Coast-to-coast

On top we had a solid five winners in eight races (Aqueduct, $5.20; Tampa, $6.40, 5.60; Laurel, $3.60; Oaklawn, $3.40). That works out to a very respectable 51% ROI in the win category.

Otherwise, as noted, the gimmicks proved frustrating. We started the day watching our triple key come in at Aqueduct and produce a decent payout in the short field. But it was only considered a decent payout because of the size of the field -- it certainly wasn't a bank-buster. The Sabin at Gulfstream also featured a short field and as such we keyed our plays there as well -- but to our chagrin our top four completed the super in the race but we missed the key as our top pick, 8-1 Adobe Gold suffered from perhaps a little impatience in the ride. She was in nice striking position on the far turn but rather than duck in and wait for an opening the jock took her four wide into the stretch and the loss of ground proved too much to overcome.

We pulled down another small tri at Laurel, but suffered another disappointment when a couple of ours ran 1-3 at Fair Grounds -- with the show finisher only missing the exacta by a neck. It probably would have been a nice one too -- the payout with the 9-2 over the 7-2 was $62.40/$2 -- our show horse was a solid 9-1 so we have to assume the exacta would have bumped up nicely from that $62...

The handicapping was pretty solid on top and was perhaps only a jump or two away from a couple more gimmick scores which could have changed our bankroll outcome significantly...

WAGERED: $278.00
COLLECTED: $156.55

Our Best Bets fared extremely well. After getting off to a decent start with the Best Bets in January (albeit fighting back a bout of seconditis) we struggled a little bit over the past couple of weeks. So we buckled down this week and hoped to turn things around.

Mission accomplished. We scored 100% on top and managed a win ROI of 157%.

Tampa, Race 8, Delta Princess... WON (6.40, 3.80, 2.80)
Tampa, Race 10, Andromeda's Hero... WON (5.60, 3.60, 2.80)
Oaklawn, Race 9, Souris... WON (3.40, 2.60, 2.20)

Miss Fortunate 8-5
Lady Libby 5-1
Rare Gift 6-5
Friel's for Real scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Miss Fortunate.
Collected $20.25 on the WP ($5.20, 2.90).
...$4 exacta box top two, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-3.
...$2 tri key Miss Fortunate over next three.
Collected $39.40 on the tri key ($39.40/$2).

Miss Fortunate...Mott mare looks to be in good, improving form coming out of two inner track stakes tries.
Friel's for Real...Toss the Sunshine Millions race -- she fits better with this bunch.
Rare Gift...Back in NY after a winter trip to Florida. Won a stake over this trip before going south.
Lady Libby.

Isola Piu Bella 5-2
Pampered Princess 4-1
Adobe Gold 8-1
Daydreaming ran 4th to complete the $147.00/$2 super

Wager: $5 WP on Adobe Gold.
Ran 3rd.
...$4 exacta box top two, sub next if scratch.
Ran 2-3.
...$2 tri key Adobe Gold over next three.
Ran 3/1-2-4.
...$1 tri key Pampered Princess over next three.
Ran 2/1-3-4.

Adobe Gold...Makes third start off a brief layoff and look to be coming into this primed for a top effort.
Pampered Princess...Best top pick last time and might have the pace scenario here in a stranglehold. Could be tough to rundown if able to get an easy first 6F.
Daydreaming...Came into her own early last summer and will probably contend at the top of the division this year. Not dure she'll be fully cranked for first start though -- although that 2/20 work looks pretty good1
Isola Piu Bella.

Delta Princess 2-1
Fast Cookie 5-1
Lentil 10-1
Hymn of Love scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Delta Princess.
Collected $25.50 on the WP (6.40, 3.80).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $16.40 on the ex box ($32.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-10.

Delta Princess...Mott trainee should fit with this bunch and last at Gulfstream should set her up for this.
Hymn of Love...Euro-import has put in a couple of good tries for Clement and should be ready for this assignment.
Final Discount...Like the improving form in two starts off the layoff.
Fast Cookie.

Andromeda's Hero 9-5
Summer Legacy 52-1
Captain Lindsay 8-1

Wager: $5 WP on Andromeda's Hero.
Collected $23.00 on the WP (5.60, 3.60).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-10.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-10.

Andromeda's Hero...We've expressed before how much we like stretching out in third start off layoff after two sprints. Post position is a concern however.
Killenaule...Solid stakes runner at two -- but yeesh, that comeback was horrible. Will he rebound? We'll see...
Captain Lindsay...Hometown heroes typically are in the hunt in these types of stakes and this guy looks live at a good price.
Get Down.

Friel's for Real 4-5
Pour It On 3-1
Summer Rainbow 4-1
Becky in Pink scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Becky in Pink.
Scratched.
...$2 exacta box top two, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $5.10 on the ex box ($10.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $11.90 on the tri box ($23.80/$2).

Becky in Pink...Mentioned earlier how much we like stretching out in third start off layoff. Might get some legit value here -- and we also get top jock.
Friel's for Real...This bunch is easier than Sunshine Millions cast last time.
Summer Rainbow...Usually in the hunt.
Pour It On.

GP Fleet 9-2
Honor in War 7-2
Rapid Proof 9-1

Wager: $5 WP on America Alive.
Ran 4th at 3-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-5.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-5.

America Alive...Trainer's having a nice meet -- including 2-2 this season with this one. A repeat of big closing effort last time should do it.
Warleigh...Might surprise if able to sneak away early.
Rapid Proof...Improving number over last few races.
GP Fleet.

Souris 3-5
Forest Music 5-1
Saltwater Runner 4-1
Miss Elsie scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Souris.
Collected $15.00 on the WP (3.40, 2.60).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-5.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-5.

Souris...Simply on top of her game right now.
Saltwater Runner...Second to top pick last time and also looks to be in top form now.
Miss Elsie...4-3-1-0 lifetime record -- including 3-3 on this track.
Jinny's Gold.

Hasty Kris 7-2
Harvard Avenue 9-1
Perfect Moon 7-1

Wager: $5 WP on Mass Media.
Ran 6th at 4-5.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-6.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-6.
...$1 tri key Mass Media over next three.
Ran 6/1-3-4.

Mass Media...Looks to be a little classier than most of these.
Choctaw Nation...Was undefeated until Pac Classic. Off since that race and this 7F sprint stake is a tough spot for return.
Hasty Kris...Been in pretty good form since autumn.
Perfect Moon.

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