It started with good intentions. A handicapper, time on his hands. A night time card with >$100,000 stakes. What could go wrong?
Welcome friends to The Turk. I'll leave Little Turk out of this tonight as he wasn't dumb enough to bet a Pick 3, win the sequence and find a way to post a negative ROI but that's what I did.
In race 3, I covered two horses after the early scratch of Eminent Force/6. I thought Melmich would win as the very heavy chalk and he did.
In Race 4, I thought Miss Sea would win as the chalk but I covered Sweater Weather who went to post at $3.30-1 and the second choice among bettors. Onto the last leg alive.
In Race 5, I covered four (4) Two Year Old's primarily on Trainer/Jock stats. The heavy chalk won and the $29.30-1 horse I covered, Loopety Loo/9 was Place, 4 lengths back.
Three races, two heavy chalks and a negative ROI. It was just for fun, I bet the $0.20 version and kept my loss to $2.91.
I'll live to fight again.
Gave a good night friends, Turk Out!
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
The Turk, along with his son, the Little Turk, provide handicapping and bet construction to people who never asked for it. Established September 2008.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
The Nomination Is In: The Woodbine Race 3-4-5 Pick 3
Welcome Friends to The Turk and the Little Turk mid week edition. I was traveling quite a bit this week and thought I'd take a shot at mid-week Woodbine as I start playing the track quite regularly leading up to Woodbine Mile Day. I've always like the way the fake dirt plays fair here and I find the races interesting usually, especially the restricted to Canada or Ontario races.
I'm not going to ramble too much pre-race. Keep an eye on the toteboard as well as scratches and changes,
Have fun friends! Turk Out.
I'm not going to ramble too much pre-race. Keep an eye on the toteboard as well as scratches and changes,
Have fun friends! Turk Out.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Post Race Review with Video of Travers Stake Day
Drefong/Taylor Ejdys/NYRA |
Travers Stakes Day at Saratoga didn't disappoint anymore than McGregor/Mayweather did. While I love the brash Irishman, I could never root for the foreign invader over the American. You have to sort of hold your nose about both of their transgressions in life, but for my money, boxing, when its done right, is every bit the best sport on the planet next to horse racing. How far outside of conventional thinking am I? I know....
One thing I've always loved about the horses is they have no transgressions. These athletes live to perform, give us all they have, and hopefully someone with ethics cares for them until they pass, giving them as best a life as they can have after the track.
I choose Drefong for my picture today as my misjudgment of him was my biggest error in a very successful betting day where I turned a 42% profit on my investment capital. I respected the champion sprinter very much but I didn't like the gate position and severely underestimated his ability to fly out of that gate and strike the lead before the first turn. I thought Diving Rod's positioning would deliver the upset but it wasn't to be. Luckily I covered him in the horizontals. I didn't play it but Drefong was my only miss in my theoretical Pick 6 that would have paid $7,967. It was right there for the taking but if you play Pick 6 enough you learn you just have to move on from the misses.
The Twin Spires results tell the tale of my day that started slow and really turned with Races 9-10-11 and 12.
Race 6: The Personal Ensign Grade 1
Race 7: The Ballerina Stakes Grade 1
Race 8: The H. Allen Jerkens Grade 1
Race 9: The Forego Grade 1
Race 10: The Sword Dancer Grade 1
Race 11: Travers Stakes Grade 1
Race 12: The Ballston Spa Grade 2
Final Takeaways:
- Songbird was wildly overplayed. She's a great champion, but the Delaware Handicap was a so-so race Forever Unbridled is better than anyone that was in that race, I started the day with a defensive $10 win bet on Forever Unbridled, the odds on Songbird were too low.
- I really underestimated Highway Star. I had a boxed exacta that his game Place obliterated. She's been training well, and had a sloppy track 96 Beyer at Belmont but I just don't see it on paper. I was fooled. My first indication was she was 9-2 just before Post, an 18% win percentage, where I had her at 1%. Ugh.
