The Belmont Stakes, AK, & Animal Magnetism

[CentaurMythX]

I have never been the type of horseplayer to develop an emotional attachment to a racehorse.  From a handicapping and wagering standpoint, my best ROI has come from exploiting weak favorites in big races that have garnered the nation\'s affection.  For the first time, I now find myself thinking, \"How could I have become that guy?\"

As of yet, I do not believe Animal Kingdom has gained America\'s fancy like so many greats before him.  However, I now question whether I have become the emotionally blinded fool that has made it profitable for me to play this game.  I do not recall ever seeing a horse accelerate so smoothly by a Derby field as AK did that day.  I still do not know why I was so drawn to the flourish he finished with at Churchill.  I had no piece of him then.  I was in the MI/Soldat/Pants on Fire crew like some of you.   At the wire, I immediately said to the boys: \"This year, we will see a Triple Crown winner.\"  I don\'t normally let words like that fall so easily, yet I was sure I was seeing one of the greats have his coronation.

I went out to Belmont on Preakness Saturday with the intention of shoving it through the window with both fists.  I smashed the few Belmont races worth playing, got lucky with Curatolo, and cashed on most of the Preakness undercard.  I sent it in.  Nearly 75% of the cash I had on hand was laid out to win on AK, the largest wager of my life.  The rest was spread out attempting to save should he run second.  Fortunately/unfortunately, I was more then saved by the very solid Shak-AK exacta pay-out.  I was financially vindicated, and I was partially cursed.  

I confess, animal magnetism has sucked me in.  The Belmont Stakes is 3 days away, right in the backyard where I earned my racing stripes.  I have not convinced myself to sit the sidelines for fear of missing out on this mystical attachment I have discovered.  A big part of me does not even want to, it seems too compelling.  It is oddly surreal.  I have convinced myself (and others) that this will be the largest price we will see on the \"superhorse\" for the remainder of this year.  Ironically, I have spent the last week structuring an approach to exploit it.  Somehow, the figure-playing sharp has become a common fan.

So I now appeal to clearer, more experienced minds.  Have any of you had an experience with animal magnetism with a thoroughbred?  What did you make of it?  How did you handle it?

[HP]

\"I have convinced myself (and others) that this will be the largest price we will see on the \"superhorse\" for the remainder of this year.\"

If you are happy with the price you see and you LOVE the horse you should play it regardless of what anyone else says.  I personally have not experienced \"animal magnetism\" at 5/2, but you really should follow your convictions (and your post sounds like you have a CONVICTION) and if you can figure out how to make money and you are correct then more power to you!      

HP

[twoshoes]

Now that was a great post.

[jbelfior]

Sure...easy for me to answer. It was Funny Cide.

Made 2 of the biggest scores of my life when he won the Derby and Preakness (just north of $55 K).

Stood out in the pouring rain to watch him lose the Belmont with not a dollar bet on him. Waited in the lobby of the Hilton that night for the \"schoolbus crew\" so that I had someone to share my pain with. Of course my pain was worse, or at least that\'s how I felt at the time.

Traveled all morning from Saratoga to watch him unravel at Monmouth cursing Jack Knowlton for selling out on a sick horse for 50 grand.

Now I visit him every summer at Barclay Tagg\'s barn at Saratoga. I have a picture of him winning the Derby on my desk at work

My wife asks why his picture is there and not hers.........perhaps when she wins $55K for me, I\'ll put hers there.....behind FC.


Good Luck,
Joe B.

[alm]

