Racing

Tonight at Saratoga Harness – MarvelThisBliss is in race 11 at 10:25 PM from post 2 is the 2-1 favorite. He’s lost his last two by inches.

Tomorrow night at Saratoga Harness – Numismatic is in race 11 at 10:25 PM from post 5. He’s 10-1 morning line. Last time he was 6^th in similar company at 57-1.

Sunday at Belmont – Awakino Cat is running 6 furlongs on the grass for a $75K claiming price from the #4 post in the 2^nd race under Alan Garcia. No morning line available yet. Glad that Alan is riding. He’s done well with him in the past.

Have a lovely weekend!

Best,

A.

Not 10-1, 58-1

Eric was wrong. Numismatic wasn’t strong enough for his competition. The bettors thought so little of him, they made him the longest shot in the race at 58-1… and they were mostly right, since he finished 6^th… but very close to the third place finisher.

On the other hand, It’s Truly Ahvee had so many horses scratch in his race because they took it off the turf, that his morning line of 8-1 turned into 2-1… and he ran like it too, going wire to wire and winning by over 6 lengths! How happy we were. Rhoda’s baby came home a winner. Pat called from Florida to thank us for giving the horse he picked for us the opportunity to recover from serious physical problems and find his way into the Winner’s Circle. That was very nice of him. And, nice of Don to come give us his support. So glad he got a Winner’s Circle photo and a winning ticket!

The race was sponsored by a family who lost their daughter/sister as a result of an automobile accident 20 years ago in which she was a pedestrian. Apparently, she was always at the track taking photographs. So, the track named a race for her a few days after her passing. The family has kept the tradition up since. It’s sad but it’s also a good story of how a family binds together.

This “Ahvee” reminded me of Ahvee’s Destiny’s first victory. When he came around the stretch turn in front, I was afraid he’d fold in the stretch. Instead, he increased his victory margin without much coaxing. Now, if he can run as well as Ahvee’s Destiny, he might turn into something. Unlikely, but we can dream. Yay, It’s Truly Ahvee!

For those who remember Arielle’s Song, she came in last in a six horse filed at Presque Isle today. I hope she is enjoying racing more than we had her.

Best to all for a fine holiday weekend (I know this Win made our weekend!),

A.

What to do until the Triple Crown attempt...

On June 9^th, I’ll Have Another will attempt to be the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years. We’re planning on being there to see him succeed (or not). He’s won all his races this year and seems to get better with each one. Plus, he doesn’t have Bodemeister to contend in this one!

In the meantime, we’ll have to settle for Marvelthisbliss coming in second place in the last stride for the second time in a row. I guess that’s a lot of seconds! His time was very sharp and tomorrow night his stablemate, Numismatic, will try to follow up Sunday’s win in a cheap race with a race that’s more than double Sunday’s purse size. I wonder if it will be too much for him but Eric says he’s doing better and better. Of course, the track handicapper doesn’t agree, since he’s set the Morning Line on Numismatic at 10-1. It’s race 11 at 10:25PM on Friday. He’ll becoming from Post position 2. Root for Numismatic.

Then, on Saturday, It’s Truly Ahvee will run in the fifth race at 6 furlongs on the turf (hopefully!) with Ramon Dominguez in the saddle. I haven’t touched base with Linda but I’d assume he’ll run whether or not the race stays on the turf. It seems like a wide open race. Let’s hope this Ahvee breaks his maiden!

Have a lovely holiday weekend. Think of these and other lovely horses.

Best,

A.

Preakness result

Exacta lost $5.40. Trifecta made $22.80. Whoopee!

Avram C. Freedberg

Preakness

This is horse racing, so anyone can come up with a big race. However, I’m in with the punters. With all horses at the same odds, I favor Bodemeister. At current odds, Creative cause might be a good bet.

I’ve taken them with Went the Day Well and I’ll Have Another in an exacta box and trifecta box.

This is anything but a different view than anyone else, so do your own thing. Best of luck!

A.

Dead Last

Awakino Cat’s first race this year in Florida was encouraging. Today’s race in Baltimore was discouraging. My hope was that he would assume the mantle of a successful stakes horse that we had on Ahvee’s Destiny… but, today at least, that was not to be. He got off to a decent start but was squeezed by the horses around him and then hard checked when the rider, Eddie Castro tried moving him up and met a wall of horses in front of him. By the time they got to the stretch, he was used up and did not show any memory of his usual strong finish. He finished last.

