Longshots

Beginning a new semester is always hectic—planning assignments, writing syllabi, answering emails from confused students, dealing with students begging to get signed in to classes too full already. I haven’t had time this week to watch much racing, but did view replays of two "big" 3-year-old allowance races at Gulfstream on Thursday. Not particularly earth-shattering results so I’m not apt to start posting Derby prospects yet. I do admit, however, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained A.P. Cardinal is a horse I am keeping my eye on. I know, I know, one would never think a horse (even one by A.P. Indy) whose damsire is Smoke Glacken could get the distance, but A.P. Cardinal’s dam Smok’n Frolic was a multiple graded winner at 9f (Demoiselle, Next Move), and undoubtedly A.P. Indy adds stamina.

Congrats to Jose Lezcano on a three-win day, including a nice one for Helen Pitts on 15-1 longshot Baltimore Bob in race 7. I was surprised (and somewhat disturbed) to see that, in that race, eight-year-old Graham Motion-trained Ballast was in for a $75k tag (no takers). Geez, he had finished just out of the money in the G3 Tropical Turf Handicap on December 6—a race he had won in 2006 and 2007. Sure, he only won one race (of five) in 2008, but are they seriously trying to dump him, or just taking a risk running in this lower condition? He did earn $3,690 for third place...

Finally, looking at race 6 at Fair Grounds, in a twelve-horse field, three horses went off at over 100-1, including Lil Marie (128-1), Little Cat Bird (173-1),and...Her Fantasy (250-1)! Admittedly, I haven’t been a serious bettor for very long, but I don’t ever recall a horse go off at 250-1. Can anyone think of any higher odds horses? Of course, all three in this race finished at the back of the pack, including Her Fantasy who was dead-last, but as a horseplayer I can only dream of the payout if they have fleshed out the trifecta. Oh, and just to add, two other horses were over 80-1, Independent Miss (86-1) and Mike’s Lil B (94-1).