Talk about leveraging a good favorite.

[Tavasco]

So at approximately 2:40 a:m: Sat nite/Sun morning the estimated $1,881,166 NHK Stakes went off @ the Tokyo Racecourse. It is run @ 1 mile on the turf for 3 y/o colts, fillies but no geldings allowed? if I read the program correctly.

The solid even money favorite Mikki Isle was a colt out of Deep Impact (What a Sire) with impeccable credentials. After losing his 1st race by 1/2 a length, he subsequently reeled off four straight wins the longest price of which was .60.

Last night he faced 17 other rivals and his price was juicy @ even money. I was in a quandy? I not so quickly calculated the cost of a $1 tri #10 (the favorite) with all with all. $272 Doubt began to creep into my mind, why would I do that? There were some very accomplished horses in the race? Usually these race run pretty much according to form.

So instead, I selected #4 Rosa Gigantea and played a simple exacta under the favorite. The gate opened and the favorite shot out like bullet. You\'d think this was a 5F sprint. This is odd I thought, not being that used to seeing a turf mile run like a sprint. I began to worry a bit.

So Mikka Isle continued to run free on the lead through the turn and into the stretch. A herd of pursuers spread across the track slowly closing on the leader. I was busy looking for my #4 and sure enough here he comes but he needs to pass several to get to 2nd. Just second, don\'t win is in the  back of my mind.

Suddenly there were six or seven across the track all less than a length behind our winner, the favorite had lasted. I had  been out finished ending up a close fourth.

The 2nd place horse was 75/1 and the 3rd finisher was 45/1. The $1 tri came back four thousand three hundred eighty nine dollars and eighty cents.

What a beautiful facility! What a race! What a colt! What a sire! What a ride! What a bonehead I am. I need a nap before the Grand Prix de Espana goes @8:00 a:m: