Thursday July 18 - Sunday July 20
It was a really, REALLY interesting weekend of racing - from the first winner of the week through the last. Here's how it all unfolded......
Thursday July 18
Keith and I had arrived back in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday night at midnight. I worked Monday and Tuesday on the web page and journal for our Track Trip and my daughter Julie arrived Wednesday for a short visit before heading out for a trip to Portugal. As we were all together in the living room and Keith turned on the TVG horse racing network. As we were chatting I thought I heard the announcers talk about the talented runner Hofburg. I'd seen him break his maiden for Bill Mott last winter at Gulfstream and then in an unusual move, especially for him he entered him right back in the Grade 1 Florida Derby where he ran 2nd and in the Kentucky Derby where he ran 7th. I had him last summer at Saratoga where he'd won the Curlin Stakes. I said to Keith, did they say Hofburg is running this week? He didn't catch it so I looked it up in the future entries. Sure enough, entered in a non-conditioned allowance event going nine furlongs on Thursday. I invested for a double bet. He sat in fourth to the far turn behind Flowers For Lisa - who has a history with me....the short version, missed his maiden win when he'd lost for me in like his sixth try and he'd beaten me on the front end another time. I knew if Hofburg was right he'd run him down especially at this extended nine furlong trip. Eased into the clear on the turn, moved to challenge a furlong out and eased by without being asked for a full-out drive. Had my first win of the day.
Later that afternoon I saw that Saratoga was announcing they would NOT run on Saturday, Haskell Day because they anticipated the weather and heat index to be too hot. That made me wonder about the Saturday card at Monmouth. Certainly they wouldn't cancel the card on their biggest day of the year. I then saw a couple video interviews with Monmouth officials and they assured the camera that they had done all the proper research and had multiple "protocols" in place to deal with possible heat issues.
Friday July 19
I had five selections on the day, where the weather was as hot as it had been throughout the week and was about the temperature/heat index that was anticipated for both Saturday and Sunday on the Jersey Shore. So as I watched the races, and won two of them, I was confident that the races would be run as scheduled tomorrow, Haskell Day. I saw online that Sunday at Saratoga they were running the Grade 2 Shuvee Handicap, and THAT race had not been listed for Saturday, but they'd already announced ALL of Saturday's races would be run Sunday. Since I'd already handicapped the Saturday Saratoga card I went to the entries to see what the deal was. Sure enough they were there, but NYRA had added a hurdles race as the opener, then the Saturday card was intact - but each race was a race later in the card - and they had added the Shuvee as the finale. As I handicapped the Sunday card for Monmouth I added in my Saratoga selections and decided to pass on the Shuvee since I didn't see the sense in re-purchasing the Sunday card since the only race I didn't already have was that one.
Saturday July 20: Haskell Invitational Day
My plan had originally been to drive out to Gulfstream today, especially since Kim was in Pennsylvania and both Keith and Julie had left. But after looking over the card locally I didn't see anything of interest and then Saratoga was cancelled. So I didn't see the purpose of driving out there to watch on TV screens without sound when I could stay here at the "Sunrise Simulcast Center" - the house - and watch on a big screen TV with sound. To get the whole picture of what ensued next you need to know that Kim and I had booked a Holland America Pacific Coast Cruise for September 30 through October 6 and recently her Mom had indicated an interest in joining us. So as I was awaiting the opener at Monmouth Park I called my travel agent Nancy Nelson. I muted the sound and was watching the live video feed on TVG as we chatted. It got to be close to post time, but I was surprised that the horses were not on the track and I kept seeing interviews taking place at Monmouth. Nancy and I finished our conversation and I rewound the video to discover that NOW Monmouth was concerned about the heat index and had announced they would run the first two races and then make a decision. My immediate thought was that the crowd, the HUGE crowd on this their signature day would be there on track and what....they were going to send them home and tell them to come back tomorrow or on another day? The horses went on the track and my pick ran second as the 3/5 choice. I didn't have a pick in the second and then the announcement came.....
