Sept 30 - Oct 2

Week Ten

After having sparkling results through the end of the month of September, the first two cards did not provide a lot of Woodbine winners.  On Wednesday evening I scored right out of the gate in the opener when Pretty Bird went wire-to-wire as the 3/5 favorite.  But that was it - Avie's Quality was a stopping 6th after pressing the lead to the turn at 6/1; Colleen's Sailor led into the stretch before facing to fourth at 2/1; Boldnpossible debuted with a pace-setting effort and looked clear at the furlong marker before getting run down late, second at 5/2 and then Simon's Siesta closed the night-time program with an even fourth at 7/2. 

 

Friday was Opening Day of the Fall Keeneland Meet, and this would be cause for celebration any year, but this year in particular it meant the countdown was on to the Breeders' Cup which will be held here for the first time ever over the last weekend in October, and I was one of the very fortunate few to secure seats for the World Championships!  So on this afternoon I had my Woodbine selections and four picks from Lexington! 

 

The inability to hit on multiple tickets was still with me in Toronto.  Edgehill Road was 9/2 after being listed at an absurd 20/1 by the DRF linemaker, and was clear on the lead into the stretch before stopping to be third.  Crescent was the 9/5 favorite and had a perfect stalking trip into the stretch, but then had no response fading to seventh.  Conquest Mystique didn't fire after breaking in the air, 4th at 2/1 and Trip Over The Line was bet down to 6/5 favoritism, but was 6th across the line.  I finally hit one winner when Simply Irresistible won the 8th, a two-lifetime allowance going seven furlongs on the turf.  Her first nine races on the main track did little to inspire confidence, but in her last three when moved to the outer turf course she'd had a good third, thn won with authority and was a fast-closing third from post 12.  She'd paired 73 figures and looked ready for a peak effort.  In spite of the fact that it was a thrilling stretch duel and a photo finish I had no worries - why?  She was dueling with her entry-mate!  And they were daylight clear of the rest of the betting interests.  It was just nice that I won with the horse I'd picked! 

 

In the finale Ezzthetic went right to the front and was leading them turning for home, then stopped dead on the track fading through the lane to dead last.  Meanwhile I got off to an encouraging start at Keeneland.  I felt badly for Keeneland management and fans because you know they were all so excited for today, and it poured down rain throughout the afternoon.  The second race was on the turf and they let it stay on the turf - which I was a little surprised, but happy about.  It was an allowance race for non-winners of 4-other than.  That is a very unusual category that you rarely see.  But Sunshine Millions Turf champion, Manchurian High was a perfect fit for the conditions.  He also was a five time winner at this distance (while only 3-for-17 at all others).  Rating off the leaders through the far turn he made his move into the stretch and I was glad for the extra-long distance of the Keeneland stretch as it wasn't until the final 16th that his big kick took over and he blew by with a late surge.  The $7.80 payoff was a nice reward for my first selection, and win, at Keeneland! 

 

I missed with Todd Pletcher's Gangster as the 8/5 favorite in the 4th, but scored with Toronto-based trainer Mark Casse on Conuest Windy City in a juvenile Maiden Special going two turns.  After a turf sprint debut at Saratoga he was sent to the Churchill Downs to run in the Grade 3 Iroquois around two-turns.....and he was the FAVORITE!  He had all kinds of early trouble but was running hard late to be fourth.  The return to maiden company made him a most logical play.  He was near the back into the far turn, then blew by the field like they were all tied to the rail with devastating authority!  Two-for-three in Lexington! 

 

The final pick of the day was in the Grade 3 Phoenix, a prep for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.  I did not like the favorite, Runhappy, who ha surprised the Grade 1 King's Bishop last time out.  I wasn't full of confidence on defending BC Sprint champion Work All Week who had faltered for me on two different occasions in graded company, but looked back to his 2014 form last out with an easy win in listed stakes.  I didn't think this was the toughest Grade 3 I'd ever seen AND Work All Week had won this race here last year.  He broke from post 12 and was wide throughout as Runhappy became one of the few horses to go wire-to-wire.  I won with 3-of-10 on the day, but lost money overall.