Way to go Mikaela as she earns another amazing SHOUT OUT for winning the Gold with an amazing 2nd run in the Giant Slalom and to our many great Olympian’s —  great going…  Chloe Kim got my first special “shout out”… She is truly amazing…  Back to back 1080’s, just to let everyone else know… she is the Queen of the Half-Pipe…  We ALL love Chloe’s accomplishment and our entire – relentless and classy American Olympic Team!

Then just a couple of minutes past by … then came Shaun White performing twists and turns 20 feet above the rim of the halfpipe… just another set of incredible performances…however, however we need to be responsible with our FLAG!

Back to horse racing, we had a nice little race at Tampa Bay this past weekend… and I didn’t see anything that deserves to be on this list.  Quite frankly, when I processes the races, the figs came up very “slow”…  The 1:42 time was over a track that is consistently faster than “real” tracks and the times flatter horses that simply do not deserve the flattery… We have seen better in previous years come through Tampa, and they simply do not get sufficient conditioning over this very “glib” surface…

“Race Day Las Vegas” Plays

Sunday’s

AT Aqueduct, Stoney Benett off at 5/1, broke very sharply to assume an early lead, but then gave it up readily, and didn’t race well thereafter.  Maybe a dislike for the sloppy surface or out of condition… let’s see how fast this one returns to the races.

At Santa Anita, MS Bad Behavior off at 2/1, sharp at the break and running in control just a couple off the front, loomed large as they crossed the dirt, moved to striking position but instead of going on to win, ran in 2^nd throughout the stretch…  Apparantly, hanging slightly, but holding the place… Making the exacta on the reverse…

TOTALS   for New York, Gulfstream Park and So. Cal Plays 2018

NY   Total Return   $35.00, Total Cost $ 38.00  ROI Total   $.92/$1.00

Gulf   Total Return   $29.00, Total Cost $ 16.00 ROI Total   $1.81/$1.00

SC  Total Return   $46.60, Total Cost $ 46.00,  ROI Total   $1.01/$1.00

Returns on all plays for 2018

Total Return $ 104.80

Total Cost   $ 98.00 

ROI $ 1.07 / $1.00    (1-1-2018 thru 2/14/2018)

——- 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)

The really big news today is the excellent effort of Flameaway in beating both the very good Catholic Boy and the improving Vino Rosso.  Interestingly, Flameaway really handled the surface at Tampa Bay Downs but in a previous effort on the dirt, simply did not handle that surface at Churchill Downs.  There is some belief that form transfers well between Churchill Downs and Tampa Bay Downs, so this becomes a “brain squeezer”!  I am guessing they three ran terrific numbers, so tune back in and by Wednesday I will be reporting these three.  I just want to make a special notation, I thought Vino Rosso was visually impressive, in closing in on the Flameaway and Catholic boy in the late stages.

One more comment, both Catholic Boy and Flameaway showed they are real Grade 1 prospects, by way of their 2 year old Turf effort at Del Mar in the Breeders Cup, but also by some other very solid races…

Now on to an even bigger story!  At least to me (and you) Bob Baffert just went down for the 3^rd time in 3 days with very fast horses that simply had no POP!  The first was a cheaper version in Divine Spark on Thursday, who was as dull as dishwater at 5/1.  But then on Friday, there was a very fast Emboldened who dominated in her only race, while never being under pressure, we are completely conditioned to see these horses move forward in the their 2^nd effort. NOT to happen.  Emboldened ran what appeared to be a “DULL” race.  This was a terrible disappointment to those who took ODDS ON money.  Of course, I never take ODDS on – and that should have saved you as well.

Now on to Ax Man.  Who I indicated had literally giant speed figs in his first race – compared to everyone else.  I rated him on the Power Page at 76.5, which was exactly his number in his only previous effort.  But today, he simply ran to hot fractions for about 4 furlongs and his action became stressed and was out-gamed by several horses that had never ran past a 72.0.  For a horse this good to run this poorly, we would never expect that from a Bob Baffert, but from an average trainer.  But this is the 3^rd poor effort in 3 days, 2 of which were at ODDS – ON!

Okay… Sunday’s cards are here and Santa Anita is another good card… New York is a little thin.

And come back later in the week to see updates on my Kentucky Derby List… maybe I will add in Ralph’s favored future book horse…

Kentucky Derby Contenders…

“Race Day Las Vegas” Plays

Thursday’s

At Aqueduct, in Race #7, Decorator Jenn off at 6/1, ran alertly and in contention just  1 1/2 lengths off the lead for about 4 furlongs, and then tired badly.  She may need a little vacay…

At Santa Anita, in Race #4, Divine Spark off at 9/2 was simply ghastly.  After breaking a little slow, she kept going slow, and then finished with a slight bit of interest to manage 5th or 6th… I mean who cares… was this really a Bob Baffert horse?  Disappointing doesn’t express my take on this race!

Friday’s

At Aqueduct, we played Chilly Bon Bon in the 7^th, off about 2/1 was fair, went right to the lead and took some moderate pressure from the eventual winner, held position on the rail until they turned for home when he tired…

At Santa Anita, in the 3^rd, we tabbed Southern Treasure off at 5/1.  ST went for the lead a battle throughout, was overtaken for the lead late in the turn, but continued with determination, to eventual prevail and pull clear for a tremendous victory.  The winning price was a solid $13.40.

Saturday’s
At Aqueduct, I tabbed Lost Iron, in the 2nd off at 5/2. This was a very good price with the chalk highly overbet (and vulnerable in my opinion). Lost Iron broke very alertly to take up the 2nd position and hold it through the early running, then moved up on the front runner and took over as they spun out of the turn, ran through the lane very well, but could not hold off the late charge of the winner. I thought the race was solid, as we held the place and won the exacta while defeating the ODDS ON Horse.

TOTALS   for New York, Gulfstream Park and So. Cal Plays 2018

Saturday — Feb 10^th — will be updated tomorrow…

NY   Total Return   $35.00, Total Cost $ 34.00  ROI Total   $1.03/$1.00

Gulf   Total Return   $29.00, Total Cost $ 16.00 ROI Total   $1.81/$1.00

SC  Total Return   $46.60, Total Cost $ 44.00,  ROI Total   $1.06 .79/$1.00

Returns on all plays for 2018

Total Return $ 104.80

Total Cost   $ 92.00

ROI $ 1.14 / $1.00    (1-1-2018 thru 2/9/2018)

——- 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)