I have to admit I was really surprised at this decision. And then I watched the TV hosts interview a couple of horsemen, including top North American trainer Todd Pletcher who remarked that in his opinion the weather wasn't any hotter than many days that they'd run during past summers. This all goes back to being "politically correct" since the number of horses dying out west at Santa Anita so now everyone is all overlly concerned that something happen on their big day of racing. The next thought I had was how MY day was now going to be a SLOW one without a full day of racing as I'd originally thought; that I was SOOO glad I had not driven to Gulfstream; and then I thought about how I was originally supposed to be at Monmouth today with Jim - man what an experience that would have been; AND Keith and I were so fortunate to have made our trip LAST weekend and not this weekend. What if we'd planned to either go to the Haskell or Saratoga? So funny how things work out. Well, when I'd found out that Saratoga was not running I added picks from Del Mar for today so I still could have multiple selections to play. I revised my selection sheet to reflect the new post times for Monmouth and awaited the second from Del Mar. The second at Del Mar was an allowance race for sprinters going 6 1/2 furlongs, which was being used as a bridge to next month's Grade 2 Pat O'Brien. Bob Baffert entered American Anthem who is already a three-time graded stakes winning sprinter. After an uncharacteristically poor effort in July 2018 in the Gr 1 Bing Crosby here at Del Mar he'd not resurfaced until Derby Day at Churchill Downs and he was a just miss second as the 6/5 favorite in an allowance. Then he was 4th as the favorite in the Grade 2 Triple Bend at the end of May at Santa Anita. Neither of those Beyers reflected his best races so I figured if he ran to his best today - and his sharp works seemed to indicate he was sitting on a big effort - he'd beat these. It was, as the TVG hosts remarked, a stakes quality field without a stakes purse or name. Jockey Flavian Prat sat in fourth to the turn then followed the second choice into the lane. That one seemed to be getting away with a furlong to go and then American Anthem found another gear and blew by to give me my first winner on the day.
Finally the action got underway at Monmouth where the plan was to run the five stakes with less than thirty minutes between races. Divisidero has always been a favorite of mine but since winning three straight graded events (at big prices) on Derby Day at Churchill Downs he'd consistently run big, without winning (often at big prices). Today he looked like the legitimate favorite in the Grade 3 Oceanport - or would he come up just short again? I seriously considered cancelling the bet because what had been a fairly full field that would have a lively pace was now a reduced field of four due to late scratches. I later learned that the two big defections came because the horses had received their Lasix, anti-bleeding medication, as per usual in the morning but with the postponing of the post time to later and now the connections were concerned their horses would bleed. This could hamper his chances, but I've seen him race in a pace pressing position so I just hoped he wouldn't run an "oh so close" race without winning again. But that's what happened as he was about half a head behind the second choice on the wire. Sigh..... Less than a half an hour later it was time for my BET of the Weekend in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher. Midnight Bissou and Monomoy Girl were the two top 3yo fillies of 2018 with Monomoy Girl eventually wining the Breeders' Cup Distaff as my top pick last November when we were at Churchill Downs. But she has yet to return to the races while Midnight Bissou began her season in late January by taking the Gr 3 Houston Ladies Classic as the prohibitive choice but was JUST up in time. She's since followed that with four consecutive graded wins including decisive scores in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom and last time out in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont. She just looked much, MUCH the best here. Heading into the far turn Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith was saving ground on the rail behind a wall of four fillies turning for home. This could get dicey I thought, but the rail opened and he asked for her kick. In a flash she blew by Coach Rocks (the GP Oaks winner from last year) and edged clear without being asked for her very best. The payoff was minuscule, but as I've often said and written, in cases like this the thrill for me is picking the winner and putting my money down to reflect my confidence.