- I liked Takaful more than I liked Practical Joke, but I thought they'd both have a chance to win and the close finish didn't disappoint or surprise. I rightly shaded down American Anthem but over estimated Coal Front. I won an exacta that lost money-a gambling mistake I should not have made.
- I've already explained my Drefong mishap in The Forego.
- I had Sadler's Joy prerace to win The Sword Dancer. This race seemed so obvious. I placed my only Trifecta bet of the day and won vertically $34 dollars on a Tri and Exacta. Wished I'd played more! I didn't buy the Idaho(Ire) hype.
- I had West Coast as my co-favorite to win the Travers with Irap. I had Gunnevera at the bottom of my group that could Place, seven deep, but I can't say I was that high on him.
- I went into Race 12 with a Will Pay if Roco Rojo (Ire) won of $536 in the Pick 3. That said, I thought Antonoe would finally upset her older rival, but it wasn't to be.
- I finished with two pick 3 wins and an entertaining afternoon.
Have Fun Friends- Turk Out!
Saturday, August 26, 2017
The Nomination In In: Travers Day Grand Slam Race 9-10-11-12
Mind Your Biscuits/NYRA |
Welcome Friends to the Second Edition of the Turk and the Little Turk on Travers Day 2017. The first post of the day focused on Races 6-8-8 while this post is the Grand Slam of races 9-10-11 and 12.
The Turk isn't a big on historical context. I'm a handicapper, a race fan, but I'm not one of the
I will go out on a limb and say that Mind Your Biscuits is the second most successful NY State Bred of the past 15 years since Funny Cide. I don't think that will be too controversial.
Race 9 starts a Pick 4 Grand Slam and concludes the card for me.
Let's Get After it!
Race 9 also starts a P3 (9-10-11) as well as the Grand Slam (9-10-11-12) while Race 10 Starts a P3 (10-11-12) as well and I'll be playing horizontally as well as vertically. I'm going to end my blogging for the day with just a quick preview of the P4/Grand Slam Horizontal that starts off Race 9.
I'll be focused on something similar to these base handicap/bet constructions. It's time for the Ol' Turk to put down the blog and settle into racing. We'll talk about the races and the racers themselves more in detail with video in the post race posts.
Have Fun Friends- Turk Out!
The Nomination Is In: The All Graded Stakes Race 6-7-8 Pick 3 at Saratoga
Takaful: Robert Mauhar/NYRA |
Welcome Friends to The Turk and the Little Turk. That very handsome colt in Shadwell Stable silks is Takaful, not my top pick but an intriguing runner in today's H. Allen Jerkens, part of this first of several blog posts today related to Saratoga.
Travers Day at Saratoga is one of the great betting days of the year for Graded Stakes fans like me. I know, I lose street cred by proclaiming myself a fan first, degenerate second, but I don't really give a s**t about street cred as a handicapper or bettor. I care about the quality of my work and my handicapping, and I care about adding improvements to my bet construction and overall approach to racetrack investing.
I'm approaching, I'm reaching, I've already arrived at a new place in my life: North of 50, set in my ways, my Little Turk on the doorstep of adulthood and I'm taking stock of the things I love to do. I'm still clinging to my love of the horses and the races. I've really enjoyed writing this blog for the sheer pleasure of it. I'd like to think that people will return to blogs again after the pre-Twitter heyday, but I'm in it for the long haul and I'm in it for me and the people who enjoy these free thoughts.
I'm going to break Travers Day into bite sized nuggets. The first post of the day is the Race 6-7-8 Pick 3 that includes The Personal Ensign, The Ballerina and the newly re minted Kings Bishop, the H. Allen Jerkens, all Grade 1s. I'm usually not down with name changes, but how can you be against putting Mr. Jerkens name on anything?
The Friday/Saturday weather looks dry. Keep your eye on the Track Conditions and Scratches and Changes prior to betting always.
