5/29/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Results

Race 4 - # 5 Another One (Final Odds 1.90*) - "C" Selection
Race 5 - # 1 Dynamite Ride (7.70) - "C" Selection
Race 6 - # 1 Carolina Island (7.80) - "B" Selection
Race 7 - The All American - # 7 G. G. Ryder (10.90) - No Selection
Race 8 - # 6 Force (Ire) (6.20) - "A" Selection
Race 9 - # 5 Gilded (23.70) - No Selection

Last time out, Gilded, in her turf debut, had taken the Place in a $20k Md Claimer, at Final Odds of 74-1.  Granted, it was a well beaten second; but still, a runner returning under the same conditions under which they had just taken the Place deserves consideration for the top spot, especially when going off at such a nice price.  So among the many mistakes that I made this weekend, this is the one that I most hope not to repeat.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Golden Pick Six sequence of  5 / 1 / 1 / 7 / 6 / 5  were non-existent.  Nobody picked six at Golden Gate Fields Monday.  Those who correctly picked five out of six were rewarded with a payout of $1,500.26 for their twenty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/29/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Preview

"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day.  I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it.  We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did." - Benjamin Harrison

It's Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) in the USA, and my hope for each of you on this holiday, wherever you may be, is that you are free to peacefully enjoy the day in a manner of your own choosing.  For me, a large part of that enjoyment will be playing the ponies; so with that, let's get to it, as I take another run at The Golden Pick Six at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 4 - (F) Alw 40000s N2L - Five Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 She Sang (Morning Line 6-1)

B’s

# 3 Liana Skye (ML 7-2)
# 7 Quick Song (ML 2-1)

C's

# 4 Propeppy (ML 15-1)
# 5 Another One (ML 3-1)

Note for future reference that this one is for horses which have not won two races in their career; but with one exemption, as runners get a pass by having one (and just one) win not considered, if one of their two career wins was for $16k or less.  For the record, # 1 Truly Ponti (ML 10-1), # 4 Propeppy (ML 15-1), and # 5 Another One (ML 3-1) are the three runners in this field to have made just one trip to the Winner's Circle in their career.

She Sang won under these conditions last time out, and she just might be the quickest in this field.  Liana Skye has proven competitive at this class level.  Quick Song disappointed as the Post Time Favorite under these conditions last time out.  Quick Song should get a clean trip from the far outside post.

Propeppy could improve going second off the layoff.  Another One took the Show behind She Sang last time out, and may be able to turn the tables on that one with a change in surface.

RACE 5 - Clm $3.2k N2X - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 5 Sweet Daddy (ML 1-1)

B’s

# 3 Speed Saver (ML 9-2)

C's

# 1 Dynamite Ride (ML 5-1)
# 4 Blazing Image (ML 4-1)
# 7 Extensive (ML 20-1)

This contest is restricted to runners which have not won two races in 2016-2017, excluding Maiden races, as well as Claiming and Starter races for less than $2.5k.  Which means that this really should be an N2Y rather than an N2X; but we'll stick with the official designation.

Sweet Daddy gets some much needed class relief here.  Speed Saver made a nice move forward last time out in his first start for the barn of Trainer Jack Steiner; perhaps he can build upon that effort.

Dynamite Ride has proven competitive at this class level.  Blazing Image goes first off the claim for Trainer Sheldon Paldanius, who tends to do well with such.  Extensive, shipping in from Arizona, has run well in the past when competing over this main track.

RACE 6 - Alw 40000s N2L - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 Whisky N Roses (ML 5-2)

B’s

# 1 Carolina Island (ML 4-1)
# 2 The Dandy Man Can (ML 7-2)
# 3 Kittenmeister (ML 10-1)

C's

# 5 Become an Insider (ML 6-1)
# 7 Pick One (ML 3-1)

Scratch # 4 Loma Cat (ML 12-1)

Note for future reference that this one is for horses which have not won two races in their career; but with one exemption, as runners get a pass by having one (and just one) win not considered, if one of their two career wins was for $16k or less.  For the record, all the runners in this field have made just one trip to the Winner's Circle in their career.

Whisky N Roses took the Show behind a next out winner under these conditions last time out.  Carolina Island took the Show at this class level back in April, albeit on the main track.  The Dandy Man Can missed victory be just a neck under these conditions last time out.  Kittenmeister was victorious in her debut last time out for Trainer John Martin, and fits well with the contenders here.

Become an Insider is on my tickets because every other runner in this field is.  Pick One graduated last time out in his first try over this turf course; perhaps Pick One has wanted grass all along.

RACE 7 - The All American (Grade 3) - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 Alert Bay (ML 2-1)

B's

# 3 Ike Walker (ML 12-1)

C's

# 1 Street Lad (ML 15-1)
# 8 Flamboyant (Fr) (ML 7-2)

Alert Bay enters this event with a two race winning streak, having defeated several of these in those prior contests.  Ike Walker ships in from downstate, and ran well in the past when competing on the synthetic surface at Arlington Park.

Street Lad will be speed on the rail; and while Street Lad has run all that fast in his prior races to make the lead, he also hasn't had to.  Flamboyant (Fr), shipping in from downstate, may do well with the cutback in distance.

RACE 8 - OC 25k/N1X - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 Force (Ire) (ML 6-1)
# 7 Pepper Crown (ML 3-1)

B’s

None

C's

# 1 Logan's Moon (ML 8-1)
# 3 My Discretion (ML 2-1)

Force (Ire) ships in from downstate and goes first time for Trainer John Martin, who tends to do well with such.  Pepper Crown was a length behind My Discretion at the wire last time out.  I expect Pepper Crown to get the better of that rival today, as My Discretion got away with some pretty soft fractions last time; and that's unlikely to happen again today.  Logan's Moon could improve with the return to two turn racing.

RACE 9 - (F) Md $20k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 2 Bonnie's Ransom (ML 2-1)

B's

# 3 Having Fun (ML 5-2)
# 9 Shaula (ML 9-2)

C's

# 12 Ragazza Di Vola (ML 6-1)

Scratch # 11 Jazz Night (No Line).  Bring in # 13 Silk Kitty (ML 15-1) off the Also Eligible List.

Bonnie's Ransom missed graduation by just a neck under these conditions last time out, with Having Fun taking the Show behind her.  Shaula returns after running a couple of races downstate, and will be in for a tag for the first time in her career.  Ragazza Di Viola ships in from downstate for Trainer Tim Yaakteen, and could improve with the class drop.