Next on my list was the co-featured Grade 2 San Diego Handicap from Del Mar. Heading into last year's Breeders' Cup trainer John Sadler sent out a sensationally talented colt in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile named Catalina Cruiser. This colt had rattled off four straight wins, the last two in graded company and his Beyers stamped him as a legitimate superstar. But Sadler was winless from over 30 BC starters and I just wasn't convinced. I didn't have the winner, but 'Cruiser didn't win either, suffering his first defeat. One of his wins had come in THIS race last year so we knew he liked Del Mar. He'd made his 2019 return with a super effort winning the Grade 2 True North on the Belmont Stakes undercard and looked primed for a big effort today. It was a short field and he should have dominated as the prohibitive favorite. He won, but he was FAR from his best this afternoon, still, had the winning ticket on my second big bet of the day.
I ran second in three consecutive races before it was time for the featured Grade 1 $1 Million TVG Haskell Invitational. I'd had Jason Servis' Maximum Security in two straight Optional Claiming wins at Gulfstream this past winter when he was sprinting. I really didn't think he could carry his speed when based on his big Beyer figures they tried the Grade 1 Florida Derby, but he won. I again didn't think he was that good and watched as he crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby, only to have his number taken down in a controversial disqualification. He came back a month ago in the TVG Pegasus but he hopped at the break and was nailed on the wire by Todd Pletcher's King For A Day, who was back to challenge today. Maximum Security drew the widest post, #7 today and I didn't think he'd get an uncontested lead so he'd have to rate off the front runners. I thought that he would not disappoint today. But in the lead-up to the race I began to wonder about Bob Baffert's Mucho Gusto who had been really impressive in winning the Grade 3 Affirmed. And then there's the fact that Baffert is an EIGHT-time winner of the Haskell over the last thirteen years. In fact I remember him winning it a couple of years ago and my remarking, "How hard is it to win the Haskell when Baffert is in it?" And IF there was a contested pace and/or Maximum Security got early pressure, then Mucho Gusto would set the ideal trip. I was unsettled until about ten minutes before post time I re-opened the past performances.......
I'm a big believer in Beyer speed figures and as you can see, the numbers CLEARLY pointed out the "Derby winner." I felt even more confident when hottie Gabby Gaudet interviewed trainer Jason Servis in the paddock and he said he never liked to say he felt confident, but that he felt "very good" about Maximum Security today. I decided to up the investment a click. Jockey Luis Saez sat patiently three-wide as King For A Day dueled on the lead with a longshot runner, then made his move on the turn. He surged to the front and as the camera switched angles King for a Day checked sharply but I didn't really think anything of it. Mucho Gusto came to Maximum Security and they dueled until Maximum Security refused to yield and edged clear late. But within minutes the announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen the stewards have posted the INQUIRY sign and it involves the unoffical winner, please hold all tickets." You HAVE to be kidding me. The investigation was brief and while I'm sure neither Todd Pletcher or John Velazquez was happy with the result the video did NOT show decisively that anyone interfered with or caused the problem and King for a Day was already backing up. It was the right call and Maximum Security got the big Gr 1 win.
After missing with the last pick at Del Mar I closed the day with a good 4-for-9 record.
Sunday July 21: Coaching Club of America Day
The first "concern" I had about today's races was when I handicapped the Monmouth card I came up with seven selections from the eleven race card, and I wondered if I had been too "open minded" about my picks. I really believe one of the reasons I score at such a high percentage at Monmouth over the summer is that I am very picky about only betting when I an sure I have a solid play. I added in the picks from yesterday's Saratoga card - moved to today - to those picks and my plan for the day was to watch the day-long racing from the two venues. A little after 11 am I went to Xpressbet to get the scratches for today and Monmouth was listed as "CAN" - could that mean they are cancelled? After running on Friday and Saturday, suddenly it's "too hot" on Sunday?