I'm also unveiling a new chart look this week. it's something I use as I prep to bet as post time approaches to help me identify under and overlays. I've taken the Morning Line into Percentage. Why is the morning Line >100%? Track Takeout and Breakage (losses during rounding, retained by track). I use the POST RACE version of my charts in real time to update post time odds and make my vertical bets (intra race).
Anyway, these three races are pretty chalky. With Race 7-8 at 7F Pace and out of the gate speed plays a huge role and Race 6 with a five horse field and a huge but vulnerable favorite.
Race 6 starts a Pick 3 (6-7-8). Race 7 starts a P3 (7-8-9) as well as a Pick 6 (7-8-9-10-11-12) and Race 8 starts a P3 (8-9-10 and a $1MM P4 8-9-10-11).
I don't know yet what I'm doing. I'm sure it will mirror what you see here but I may try and trim Race 8 down to 4 contenders and recover my value horses in Race 6. This is the mix and match part of gambling that I use these spreadsheets to help me with as post time approaches. I did it with red pen and paper for years but two computer monitors, a tablet a phone and I am becoming much more efficient.
Have fun friends- Turk out!
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Saratoga 2017 Graded Stakes Race Video by Turf and Dirt through August 13
In this blog posted is video on all graded stakes at Saratoga Springs from the opening of the Meet through August 13.
I've played Saratoga lightly since the beginning of the meet. This upcoming Saturday's Alabama Stakes and Lake Placid will be feature races of this blog and the P3's surrounding these races will be my primary play.
If you find this helpful, leave me a comment.
Turk Out!
Turf
Lake George Stakes G3 8.5F 3YO F 21 July
Diana Stakes G1 9f 3YO and Up 22 July
Bowling Green G2 11F 4 YO and Up 29 July
Coronation Cup Stakes 5.5 F 3 YO 31 July
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame G2 1 1/16 Miles 3 YOs 4 Aug
The Waya G3 1 1/2 Miles F&M 3YO and Up 5 August
Fourstar Dave Handicap G1 1 Mile 3 YO
Dirt
Coaching Club American Oaks G1 9F 3 YO Fillies 23 July
Honorable Miss H. G2 6F 3 Yo and Up F/M 26 July
John Morrissey Stakes 6.5F 3 Yo and Up F/M
Curlin Stakes 9F 3 YO
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes H. G1 6f 3 YO& Up 29 July
Amsterdam Stakes G2 6.5 F Dirt 3YO
Jim Dandy G2 9F 3YO
Shuvee H. G3 9F 3Yo and Up F/M 30 July
Shine Again Stakes 7f 3Yo and Up F/M 2 August
The Test G1 7F 3YO Fillies 5 August
The Whitney G1 1 1/8 Miles 3 YO and Up 5 August
The Adirondack G2 6 1/2 F 2 YO Fillies 12 August
Saratoga Special G2 6/1/2 F 2YOs 13 August
Monday, August 14, 2017
Post Race Bet Review and Video: Arlington Million Day
Permian-Ire with Buick Up |
Welcome Friends to The Turk and the Little Turk. Little Turk and I are back after a beautiful weekend in Chicago.
What a difference a year makes: Last year we broiled under the sun and this year, while not cool, was far from warm. Either way, no rain, firm turf and a great time.
I can never say enough about the Arlington International Racecourse. They treat you good, the facility is well maintained, and the fan experience for me never fails.
The only downer for me was the death of Permian and the injury to William Buick. It literally happened the first hop after the finish line and Little Turk and I saw it happen in real time. The horse appeared to me to have suffered a terrible break and I told the Little Turk I didn't think he was savable and he wasn't. Bless his heart, he remembers the dead and he immediately thought of when we saw Turk favorite George Washington break down in the Breeders' Cup Classic on a sloppy track in Monmouth. Buick's father is quoted as saying William is in good spirits and was set to fly home on the Sunday after the race (Fuller) . With Scottish (Ire) scratching in the Arlington Million, his day was over. Now lets just hope we see him up again soon.
