Call it the maturity angle or anything you wish but you need to pay attention. And, personally speaking, we think it also relates to four-year-old geldings turning five. Well, two out of three ain’t bad.
Mucho Mas Macho, a recently turned four-year-old gelding chose the appropriate moment to raise his game, the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale Handicap, getting up the last jump to beat his four-year-old peer, Tiz Sardonic Joe, by a neck.
Five-year-old Big Blue Kitten, jammed up behind a wall of horses into the lane, squeezed through a narrow opening, steadied briefly, resurged between rivals a second time, but all that effort found him wanting by 1-1/4 lengths at the post.
Favored Nikki’s Sandcastle, a little dull and quiet in the walking ring, essential ran to his looks but did well to finish fourth, a head farther back, his bid to become the meet’s only three-time winner foiled.
But if you believe Big Blue Kitten had it tough, here’s the Equibase footnote on Barclay Tagg’s runner: “Sky Blazer…wanted to pick up the pace heading into the turn, lacked racing room, settled back a bit, angled out, blocked behind horses upper stretch, steadied slightly, slipped through tight quarters, and flattened out in late strides.”
Virtual stable, please.
This added up to plenty of balloons, the winner, who last out was a good second in the G2, 1-1/2 miles McKnight at Calder at 39-1, got even for his fans by scoring at 41.60 to the dollar, topping a $1,322 Exacta and a $1 Superfecta worth $16,548.
The MacDiarmida is up next for the Macho Uno gelding. It was a very good day for the Calder-based veteran trainer, a very emotional Henry Collazzo. He was ridden to the minute by Juan Leyva. It’s unlikely the crowd will ignore him next time,
And there will be plenty of big balloons up for grabs in Sunday’s Rainbow Six, which has gone un-hit by a single winner since Christmas time, leaving a carryover of over $201,000.
The Rainbow Six jackpot is paid out only if there is a single winner. The bet costs 10-Cents. Meanwhile, several winners collected over $20,000 sans jackpot. And the 50-Cent Pick 5 returned more than $109,000.
First post Sunday is 12:45 pm.
Bets n’ Pieces: Kudos to trainer Chris Block who reached a career milestone by upsetting the second race with the appropriately named All for Thee, out-bobbing odds-on Fantasy of Flight at the wire. Midwest-based, Block’s mom and dad were on hand to witness the event…
The Rainbow Six began with an inscrutable maiden allowance for three-year-olds on turf, and it was won by a horse that might have a bright future. His name is Jack Milton and was impressive breaking maiden for the Pletcher-Velazquez team.
Stalking the pace while racing wide throughout, Jack Milton kicked away from the speedy Sweet Mike then had little difficulty holding debuting War Dancer safe, another first-timer. This colt was from the Ken McPeek barn and was neglected at 35-1, as sons of War Front finishing 1-2. Despite favorable whispers, the Pletcher sophomore went into the gate at 7-2….
Bill Mott is not known for his success with debut types but it’s clear that he couldn’t help but win at first asking with debuting three-year-old filly Calistoga, which went to the front and improved her position beneath Joel Rosario. Speed was very strong Friday but not so on today’s card, making her effort that much more impressive.
By Speightstown, from the Holy Bull mare, Styler, she was bet early and often but blew out to 9-2 at post time. She won by 5-1/2 lengths over Iroquois Girl, who finished seven in front of odds-on favorite Bliss. Calistoga appeared relaxed as she went her half-mile in :45.44 and completed six furlongs in 1:09.77.
13 Jan 2013 at 12:32 pm | #
How big a factor is LUCK when it comes to how races are won or lost?
Then there’s the decisions we make.
I looked very closely at the three bombs in that race, considering a bet on all three. One fellow OTB patron said ‘let’s bet all three to win’. I ignored him, eliminated the 11. That left 6 and 9. Guess which one I went to. THe 6 ran good at 60/1 - even had the lead in the stretch. Then to my horror, the 9 blows past everyone - pays $85.60.
