Friday, August 2

Late Pick 4:

6th: This is a wide open turf sprint stake where I can make a case for everyone except #3 Lion Down by Me. I'll use #6 Rosa Salvaje and #8 Silverette as B's and the other five as A's. I'm interested in 20-1 M/L #7 Queen Chatanika, who broke too poorly to win her last start and has three previous BTL turf sprints good enough to win this.

7th: #4 Italian Rules is the horse to beat on paper, but this isn't the kind of dropdown I can trust. Guillot and Southern Equine claimed him from John Sadler on 5/27 for $62,500, have been paying the bills on him for 2+ months, now put him in a $25,000 claimer with a $50,000 purse. That means, best case scenario, they'll get $55,000 back on their $65,000+ investment. Add to that the fact he's never run in NY, he has to be used, but he's a good favorite to play against. #1 Take Down Two is another awesome old gelding who always shows up with his race and gets a positive barn switch to Jason Servis for this. Unlike Italian Rules, he's right back in for the same price they claimed him for. #6 P J's Magical Wink is worth using in case Jacobson can get him back to his good form; he also probably won't face a ton of pace pressure today. I'll also throw in #2 Island Sunset going turf-to-dirt for Galluscio, who can be stalking a modest pace and will factor if he can return to that 5/4 effort.

8th: Not going against #1A Major Marvel in here. Cut from the cloth of Saginaw, this remarkably consistent 7YO gelding is looking for his 19th win in 49 starts and he's already had multiple good races in NY, so this is a Ramsey/Maker horse whose form you don't have to worry about transferring. Add to that the absence of any other speed in here and he's just going to be very tough to beat. I'll use the improving #5 Presumptive as a C, as his last race stacks up pretty well with what the favorite usually runs, but the lack of pace should make it difficult for him to reel in Major Marvel. I know #2 Screenplay had serious trouble in the stretch last time, but he wasn't going to do any better than 2nd behind Presumptive if he had gotten clear and he's a cut below the top two.

9th: #4 Force Multiplier easily the one to beat dropping down for Serpe and if he runs anything close to his race two-back, he'll beat this weak field in a gallop. On the other hand, he is being given away after a subpar effort, so it's worth having at least some coverage elsewhere while pressing Force Multiplier. #3 Dapper Draper was a dull 6th on the dirt here 11 days ago, but he's a half to promising turf runner Zip Up and his figures aren't far off what it would take to win this. #10 Saguaro Blossom was OK in his 7/5 try, making an early move and just tiring late against a similar group. He had no business in that NY-bred MSW last out and now Castellano picks up the mount, perhaps can beat the favorite with a more well-timed move. I'll also give #2 Make a Dream a shot getting to do what he's bred for, turf sprinting. His form is ugly, but his only turf race came off a 365-day layoff and he broke poorly and made an early move, then last out on dirt, he dueled through a fast 1/4 with a much-the-best Jacobson winner. Rudy reaches out to his go-to rider in Velasquez and perhaps he can make the lead in a race with a murky pace scenario.

$.50 1,2,4,5,6,7,8/1,2,4,6/1/2,3,4,10 $56
$.50 1,2,4,5,7/1,4,6/1,5/4 $15
$1 1,2,4,5,7/1,4,6/1/4 $15
Race 6 $14 WIN 7

$.50 Pick 4 Pays $160.00 OMG A WINNER LOL

Good job Oey.. They all count in the right direction..

Nice job, Joey! Cashing 'em beats trashing 'em any day!

Thx guys, it was a small victory but when you're slumping like I am, any winner at all feels good.

Simply outstanding work today Nick. I would love to hear your thoughts on tomorrow's card if you wanna PM about it.

Thanks, Joey! I felt the way you do yesterday, been a very up and down meet.

I probably won't be able to get a look at tomorrow's card until the morning, but would be happy to PM you and share thoughts. Keep up the great work and analysis!

Saturday, August 3

Don't have time for a writeup today unfortunately, but here's my Early Pick 4 ticket:

$.50 1,3,5/1,2,5,7/2,7,8,10/1,4,6,7 $96
Race 5 $4 WIN 4

Sunday, August 4

Was going to attack the early Pick 4, but scratches have turned it into a much less interesting sequence and one where it's probably best to just play a chalky ticket and punch it several times. That's no fun, so let's dive into the late Pick 4 instead.