I checked on Twitter and found the above. Really? But it is NOT too hot to race in New York today? Just wow......So I went from a full day of racing, again, to just four selections. As I was waiting for Saratoga to begin I went through the Brisnet entries for several tracks to see if anything jumped out to me. The only thing that caught my eye was in Gulfstream's tenth race. I went to the Xpressbet "Daily Picks" and found that the favorite, #6 Ice Tea was coming off of a big effort with a big Beyer figure and if he could stretch out in distance he would dominate this group. I decided to put him, tentatively, on my selection sheet and check out what the GP analysts had to say prior to the race. My first pick of the day came in the 3rd at Saratoga, on the turf where I liked a Chad Brown runner. Scratched. It just keeps getting better and better, right? In the 4th it was the Grade 1 Coaching Club of America Oaks with a short field of just four 3yo filles going nine furlongs. Check out the favorite....
Two things immediately jumped out to me. First, this must be ONE very talented filly to have run such huge Beyer figures, and jumped right into Gr 1 company at Belmont, AND won convincingly. But, the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont is a one-turn mile and today not only were we running at Saratoga but we were going two turns and nine furlongs. That seemed to be the only question but as a daughter of Breeders' Cup champion Ghostzapper the distance should NOT be a problem. I stuck with my pick. Right to the front and despite some pressure she opened up turning for home. Then Javier Castellano had Point of Honor in full gear coming from just off the pace. She was a 3-for-4 filly who'd won the Suncoast Stakes for me at Tampa and most recently the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. She got close but then Guarana opened up and drew off again.
One-for-one! Post time for this graded stakes had been a little after 2 pm and my next pick wasn't until nearly 4:30 pm. Several times I was tempted by the comments of the TVG hosts, but I stuck to my original picks. And as Race 8 approached at the Spa I wondered if maybe I shouldn't back off. The eighth was a maiden special for juvenile fillies going six furlongs. I had picked Basin as my top choice from the Steve Asmussen barn. She had debuted as the even money favorite in a Churchill Downs event. Tracked the leader, rallied and just missed by a diminishing nose. The 70 Beyer was strong compared to those with experience. But what caught my eye was that the winner had come back to win convincingly here on opening weekend in the Grade 3 Sanford. AND DRF analyst Mike Beer noted (even though he did NOT put Basin on top) that DRF Formulator stats (which allow you to run all kinds of filters) showed that trainer Steve Asmussen was a whopping 9-for-18 with two-year olds making their second start at Saratoga, in MSW dirt sprints. How narrow is that for checking numbers! To be fair, the sample size was small, but not so small that it didn't catch my eye. As the full field hit the turn Basin surged to the front. The other two top choices made a run, but could never get to him. And the best part was that even though he'd been the favorite throughout the entire betting window, as they went to post he'd clicked up in value and was no longer the favorite.
The generous $6.00 payoff allowed me to cash for $30 and guarantee a winning day. Later in the day the thoroughbred magazine, "Bloodhorse" did a feature story on Basin as the first winner from Laim's Map, who won the 2015 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland .... as my BET of the DAY on BC Friday when I was there with Keith. The article is HERE. Here's a link to my visit to Keeneland's Breeders' Cup in 2015....click HERE. I missed on the last two picks from Saratoga, but I went ahead with the play at Gulfstream. Ice Tea when right to the front and never looked in danger. Considering how good he apparently looked in the Form somehow he went off at a very fair 3/5 price and I cashed for nearly $20 to close the eventful weekend.
So starting with the Hofburg win on Thursday through the Saratoga races (and GP) I concluded the extended Haskell Weekend with a score of 21 / 10 - 5 - 0, a winning percentage of 47% - whoooo hooooo!