I felt bad for the connections, as they were visibly upset on the track, looking for a divot or anything that may have led to the break and the fall. I commend the track for getting the temporary barriers up quickly. I personally don't care for how quickly we move on as a sport when one of the runners breakdowns like that. I understand the horse player attitude, I witnessed it in my Twitter feed the lack of "dwelling" on it, the desire to forget it quickly, the harassing of anyone that showed empathy. It's just not me. It bothered me on Saturday and it bothers me the number of deaths at Saratoga this year. Writers I know and respect constantly downplay it, write it off to coincidence, cite the varied ways the breakdowns happened. Like I said, I hold onto these deaths longer and I don't have any answers, just an observation that the horse racing media doesn't like to talk about the breakdowns more often, doesn't aid the fan in the process of grief anywhere near as much as they could.
It's hard to call a day where we risked $476 dollars and grossed $882 in returns unsuccessful, but I was a mess most of the day on my verticals while my horizontal P3's were very good. Silly me not playing the P4's, which would have made me low four figures, but I left that money on the table. I said I was a mess, mostly on the bet construction side of things. In fairness, the handicapping wasn't bad.
Anyway, I've got the charts update with Post Race Info and the bet results are below that. At least it wasn't that chalky.
Race 7-Chalk $1.50-1
Race 8- 8th on Tote $27-1
Race 9- 5th on Tote $5.50-1
Race 10-5th on Tote $5.90 -1
Race 11-2nd on Tote $4.90-1
Race 12- 7th on Tote $12.20-1
Turk Out!
References
Fuller, Harriett (14 Aug 2017): Arlington Fall: Buick Recovering in Hospital following Fall From Permian. The Sun. Web. Recovered from https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/horseracing/4231799/william-buick-on-his-way-to-hospital-after-fall-from-permian-in-the-secretariat-stakes-at-arlington/
Saturday, August 12, 2017
The Nominations Are In: Arlington Million Day Races 7-12
Welcome Friends to the Turk and the Little Turk. Today's blogging is on location at Arlington Park as Little Turk and I take in the 35th Edition of The Arlington Million.
Last year at Million Day 34, we sweated our asses off but enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. The track is beautiful, the staff are friendly, the paddock and windows highly accessible. Now if only the State of Illinois wasn't so f**ked up as to not screw this treasure up in the name of slot revenues. I promised myself that today will only be about today, I'm living in the moment of this Million and I'm hopeful for the future that this beautiful track that this wonderful sport find a way to survive with a business model that works.
I've handicapped from Race 7, The Secretariat through Race 12 The Pucker Up. The handicaps are quick and dirty as I'm building P3's and P4's today and my horizontals will be pure value plays on exacta and win.
Do you have a favorite race track and favorite day at that track. Mine use to be Traver's/King Bishop Day but I felt priced out on that day at Saratoga. I think The Million is my day. I love Breeders's Cup Saturday, The Million and its a coin toss between the revamped Belmont Day and Kentucky Derby Day. I love the spectacle of the big day. Anyways, Little Turk, who's not so little anymore, and I get to hang out and relax and you can't put a price tag on that.
I work for a family owned business, very sharp people, and working around them makes me very sharp, always on, always thinking. The track allows me to use that awareness and sharpness to my advantage. My handicapping has been peaking over the past two months. I'm just like a horse in some ways, I'm on my 2nd off a long layoff. I'll try and stay sharp under Breeders' Cup before I get some farm time. I've really enjoyed blogging and hopefully the readers will return from Twitter one day.
Enjoy friends! Time to grab the car and drive out to the track. First post 1:15 ET. Turk Out!
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Video Review: Arlington Million 2016-2004
Welcome Friends to The Turk and the Little Turk.
I took Little Turk to Arlington for the first time in 2008. 10 Years later and we are returning, this time for the Arlington Million. Little Turk and I went last year and had a great time at the track. The staff is friendly, the track is wonderful, the paddock is easily reached and offers great views, and I can't say enough about how much I love this track. I'm concerned about the future of the track, and racing as a whole in Illinois, but that's a story for another time and place. This weekend, I intend to enjoy this Million and not worry about anything else.
