First Post: Thursday, August 18, 2011

How ’bout that Thrice the Vice?

Fifteen-to-one on the morning line, but allowed to get away at thrice (!) that price!

You can never be too sure when playing those sorts of bombers; but when they land, they can guarantee a meet that’s profitable, especially the sort of short stands currently going on at Saratoga Race Course and Del Mar Thoroughbred Klub and Ellis Park Hippodrome & Galloping Society. Hope you had it!

OK, racing godsz. No more hubris. We hope we have not now incurred your wrath. We know you prefer vengeance to justice!

Nevertheless, perhaps parimutuel lightning will strike twice. Here’s the free ones:

Rundown
Saratoga Race Course 5, 6, 7
Calder 2, 3, 6
Del Mar Thoroughbred Klub 3, 5, 6

Despite the soggy state of affairs at the Saratoga Race Course and the Calder Horse-Running Association, all three of the free tracks are primed for action. Roll ’em!

Pay-side:

Rundown
River 6, 7, 8
Woodbine 2, 5, 7
Arlington 2, 6, 10
Louisiana 6, 8, 9
Retama 3, 4, 6
Remington 1, 3, 4

Surprisingly tasty at the River. As almost always, the activity at the Rexdale-Etobicoke International is strong, especially that scrambling Race 7. Arlington, Louisiana good, too. We welcome our friends from the Sooner State and the Opening Night of the Remington Park 2011 season; excellent card on tap, and the programme at the other Southwestern oval, the Retama Equine Trust, is playable, too. In short, roll ’em.

WMF Report:

Speed
Arlington 5½f
Canterbury 5½f
Emerald 6f
Saratoga 6f

Rally
Woodbine 7f (WMF 14)

Rally (Honourable Mention)
Louisiana 5½f (WMF 28) (!)

Nocturnal Submission: Hello, Columbus! In Race 4 there (8:48 p.m. EDT / 5:48 p.m. PDT), #5 Basim’s Reward could find one in here. …Follow that up in the fifth (9:14 / 6:14), where #6 Toots and Dazzles and #3 Moon On Over have upset potential. …Wide-open fifth at Chas. Town (9 / 6); #3 Benny Hall, #11 Flying Speed and #5 Yellattheminister make up a wacky trizactor box. …

Thank you. So long. Best wishes.