11/17/13 Hollywood Park Pick Five - Results

Race 1 - # 4 No Contingency (Final Odds 8.90) - No Selection

Race 2 - # 3 Tama County (4.70) - "A" Selection

Race 3 - The Cat's Cradle Handicap $100K - # 1 Warren's Veneda (1.30*) - "A" Selection

Race 4 - # 6 Lucky Views (4.10) - No Selection

Race 5 - # 4 Holy Candy (2.30*) - "A" Selection

I had liked No Contingency's steadily rising Beyers and the drop in class; but he was not on our tickets because I did not like his failure to finish in the money in any of his three prior tries on synthetic surfaces.  Tama County again came from out of nowhere to win, in a manner that I have not seen since Forego retired.  Jockey Joe Talamo solved the rail problem by swinging Warren's Veneda off the rail into the three path to take the lead in the stretch and hold on for the victory. 

I didn't think much of Lucky Views, going as he was for a trainer (Michael Machowsky) with just one visit to the Winner's Circle the last twenty-nine times that he sent out a first time starter.  Lucky Views is also out of a sire (Lucky Pulpit) whose progeny have just a .10 Winning Percentage in their debuts; a stat that does not inspire confidence.  So congrats to those who saw something in this two year old gelding that I did not and slotted him in the top spot on their tickets. 

I wrote in the preview that both Blu Jon and Admission still have to prove that they have returned to the form that they displayed in the Spring of 2012.  Well they sure didn't prove that today, as Admission (3.80) beat only one horse to the wire; that one being Blu Jon (3.80).

All things considered this was not one of our better showings, as we could only get three "A's" home, while having no part of the winner in the other two legs.  We therefore end up with a Net Loss on our play of $50.00.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who played the correct Pick Five sequence of  4 / 3 / 1 / 6 / 4  were rewarded with a payout of $2,745.00 for their fifty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo