Coast-to-coast

Otherwise, we dibbed and dabbed all afternoon with the plays and wound up this-close to being in the black. Our best finish was the cold tri in the Sabin at Gulfstream. A solid return there -- but the frustration-factor played into things at Tampa and Santa Anita. At Tampa we were 1-2-4 with our tri box in the Suncoast. We pulled down the exacta box at odds of 2-1 over 13-1 for $48.00/$2. With one of ours finishing fourth at 10-1, the potential tri payoff there would have really helped our bottom line. Same 1-2-4 finish in the San Carlos at Santa Anita -- and we mised the show spot by only a nose. And a little bit of a different disappointment in the Endeavour at Tampa -- we listed five among our plays with the note to include that fifth pick in our plays in event of a scratch. Unfortunately two of ours scratched. The eventual runnerup, Laurafina, would have been included in our mix after those scratches -- but, heck, how deep can we go in anticipation of scratches? But that race ended in a nice little exacta and tri with Laurafina and a couple of ours.

It was a fun, tantalizing day...

WAGERED: $272.00
COLLECTED: $263.90

Lost four races to scratched and cancellations. That left us with a 1-for-6 record on the afternoon...

Gulfstream, Race 1, Infinity Blue... Scratched.
Gulfstream, Race 11, Perfect Promise... 9th at 3-1.
Tampa, Race 6, Jewels N Gems... 11th at 3-1.
Tampa, Race 9, My Lordship... WON (9.40, 5.00, 3.00).
Tampa, Race 10, R Loyal Man... 3rd at 5-1 (xxx, xxx, 4.00).
Tampa, Race 11, Joey Blueeyes... 4th at 9-5.
Oaklawn, Race 2, Princess Betty... Racing cancelled.
Oaklawn, Race 3, Formal Appeal... Racing cancelled.
Santa Anita, Race 2, Herbalis... 6th at 7-2.
Santa Anita, Race 9, Quickfire... Scratched.

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.

Like Now 5-2
Sunshine Alpine 2-1*
Strummer 2-1

Wager: $5 W on Book Bishop.
Ran 5th at 6-1.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-5.
...$2 tri key Book Bishop over next two.
Ran 5/1-3.

Book Bishop...Showed marked improvement in first start for Contessa. Finds a nice spot for stakes debut.
Strummer...Won a similar event last time.
Like Now.

Your Bluffing 1-5*
Water Cannon 9-2
Whats What 22-1

Wager: $5 W on Your Bluffing.
Collected $6.00 on the W ($2.40).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 tri key Your Bluffing over next three.
Ran 1/2-4-5.

Your Bluffing...17-12-1-1 over the Laurel strip. The distance is a question mark though and this one faltered in this race last year. However, this isn't a particularly strong edition of the Campbell and he looks primed stretching out off of a 1M stakes win here.
Legend's Silver...Another that has shown an affinity for the track. Gets tested for class here but ended 2005 going well.
Water Cannon...Shown some talent in the past but struggled last year -- winding up 2005 without and exacta finish. Claimed last time and might wake up in new barn.
Speed Whiz.

Taittinger Rose 8-5*
Mocita 6-1
Darling Daughter 3-1

Wager: $5 WP on Taittiner Rose.
Collected $20.50 on the WP (5.40, 2.80).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $22.40 on the ex box ($22.40/$2).
...$2 tri key Taittinger Rose over next three.
Collected $66.20 on the tri key ($66.20/$2).

Taittinger Rose...This gal has burned us before -- typically close but not often in the winner's circle lately. Still, it's haqrd to look past her against this bunch.
Mocita...Jock/trainer combo have been going well this meet . Ths one comes in off of a couple of stakes victories.
Darling Daughter...Lightly raced but showing plenty of potential. Took to the track in latest.
Miss Matched.

Smokey Glacken 6-5*
Atlas Valley 6-1
Beautiful Bets 40-1

Wager: $5 WP on Smokey Glacken.
Collected $19.50 on the WO (4.60, 3.20).
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 1-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-5-6-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-5-6-9.

Smokey Glacken...The way she won the stake last month says she's in top form and likes this track.
Splendid Blended...Clearly a big question mark. Talented -- but they announced she was retired and now she's back. Tread lightly.
Injustice...Typically in the hunt and fits with these on her best.
For All We Know.

Crystal Current 2-1
Saffronista 13-1
Taylor Madison 14-1

Wager: $5 WP on Crystal Current.
Collected $25.00 on the WP (6.20, 3.80).
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 1-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $24.00 on the ex box ($48.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-6.

Crystal Current...Nicely bred youngster from Steinbrenner/Mott. Comes off of a layoff and often these lightly raced types can return with some added maturity. She'll be tough if that's the case.
Capozzene...With four stakes starts under her belt she might have a little edge in experience over these. Improving and has Pletcher/Velazquez in her corner.
Saffronista...Looks like she got the hang of it in her last two. Another coming off of a brief layoff and that could help.
Excellerant.

My Lordship 7-2
Laurafina 4-1
Amorama 1-1*
Brazililan, Moon Dazzle scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on My Lordship.
Collected $36.00 on the WP (9.40, 5.00).
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next of scratch.
Ran 1-3-8.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-3-8.

My Lordship...Two stakes wins since arriving in Florida. Fits with this group.
Amorama...Frankel trainee is a G1 level competitor and might have an edge on these -- but might need one off of the four-month break.
Brazilian...Pletcher 4YO is lightly raced but showing signs of talent. Must get in from AE list.
On the Bus.
Moon Dazzle.

Bluegrass Cat 3-5*
Deputy Glitters 63-1
R Loyal Man 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on R Loyal Man.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-9.

R Loyal Man...Tepid vote off the the lifetime best Beyer stakes win here last month. The two clunkers last fall scare us a bit -- but he's reeled off three straight since and might have simply needed the education to turn the corner.
Bluegrass Cat...Three straight since moving into Pletcher barn -- including a couple of graded stakes. Clearly the one to beat, but has been off a couple months and this is the type of race along the Derby Trail that can produce some upsets.
Laptop Computer...Broke maiden two back then was second in NW1 behind the promising Barbican. Plenty of upside.
Blazing Rate.

Race card cancelled.

Private Gift...Ended her 3YO season in fine fashion and will be tough if able to return in good form.
Platinum Ballet...Won an alw event here last time off of a long layoff. Could prove tough.
Culinary...Tossed in an inexplicable clunker two back but otherwise has looked good since moving in against older company.
La Reason.

Wager: $5 WP on Private Gift.
...$2 exacta top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.

Surf Cat 8-5*
Major Success 2-1
Oceanus 37-1

Wager: $5 WP on Surf Cat.
Collected $21.50 on the WP (5.40, 3.20).
...$2 exacta top two.
Collected $15.20 on the ex box ($15.20/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $7.60 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-7.

Surf Cat...Got a late start but made some brief noise in the 3YO division early in the summer before stubbing toe against older in Pac Classic. Only one start since then but might turn out to be a player in the handicap division and could be tough here if ready.
Major Success...Has hit the top of his game for Gann/Frankel and won a G2 here last time.
Jet West...Going well lately and just missed behind Major Success in that G2.
Congrats.

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