OK, that's the analysis.  While this is a jackpot wager, I won't be putting all my selections on one ticket.  While I still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of my life, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that my "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so I should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing my tickets in Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 6 with 5 with 6 with 6 with 6,7 with 2 $2.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 3,6,7 with 3,5 with 1,2,3,6 with 3,6 with 6,7 with 2,3,9 $57.60

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 4,5 with 5 with 6 with 6 with 6,7 with 2 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 6 with 1,4,7 with 6 with 6 with 6,7 with 2 $1.20
$0.20 P6: 6 with 5 with 5,7 with 6 with 6,7 with 2 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 6 with 5 with 6 with 1,8 with 6,7 with 2 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 6 with 5 with 6 with 6 with 1,3 with 2 $0.40
$0.20 P6: 6 with 5 with 6 with 6 with 6,7 with 12 $0.40

Total: $64.00

Post Time for Race 4 is 5:15 EDT / 2:15 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/28/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Results

Race 4 - # 3 You Play the Bench (Final Odds 5.30) - No Selection
Race 5 - # 6 Tight Lines (0.60*) - "A" Selection
Race 6 - # 3 Unusual Meeting (1.80*) - "A" Selection
Race 7 - # 2 Ptolemy (12.90) - No Selection
Race 8 - # 3 Fervent Femme (7.20) - "C" Selection
Race 9 - # 1 Mended (0.60*) - "A" Selection

Sometimes, it's just not your day; and if it's not going to be your day, you might as well know it as soon as possible.  And that's the story of Sunday, as all tickets turned into trash right as soon as the very first leg was declared Official.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Golden Pick Six sequence of  3 / 6 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 1  were rewarded with a payout of $788.32 for their twenty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/28/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Preview

It's Sunday, the middle day in a holiday weekend in the United States, and hopefully all the good things that you have planned for this time are coming to pass.  Speaking of pass, we all passed on grabbing the Pick Six Jackpot Saturday, as nobody was able to string together the half dozen consecutive wins needed to grab the golden ring.  But the good news is that we all get to try again today, with an even bigger prize on the line.  So let's get to it, as I take another run at The Golden Pick Six at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 4 - Alw 40000s N2L - Five Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 1 Jimmy the Juice (Morning Line 9-5)
# 5 Soap Box (ML 7-2)

B’s

None

C's

# 4 Simply Charming (ML 6-1)
# 6 Black Sona (ML 2-1)

Note for future reference that this one is for horses which have not won two races in their career; but with one exemption, as runners get a pass by having one (and just one) win not considered, if one of their two career wins was for $16k or less.  For the record, # 2 Glopress (ML 15-1) and # 6 Black Sona (ML 2-1) are the only two runners in this field to have made just one trip to the Winner's Circle in their career.

Jimmy the Juice took the Place at this approximate class level last time out.  Soap Box seems to have the breeding to do well on the turf, and he looks to be the one that they'll have to catch.

Black Sona has finished in the Trifecta under these conditions in each of his last two starts.  Simply Charming should move up with the turn back in distance.

RACE 5 - (F) Clm $3.2k N2Y - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 Tight Lines (ML 5-2)

B’s

# 4 Mischief Pearl (ML 6-1)
# 7 Tanned Mischief (ML 15-1)

C's

None

Scratch # 2 Dizzy Tizzy (ML 1-1)

This contest is restricted to runners which have not won two races in 2017, excluding Maiden races, as well as Claiming and Starter races for less than $2.5k.

Dizzy Tizzy looked like a ringer in this field, so her being scratched really changes how this contest is viewed, as well as the composition of my tickets.

Tight Lines and Mischief Pearl are two that lost all chance at the start in their respective last time out, and each should move forward today.  Tanned Mischief is returning from an extended vacation, so she may need this race; but Tanned Mischief also may do well at this shortened distance.

RACE 6 - Clm $25k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 3 Unusual Meeting (ML 5-2)
# 4 Administer (ML 3-1)

B’s

None

C's

# 1 Small Town Cop (ML 7-2)
# 2 Solomon Bay (ML 9-2)

Unusual Meeting lost all chance at the start last time out (gee, I seem to be typing that a lot today.  Was something going on with the area around the starting gate lately?).  Administer has finished in the Trifecta against more expensive in each of his last three starts.

Small Town Cop has disappointed as the Post Time Favorite in four of his last five starts; perhaps he gets to the wire on time today.  Solomon Bay took the Place against more expensive stock both two and three starts back.

RACE 7 - Md $12.5k - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 3 Raindance Rules (ML 2-1)

B's

# 7 Soolaimon (ML 5-2)

C's

None

Scratch # 5 River House (ML 3-1)

Raindance Rules should improve with the drop in class and the return to the synthetic surface.  Soolaimon could move up with the return to one turn racing.

RACE 8 - (F) OC 62.5k/N2X - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 4 Pyscho Sister (ML 7-2)

B’s

# 1 Causeway Carolyn (ML 3-1)
# 6 Chronologic'sghost (ML 9-2)
# 7 Qiaona (ML 5-2)

C's

# 2 Tiz a Tommy Town (ML 12-1)
# 3 Fervent Femme (ML 9-2)
# 5 You're Late (ML 12-1)

Pyscho Sister could improve going second off the layoff, and looks like the one that they'll have to catch.  Causeway Carolyn missed victory by just a neck at this class level last time out, albeit on the grass.

Chronologic'sghost should improve with the stretchout.  Qiaona fits at this class level.  The backups are everyone else, as this field doesn't show a lot of victories in their most recent efforts, which is rather unusual for this class level.

RACE 9 - (F) OC 25k/N1X - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 1 Mended (ML 7-5)
# 6 Californiasunshine (ML 5-1)

B’s

# 5 Blushing Bug (ML 8-1)

C's

None

Mended tries to make it five Wins in a row, as she has visited the Winner's Circle in every start since joining the barn of Trainer John Martin.  Californiasunshine was victorious at this approximate class level last time out.  Blushing Bug could improve with the drop in class.

OK, that's the analysis.  While this is a jackpot wager, I won't be putting all my selections on one ticket.  While I still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of my life, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that my "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so I should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing my tickets in Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 1,5 with 6 with 3,4 with 3 with 4 with 1,6 $8.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 1,5 with 4,6,7 with 3,4 with 3,7 with 1,4,6,7 with 1,5,6 $57.60

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 4,6 with 6 with 3,4 with 3 with 4 with 1,6 $1.60
$0.20 P6: 1,5 with 6 with 1,2 with 3 with 4 with 1,6 $1.60
$0.20 P6: 1,5 with 6 with 3,4 with 3 with 2,3,5 with 1,6 $4.80

Total: $73.60

Post Time for Race 4 is 5:44 EDT / 2:44 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/27/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Results

Race 4 - # 4 One Putt Par (Final Odds 1.50*) - "A" Selection
Race 5 - # 5 Danas Best (Aus) (1.10*) - "A" Selection
Race 6 - # 2 Devil's Beauty (3.30) - "B" Selection
Race 7 - # 6 Yahoo Tahoe (6.20) - "C" Selection
Race 8 - # 7 Joueur (18.60) - No Selection
Race 9 - # 3 Pacific Channel (3.10) - "A" Selection

Joueur, who had never shown any early speed in any of his five prior starts, including after being dropped in for a tag last time out, shows that he was just waiting for the turf all along, as he smoked the grass Saturday, running the rest of the field off their feet from right out of the gate and winning Race 8 by the length of the stretch, looking as if he was a 1-9 Favorite instead of an 18-1 longshot.  God bless you if you had Joueur on top of your tickets, because the only way I would have had him would have been by hitting the "ALL" button.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Golden Pick Six sequence of  4 / 5 / 2 / 6 / 7 / 3  were non-existent.  Nobody picked six at Golden Gate Fields Saturday.  Those who correctly picked five out of six were rewarded with a payout of $104.40 for their twenty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/27/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Preview

Saturday marks the beginning of a holiday weekend in the United States; so here's hoping that all the wonderful things that you planned over the course of these three days comes to pass.  For me, those good things involve playing the ponies at Golden Gate Fields, as I take another run at The Golden Pick Six at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 4 - (F) Clm $5k N2X - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 4 One Putt Par (Morning Line 9-5)

B’s

# 1 Cacica Dulima (ML 2-1)

C's

None

One Putt Par and Cacica Dulima bookended the Superfecta last time out, with One Putt Par getting the Win while Cacica Dulima disappointed as the Post Time Favorite.  Since every other runner in this field exits that same race, the question here is which entrant(s) can be expected to improve upon that effort; and in my opinion these are the two most likely candidates.

