[Kasept]

The Martin Luther King Day Holiday gives pause for us to recall the exploits of racing's legendary Afro-American riders and trainers. From "Simon" the slave jock of the early 1800's, to Oliver Lewis (won first Derby), Abe Hawkins, Issac Murphy (44% wins), Willie Simms and Jimmy Winkfield, black pilots were the model for all aspirants of the turf world. Black trainers succeeded in early Derby runs as well, with Ed Brown, James Williams, Raliegh Colston, Billy Bird, Alex Perry and Dud Allen forever etched in Kentucky annals as rose run winning conditioners.

The gambling blackout of the 00's at the turn of the 20th century squeezed the Afro-American rider and trainer from the games' highest level. Work for their white counterparts became scarce everywhere with Kentucky and Maryland the only states in the country that continued racing. The scenario scattered men like Simms, Winkfield and Allen across the Atlantic where their careers continued from England to Russia. "Wink's" success particularly remains the stuff of legend with Joe Drape's recent "Black Maestro" chronicalling the rider-trainer's three decade adventure as one of Europe's premier big race winners.

The legacy of the Afro-American in racing is one that is highly undertold, having only recently found new purchase as part of the sport's rich past. While New York champions Winkfield today with a stakes race, and an assortment of similar honors dot the racing calander, his story and that of his contemporaries remains sorely unappreciated.

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Unusual day at Santa Anita in search of P6 riches Sunday.. Though my own ticket was done immediately, winners of the sextet were offered somewhere in each event with 2 on-top, 2 as the A play and 2 as the B offering. As is always the case when dragnetting every photo subject in a series, Pick 3's were the order of the afternoon. Tying all tabs together ($224) in the 4 available P3's brought back a mutuel flood of $1,334.20. In the meantime, the P6 carryover pool was claimed by five winners who each brought home a whopping $147,000.

Carryover of $40K+ at Aqueduct, but the card at Gulfgstream is more appealling...


SELECTIONS -- Gulfstream, 1/17 (R7-10/P4)

Superfectas in all races..

7th: CLM, F&M-4+, 1m (DD, P3, P4)

1. #7 Wicklow Vamp 5-2: Walder deadly operator, especially with Johnny V.. WON
2. #8 SCR (Sub #3 Bohemian Rain: 8-1)
A. #2 Casablanca Babe 6-1: "Of all the P4's in all the world, she walks into mine".. 2nd
B. #1 Childress 4-1: Prado back on Dutrow 9yo that loves GP, trip..

$1 Exacta (7-2) $25.00


8th: MSW, 3yo-F, 8.5f-T (DD, P3)

1. #7 BLOCK 5-2: Ignore off turf disaster and Mott Dynaformer imposing.. 3rd
2. #8 Double Dinghy Day 4-1: Forestry filly from Frank working well of break.. WON
A. #6 Danish Wildcat 8-1: Matz-Cowan Danehill bay has 6 weeks at Palm Meadows..
B. #11 Classic Strike 6-1: Gomez miss has been chasing next out winners..

LONGSHOT NOTE: #12 Winsome Ways 10-1: Mott firster with Castro has impossible debut assignment, but may be a gal to keep an eye on for next time with experience and better draw..

$1 Double (7/8) $33.50


9th: OC/N3X, 4+, 9f (DD)

1. #5 DRY MARTINI 2-1: Benson grey third in Hooper to 'Salt', Rehoboth.. 2nd
2. #2 Welcome Again 6-1: Troubled Adena runner back with Bobby a fit if right.. WON
A. #8 Gold Native 8-1: Last out Tortora winner at lower level offers value
B. #9 Little Cliff 5-2: Zito ne'er do well boosted confidence at Calder..

LONGSHOT/EXOTICS ADD: #3 Itsawonderfulife 20-1: Collins 6yo has back figs and nice ITM record at Hallandale..

$1 Exacta (2-5) $9.70
$1 Double (8/2) $28.10
$1 P3 (7/8/2) $99.20


10th: CLM, F&M-4+, 8.5f-T

1. #5 BRIDAL PATH 5-2: Mott-Prado 6yo owned by PA wrestling legend.. WON
2. #3 Exclusive Hopper 3-1: Walder again, and 7yo still getting it done.. 2nd
A. #6 Indyan Lisa 10-1: Dwoskin a 20% operator and LDK bay may get bold..
B. #2 Extra Bases 5-1: Clever Casse drops in 5yo bay first for tag..

$1 Exacta (5-3) $7.50
$1 Double (2/5) $8.80
$1 P3 (8/2/5) $102.40
$1 P4 (7/8/2/5) $308.70


<$50 P4 Play:

7: 1-2-3-7
8: 6-7-8
9: 3-5
10: 3-5

4x3x2x2 = $48


Good luck!
Steve