The first seminar or I guess its been re-named handicapping discussion got off to a slow start today. At 10:45 Steve was there with Michael D., myself and 2 other gentlemen when Bill Spillane came wandering in a day early for Hat\'s of Saratoga ! A few more trickled in and we had a really good round robin discussing some bombs, reaches and solid opinions in just about every race.
The highlight for sure was a visit from \" The Mig \" Richie stopped in told a an awesome Alan Jerkins story and the blow by blow of a jocks room brawl at the Meadowlands where Nick Santagatta came to his rescue.
I don\'t have to tell anyone who has seen a race in days 1 & 2 that speed is ok on both surfaces !!!! Two awesome maiden performances today by Baffert\'s poly to 1st dirt in the 3rd and the Pletcher horse in the 7th.
Steve gave out Binks Forest ($ 9.10) in the 11th as an extremely solid play, Bill was all over Jimmy Jerkins in the 8th but left 5 minutes before the race not betting him because he was only 7/1. ($16.80) Bobby G. swears he gave Bill the horse last night and he and I both bet it but rather pusillanimously ! A consensus selection on Tony Dutrow\'s Jimmy Simms at. ($7.50)
For those of you who saw my pick 4 and pick 3 plays posted this morning ?
I did manage to not hit the $ 7,398.00 super in the 5th on the 4 horses I used in that leg of the pick 4. I keyed Ordained 1st and 2nd with the 2,4,6,8 in triples and supers. Beat a nose for 2nd a head for the win after not the best ride Cory has ever given. No bitching, good handicapping bad racing luck. It get\'s even better as I came back in the 6th with a good win bet and pick 3 play on Tahoe Lake. Beat a nostril for the win and of course the next 2 legs connected.
It\'s a long meet and am looking forward to seeing some old and new friends up here on the weekends.
Look at the bright side ? TGAB is here next weekend and he has to do better than his first visit here last year !!!
FD
Frank, I unloaded on Tahoe Lake, used him over the 1 over 3 others on a rather large tri. Brutal beat.
I was in the game all day, but about 5% too stupid to win. That\'s all it takes to put you down at the Spa.
Liked Jimmy Simms heading in, switched to Gathering Cloud at the last minute.
Liked Plum Pretty, and boy did that cost me. Still can\'t believe she couldn\'t run around that speedball track in 1:49.15 with that kind of trip.
And I keyed Aptphilly and Binks Forest, but only in horizontals and PP killed me. Those two were more a courtesy of Bill and Steve though, so I guess I shouldn\'t be whining (Bill loved the former).
Fun day though, and a good discussion before the races.
Michael,
Looking forward to seeing you again next weekend, tough day but I had a blast. I\'m told that photo\'s, inquires and bad racing luck will even out over a lifetime ? I\'m really wondering after yesterday !
Good luck,
FD