Hallandale Beach, FL, May 29, 2026 — Let’s mind our A-B-C’s, shall week?
CHURCHILL DOWNS
G3 MINT JULIP STAKES Race 7
A:5-Proctor Street (3-1) loves this trip (6) 4-1-0, goes well fresh, especially in LAY 2 scenarios, three wins beneath Tyler, owns huge late kick and adapts to any dynamics
B: 4-Meduro (5-2), 1-Charlene’s Dream (12-1)
C: 7-In the Stars (10-1), 3-Pin Up Betty (7-2)
G3 ARLINGTON STAKES Race 11
A: 10 Brilliant Berti (9-2) is a Horse for Course (6) 5-1-0, Horse for Distance (5) 3-1-0, exits G1 key race (2) 2-0-0., Makers Mark Mile and will appreciate added hall-furlong. 11-Coal Battle (8-1) owns fastest last out figure, a lifetime top, but still appears progressive, underrated turf pedigree both sides, barn 17% going dirt to turf, value on early line
B:6-Mineret Station (12-1), 3-Lagynos (5-2)
C: 1-West Hollywood (10-1)
GULFSREAM PARK
Optional Allowances Race 10
A: 1-Extendo (3-1) loves tis course (12) 5-3-1 and trip (13) 6-3-1, blew out sharp half mile in 47.2/5, 4th fastest of 21 at the distance week of 5/22. 6-And Uwish (2-1) also a distance and surface specialist, Orseno stablemate attracts Zayas.
B: 7-Victory Achieved (5-1)
C: NA
14 Responses
GM John. In reference to your horse-for-course comments; what do you consider as a rough guideline for this attribute?
I have always used a four race minimum with 50% wins and/or 100% in the money.
This formula reduces the amount of qualified. However, I have found that it is very significant for finding value horses.
I respect your opinion.
Jaxx, cannot refute your logic, it makes sense.
For key purposes, my limit is 3 races, and 2 will do me if both win.
As for value, that’s always a game-time decision for me …
It does feel good hitting a Superfecta clean after failing in my last three,four attempts in stakes races.Could not blme the ‘ numbers’ as they remain,in my view,the foil,mirror of most mathematical logic. That 11 th Churchill Downs race was he main racefor me and after re checking the # s it was time to bet the two sticking numbers And putting more $$ on them to try to recoup what was lost in the previous Big Show races,coming close without seriously cashing on my subjective,logistical way of decyphring the PP’s. Did not play any other Ll track since his race definitely stood out Non even thought of my beloved Nonno s system,which,by the way,I have not yet checked out how it would have done on this race. The # s: 3-10 stood out,even after I gave it a rest and checked for an excuse Not to stick with them.’ Nuthin ‘ doing, it Had to be them as the main competitors! 3-10–1 5 6 7–1 5 6 7,plus a smaller bet reversing 10-3 –1567—1 5 6 7..Even if I thought that 1 had come in Third at first,it did not matter.Bet the main ‘ statistical’ number,3,Lagynos, on top for the exactas ,and WPS. The best feeling was,and still is, remains the ‘ mathematical’ one which reminds me of ‘Staying in my lane”,either it will be winning or losing tickets.If you wont believe in your logical😱,or Illogical ,subjective ,numerical deductions, Who is there to believe in you?? And why does any adult,mature person ever need someone else’s( false) praise? You do not.” Just Do It,and,of course,Do what works for you,Stay in Your Lane because otherwise you,all of us,will waste,time,$$,hopes and faith,and among them all one is more precious than the other .Fine,The End. PS: Aqueduct will be closing soon,x ever,and I’m sure that he Editor of this site will have many memories about his many yrs spent watching the goings on of this chunk of old New York,Queens,Jamaica..Has to be a precious worth of memorabilia,I’m sure,as for myself,I only ventured there a few times and those miserable,frigid wintry days of the ‘ inner track’,along with the feeling of being surrounded by homeless ,older vagabonds,women with Ninos in their baby carriages looking or someone,maybe inexistent,or not,won’t ever leave my perception of it It Never was Belmont,in Any way or form but I’m sorry to see it go the way most buildings do,cancelling any happy memory that was left.Hey,it introduced me to horse racing as Angel Cordero,after getting bet big on the last race of a cold rainy day,he came across first with his ever present smile.Thanks for the memories during my early 20 ‘s.You were a New York tradition with several names characters still vibid on my mind,from race callers to newspapers handicappers ,trainers,claiming games, steroids,etc.and a cheaper DRF which we could barely understand looking over some one else’s head.” Who do they pick?”…as the November rains rarely stopped while being in a smelly,smoky OTB parlor next to our pizzeria… Until next time.
