1/30/22 Sam Houston Race Park Late Pick Four - Results

Race 8 - The John B Connally Turf Cup - DEAD HEAT - # 6 Fantasioso (Arg) (Final Odds 9.40) - "C" Selection / # 9 Another Mystery (23.80) - "B" Selection

Race 9 - The Stonerside Sprint - # 2 Greeley and Ben (3.50) - "A" Selection

Race 10 - The Jersey Lily - # 2 Breeze Rider (0.80*) - "A" Selection

Race 11 - # 7 Public Information (0.70*) - "A" Selection

A few lessons learned in Sunday's play.  I had commented in the preview that, were I making a Pick Six play, that I would probably make Greeley and Ben a big ticket single.  Had I singled Greeley and Ben in my Pick Four play, rather than going three deep in that leg, I certainly would have saved myself a significant sum of money.

Sunday's play also provided another lesson in the benefits of playing backup tickets.  Yes, it would have been much nicer had Another Mystery been just that much quicker and won the Grade 3 John B Connally Turf Cup outright.  But on the other hand, it would have really sucked had Another Mystery been just that much slower, and I didn't have the backup tickets to give me a safety net.  Anyway, all things considered, I have absolutely no complaints, as I will take today's results every day of the week and twice on Sunday (see what I did there?).

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

# 8 Paynter Party (2.70) - $313.60 Finish: 2nd

# 11 Half Ours to Keep (4.60) - $336.70 Finish: 3rd

But that's what might have been.  What actually came to be was a correct Late Pick Four sequence of  6,9 / 2 / 2 / 7  which paid $94.70 for a fifty cent wager.  Since I had it twice (thanks to the Dead Heat in the first leg) I pocket $189.40.  That makes for a profit of $120.40 on my initial $69 investment, or approximate odds of 1.74-1.

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

1/30/22 Sam Houston Race Park Late Pick Four - Preview

“If you really want to learn the attitude of how to handle risk, losing, and failure, go to San Antonio and visit the Alamo.  The Alamo is a great story of brave people who chose to fight, knowing there was no hope of success against overwhelming odds.” - Robert Kiyosaki

Sunday is Houston Racing Festival Day, the premier day of the Sam Houston Race Park live racing season.  To mark the occasion the good people in Southeast Texas have put together a tremendous card, chock full of stakes and full fields.  So let's just get to it, as I take a run at The Late Pick Four at Sam Houston Race Park.

RACE 8 - The John B Connally Turf Cup (Grade 3) - Twelve Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 3 Tide of the Sea (Morning Line 10-1)

B's

# 1 Conviction Trade (ML 20-1)

# 4 Strong Tide (ML 12-1)

# 8 Logical Myth (ML 6-1)

# 9 Another Mystery (ML 8-1)

# 11 Ajourneytofreedom (ML 7-2)

C's

# 2 Hierarchy (ML 5-1)
# 5 Decision Maker (ML 15-1)

# 6 Fantasioso (Arg) (ML 9-2)

# 7 Maithael (ML 12-1)

# 10 Dyn O Mite (ML 20-1)
# 12 Parrot Head (ML 30-1)

Scratch the Also Eligibles, # 13 Shady McGee (Ire) and # 14 Celerity (ML 50-1)

Tide of the Sea, trained by Mike Maker, won the $100k Japan Turf Cup at Laurel Park last Fall at today's distance.  Expect Tide of the Sea to be up near the pace early, perhaps right behind Conviction Trade, who took the Show in the 2021 running of this event.

Strong Tide did well in winning his tune-up race on the main track at Oaklawn Park.  Logical Myth ditches the hood for Trainer Joe Sharp, whose runners tend to improve when he makes that move.  Logical Myth also looks like a good candidate to improve with the increase in distance.

