Sunday 4

[bellsbendboy]

Turfway 7) Minnehaha Chic moves up in class and goes synthetic but a repeat of her last wins. Also Color Red who could not get to the last spy but gets a major weight shift from clever connections.

8) No fancy Title T.P. who is as good as there is off the shelf and this one fits well sans the shades. Also STEDS PIRATE who will be a huge price and merits a long look.

9) Four deep 'Shoe, Hell, 'Delta and proud leader.

10) Phillip and Gadskin Land.

Sorry for the lack of analysis but I did some and do not bet hapazardly. Call it 5,6 / 4,10, / 3,4,5,8 / 6, 11 Good caapin. BBB

[bellsbendboy]

Somewhat vanilla piece of handicapping yesterday as whatever changes made in the surface for the big card Saturday continued. Glad we get back to the land of opportunity with Keeneland opening.

Leg one featured fillies trying to win their third while tagged from 15K down to $10K. We went for a pair and both had trouble going in to the turn and ended up second and third trashing the ticket. The winner Ura Wild One ($9.60) benefitted by a spirited three way speed duel and came from last. She had just won her second and was taking a quantum jump in class and was giving away solid weight to older. A point in her favor was that in her last she was equipped with first time blinkers and took a ton of late money. Owner/trainer/breeder England is adequate but this filly won more by default.

Race 8 More tagged up nonwinners, this one for three year olds and up oddly drew only sophomores going six panels. We again took a pair and settled for a runnerup spot, with our other horse being outrun at 70-1! Rather than prattle on regarding that ones chances, we urge the reader to remember that our goal is to scoop the pool, or at least be one of a few winners, especially at small venues. Suffice to say he was 9-5 in a similar spot at Churchill three back when claimed, was dropping the ill-advised hood and getting major league rider relief. No matter he never lifted a hoof. SINGING STEEL ($10.60) wins it for Barbara under a heady ride by Calvin who was a late replacement for a jock who does not ride at the track. Trainer McBride is a very clever conditioner and Calvin is the best kept secret in the midwest. If anyone reading this has a data base on Calvin at Churchill you will not believe his ROI. At any rate he opened up and Theriot riding for his main man took back under orders and ran out of room while closing stoutly.

The feature was a optional claimer for $40K that included a 2X clause. We had little conviction went four deep and struck out swinging. Wayne wins it with a homebred Storm Cat ($8.00) that had not hit the board in over two years!! Notably this 4yo came in with a three furlong work in some :39 and change and for Wayne that is ULTRA unusual if it has ever happened before. All his horses run off every work and he is the ultimate auto toss. Shame, nice man but did not alter his training when the game demanded such.

Nickle maiden in the nightcap and we should have singled Gaskin Land ($8.40) as this Melynk homer would not be in here if it wasn't going to win. The 3yo gelding was much closer to even money in the exotics as both the trainer and the owner seldom bet. Odd concept indeed. Our other runner off at 25-1 was less than interested which happens this class.

When the dust had settled it was McKee, Calvin, Calvin, and McKee, all off at three or four to one, and the return was a generous $1200 and change for a buck. Looking forward to the next few months as you do not have to bend the ticket at Keeneland or Churchill, but am spending a long weekend hiking the grand canyon and other assorted Arizona activities, courtesy of the Virginia Derby superfecta on a rare vertical bet. Sadly, I must report Mrs. BBB picked the horses! Thinking 'Sense destroys them in the classic. BBB