RACE 5 - Clm $6.25k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 5 Danas Best (Aus) (ML 6-5)

B’s

# 1 Nahem (ML 5-1)

C's

# 2 Bountiful Desert (ML 6-1)
# 4 Moogie Woogie (ML 9-2)
# 6 Midvale Magic (ML 12-1)

Scratch # 3 Telepathy (ML 3-1)

Danas Best (Aus) took the Place against more expensive stock last time out.  Nahem might be quick enough to steal this one on the front end.  The C's are everyone else, because the Morning Line Favorite seems to have difficulties finding the Winner's Circle of late, even when leaving the gate as the shortest price on the board.

RACE 6 - (F) Clm $12.5k N2X - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 6 Sooner Time (ML 2-1)

B’s

# 2 Devil's Beauty (ML 5-2)

C's

None

Sooner Time goes first off the claim for Trainer Tim Bellasis, who tends to do well with such.  Note that while Sooner Time is running with a higher price tag on her head than she did last time out this is actually a class drop, as that prior contest was open (no conditions) while this is an N2X (non-winners of two other than....).  Devil's Beauty has taken the Show at this class level in each of her last two starts.

RACE 7 - Clm $40k - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 4 Guy Code (ML 7-2)

B’s

# 1 Letithappen (ML 3-1)

C's

# 5 Marino's Wild Cat (ML 4-1)
# 6 Yahoo Tahoe (ML 6-1)
# 7 Mr. Jay D (ML 9-2)

Guy Code ships in from downstate, and his work over this main track on May 11 suggests that the speed that he's been showing on the dirt should carry over to the synthetic surface.  Letithappen was victorious at this class level the last time that he competed over this main track.

Marino's Wild Cat win over the turf last time out could signal a return to the form that he was showing earlier this year.  Yahoo Tahoe and Mr. Jay D filled out the Exacta at this class level last time out.

RACE 8 - MSW - Five Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 The Perfect Square (ML 8-1)

B's

# 1 Ice Cream Fame (ML 7-2)
# 2 Pavelski (ML 1-1)
# 4 Lucky Patrick (ML 8-1)

C's

# 3 Thorny Weather (ML 5-1)

The Perfect Square is a first time starter for Trainer Cliff DeLima, who tends to do well with such.  Ice Cream Fame took the Place at this class level in his debut over the main track three starts back.

Pavelski took the Show charging down the Santa Anita hill at this class level two starts back.  The question with Pavelski is does he have enough speed for this, a true turf sprint.  Lucky Patrick could move up with the cutback in distance.  Thorny Weather could improve with the move to the lawn.

RACE 9 - Clm $4k N2L - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 3 Pacific Channel (ML 2-1)
# 5 Thermopylae (ML 9-5)

B’s

# 2 Papa Pagosa (ML 10-1)
# 4 William Crotty (ML 3-1)

C's

None

Pacific Channel took the Place at this class level last time out.  Thermopylae took the Show against classier stock two starts back, albeit for different connections.

Papa Pagosa graduated last time out; perhaps he's finally figured out what's going on out here.  William Crotty's early speed might be enough to carry him to the Winner's Circle today.

OK, that's the analysis.  While this is a jackpot wager, I won't be putting all my selections on one ticket.  While I still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of my life, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that my "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so I should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing my tickets in Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 4 with 5 with 6 with 4 with 6 with 3,5 $2.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 1,4 with 1,5 with 2,6 with 1,4 with 1,2,4,6 with 2,3,4,5 $51.20

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 4 with 2,4,6 with 6 with 4 with 6 with 3,5 $1.20
$0.20 P6: 4 with 5 with 6 with 5,6,7 with 6 with 3,5 $1.20
$0.20 P6: 4 with 5 with 6 with 4 with 3 with 3,5 $0.40

Total: $56.00

Post Time for Race 4 is 5:45 EDT / 2:45 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/21/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Results

Race 4 - # 5 No Spin Zone (Final Odds 0.80*) - "A" Selection
Race 5 - # 1 Broken Up (1.00*) - "A" Selection
Race 6 - # 1 Algenon (5.20) - No Selection
Race 7 - # 3 Russian Radiance (GB) (3.00) - No Selection
Race 8 - # 7 Valiant Flame (1.20*) - "A" Selection
Race 9 - # 3 This Town (4.60) - "B" Selection

I certainly began the sequence well; and I ended well.  But the middle?  Not so well.  I completely whiffed on the third and fourth legs, having neither Winner nor Place horse on my big ticket for either of those two contests.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Golden Pick Six sequence of  5 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 7 / 3  were rewarded with a payout of $543.06 for their twenty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/21/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Preview

So with the second leg of The Triple Crown having come and gone we shift our focus back to the west coast; specifically to northern California, as we take another run at The Golden Pick Six at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 4 - (F) Md $16k - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 5 No Spin Zone (Morning Line 7-5)

B's

# 2 Betdesilvergold (ML 5-2)
# 3 Unwanted (ML 7-2)
# 4 Heartwrecker (ML 8-1)

C's

None

No Spin Zone took the Place at this class level last time out, crossing under the wire about a length in front of Betdesilvergold.  Heartwrecker finished fourth in that contest; but as that was Heartwrecker's debut, it's quite conceivable that she will improve off that initial effort.  Unwanted showed good early speed in each of her last two contests, both against more expensive stock.

RACE 5 - Alw 12500s - Nine Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 1 Broken Up (ML 8-5)
# 5 Percy's Bluff (ML 1-1)

B’s

None

C's

None

Scratch # 2 Lucky Shoes to Win (ML 20-1)

Note for future reference that, unlike many Starter Allowances in California, this contest has no lifetime Win restrictions for entry.  So any runner that has starter for a claiming price of $12.5k or less, either this year or last, is eligible to run here.

Percy's Bluff and Broken Up formed the Exacta at this class level last time out, with Percy's Bluff getting the top spot by a length.  In my opinion there's little to choose from between these two, and no serious challenger(s) to choose from in the rest of this field.

RACE 6 - OC 62.5k/N2X - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 7 Mah Gellin (ML 7-2)

B’s

# 5 Seattle Serenade (ML 6-1)

C's

# 2 Pure Comedy (ML 8-1)

I'm giving Mah Gellin another chance here, after he disappointed as the Post Time Favorite (and my "A" Selection) last time out, finishing dead last.  In my opinion Mah Gellin is clearly the best horse in this field; and the solid workout that he had on May 13 suggests that whatever happened last time out, it wasn't injury related.

