Habemus victorem! Some people know how to play chess (probably Rob’t. Mueller, right?) while other, much louder and not-as-thoughtful grown-up mopes rage-quit Candy Land or Serpents & Ladders, or both of those, as soon as things get tight — and we can figure out who those blowhards might be; there are many! But for our purposes here, here’s to both Carlsen & Caruana on persevering after three weeks of high-drama strategy. Carlsen hangs on to his crown. ’grats!
Finger 5
#4 Kabuki ($20.60, BestLine Fair Odds 3.83-1)
Mountain 2
#1 Istan Rose ($42.60, BestLine Fair Odds 1.63-1)
Turf Paradise 2
#2 Seaside Fantasy ($20.60, BestLine Fair Odds 1.46-1)
Zia 10
#6 Ifightlikeagirl ($74.60, BestLine Fair Odds 7.00-1)
Portland 2 (Low-Priced Overlay of the Day)
#5 Iknowyourface ($10.20, BestLine Fair Odds 2.98-1)
Turfway Park is the equivalent of equine chess, always a full complement of pieces on the board, so many potential moves, lots of them resulting in zugzwang! Zugzwang! But the game is to be played, so here we are. Races 2 & 3 call for the aggressive Ruy Lopez opening! The Schliemann Defense comes in handy in the seventh, with BestLine’s top choice arriving at a win-probability of 31.3pc. Adjournment. (?)