Another Mystery fits well at this class level.  Ajourneytofreedom missed winning this event last year by just a neck to Spooky Channel.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 9 - The Stonerside Sprint $75k - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 Greeley and Ben (ML 3-1)

B's

# 1 County Final (ML 9-2)

# 5 Kneedeepinsnow (ML 4-1)

C's

# 3 Direct Dial (ML 8-1)
# 4 Red N Wild (ML 20-1)

# 6 Top Funner (ML 15-1)

# 10 Mr Money Bags (ML 12-1)

# 11 Bybee (ML 30-1)

# 12 Give It Everything (ML 10-1)

Scratch # 7 Isolate (ML 8-1); # 8 Mojo Man (ML 12-1); and # 9 Verb (ML 20-1)

Were I playing the Jackpot Pick Six rather than The Late Pick Four, I would probably make Greeley and Ben a big ticket single.  However, the fact that Greeley and Ben has never run over this main track is enough reason for me to spread a bit in this leg.

County Final, trained by Steve Asmussen, has good early speed, and County Final could improve with the return to a Fast track.  Kneedeepinsnow will be very tough to beat if he repeats his last out performance.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 10 - (F) The Jersey Lily $75k - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 2 Breeze Rider (ML 7-2)

B's

# 7 Catch a Bid (ML 3-1)

C's

# 1 Maid of Honor (ML 8-1)
# 3 Lavender (Ire) (ML 9-2)
# 4 She'sskysthelimit (ML 15-1)
# 5 Arm Candy (ML 6-1)

# 6 Brandons Babe (ML 20-1)

# 8 Quinn Ella (ML 20-1)
# 9 Shirley's Temple (ML 50-1)

# 10 Lady Gwen (ML 30-1)

# 11 Barista (ML 12-1)

# 13 Valentines Day (ML 30-1)

Scratch # 12 Empress Eleanor (ML 15-1) and # 14 Dr Frances (ML 50-1)

As you can see above, I'm not anticipating any surprises in this leg.  Breeze Rider wanted nothing to do with the sloppy main track at Oaklawn Park last time out, and should return to form with this reunion with the turf.  Catch a Bid went too fast too soon last time out.  Catch a Bid could get the job done today with a nice pressing trip.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 11 - ALW N1X - Eight and a Half Furlongs Turf

A's

# 7 Public Information (ML 9-5)

B's

# 8 Paynter Party (ML 9-2)

# 11 Half Ours to Keep (ML 7-2)

C's

# 1 Hornswoggle (ML 30-1)

# 3 Stans Hookin Bull (ML 15-1)

# 4 Old Sot (ML 8-1)
# 5 Sweet Medicine (ML 15-1)

# 6 Lethal Move (ML 20-1)

# 12 Champs Success (ML 15-1)

Scratch # 2 Horn of Plenty (ML 20-1); # 9 Charlies Ticket (ML 50-1); and # 10 Jackman (ML 10-1)

Public Information looks to be the one that will be running best late.  Paynter Party ran well in her first try over this turf course last time, winning by open lengths.  Half Ours to Keep is going first off the claim for Trainer Steve Asmussen, who tends to do well with such.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

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

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 3 with 2 with 2 with 7 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 1,3,4,8,9,11 with 1,2,5 with 2,7 with 7,8,11 $54.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 2,5,6,7,10,12 with 2 with 2 with 7 $3.00

$0.50 P4: 3 with 3,4,6,10,11,12 with 2 with 7 $3.00

$0.50 P4: 3 with 2 with 1,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,13 with 7 $5.00

$0.50 P4: 3 with 2 with 2 with 1,3,4,5,6,12 $3.00

Total: $69.00

Post Time for Race 8 is 6:23 EST / 3:23 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

1/15/22 Santa Anita Rainbow Pick Six - Results

Race 5 - # 3 Make Mine Wine (Final Odds 7.30) - "B" Selection

Race 6 - The Unusual Heat Turf Classic - # 3 Aligato (3.20) - "C" Selection

Race 7 - # 8 Crash Corrigan (3.00) - "B" Selection

Race 8 - The Sunshine Millions F&M Turf Sprint - # 12 Legs Galore (2.60) - "B" Selection

