It had to happen.  I couldn’t continue to pick horses at Saratoga without enduring a cold streak of epic proportion.  And the last three days have been pretty cold — so cold, the dragon couldn’t breathe fire when I was around.  Today, I did have two winners on top (listed 3 winners), including one of my best bets, but the first 6 races where total disasters.  No doubles, no pick 3’s and worst of all, no exacta boxes — a bet which has been my real profit maker.  From races 6-10, I felt like a real handicapper again and I was a head away from listing the late pick 3’s and pick 4.  I even had a cold exacta in race 10 for $24.

Saturday is Travers day, the highlight of the meet at The Spa.  The only thing worse than being cold coming into the Travers is being cold and wet!  It’s supposed to rain cats and dogs, but maybe Mother Nature is doing me a favor.  Maybe I need a change from all the nice weather to change my luck.  All I have to say is it will be a challenging 13 race card with lots of scratches and surface changes.  Perfect — an easy day to try and get hot.  I’ll do my best to repeat last year, when I had a great Travers day.  Just ask my friends who were there and I will see you on Saturday!  I expect a warm reception.  Post time is 11:30am so check my picks by 11am.

In a terrible mood today after two days of terrible handicapping.  Travers day looks wet and scratch-filled and I was hoping to make a splash tomorrow without an appearance from Mother Nature.  Oh well, there’s always today’s card, still fast and firm, where I deserve a good spanking in race 6!  Spanky Fischbein (#2) is the speed in a paceless sprint race and we could get more than 2-1.  I’m boxing him with Lucky Dreamer (#9) and Arcata (#1A) and keying in doubles and pick 3’s.

In race 7, a 1 mile turf race with so much speed, Loxy Lady (#6) towers over these on route experience and speed figures — I’m keying her in doubles and pick 3’s and boxing in exactas with Pearl of Valor (#4) and A.P. Light (#3).  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 4 and 6

Race 2: 2, 9 and 6

Race 3: 3 and 2

Race 4: 2 and 7

Race 5: 10 with 1 and 4

Race 6: 2 (Best Bet) with 9 and 1A

Race 7: 6 (Best Bet) with 4 and 3

Race 8: 2 with 6 and 5

Race 9: 5 with 3 and 1

Race 10: 7 and 9