by Jerod Dinkin
The track may have been listed as “Sloppy and “Yielding”, but “Oceany” and “Boggy” was more like it. The steady rain is unfortunate, but in many ways predictable given Northeastern weather in late October. The weather was the story today and will be the story tomorrow as well.
If you think you’re a good handicapper, try picking winners in the Breeders’ Cup on a consistent basis. While you’re at it, add in a tsunami. It’s tough out there folks, but tomorrow is another day.
Early in the day, I felt the track played fair, without an inherent bias. As the card wore on, the main track was tilted toward horses coming from off the pace. It was amazing to see how quickly legitimate classy speed horses were backing up.
The late Pick four began with the second longest shot on the board winning, an invader from rainy Emerald Downs, blowing up most tickets. The chart comment on my late Pick-4 ticket read, “broke slowly (in air)-no factor”.
BC race thoughts:
-The insane pace duel between Dream Rush, LaTraviata, and Shaggy Mane materialized, and all four missed hitting the Superfecta. A logical play given the pace setup and track condition, Maryfield, prevailed at 8:1. The two favorites of a ten race field finished off the board with the longest shot in the race finishing second. Here are the exotics:
$2 EX: $374.80$1 TRI: $878.40$1 SUP: $6787
The prices are WAY too light given this outcome…….
-NOWNOWNOW and ACHILL ISLAND ran one two in the Juvenile Turf after running over most of the track in dead last and second to last. PRUSSIAN crawled through 3/4 in 1:15 and still faded badly. If this form holds, a quality deep closer like EXCELLENT ART should be tough to beat. I was disappointed that GIO PONTI, who defeated NOWNOWNOW in their previous tilt, did not fair better.
-The Dirt Mile showed that Discreet Cat is no longer the monster he once was. He looked uncomfortable, similar to his effort in the Vosburgh. The enigmatic CORINTHIAN floated away by 6.5 lengths to cap a $24,235 Pick 4. Congrats if you held that winning ticket, you deserve it.
Since my body temperature is currently just now getting back to normal, it’s time to shower and get back to handicapping tomorrow’s card. I plan on making the swim to Monmouth bright and early tomorrow, floaties firmly planted on each bicep.
Good luck.
