The 7th and final Saturday was an unmitigated disaster for most. As the degenerates flocked to the Carolina BBQ patio in a final attempt at fame and fortune there were 2 conspicuous absences. Jimbo and Michael D. will need to submit written excuses to the thoro graph offices by 9:00 AM on Tuesday morning if they want to remain considered Chef de Degenerate plungers ?
TGJB has been a self professed 2 month hot streak so the crew was hoping for some of lady lucks fortune to be in the air. It almost was on Friday as Bobby G., Jerry, Steve Byk and myself were on the deck as Andy Serling announced that there was only one person alive in the pick 6. It was TGJB who promptly texted Andy who made the announcement that the only person alive just texted him but he would not identify him only because he wanted him to. Not the case but the 4 & 11 ran 2nd and 3rd and $ 64,000.00 was carried over until Saturday.
A heavy opinion on Shug\'s Hit it Rich in the first got the day off to a bad beginning as the hedge never opened or Solis hesitated ? I\'ve not seen the head on reply but a perfect trip was for naught killing the 1st pick 3.
The second produced a bomb that no one considered and destroyed my pick 4 if the Chad Brown 7 gets up its a whole different day for this degenerate. The remaining 3 legs produced a $ 421.00 pick 3 and of course the 3 was not played.
In the 3rd a text book ground saving trip by Ryan Curatolo on Nurse Dolce got the crew back on track. TGJB had him solidly on top and gave the 3 & 7 out as underneath plays for a $ 91.50 exacta.
ZA Approval was the first of 3 dead rail horses on the card, had some fast relatives for grass on the dam\'s side of the sheet. Down the road for a $ 9.60 mutual and a $ 96.00 double that was played here as opposed to the pick 3. good handicapping, bad betting. TGJB elaborated on the stats of dead rail horses next out and it does seem to be very difficult to ignore them.
Pletcher & Proctor for a logical exacta that was recommended by the host in the 5th.
Many complaints and rants by the boy\'s about the order of races carded for the meet too many maiden events in the heavily bet pick 4\'s. Lot\'s of rumbles about the 40 day meet being watered down and I\'ve certainly said enough about it !
I guess the bottom line is it\'s still Saratoga, there isn\'t a better product being put out anywhere and it is what it is so shut up and bet the bad races.
Jerry did mention to Andy Serling that NYRA should have someone look at our board and see the distaste that is out there. I\'m sure that we\'ll all be holding our breath waiting for NYRA to address anything pertinent to their lively hood ?
Chad Brown got in off the AE\'s and struck again, what a meet. He\'s almost an automatic play with a 50 % win/place meet in over 70 starts, incredible.
The Darley crew struck in the 7th with a firster that Maggie liked in the paddock.
6 to 1 on a well meant firster and the Darley girls were not in sight ! Impressive performance or just a bad bunch, you choose ?
On to the Grade I\'s:
TGJB\'s strategy was a play against Ask the Moon. Yours truly loved Tiz Miz Sue and was not shy in his opinion or wagering. OUCH !!!!
Jackson Bend was not on the must use list, Sidney\'s Candy was rightly tossed. Jersey Town was one of 4 given out, drbillym talked to Tagg who liked his horse but has been snake bit at this meet and said as much. TG number plays on Rule By Night & Hamazing Destiny to no avail. Hamazing was given out on Rags board as well I\'m told. D.Wayne now on an 0 for 67 run in graded stakes.
Impressive run by Harve de Grace, Flat Out of the dead rail angle was the most preferred along with Rule. A chalky $ 60.00 stakes pick 3 but a very generous $ 32.00 double with a pair of 2/1 shots for those who are so inclined ?
The stakes pick 3 and late pick 4 were destroyed, most of the 24,000 tourists headed for the gates after cashing in on the public choices. The 12th race did not go off until 6:54 and of course in leaving with the tourists my pick 4 plays of 5,8,12 in the 11th and 1,3,10 in the 12th hit in exacta land without a dime of Frank D. money on them. I would never have played the last exacta too short but a $ 124.00 number in the 11th was the ultimate ouchie for the day.
Thanks again to Steve Byk and his Carolina BBQ patio for the seminar and as my new home base. A bad betting day but a fun day with lots of great stories and bantering with Richiebee, Topcat, Drbillym, NC Tony and many others who read here but are a bit too gun shy to post. were semi civil here for the most part, most of the time.
Good luck,
Frank D.