8th: The running line for #7 Indian Splendor's last race doesn't do justice how impressive she was. She broke like a rocket and was well clear early, but then began to blow the turn and lost the lead, continued to run wide throughout and still absolutely dominated her field. That was obviously a much weaker group, but a similar effort would make her tough in here, especially since she also should be able to dictate the pace and it's worth noting that Castellano gets off several other contenders to ride her for Servis. #3 Strategic Missile is a little win shy, but she always shows up with her race and is probably in the best form of her career right now. It's fair to question whether she's a little better going longer, but she was 3rd twice at 25-1 at this distance last summer, once behind Madame Giry and once behind Sounds of the City. #6 Normandy chased an extremely fast opening 1/4 last out from which the pacesetter ended up last, beaten 22 lengths and was only beaten 2 3/4 probably going a little further than she wants. She's dangerous on the cutback, but Rosario will have to get her to lay off the top choice early.

9th: Small but interesting version of the Vandy and the bottom line is if #3 Delaunay shows up with his good race, he's going to win. His three races prior to his last all beat this field and he was significantly compromised at the start when losing to Gentlemen's Bet in Iowa. But Amoss has sounded less than thrilled with the way he's looked getting over the track in the AM and as others have noted, this barn has had multiple no-shows in big stakes already this meet, most notably Mylute in the Jim Dandy. He's the A and much the horse to beat, but I'm also including #2 Gentlemen's Bet and #4 Justin Phillip, the latter of whom should be a square price coming off of a poor effort over the quirky CRC surface and a pace-compromised loss in the True North.

10th: #8 Tahoe Lake is going to be a pretty short price in here and there's little doubt that his form he showed towards the end of 2012 would win this. But his return race was nothing to write home about and he's 2-for-20 with 11 minor placings with one of those wins coming via DQ. #1 Bell by the Ridge wasn't good last out either, but ran big when 2nd two back, beating the favorite in the process and is a must-use. #6 Majestic Raffy was unable to catch Plainview 8 days ago, but ran a respectable race and note that his 17-1 victory at Saratoga last summer came on 6 days' rest. I also think #5 Share Out is worth a look at a big price, as he ran a very good 3rd at 38-1 at this level and distance last summer and goes out 3rd off the layoff.

11th: I've had enough of #1 Face the Race, who's had two chances now to get back to his 3/22 GP effort and has been a no-excuse loser as the favorite both times. I prefer #5 Eleven Bravo, a 3YO who moved forward in his 2nd start and could do so again, #7 Campogiovanni, whose race two back would win this and #9 Polaris Dream, who's coming off a career top effort and gets a positive rider switch for connections who don't get bet. I'll throw in turf-meant longshots #3 Elroi and #8 Key Decision as well.

$.50 3,6,7/2,3,4/1,5,6,8/3,5,7,8,9 $90
$1 7/3/1,6,8/5,7,9 $9
Race 10 $1 DBL 6/9

Monday, August 5

Early Pick 4:

2nd: #6 Countercyclical has obviously had some issues to delay his debut until midway through his 3YO season for Klaravich, but he's been working well and is expected to fire his best shot first time out. #7 Boogie Too faces the weakest field of his career today and his last dirt race was a good clear 2nd behind 3YO stakes player Make Your Move, in which he was up on a fast pace and opened a clear lead before tiring late. #8 Spintastic wasn't good last out, but was in a race where nobody except the winner ran, and his previous two dirt races are fast enough to win this. He's another who's been training forwardly since shipping up. If #2 Rum Tum Tugger wins after back-to-back no-excuse losses at 2-5, it'll be entirely predictable based on how this meet's gone, but he's the type of horse who's a waste of money including over time.

3rd: #6 King Cyrus is the kind of Pletcher 2YO you're supposed to beat for several reasons. These 7-furlong races are way different than the 5-6 panel heats he typically dominates where if you can just get out of the gate, you're in great shape, King Cyrus is modestly bred and he reportedly got handled in the AM by Chisholm, who took money and didn't run a step behind Dunkin Bend on Saturday. He'll probably be favored just because of Pletcher and there are several better options in here. #4 Tightly Bridled comes into this off a best-of-69 half-mile over the main track, was bred and sold to be fast. The question is him staying the distance, as he doesn't have any works beyond four furlongs, but he's got a good chance to snap Zito's losing streak with 2YO firsters. #1A Souperfast is a half to Uncle Mo and sold for $500k as a yearling, Mott's firsters have been running OK of late and he just missed getting a first out winner with Souperfast's workmate Quilt on Wednesday. The stretchout to 7 furlongs should suit A.P. Indy progeny #5 Aslan way more than his 5-furlong debut did and he's eligible to take a big step forward 2nd out for Albertrani.