You know how much I heard about my decision from everyone. You can imagine. I felt like crap. Still do.
Note to self - next time bet both!
13 Jan 2013 at 12:46 pm | #
PS. I also bet the War Front that was 35-1 to WIN. He gets beat by another War Front firster. The exacta pays $300+. I don’t have it. I don’t have a place bet either (paid $30).
Note to self: Bet win and place.
I’m not making it up. It really happened to me yesterday.
What’s unbelievable is that you wrote about both!
Oh well, I guess today is another day.
13 Jan 2013 at 02:38 pm | #
After moving to south Florida a year and half ago, I made my first trip to the new Gulfstream Park. Remembering how much i enjoyed going to the old Gulfstream, i had resisted visiting the house that Frank built. Much to my surprise, i thought it was perfect for today’s racing environment. The simulcast area seemed well thought out and comfortable and the size of the track proper is just right for today’s on track ‘crowds’. There were plenty of live tellers and self service machines. But the thought struck me that this track wasn’t built with me in mind. I don’t need a champagne bar, or hand carved $12 sandwiches or oysters on the half-shell. Maybe the people that these items attract are the ones that will provide the future for horse racing. i also noticed lots of men and women dressed up enjoying themselves and Gulfstream was there destination for the day. The highlight of my day was meeting Angel Cordero jr standing on the apron and not one person yelling and screaming for their horse had a clue who he was. i think the game as i knew it is gone.
Where and who are the superstars,both human and equine.... Todd Pletcher,great trained,but give me wayne lukas or woody stephens. Ramon,great jockey, but give me Angel or Chris McCarron. Wise Dan, great horse, but give me John Henry or Kelso.
And those with a little flair seem to have character flaws!
Maybe Frank Stronach is on to something. He is trying to incorporate low take out bets and other things for the knowledgeable and an entertainment destination for others who could care less about takeout, medication etc. But they have lost me, $4.50 for a hotdog! though it’s only 20 miles away, i’ll stay in my pj’s and wager on line.
13 Jan 2013 at 05:28 pm | #
We’ll talk a bit later boys, covering the Hal’s Hope at the moment.
14 Jan 2013 at 09:14 am | #
Denny, been doing this virtually my whole adult life and I only learned that it’s perfectly permissable to bet two horses in a race, especially at big prices.
In some ways, lacking a strong opinion, it’s preferable to win and place since the chances are less likely that two horses won’t show up on the day than one.
Think of it this way: Anytime you score out on a conservative key-boxed exacta--one with two horses--there are three losing tickets to the single winning combination.
It’s not about anything else but the bottom line at the end of any wagering session. Of course, the cleaner the pun, the better the value.
And without tomorrow, we’d all be lost in this game.
rdid: Funny you should write this. After writing my Ft. Lauderdale wrap, I was leaving the track Saturday evening when a fan on the elevator, seeing the credential hanging from my neck, asked me what I did and so forth.
Point is he said--and I’m paraphrasing within the quotes here--"I used to come to the old Gulfstream a lot but had never come to the new one. People have told me that you won’t like the changes, etc. Let my tell you this place is a palace, the walking ring, the simulcast area, it’s really nice. This is what future racetracks will look like...”
I never heard whether this man, appearing to be in his mid-40s, was offered a job after stepping off the elevator. I’ve written this before: The only thing wrong with the new GP is that there was an old one to compare it to.
Yes, the takeouts are reasonably low, but the prices for food and beverage are high in keeping with the upscale theme. At least there’s no charge for admission and parking. Yes, it has become a destination venue, and people will go for the good time if not the horse racing. There’s always good energy in this building.
Two more things, rid. It’s not just the colorful people that have “character flaws.”
Given today’s Thoroughbred and training methods, you’re not going to find many Kelsos and John Henrys. But, you know, that makes horses like Csaba easy to root for: He runs a lot, and wins a lot.