Coast-to-coast

Clearly the highlight of the afternoon was the Open Mind at Churchill. Our top selection, the even-money fave Serena's Cat, offered up little and finished eighth of ten. But our three others combined for the boxed exacta and tri at odds of 19-1, 8-1, and 7-2. The exacta paid $365.80/$2 and the tri $2768.80/$2. We grabbed a little more in each of the three SoCal stakes -- but the Churchill score was enough to make it a big, big afternoon.

Besides that we also managed to put together a nice day in the Best Bets section which allowed us to move the 2006 total in that area into positive territory (more on that below).

Regular readers certainly are aware that after getting off to a slow start, the 2006 Coast-to-coast season has swung into high gear since late March.

WAGERED: $222.00
COLLECTED: $1669.30

WE move into positive territory... If you've been following the Best Bets you know that we were treading water early this year and things have turned around nicely since late March -- culminating in a good return this week which finally moved us into the black for the year. You can follow the month-by-month progress at the bottom of the page.

This week was a lot of fun as we clicked in four of eight contests -- with the highlight being the nice 8-1 first-time starter coming through for us in the Churchill nightcap. Our two second-place finshers both might have been best but were left with a little too much to do late. On the flip side -- Ellerton was a nail-biter, just getting up in the shadow of the wire. All totalled up -- an 85% ROI on the day.

Belmont, Race 1, Touchdown Kid... WON (3.20, 2.50, 2.40).
Belmont, Race 3, Afrashad... Scratched.
Belmont, Race 9, Benlayla... 2nd at 9-5 (xxx, 3.20, 2.60).
Monmouth, Race 4, Jumpstarter... 4th at 4-1.
Monmouth, Race 7, Ellerton... WON (4.20, 3.20, 3.20).
Calder, Race 2, Master William... 7th at 7-5.
Churchill, Race 1, Elite Mercedes... WON (4.00, 2.60, 2.20).
Churchill, Race 11, Siberian Lily... WON (18.20, 6.40, 4.80).
Hollywood, Race 4, Thunderfog... 2nd at 7-5 (xxx, 3.40, 2.80).

Our Head-to-Head feature pits Coast-to-Coast's Seth Merrow against DRF's Weekend Warrior, Mike Watchmaker. Whenever the two columns make selections in the same race we'll tally the results for each.

Tiger 3-2*
Dark Cheetah 5-1
Bishop Court Hill 2-1

Wager: $5 exacta Tiger over Pisgah.
Ran 1/5.
...$5 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.

Tiger...Has returned to the races much improved. Last was best yet and looks to set him up for his stakes debut.
Pisgah...Also tossed in his best career effort last time and a repeat would make him tough.
Bishop Court Hill...Another that seems in career-best form. Took a G1 last time.

More Than Pretty 19-1
Handlewoman 8-1
Bratt'sstablestar 7-2

Wager: $5 WP on Serena's Cat.
Ran 8th at 1-1*.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $182.90 on the ex box ($365.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $1384.40 on the tri box ($2768.80/$2).

Serena's Cat...Undefeated since moving to turf for Mott.
Handlewoman...Tough post but might take to turf. Makes third lifetime start and looks ready to improve.
More Than Pretty...With More Than Ready on top she might appreciate the grass.
Bratt'sstablestar.

Wanna Runner 1-2*
Wait in Line 46-1
Admiral's Arch 4-1

Wager: $5 WP on Admiral's Arch.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-6.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-6.

Admiral's Arch...Looks to be an improving 3YO for Asmussen and won stakes debut in latest.
Wanna Runner...Ran best yet last time when allowed to escape SoCal competition.
Red Raymond...Think he's better than he showed in Ark Derby flop.
Mr Pursuit.

Surf Cat 1-5*
Spellbinder 4-1
Dixie Meister 7-1
Timias scratched.

Wager: $5 W on Surf Cat.
Collected $6.00 on the W ($2.40).
...$10 exacta Surf Cat over Dixie Meister.
Ran 1/3.
...$5 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$2 exacta Surf Cat over Spellbinder.
Collected $5.20 on the exacta ($5.20/$2).
...$1 tri key Surf Cat over next three.
Collected $5.00 on the tri box ($10.00/$2).

Surf Cat...Third start of season and stretching off of two sprint stakes wins.
Dixie Meister...Seems to be improved as a 4YO. Nice second to Brass Hat three back.
Spellbinder...Overmatched?... Not his distance?... Not sure what went wrong but the dud last time looks like a toss. Expect better today.
Timias.

Grey Swallow 3-5*
Brecon Beacon 7-1
Runaway Dancer 6-1
King's Drama, Macduff scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Grey Swallow.
Collected $14.50 on the WP ($3.20, 2.60).
...$2 exacta box top two, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Collected $7.10 on the ex box ($14.20/$2).
...$1 tri key Grey Swallow over next three, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1/2-5.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-2-5.

Grey Swallow...Long layoff but the Euros don't seem to mind that. Top trainer comes across the pond and looking at the PPs and seeing names like Oratorio, Azamour, and Bago indicates this one is the real deal.
King's Drama...Frankel turfer is a G1 winner and is typically in the hunt.
One Off...Looks to be rounding into good form.
Macduff.
Brecon Beacon.

Siren Lure 5-1
Areyoutalkintome 9-5*
Prorunner 28-1

Wager: $5 WP on Areyoutalkintome.
Collected $9.00 on the WP (xxx, 3.60).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $36.80 on the ex box ($36.80/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $18.40 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-5-8.

Areyoutalkintome...Looks to -- perhaps -- have a pace advantage here. Might sneak away early and let's hope P Val can nurse him home.
Siren Lure...Will be running late. Goes turf-to-dirt and trainer is 24% in that category.
Thunder Touch...Off since November and now in a new barn. Might need one -- but working well and if able to fire his best shot he'll be tough.
Cigar Pal.

MAY 2006 [partial]

Total plays... Total of all plays listed in Best Bets including straight win as well as "additional plays".
Total $2 return... The total return if a $2 wager was made on all the plays listed including straight win and "additional plays".
Total return ROI... The Return-on-Investment if a $2 wager was made on all the plays listed including straight win and "additional plays".

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