Seattle Serenade ships in from downstate for Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, and the work that he had over this main track earlier this month suggests that Seattle Serenade should handle the surface switch well.  Pure Comedy has consistently proven to be competitive at this class level.

RACE 7 - (F) ALW N1X - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A's

# 5 Hal's Buddy (ML 6-1)
# 6 Tequila Mary (ML 2-1)

B's

None

C's

# 1 Amber Louise (ML 8-1)
# 4 Brookys Star (ML 5-2)

Hal's Buddy has closed well in each of his last two starts over this turf course, including a Show finish at this class level back in January.  Tequila Mary won by daylight over this turf course in her return from vacation last time out.

Amber Louise took the Show at this class level behind a next out winner last time out.  Brookys Star is the likely pace setter here, and could steal this one on the front end.

RACE 8 - Clm $8k B - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 7 Valiant Flame (ML 5-2)

B's

# 8 Boldly True (ML 7-2)

C's

# 1 Royal Alexei (ML 5-1)
# 2 Pete's Slew (ML 5-1)

This contest is restricted to runners which have either:

1) Not won a race since April 1, 2017; OR
2) Which have never won four races.

So as long as a horse has fewer than four career Wins, he's eligible to run in this race.  If a horse has four career Wins or more, than none of those Wins could have come in either this month or last (note that Claiming and Starter Races for $6.25k or less don't count when computing the Win totals).  For the record, # 3 Admiral Boom (ML 12-1) and # 8 Boldly True (ML 7-2) are the only two runners in this field with fewer than four career Wins.

Valiant Flame enters this contest with a three race winning streak for Trainer John Martin.  Boldly True is taking a huge step down on the class ladder.  Royal Alexei has finished in the Exacta at this class level in each of his last two races.  Pete's Slew was victorious at this class level back in March.

RACE 9 - Md $20k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 7 Onefortheteam (ML 1-1)

B's

# 1 Tuscan Warrior (ML 10-1)
# 3 This Town (ML 8-1)
# 5 The Ice Box Kid (ML 3-1)
# 6 Get Like Me (ML 10-1)

C's

# 2 Bobby Magic (ML 5-1)
# 4 Diablo Way (ML 20-1)

Onefortheteam took the Place at this class level last time out.  Tuscan Warrior, with Storm Cat as a grandsire, could improve with the move to the turf.  This Town ships in from downstate for Trainer Neil Drysdale, who tends to do well with such.  The Ice Box Kid and Get Like Me are two that could improve with the change in surface and distance.  Bobby Magic, like Onefortheteam, is trained by John Martin; the "other" John Martin, if you will.  Diablo Way is on my tickets because every other runner in this field is.

OK, that's the analysis.  While this is a jackpot wager, we won't be putting all our selections on one ticket.  While we still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of our lives, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that our "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so we should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing our tickets in Crist fashion, we get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 5 with 1,5 with 7 with 5,6 with 7 with 7 $4.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 2,3,4,5 with 1,5 with 5,7 with 5,6 with 7,8 with 1,3,5,6,7 $64.00

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 5 with 1,5 with 2 with 5,6 with 7 with 7 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 5 with 1,5 with 7 with 1,4 with 7 with 7 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 5 with 1,5 with 7 with 5,6 with 1,2 with 7 $1.60
$0.20 P6: 5 with 1,5 with 7 with 5,6 with 7 with 2,4 $1.60

Total: $72.80

Post Time for Race 4 is 5:44 EDT / 2:44 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/20/17 Pimlico Rainbow Pick 6 - Preview

It's Preakness Stakes Day at Pimlico, the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown; and, really, what more do you need by way of intro?  So let's get to it, as we take another run at The Rainbow Pick Six at The Home of The Preakness.

RACE 8 - The James W Murphy $100k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 1 Mo Maverick (Morning Line 10-1)

B's

# 7 Bird's Eye View (ML 15-1)
# 8 Undulated (ML 15-1)
# 12 Cool Arrow (ML 12-1)

C's

# 4 Dover Cliffs (ML 5-2)
# 10 Adonis Creed (ML 8-1)
# 11 Cheyenne's Colonel (ML 20-1)
# 13 Chubby Star (ML 20-1)

Scratch # 9 Conquest Bandit (ML 20-1)

Mo Maverick has been victorious every time that he has stepped on the grass.  Bird's Eye View fits well at this class level.  Undulated, sired by Curlin, could move up with the stretch out in distance.  Cool Arrow's form should hold up with the move to the lawn.

Dover Cliffs, winner of the Cutler Bay last time out, misses by just a neck of being undefeated in his three race career.  Adonis Creed could work out a nice trip pressing the pace.  Cheyenne's Colonel has looked good in both his turf starts.  Chubby Star fits well at this level, though he may miss having Jose Ortiz on his back.

RACE 9 - The Maryland Sprint (Grade 3) - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 4 A. P. Indian (ML 8-5)
# 5 Whitmore (ML 9-5)

B's

None

C's

# 1 Laki (ML 12-1)
# 2 Classy Class (ML 10-1)

God bless you if you are able to choose between A. P. Indian and Whitmore, because I sure couldn't.  Laki and Classy Class are the backups because I think that one or the other might freak on the off track.

RACE 10 - (F) The Gallorette (Grade 3) - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 On Leave (ML 2-1)

B's

# 7 Elysea's World (Ire) (ML 5-2)

C's

# 3 Danilovna (Ire) (ML 6-1)

Scratch # 5 Gone Away (ML 15-1)

EDIT: Scratch # 2 Zipessa (ML 9-2)

On Leave should improve with the step down the class ladder.  Elysea's World (Ire) has proven competitive at the Graded Stakes level, though her failure to capture a stakes win in North America is a bit of a concern.

Danilovna (Ire) did well in the soft going last time out while winning the Dahlia.

RACE 11 - The Sir Barton $100k - Eight and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 Hedge Fund (ML 9-5)

B's

# 1 Honor the Fleet (ML 5-1)

C's

# 7 True Timber (ML 8-1)

Scratch # 8 Liar's Dice (ML 15-1)

Hedge Fund missed winning the Illinois Derby by just a head last time out, and should move up with the cut back in distance.  Honor the Fleet is the local hero who could get a nice stalking trip.  True Timber has not done well of late trying to run with the pace setters; but if Jockey Joel Rosario can get him to settle back early, True Timber could be the one passing the leaders late.

RACE 12 - The Dixie (Grade 2) - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 10 Ring Weekend (ML 4-1)

B's

# 1 Security Risk (ML 12-1)
# 4 Projected (GB) (ML 3-1)
# 7 Blacktype (ML 4-1)
# 9 Conquest Typhoon (ML 15-1)

C's

# 2 World Approval (ML 7-2)
# 8 Catapult (ML 10-1)

Ring Weekend missed winning this event last year by just a neck, and looks to be in a good position to take it today.  Security Risk could have things all his own way early.  Projected (GB) defeated a couple of next out winners last time out, and looks to be in top form for this contest.

