August 28

A H-U-G-E WIN

A "Week-Maker" Score At Woodbine

Yes, it was a gigantic win today that is the lead story.  And this is one of the great things I love about my hobby of handicapping - you just never know when you are going to hit a big one.......and as I frequently say, they pay just the same for a winner in a mid-afternoon claiming event on a Friday afternoon as they do for a Grade 1 Breeders' Cup winner!  Such indeed was the case on this Friday.  I had selections for Woodbine of course, but because it was the day before the Travers, Saratoga was running a NY-bred stakes laden program.  I looked through them and came up with three selections.  The first bet of the day was from Saratoga, in their opener, the Funny Cide Stakes for two-year-olds.  Sudden Surprise had romped in his debut, but that was over a sloppy track going shorter.  The question, at a short price was if he could repeat against fellow winners, on a fast track, going farther.  I thought he had enough of an edge to warrant a bet.  He dueled 3-wide into the stretch then kicked away as much the best and I had the first win of the day. 

 

He was a short 4/5 so with a minimum bet I cashed for less than $10, but hey....a win is a win.  I ran 5th in the 2nd at Woodbine at 5/2 and 6th at 7/2 in their 4th race.  It was nearing post time of the 6th when Kim called to tell me she was on her way home for the weekend.  So I muted the video and was talking to her as they ran.  In this race my top selection was Th Original Scotty for trainer Norman McKnight.  With jockey Luis Contreras signed on to ride this became a Woodbine 40% Club play - they win at a big 44% clip.  Scotty was also dropping in class and turning back from a two-turn route to this seven furlong sprint.  McKnight showed a 30% win rate with runners cutting back in distance and in claiming events.  All of these numbers gave him a good chance I thought, and his program odds of 12/1 were very tempting.  When I listed him as my pick I originally listed him as a minimum bet.  But I paused and thought, this could be a nice score if the Club angle works out.  So I doubled the bet and wrote he could be a "day-maker."  I was monitoring the odds before Kim called and he'd been double-digit odds leading up to post time.  So Kim's chatting away and the race is going on and I see that #9 is tracking the leaders at a nice 8/1 price.  But then I glance down at my sheet and realize I do NOT have #9, I have #8....where is he?  Near the back of the field as they hit the far turn.  But I now see Contreras getting busy on him.  He begins to pick off horses, but still is near the back as he field swings for home.  He has to go at least five wide, but he clearly has momentum and I can tell that he has a chance.  Oh this could be good I'm thinking, but I don't know his odds.  Scotty sweeps by and not only wins, but wins handily going away.  And as I am talking with Kim and watching the final odds come up.......23/1! 

 

OH MY!  I could hardly believe it, and THEN I realize I had doubled the bet!  The payoff comes up at $49.60 and I'll be cashing for nearly $250!  WOW!  You never know!  Minutes later as I hung up the phone they were off in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga for two-year-old fillies.  She's All Ready was the prohibitive 1/5 favorite, and my top choice.  She romped very impressively.  I could not get over my big win, so the fact I ran 4th and 2nd in my final two Woodbine bets and 5th as the 1/2 favorite in Saratoga's Yaddo Stakes seemed like just a footnote on the day.  I had finished the day 3-for-8 with a profit of almost $200.  That is a very nice way to head into Saturday's big day of racing!