August 3

Woodbine Handicapping Project:  Day 3

Well, the handicapping results did not improve on this Monday afternoon.  I looked through the nine races and came up with six selections - two of which were 40% Club plays.  Only had a single victory on the afternoon, and the small consolation was that it was featured stakes race.  In the second, a nw3L claiming event I supported even-money favorite Reeves Hill who was the lone class dropper in the field.  He made a bold move three-wide into the lane and I felt sure he was the winner, but he was out finished through the latter stages to end up third.  In the third I really liked Marican.  Trainer Donald Macrae boasted a remarkable 67% win rate when ER DaSillva was aboard (6-for-9) so I was not surprised when Marican was 3/4 leaving the gate.  Much like Reeves Hill this one was in prime position to win the race through the stretch but was outrun to the wire, third.  In the 4th we were on the grass and when I handicapped the race on Sunday morning I had the dilemma that my top choice in a Sunday allowance race was Woodbine 40% Club play O Wanderlust was cross-entered here.  But my top choice, Courtville was also a Club play.  And if it came down to both running today I committed to Courtville.  He was first off the claim (26%), had two bullet works since the barn move, and he had two big efforts buried in his pp's at today's distance.  With jockey Luis Contreras trainer Norman McKnight was a 44% winner.  Right to the front and looked gone until deep stretch when, yes - you guessed it, O Wanderlust blew by to a narrow win.  Sigh.......The sixth was The Nandi Stakes for 2yo fillies.  Caren had earned a big 73 Beyer in her most recent win while the rest of the field had never even reached the 60s.  She was a perfect 2-for-2 including a win in the Shady Wells last time out.  AND she had a sharp bullet move in a sizzling :59.3 for five furlongs.  She was the obvious favorite and the crowd hammered her to 3/5 odds.  Right to the front and never in danger. 

 

My second win of the project netted me just over $15.  In the final two races I had minimum plays - in the co-featured Shepperton Stakes I wen with Goodoldhockeygame who was 5/1 and trailed the other ten runners from start to finish.  Sigh.  And in the finale Blue Harbor was the 3/2 favorite after being claimed out of open $50K maiden company at Santa Anita and was now running in a 2-lifetime event here.  Dueled to the stretch, and stopped to be sixth.  Not the best day I've had at Woodbine! Back at it on Friday and I will be at Gulfstream Park on Saturday for a full day of racing where I SHOULD get back on track.