Blacktype lost all chance at the start last time out, and should improve over that effort.  Conquest Typhoon looks ready to move up in class.  World Approval could contend here if he can return to the form that he showed last Spring and Summer.  Catapult could get the jump on the leaders before the deep closers can get rolling.

RACE 13 - The Preakness (Grade 1) - Nine and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Multiplier (ML 30-1)
# 4 Always Dreaming (ML 4-5)
# 5 Classic Empire (ML 3-1)

B's

None

C's

# 3 Hence (ML 20-1)
# 6 Gunnevera (ML 15-1)
# 10 Conquest Mo Money (ML 15-1)

Multiplier, winner of the Illinois Derby last time out, has been showing steady improvement in each of his career starts.  Always Dreaming had a lot of things go his way while winning the Kentucky Derby; but Always Dreaming looks to be tough to beat here even without considering that Derby victory.  Classic Empire got checked into the boards hard in the Derby early, and then had more trouble late, but was still game in that effort; expect him to do much better today.

Hence can contend here if he can return to the form that won the Sunland Derby; but it's beginning to look like that may have Hence's career race.  Gunnevera's new rider, Jockey Mike Smith, may be able to keep him out of traffic; if so, Gunnevera could be the one running best late.  Conquest Mo Money has done little wrong in his career, and skipping the Derby may give him enough energy to get to the wire before Classic Empire today.

OK, that's the analysis; and, since I'm rushing this a bit, hopefully there aren't too many typos.  While this is a jackpot wager, I won't be putting all my selections on one ticket.  While I still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of my life, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that my "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so I should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing my tickets in Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 1 with 4,5 with 6 with 2 with 10 with 1,4,5 $6.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 1,7,8,12 with 4,5 with 6,7 with 1,2 with 1,4,7,9,10 with 1,4,5 $96.00

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 4,10,11,13 with 4,5 with 6 with 2 with 10 with 1,4,5 $4.80
$0.20 P6: 1 with 1,2 with 6 with 2 with 10 with 1,4,5 $1.20
$0.20 P6: 1 with 4,5 with 3 with 2 with 10 with 1,4,5 $1.20
$0.20 P6: 1 with 4,5 with 6 with 7 with 10 with 1,4,5 $1.20
$0.20 P6: 1 with 4,5 with 6 with 2 with 2,8 with 1,4,5 $2.40
$0.20 P6: 1 with 4,5 with 6 with 2 with 10 with 3,6,10 $1.20

Total: $114.00

Post Time for Race 8 is 2:47 EDT / 11:47 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/19/17 Pimlico Rainbow Pick 6 - Preview

It's Black-Eyed Susan Day in Baltimore, the opening stanza of a weekend at Pimlico that will culminate with the running of the second leg of The Triple Crown.  As befits such an event, each day's card is chock full of quality stakes, as well a fantastic menu of wagering options.  So with that let's get to it, as we take a run at The Rainbow Pick Six at The Home of The Preakness.

RACE 6 - (F) OC 25k/N2X - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 7 Family Meeting (Morning Line 5-2)

B’s

# 1 Gone Away (ML 7-2)

C's

# 6 Outsider Art (ML 5-1)
# 10 Sokie (ML 20-1)
# 12 Armoire (ML 6-1)

Scratch # 9 Good Roll (ML 30-1) and # 11 Bawlmer Hon (ML 30-1)

Family Meeting defeated classier competition last time out.  Gone Away took the Show at this approximate class level last time out, and could improve going second off the layoff for Trainer Michael Matz.

Outsider Art has proven to be competitive at this class level, despite not having her picture taken in over a year.  Sokie could be uncontested on the front end early, though she may need a race after the long layoff.  Armoire could improve off the freshening after having failed in her last two starts as the Post Time Favorite.

RACE 7 - The Pimlico Special (Grade 3) - Nine and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 6 Shaman Ghost (ML 4-5)

B's

# 1 Dolphus (ML 8-1)
# 3 Watershed (ML 6-1)

C's

None

Scratch last year's winner of this event, # 5 Noble Bird (ML 8-1)

Shaman Ghost, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap last time out, is by far classiest here, and I may later regret not making him a single on the big ticket.  But Watershed, winner of Grade 3 Ben Ali last time out, seems to be rounding into top form for Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin; while Dolphus, stablemate of Shaman Ghost for Trainer Jimmy Jerkens, could prove to be tough to run down late.  So three deep it is for this leg.

RACE 8 - (F) The Hilltop $100k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 3 Victory to Victory (ML 5-2)

B's

# 1 Dance Queen (ML 8-1)
# 5 Compelled (ML 3-1)

C's

None

Scratch # 2 Romantic Music (ML 15-1); # 7 Corporate Queen (ML 20-1); # 8 Follow No One (ML 20-1); # 10 Chubby Star (ML 12-1); 11 Sweeping Paddy (ML 12-1); # 13 Mercy Ann (ML 15-1)

Victory to Victory, winner of the Grade 1 Natalma up at Woodbine last September, looked sharp in her 2017 debut last time out at Keeneland, and could be ready to pick up where she left off.  Dance Queen could be the quickest in this field, especially with all the defections; while Compelled could be the one running best late.

RACE 9 - (F) The Miss Preakness (Grade 3) - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 5 Our Majesty (ML 7-2)

B's

# 7 Bode's Dream (ML 12-1)

C's

# 1 R Angel Katelyn (ML 10-1)
# 6 Vertical Oak (ML 10-1)

Scratch # 15 Shacklefords Lady (ML 20-1) off the Also Eligible List

Our Majesty, undefeated in her three race career, has been showing steady improvement in each of her efforts.  Bode's Dream, trained by Todd Pletcher, gets some much needed class relief here.  R Angel Katelyn has been victorious in four of her last five starts, all against stakes level competition.  Vertical Oak made a nice move forward last time out, though that move could have been strongly aided by the surface conditions.

RACE 10 - The Jim McKay Turf Sprint $100k - Five Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 4 Pay Any Price (ML 3-1)

B's

# 10 Richard's Boy (ML 4-1)
# 15 Tale of E Dubai (ML 15-1)

C's

# 2 Amelia's Wide Ride (ML 6-1)
# 7 Grand Candy (ML 8-1)

Scratch # 14 Platinum Prince (ML 12-1) and # 14 Cyclogenisis (ML 20-1)

Pay Any Price misses by just a length of entering this contest with a four race winning streak.  Richard's Boy, trained by Peter Miller, seems to do better when he doesn't have to negotiate the Santa Anita Hill.  Tale of E Dubai carried his form well in his turf debut last time out.

Amelia's Wide Ride fits well here on class, though the extended layoff is a concern.  Grand Candy should move up with the move back to the lawn.

RACE 11 - (F) The Black-Eyed Susan (Grade 2) - Nine Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Shimmering Aspen (ML 9-2)
# 5 Lights of Medina (ML 8-1)

B's

# 2 Tapa Tapa Tapa (ML 8-1)
# 7 Moana (ML 4-1)

C's

# 4 Full House (ML 12-1)
# 9 Summer Luck (ML 5-1)
# 11 Yorkiepoo Princess (ML 10-1)

Shimmering Aspen tries routing for the first time; but as a daughter of Mailibu Moon, the added real estate should not be a problem.  Lights of Medina and Moana, both trained by Todd Pletcher, have both looked strong in their respective two turn races.  Tapa Tapa Tapa could improve going third off the layoff.

