1/16: Aqueduct ($25k C/O); Santa Anita (P4, $46k Hi-5 C/O)
 

Missed widely and frustratingly Saturday through most of the proceedings at Aqueduct & Gulfstream before connecting at end of cards for slight gains in the Big A nightcap ($36.75 tri) and Sugar Swirl ($94.90 tri) at Hallandale. Am getting slightly miffed at finding GP horses like Dr. Smarty Jack, who drew in to the 8th and was a fat 13-1, and watching them come up just short at the wire. Not sure what else Elvis Trujillo could have done to get the "W", as short-priced Citrus Kid, whom I was looking to beat, just kept going in the stretch. Dr. Smarty Jack paid $14.20 to place, but a win from him delivers the P4 for between $1,000-$1,250. Uggh.

As I've been writing, it's challenging every race, every day at Gulfstream, and I'm taking the day off from Hallandale with a $25k carryover at Aqueduct on a fun card, and a $46k Super Hi-5 carryover at Santa Anita at the end of the nice P4 sequence. Speaking of Pick-X sequences, the P6 at Santa Anita went to a single winner Saturday for $118k. People are so down on California that they only bet $221k into the P6 pool and $504k into the Late P4...


AQUEDUCT


POST-SCRATCHES


4th: ALW/N1X, 4+, 6f (P6, P3, DD)

You can protect 2-1 fave #5 Sin and the City in the P6, but gleefully play against him within the race. He beat less than nothing at Philly on a notorious speed track. Note race two back for turnbacker #1 Eltish Star who was sandwiched between two impressive next out winners in Driven by Solar and Winning Touch. Had no chance last time trying to close into slow route pace..

Best Value: #1 Eltish Star 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #4 E Knows Why 7-2 5th
Exotics Use: #3 Six Flings 12-1 4th


5th: CLM/N1Y, 4+, 6f (G/S, P3, DD)

Need to note the passing of trainer Faustino Ramos, a victim of a heart attack at age 70 Thursday. Ramos, who started in the U.S. working for Bennie Perkins Sr. and around the game more than 3 decades, posthumously sends his final starter here in #9 Banking Holiday. Ramos last win came in September with Gentle Ride, and he enjoyed success in ALW company recently with In for a Dime. His stakes winners included Punchline Patty, Sam’s Sunny Halo, and Lovely Fiona.. (Alas, Banking Holiday has been SCR'd)..

Most Likely: #4 Saints Alive 2-1 7th
Next Best: #7 Mr. Magenta 5-2 WON ($5.20)
Best Value: #5 Morine's Victory 15-1 4th
Exotics Use: #3 Undocumented 8-1 6th


6th: MDN CLM, 4+, 6f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Quite a lesson in racehorse economics in this event with $625k Sensei, $170k All My Chips, $160k Soldier of Destiny and $350k Seeking Anita all looking for a Maiden victory at the $12,500 tag level..

Best Value: #2 Seeking Anita 6-1 WON ($10.40)
Next Best: #10 Sensei 8-5 5th
Exotics Use: #9 All My Chips 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #4 Mystic Era 20-1 2nd (at 65-1)

$1 Exacta (2-4) Paid $157.00
$1 Trifecta (2-4-9) Paid $584.00


7th: MDN CLM, 3yo-F, 6f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 In Her Hey Day 3-1 WON ($4.30)
Best Value: #10 Southern Sunsation 15-1 5th
Next Best: #1 Dance Card Filled 5-1 4th
Super Add: #7 India Hermosa 6-1 8th

$1 Pick 3 (7/2/4) Paid $58.25


8th: Lady On the Run, F&M-4+, 1m (DD, Super)

Best Value: #4 Wind Caper 3-1 2nd
Next Best: #5 Quiet Giant 7-5 WON ($3.60)

$1 Pick 3 (2/4/5) Paid $34.50


9th: CLM/N2L, F&M-4+, 6f (Super)

Most Likely: #11 No Goal 3-1 2nd
Next Best: #7 Roaring Belle 5-1 4th
Exotics Use: #3 Charmed 8-1 6th
Super Add: #9 Why Then 6-1 WON ($11.80)


<$150 P6 Play:

4: 1
5: 2-3-4-5-7
6: 2-9-10
7: 4-10
8: 4-5
9: 11

1x5x3x2x2x1 = 60 x $2 = $120


<$50 P4 Play:

6: 2-9-10
7: 4-7
8: 4-5
9: 3-7-9-11

3x2x2x4 = $48

$1 Pick 4 (2/4,6/5/9) Paid $175.50




SANTA ANITA


POST-SCRATCHES


6th: CLM, F&M-4+, 1m (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Sweetsouthernqueen 5-2 5th
Best Value: #7 Malusita 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #1 Misinjennuous 7-2 7th
Super Add: #2 Tamerin 3-1 WON ($11.60)


7th: OC/N2X, F&M-4+, 1m-T (P3, DD, Super)

Feels like a contentious pace is in the offing here..