4th: I'm not thrilled with the form of favorites #3 Hoboken Joe or #5 Greeley Pack, but just can't figure out where else you're supposed to go in this weak NYB MSW turf sprint.

5th: This is a wide-open affair where cases can be made for just about everyone in the race. #6 Blossom's Trail looks marginally the horse to beat dropping back down after her ambitious placing against Kitten's Dumplings in the Lake George, but it's not as if she has a discernible advantage on figures against this group. #7 Eddy Gourmet is overdue to get a decent trip and get back to the winner's circle. #8 Red Hot Tweet appears to have found a home on grass, although it's fair to question the validity of the 76 BSF she got for her last-out win. #9 Smittenwithkitten beat a weaker field in her MCL win, but earned a competitive number and ran down speeds who finished 2-3 to get there. #5 Dancing for Glory obviously can win, but is bound to be overbet for Chad Brown. #3 Exchange Cat's 4/27 race probably wins this and she lands in a spot without much confirmed early speed. #1 Elusive Design needs a figure boost, but comes off an MSW win at CNL in which she lost a ton of ground and still won off without much urging. Even #2 Dattts Da Boss appears to be a cut below these, but has run the kind of numbers that wouldn't make her totally impossible.

$.50 6,7,8/1,4,5/3,5/ALL $72
$.50 6,7,8/1,4/3,5/3,6,7 $18
Race 2 $5 DBL 6,8/1

No time for a writeup today, but here's my play:

Race 6 $40 DBL 1/1,9
Race 6 $10 PK3 1/1,9/6

Started a new job yesterday, so haven't had time to handicap like I usually do, not that I could do any worse than I've been doing the last few weeks. The writeups will return this weekend. One thing I will say is don't exclude anything Dominic Galluscio sends out right now.

Thursday, August 8

Sar 7
$.50 PK4 1,2,5,7/4,5,6,7,10/2,3/2,3,4,6,7

Beats the $6.40 pick three I had

Friday, August 9

Early Pick 4:

$1 PK4 1,7,8/1,6/3,4,5/1,6,8,10,11
$2 PK4 7/1/4/1,6,8,10,11

Saturday, August 10

Playing this so that at least one of Wise Dan or Adirondack Dancer, the two most likely winners on the card, has to win. Investing more into beating Wise Dan for two reasons: (a.) he'll be a shorter price and a single on far more tickets than Adirondack Dancer, so it'll be more lucrative if he loses and (b.) he's more likely to be race-ridden into defeat, especially considering his rail draw.

Race 8
$.50 PK4 2,3,5,7,11/1,2,4,8,9/1,3,4,6,7/8 $62.50
$.50 PK4 3,5,11/2,4,8/1/3,4,8,10,11 $22.50

Race 9
$4 PK3 2,4,8/1/8 $12
$1 PK3 2,4,8/1/11 $3

Well, things couldn't have gone much worse for the first half of the meet, with the only good news being that there's a second half of the meet to try to turn things around. One good ticket or 2-3 decent ones would be good enough to get me out of the hole, so I'll keep plugging away and hope my opinions get good again.

Amount Invested: $2,000
Amount Returned: $936.25
Net: -$1,063.75
$2 ROI: $0.94

Early Pick 4:

2nd: Once again, a spot with a potential Pletcher rocketship and a bunch of other horses trained by guys who don't usually have 2YOs cranked first time out. #6 Sweet Whiskey supposedly has looked the best of all the Pletcher 2YO fillies in the mornings and nothing about her says she's likely to be beaten in her debut. #8 Radiant is the only other horse who seems plausible; she's bred to be a good sprinter and had a very strong five-furlong gate breeze 8/1, but she's also trained by Mott, so she'll most likely be better next time than this time.

