Tampa Bay should be an opportunity for some big points today with 12 races in play, plus the bonus race from Golden Gate. Some of us, namely me, need to make up some ground after last week! I focused on middle to outside post positions based on how I perceive the Tampa surface to be playing this year, although I don’t follow it on a daily basis.
Race 1: My selection: Mr. Coach ML 12-1.
The Result: Premier Take scores from the outside at 7/2 as longshot Del Pilot gets the most points for running second. Magic Carpet Glide sprinted clear early and held third. Mr Coach faded early and ran last at 10-1!
Maximum Points: Del Pilot 230
Maximum Score: 230
My Score: 0
Race 2: My selection: Jean the Queen ML 3-1.
The Result: Maiden special weight dropper and layoff horse Put Me First scored at 9/2 with Unseen Glory second and first time starter Makelifework ran third. Put Me First was very playable as she had flashed early speed as a two-year old and was dropping in class. Ronnie Allen Jr was up for the score. My selection Jean the Queen with leading rider Centeno was sluggish early and ran evenly, finishing fifth.
Maximum Points: Put Me First 242
Maximum Score: 472
My Score: 0
Race 3: My selection: Conchacer ML 2-1.
The Result: Conchacer stalked wide and ran down a game Begriff to score by a neck. Curragh Mon finished third. Relatively few points available in this formful race.
Maximum Points: Conchacer 84
Maximum Score: 556
My Score: 84
Race 4: My selection: Cryptogram ML 5-1.
The Result: Favored Otis Ridge narrowly defeated my top choce in a long drive with Onotheregoestokyo running third. An objection was lodged against the third place finisher foe interference down the stretch but it was not allowed. Kirk Ziadie remains on fire! My selection ran very well at 8-1 but couldn’t get the money.
Maximum Points: Cryptogram 122
Maximum Score: 678
My Score: 206
Race 5: My Selection: Mr. Flatter ML 5-1
The Result: Mr. Flatter dueled and scored by a nose on the wire over hard charging Stormin Yank. Long layoff horse Hi Time Scott ran third. Favored Tytus never got untracked from the rail. Mr Flatter was a generous 5-1 after facing much tougher at Gulfstream Park in his last start. The early speed held this time.
Maximum Points: Mr. Flatter 238
Maximum Score: 916
My Score: 444
Race 6: My selection: No Use Denying ML 5/2.
The Result: Even money No Use Denying looked like the stone cold winner turning for home but he was run down late by Gdansking Queen at 4-1. Clement continues his red hot ways at Tampa! The Lady Waffles was up for third. No excuse for No Use Denying in this one.
Maximum Points: Gdansking Queen 176
Maximum Score: 1,092
My Score: 504
Race 7: My selection: Boots Are Walking ML 4-1.
The Result: Custer rallied and scored at 5/2, defeating Chief Talkeetna and Mannington. My selection was on the lead turning for home at 5-1, but offered nothing down the stretch. Mannington had some trouble as the favorite down on the inside.
Maximum Points: Custer 148
Maximum Score: 1,240
My score: 504
Race 8: My selection: Sweet Repent ML 7/2.
The Result: Rock Candy ran a huge one at 4-1, defeating Ameribelle and the favorite Don’t Forget Gil. My selection Sweet Repent never made the lead like I hoped and ran very poorly. Don’t Forget Gil had some trouble and closed strongly for third. He may have been best.
Maximum Points: Rock Candy 186
Maximum Score: 1,426
My Score: 504
Race 9: My selection: Stormy West ML 7/2.
The Result: Stormy West had some trouble and the favorite Ginger Brew failed to fire. Instead it was Ballymore Lady at 6-1 getting up late over a very game Elusive Lady who led to deep stretch. Sousaphone ran third at 45-1.
Maximum Points: Ballymore Lady 256
Maximum Score: 1,682
My Score: 504
Race 10: My selection: Cliffy’s Future ML 10-1.
The Result: The big favorite Free Country disappointed and finished fourth, as 13-1 longshot General Quarters stalked in second early and scored easily. Longshot Sumo at 30-1 finished second and Musket Man ran third. Cliffy’s Future….hello? It’s not on the Derby trail after that performance. I think he just finished. General Quarters had finished second in his last two starts behind race rivals Musket Man and Top Seed. He has blossomed into a nice one for trainer Mark Miller. General Quarters debuted at Churchill Downs in a $20K maiden claiming race at 4.5 furlongs and was claimed . He won that race at odds of 4/5.
Maximum Points: General Quarters 960
Maximum Score: 2,642
My Score: 504
Race 11: My selection: Victorianna ML 10-1.
The Result: Victorianna had the perfect stalking trip but her best was third best today as Bucky’s Prayer stalked and scored at 4-1 from the rail post. Favored Silver Envoy finished second.
Maximum Points: Bucky’s Prayer 180
Maximum Score: 2,822
My Score: 548
Race 12: My selection: Bankers High Yield ML 6-1.
The Result: Second choice Teuton rallied to win it over Bullet From Abroad and Heaven’s Reward. Bullet From Abroad was worth the most contest points with his second place finish. Bankers High Yield? Ran like the banking industry has been running lately. Diseased….
Maximum Points: Bullet From Abroad 214
Maximum Score: 3,036
My Score: 548
Golden Gate Race 8: My selection: Rendezvous ML 6-1.
The Result: Heavily favored Chocolate Candy scored at 1-2 odds for the Hollendorfer/Baze connection. Massone grabbed second and Rendezvous finished third. Rendezvous loomed at the top of the stretch but flattened out at 11-1 odds. This was the “other” Hollendorfer horse. Playing the larger price of an “uncoupled entry is an angle I like to play that has a 2% success rate when I play it and a 50% success rate when I don’t.
Maximum Points: Chocolate Candy 146
Maximum Score: 3,182
My Score: 612
Summary: The play of the day was to tab General Quarters in the featured Sam Davis to win at 13-1 odds. That pick was worth nearly 1/3 of the available points today. Other than that, it was a pretty formful day. As a rule of thumb, if you can get about 2/3 of the maximum points on any given day, you should be right near the top. I would expect the winning score to be somewhere around 2,000 points this week. Congratulations to everyone who found General Quarters today! See you next week.
The Oracle