Race 9 - The California Cup Sprint - # 3 Brickyard Ride (1.70*) - "A" Selection

Race 10 - The California Cup Oaks - # 11 Rose Dawson (4.70) - "B" Selection

Long story short, I had two singles on my main ticket: Brickyard Ride in the California Cup Sprint, and # 8 Indian Peak (2.40) in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic.  Only one of those two were victorious, which is one too few; therefore making Saturday a day for me to contribute instead of collect.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Rainbow Pick Six sequence of  3 / 3 / 8 / 12 / 3 / 11  were rewarded with a payout of $2,633.24 for their twenty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

1/15/22 Santa Anita Rainbow Pick Six - Preview

“Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Saturday is California Cup Day at Santa Anita, and in addition to a card featuring five stakes, the good folks running the show in Arcadia have also decided to have a mandatory payout of the Pick Six pool.  So with that as introduction let's just get to it, as I take a run at The Rainbow Pick Six at The Great Race Place.

RACE 5 - [S] Md $50k - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 2 Big Gun (Morning Line 4-1)

B's

# 3 Make Mine Wine (ML 7-2)

# 5 Smiling Goodbye (ML 5-2)

C's

# 1 Big Event (ML 10-1)

# 4 Stay Lit (ML 6-1)

# 6 Real Pouch (ML 30-1)

# 7 Don Daniel (ML 12-1)

# 8 Arthur Spooner (ML 3-1)

In my opinion, the question in this leg is what to do with Arthur Spooner.  Arthur Spooner took the Show twice at this class level back in the Fall of 2021.  However, in his two most recent races Arthur Spooner was taken off the main track and ran (so to speak) on the turf; each time finishing well back of the winner.  Note also that you have to go back to Sept 12 to find a main track workout for Arthur Spooner.

So while it's easy to see that moving Arthur Spooner to the turf didn't produce positive results, it's not so easy to see why Arthur Spooner was moved to the turf in the first place.  Judging by the Final Odds in those two turf contests, even the public knew that Arthur Spooner on the grass wasn't going to work out.

So, while I may be overthinking this, I'm going to presume that Arthur Spooner was moved to the grass because his connections didn't like what they saw of him on dirt.  And while a return to the dirt form that he showed in the Fall of 2021, coupled with the normal growth that you would expect from a horse going from freshman to sophomore, would certainly put Arthur Spooner in the winner's circle Saturday, I'm going to play against Arthur Spooner getting his picture taken after this race is over.

So with that, I'll be using the top three (in my opinion) of the debut runners in this field; putting Big Gun (who is a full brother to Big Returns, winner of the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar back in 2019) on top; with all others in the field being used as backup "C" Selections.

RACE 6 - [S] The Unusual Heat Turf Classic $200k - Nine Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 8 Indian Peak (ML 3-1)

B's

None

C's

# 1 Whooping Jay (ML 6-1)

# 3 Aligato (ML 7-2)

# 4 Luvluv (ML 12-1)

# 5 Camino Del Paraiso (ML 7-2)

# 6 Big Fish (ML 8-1)

# 7 Ferrariano (ML 12-1)

Scratch # 2 Margot's Boy (ML 4-1)

Going solo in this leg with Indian Peak, who took the Show in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit the last time that he competed on the turf.  The only concern I have with Indian Peak is if he'll have enough pace to run down in the stretch; as I don't see a whole lot of early speed in this event.  Still, unless the early fractions show real dawdling, I think Indian Peak's class will prevail.  So it's Indian Peak all by himself on the big ticket, with all others being relegated to backup "C" Selections.

RACE 7 - [S] OC 20k/N1X - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 4 Gates of Heaven (ML 3-1)

B’s

# 1 Admirably (ML 4-1)

# 8 Crash Corrigan (ML 7-2)

C's

# 2 Scary Fast Smile (ML 7-2)

# 3 Rookie Mistake (ML 12-1)

# 5 Suzie Qzz Brother (ML 6-1)

# 6 Brace for Impact (ML 6-1)

# 7 Alpine Thunder (ML 20-1)

For those who note such things, the two runners in this field that are available for purchase at the $20k claiming price are Scary Fast Smile and Rookie Mistake.