Last night, Marvelthisbliss, just missed winning his race at Saratoga Harness. In my opinion, he was used up early but still managed to hold off the winner until the last stride to come in second. He ran in claiming company and looked good.

It’s the Preakness tomorrow. If I have any ideas on how to bet it, I’ll let you know. Frankly, I’m a little down in the dumps from today’s effort – or lack of it – by Awakino. This too shall pass. Have a lovely weekend!

Best,

A.

Tonight and tomorrow

Marvelthisbliss will run in the 9^th race tonight in a $15K claimer at Saratoga Harness with Chris Long, his regular driver, in the sulky. He’s 5-2 morning line from the 3 hole.

Awakino Cat will be running 5 furlongs on the grass in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint at Pimlico which is the 9^th race on Friday. Eddie Castro will be aboard. He rode Awakino to a 3^rd place finish in the Jim McSorley Stakes last year at Monmouth. Though there is tough competition and we do want to test him out at a longer distance, the competition in the mile at Monmouth on Saturday is too tough. He has never beaten Ben’s Cat, the favorite in the sprint, but at 10-1 morning line, we hope to see him on the board… and, if he performs well, we may send him to Canada for a 7 furlong graded Stakes in 10 days.

Go Awakino (Don’t say go “Cat.” Let Ben’s Cat’s connections root for him.)!

Best,

A.

Where oh where will the Cat go?

Last weekend was a nice one, even though we weren’t in synch with the horses. While we were in Saratoga, Cricky’sGoldenEyes was running at Belmont. He looked like he could win as they came into the stretch but two others had faster finishes and he eked out a third place finish by a nose. This was only his third race and he continues to improve. He’s still a claiming horse but I hope we’ll get to try him on the turf.

Returned on Sunday morning for Beth’s B-day party so, of course, Numismatic ran at Saratoga Harness that afternoon. It was a cheap race but it’s our first Harness Racing win! He was the favorite and started out in the lead but was passed by the second favorite before the first quarter. He didn’t stay there long, as he came on again and then never relinquished the lead to win by daylight. It was nice to break the schneid.

Awakino Cat was entered in a Stakes Race that wasn’t used by the Racing Secretary on Sunday, when the weather was perfect. Instead, they rescheduled it for today when the grass course was too wet from the recent rains. So, Awakino was scratched. He is entered in 5 furlong sprint at Pimlico on Friday, the day before the Preakenss. He is in the 5-hole. He is also entered at a mile on Saturday at Monmouth but he is coming out of the 10^th post position and there will be at least one multi-million dollar winner as his competition. What will happen this weekend? We’ll see what Linda says tomorrow.

Best,

A.

Racing

I’m really disappointed and frustrated. They didn’t use the
Stakes race we’d been waiting for Awakino on Sunday. However, Cricky is entered
in the 4th race on Saturday but we’ll be in Saratoga. Hopefully, Jim
Sr. and Jr. will go for that race.

Numismatic will run at Saratoga Harness on Sunday afternoon.
MarvelthisBliss will probably not go until Wednesday night.

Have a great weekend!

A.


Posted by Avram FreedbergVisit the Official Avram Freedberg website!

My First Trip to the Kentucky Derby

I'm a little frustrated. I wanted to send out my selections prior to the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby but my I-Pad would not access my list. Then, I tried to write up this e-mail on my I-Pad but when I shut it down on the plane, it did not retain what I had written. So, sorry for the lack of communication.

The subject line above reads like a school essay. In many ways, it feels like one because I'd never experienced the Kentucky Derby on site before and while I knew alot about what to expect, I was often surprised.

We were supposed to be in an exclusive area where I assumed I'd be comfortable and outside the crush of the most of the 165,000 attendees. Unfortunately, at times, it seemed like the whole crowd was in the Turf Club, where we sat, and too many of them were milling around us, often making it very difficult to see the races and enjoy the experience.