In prep of handicapping the race, I assembled video on the last 13 Arlington Million run. Do you have a favorite? In this time frame I loved Little Mike and The Pizza Man, but Debussy's last 1/16 of a mile was scintillating.
Most of the winners were 2-3 lengths back at the top of the stretch. Only a few stayed on the lead at the 1/4 pole and kept it. Late turns of foot.
Enjoy. Turk Out!
2016 Arlington Million Mondialiste (Ire)
2015 Arlington Million The Pizza Man
2014 Arlington Million Hardest Core
2013 Arlington Million Real Solution
2012 Arlington Million Little Mike
2011 Arlington Million Cape Blanco (Ire)
2010 Arlington Million Debussy
2009 Arlington Million Gio Ponti
2008 Arlington Million Spirit One
2007 Arlington Million Jambalaya
2006 Arlington Million The Tin Man
2005 Arlington Million Powerscourt
2004 Arlington Million Kicken Kris with Powerscourt DQ'd
I took Little Turk to Arlington for the first time in 2008. 10 Years later and we are returning, this time for the Arlington Million. Little Turk and I went last year and had a great time at the track. The staff is friendly, the track is wonderful, the paddock is easily reached and offers great views, and I can't say enough about how much I love this track. I'm concerned about the future of the track, and racing as a whole in Illinois, but that's a story for another time and place. This weekend, I intend to enjoy this Million and not worry about anything else.
In prep of handicapping the race, I assembled video on the last 13 Arlington Million run. Do you have a favorite? In this time frame I loved Little Mike and The Pizza Man, but Debussy's last 1/16 of a mile was scintillating.
Most of the winners were 2-3 lengths back at the top of the stretch. Only a few stayed on the lead at the 1/4 pole and kept it. Late turns of foot.
Enjoy. Turk Out!
2016 Arlington Million Mondialiste (Ire)
2015 Arlington Million The Pizza Man
2014 Arlington Million Hardest Core
2013 Arlington Million Real Solution
2012 Arlington Million Little Mike
2011 Arlington Million Cape Blanco (Ire)
2010 Arlington Million Debussy
2009 Arlington Million Gio Ponti
2008 Arlington Million Spirit One
2007 Arlington Million Jambalaya
2006 Arlington Million The Tin Man
2005 Arlington Million Powerscourt
2004 Arlington Million Kicken Kris with Powerscourt DQ'd
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Post Race Review with Video of The Test and The Whitney G1's at Saratoga
Welcome Friends to The Turk and the Little Turk.
The fear of the unknown track, the bane of every public handicapper who is writing well in advance of post time in order to publish. Yesterday's handicap's were all based on a wet track, sloppy and sealed, and it ended up being listed as Fast. All in all the handicaps weren't too bad.
As I said pre-race, I was focused on the Pick 3, race 8-9-10. The Pick 3 paid $273 on a $2 bet powered by a 14-1 Thundering Sky/1 taking the wire. While I didn't bet, I most likely would not have covered the 1 horse so no harm/no foul.
Why didn't I play it? Summer friends, summer happens, and when you live in snow country, everybody plans everything in a short 12 week period. Yesterday was the Turk Family reunion and that picture is of my father, Papa Turk, as well as Little (not so Little anymore) Turk and me. The family has some serious horse players in it.
This week for me is all about prepping for the Arlington Million Day, which Little Turk and I will be attending. As much as I love Saratoga and the track experience, to me Arlington is my favorite course and it's just too bad it doesn't get an opportunity to host more big stakes action. The track is operated first class and the amenities I care about (lots of windows, fast service, easy to reach and visit paddock, parking, and rest rooms) are really well done.
