Interesting weekend, but surprisingly chalked out.

Accelerate was much the best in the Classic, and in my book deserves horse of the year.

Remarkable job by Peter Miller doubling up with Stormy Liberal and Roy H.

I couldn’t get much handicapping traction all weekend.  I am frequently accused of being a chalk-eater with my picks, but at an event like the Breeders Cup i find it hard to eat the chalk with win-place bets, and it’s equally tough to pair up vertical or horizontal wagers with so many good horses in the fields.   Those that connect are richly rewarded, and due credit is deserved.

A look back and we were around it all weekend.  World of Trouble and Stormy Liberal were on many tickets and hooked up in the stretch. Bellafina, Promises Fulfilled and Firenze got their trips and both wound up ‘good’ fourths if there is such a thing.   Used Enable on top and as a single but didn’t connect there.  Divisidero drew in, and I used him at 36-1 and ran fourth.  Nothing wrong with the logic there, but didnt’ connect.  Abel Tasman was all done.  Definitely a risk that I took, and I don’t think I’ll be playing any more Baffert’s off a similar dud in the future.  When the tank is empty, it’s empty.

My biggest whiffs were being against City of Light, who was also much the best;  I think the Javier Castellano factor helped, as he seemed to figure the track out early, and gave the needed ride.   I didn’t like a work before the race – and I was dead wrong.  Will try to analyze what I’m missing there.    Accelerate was a known entity, I just felt like this was a spot to play against, and he simply proved his quality even more.

Keeping the blog has been an interesting exercise this year.  Writing my thoughts certainly helps to crystalize them, and documenting my play has revealed much as well.   I stunk the last month or two.   But my real life job has been crazy busy.   I think next year after Saratoga, I’ll fold my money over for a couple of months, and likely spot play the BC more so than this year, where i was knee-deep.  The allure of big exotics is enticing, but the volume of races is semi-punishing to ‘cap and play.  (It’s sort of like unloading the bank roll the first week at the Spa)   I will look to be more selective.   One or two good winners can make a weekend in the BC; this year, with all the chalk, was not that year for me.

Personal life slows down for me in the winter; I’m looking forward to the fall Del Mar meet, both for the views of the sunny weather while the Northeast starts to dip into the deep freeze, and for the chance to get back into a regular handicapping rhythm, and start loading up the black book with horses to play back.