The best way to SEE the Kentucky Derby is on large screen TV in the comfort of your own home. However, being at a live sporting event has an electricity that can't be matched by any television set. The noise is deafening at Madison Square Garden when the Rangers take the ice in the deciding game of a Stanley Cup series. So it goes with football (have you ever been in one of those stadiums that hold over 100,000 people?). Same is true for the World Series or any pivotal game or historical rivalry... or when you join with 165,000 others and sing My Old Kentucky Home at the Kentucky Derby! It's very special... And so were the people we met in Louisville.

We'd met several of Mike's Kentucky pals in Saratoga last summer but it was just to say hello. This time we got to spend time with them and were the beneficiaries of their kindness... From being picked up by Chris at the airport or by Mark to take us to dinner or by Popsy and Jan who took us back and forth by Limo to Churchill Downs both days.

It seems that everyone loves their alcohol in Kentucky. At Popsy's home each morning, we drank Mimosas or Bloody Marys... at 9:30 in the morning.

At Churchill Downs, we were served Lilies, the Official drink of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday (and anything else we wanted) all day long. I assumed this was a method of making you not care about losing your money! Similarly, the Mint Juleps flowed all of Saturday. Plus, both days saw distillers, like Macallan, Moet & Chandon and Woodford Reserve give out free samples of their wares!

Yes, the celebs were all there... Ashton Kutcher and the New England Patriot's Tom Brady were nearby, while the brooding Aaron Rodgers and several of his Green Bay Packers sat at the next table and asked Security to keep the people away, making it even more difficult for us to see the races.

The fashions ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. It was the perfect place to to gawk at celebs, people watch and check out jewelry. In short, it was the perfect place for Rhoda to spend the weekend! We even "crashed" a party benefitting disabled jockeys and checked out the auction items. Next time -- if there is a next time -- we'll go to other events as well.

So, how did the horse race handicapping go, you ask? Well, Friday was Kentucky Oaks day and we did quite well. We had several winning tickets throughout the day and capped it off by hitting the $173.20 exacta in the Kentucky Oaks won by Believe You Can.

Saturday was another story. I made one handicapping error when I changed my exacta bet to Key one horse as the winner, so I could get another horse on the card without increasing my bet. So, of course, the extra horse ran out of the money but my "key" horse came in second to one fo the others on the card. That hurt.

Finally, I had a winning exacta but it was two favorites, resulting in a net $5 gain for that race.

Then, came the Derby, which I'd been doing well handicapping the last few years. However, with so many evenly matched horses, I let a bias against California horses see most of my selections run out of the money.

The one save turned out to be a Superfecta pool with eight of us paticipating, where we each selected one horse and bet $210 for a total of $1,680... it was an 8-horse box of $1 on each Superfecta (top four horses in a row). There were 1680 $1 combinations. Mike D. picked Dullahan and I picked Bodemeister. Two of the six Kentuckians picked Went the Day Well and I'll Have Another.

When they passed the finish line we knew that I'll Have Another was the winner over Bodemeister, who was second but we didn't know who had finished third or fourth. The, they posted Dullahan for third and Went the Day Well for fourth... unbelievably, we'd won! Now the question was what would it pay? Bodemeister was the favorite but the others were all in double figure odds.

It took some time for them to calculate the payouts. Then they posted the results. They showed the payout for a $2 ticket but we had only bet $1 on each combination. Nonetheless, we couldn't believe it. For $2, the Superfecta paid over ninety-six thousand dollars. That meant, ~$48,000 for our $1 bet!! Wow! The government took ~$15,000 but that left $33,000 to split 8 ways. The money was certainly nice but the excitement of this victory was very special. We had never been involved in such a payoff before. It made up for not having the winner myself!

We'd told Mike D. that he was the leader for the weekend. He got the tickets, invited us and introduced us to his friends. Once again, he did not lead us astray. We'll follow him anywhere!

Linda Rice said she'd come next year. I told Mike that the Morning Line was 8 - 1 against... but he's much more optimistic. I hope he's right!

Saturday night, MarvelthisBliss ran 7th. We told Eric to consider putting our acquisitions in claiming races and trading for some better stock. It is frustrating not to have a single harness win.

Depending on the weather, we'll be looking for Awakino Cat to race on the grass on Sunday and maybe It's Truly Ahvee on Saturday. We'll let you know if anything comes to pass or we just end up passing.

Have a great week!

A.