First Post: Friday, March 17, 2017

Put this in your mouth…

Gresescent is the best ice cream in La-La Land. However, since it’s in DTLA, it’s not exactly what the locals of the San Fernando Valley call ‘geographically desirable’. Downtown Studio City is blessed with two reasonable standbys in McConnell’s and, pictured here, Salt & Straw. We used to sneer at the latter, given its Portlandia roots and overly hipster vibe — right down to a guy in a preciously long beard scooping ice cream above all the tubs and doubtless getting some choice facial hair into his servings. But we have to give credit where it’s due, and Salt & Straw’s Saint Patrick’s Day offering, ‘Pots of Gold & Rainbows’ is like Lucky Charms (including all the sweet excess milk) turned into a frozen dessert. The Leprechaun would be pleased, and it’s some sort of Black Irish Black Magic they conjured up with this treat. Nummie.

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
Gulfstream Park Proper 6, 7, 9
Santa Anita 1, 3

Pay-side (Weekend/Weekday): Today…

Fair Grounds 6, 8, 9, 10
Golden Gate 4
Hawthorne 2, 3
Laurel 2, 3
Oaklawn 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Tampa 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10
Turfway 2, 3, 4, 9

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: None today, but there’s the intrastate NCAA Men’s Hoopball Tourney first-round showdown between UK (who?) and the world-famous Norse of Northern Ky. Univ.

Yesterday’s Activity:

Track (Win Mutuels $20+/Gettable)

Chas. Town (1/½) — Race 4 was contentious, and Old-School Champeens found Lucky Candy having enough skill at Fair Odds of 3-1; she went gate-to-wire to win by 1¾ at $20-even. Good work.

Fair Grounds (1/0) — Missing NOPD K-9 found.

Golden Gate (0/0) — Host Sharks hooked by St. Louis, 4-1; Marc-Edouard Vlasic was the San Jose goalscorer.

Gulf (0/0) — Visiting Panthers edged by Cls., 2-1; Jonathan Marchessault scored for Fla.

Oaklawn (3/2) — Race 6 was contentious, but only High-Octane Chancers and Progressive-Minded Eggheads thought First Heritage could run to that first part of her billing, thanks to a bare-minimum 80 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis; she raced tail-to-wire to win by 3 at $48.20. Race 7 also was contentious, and players of all stripes were in on the tricky Red Clay Magic, Fair Odds of 6-1 and a field-best 84 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis; he raced ribcage-to-wire to win by a clean neck at $21.40. Good work.

Santa Anita (1/1) — Race 7 was contentious, and players of all stripes were mad for debutante Betty Draper, Fair Odds of 6-1 and with a connection-line/slashline readout of 13pc/12pc/13pc; she got beat by a dirty neck but was awarded the win via disqualification at $30.60. Good work.

Turfway (1/0) — Erpenbeck protege Mick Kennedy pleads guilty to bank fraud.

Tuesday’s Activity:

Track (Win Mutuels $20+/Gettable)

Gulf (0/0) — Host Heat spatchcock New Orleans, 120-112; Miami’s Goran Dragic led all scorers with 33 pts.

Mahoning (0/0) — Youngstown council rejects pricey greenspace plan against mayor’s wishes.

Tampa (1/0) — Host Rays draw with Boston, 3-all, in Grapefruit League Spring Training action from Port Charlotte; Casey Gillaspie had a 2-run HR for Tampa Bay.

Turf Paradise (2/1) — Old-School Champeens had a contentious Race 6 in which first-timer Danzigs Devil had Fair Odds of 4-1; he went gate-to-wire to win by 3¾ at $20-even. In Race 8, also contentious, Old-School Champeens realized Dream Broker, Fair Odds of 5-1, had a chance; she rallied like the champion she should have been, winning by 1 at $32.80. Good work.

The WRD (4/2) — Race 5 was contentious, and players of all stripes were in-the-black with Red Charm, Fair Odds of 5-1 and a field-best 86 on the LifeLiner Speed Column analysis; she rallied to win by 1½ at $22.60. Race 6 was the same way, and players of all stripes found Wednesday to be the right day for Givnloveonsaturday, Fair Odds of 4½-1 and a field-best 84 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis; she rallied, though, to win by a clean neck at $20.80. Good work.

WMF Report:

Early
Chas. Town 6½f
Los Alamitos 4½f
Turfway 6f

Rally
Gulf 1 1/16m (T)

Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage…

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Here’s to the magically delicious.