tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post113785919868557764..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: A Danaslam Dunk?Alan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1137966990378303752006-01-22T16:56:00.000-05:002006-01-22T16:56:00.000-05:00...hey Alan, i stopped in @ Venetian yesterday to ......hey Alan, i stopped in @ Venetian yesterday to speak with a friend of mine, and he said that someone came in yesterday and bet Barbaro @ 75/1...i didn't even know they had futures up yet, they must've just gone up during the last week...anyway, he said the guy tried to bet $200, but they only gave him $100...afterwards they dropped him to 50/1...most likely it was somebody who's in town for the Horseplayer World Series @ the Orleans...incidentally, another friend of mine is coming into town this week for the DRF/NTRA contest...we're headed down to Santa Anita on Wednesday (i'm exciteded, never been there before), and then i'm gonna hang with him at the contest and try to help out where i can...he's more of an East Coast guy like yourself, so i'll likely have some input on his West Coast plays...should be fun, i know that first place is worth a lot of money...he's got a lot of contest experience too, i'm expecting he'll fare pretty well...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1137895161747636052006-01-21T20:59:00.000-05:002006-01-21T20:59:00.000-05:00...FINALLY, a great day!!!...i picked up 10 units ......FINALLY, a great day!!!...i picked up 10 units with a win/place bet on 7/1 shot Tonnerre, who took today's 6th with a late rally...she had run very well in her debut, then regressed as the odds-on favorite in her next start...but she looked ready to rebound, based on this report...<BR/><BR/>TONNERRE (Jan 11, 100.1)<BR/><BR/>Looked stylish here drawing away from a barnmate, last 3 furlongs in a really sharp 35 flat moving like a good thing late. Have to like this. Grade B+<BR/><BR/>...unfortunately, i passed on 6/1 shot Virginia City in the 1st, who took them wire-to-wire while boasting this report...<BR/><BR/>VIRGINIA CITY (Jan 14, 100.4)<BR/><BR/>Big speed with a mate here in 34.3 looking really nice while waiting on that one throughout the lane finishing in 100.0, plenty left late. Very nice. Grade B+<BR/><BR/>...i just couldn't back this one based on her poor race record, as she had been soundly beaten in 4 straight tries...ugh!...<BR/><BR/>...as for Papa to Kinzie, she went off at a whopping 25/1, but by that time i already stood to pick up 70 units on her in the Pick 3, on less than a 1 unit total investment (thanks to Tonnerre, and Race 7 winner Charmo)...so i abstained from any further win bets, and decided not to bet her to place either (or dick around with any exactas)...i figured if she didn't win it, she'd probably be stopping in the lane, which isn't conducive to running second, especially in such a tough field...as for the race, Papa to Kinzie did indeed out-quick them early, opening up 2 lengths on the backstretch, and she appeared to be moving pretty well (needless to say, i was pretty excited at that point)...unfortunately, and rather predictably, she tired from her early efforts and threw in the towel before they left the turn...she just wasn't good enough...ugh!...but what a fierce 3-way battle it was down the lane, with Atilla's Storm, Jet West, and Major Success all giving their best efforts and going at it tooth and nail to the wire!...surprisingly, it was Major Success who emerged victorious, and i say surprisingly because he was the one taking the worst of it from between horses...he really showed a ton of grit and determination, as did the other two...looks like Frankel has a top-notch sprinter on his hands...<BR/><BR/>...and speaking of Frankel's top-notch sprinters, did you guys catch Latent Heat's effort today???...he ran a blinder today going 7 furlongs, coming out of that nera-miss vs. Cindago on Opening Day...again, i'm no breeding epert, but this one is by Maria's Mon out of a multiple stakes winner named True Flare, who i believe was also trained by Frankel...looks like this one is going places, and his effort today certainly flatters Cindago as well...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1137876687063701642006-01-21T15:51:00.000-05:002006-01-21T15:51:00.000-05:00...ps...i'm stoked to hear about Christening, Alan......ps...i'm stoked to hear about Christening, Alan...an initial breeze in 48 is pretty good i think!...as for your trainer saying "he really likes her" or whatever, yeah, i'm sure he's just telling you what you wanna hear...but that doesn't mean she can't run, you never know...i'm looking forward to this one's subsequent works, especially those in company...it would be SO cool if you ended up with a live one...good luck with Highland Cat also...hopefully his procedure will produce some results for ya...though i'm sure Highland Cat will never forgive you... 8^PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1137876195873685492006-01-21T15:43:00.000-05:002006-01-21T15:43:00.000-05:00...wow, an exceptionally tough running of the Palo......wow, an exceptionally tough running of the Palos Verdes today, and there's a surprise entrant as well...none other than Papa to Kinzie, who was last seen hooking a U-Turn and running back around behind the starting gate...as you might remember, i had some great reports on her that day, and had a nice-sized wager on her @ 3/1...considering what a debacle that one was, i'm rather shocked to see her entered back vs. colts in what's probably the toughest sprint race carded so far this year, at any track...and you guessed it, i have another great report on her...also of interest is that she's adding blinkers today, obviously an attempt to keep her head in the game (instead of behind the starting gate or wherever)...when this one's right, she may be the quickest horse on the circuit (rivaling Bordonaro), though in the past she's been too fast for her own good, and has had trouble holding on late due to her hell-bent-for-leather style...what also makes her entry today very curious is that according to some guy in the Del Mar Chatroom, she's being sold this weekend???...isn't it unusual for a horse to run right before a sale, particularly in a race she's not expected to win?...she's 15/1 on the morning line...i'm not exactly brimming with confidence, because for one, i think it's very possible she'll be going too fast on the front end again and it'll be tough to hold this group off (particularly Jet West, i think)...and secondly, any horse i back lately is taking a swan dive right into the tank...but 15/1 on this filly?...i don't doubt that she can win this race if you catch her on the right day...and i think the chance of catching her on the right day is, well, maybe 8/1?...so i guess i'll let the odds tell me what to do...here are the reports, and wow, it looks like EVERYONE is coming up to this race the right way...<BR/><BR/>ATILLA'S STORM (Jan 10, 45.4)<BR/><BR/>Quick 1/2 but was a total breeze in 22.3, 45.4, not asked at all while in blinkers. Worked in an Inda cloth here. Grade B+<BR/><BR/>PAPA TO KINZIE (Jan 16, 47.0g)<BR/><BR/>In blinkers with Bisono up here. Flew throughout in a faster than given 22.4, 45.3 looking powerful while in hand late. Looks super to me. Grade A-<BR/><BR/>PAPA TO KINZIE (Pre U-Turn debacle, Dec 11, 100.2g)<BR/><BR/>Terrific looking drill with Corey Black up in 23.3, 35.1, 59.2 light restraint throughout galloping out in 112.3. Returns running and looks quite relaxed too. Grade A-<BR/><BR/>MAJOR SUCCESS (Jan 14, 59.4)<BR/><BR/>Big drill in 34.4, 59.2 finishing with a ton of gas left. Clearly an improving sort. Grade A-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com