Coast-to-coast

WAGERED: $352.00
COLLECTED: $305.60

Jinxed! That's the only explanation. I do an occasional handicapping gig on Capital OTB-TV in upstate NY and the last three or four times I've been on the air I've been plagued with some really bad beats -- getting nipped in the shadow of the wire. You expect those head-bobs to even out over time -- but I've just been on a run of bad luck in that arena. And Saturday just confirmed the notion that I'm jinxed.

Stormello getting caught on the last bob was bad enough -- but earlier, in the Gulfstream second race, it absolutely looked as though Vamanos won the race. So much so that I walked away from the TV, only to return a few minutes later and see another horse as the winner! I was so certain that Vamanos had won that I fully expected to see a DQ when I looked up the chart. But no -- I'm simply jinxed by the photo-finish camera.

I can only hope it turns around and these photos start to go my way. But at this point they owe me so many that it's unlikely I'll catch up.

The Vamanos and Stormello beats hurt because either one would have moved us into positive territory for the afternoon...

Gulfstream, Race 2, Vamanos... 2nd at 9-2 (xxx, 7.00, 4.20).
Gulfstream, Race 7, Spin Master... 9th at 5-1.
Gulfstream, Race 9, Bright One... 4th at 5-1.
Gulfstream, Race 10, Stormello... 2nd at 6-1 [xxx, 6.20, 3.00].
Fair Grounds, Race 5, Brainy Benny/Moudez entry... 3rd at 8-5 [xxx, xxx, 2.40].
Fair Grounds, Race 9, Desert Wheat... WON [7.80, 4.80, 3.60].
Turfway, Race 11, Rutledge Cat... 7th at 4-1.
Santa Anita, Race 7, Charmo... 7th at 3-1.
Santa Anita, Race 8, Sam P... 2nd at 6-1 [xxx, 4.60, 3.40].

Evening Attire 8-1
Malibu Moonshine 9-1
Angliana 3-1

Wager: $5 WP on Silver Prospector.
Ran 4th at 12-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-4-5-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-4-5-7.

Silver Prospector...With the early speed and Lopez onboard he might be tough to run down late.
Angliana...Should sit a stalking trip and be rolling late.
Tall Story...Has shown flashes and might be ready to run a big one.
Carminooch.

Corinthian 1-1*
Hesanoldsalt 5-2
AP Arrow 5-2

Wager: $5 WP on AP Arrow.
Ran 3rd.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 tri key AP Arrow over next three.
Ran 3/1-2-5.
...$1 tri key Corinthian over other three.
Collected $8.10 on the tri key [$16.20/.$2].

AP Arrow...Beyer-wise the G1 Donn was his best yet and could have him set for better today.
Corinthian...Could prove to be a formidable foe if able to sneak away early.
Hesanoldsalt...Has been going well since arriving in Florida.
Rehoboth.

King of the Roxy 6-1
Bold Start 11-1
Out of Gwedda 5-2

Wager: $5 WP on Spin Master.
Ran 9th at 5-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 7-9.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-9.

Spin Master...Improved nicely in second start -- to remain undefeated. Looks capable of contending with move into stakes company.
Forefathers...Big effort to be a close-up second in the G2 Swale. Dangerous.
King of the Roxy...Toss the career debut and the 8.5M BC Juvie and all the sprint efforts are very good.
Out of Gwedda.

Half Ours 9-5*
Park Avenue Ball 11-1
Diabolical 2-1
Bright One ran 4th to complete the $630.40/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Bright One.
Ran 4th at 5-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $29.30 on the ex box [$58.60/$2].
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $79.60 on the tri box [$159.20/$2].

Bright One...After a brilliant start to career, this one came back from a late-summer break to run in puzzling fashion. The works seem to indicate he's on his toes and if so we'll take a stab in a field with many coming in off of layoffs.
Half Ours...4YO with only four lifetime starts. Could be any kind -- but lacks seasoning.
Park Avenue Ball...Sprinting doesn't necessarily seem to be his game -- but he's shown some early foot going longer and he's a graded stakes winner.
Diabolical.

Scat Daddy 5-1
Stormello 6-1
Nobiz Like Shobiz 3-5*
Adore the Gold ran 4th to complete the $505.40/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Stormello.
Collected $15.50 on the WP [xxx, 6.20].
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $37.60 on the ex box [$75.20/$2].
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $78.50 on the tri box [$157.00/$2[.

Stormello...Interesting that the SoCal-based trainer was intent on getting to Florida for this race. Nice string of works and should be forwardly placed..
Nobiz Like Shobiz...Clearly the one to beat but stranger things have happened in these Derby Trail races.
Adore the Gold...Might rate this one higher if it wasn't for the outside post.
Scat Daddy.

Kip Deville 9-1
Bayeux 6-1
Silent Name 9-2

Wager: $5 WP on Charmo.
Ran 7th at 3-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-7-8-10.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-7-8-10.

Charmo...Put together a nice -- albeit abbreviated -- 2006 season. Comebacker was iffy but has some good works since and Gomez sticks.
Bayeux...Must overcome the outside post but has two good tries since arriving stateside.
Three Valleys...Should be rolling late.
Fast Parade.

Great Hunter 4-5*
Sam P 6-1
Saint Paul 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Sam P.
Collected $11.50 on the WP [xxx, 4.60].
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $16.20 on the ex box [$16.20/$2].
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $8.10 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-7-8.

Sam P...Pletcher trainee ships cross-country for this and he's likely better than he showed in the G3 Holy Bull.
Great Hunter...Yet to miss the board in seven tries, including five graded stakes.
Hurry Up Austin...Turf to dirt -- but he is clearly dirt-meant. Stakes-placed. Interesting.
Tiago.

Lava Man 3-5*
Molengao 7-1
Boboman 9-1
Arson Squad scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Lava Man.
Collected $14.50 on the WP [3.20, 2.60].
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $6.70 on the ex box [$13.40/$2].
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4.

Lava Man...The runner we thought deserved 20076 HOTY honors. No lock to repeat in this event but we'll be rooting for him and he's certainly shown he's in good form with the win in the SM Turf.
Arson Squad...Could be an improved 4YO. Nice work for this.
McCann's Mojave...We'll know more about that big effort in the SM Classic after this race.
Molengao.

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