Full House took the Show in the Grade 2 Gazelle last time out.  Summer Luck may get a nice late run at the early leaders.  Yorkiepoo Princess should get a much better trip today than she did last time out.

OK, that's the analysis.  While this is a jackpot wager, I won't be putting all my selections on one ticket.  While I still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of my life, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that my "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so I should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing my tickets in Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 7 with 6 with 3 with 5 with 4 with 1,5 $2.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 1,7 with 1,3,6 with 1,3,5 with 5,7 with 4,10,15 with 1,2,5,7 $86.40

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 6,10,12 with 6 with 3 with 5 with 4 with 1,5 $1.20
$0.20 P6: 7 with 6 with 3 with 1,6 with 4 with 1,5 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 7 with 6 with 3 with 5 with 2,7 with 1,5 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 7 with 6 with 3 with 5 with 4 with 4,9,11 $0.60

Total: $91.80

Post Time for Race 6 is 2:06 EDT / 11:06 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/14/17 Golden Gate Fields Late Pick Four - Results

Race 6 - # 1 Undeniable U (Final Odds 1.80*) - "B" Selection
Race 7 - The Alcatraz - # 2 Grecian Fire (4.50) - "B" Selection
Race 8 - # 4 Eccentric Spinster (1.50*) = "B" Selection
Race 9 - # 3 Shoshoni Storm (2.50*) - "B" Selection

I wasn't able to get any of my "A" Selections home today; but, then, I didn't have to.  The one non-Post Time Favorite winner found his way onto the big ticket, and the play had all the runners that made sense.  A pretty formful day, and I didn't make any egregious mistakes that would have prevented me from cashing.

For the record, here are the $0.50 Will Pays for the other three runners to which I would have cashed in the finale:

# 2 Satin Ruler (6.10) - $236.60 Finish: 4th
# 4 Lookin’ for Fame (13.20) - $287.50 Finish: 5th
# 6 If Ur Not Early (3.20) - $112.60 Finish: 3rd

But that's what might have been.  What actually came to be was a correct Late Pick Four sequence of  1 / 2 / 4 / 3  which paid $110.70 for a fifty cent wager.  That makes for a profit of $39.70 on the initial $71 investment, or approximate odds of 0.56-1.  On a day in which I didn't connect with any of my top picks, profiting anyway is something with which I have no problem.  And as my close personal friend Sully likes to say, no one ever went broke cashing tickets.

I hope you all had it with me.  May God bless us as we spend our winnings.

Onto the next race!

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/14/17 Golden Gate Fields Late Pick Four - Preview

"My mom is my hero. [She] inspired me to dream when I was a kid, so anytime anyone inspires you to dream, that's gotta be your hero." - Tim McGraw

Happy Mother's Day all!  Hopefully all are doing well and enjoying the day in an appropriate manner, as we dream of good things for the days still to come.  Speaking of dreams, some lucky player certainly had theirs come true yesterday, as they scooped The Golden Pick Six jackpot to the tune of $218,795.84.  So today I'm going to use the lack of a jackpot carryover as an excuse to lighten my workload just a bit, as I set my sights a little lower and take a run at The Late Pick Four at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 6 - Alw 40000s N2L - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 3 Global Event (Morning Line 5-2)

B’s

# 1 Undeniable U (ML 2-1)
# 2 Junior G Man (ML 6-1)
# 4 Architop (ML 3-1)

C's

# 6 Journey to Run (ML 8-1)

Note for future reference that this one is for horses which have not won two races in their career; but with one exemption, as runners get a pass by having one (and just one) win not considered, if one of their two career wins was for $16k or less.  For the record, Undeniable U and # 5 Chanted (ML 12-1) are the only two runners in this field to have made just one trip to the Winner's Circle in their career.

Global Event moves up in class after getting his picture taken last time out; and while I'm generally suspicious of early speed holding up as a runner rises in the class ranks, Global Event just seems to be so much quicker than the rest of his rivals today that it's difficult not to foresee him winning in gate to wire fashion.

Undeniable U is getting some much needed class relief here.  Junior G Man should improve with the move back to the main track.  Architop was victorious at this level two starts back, albeit for different connections.  Journey to Run looks to be the one that will be running best late.

RACE 7 - The Alcatraz $75k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 3 More Power to Him (ML 5-2)

B's

# 1 Harvest a Storm (ML 8-1)
# 2 Grecian Fire (ML 7-2)
# 7 Anyportinastorm (ML 2-1)

C's

None

More Power to Him and Grecian Fire exit the $100k Silky Sullivan, where they were both outclassed.  Expect each of them to move up against a softer field today.

Harvest a Storm is the only runner in this field to have actually won on the grass.  Anyportinastorm is stretching out to a mile for the first time; but that's somewhat misleading, as Anyportinastorm did charge down the two turn Santa Anita Hill in the $75k Baffle back in February.

RACE 8 - (F) OC 40k/N1X - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 1 Simmy's Temple (GB) (ML 2-1)

B’s

# 4 Eccentric Spinster (ML 5-2)

C's

# 2 Fiery Lady (ML 5-1)
# 3 Smiling Ann (ML 10-1)
# 6 Sheeza Sassy Girl (ML 6-1)

Simmy's Temple (GB) looks best here, though the rail draw could prove problematic for this late runner.  Eccentric Spinster and Fiery Lady are two that are trying winners for the first time after graduating by as many as they wanted to last time out.  I give the edge to Eccentric Spinster as she appears to be the quicker of the two; indeed, Eccentric Spinster may be the quickest in this field.

Smiling Ann should improve with the return to the main track.  Sheeza Sassy Girl may get the jump on Simmy's Temple late thanks to the outside draw.

RACE 9 - Clm $12.5k N2L - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 2 Satin Ruler (ML 9-2)
# 6 If Ur Not Early (ML 3-1)

B’s

# 3 Shoshoni Storm (ML 5-2)
# 4 Lookin' for Fame (ML 5-1)

C's

# 1 Compadre Sam (ML 20-1)
# 5 Academic Code (ML 4-1)

Satin Ruler and If Ur Not Early appear to be the quickest here.  Shoshoni Storm took the Show at this class level last time out, and may appreciate the cutback in distance.  Lookin' for Fame goes first time for the barn of Steve Sherman, who tends to do well with such.

Compadre Sam drops in class while going third off the year long layoff.  Academic Code could improve with the barn change.

