Friday Results

At Churchill in race 4, Royal Dazzle hung on to ruin my $1 tri. Longshot Ready to Goes came in for the win ($27.00) with Dress Uniform finishing third, followed by Aidan’s Bella (question answered: Ura Wild Won could not get the distance). I was all over Play Maker Fever ($8.40) in race 5, but Subtle Reaction and An Heir to Magic didn’t show up, while Cherokee Nation was scratched. I did get the 10 cent superfecta in race 7, but it only paid $27.21. Star of Luvina finished on top, followed by Lily’s Place, Even Tempo and Unforgotten (which was a big surprise finishing so poorly). Unfortunately, because it was such a long day, I didn’t stick around to play races 10 and 11, but had the superfecta picked in the 10th, with Lattice edging out Niagara Causeway, followed by This Is That and Malamezze. In race 11, only Pure Silk (who went off as the favorite) showed ($3.00); Adorable Cat finished dead last and showed nothing. Fast Included finished fourth, and Brilliant Humor only started running after the race was half over, going 9 wide on the final turn to improve position.

I came up empty with my trifecta plays at Pimlico—I should have played exactas. In race 1, Inside Risk and Elizabeth Street finished one-two ($19.00), but Tattletale Twist was no factor, finishing fifth. In race 2, Sweetamygee and Honor Student finished one-two ($10.20), but Westside Lady finished last. In race 3, the favorite Helsinki won, Love Tour finished third…superlongshot Thundering On By placed, paying $33.40 and $9.60. Ticonderoga finished 5th, Yankee Pride 6th, and Red Boomerang 8th. In race 8, Love Scene was scratched. Blondie’s Halos ($7.60) finished second, with the favorite Divine Plan finishing out of the money, in 5th. In race 9 (The Very One Stakes), both Carryanun and Smart and Fancy were scratches, leaving Unbridled Sidney the clear favorite and easy winner, nearly breaking the track record by going 55.77 for the five furlongs on turf. The big surprise was Pletcher’s South Necking (with Garrett Gomez up) finishing completely out of the money, in 4th. However, Gomez redeemed himself in race 11 (Allaire Dupont BC Distaff) bringing in Steve Asmussen’s Rolling Sea over Leah’s Secret and favorite Kettleoneup; unfortunately, instead of the winner, I played Fiery Pursuit who stopped in the stretch after leading most of the way. Finally, in race 12 (Black-Eyed Susan Stakes), Enchanting Star gave it her best shot, but couldn’t stay on. It was Panty Raid (with Edgar Prado making an excellent inside move late) for the win, followed by Winning Point and the favorite Baroness Thatcher.

I didn’t post my Belmont picks, but actually hit two $1 trifectas there today, in race 3 ($45.75) and race 4 ($27.25). The out-of-nowhere winner at Belmont was Il Posto’s Bambina in race 5, who paid $115.50 to win, and along with Cagey Girl, resulted in a $1010.00 exacta, and with Royal Spaulding (show), a mind-blowing $5,151.00 trifecta. Finally, bless his heart, in race 8 (Wagon Limit Stakes) Funny Cide went to a huge lead and looked as if he was planning on wiring the 1-1/2 mile race; unfortunately, he was caught by Rising Moon and Malibu Moonshine, but managed to hang on for show. For awhile there, it was like he was three-years-old again...really beautiful to see.