Welcome home!  That’s what I was thinking at the end of the card at Belmont on Saturday.  Listed 5 winners, 3 on top, and had a $9 return on investment.  Picking winners on top was difficult upstate — maybe I can do better closer to home.

I also listed the late pick 3 for $507 and had the last two doubles.  Had the cold exacta in race 3 for $22 and listed the exacta box in race 9 for $32.20.  Let’s assume we are keeping the $1 double bet on all races, $1 pick 3 on all races and $5 exacta box on all races where I listed 3 horses.  If you did that today, you won $195.50 on a $179 investment.  There’s no place like home!

Greetings from rainy and wet New York as we start the Fall Championship Meet at Belmont with a muddy sealed track and a soft turf course (only race 8 on the turf).  Just want to thank everyone who encouraged me during my Saratoga quest and I want to congratulate my friend Brian Ancona for winning our personal handicapping challenge.  Can’t wait until next year!

For today, you may find some decent priced horses in the races rained off the turf if you focus on the “Main Track Only” entrants.  In race 9, Papa Jerry (#13) can stay close to the pace and likes an off track — I’m playing him in an exacta box with Brecciate (#11) and Puregoodness (#9) and using him in doubles and pick 3′s.

In race 5, Greece (#12) is a firster from David Donk with superior mud breeding — doesn’t have to be much to beat these.  I’m playing an exacta box with Midnight Mass (#3) and Cayo Hueso (#6) and using in doubles and pick 3′s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck

Race 1: 6 and 11

Race 2: 3 and 6

Race 3: 9 and 7

Race 4: 1

Race 5: 12 (Best Bet), 3 and 6

Race 6: 4, 6 and 8

Race 7: 6, 3 and 1

Race 8: 1 and 4

Race 9: 13 (Best Bet), 11 and 9

Race 10: 14 and 11

Finally, on the last day of the Saratoga Summer Meet, I could actually call myself the best handicapper in Amerca.  Listed 8 winners, 6 on top and had a flat bet profit of over $25 for the day.  I listed 5 doubles (2 cold), listed 2 pick 3′s and listed 3 exacta boxes, including one for  $76 in race 1, which also listed the $219 triple.  One of my best bets even won at 3-1!  But no pick 4′s and no pick 6, but I’m not complaining.

My final overall stats will be published on this site later this week.  However,  I only went 65/356, or about 18% on the win bets with a flat bet loss of $198.  I did list 188 winners in those 356 races (53%), which is pretty good considering I only listed 2 horses in 30% of the races.  But compared to the professionals in the local papers, I lagged behind on the win bets, and they have to put their picks in before scratches, which I was able incorporate into my picks on most days.  Give them credit, some of them had a really good meet on the win end.  But remember, none of the professionals had a profit on their win bets, which is why you have to find other ways to win.  Let’s see how my 3 bets ($1 doubles, $1 pick 3′s and $5 exacta boxes with 3 horses) fared during the meet and you can judge the results for yourself.  I’m definitely not the best handicapper in America, but I put up a great fight against the dragon and had a great time doing it.  More thoughts in the days to come!

Finally — the end is here.  I achieved my goal to handicap every card at the Saratoga meet and post my picks for my avid readers.  It has been a physical and emotional journey, with so many ups and downs I could barely catch my breath.  But it was worth every minute and I have one more day to show my handicapping prowess.  I’m sure other people would call it something else — nothing I would like to print here. We will see in the final statistics!

Fast and firm, with another difficult card to get a feel for a make picks with any conviction.  In race 3, Credit Limit (#1) can stick close to the pace and should win with a good trip.  I’m keying him in all my doubles and pick 3′s and playing an exacta box with Uno Peso (#5).

In race 10, The Hopeful, Dublin (#12) loved the local track and is working well for Wayne Lukas.  I’m playing him in an exacta box with Grand Slam Andre (#4) and Backtalk (#13) and using in doubles and pick 3′s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 4, 5 and 1A

Race 2: 2, 6 and 1

Race 3: 1 (Best Bet) and 5

Race 4: 7 and 6

Race 5: 3, 5 and 8

Race 6: 9, 1 and 6

Race 7: 7, 1 and 3

Race 8: 8, 7 and 5

Race 9: 3, 5 and 7

Race 10: 12 (Best Bet), 4 and 13

Race 11: 3 with 5 and 9