We were treated to a very strong bias at Aqueduct, with inside position a must and speed another must.  As the track started taking on moisture, the more important the early speed near the end of the day.  While over at Santa Anita, it seemed very similar, however several jockey’s had that sense going in and really gunned their horses, literally over-running the bias.  That was a possible explanation for the outcome of the La Brea going so hard and so fast — so early — that they set it up for a closer, but only one closer –Book Review — was good enough to find the top two at the wire, getting the win.

It was really fun having them back at both venues, but they are not running at Santa Anita on Thursday, but then they are running right through the New Year, so that should give us lots to look at.  Aqueduct is running tomorrow and there is a storm this evening…if you purchase a Power Page or KHSS for Thursday and the card is cancelled before the 2nd race, I will automatically issue a refund…

Well Christmas was yesterday, but for us horse players, out present under the tree might be coming on Wednesday with two beautiful cards.  One of the reasons I started doing New York racing and then So. Cal racing as my two tracks, was because they follow each other – providing tremendous continuity to a player!  Instead of having two or three tracks running simultaneously and finding it difficult to focus attention on one or the other, with this approach, the handicapper can focus all his attention on the upcoming play and when it’s complete move on to the next play — in an orderly fashion.

I think tomorrow is just that kind of day, with plenty of form to consider…   Interestingly, the day draws to a close at Santa Anita in the Malibu Grade -I. at 7 furlongs — this race is always filled with Breeders’ Cup participants and it’s always my strategy to wager “against” horses who participated in the BC.   The horses that participated in the BC are sprinkled all over the card at Santa Anita, setting up many “bet – against”  for me, however, there is a plethora of BC participants who will be going to post in this edition of the Malibu — Fed Biz, Jimmy Creed, The Lumber Guy and Unbridled’s Note.   This means that private Zone, Politicallycorrect and even Basmati might be set up for a big score and a handsome mutual.  Now I am not saying which one is my key, but I have a definitive opinion, liking one of those three above the other two.

And yes, I expect to wager against both Miss Aurelia and Rennesgotzip in the La Brea (Race #4), for exactly the same reasons.   These are just a couple of the choices being presented on these two great, post Christmas racing cards…