3rd: #3 Gritty Gal is the horse to beat off the claim for Ramsey/Maker/Rosario after setting a pressured pace last out, but it's tough to see her getting loose in here with #5 Pop Pop's Smyle and #9 Midnightinpositano to her outside and it's not as if her race two back, when afforded an easy lead, was any good. If the top two choices hook up, this becomes a wild race with an opportunity for a big price to come in. #1 Evasive Cat has trouble getting out of the gate, but makes her 2nd start off a long layoff for McLaughiln and has back races that make her competitive. #6 Rodinia makes sense, but she was a disappointment on the turf last out and was vanned off after the race, so I wouldn't take too short a price on her. #8 Southern Symphony ran two OK races going a furlong longer on the dirt before a good try on the turf last out. Midnightinpositano was in that weird race 10 days ago where Dixie Sparkle somehow got loose in a field loaded with speed and never looked back, but her race two back puts her in with a chance and she'll be a big price for Metivier, whose limited stock has run well this meet. #10 Yankeeindixieland appears to be rounding back to her 5/12 and 5/26 efforts, which would give her a shot and last time, she was just way too far back after the first 1/4 to have any say. Even #4 Lenderoflastresort, who appears to be badly off form, could win this facing the easiest field in a dirt sprint she's seen since 4/18. I'm using everyone except #2 Copper Bluff and pressing the 3 and 5.

4th: A lot of guesswork to be done in this 2YO turf MCL, but I'll use the five logicals #1 Racetrack Romance, #2 Cool Vision, #3 Greek God, #4 Lieutenant Seany O and #8 Frogman Mel in equal strength and root for the biggest price.

5th: If #3 She's Stones Sis runs back to her last race, she'll win, as she shook off a bunch of other speed and narrowly lost to Galiana, who returned to win her next start on Friday. #6 Motion Lounge is the only one competitive with the favorite on paper as her races two and three-back make her a threat, but those both came on the inner track and she hasn't been seen since she bled through Lasix 150 days ago. I'll use #1 Pennymine #7 Tina's Note and #9 My Unbridled Storm as C's.

$.50 6/1,3,4,5,6,8,9,10/1,2,3,4,8/3,6 $40
$4.50 6/3,5/1,2,3,4,8/3 $45
$.50 6/3,5/1,2,3,4,8/1,7,9 $15

Monday, August 12

Race 10
$100 WIN 4

Pick 4 pays $95.12

$3.80 x 50 = $190 Brick by brick.. :o

Keep it coming Joe. Honestly my meet has sucked so far, not that I am betting everyday...I think you have the right idea the way it is going. Just a grind.

How much did you really put on that 4 horse? He was 9/5 when they left, and came back $3.80.

Keep up the good work!

Heh, I noticed that too. I knew she would be a short price, but didn't like yesterday's card much and just wanted to cash something on a very likely winner. In retrospect though, the $17.60 exacta of the only two horses who could possibly win was the value of the race.

Wednesday, August 14

Off the turf screwed up many of my aims for today, so sticking to a narrow Pick 3 play.

Race 3
$2 PK3 4,5,6/1,3,5/2,3,4 $54
$2 PK3 5/1,3,5/2,3,4 $18
$6 PK3 5/5/2,3,4 $18
$10 PK3 5/5/2 $10

$2 Pick 3 pays $25.40 x 10 = $254

Well done!!

I have very much enjoyed following your quest.

The worm just might be turning!

Thanks for the support guys. Plenty of time to turn this into a good meet and hopefully gaining some momentum.

Amount Invested: $2,300
Amount Returned: $1,475.37
Net: -$824.63
$2 ROI: $1.28

Thursday, August 15

Early Pick 4:

3rd: #3 Pure Sensation clearly the horse to beat off his debut, when he dueled 3-wide with returning Saratoga Special winner Corfu through an extremely fast pace and never quit trying, finishing just a half-length back at the wire. He figures to blast out of the gate, hug the rail and put on a strong 5-furlong speed display. The other horse I'd consider is #9 Aarons Orient out of the same race, but he was clearly inferior to Pure Sensation that day. The only possible excuse I can give him is he didn't like being in between horses and drawing outside today, could sit a more comfortable trip.

4th: #1 Sneaky Blowout, #7 All That and #8 Brabbham are all very logical, but I'll also include #4 Rap d'Oro, who ran two very good races over the winter before a poor grass try and a disastrous run behind Moreno on the Belmont undercard. Hushion is always to be respected and if the layoff has straightened Rap d'Oro out, he's very dangerous at a good number.