CentaurMythX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have never been the type of horseplayer to
> develop an emotional attachment to a racehorse.
> From a handicapping and wagering standpoint, my
> best ROI has come from exploiting weak favorites
> in big races that have garnered the nation\'s
> affection.  For the first time, I now find myself
> thinking, \"How could I have become that guy?\"
>
> As of yet, I do not believe Animal Kingdom has
> gained America\'s fancy like so many greats before
> him.  However, I now question whether I have
> become the emotionally blinded fool that has made
> it profitable for me to play this game.  I do not
> recall ever seeing a horse accelerate so smoothly
> by a Derby field as AK did that day.  I still do
> not know why I was so drawn to the flourish he
> finished with at Churchill.  I had no piece of him
> then.  I was in the MI/Soldat/Pants on Fire crew
> like some of you.   At the wire, I immediately
> said to the boys: \"This year, we will see a Triple
> Crown winner.\"  I don\'t normally let words like
> that fall so easily, yet I was sure I was seeing
> one of the greats have his coronation.
>
> I went out to Belmont on Preakness Saturday with
> the intention of shoving it through the window
> with both fists.  I smashed the few Belmont races
> worth playing, got lucky with Curatolo, and cashed
> on most of the Preakness undercard.  I sent it in.
>  Nearly 75% of the cash I had on hand was laid out
> to win on AK, the largest wager of my life.  The
> rest was spread out attempting to save should he
> run second.  Fortunately/unfortunately, I was more
> then saved by the very solid Shak-AK exacta
> pay-out.  I was financially vindicated, and I was
> partially cursed.  
>
> I confess, animal magnetism has sucked me in.  The
> Belmont Stakes is 3 days away, right in the
> backyard where I earned my racing stripes.  I have
> not convinced myself to sit the sidelines for fear
> of missing out on this mystical attachment I have
> discovered.  A big part of me does not even want
> to, it seems too compelling.  It is oddly surreal.
>  I have convinced myself (and others) that this
> will be the largest price we will see on the
> \"superhorse\" for the remainder of this year.
> Ironically, I have spent the last week structuring
> an approach to exploit it.  Somehow, the
> figure-playing sharp has become a common fan.
>
> So I now appeal to clearer, more experienced
> minds.  Have any of you had an experience with
> animal magnetism with a thoroughbred?  What did
> you make of it?  How did you handle it?


Yes, and it will show my age: one of America\'s greatest racemares, Shuvee.  I first saw her run second in a race in Maryland at 2...I think it was the Selima...she won a lot of races after that, but her greatest  moments came in winning consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cups (at 2 miles) when that was the test of the best...Mike Freeman invited me to Aqueduct to meet her that year...I still have some great photos of her.  Years later I got into breeding by buying a mare off the track because it was Shuvee\'s granddaughter.  I guess you could call that animal magnetism.

[MonmouthGuy]

That is brilliant stuff. Thanks.

[number5858]

For me it was Empire Maker. I wanted to badly to bet him to win the KD, but any hint of foot problems generally scares me. Loved him in the Belmont and bet him that way. Still love that breeding.

[RICH]

Oh yeah, around 1986-1988 Tagg who was relatively unknown in NY,brought up a NYB turf horse who ran thru his conditions and won his first 3 races, we scored a bundle on SOCIAL RETIREE. We looked for his name every day, as there was no stable alert back then. We scored big at over 20-1 in a stakes race around then too.
  We were killing Delaware park during one of those blistering summer heat waves down there on a red hot inside speed bias, so one day we decided to make our pilgrimage from CT to Del park, on this day we got killed and tapped out. On the way out the door, my friend was looking at the program and they had a simo race, the Pennsylvania Derby, guess who was in there,SOCIAL RETIREE, he won, I\'m still sick about it!

[djr2000]

Forego was my favorite.  I followed him in the 70\'s when racing was still in its heyday.  He was huge (>17 hands) and they kept piling weight on him.  Recall him winning the Marlboro Cup with 137 lbs.  steamrolling from way back to nip a clear Honest Pleasure at the wire while giving him 12 lbs.  Forego always carried more weight than his foes and was my new york hero, winning 34 of 57 starts, including 4 Woodward Stakes in a row, winning stakes from 7 furlongs to the 2 mile Jockey Club with more than 130.  Amazing horse.  Looked you in the eye in the paddock and walking ring letting you know he was gonna beat the opposition no matter what they threw at him.  I never bet that much when he ran.  I just wanted to see him run and give everything that he had with Shoemaker and Gustines on his back. Still recall him 30 years later like it was yesterday.

[Footlick]

Buckpasser in this country.  Allez France in Europe.

[alm]

And remember that he broke or nearly broke a track record the day of Secretariat\'s Belmont.  I am pretty sure had they run Forego in the Belmont Secretariat would not have won by 31 lengths.

[Lost Cause]

-Personal Ensign - This one was love at first sight..Still one of the greatest runs ever to catch Winning Colors

-Easy Goer - Jumped around the whole track like a madman when he won the Belmont.  I made no money..

-Invasor- Beast of a horse to me.  Refused to give up..Made lots of dough on him when he ran over Bernardini

[HP]

Great thread here.

You mean there\'s a more emotional connection to horse racing than

\"COME ON WITH THAT SIX!\"  ??

Amazing.  

I guess I like Nehro and Brilliant Speed as most likely winners Saturday but I am ice cold and a \"bet against.\"  Good luck to all though...

HP