In a year that was devastating to people throughout the world, it became necessary to find solace in something to keep your mind occupied and perhaps find a little joy during this horrible pandemic!  For me, horse racing helped me escape for long periods — especially during the Saratoga meet where I handicapped every day.  Typically, the year was filled with extreme highs and devastating lows, so how about I count down some of the highlights for the year.  So here are my top 6 — I hope all of my loyal readers will reflect on 2020 and find some of your own highlights!

#6. 1/19/20: Right before the pandemic hit our shores, I was having a great January handicapping at Gulfstream with win bets being profitable during the month.  On the 19th, I had a very good day going 3 for 11 with a $20.10 flat bet profit and 2 for 5 on best bets with a $3.40 flat bet profit.  In addition, I listed 6 exacta boxes (including a cold $110.60 in race 1) and 2 trifecta boxes.  Plus, Mt. Mitchell won, so my favorite headline horse in 11 years came through!

#5.  5/2/20: Over a 3-week period, I decided to try my luck handicapping at Oaklawn, which had some incredible cards in April and May.  I’m proud to say of the 8 cards I handicapped on this site, my top two best bets that I wrote about in each blog were very profitable.  I had gone 7 for 16 on those picks and you would have doubled your money!  On my headline best bets, 3 for 8 with a 75% profit.  On 5/2, I had 4 winners on top and went 2 for 4 on best bets with flat bet profits on both, which illustrated the nice run I was having there!

#4. 8/5/20: On a dreary day at Saratoga, with all races off the turf, I really wasn’t too interested in the card. But it ended up being a great handicapping day –  listed all 9 winners, 3 on top and listed every exacta, double, pick 3, pick 4 and pick 5 on the card!  Both best bets ran second, but made for some good exactas up and down.

#3: 8/1/20:  Over the years, I have done pretty well on Whitney days and this year was no exception.  Had a great day with 6 winners on top and huge flat bet profits on win bets and best bets.  Echo Town capped off the day as my best bet of the day at $ 16.40.

#2. 9/7/20: On closing day at Saratoga, I had 4 winners on top, but 3 of those were my best bets that paid $17.00, $14.00 and $12.60 respectively.  A best bet bonanza that was only outdone by my biggest highlight of the year!

#1: 5/30/20: During another successful meet handicapping at Churchill, I had a day to remember!  Two best bets out of three won and paid $28.20 and a whopping $53.40.  A $2 best on all 3 returned an incredible $81.60…a $75.60 profit!  Definitely the highlight of my year!

Fast and firm for the Sunday card — only two short-priced winners on top yesterday, but they were best bets, and listed two $300 plus pick 3′s because 5 of my 3rd choices won on the card, so something to build on today!

In race 11, Rocket Joe Copper (#5) likes the local sod, the distance and gets the post post in last several starts  — key in all late multi-race wagers and play an exacta box with #’s 6 and 10.

In race 8, Princesa Caroline (#7) failed in comeback race at The Spa, but has been freshened by top connections and should sit a perfect stalking trip and run down the leaders late — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 11 and 12.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 8, 6 and 3

Race 2: 5, 3 and 6

Race 3: 6, 7 and 3

Race 4: 8, 2 and 10

Race 5: 5, 6 and 9

Race 6: 8, 2 and 3

Race 7: 6, 5 and 1

Race 8: 7 (Best Bet) with 11 and 12

Race 9: 3, 8 and 7

Race 10: 9 (Best Bet) with 3 and 11

Race 11: 5 (Best Bet) with 6 and 10

Fast and firm for the Saturday card — just wanted to wish all my family and friends and very happy holiday season and a healthy new year.  Not much to brag about here over the first two weekends, but many of my second and third choices are winning, especially in best bet races, so look for more on top selections to start running better!

In race 4, R Happy Ending (#3) should get a perfect stalking trip right behind the speed in this turf sprint and prevail late — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 2 and 11.

In race 8, The Tropical Park Derby, Colonel Liam (#6) working well for return and has great upside — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 5 and 4.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 6, 8 and 5

Race 2: 10, 9 and 3

Race 3: 6, 3 and 1

Race 4: 3 (Best Bet) with 2 and 11

Race 5: 4, 9 and 3

Race 6: 4, 7 and 9

Race 7: 7 (Best Bet) with 8 and 2

Race 8: 6 (Best Bet) with 5 and 9

Race 9: 4 (Best Bet) with 8 and 7

Race 10: 2, 10 and 4

Race 11: 1 with 9 and 11

Fast and firm for the Sunday card — only 1  short-priced winner on top yesterday, but 6 second choices won, so I’m due to have many more on top in the days ahead and best bets should fare better soon, so let’s see if we can make that happen!

In race 8, Skye Snow (#9) claimed by top connections and drops into another winning spot — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 2 and 8.

In race 9, Dardanellos (#4) cuts back to a one turn mile and connections have done well together — price too good to pass up.  Key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 2 and 3.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 2, 3 and 4

Race 2: 6, 8 and 1

Race 3: 5, 3 and 4

Race 4: 5, 6 and 8

Race 5: 4, 3 and 1

Race 6: 3, 12 and 8

Race 7: 1, 8 and 3

Race 8: 9 (Best Bet) with 2 and 8

Race 9: 4 (Best Bet) with 2 and 3

Race 10: 7, 6 and 2

Race 11: 1, 12 and 11