Thursday July 18
Keith and I had arrived back in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday night at midnight. I worked Monday and Tuesday on the web page and journal for our Track Trip and my daughter Julie arrived Wednesday for a short visit before heading out for a trip to Portugal. As we were all together in the living room and Keith turned on the TVG horse racing network. As we were chatting I thought I heard the announcers talk about the talented runner Hofburg. I'd seen him break his maiden for Bill Mott last winter at Gulfstream and then in an unusual move, especially for him he entered him right back in the Grade 1 Florida Derby where he ran 2nd and in the Kentucky Derby where he ran 7th. I had him last summer at Saratoga where he'd won the Curlin Stakes. I said to Keith, did they say Hofburg is running this week? He didn't catch it so I looked it up in the future entries. Sure enough, entered in a non-conditioned allowance event going nine furlongs on Thursday. I invested for a double bet. He sat in fourth to the far turn behind Flowers For Lisa - who has a history with me....the short version, missed his maiden win when he'd lost for me in like his sixth try and he'd beaten me on the front end another time. I knew if Hofburg was right he'd run him down especially at this extended nine furlong trip. Eased into the clear on the turn, moved to challenge a furlong out and eased by without being asked for a full-out drive. Had my first win of the day.
Later that afternoon I saw that Saratoga was announcing they would NOT run on Saturday, Haskell Day because they anticipated the weather and heat index to be too hot. That made me wonder about the Saturday card at Monmouth. Certainly they wouldn't cancel the card on their biggest day of the year. I then saw a couple video interviews with Monmouth officials and they assured the camera that they had done all the proper research and had multiple "protocols" in place to deal with possible heat issues.
Friday July 19
I had five selections on the day, where the weather was as hot as it had been throughout the week and was about the temperature/heat index that was anticipated for both Saturday and Sunday on the Jersey Shore. So as I watched the races, and won two of them, I was confident that the races would be run as scheduled tomorrow, Haskell Day. I saw online that Sunday at Saratoga they were running the Grade 2 Shuvee Handicap, and THAT race had not been listed for Saturday, but they'd already announced ALL of Saturday's races would be run Sunday. Since I'd already handicapped the Saturday Saratoga card I went to the entries to see what the deal was. Sure enough they were there, but NYRA had added a hurdles race as the opener, then the Saturday card was intact - but each race was a race later in the card - and they had added the Shuvee as the finale. As I handicapped the Sunday card for Monmouth I added in my Saratoga selections and decided to pass on the Shuvee since I didn't see the sense in re-purchasing the Sunday card since the only race I didn't already have was that one.
My plan had originally been to drive out to Gulfstream today, especially since Kim was in Pennsylvania and both Keith and Julie had left. But after looking over the card locally I didn't see anything of interest and then Saratoga was cancelled. So I didn't see the purpose of driving out there to watch on TV screens without sound when I could stay here at the "Sunrise Simulcast Center" - the house - and watch on a big screen TV with sound. To get the whole picture of what ensued next you need to know that Kim and I had booked a Holland America Pacific Coast Cruise for September 30 through October 6 and recently her Mom had indicated an interest in joining us. So as I was awaiting the opener at Monmouth Park I called my travel agent Nancy Nelson. I muted the sound and was watching the live video feed on TVG as we chatted. It got to be close to post time, but I was surprised that the horses were not on the track and I kept seeing interviews taking place at Monmouth. Nancy and I finished our conversation and I rewound the video to discover that NOW Monmouth was concerned about the heat index and had announced they would run the first two races and then make a decision. My immediate thought was that the crowd, the HUGE crowd on this their signature day would be there on track and what....they were going to send them home and tell them to come back tomorrow or on another day? The horses went on the track and my pick ran second as the 3/5 choice. I didn't have a pick in the second and then the announcement came.....
