Talk about a race being over on the backstretch, did you see what Edgar Prado pulled in the G3 The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream on Criticism ($6.00)? The five-year old daughter of Machiavellian hadn't run on the lead before, but in this race with no obvious speed, she was there by default - a second quarter of 26.30 to a half in 51.24 followed by 26.06 split, for a dawdling three-quarters in 1:17.30! “We got in good position and that was pretty much it,” Prado said. That's for sure!
From there, it was a sprint home - 23.73 to the mile, and the last three-eighths in 34.20 (22.69 and 11.51); Edgar, are you kidding me?? Harness drivers used to get fined for slowing the pace like that (do they still do that)?
Another debut winner there for Pletcher; this one, Albali ($6.60) running for a 30K tag. It was the 4th winning first-timer for the Toddster from his last five tries at the Gulf; but the first one in 20 starters (at all tracks) and exactly two years with a debut maiden claimer - not a common placement for this barn. This filly was claimed by trainer Bobby Dibona. She's by Aldebaran, out of a stakes-winning (France, non-graded) by Kendor. I imagine that, somewhere, she's worth 30K just as a broodmare. Of course, I wasn't around for that race, and didn't know about it when I bet Pletcher's first-timer Jane's Gal in the 10th (3rd at 5-1).
And another winner at Aqueduct for trainer Bruce Brown; Incalzando ($6.00), who stepped up to face winners and handled them easily. In the sixth, the barn's first-timer Won Great Classic, settle for second at 11-1 after battling for the lead in the stretch with Scorch the Torch (damn).
Bet the 4th at Santa Anita yesterday, and I didn't cash due to my own stupidity, so I'm not bragging or anything. Maybe redboarding a bit...though, of course, in order to make a point to help us all profit in the future. Scored ($14.40) was making his debut, at the age of four, for trainer Bruce Headley. On the Form, the trainer's record for the meet was 1 for 29, and his 1st Start stat read 0 for 15. However, if you've been following the races out there (I haven't) or have Formulator (I did), you'd know or see that the trainer had been knocking on the door of late - four seconds and two thirds in his last eight starts. Whatsmore, his debut runners have been live lately - just the day before, Off The Wall ran second at 11-1. Add in the fact that sire Came Home is a 13% first-time stallion and some top-heavy action in the win pool, and I thought he was worth using (though unfortunately not in an ultimately profitable way for me). Moral is that, as helpful as the raw Form stats are, there's sometimes more there than meets the eye if you're able to delve further.
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Notes - Feb 23
Posted by Alan Mann at 2:08 PM
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5 Comments:
I don't trust the teletimer at GP, ESPECIALLY on the turf.
Remember when Zayat's grey horse, (I forget the name,) won a photo on the grass and it was deemed to be second. I think he challenged this and the stewards told him that he may be right but the cameras on the roof were misaligned and there was nothing Gulfstream could do?
Is anyone else amazed that New York State residents cannot watch live video of races from within NY on ADWs' sites? That's right, if you decide to open and fund an ADW account with the intent of watching a live video stream over the Internet of any race at Aqueduct after you have wagered on it, you CANNOT.
As the Obama administration contemplates yielding more control to the government of the nation's largest banks, it is time for Governor Patterson to delegate NYRA to take over ALL of the state's OTBs. This is a complete farce -- NY residents who are racing fans are constantly screwed. This is the latest example. Until live video of NY races returns to ADWs, BOYCOTT racing by not making one wager at any OTB within the state and do not place one wager on NYRA. Charlie Hayward should be ashamed. Their collective belief is this: you can, though, wager from any OTB within the state, and this will afford you the same opportunity to watch a race at a local OTB parlor along with one of the hundreds of thousands of out work Wall Streeters.
"Due to state regulatory restrictions, all online providers of horse wagering and video broadcasting, cannot provide
the live race call to New York residents for New York race tracks.
This restriction occurs from when the horses load into the gate until
the race is official. Importantly, you will see the entire lead up to
the race and the post parade."
For racing fans outside of jurisdictions like Capital OTB and New York City, you have no choice. You are not watching the race, any race in the state, live. Capital OTB and New York City has agreements in place with cable operators to show the OTB Channel. However, like it does in Saratoga when the most elite meet in the country is in operation, a racing fan cannot watch a race live.
Don't punish NYRA for what the state and OTB have put in place. NYRA would love to show live video; its hands are tied by the state, and by OTB.
Remember that a bet made on NYRA's ADW is like a bet at the track in terms of retention rates....so NYRA has every incentive to have the live video. Don't blame Hayward here, I'm sure he's as frustrated as anyone else. NYRA can't stream until the OTB's approve it, and that won't happen until the OTB's have it, and that won't happen until the racing and wagering board approves it.
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