Racetrack Lenny

Wha' Happened?

that's the question on my mind after following this weekend's 4 stakes races.

In New York, there was the Gotham Stakes, a Grade 3 race run at Aqueduct over a fast track. A very strange race is the best way to put it. First, Jockey Alan Garcia lost his irons and had his saddle slip as soon as they left the gate. You would think that spelled the end of Pavo's chances. Wrong. Garcia put on quite a show managing to stay on his horse and nearly winning the whole thing. He finished 2nd at 17/1. However, the stewards took him down and placed him 4th for Garcia accidentally hitting Naughty New Yorker who was closing at that point. I watched the replay and the stewards got it wrong. Garcia's whip did hit Naughty New Yorker; but, the contact was incidental and accidental. I don't think Naughty New Yorker would have done any better than he did. As it was, he finished 4th and got moved up to 3rd. Look for Pavo to be in the Wood Memorial--he belongs.

The Gotham saw the 2 longest shots on the board set suicidal fractions of 22-1/5 and 44-2/5 with 6/5 favorite Galloping Grocer sitting the rail trip 3rd. The Grocer got the lead at the head of the stretch but got run down by both Survivalist (the race winner at 3/1) and Pavo. Because of the steward's actions, the Grocer got moved up to 2nd. Galloping Grocer may be a miler--despite sitting 3rd, he was tiring at the end. Survivalist closed from far back to win; but, there was a pace meltdown and he was the lucky horse.

At Oaklawn Park, the Grade 3 Rebel Stakes was run. This was the race Smarty Jones used last year to begin his march to the Derby. Smarty's connections are trying to do the same with Rockport Harbor and they nearly pulled it off at 8/5. Despite somewhat sluggish fractions and being loose on the lead (Rockport had a 3-1/2 length lead at the half), he got run down by Greater Good (John McKee up) who won by a half length at 9/2. Look for Greater Good to go on to greater things. Rockport may have needed this race--remember, he's been troubled by a sore hoof for weeks. However, I think he's a miler and may be distance challenged at the classic distances. The huge surprise in the Rebel was the poor performance by Afleet Alex. Sent off the 3/5 favorite, he was 2nd at the 3/4 pole and was making his patented late run but he literally stopped at the head of the stretch. That kind of stoppage suggests something went wrong; I just hope it isn't serious because Afleet Alex is one of my favs for the Derby.

The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita was probably the best race of the weekend. A very competitive race considering the favorite (Roman Ruler) went off the tepid 3/1 choice. The Ruler showed nothing. He was actually being eased in the stretch. No Derby for Roman Ruler. Consolidator, the 7/1 race winner, showed he belonged in the Derby hunt with a going-away 6 length win through some swift fractions. Put him in your Derby picture. Wilko went off at 4/1 and ran an even 4th all the way around. He may be just a cut below these.

The Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby had to be the weakest field ever assembled. Sun King, a legitimate Derby contender, literally had a public workout. Sent of at 1/20--that's right, folks- a nickle for every dollar. He toyed with the field to win by 3 widening lengths paying $2.10 across the board. The track got dealt its biggest show pool deficit in its history. I'm surprised they allowed show betting. The value in this race turned out to be the exacta and trifecta pool. With a 27/1 shot finishing 2nd and a 62/1 shot finishing 3rd, the trifecta paid $158. Not bad with a 1/20 shot on top. I would have liked to have seen Sun King in a more competitive race; but, the final time was not too bad and maybe this strategy will work.

If Alan Garcia is reading my blog- You have earned my great respect with the heady ride on Pavo despite all that went wrong! Congrats!

Bet with your head, not over it!

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 6:04 PM