Finally the action got underway at Monmouth where the plan was to run the five stakes with less than thirty minutes between races. Divisidero has always been a favorite of mine but since winning three straight graded events (at big prices) on Derby Day at Churchill Downs he'd consistently run big, without winning (often at big prices). Today he looked like the legitimate favorite in the Grade 3 Oceanport - or would he come up just short again? I seriously considered cancelling the bet because what had been a fairly full field that would have a lively pace was now a reduced field of four due to late scratches. I later learned that the two big defections came because the horses had received their Lasix, anti-bleeding medication, as per usual in the morning but with the postponing of the post time to later and now the connections were concerned their horses would bleed. This could hamper his chances, but I've seen him race in a pace pressing position so I just hoped he wouldn't run an "oh so close" race without winning again. But that's what happened as he was about half a head behind the second choice on the wire. Sigh..... Less than a half an hour later it was time for my BET of the Weekend in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher. Midnight Bissou and Monomoy Girl were the two top 3yo fillies of 2018 with Monomoy Girl eventually wining the Breeders' Cup Distaff as my top pick last November when we were at Churchill Downs. But she has yet to return to the races while Midnight Bissou began her season in late January by taking the Gr 3 Houston Ladies Classic as the prohibitive choice but was JUST up in time. She's since followed that with four consecutive graded wins including decisive scores in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom and last time out in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont. She just looked much, MUCH the best here. Heading into the far turn Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith was saving ground on the rail behind a wall of four fillies turning for home. This could get dicey I thought, but the rail opened and he asked for her kick. In a flash she blew by Coach Rocks (the GP Oaks winner from last year) and edged clear without being asked for her very best. The payoff was minuscule, but as I've often said and written, in cases like this the thrill for me is picking the winner and putting my money down to reflect my confidence.
Next on my list was the co-featured Grade 2 San Diego Handicap from Del Mar. Heading into last year's Breeders' Cup trainer John Sadler sent out a sensationally talented colt in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile named Catalina Cruiser. This colt had rattled off four straight wins, the last two in graded company and his Beyers stamped him as a legitimate superstar. But Sadler was winless from over 30 BC starters and I just wasn't convinced. I didn't have the winner, but 'Cruiser didn't win either, suffering his first defeat. One of his wins had come in THIS race last year so we knew he liked Del Mar. He'd made his 2019 return with a super effort winning the Grade 2 True North on the Belmont Stakes undercard and looked primed for a big effort today. It was a short field and he should have dominated as the prohibitive favorite. He won, but he was FAR from his best this afternoon, still, had the winning ticket on my second big bet of the day.
I ran second in three consecutive races before it was time for the featured Grade 1 $1 Million TVG Haskell Invitational. I'd had Jason Servis' Maximum Security in two straight Optional Claiming wins at Gulfstream this past winter when he was sprinting. I really didn't think he could carry his speed when based on his big Beyer figures they tried the Grade 1 Florida Derby, but he won. I again didn't think he was that good and watched as he crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby, only to have his number taken down in a controversial disqualification. He came back a month ago in the TVG Pegasus but he hopped at the break and was nailed on the wire by Todd Pletcher's King For A Day, who was back to challenge today. Maximum Security drew the widest post, #7 today and I didn't think he'd get an uncontested lead so he'd have to rate off the front runners. I thought that he would not disappoint today. But in the lead-up to the race I began to wonder about Bob Baffert's Mucho Gusto who had been really impressive in winning the Grade 3 Affirmed. And then there's the fact that Baffert is an EIGHT-time winner of the Haskell over the last thirteen years. In fact I remember him winning it a couple of years ago and my remarking, "How hard is it to win the Haskell when Baffert is in it?" And IF there was a contested pace and/or Maximum Security got early pressure, then Mucho Gusto would set the ideal trip. I was unsettled until about ten minutes before post time I re-opened the past performances.......
After missing with the last pick at Del Mar I closed the day with a good 4-for-9 record.
Sunday July 21: Coaching Club of America Day
The first "concern" I had about today's races was when I handicapped the Monmouth card I came up with seven selections from the eleven race card, and I wondered if I had been too "open minded" about my picks. I really believe one of the reasons I score at such a high percentage at Monmouth over the summer is that I am very picky about only betting when I an sure I have a solid play. I added in the picks from yesterday's Saratoga card - moved to today - to those picks and my plan for the day was to watch the day-long racing from the two venues. A little after 11 am I went to Xpressbet to get the scratches for today and Monmouth was listed as "CAN" - could that mean they are cancelled? After running on Friday and Saturday, suddenly it's "too hot" on Sunday?
