Two days of incredible racing — one day of incredible handicapping.  That’s what happened to me at the 2011 BC at Churchill.  I was actually at Monmouth with a couple of friends and got on a pretty good run after a difficult start in the Marathon and Juvenile Turf.  From races 5-11, I listed 6 winners, 2 on top (my Best Bets at $17.80 and $6.60 respectively) and listed 4 consecutive doubles and 3 consecutive pick 3’s (from $528 to $923).  Here’s the killer — I listed 5 out of 6 in the pick 6 which paid $95,000 for 5. It would have cost you a little more than $1400 if you used my top 3 picks in each race, but a guy can dream.  My friend Brian liked the 64-1 bomb in race 10 so we really could have been the only ones to hit the whole thing if we put our heads together.  Anyway, here are a couple of quick statistics for the 2 days:

• I went 4 for 14 with a flat bet profit of $3.40 ($2.22 ROI)
• I went 3 for 7 on best bets with a flat bet profit of $12.60 ($3.80 ROI)

Thanks to all of you for your support of the site and I apologize for taking the day off today and watching football!  See you next week!

I assume it will be fast and good for the ultra-competitive Saturday BC card — lots of surprises on Day 1 with some big prices so I’m sure that will be the case on Day 2.  Had two winners on top on Friday, but my top choices ran second twice and my second choices won twice. I also had a $916 trifecta if you boxed my horses in race 6.  Not a great day, but ok.  Let’s see how I do today.

In race 3, The Grade 3 Marathon, A.U. Miner (#11) ran great in the Jockey Club Gold Cup against the best in the country. likes the local surface and will appreciate the extra ground — key in all multi-race wagers and play an exacta box with #’s 4 and 10.

In race 6, The Grade 2 Turf Sprint, Regally Ready (#8) loves the local course and has run well on less than firm turf –can rate just off a sizzling pace and win this at 3-1 or better.  Key in all multi-race wagers and play an exacta box with #’s 10, 9 and 14.

In race 5, The Grade 1 Sprint, Amazombie (#7) can sit a perfect trip behind dueling leaders and may even be better on regular dirt — key in all multi-race wagers and play an exacta box with #’s 5 and 8.

In race 11, The Grade 1 Classic, Flat Out (#2) has strung 4 sensational races together, is working well and will appreciate the 1 1/4 distance — key in all multi-race wagers and play an exacta box with #’s 3 and 11.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 5 with 8 and 1

Race 2: 8 and 3

Race 3: 11 (Best Bet) with 4 and 10

Race 4: 6, 10 and 13  (use 12 and 8 if expanding your ticket)

Race 5: 7 (Best Bet) with 5 and 8

Race 6: 8 (Best Bet) with 10, 9 (use 14 if expanding ticket)

Race 7: 9 with 7 and 8

Race 8: 9, 2 and 1

Race 9: 10, 9 and 5

Race 10: 3, 5 and 1

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

Race 12: 7 with 3 and 4

Sloppy and yielding on day 1 of the Breeders Cup at Churchill.  The main track should dry out and may even be fast later on in the card, but changing conditions can complicate things.  Speed has been ok on both the main and turf courses and my feeling is horses do have an advantage being within 5 lengths of the lead, but keep an eye out for any biases.  Saturday should be fast and good since the weather will be ok, but let’s stick to Friday where several big favorites will be on display.

In race 8, The Grade 1 Juvenille Fillies, My Miss Aurelia (#9) is the speed of the field and should be ok trying two turns for the first time — hope for 2-1!  Key in all multi-race wagers and play an exacta box with #’s 11 and 7.

In race 9, The Grade 1 Filly & Mare Turf, Nahrain (#5) has fired big every time in short career and has the most upside of the Europeans.  Key in all multi-race wagers and play an exacta box with #’s 2 and 7.

In race 3, The Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap, Equestrio (#7) moves way up on a wet track and will be a decent price so hopefully will give us more money to play with during the BC races — key in all doubles and pick 3’s and play an exacta box with #2.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 5 and 9

Race 2: 9, 6 and 1

Race 3: 7 (Best Bet) and 2

Race 4: 11, 4 and 5

Race 5: 6 and 3

Race 6: 4, 6 and 14 (use 5 and 2 if spreading ticket)

Race 7: 6, 3 and 7

Race 8: 9 (Best Bet) with 11 and 7

Race 9: 5 (Best Bet) with 2 and 7

Race 10: 2, 6 and 8

So another Breeders Cup has come and gone, but nobody will be able to forget the two special ladies who performed like champions and gave us all hope that the sport we love is not dead yet! Zenyatta’s race in defeat was the most exciting race I have ever seen given how far back she was against the best males in the world and Goldikova’s 3rd straight BC victory may never be equaled.

As for the handicappers, let’s just say we didn’t come close to our best performances.  The races were very difficult as always and the experts were as clueless as the average bettor.  This handicapper had a great beginning and a great ending, but not much in between.  I picked Eldafor in the Marathon ($23.30), which was the first BC race on Friday and, my best bet Blame ($12.40) won the last race on Saturday in a “classic” thriller.  Overall, I went 3/14 with a return of $38.40 on my $28 investment (2.74 ROI).  I don’t think too many of the pros did better!  So, for the first time since I started the site in 2009, I will take Sunday off to watch the football games and rest my mind!  See you all next week!