Most Likely: #6 Hemera 3-1 WON ($7.60)
Next Best: #3 Andina 2-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #2 Calle Vista 5-2 2nd
Super Add: #4 Gripsholm Castle 4-1 4th


8th: 47th El Encino (G2), 4yo-F, 8.5f (DD, Super)

Great to get the likes of established MGSW Blind Luck, Always a Princess and Champagne d'Oro back running early in the year, as well as see how much more upside there is on fillies like Malibu Pier and It Tiz..

Most Likely: #2 Blind Luck 4-5 2nd
Best Value: #6 Always a Princess 4-1 WON ($9.80)
Next Best: #3 Malibu Pier 3-1 5th
Super Add: #1 Champagne d'Oro 6-1 4th

$1 Pick 3 (2/6/6) Paid $160.20


9th: MDN CLM, 4+, 5.5f (Super, Super Hi-5)

$47k Super Hi-5 C/O Here..

Most Likely: #1 Resplendently 7-2 WON ($5.60)
Best Value: #7 Our Last Monte 9-2 2nd
Next Best: #10 Naturaliste 9-2 6th
Exotics Use: #6 Gifted Student 4-1 3rd
Hi-5 Play: #11 Indiana Nana 10-1 4th

$1 Exacta (1-7) Paid $18.40
$1 Trifecta (1-7-6) Paid $65.50
$1 Superfecta (1-7-6-11) Paid $349.90
$1 Pick 3 (6/6/1) Paid $113.70


<$75 P4 Play:

6: 1-2-6-7
7: 2-3-4-6
8: 2-6
9: 1-6-7-10

4x4x2x4 = 128 x .50 = $64

$0.50 Pick 4 (2/6/6/1) Paid $316.55



Good luck!
Steve

You should chair the Eltish Star fan club. Tough beat in the Pik 4 yesterday. GP has had a lot of random results. The ole dart board might have a better ROI then even the best of 'cappers. 119 for Big Drama.. ok just another real nice horse running just another really huge figure?

It seems like there is one of these races regularly at Gulfstream... A corking head to head battle between horses that earn very big figs. When these are produced, I always think of First Samurai and Keyed Entry in the '06 Hutch (110 Beyers) and Read the Footnotes and Second of June in the '04 Fountain (113 Beyers). And note of course that none of those horses were really the same after those efforts. Fawkes is very good with one turn horses, and it will be interesting to see how soon Big Drama runs back. I also doubt Kenneally wanted Carlos involved in a gut-wrencher first back from that kind of layoff.

I do love me some Eltish Star. I've been betting Paulino Ortiz overlays since the late 80's... I botched that GP P4 in more ways than you know actually. Have to keep kicking at the can there though because finding and playing horses like Dr. Smarty Jack (13-1), In Speight of It (35-1), Molly Malone (30-1), Sweet Theresa/Romin Robin (20-1/17-1), etc., will get it done regularly enough over the course of the meet to justify the heartbreakers.

Valdivia off the 3 Zito mounts today (6th-8th). Eddie Castro on...

Badge of Silver was a very good horse

Second of June battled Read the Footnotes in the 2004 FOY, Badge of Silver romped at the Fair Grounds.

Wow, great stuff. Thanks for making me look at Mystic Era.

You're quite welcome Ronnie. Kaplan is a little scary, but things worked out pretty well there. (Who needs Gulfstream? LOL..)

Congrats to Gary and Nat on Seeking Anita's win in the 6th at Aqueduct - and after such an abominable start.

Remember Steve, Tyler is only 17. Its a big step for him to come to AQU, still learning.

Steve, really nice work today! Congrats

Great job Steve! Could have nailed the e5 if the 10 wouldnt have gotten pinched at the rail.:$::$:

steve - nice run today - congrats - who needs gulfstream (lol)

Thanks guys. Was a good day... Hope all did well!

(And we get an extra day of hijinks too!)

Jets winning was your highlight?

It was a nice sidebar to the Santa Anita action. Certainly was rooting for them.

Any day that Sciacca and the Jets win is a keeper :D

awesome work today Steve.

Nice Job today Steve.