at today's 6 furlong distance than anyone else in this non-winners-of-3-lifetime event. She broke a bit slowly but was rallying late and on the wire it was a 3-way photo.......missed on the head bob (see above left). In the fourth I liked Todd Pletcher's Social Stranger. There would be no mistaking Social Stranger for one of Todd's top runners as she was being sent out in this basement $12.5K maiden claimer but not only was it a Pletcher 3yo but she was facing Flowers For Lisa who'd disappointed many times, the last two at odds-on (for me) and as handicapper Andy Serling said, "I'd NEVER bet this horse under any circumstances!" Well, you can guess......as they turned for home it was Social Stranger dueling with Flowers for Lisa. I K-N-E-W that Flowers for Lisa had no winning heart and that Pletcher's runner would prevail, but Lisa would not go away. In the final 100 yards it was one head up and one head down it just would depend on where the bobbing heads were when the wire came up. As you can see in the photo (top right) I was head up on the bob before and after the wire, but NOT on the wire. Second again. I ran third in the fifth when Castellano AGAIN had my horse, Seventhfleethumor way, WAY too far back. Belatedly for third at 5/2. IN the7th I was an even 4th behind my second choice that paid $9.60. In the 8th I had a winner - I thought. Malibu'smostwanted was sent out by Michael Maker for Ken & Sarah Ramsey in a maiden claimer on the turf for 3yo fillies. She tracked the leaders while well in hand to the turn. Easily took the lead and opened up by daylight without being asked to run yet. The closers began to narrow the gap so jockey Julian Leparoux asked for run - not enough to hold on.....really? Photo finish second, AGAIN! But thankfully I finally was able to break through the losing streak when Verbouwen caught the even-money favorite in deep stretch and scored for Chad Brown & Javier Castellano in a 9 1/2 furlong marathon turf event for MSW 3yo's. The nice $6.80 payoff got me back well over $30 to "salvage" the day.
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