First Post: Sunday, March 3, 2013

Goodbye, Champions League!

The Arse boots away any hope of a top-four finish. Hail, Spursz!

Two minutes of sheer madness brings the Gunners’ season to utter rubbish. Thank you, Stan Kroenke, US$4bn in his mattress, yet with an undeniable knack for destroying once-proud sports clubs! You work your magic the world over. On the other hoof, the Glazers buy and spend and rack up massive debt but they also win trophies. How’s that austerity working now, Mr. Kroenke? Shambolic! Hello, Europa League!

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 7, 9
Gulf 6, 8, 9
Santa Anita 6, 7

Pay-side: Today…

Tampa 5, 10
Fair Grounds (!) 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Oaklawn 2, 4, 6
Turf Paradise 7, 9
Sam Houston 2, 7, 10
Sunland 5

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: Maybe an alternative to the prohibitive chalk in Aqu 8, the Beru. #3 Horsin’ Around, 6-1 on the morning line, can have a say. Over at Gulf 10, though, the Grade III Palm Beach, #9 Charmin Kitten seems too tough.

Yesterday’s Activity: The name of the selection in the finale at The Big A yesterday sums it up: Tough All Day. Completely bottom-half finishes there. Apologies.

One 7½-1 winner at the ’Gulf, but the one that got away was in Race 6, the touted and luckless Buzz the Deputy, 30-1 and beaten a dirty neck. Unfortunately, the winner was not registering on any of our measures. So long, saver! Bye-bye, insurance!

Santa Anita, an array of no-hopers at astronomical odds, and results to match the public neglect.

Nearly a pick-3 triumph at Turfway, however. Race 7 brought back Bee Line’s Edge, $23.80, off a 15-1 morning line. The 7-5 runner-up was
tops on LifeLiner, and the exacta was $77. So-so.

Race 8 had 7-1 Street of Gold coming in off an 8-1 morning line. Runner-up and show-horse were LifeLiner qualifiers, and the triactor was just under 160-1.

Three chances for the natural pick-3 in Race 9, only heartache in a helter-skelter affair featuring an approx. 12,000-1 super-duper.

WMF Report:

Early
Hawthorne 6f
Los Alamitos 4½f
Turf Paradise 6f

Nocturnal Submission: Golden Gate emerges with an opportunity in Race 6 (6:19 p.m. EST / 3:19 p.m. PST): #2 Tusher Mtn Man. …

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Take care now.