Gates of Heaven, victorious against open (non-state bred restricted) company last time out, looks well meant here.  Admirably won at this class level last time out, albeit for a different barn.  Crash Corrigan took the Place at this class level last time out, while disappointing as the Post Time Favorite.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 8 - (F) [S] The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint $150k - Six and a Half Furlongs Downhill Turf

A’s

# 9 Warren's Showtime (ML 5-2)

B's

# 12 Leggs Galore (ML 3-1)

C's

# 1 Alice Marble (ML 8-1)
# 2 California Kook (ML 8-1)

# 3 Super Game (ML 10-1)
# 4 Nardini (ML 12-1)
# 5 Smiling Shirlee (ML 20-1)
# 6 Rebalation (ML 15-1)

# 8 Governor Goteven (ML 20-1)

# 10 Sedamar (ML 6-1)

# 11 Eddie's New Dream (ML 15-1)

# 13 She's Devoted (ML 10-1)

Scratch # 7 Nice Ice (ML 30-1)

As you can see by my selections, I'm anticipating that this leg will be very formful.  Warren's Showtime, Show finisher in the Grade 3 Bayakoa (on the dirt) last time out, has finished in the Trifecta each of the dozen times that she has competed on the Santa Anita turf, taking the top spot in half of those contests.

Leggs Galore is the defending champ for this event, and Leggs Galore can be expected to be prominent early.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 9 - [S] The California Cup Sprint $150k - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 3 Brickyard Ride (ML 9-5)

B's

None

C's

# 1 Rifey (ML 15-1)
# 2 Peaceful Transfer (ML 12-1)

# 4 Positivity (ML 3-1)

# 5 Loud Mouth (ML 10-1)
# 6 Letsgetlucky (ML 12-1)

# 7 Principe Carlo (ML 6-1)

# 8 Colt Fiction (ML 3-1)

And here we have my second big ticket single in the sequence.  For those who whish to spread, feel free to include any or all of Principe Carlo, Positivity, and Colt Fiction, who filled out the Trifecta in the $100k Cary Grant at Del Mar back in November.  However, it's my opinion that Brickyard Ride will be just a bit too quick for that bunch, and will lead this field from gate to wire.  So it's Brickyard Ride solo on my main ticket, with all others being used as backup "C" Selections.

RACE 10 - (F) [S] The California Cup Oaks $200k - Eight Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 8 Dendera (ML 12-1)

B's

# 1 Big Novel (ML 4-1)

# 2 Ellamira (ML 20-1)

# 3 Vivacious Vanessa (ML 4-1)

# 4 Munny Penny (ML 30-1)
# 5 Madiha (ML 20-1)

# 6 Eleuthera (ML 15-1)

# 7 Professors' Pride (ML 5-2)

# 9 Precious Insight (ML 20-1)
# 10 La Deuxieme Etoile (ML 20-1)

# 11 Rose Dawson (ML 7-2)
# 12 Vaping Angel (ML 15-1)

C's

None

I'm using two singles in this sequence.  Therefore, if by the grace of the Almighty my main ticket should still be alive going into the nightcap, I have absolutely no intention of sweating out this leg.  This race has five fillies who have never competed on the grass before.  In addition, there are three runners in this field who have yet to visit the winner's circle.  This event just screams chaos.  So for me it's everybody into the pool, and let's just hope that I catch a price.

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

All A Entries

$1.00 P6: 2 with 8 with 4 with 9 with 3 with 8 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.20 P6: 2,3,5 with 8 with 1,4,8 with 9,12 with 3 with ALL $43.20

A's with One C

$0.20 P6: 1,4,6,7,8 with 8 with 4 with 9 with 3 with 8 $1.00

$0.20 P6: 2 with 1,3,4,5,6,7 with 4 with 9 with 3 with 8 $1.20

$0.20 P6: 2 with 8 with 2,3,5,6,7 with 9 with 3 with 8 $1.00

$0.20 P6: 2 with 8 with 4 with 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,11,13 with 3 with 8 $2.00

$0.20 P6: 2 with 8 with 4 with 9 with 1,2,4,5,6,7,8 with 8 $1.40

Total: $50.80

Post Time for Race 5 is 5:05 EST / 2:05 PST.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo