By a NOSE

This time, the nose was in our favor!
The Diana Hdcp, broadcast on ESPN, featured the Grade 1 veteran Angara from Britain. Lady of Venice was the 6/5 fave even though she had only won a Grade 3 race last out!
I put Angara on top of the 3,4, and 6 and I got shut out of the safety exacta...NO MATTER:

8th Race, Next Post 5:49 Off: 5:12

1 1/8 Miles. (Turf) 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes Purse: $500,000

# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show 2 Angara (GB) Jara F 120 9.60 4.10 3.10 4 Sweet Talker Dominguez R A 120 4.80 3.40 3 Argentina (IRE) Prado E S 118 3.40 Times in 5ths: :234 :474 1:121 1:362 1:491 Times in 100ths: :23.95 :47.94 1:12.22 1:36.58 1:49.20

Winning Trainer: Mott William I - Owner: Sangster Family Stable

$2 Exacta (2-4) Paid $41.60

We've been hitting more exactas lately by looking for legit longshots to come in second.

The Beatings Continue

After filling the account past the requisite $4oo mark for the third time, we took aim at the Friday twilight Belmont and Hollywood cards.
I was unimpressed with the favorite in the second preferring the 1,2, and 4 to the 5 so I put those three over the 5...
the 5 WAS unimpressive and the 1,4,2 came in as follows!:

1	Lady Jove	13.80	8.10	5.30
4	Her Royal Nibs		10.20	4.90
2	Stellar Maiden			2.80

Wager Type	Winning Number	Pool	Paid
Double	1-1	229741	65.50
Exacta	1-4	271716	94.50
Quinella	1-4	24052	52.50
Trifecta	1-4-2	214011	356.50

So a nice exacta and triple was cleanly avoided.

Insult to injury occurred in the feature in which we bet the triple with various keys, one of which was the 2-8-9. The 8 drifted out a few lanes in the stretch so the jockey of the 9 checks his horse and does and Oscar-worthy acting job as if he were just run over.
The 8 was dq-ed!

2	Society Hostess (Gomez, Garrett K. )	120	L B	2	2	7-2 1/2	6-2 1/2	-	3-2	1-1/4	4.10
8 DQ	Gilded Gold (Castellano, Javier )	124	L	8	1	1-1/2	1-1/2	-	1-1/2	3-1 1/4	1.20*
9	Lemon Drop Gal (Desormeaux, Kent J. )	120	L B	9	4	2-1 1/2	2-1 1/2	-	2-1 1/2	2-1 1/4	6.10

Exacta

2-9

314703

67.00

Trifecta

2-9-8

239418

175.50

Things only got worse at Hollywood.
You have to stick with the COMPETENT trainers and (at H'wood) jockeys.

Memorial Day Weekend

Early action on Saturday...
lost the early Pick 3 by ignoring the $16 TVG pick...
live blogging...
trying to recoup on a cheap maiden race: the 4th at Belmont...
bet practically all combos...
1,5,7,8 with 1,3,5,7,8,9 because the 2-1 favorite, NY Moon only ran once and came 4th...
many unraced horses in this field that may surprise....
they're in the gate....
the favorite got killed as predicted BUT the 2 led and STAYED up for second clearly....
came in 1,2,7,9....could have hit for a price!

1 Run Red Run Luzzi M J 118 10.20 6.50 5.20 2 Good Going Darl Jara F 118 20.60 13.80 7 Ghostly Music Arroyo N Jr 118 8.30 Times in 5ths: :223 :453 :572 1:094 Times in 100ths: :22.65 :45.68 :57.52 1:09.87

Scratched: Gottahaveacat

Also ran: Back Door Deal, Two G's, New York Moon, Gold Pageantry and Clearly Diplomatic

Winning Trainer: Bush Thomas M - Owner: Anstu Stables, Inc.