The Test Grade 1
The Whitney Grade 1
These weren't that complicated. I would have easily had been alive into Race 10. With the track listed as Fast I have no doubt I would have singled Gun Runner as I suggested pre-race. That would have allowed me to cover about 4 horses in Race 10. I liked Thundering Sky cutting back from 1 1/16 Miles as I had handicapped the Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx and noted he ran a strong opening 7F. Would I have picked the 4 YO Sky Mesa? Who knows.
Have fun friends. Bet responsibly. Turk Out!
Saturday, August 5, 2017
The Nomination Is In: The Whitney Grade 1 at Saratoga
Gun Runner in the Razorback-Coady Photography |
Welcome Friends to the Turk and the Little Turk.
Today's Handicap's of Race 9 and 10 at Saratoga are in support of a vertical Pick 3 bet construction project, with Race 8, The Test as the opening leg. You can find my full blown video analysis and thoughts on that race here.
Race 9 is The Grade 1 Whitney contested at 1 1/8 Miles over dirt, a version of which I'm not sure yet. Keep your eye on the track conditions and scratches and changes as the day goes on. It looks like duck weather until mid afternoon.
It's a challenging three race series this Pick 3. I'm saying way up front, I'm not sure how much betting capital I'll be wagering, as there are easier spots to pick than this. What I think I'm going to do is assemble some prices in Race 8 and Race 10 and consider singling Gun Runner in Race 9. Alternatively, I'll cover several prices to beat Gun Runner and add a few covers in race 8 and 10. Both strategies have their merits. Do I like Gun Runner? I love how he is campaigned. Churchill Downs, Dubai, Oaklawn, Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, Parx, Saratoga, Monmouth. 7 tracks in last 8 starts. 8 wins in 15 starts. $4.6 MM in earnings. The four year old Candy Ride from Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway) is classy, trains well for Asmussen, and Asmusen/Geroux seem to have his pulse. Lot's to like. Lots to Like here? 3 Wet Starts, 1 Place. and last off track was a sloppy and sealed Haskell Invitational in 2016 a well beaten 6 lengths.
Let's get it on!
The Haskell 2016- Gun Runner no excuses, good trip, hated the surface and the dirt in his face when things tightened up.
The Charlestown Classic G2 CT 1 1/8 Sloppy/Sealed- Closer Favoring- Game effort for War Story; Cautious Giant 22 beaten lengths.
Stephen Foster Handicap CD 1 1/8 Fast dirt - Gun Runner by 8, Breaking Lucky well beaten Show.
Alysheba G2 CD 1 1/16 Miles Sloppy/Sealed- Breaking Lucky 0/2 Wet Track, 0/8 distance
Flat Out Stakes $98K 13/8 Miles Fast Dirt BEL Tu Brutus in a romp
Excelsior Stakes G3 Aqu. 1 1/4 Miles Fast Dirt- Tu Brutus (Chi) good first US effort
Suburban Handicap G2 BEL 1 1/4 Fast Dirt Paceless for a mile. Keen Ice by 3 over chalk Shaman Ghost
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile 2016 SA- A Closer favoring pace form with Gun Runner gamely Place.
I'd love to woo you with some BS and sound like I know exactly how this is going to play out, but I'm sorry you'll have to buy a Pink or some other colored sheet to get that sort of "expert" analysis. The track conditions, the surface itself, the fields lack of sloppy and sealed success gives me no real insights. That said, let's take stock of what we know.
- Gun Runner is the best horse on the track
- Keen Ice is the tiniest of notches below. I also love how Donegal and Calumet are campaigning Curlin's five year old.
- War Story's past performances implies he does better in speed duels than closers, except on wet surfaces. His lifetime high 106 Beyer was on a good surface and I liked his sloppy and sealed Charles Town Classic.
- Tu Brutus (Chi) has never run on an off track. I'm thinking he will set the pace and be gobbled up.
- Breaking Lucky is winless in 8 starts at the distance, winless on off track, 3 wins in 20 career starts but is an Ontario bred millionaire. I don't like the way he looked in the Alysheba on a sloppy and sealed.