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Happy for you JG, well done! And thanks for the props …
I have to sit down and talk racing with HGR. He has the most interesting stories about racing👍
HGR? Not registering …
JGR my mistake
got it …
It’s wild that the man who beat Easy Goer with Sunday Silence is back riding. Hope he continues progressing on the comeback, and I’ll be rooting for PVal’s 3 mounts at IND today.
Love the troubled P Val. Hoping his issues are in the rear view. I’ll be rooting, too, Doc
Early looks at the Belmont at Saratoga keep on pointing to the same [4-9} post positions and then followed by 3 8 7 -1 5. Two trainers have 5 horses running and a couple of them might be used to obstruct some other horse from getting his ‘Trip” ,.Fresh Horses ? Not really . Anyone talking about Dosage anymore even if this distance will be shorter? Queens versus Upstate New York rivalry ? Maybe again. Ortiz Vs Ortiz ? Why Not if they might have the best two horses, if ready ? Unless track conditions change, or a very Tight Work out is noticeable ,it will be unlikely that i d make some changes on top. No,’Nonno system ,well,not in this somewhat predictable race with a couple of horses who might be just “runnin’ x nuthin” .And i still find that unfortunate maybe that Boring. If The Horse the Race Does not Fit, He should not be there. Hey Alydar Vs Affirmed still was one of the most interesting races with just a few horses! ,but let s Not compare the Glory days of yesterday with these. It would be insulting to our memories .Add Niatross to that [ harnesss] .Looking for some other interesting races on Saturday at Saratoga which always reminds me of my couple of seasons spent by Lake George’s Canada Street with its several tourist traps restaurants ,motels ,Ukrainian young women and the early Daily Doubles before we started getting ready for the hungry crowd. Unless it was raining on a Saturday : That killed the week end s expectation$$ for everyone. Let the Sunshine in and enjoy watching the Moon over the lake ,with someone who likes it just as much…
Early looks at the Belmont at Saratoga keep on pointing to the same [4-9} post positions and then followed by 3 8 7 -1 5. Two trainers have 5 horses running and a couple of them might be used to obstruct some other horse from getting his ‘Trip” ,.Fresh Horses ? Not really . Anyone talking about Dosage anymore even if this distance will be shorter? Queens versus Upstate New York rivalry ? Maybe again. Ortiz Vs Ortiz ? Why Not if they might have the best two horses, if ready ? Unless track conditions change, or a very Tight Work out is noticeable ,it will be unlikely that i d make some changes on top. No,’Nonno system ,well,not in this somewhat predictable race with a couple of horses who might be just “runnin’ x nuthin” .And i still find that unfortunate maybe that Boring. If The Horse the Race Does not Fit, He should not be there. Hey Alydar Vs Affirmed still was one of the most interesting races with just a few horses! ,but let s Not compare the Glory days of yesterday with these. It would be insulting to our memories .Add Niatross to that [ harnesss] .Looking for some other interesting races on Saturday at Saratoga which always reminds me of my couple of seasons spent by Lake George’s Canada Street with its several tourist traps restaurants ,motels ,Ukrainian young women and the early Daily Doubles before we started getting ready for the hungry crowd. Unless it was raining on a Saturday : That killed the week end s expectation$$ for everyone. Let the Sunshine in and enjoy watching the Moon over the lake ,with someone who likes it just as much… Cin Cin.
I’ve spent more tan a few hours in the Lake George OTB, it was a good spot. Hosted Capital OTB;s selections and result show for two tears. Enjoyed my time there.
I was thinning about Niatross the other day beehive it or not. But Adios Butler was my favorite; Cardigan Bay also was outstanding. Good times on the hall milers Yonkers and Roosevelt.
A little too busy to look back now …
JP, are you trying to imitate my shpelling mistakes? 😆 Yeah,those boat rides at night were welcoming as were the Fourth of July fireworks..Was at the Smaller Glens Falls joint,too ,by way of the Trolleys. It seems to be OK to temporarily peek at the glorious,adventurous past for a few precious moments, as the faces images of past acquaintances, many of them now nameless,zoom by like a speedy train… One more thought about Friday and Saturday ,don’t ask me why but JV could slip a couple of winners at value $$.Emerging Market lost a shoe,so it will be my Long shot over my top Four choices. Let it ride!.