October 9

Off The Turf - BIG WIN Saves The Day

Day 41

I was surprised when I got online to watch the races today to discover we were off the turf in Toronto.  But, ironically today was one of the very few days that the entries had offered a "Main Track Only" in a race that I liked AND that I liked that runner.  But let's back up to run through the day's selections........ In the opener I had settled on Inperson in a juvenile two turn MSW test.  His last two Beyer figures were at least a pole better than the remainder of the field and he just looked too good to lose.  Well, such is horse racing.  The crowd saw what I saw and bet him down to even money.  He chased my second choice into the stretch only to have an 11/1 outsider run by them both - third.  In the second, a non-winners of three lifetime event, Classic Bryce had the coveted angle for such a race - he was racing first time for a tag and in conditioned company.  He was a more-than-fair 3/1 when they left the gate.  He pressed the pace setter into the stretch and I thought he was ready to make his move, but he stopped....faded to a well-beaten sixth.  I didn't like anyone in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th.  The sixth was moved from the turf to the main track and my top selection in this juvenile MSW route race scratched.  Mark Casse had two runners entered for the Conquest Stable, making either of them a Woodbine 40% Club angle.  Conquest Dynasty was the one that ran and he set sail on the front end, leading them into the far turn at 9/2 and I thought maybe I had a big pay day coming.  But when the field hit the top of the stretch he had to response to the closers, faded to fourth.  I passed the 7th.  Finally, in my final play of the day I hit paydirt.  Dancing Ashley had been my "best" of the day in a claiming event going a mile on the outer turf course.  But with races off the grass, that left me with Aunt Els, who had been listed as a "Main Track Only" entrant.  She won with decisiveness last out - as my top choice - and I thought she'd hold a decided edge over this group of turf runners if it went to the main track.  When they left the gate she was allowed to slip by handicappers at a price of better than 2/1.  She stalked the pace to the far turn, accelerated to the lead and was clear by daylight turning for home.  The field was making up ground late, but it was too little, too late. 

 

I had stuck with my original triple investment that I'd planned on making on Dancing Ashley, so my payoff was over $45 and was good enough to carry me to a profit on the day in spite of winning one of four races!  WHOOO HOOO, you gotta love this racing game!