- Cautious Giant and Discreet Lover will be the longest prices on the board. Neither is much of a threat, a combined 56 starts and 8 wins. That said, if swinging for the fences, Cautious Giant is interesting on the right track .
You could just press the easy button at pick Gun Runner, possibly single him. I wouldn't criticize you for that. I think it's as likely he fades to 4th as it is he wins and the wildcard is the track.
I don't see much reason to overthink this one. I'm going to watch the races before Race 8, get a feel for the surface, and cover 2 or 3 horses.
Have fun friends, Turk Out!
Labels:
Breaking Lucky,
Gun Runner,
Keen Ice,
The Whitney,
Tu Brutus (Chi),
War Story
Friday, August 4, 2017
The Nomination Is In: The Test Grade 1 at Saratoga and 1st leg of Race 8-10 Pick 3
American Gal- Benoit |
As I sat down to start studying the Saratoga Late Pick 3 that includes The Test G1, The Whitney G1 and De La Rose 100K, I became enthralled with the Test field And decided this race was deserving of its own blog post.
Why am I enthralled? It's a deep, experienced field: 64 career starts/32 Career wins for the field of 10. There appears to be opportunity to get a very good horse, like for example, Vertical Oak, at a nice price of $9-$12-1.
The field also has a mixture of horses that have run in slop and sealed surfaces, which I'm afraid tomorrow's Spa may turn into. I like the handicapping challenge and the betting opportunity presented here In this Grade 1 Three Year Old Fillies race. This isn't what I would say "my wheelhouse", but let's dive into it as I don't want to cover any more than I need to for my planned betting activity itself, the Race 8-10 Pick Three. Watch the track conditions and Scratches and Changes. The weather is bad headed towards Saratoga.
Before I go to far, I'd like to thank the good people at Feedspot for naming The Turk and the Little Turk one of the Top 60 Horse Racing Blogs, checking us in at 59. It was an honor, deserved or not, and nice recognition in an era where few comment or even read full blogs anymore.
The Victory Ride G3: BEL 6.5f Fast Dirt 9 July
A romp by 4+ lengths for American Gal. Vertical Oak is running nice in the last 1/16th to get up for Place.
Summertime Oaks G2 SA 1 1/16 Miles Fast Dirt 17 June
Faypien had a nice trip, but the re rally she makes to hold for Win was really solid.
Jersey Girl 150K BEL 6f Fast Dirt 11 June Chalon cruising.
The chalk Vertical Oak pulled up with bad start. Chalon had a soft quarter pace :23.62, and :23.78 soft half, Chalon just dropped the hammer to 1 min 10 sec 6/10ths.
Miss Preakness G3 PIM 6F Fast Dirt 19 May
Vertical Oak in peak form.
Gold Finch PrM $67K 6F Sloppy/Sealed Dirt 29 April
Vertical Oak in a sloppy/sealed Prairie Meadows setting career high Beyer of 94
Race 3 Maiden $75K GP 6F Fast Dirt 11 Jan
Divine Miss Grey breaking her Maiden at Gulfstream. 5 wins in 7 starts in 2017
I could make a case for four horses winning this race. It's not often I have four horses in my possible win spot so when I feel good about four I can either cover all four in my Pick 3 or I can take the best two or three prices and take my chances.
Faybien ships in from Santa Anita for Baffert. I suspect she will be the chalk, the Ghostzapper oozes class. Never raced a wet surface although Tomlinson is at my Mendoza line of 400. 2 wins in 2 starts at the distance. Training exceptionally well including a :59 1/5th 5F bullet. Baffert's numbers are absolutely gaudy: 25% Route/Sprint (cutting back from 1 1/16), 32% 31-60 day layoff, 41% won last start, 30% dirt wins, 34% graded stakes in 135 starts and 32% winner with Bejarano Up.
American Gal left Baffert's barn and is trained by Simon Callaghan. I like Callaghan and Baffert.
