Sunday October 6

EMOLLIENT WINS!

One of my favorite sophomore fillies, Emollient was entered for today's Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster.  She has been inconsistent, but when she scores it has been with a display of talent that is fun to watch.  Knowing that she was not a "Best" bet I looked over the races being run today and read through the analysis to see if there were any other solid selections.  I found what looked like five good spots to bet, and played online.  Later in the evening I watched the replays, and then the final race live on TVG. 

My first selection came at Woodbine in the Grade 3 Durham Cup.  Delegation was listed as the 4/5 program choice and was Jim Bannon's top selection.  He won by nine widening lengths at Woodbine two back and then dueled with likely Horse of the Year, Game On Dude (if he gets the BC Classic win) in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.  He left the gate as the odds-on 1/4 choice, but faded badly to 6th.  The next race on the sheet was the Spinster. 

Emollient had been my top choice on Florida Derby Day to win the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, but she'd run dully.  The very next weekend, on just seven days rest, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott had entered her in the Grade 1 Ashland.  I wrote in my analysis that I didn't believe Mott would do that if he wasn't convinced she'd win - he's typically very conservative with his runners.  She ran away from the field and paid over $14!  AND most important for today's race, it was over this Keeneland surface!  In that win and in her win in the Grade 1 American Oaks - her first try over grass when shipped out west - she had been close to the pace.  I felt sure Mike Smith - who'd won four races at Santa Anita Saturday and then flown here - would put her right on the lead, or just off the lead.  The gates opened and he gave her two quick taps on the hip to get her into early gear......but she'd have nothing of it!  Quickly she dropped to the back of the field.  Really?  But as they came down the back stretch she began to pick off horses, and by the time they hit the turn she was moving smoothly to the leaders.  She was spun about six wide out of the turn, but now she was in high gear and she BLEW by to score going away!  My double investment was rewarded with a nice payoff of more than $30! 

 

My final three selections were all at Santa Anita.  The second race on the card was an allowance and Declassify was the 2/5 favorite in the program.  That is REALLY rare to see a horse listed at those odds on the morning line.  Brad Free noted she'd posted back-to-back Beyers I his last two starts with blow-out wins.  He had been entered in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Saturday, but scratched for this softer spot.  Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens sealed the deal.  He went right to the front, opened up, and the as they turned for home stopped like he was shot at 1-4 odds.  Sigh......In the third race Free commented that if Diamond Bachelor came back to win today's Zuma Stakes after winning his maiden and a small stakes last out, he just might be the BC Juvenile Turf favorite.  He too was odds-on at 2/5.  He stalked the leader, surged to the front in mid-stretch, but was caught late....2nd.  The final selection on the day was my "Best" of the day.  I'd seen Clenor win over the Del Mar turf and was really impressed.  Today she was looking to use the Surfer Girl Stakes as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.  There appeared to be enough pace to set up her late kick, and so I tripled the bet.  She was sitting in mid-pack for Rafael Bejarano - a little closer to the lead than when I'd last seen her run - and as they hit the far turn he stepped on the gas.  Effortlessly she inhaled the leaders and went to the front.  Though the margin of victory was small, it was under a confident hand ride the entire length of the stretch.  MUCH the best!  WHOOO HOOO!