Aqueduct should be a WET track and I am anticipating OFF THE TURF.  There were heavy rains in Brooklyn, NY Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night…  On the JJPP-PLUS, there are figures for both off the turf and if they stay on the turf…

Here are a few topics that I will be Blur”p”ing on over the next two-three weeks…

Bad Trips or Bad Jockey ?  There were several terrible judgment calls and placement that were totally the fault of “great jockey’s doing stupid stuff”!

Terrible Training Jobs!  I am totally surprised by some of the poor races run, from some of our best and most heralded trainers, obviously I will be discussing Bob Bafferts horses performance and as noted below, Richard Mandella will make this list, and there are others… The important thing here, is to be aware, as the tides might be changing some… they always seem to.

Sensational performances, by horse, jockey and trainer!  This is one I will be enjoying and look forward to discussing…

 If you want to receive these,  just send me an e-mail to jerryj@cox.net,   I will be happy to add your name to the list and send you the BC Blurps… this is a totally FREE service… but only for our friends.

 “Race Day Las Vegas” Plays

Friday, Saturday and Sunday…  Just want to complete discussion from last weeks plays’ that  required a little delay in reporting due to the heavy workload over this past weekend.

Friday

Twenty Four Seven at Aqueduct was sort of mediocre and didn’t get the money.

Then at Del Mar, Paradise Woods ran one of the more “PATHETIC” races I can imagine.  This 3 year old filly ran as if she were “NOT WELL” and the great trainer, Richard Mandella is probably a little more than embarrassed.   Paradise Woods took up running on the outside of the early speed, in the better footing of the track, in fractions that were well within her comfort zone.    She turned for home with a commanding advantage (when evaluated on speed figures) and hardly made any effort at all!  She had no turn of foot (compared to what she has shown she is capable of actually doing) … I think she held for the show in “the most substandard performance of the two day Breeders Cup event.

Saturday

Summersault off at 5/1, ran alertly and maybe a touch over-aggressively in the first quarter of this marathon, moved well enough to hold 2^nd position throughout and finished well to be a close up 4^th, while never demonstrating the class of the winning Arles – who was much the best.

Sunday’s

Aqueduct… Race #4 featured my play Kressie, who ran very well at 2/1, to be beaten on the wire by the 88/1 Birthday Gift – who was part of our play on both the radio and on the JJPP-PLUS.  The reverse exacta paid $466/1… and “that price is OKAY!”

Del Mar we had 2 plays on the Race Day because other handicapper’s had landed on my initial play Moonless Sky who won in classy style paying only $5.40.  So my next play was TopGallant in the 9^th, who also won paying $8.60. 

Just an extra note, on Sunday’s card at Del Mar, the JJPP-PLUS had 3 listed POP OUT KEYS, Iron Rob won- $13.40, Moonless Sky won – $5.40 and Top Gallant won – $8.60.

TOTALS   for New York and So. Cal Plays

(starting February 24, 2017 )

NY   Total Return   $405.70, Total Cost $ 320.00 ROI Total   $1.27/$1.00

SC  Total Return   $313.90, Total Cost $ 318.00,  ROI Total   $ .99/$1.00

Returns on all plays for 2017

Total Return $ 828.70 Total Cost   $ 774.00

ROI $1.07  (1-1-2017 thru 11/4/2017)

Gun Runner, is now our champion, winning in one gutty and outstanding performance. 

Taking heat from Collected – every step of the way – he continued on in excellent stride defeating a valiant Collected.  West Coast, who looked superb in the post parade, loomed large at the top of the lane, but couldn’t sustain a suitable winning bid and finished 3rd. Arrogate broke poorly again – needing to be brought to straight, reminiscent of his race in Dubai. However, the big run in Dubai is just a memory now  — as he has done in his last two race —  he simply wouldn’t try.  I am sure, Bob Baffert, is just scratching his head. 

But this was a race, any fan of our great sport, would simply have to love and remember, whether or not we won or we lost… Gun Runner is the story and it’s a good one!

2017 Breeders’ Cup is now is soon to be in the rear view mirror and I will go into detail in a “Post Race Review”.  There are just so many interesting things which have occurred during this BC.  The most interesting “ effect” and still happening  for The Classic, which will be contested in 1 hour from now, is the track bias.  We have seen every horse that touched the rail, go backward in the stretch.  In the sprint, literally every horse (excepting the unruly Takaful) was outside Imperial Hint through the lane and Imperial Hint was out 3-4 paths from the rail. (Drefong didn’t have a chance from the #2 post).  

More than any racing exhibition, this Breeders Cup has “hit trainer’s upside the head” who thought they could train their horses up to the BC with only 1 or 2 races over the past several months, with a single exception being Liberal Member for Peter Miller.  I have lots to say about that as well…

The biggest disappointments for me was the track… not a single front running horse was able to hold sway for 2 days, while for the 2 days prior,with only one exception,  no closing horse was able to make up any ground.  The only horse with a modest closing effort was in the final race on Thursday.

While this is “annoying” on our biggest day of racing, ti will produce numerous winning plays for us, so it’s an “annoying gift”!

I will be Blur”p”ing a Post BC Review… If you want to receive these, just send me an e-mail to jerryj@cox.net,   I will be happy to add your name to the list and send you the BC Blurps… this is a totally FREE service… 

 “Race Day Las Vegas” Plays

Wednesday’s

At Del Mar, my selection in the 8^th was scratched.   Then my play, Channel Crossing in the 9^th off at 5/1, ran right to the lead — as expected  —  but tired abruptly, just before they got to the home straightaway!  Interestingly, Choo Choo – the eventual winner and  the other Hollendorfer horse —  won at 14/1, so I guess I played this one like a “card dealer on the street plays a sucker”.

Thursday’s

My first play was OK Doll ff at 5/1, who was alert and sharp, getting up on the leaders before settling back “into the pocket”, snuggly saving ground.  Turned for home looking for a place to make a bid, but could not find racing room, got out late but didn’t show enough of a spurt to make me think it mattered….

Friday’s and Saturday’s Selections will be updated later today!

Then came  A Red Tie Day off at 7/1 in the 7^th, attended the pace early while being wide and then rated kindle about 4-5 lengths off the lead, still on the outside. Then moved up on the far turn, again on the outside, but didn’t seem to have a lick when expected, but after straightening away, took to running again and missed by a head in a 3 way photo. It was visually odd and to be sure, the ground loss in the first turn was enough to impact the result, but that was a very likely scenario.

TOTALS   for New York and So. Cal Plays

(starting February 24, 2017 )

NY   Total Return   $405.70, Total Cost $ 314.00 ROI Total   $1.29/$1.00

SC  Total Return   $299.90, Total Cost $ 310.00,  ROI Total   $ .97/$1.00

Returns on all plays for 2017

Total Return $ 814.70
Total Cost   $ 760.00

ROI $1.07  (1-1-2017 thru 11/2/2017)