Callaghan, who had Abel Tasman, lost the talented Quality Road filly and had no qualms calling out a deep pocketed syndicate, "...China Horse Club purchased a 50 percent interest in Abel Tasman from breeder and co-owner Clearsky Farms after her victory in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Starlet in December. It was intended that she carry China Horse Club colors in the Santa Ysabel. Prior to race day, Callaghan said he confirmed with the silks room that the colors were available.
However, Callaghan said, when Talamo came to the walking ring, he was wearing the Clearsky colors. Talamo was asked to return to the room and change into the China Horse Club silks, but the silks could not be located. Talamo wore the Clearsky silks.
“They moved her purely because of the silks,” Callaghan said. “It’s a pretty heartless thing to do. China Horse Club brings a lot of money into the game, but they bring no class.”
A phone call Thursday to China Horse Club representative Mick Flanagan seeking comment was disconnected during conversation. Flanagan did not return a phone message seeking comment.
The move was a major blow to Callaghan, who developed Abel Tasman from an unraced 2-year-old into one of the leading members of her division. The filly, by Quality Road, has won three of five starts and is considered a leading prospect for the Kentucky Oaks.
Baffert, who trains American Anthem for an ownership group that includes China Horse Club, said he got the call Wednesday.
“I was surprised,” Baffert said. “They said they were going to move her no matter what, and they asked me" (Free 2017).
Drama.
Your Love is a lightly raced Chad Brown Flatter filly. 2 starts/2 wins, stepping up from N1X territory today.
I really like Vertical Oak. She's had a really interesting 2017 with early success, some misfortune in the Jersey Girl, a well beaten but still running Victory Ride. It's depressing her price and I dig that. She's 4 wins in 10 starts and don't sleep on that speed.
I'll take my chances not covering Chalon, but you can't cover them all. She showed exceptional speed in the Jersey Girl so depending on her price I may include her. Sorry to be less than definitive, I'm just not sure if I'm even building a horizontal bet on the race.
I'm not sure what to make of Cursor. She's looked good in sprints and her price will be big. Speed, and a lack of, is the issue.
I like the Divine Park filly Divine Miss Grey. 5 wins in 9 career starts. Speed, and a lack of, is the issue part deux.
I think I'll cover the four and maybe assemble some prices into exacta and win bets as well.
Have fun with it friends. I'll be back to handicap the Whitney, the De La Rose and complete my Pick 3.
Turk Out!
References
Free, Brad. (9 March 2017) Able Tasman in Callaghan to Baffert Trainer Switch. Web. Daily Race Form. Retrieved From http://www.drf.com/news/abel-tasman-callaghan-baffert-trainer-switch
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Aggregate Video of all 2017 Saratoga Stakes Races Dirt and Turf
Welcome friends to The Turk and The Little Turk.
Today I pulled together all the video on every stake race run at the Saratoga Springs from the opening of the Meet through August 2.
I've never had a very good ROI at Saratoga, especially on the dirt track. The surface doesn't seem to be playing as in years past. I've heard it referred to as playing like Churchill Downs. I don't know about that. When you watch the races back to back like this you will see the rail and the next path over seem to have a bias. I'm sticking to the Turf and just handicapping the main track for kicks.
I'll update this as the weeks go on.
Turk Out!
Lake George Stakes G3 8.5F 3YO F 21 July
Diana Stakes G1 9f 3YO and Up 22 July
Bowling Green G2 11F 4 YO and Up 29 July
Coronation Cup Stakes 5.5 F 3 YO 31 July
Dirt
Coaching Club American Oaks G1 9F 3 YO Fillies 23 July
Honorable Miss H. G2 6F 3 Yo and Up F/M 26 July
John Morrissey Stakes 6.5F 3 Yo and Up F/M
Curlin Stakes 9F 3 YO
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes H. G1 6f 3 YO& Up 29 July
Amsterdam Stakes G2 6.5 F Dirt 3YO
Jim Dandy G2 9F 3YO
Shuvee H. G3 9F 3Yo and Up F/M 30 July
Shine Again Stakes 7f 3Yo and Up F/M 2 August
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