OK, that's the analysis.  Playing my tickets in Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 3 with 3 with 1 with 2,6 $2.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 1,2,3,4 with 1,2,3,7 with 1,4 with 2,3,4,6 $64.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 6 with 3 with 1 with 2,6 $1.00

$0.50 P4: 3 with 3 with 2,3,6 with 2,6 $3.00

$0.50 P4: 3 with 3 with 1 with 1,5 $1.00

Total: $71.00

Post Time for Race 6 is 6:48 EDT / 3:48 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/13/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Results

Race 4 - # 1 Nahem (Final Odds 5.60) - "B" Selection
Race 5 - # 3 Johnny Reb (3.30) - "C" Selection
Race 6 - # 4 Oil (2.30*) - "A" Selection
Race 7 - The Golden Poppy - # 6 Lady Valeur (Ire) (0.80*) - "A" Selection
Race 8 - # 9 J C's Nightcap (12.50) - "B" Selection
Race 9 - # 5 Unusual Taste (2.50) - "A" Selection

I thought enough of Johnny Reb's chances in the second leg to use him in my play; but I didn't think enough of him to put him on the big ticket.  So Johnny Reb wiring the field in Race 5, crossing under the wire a length in front of "A" Selection # 5 Nightime Olympics (2.10), was the difference Saturday between collecting or contributing; because it's not enough to have all the winners on your tickets; you have to have them all on the same ticket if you want to get paid.

So I ended up with five of the six winners on my big ticket; which, as you all already know, pays just as much as if I had none of the six winners on my big ticket.  But you really can't be too hard on yourself for missing it on a day when everyone else missed it too.

Well, almost everyone else.

Oh well; onto the next race.

And, yes, the jackpot got scooped Saturday, as the correct Golden Pick Six sequence of  1 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 9 / 5  pays out $218,795.84 for a twenty cent wager to a single winning ticket holder.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/13/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Preview

The Golden Poppy, scheduled to be run on some California grass, is Saturday's featured race at Golden Gate; and, spoiler alert, that's where my big ticket single resides.  So if I'm right about that one, well, then I just have to be right about the other five as well, and then I can collect.  Anyway, let's get to it, as we take another run at The Golden Pick Six at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 4 - Clm $6.25k B - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 4 Curly Boy (Morning Line 2-1)

B's

# 1 Nahem (ML 8-1)
# 5 Star Express (ML 3-1)

C's

# 2 Giant Mark (ML 9-2)
# 3 Invertigo (ML 4-1)
# 6 Volkonsky (ML 9-2)

This contest is restricted to runners which have either:

1) Not won a race since April 1, 2017; OR
2) Which have never won four races.

So as long as a horse has fewer than four career Wins, he's eligible to run in this race.  If a horse has four career Wins or more, than none of those Wins could have come in either this month or last (note that Claiming and Starter Races for $5k or less don't count when computing the Win totals).  For the record, # 2 Giant Mark (ML 9-2), # 3 Invertigo (ML 4-1), and # 5 Star Express (ML 3-1) are the three runners in this field with fewer than four career Wins.

Curly Boy returns from an extended leave after having defeated classier stock (this claiming price but with no restrictions) in his more recent starts.  Nahem looks to be speed on the rail and could win this one leading from gate to wire.

Star Express finished in the Exacta in six of his last seven races; but all those starts were for Trainer John Martin, from whom Star Express was claimed last time out; so it's fair to wonder how Star Express will perform for his new barn.  Giant Mark looks like the one that will be running best late if Curly Boy doesn't fire.

Invertigo is on the ticket because everyone else in this field is.  Volkonsky was within a length of the winner at the wire the last time that he competed on this synthetic main track.

RACE 5 - ALW N1X - Five Furlongs Turf

A's

# 5 Nightime Olympics (ML 5-2)
# 7 Letithappen (ML 7-2)

B's

None

C's

# 3 Johnny Reb (ML 9-2)

Scratch # 6 Sir Vronski (ML 2-1)

Nightime Olympics and Letithappen have won two of their last three starts, and were within a length of the winner at the wire in their respective loss in that sequence.  Johnny Reb has done well in the past over this turf course, and may have needed that last race off the layoff.

RACE 6 - Clm $20k N2X - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 3 Luck Lasts (ML 2-1)
# 4 Oil (ML 5-2)

B’s

# 5 Merle (ML 10-1)

C's

None

Luck Lasts was victorious at this approximate class level last time out (lower claiming price but no restrictions) and will be going first off the claim for Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who tends to do well with such.  Oil took the Place at this class level last time out behind next out winner Nightime Olympics (who is running again today, in Race 5).  Merle looks to be the one that will be running best late in a field that features a lot of early speed.

RACE 7 - (F) The Golden Poppy $50k - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 Lady Valeur (Ire) (ML 8-5)

B's

None

C's

# 3 Blushing Bug (ML 30-1)
# 8 Dreamarcher (ML 3-1)
# 10 Peach Cove (NZ) (ML 5-1)
# 11 Street Surrender (ML 8-1)

Lady Valeur (Ire) was a stakes winner the last time that she shipped in here from downstate, albeit over the main synthetic track.  Lady Valeur appears to have a clear class advantage over the rest of this field.

Blushing Bug took a big step forward last time out, and could improve on that effort with the surface switch.  Dreamarcher and Peach Cove (NZ) are a pair that could improve with the cutback in distance.   Street Surrender enters this event with a three race winning streak, and may be able to work out a nice stalking trip, even with the far outside draw.

RACE 8 - MSW - Six Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 5 Regal Born (ML 3-1)
# 6 On Trust (ML 7-2)

B's

# 2 River House (ML 8-1)
# 7 Cut (ML 4-1)
# 9 J C's Nightcap (ML 10-1)

C's

None

Scratch # 1 Elegant Tanner (No Line), who is slated to run in Race 4 on Sunday.  Scratch also # 3 The Perfect Square (ML 20-1) and # 4 Skidoo (ML 20-1)

Regal Born should be the fastest early, especially with the scratch of Skidoo.  On Trust ran well in his debut last time out, once he figured out that there was a race going on and he was in it.

River House is a first time starter sired by Many Rivers, whose progeny tend to do well at first asking.  Cut, shipping in from downstate, had a nice work over this main track last Saturday.  J C's Nightcap took the Place against older last time out.

RACE 9 - OC 62.5k/N2X - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 5 Unusual Taste (ML 4-1)

B’s

# 4 Southern Freedom (ML 5-2)

C's

# 2 Anythingscookin (ML 7-2)
# 3 Unusually Green (ML 5-1)

Unusual Taste was victorious at this class level last time out.  Southern Freedom took the Show against classier competition (albeit on the main track) last time out.

Anythingscookin was victorious at this class level the last time that he competed over this turf course.  Unusually Green seems to fit well at this class level.

