We step out onto the Derby Trail today with a powerful stretch run by Audible and a “much the 2nd best effort” by “Free Drop Billy” (sounds like he might have been named for one of my golf friends). Anyone who saw the Holy Bull at Gulfstream, hear a very loud eruption as Audible “lifted” very lively through the lane ( I love Michael Wrona).
I will have figs on his run, and the nice front end effort of Lombo in his scorching performance at Santa Anita in the Robert B. Lewis. He made all the early running quite authoritatively to my eye, and I thought he finished well, considering he had never been out beyond a sprint distance before. I like them to run hard enough to get a little tired, that’s how they get better.
I also thought Ayacara finished very well, as well… as most of you know, we had this exacta COLD.
The Withers, was also run on Saturday, featuring Firenze Fire, but I have never tabbed him as a KD type, and I am still of that opinion… but of course, I will report all the figs over and then we can talk – with some info behind our eyes…
Check back midweek and we can see if any of these can make McKinzie look over his shoulder?
“Race Day Las Vegas” Plays
Thursday’s
AT Aqueduct , Greatreviews off at 2/1 in the 7th, (was a little skinny on the price), tracked along in a nice position, moving up to be 2nd through the turn, took up the chase as they turned for home and suddenly stopped moving well. The reviews here are not great… coming in well back and out of the money…
Santa Anita, Rocket Heat was off at 5/2, while nearly 5/1 throughout the betting, there was a big late plunge. Rocket Heat broke in a tangle and took a few strides to get rolling, then rushed up to engage the early leaders before the first quarter mile was completed in 21.74. RH made up about 25 feet in that short period and it no doubt took it’s toll. After engaging the leaders, he continued to battle until mid-turn and then started to fall back. Finishing poorly. The poor start out of the gate and the class drop, leaves me thinking he has some issues that are “pinching” him. Just a thought.
Friday’s
At Aqueduct, in race #5 we played Open Bar at 9/2, who ran along well in and amongst horses, steadied slightly on the far turn, then commenced a rally leaving the turn, but could not threaten the top tier, finishing okay, but not in the money…
At Santa Anita, in race #6 we played Longden off at 9/2, who broke alertly and found himself on the lead, continued to make the pace while holding on to his rail position. Continued on in good stride, while no match for the eventual winner (and stablemate), but held the place, while racing well throughout.
Saturday’s
At Aqueduct… we played Cartwheel in the 5th off at odds of 14/1, Cartwheel broke sharply to duel early from about ½ length off the leader, then moved up under urging as they came out of the turn, then tired some, but continued on pretty well, saving the show money. I was satisfied with the effort, just getting beat out of a nice score had he held the place. I thought we got a decent run for this price.
At Santa Anita… we played Sturdy One in the 9th, off at odds of 12/1, broker alertly, then settled back and moved down toward the rail while well off the lead … now racing in behind horses, started to rally some, but never seemed to have a decent lane to run in… meanwhile the eventual winner was off winning by a pole… hard to evaluate this effort, except to say it was less then I expected!
TOTALS for New York, Gulfstream Park and So. Cal Plays 2018
NY Total Return $35.00, Total Cost $ 28.00 ROI Total $1.25/$1.00
Gulf Total Return $29.00, Total Cost $ 16.00 ROI Total $1.81/$1.00
SC Total Return $33.20, Total Cost $ 38.00, ROI Total $ .87/$1.00
Returns on all plays for 2018
Total Return $ 91.40 Total Cost $ 80.00 (Saturday had 4 counted plays)
ROI $ 1.14 / $1.00 (1-1-2018 thru 2/3/2018)
——- History Below this line —-
Returns on all plays for 2017
TOTALS for New York and So. Cal Plays
(starting February 24, 2017 )
NY Total Return $414.10, Total Cost $ 396.00 ROI Total $1.05/$1.00
SC Total Return $357.10, Total Cost $ 367.00, ROI Total $ .96/$1.00
Total Return $ 880.30 Total Cost $ 896.00
ROI $ 0.98 (1-1-2017 thru 12/26/2017)
ROI $ 1.04 (1-1-2015 thru 12/31/2016)