I checked on Twitter and found the above. Really? But it is NOT too hot to race in New York today? Just wow......So I went from a full day of racing, again, to just four selections. As I was waiting for Saratoga to begin I went through the Brisnet entries for several tracks to see if anything jumped out to me. The only thing that caught my eye was in Gulfstream's tenth race. I went to the Xpressbet "Daily Picks" and found that the favorite, #6 Ice Tea was coming off of a big effort with a big Beyer figure and if he could stretch out in distance he would dominate this group. I decided to put him, tentatively, on my selection sheet and check out what the GP analysts had to say prior to the race. My first pick of the day came in the 3rd at Saratoga, on the turf where I liked a Chad Brown runner. Scratched. It just keeps getting better and better, right? In the 4th it was the Grade 1 Coaching Club of America Oaks with a short field of just four 3yo filles going nine furlongs. Check out the favorite....
Two things immediately jumped out to me. First, this must be ONE very talented filly to have run such huge Beyer figures, and jumped right into Gr 1 company at Belmont, AND won convincingly. But, the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont is a one-turn mile and today not only were we running at Saratoga but we were going two turns and nine furlongs. That seemed to be the only question but as a daughter of Breeders' Cup champion Ghostzapper the distance should NOT be a problem. I stuck with my pick. Right to the front and despite some pressure she opened up turning for home. Then Javier Castellano had Point of Honor in full gear coming from just off the pace. She was a 3-for-4 filly who'd won the Suncoast Stakes for me at Tampa and most recently the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. She got close but then Guarana opened up and drew off again.
One-for-one! Post time for this graded stakes had been a little after 2 pm and my next pick wasn't until nearly 4:30 pm. Several times I was tempted by the comments of the TVG hosts, but I stuck to my original picks. And as Race 8 approached at the Spa I wondered if maybe I shouldn't back off. The eighth was a maiden special for juvenile fillies going six furlongs. I had picked Basin as my top choice from the Steve Asmussen barn. She had debuted as the even money favorite in a Churchill Downs event. Tracked the leader, rallied and just missed by a diminishing nose. The 70 Beyer was strong compared to those with experience. But what caught my eye was that the winner had come back to win convincingly here on opening weekend in the Grade 3 Sanford. AND DRF analyst Mike Beer noted (even though he did NOT put Basin on top) that DRF Formulator stats (which allow you to run all kinds of filters) showed that trainer Steve Asmussen was a whopping 9-for-18 with two-year olds making their second start at Saratoga, in MSW dirt sprints. How narrow is that for checking numbers! To be fair, the sample size was small, but not so small that it didn't catch my eye. As the full field hit the turn Basin surged to the front. The other two top choices made a run, but could never get to him. And the best part was that even though he'd been the favorite throughout the entire betting window, as they went to post he'd clicked up in value and was no longer the favorite.
The generous $6.00 payoff allowed me to cash for $30 and guarantee a winning day. Later in the day the thoroughbred magazine, "Bloodhorse" did a feature story on Basin as the first winner from Laim's Map, who won the 2015 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland .... as my BET of the DAY on BC Friday when I was there with Keith. The article is HERE. Here's a link to my visit to Keeneland's Breeders' Cup in 2015....click HERE. I missed on the last two picks from Saratoga, but I went ahead with the play at Gulfstream. Ice Tea when right to the front and never looked in danger. Considering how good he apparently looked in the Form somehow he went off at a very fair 3/5 price and I cashed for nearly $20 to close the eventful weekend.
So starting with the Hofburg win on Thursday through the Saratoga races (and GP) I concluded the extended Haskell Weekend with a score of 21 / 10 - 5 - 0, a winning percentage of 47% - whoooo hooooo!
Haskell Week Highlights
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