$2 Exacta (1-2) Paid $179.50

$2 Quinella (1-2) Paid $107.00

$2 Trifecta (1-2-7) Paid $1,199.00

$2 Pick 3 (3-6-1) 3 Correct Paid $258.50 Pick 3 Pool $89,897

$2 Superfecta (1-2-7-9) Paid $4,311.00

The next race, bet the 5,6,7,8,9 box; a turf race with the favorite, who had only won a maiden claimer...but the favorite, the 9 won again for a cheap exacta so we had a net loss of $3:

# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show 9 Sweetiewheatie Luzzi M J 123 4.40 2.70 2.20 8 Curlew Road Velasquez C 118 6.80 3.90 5 Western Revenge Gomez G K 118 2.60 Times in 5ths: :253 :502 1:143 1:382 1:50 Times in 100ths: :25.65 :50.50 1:14.63 1:38.44 1:50.02

Scratched: A Wild Minute, Interline and Shoot the Wad

Claimed: Sweetiewheatie by Gyarmati Leah (Castle Village Farm ),

Also ran: Killer Speed, Morning's Image, Ross to Dublin, Fierce Storm and Gin Societe

Winning Trainer: Lewis Lisa L - Owner: Karches Susan

$2 Exacta (9-8) Paid $35.40

In the sixth, the 7, Dreaming of Victory had just won by 10 and had the best Beyer in the field; played 7 on top of 8,6,4 and reverse:

4 Raceland Arroyo N Jr 116 16.40 7.70 4.60 1 He's a Lumberjack Velasquez C 116 5.60 4.10 6 Always Albert Castellano J J 118 4.10 Times in 5ths: :231 :461 1:10 1:34 Times in 100ths: :23.23 :46.31 1:10.02 1:34.19

Also ran: Democrat, Dreamin of Victory, Start At Five, My Big Treasure and Cooking the Books

Winning Trainer: Violette Richard A Jr - Owner: Martin Michael T.

$2 Exacta (4-1) Paid $94.00

the 7 was NOT ready to run and was out of it from the start....
the 1 was a Calder shipper who didn't look that great.

The 7th had the lock favorite in combos with the5,6 and 8 and a reverse 6-1...I through out the 9 at the last minute:

1 My Dynomite Prado E S 118 3.10 2.20 2.10 6 DH-Trading Pro Gomez G K 116 2.70 3.70 9 DH-Air Race Smith M E 122 3.10 4.40 Times in 5ths: :222 :443 1:09 1:222 Times in 100ths: :22.56 :44.74 1:09.19 1:22.46

Scratched: Frank's Fuse and Impeachthepro

Also ran: Fire One Up, Just in Fun, Step It Up, Senor Freddie and The Trip Continues

Winning Trainer: Dutrow Richard E Jr - Owner: Winged Foot Stables, Gooch, M., Dubb, M., Goldfarb, S., J., Joscelyn, R.

$2 Exacta (1-6) Paid $6.20

$2 Exacta (1-9) Paid $8.10

The dead heat kiled the exacta price which I had twice.

In the feature, the Sheepshead Bay Hcp, we liked Honey Ryder, who won, but the second and third choices we flat...had $4 exactas on 1-5,1-6,5-6 and $2 on 5-1:

1 Honey Ryder Gomez G K 121 4.80 3.50 2.50 4 Noble Stella (GER) Smith M E 116 9.80 4.50 6 Angara (GB) Prado E S 119 3.70 Times in 5ths: :243 :50 1:142 1:382 2:124 Times in 100ths: :24.69 :50.12 1:14.58 1:38.42 2:12.98

Scratched: Half Heaven

Also ran: Asi Siempre, Serendipitous, Latice (IRE) and Tisket a Tasket

Winning Trainer: Pletcher Todd A - Owner: Glencrest Farm LLC

$2 Exacta (1-4) Paid $40.40

didn't even bet the 9th because the favorites figured by far...they did win but I liked the winner who ended up paying $8.
Net loss on the day: $54

Catching up

The Kentucky Derby:
After much debate and consideration of most of the field of 20 horses, we went with a 7 HORSE EXACTA BOX! Our main picks were Brother Derek, Barbaro, Jazil, Steppenwolfer, Bob and John, Sweetnorthernsaint and Sharp Humor.
We didn't expect Bluegrass Cat to ruin the day. Barbaro was amazing though and the highest price that he would ever pay.

