First Post: Sunday, January 4, 2015

As always on January 4 every year beginning with 1988, a time for us to remember.

Yes, again and again we are reminded, clearly there has been way more luck (OK, the Anonymous Anonymous mopesz might call it ‘grace’) than we have a right to: at many junctures, an eventful ride. But, you know what, Conductor? Please let’s just keep the train a-rollin’…

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 3, 5, 8, 9
Gulfstream Park Proper 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11
Santa Anita 2, 7, 8, 9

Pay-side: Today…

Fair Grounds 5
Sunland 8, 9
Tampa 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
Turfway 8, 9

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: Aqueduct 3 and Santa Anita 8, the two stakes for your North American continent today, are both on the free page.

Yesterday’s Activity: And in Race 6 at Laurel, your 50¢-to-the-dollar favourite was…THE BAKKEN.

V6 said, ‘Are you crazy?’ ‘Are you on drugs?’ ‘Are you stoopid?’ ‘What the fuss?’

Never had we seen such a discrepancy between our perception and the public’s. In a few years, this one might be an all-time highlight reel showstopper. THE BAKKEN.

THE BAKKEN was odds-on, and we are still trying to figure this one out. To wit:

—There were seven horseys in the field. Bakken was ranked higher than none of the other six. Translation: Abject bottom of the V6 Betting Line.

—Looking for a bailout from LifeLiner? No such courtesies could be extended to THE BAKKEN. Sixth-best of seven on the LifeLiner Speed Column analysis, a measly 72. This in a race featuring a 97, an 88, an 87, an 84 and an 82.

Yet somehow THE BAKKEN kept blinking on the toteboard: 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. Eeeyah.

THE BAKKEN ran sixth. The show-prices were higher than the place-prices.

No fewer than five of the horses had — according to V6 — a better look at the winner’s circle than THE BAKKEN. Bet them one or all, and you would have had a profit, even had the 4-1 shot won and paid $10.20. (He did not.)

Rather, the second-longest shot on the board won at 24½-1, paying $51-even up top. No touting here, but we salute you for having him, if you did. Indeed, as long as you could recognize that THE BAKKEN was perhaps the worst odds-on fave of 2015 — which is saying something, because there are still 360-plus days of racing remaining in the current calendar year! — then you were always going to be playing with a huge advantage, no matter what, regardless of how it turned out.

But, yes, if you had this monster, well done.

One good one amidst the ruin of THE BAKKEN, but it came way down I-95 at Hallandale, Fla., from Race 6 at Gulfstream Park Proper. Top-touted Noble Prince went gate-to-wire to win by three parts of a length at 48-1; the $2 mutuel paid $98.20.

Noble Prince was the opposite of THE BAKKEN. Yea, verily, Noble Prince was top of your V6 Betting Line in a contentious race, Fair Odds of 3½-1. As well, Noble Prince’s LifeLiner Speed Column score was a satisfactory 86, second-best in the field and well above the requisite 80. At 12-1 on the morning line, Noble Prince somehow was four times that forecast price when the gates opened.

Complete LifeLiner array on the coast-to-coast Noble Prince: 95-99-86.

So, thank you to Noble Prince but maybe thank you even more so to THE BAKKEN. Both these fine horses have made the after-the-races reporting quite vivid and straightforward. Thank you. Tyvm.

WMF Report:

Early
Fair Grounds (!) 6f; 1m70y (!) (WMF 170) (!)
Los Alamitos 4½f
Portland 6f
Tampa 6f

Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage, especially today…

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Drive safely.