5th: Nothing wrong with M/L favorite #3 Flowing Mane, but it's not as if he's significantly faster than these and there are several other options. #5 Mr. Starr's Report is a typical Jack Fisher longshot, with competitive races on the go-back and a useful prep at CNL last time out, reaching out to Lezcano is a good sign. #6 Summer Sands has a good turf pedigree and #9 Mr Algebra and #10 Saved the Best are both logical.

6th: #5 Much Stronger the clear horse to beat and I'll press with him, but he comes off a perfect-trip win going shorter and is facing a tougher group this time. He's also had problems with bearing out in the past. I like #8 Jumpinofftheedge at a big price. His debut was an enormous effort for a Phil Serpe 1st time starter and in his 2nd race, he chased an eye-popping pace set by Willy Elliott; lands in a race today with much less speed and could draw a great trip from the outside. #3 Ration chased a fast pace while wide last time out and ran better than it looks on paper. If there is a meltdown, #4 Perilous Indian could benefit, stretching out a furlong after a good close against some nice 3YO sprinters last time out.

$.50 3,9/1,4,7,8/3,5,6,9,10/3,4,5,8 $80
$1 3/1,4,7,8/3,5,6,9,10/5 $20

Joey, excellent anaylsis as usual. I am very much with you on Mr. Starr's Report who has back races that beat this field and will be betting to win. What did you think of the 6 in the 6th, Two T's at Two B's? I thought that horse has a very live look.

Good Luck today, keep up the great work!

Thanks, Nick. He's certainly not out of it and is dropping in class, but I didn't like that his only fast race came when he was up on the pace in that Speak Logistics Calder merry-go-round race where the speed held together.

Beautiful; Lezcano put those idiots to sleep early. How's Jack Fisher's ROI this meeting (flats and jumps)?

$.50 Pick 4 pays $378

Lousy beat Nick, Two T's at Two B was clearly best.

Thanks, Joey. That stung like you wouldn't believe, had live win, double to the 6.

Nice job! :$:

I am no fan of Merill Scherer, but the 1 looks live to me in the 8th.

I like him a little too, but am worried about him getting fried in a duel with Street Game and/or Abilio.

I am thinking that Rosario is smart enough to sit behind Street Game and Abilio and save all the ground. His back numbers are good enough to beat these, and though he had a very long layoff, his first race back indicates to me that whatever injury he had has been resolved. Plus, the only horse Rosario has ridden for Scherer in the last two years came in at 16-1 and it was at the Spa. (I think it may have been the first day of the meet).

Amount Invested: $2,400
Amount Returned: $1,853.37
Net: -$546.63
$2 ROI: $1.55

Late Pick 4:

7th: #2 Coriander the one to beat dropping slightly and cutting back half a panel, but she's proven she's no superstar, so I'm using a few others. #3 Mavourneen faced a much better group off a 268-day layoff last out and has the right to jump forward 2nd time back for Voss. #6 Allie Sweet doesn't have much turf pedigree, but was OK in her debut after a poor start and Castellano stays aboard. #8 Love is Key Kaz took a big jump forward on the TG scale for her last race and will be a good price coming from low-percentage connections.

8th: Can't dismiss any of these. Potential for price looms, as #3 Ballistic Sue could find herself on a lonely lead and #8 Sheza Heartbreaker will be in a spot to make one run, unlike last time when Velasquez found himself on an easy lead and just about crapped his pants.

9th: Tough to get past the 2-4 finishers from the Evan Shipman, #6 Groomedforvictory and #7 Awesome Vision, as they both ran better races than the perfect-trip winner and should be able to turn the tables with fairer trips. I'll use #3 Zetterholm and #4 Bigger is Bettor as C's.

10th: #1 Awakino Cat would have to do something crazy to lose. He lays over this field, particularly after all the scratches.

$1.50 PK4 2,3,6,8/ALL/6,7/1 $84
$.50 PK4 2,3/ALL/3,4/1 $14
Race 6 $1 PK3 4/3/3,8 $2

Ballistic Sue! Way to hang in there.

4-figure deficit to black territory in less than a week. LET'S GO!

Nice ticket. Great strategy.

Great play, Ateam!

Thanks guys. The worm has turned just in time for a big weekend.

$.50 Pick 4 pays $229 x 3 = $687

Good work Oey! Way to press at it. Was a fun sequence. Sorry you're not going to be here. It's not Alabama Day without the O-E-Y.