The 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby
Horse	Jockey	Wt.	PP	1/4	1/2	3/4	1M	Str.	Fin.	To $2
Barbaro	Prado	126	8	5-½	4-½	4-½	1-3	1-4	1-6½	6.10
Bluegrass Cat	Dominguez	126	13	8-½	5-½	6-½	5-5	2-½	2-2	30.00
Steppenwolfer	Albarado	126	2	18-½	13-hd	11-½	7-hd	5-1	3-1	16.30
Jazil	Jara	126	1	20	20	19-½	17-2	6-1	4-½	24.20
Brother Derek	Solis	126	18	9-1½	9-½	14-½	10-hd	7-½	4-½	7.70
Showing Up	CVelasquez	126	6	4-hd	3-hd	3-hd	4-½	3-1½	6-3	26.20
Sweetnorthernsaint	Desormeaux	126	11	12-1	11-1	5-½	3-hd	4-hd	7-1	5.50
Deputy Glitters	Lezcano	126	14	13-1	15-½	16-½	9-1	10-1	8-1¼	60.60
Point Determined	Bejarano	126	5	11-½	10-hd	7-1	6-½	8-½	9-hd	9.40
Seaside Retreat	Husbands	126	15	7-hd	7-1½	10-½	15-hd	9-hd	10-4½	52.50
Storm Treasure	Flores	126	19	19-2½	18-2	13-hd	12-hd	11-½	11-1¾	51.90
Lawyer Ron	McKee	126	17	6-½	8-½	9-hd	8-½	12-1½	12-no	10.20
Cause to Believe	RBaze	126	16	15-½	19-2	20	18-4	17-2	13-3	25.90
Flashy Bull	Smith	126	20	16-1	17-hd	17-1	14-½	15-1	14-2½	43.00
Private Vow	Bridgmohan	126	12	17-½	16-½	12-½	11-½	14-1½	15-2¾	40.50
Sinister Minister	Espinoza	126	4	2-1½	2-2	2-½	2-hd	13-1½	16-1½	9.70
Bob and John	Gomez	126	7	14-½	12-1	8-hd	16-½	16-½	17-nk	12.90
A.P. Warrior	Nakatani	126	10	10-½	14-1	18-½	19-5	19-5	18-1½	14.10
Sharp Humor	Guidry	126	9	3-1½	6-hd	15-1½	20	20	19-7½	30.10
Keyed Entry	Valenzuela	126	3	1-hd	1-2	1-1½	13-hd	18-2½	20	28.80

Time: 22.630, 46.070, 1:10.880, 1:37.020, 2:01.360.

Scratched: None.

Pgm	Horse	Win	Place	Show
8 (8)	Barbaro	14.20	8.00	6.00
13 (13)	Bluegrass Cat		28.40	15.40
2 (2)	Steppenwolfer			7.80

$2 Exacta (8-13) Paid $587.00
$2 Trifecta (8-13-2) Paid $11,418.40
$2 Superfecta (8-13-2-18) Paid $59,839.00

That day took the account down to an all-time low of $50. We managed to blow that the following weekend at Belmont and Monmouth (an impossible track). Net balance: $1.

Preakness Day: Barbaro was the horse to beat so we bet some combos with him and some without him. Who knew that he would break through the gate before the start and then break his ankle 200 yards into the race! He was very ornery before the race too.

The combos without Barbaro were: Brother Derek, Like Now, Bernardini, Sweetnorthernsaint i.e the 5,1,8,7...

here's what happened:

Horse	Wt.	PP	ST	1/4	1/2	3/4	Str.	Fin.	Jockey	Odds
Bernardini	126	8	5	3-1	4-2	4-4	1-3 ½	1-5 ¼	Castellano	12.90
Sweetnorthernsaint	126	7	2	2-1 ½	3-½	2-1½	2-6	2-6	Desormeaux	8.40
Hemingway's Key	126	3	7	7-1½	7-½	7-½	4-4	3-4	Rose	29.40
Brother Derek	126	5	9	5-4	2-hd	3-2	3-1½	4-7	Solis	3.20
Greely's Legacy	126	4	3	8	8	6-1	6-1	5-nk	Migliore	34.90
Platinum Couple	126	2	4	6-3	6-2½	8	8	6-3½	Espinoza	33.20
Like Now	126	1	1	1-½	1-1	1-½	5-2	7-2¼	Gomez	17.40
Diabolical	126	9	6	4-1½	5-5	5-4	7-1	8	Dominguez	26.00
Barbaro	126	6	8	9	9	9	9	9	Prado	0.50

Time: 23.210 46.690 1:10.240 1:35.730 1:54.650

Off 6:19 p.m. EDT. Start: Good, lug in, steady urging. Track: Fast.

