A group of about two dozen including a handful of new faces were on hand for TGJB\'s 2016 Spa debut.This was probably the best turnout we\'ve had since being moved off the BBQ deck. There is a rumor that the weekend seminar\'s may be moving to Siro\'s where Jerry & Alan will be required to wear Harvey Pack\'s line of red sport coats or did Harvey wear the same one for 20 years?
There were no opinions on the first two maiden races although several T-generates could not resist the allure of the day\'s version of the worlds fastest horse in Brooklyn Bobby by investing in the pick 5 with a single. The olde race track and mariner line of from Maine to Spain could never have been more true. Mjellish who lives in Minnesota messaged me to discuss a horse with an introduction of its not the one in the first race who six different people have touted me on!
Race 3 JB liked the 4,7,9
Race 4 The 3,6,7 was given out cold for a $21 exacta and $71 triple
Race 5 The 2 Chads 1,2 and 6,7 were the plays with a strong opinion on the Michael Stidhman 6 horse who ran dead last. This was the 8th starter for Stidham at the meet, half of them looked very good on paper, half of them have been bet to some degree and not one has run a step. The Chad selections were put forth with the obvious \"everything Chad Brown runs at this meet will run a new top.\" If you\'ve noticed the close one\'s he has also won every photo and bob to date.
Race 6 Pass
Race 7 Shinning Copper from the rail was the most likely winner the 2 was the exacta filler. The real opinion in the race was on the scratched March.
The Test: Paola Queen was everyone\'s best bet of the day and the first time in 44 years of attending Saratoga that I\'ve ever seen a trainer in Grade 1 not wear a sport coat in the winners circle. Note to Gustavo you\'re not at Gulfsteam on a Thursday afternoon.
Kareena was given out as the most likely winner until JJ and Jose Ortiz ran eyeball to eyeball in what might be the fastest 1/2 mile in Saratoga\'s 148 year history. Lightstream and Lewis Bay were the exacta fillers. Paola\'s picking up the pieces run crushed some very nice pick 3 and 4 plays for many with Lightstream.
The Waya: More Chad, more tops the 1,7 were the exacta choices.
The Whitney: No Opinion
An impressive run by Frosted probably in the 3- range per JB after the race pending speedway breakdown.
The De La Rose: The first 4 were nailed with the 1,4 given as most likely winners
What a surprise NYRA announced an attendance figure of 39,405 and per Steve Byk\'s and my assessments they were close as it was very crowded and probably 38,000 of their count were actually there. A very disappointing handle of just over 22 million, less than last Saturday and down significantly from last years Whitney Day but you won\'t see that in a NYRA press release now will you? Four maiden races in the first 6 could not have helped the churn.
The slow bleeding continues for most, not many in the black for this meet so far.
A fun social couple of days at the seminar and in the back yard. Jerry\'s friend Pat was up for the weekend as well as a special TG house guest named Christian Hellmers who was treated to 2 days of Uncle Bill stories before being rescued!
Yearly regulars Steve and David were up all week, Rezlegal, Mooseplam fresh off his stellar TG open performance, topcat, magicnight, mathcapper, Steve Byk, trackjohn who will get the quote of the week on Tuesday.
A vet scratch of the ML favorite Sean in the TG open due to emergency gall bladder surgery. Per JB who could not get ahold of him until yesterday he is doing well and a public work out will be required before he is allowed in the back yard.
Get well soon.
Good luck,
Frank D.
Frank
Spot on synopsis!...was a great couple of days socially with a nice spot in the backyard! For me it was terrific meeting a lot of the folks on this board for the first time...ALL very very good serious handicappers...BUT (at least evidenced by my bankroll), one needs some luck in this game as evidenced by very costly bad trips, missed noses, DQ\'s, etc...
As far as C. Brown is concerned...I\'ve never seen anything like this...not only is nearly EVERYTHING he is entering tying/running new tops, he has won EVERY nose, head bob, etc (I think it is now 8 in a row without losing one)...at this point it is very hazardous to your bankroll not to include everything he enters, particularly in multi wagers...
A few comments:
Bill...was great sharing past stories...I\'m sure we\'ll continue them in a couple of weeks
Jerry...Was great sharing both the conversation sand info...next time I\'m up there (in two weeks) I am going to donate a cell phone charger for all Tgenerate users!)... also, given on how well were treated by the Carousel folks, might be a good idea for the change in venue that you spoke about!
Frank D....Many thanks for the hospitality! Given the tough beats/noses etc., our bankrolls didn\'t \'expand\' the way they should have...BUT... we are only one race away! Also, appreciate you keeping this board alive with your postings!
Best,
John
FrankD. Wrote:
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> A very disappointing handle of just over 22
> million, less than last Saturday and down
> significantly from last years Whitney Day but you
> won\'t see that in a NYRA press release now will
> you? Four maiden races in the first 6 could not
> have helped the churn.
>
I played Mountaineer instead of the Spa yesterday. NYRA has to understand it chases some customers away. By the way, I got my butt handed to me at Mountaineer, but it wasn\'t as frustrating. And, that is not a redboard, I said all week I was playing Mountaineer instead of the Spa to avoid frustration.
SoCalMan2 Wrote:
>
> I played Mountaineer instead of the Spa yesterday.
> NYRA has to understand it chases some customers
> away. By the way, I got my butt handed to me at
> Mountaineer, but it wasn\'t as frustrating. And,
> that is not a redboard, I said all week I was
> playing Mountaineer instead of the Spa to avoid
> frustration.
Its not a red board unless you tell us you had a cold tri in the WV Derby.
Did you like the ML at Mountaineer?
Just so you guys know, I sent a PM to So Cal for my remarks. They were a little out of line. The above comment is strictly tongue in cheek.
P-Dub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SoCalMan2 Wrote:
> >
> > I played Mountaineer instead of the Spa
> yesterday.
> > NYRA has to understand it chases some
> customers
> > away. By the way, I got my butt handed to me
> at
> > Mountaineer, but it wasn\'t as frustrating. And,
> > that is not a redboard, I said all week I was
> > playing Mountaineer instead of the Spa to avoid
> > frustration.
>
>
> Its not a red board unless you tell us you had a
> cold tri in the WV Derby.
>
> Did you like the ML at Mountaineer?
>
> Just so you guys know, I sent a PM to So Cal for
> my remarks. They were a little out of line. The
> above comment is strictly tongue in cheek.
I just assumed going in that the ML could be questionable so I did the extra work and figured out what line to use for myself. No surprises. I lost fair and square, no regrets.
The redboarding I was talking about was that playing Mountaineer would produce less frustration than Saratoga.