Sept. 2, 4 and 6

Woodbine Handicapping Project:  September Begins

September 2, 4, and 6

Days 19, 21 and 22

As you can imagine with a 3-day combined journal there were not a lot of wins on these days.  Wednesday night there were six state-bred stakes on the eight race program and I had picks in all six.  In the Halton, Courtville was close up into the stretch at 8/1 before fading to 10th.  In the Elgin, 3/5 favorite Pender Harbor dueled through out but was second best behind my second choice.  In the first of two juvenile stakes, the Muskoka, my pick Crumblin Spirit was a fair 2/1 but was 2nd with a wide trip behind my second choice, again.  In the Algoma Club One Two was the crowd's 6/5 favorite, but was fourth when wide also.  In the Kenora I liked Spandina Road who was the 8/5 favorite.  Stalking throughout he could never catch the leaders and was an even third.  WOW.....Conquest Twister was the 7/5 favorite in the second of the 2yo stakes, the Simcoe, and led from the start to deep stretch, before being caught late to be second, my third runner-up finish!  In the finale, the only race I watched live I liked Ky Causeway who had two recent speed figures that SHOULD win but had been second in his debut then beaten last time out as a prohibitive 1/5 favorite!  As I saw the crowd all in on him I upped the ante to make him my best bet of the night.  The gate opened and he was slow to get going.....great.  But he moved up slowly, took over into the stretch and drew off as MUCH the best.  My $25 investment got me back over $50 to close the night's racing. 

 

On Friday I had five "PASS" races from nine on the card and then one of my picks scratched leaving me with only three runners for the day.  We traveled to Orlando to see the kids and meet Julie's boyfriend, and that was truly the highlight of the day.  I was fifth at 5/2 and third at 5/2 before concluding the day with a 4th at a big 7/1 price.  At least only one of the bets was a double investment.

 

Saturday was a big day, so it gets it's own journal entry!

 

Sunday we were back on the road leaving O-town around noon and arriving about 3:30 pm.  My original thought was to pass the opener which was a Maiden Special for 2yo going a mile and 70 yards.  None of these had ever gone two turns on the main track, but Splashtackular was the 4/5 favorite in the program.  That seemed like a very short price considering the circumstances so I opened up Jim Bannon's handicapping analysis and this colt was his "BEST" of the day, so I went ahead and made him a double investment.  Moved to the lead into the lane and looked well on his way to a win before being caught in the shadow of the wire as the prohibitive 1/5 favorite.  Should have followed my own opinion.  In the 3rd I picked Creative Thunder to reverse the recent loss to Malibu Tide.  And it might have happened, but as he was making his move at the top of the stretch he was cut off, forced to steady and check sharply losing all chance.  Fifth at 5/2 while Malibu Tide ran away late.  In the 4th Bras d'Or was 20/1 as a Woodbine 40% Club selection.  Had to play.  A sharp 4th at a big 25/1 - can't argue with that, a good price play.  I passed both the fifth and sixth.  In the 7th it was the second Woodbine Club play - Conquest Flatterme for Mark Casse and Conquest Stables.  He was the 8/5 favorite in this MSW sprint.  He rated in third behind the longshot early leader, cruised by entering the stretch and was clear by nearly half a dozen lengths at the 1/8th pole.  But then a closer was gobbling up ground on the outside......oh this is going to be close!  Held on by less than a length.  The double investment got me back nearly $30. 

 

Passed the featured Etobicoke Stakes only to see my top choice run away as the winner.  My pick in the 9th scratched and I finished the day with another WO 40% Club longshot, Brewcrast who was 20/1 in the program.  Eighth at 30/1.  But hey it will only take one of those to hit to make the meet!