Pgm	Horse	Win	Place	Show
8 (8)	Bernardini	27.80	9.40	5.80
7 (7)	Sweetnorthernsaint		7.80	5.00
3 (3)	Hemingway's Key			8.00

Pick 4 (4-1-1/4-8) 4 Correct Paid $1,620.80.
Pick 3 (1-1/4-8) 3 Correct Paid $446.20.
Exacta (8-7) paid $171.60.
Superfecta (8-7-3-5) paid $11,151.20.
Trifecta (8-7-3) paid $3,912.80.
Daily Double (1-8) paid $66.20.
Daily Double (SPECIAL/PREAKNESS 4-8) paid $121.00.
Winner: B C, 3, by A.P. Indy-Cara Rafaela
Trainer: Thomas Albertrani.


So, the exacta box strategy that was played in the Derby would have worked in the Preakness but only due to the tragic loss of Barbaro.

HOWEVER, with two minutes left to post, CL calls from CT possessed with confidence about the longshot Bernardini. He tells me to put the REST OF THE ACCOUNT, which turned out to be a meager $9, on Bernardini!
After the race, with ONLY $1 left in either account, we were back in business! CL had him 4 and 1/2 times. If there were more money in the account, perhaps it would be in the quads right now!.

Day of Slop

We started the rainy day at Philadelphia Park. The rain was coming down on Long Island but that was a sprinkle compared to the deluge in Philly. Typical of everything in Pennsylvania, the track was a disaster and looked more like a moat than a racetrack. One forlorn man stood on the infield with a wicker rake in his hands: he was the grounds crew at Pha. Pk.
Nevertheless, we searched for some mud pedigrees and, with the help of the DRF "wet" ratings, found ourselves a couple of winners there. The only trouble is that I bet on one of the winners as the window for betting had already closed: the horses were rounding the quarter pole as I hung up the phone on the bet. Lesson #1- bet BEFORE the race, not during (or after) it!

We moved on to the BIG A- a track where we actually know what we are talking about! Any horse could have won the first race. The horses' forms were so erratic and some of the horses came out with cobwebs because they hadn't raced in ages. I finally whittled things down to the 1,2 and 5, not in any particular order. (Lesson #2 in here:) I put them in doubles but not in exactas or triples (WHO EVER HEARD OF A FIRST RACE TRIPLE???- okay it IS 2006 now!). A $700 triple later and a $90 exacta later , 2-5-1, and we were off to a sin of omission start. BUT, we did have the two with THREE horses in the second! We even played a hedge in the second.
Story number 8,230,403: all three horses were up the track AND the hedge lost! Atrocious.

1st race - Aqueduct - April 22, 2006
Off at: 1:01 Race Type: Claiming
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Sex Restriction: Fillies and Mares
Value of Race: $34,000
Distance: Six Furlongs
Surface Type: Dirt Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:11.20
Pgm	Horse	Jockey	Win	Place	Show
2	Miss Park Place	Pablo Morales	20.00	8.20	5.20
5	Life Savior	Edgar S. Prado		4.60	4.10
1	Nevaeh	Norberto Arroyo, Jr.			5.00
Also ran: 8 - Main Stream , 7 - What's Your Point , 4 - Punchin' Gal , 3 - Homegrown Queen
Scratched horses: Show Ready
Wager Type		Winning Numbers		Payoff
$2 Exacta		2-5		88.50
$2 Trifecta		2-5-1		725.00
Winning Breeder: Barbara Hunter
Winning Owner: Winning Move Stable
Winning Trainer: Gary C. Contessa

The ray of light that shined through the rain came when CL nailed a Keenleland (bright, sunny Keeneland) triple for a cool $300- one of several keys played to ensure victory.

Little did we know that keys would be our downfall as we lost two box triples later that day! Lesson 3: We're going to have to play both in the future!

later....The Meadowlands or...The House that puts in a new deck with each hand dealt!

The Syndicate

There are a million horseplayer stories. Some are exhilirating, some are frustrating, some have a valuable lesson or moral. This blog will keep a record of these stories as experienced by "the syndicate: AJC, CL and JC.
We will use this record to improve our record/performance as we take our rightful place as the greatest horseplaying team in history.