First Post: Sunday, March 4, 2012

The 0.018%.

No, that’s not the minuscule hit-rate for ‘Pick of the Day’ or ‘Live Longshots’. Occupy Studio City!

Rather, that’s the frequency of failure of file delivery from our longtime data-provider and partner, the HDW. In 15 years, that’s one day where only an Act of Allah prevented the files from being delivered. (And even then, if you got in early enough on Friday, you still were able to catch up with Saturday’s files, we think.)

Ponder that a moment. They are the greatest service-providers we can think of. They are clockwork. We take them for granted. It’s a testament to their reliability that we never have to worry about them. One solitary day out of 5,475, roughly. One!

Crazier still, no price-hikes for the HDW service during those 15 years! Dr. Jim, Mr. Ron, Richard and all the rest, we salute you! Teach us how we can be that dependable! We salute you. We bow to your superior service…

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 7, 8, 9
Gulf 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Santa Anita 7, 8, 9

It’s like nothing ever changed at Hallandale.

Pay-side: Today…

Turfway 7, 8, 9
Tampa 9, 10, 11
Fair Grounds 5, 6, 7, 8
Hawthorne 2, 5, 7
Oaklawn 1, 2, 4
Sam Houston 2, 5, 9, 10

The Gulf of Mexico is home to New Orleans and Houston (somewhat). Also home to the best cards for your Sunday.

WMF Report:

Speed
Keystone 6f
Santa Anita 6f
Tampa 6f, 6½f
Turfway 6f
Turf Paradise 5½f, 6½f

Rally
Gulf 1 1/16m (T)
Tampa 1 1/16m (T)

Nocturnal Submission: The seventh at the ’Gate (6:51 p.m. EST / 3:51 p.m. PST) finds #5 Rippling Star with a fine chance to make a tidal wave on the tote board. …Stakes in the action at our favourite track, the Rillito (Rillito!), Race 7 (6:00 / 3:00), and #1 Oh Lord will seek comeback redemption. …

Thank you. Best wishes. Normal service resumed, and for that we are grateful. Please join us again tomorrow for your weekly “Monday Boxing” feature. Until such time, it’s goodbye. So long.