OK, that's the analysis.  While this is a jackpot wager, I won't be putting all my selections on one ticket.  While I still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of my life, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that my "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so I should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing my tickets in Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 4 with 5,7 with 3,4 with 6 with 5,6 with 5 $8.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 1,4,5 with 5,7 with 3,4,5 with 6 with 2,5,6,7,9 with 4,5 $36.00

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 2,3,6 with 5,7 with 3,4 with 6 with 5,6 with 5 $4.80
$0.20 P6: 4 with 3 with 3,4 with 6 with 5,6 with 5 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 4 with 5,7 with 3,4 with 3,8,10,11 with 5,6 with 5 $6.40
$0.20 P6: 4 with 5,7 with 3,4 with 6 with 5,6 with 2,3 $3.20

Total: $59.20

Post Time for Race 4 is 5:45 EDT / 2:45 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/7/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Results

Race 4 - # 1 My Discretion (Final Odds 2.80) - "C" Selection
Race 5 - # 3 Motutapo (1.50*) - "A" Selection
Race 6 - # 2 Mon Petite (1.60*) - "A" Selection
Race 7 - # 2 Fort Cady (5.90) - No Selection
Race 8 - # 3 Ted Oliver (19.40) - No Selection
Race 9 - # 1 It Girl (2.30) - "A" Selection

Getting "A" Selections home in half the legs may not be half bad, but it sure ain't good.  We completely whiffed on Fort Cady, whose prior proficiency at today's distance coupled with his working the "two sprints to a route" angle should have warranted him stronger consideration.  We also completely whiffed on Ted Oliver; but, truth be told, if I had to do it all over again, I'd probably still leave him off our tickets; as Ted Oliver's win seemed to owe a great deal more to # 2 Synnin (3.20) getting stuck in traffic late rather than to his own ability.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Golden Pick Six sequence of  1 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 1  were rewarded with a payout of $2,584.40 for their twenty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/7/17 Golden Gate Fields Golden Pick 6 - Preview

With the first leg of this year's Triple Crown in the books, we return our focus back to our usual base of operations on the West Coast.  So let's get to it, as we take another run at The Golden Pick Six at The Bay's Best Bet.

RACE 4 - Clm $25k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 6 Solomon Bay (Morning Line 7-2)

B’s

# 2 Midnight Destiny (ML 9-2)
# 3 Fly Lexis Fly (ML 5-2)
# 4 Pepper Crown (ML 4-1)

C's

# 1 My Discretion (ML 3-1)
# 5 Fair Advantage (ML 8-1)

Solomon Bay goes for a cheaper price than in his two prior starts where he took the Place; but you really can't call it a class drop, as he'll be facing some of the same today as he did in those two contests.  Midnight Destiny has been closing well in his recent one turn races.  The surface switch may allow Pepper Crown to finally get past Solomon Bay before the wire.

Fly Lexus Fly should probably be racing on a real dirt track somewhere; however, Fly Lexus Fly is capable at this level on the grass.  My Discretion will try to be the pace on the rail; but he may not be as quick as Solomon Bay, and could get caught in traffic in the stretch.  Fair Advantage is on the ticket because everyone else in this field is.

RACE 5 - (F) Clm $12.5k N2X - Eight and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 3 Motutapu (ML 9-5)

B’s

None

C's

# 1 Spanish Doll (ML 2-1)
# 4 Prophetinparadise (ML 6-1)

Montutapu has certainly shown an affinity for this main track, winning twice since shipping in from downstate.  Spanish Doll should be the one running best late.  There is no good reason why Prophetinparadise shouldn't lead this field from gate to wire.  However, you could have made that same statement about several of Prophetinparadise's more recent races, where she has run out of gas before the wire.

RACE 6 - (F) OC 62.5k/N2X - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 2 Mon Petite (ML 7-2)

B’s

# 1 Elegant Bel (ML 4-1)
# 7 Charming Starlet (ML 2-1)

C's

None

Mon Petite, Elegant Bel, and Charming Starlet all seem to be petty evenly matched, be the surface turf or synthetic; so this one in my opinion is probably going to come down to pace.  With # 4 Pyscho Sister (ML 5-1) in the field, Elegant Bel will have some competition on the front end early; but there may not be enough pace for Charming Starlet to close into; so I'm giving the edge to Mon Petite, who should get first run on the leaders.  But again, these three appear to be quite evenly matched, so it could just be a matter of which one is on their game today.

RACE 7 - Clm $3.2k - Eight Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 1 Amp and Adrenalin (ML 4-1)

B’s

# 7 The Sandman (ML 7-2)

C's

# 3 Lamaan (ML 3-1)

Scratch # 4 Mr. Cartagena (ML 5-2)

Amp and Adrenalin was victorious last time out at this approximate class level (higher claiming price in that contest, but with conditions); Trainer Bill Delia tends to do well when bringing his winners back.  The Sandman is making a huge class drop; but The Sandman really hasn't shown much since leaving the barn of Trainer Larry Jones back east.  Lamaan could be the one running best late.

RACE 8 - Alw 4000s - Five Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 2 Synnin (ML 3-1)
# 7 Kronwall (ML 5-2)

B’s

# 5 Olympic Jumble (ML 6-1)

C's

None

Note for future reference that, unlike many Starter Allowances in California, this contest has no lifetime win restrictions for entry.  So any runner that has starter for a claiming price of $4k or less, either this year or last, is eligible to run here.

Synnin was victorious at this class level last time out, crossing the wire over three lengths in front of Kronwall, who took the Show; however, the change of surface and the reduction in real estate could work in Kronwall's favor today.  Olympic Jumble found the Winner's Circle last time out after a seven month vacation; but he'll need to improve off that effort to catch the top two contenders.

RACE 9 - (F) Clm $6.25k N2L - Five and a Half Furlongs Synthetic

A’s

# 1 It Girl (ML 9-5)
# 9 C J Knows Best (ML 6-1)

B’s

# 3 Peppered Gold (ML 5-1)
# 4 Dancing Lindsay (ML 3-1)

C's

None

Scratch # 5 Princess Leia (ML 8-1)

It Girl took the Place at this class level last time out.  C J Knows Best drops in class after taking the Show against more expensive last time out.  Peppered Gold looks to be the quickest in this field.  Dancing Lindsay took the Show at this class level last time out.

OK, that's the analysis.  While this is a jackpot wager, we won't be putting all our selections on one ticket.  While we still hold out hope that this could be the luckiest day of our lives, budgetary constraints must be respected.  I think it's also safe to presume that our "A" Selections won't form the basis of a unique ticket, so we should be safe in pressing those up.  So with all that, playing our tickets in Crist fashion, we get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 6 with 3 with 2 with 1 with 2,7 with 1,9 $4.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 2,3,4,6 with 3 with 1,2,7 with 1,7 with 2,5,7 with 1,3,4,9 $57.60

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 1,5 with 3 with 2 with 1 with 2,7 with 1,9 $1.60

$0.20 P6: 6 with 1,4 with 2 with 1 with 2,7 with 1,9 $1.60

$0.20 P6: 6 with 3 with 2 with 3 with 2,7 with 1,9 $0.80

Total: $65.60

Post Time for Race 4 is 5:51 EDT / 2:51 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

5/6/17 Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Pick Four - Results

Race 9 - The American Turf - # 6 Arklow (Final Odds 15.00) - No Selection
Race 10 - The Churchill Downs - # 9 Limousine Liberal (13.20) - No Selection
Race 11 - The Turf Classic - # 2 Divisidero (3.50) - "B" Selection
Race 12 - The Kentucky Derby - # 5 Always Dreaming (4.70*) - "B" Selection

So after all the talk about this being a wide open Kentucky Derby (including from Your's Truly) the Post Time Favorite wins for the fifth year in a row.  Congrats to the connections of Always Dreaming; especially to former NYRA track announcer Tom Durkin, who is part of the Always Dreaming ownership group, and perhaps the greatest ambassador that the sport of horse racing has.  It's hard to be too upset when something this good happens to someone that nice; so as regards our play, we'll just shrug our shoulders and say,

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Kentucky Derby Pick Four sequence of  6 / 9 / 2 / 5  were rewarded with a payout of $3,441.40 for their fifty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo