We made some money, but left a lot on the table. This BC should not be known as the one that finally snapped the team's losing streak (we've had a Pick 6 team since 2002 and played both the Pick 6 and the Pick 4 since 2004), but instead as the one that got away. If I had designated Lahudood as a B instead of a C we would've had a consolation ticket and been alive for 6 of 6 in the Classic. "If I had played Excellent Art and Kip Deville evenly… If I had not discounted Curlin to a B (one of the last moves I made) … " My guess is every handicapper relives every big betting day with trying to justify to himself that a few changes here or there would've led to the big score. Perhaps I am kidding myself and should be content with turning a profit.

As for the picks, 4 As, 3 Bs and 1 C won. Betting all my A selections to win would've resulted in a 77% profit. The Sprint-Mile-Distaff Pick 3 with As returned $241 for a $4 wager (1 x 2 x 2). We started the day off on the wrong foot when 8/5 favorite Indian Blessing wired the field in the Juvenile Fillies. Like last year, we played against the favorite and were burned. In the end we had four early Pick 4 tickets with 3 of 4 correct. The Pick 4 played out as favorite - favorite - 11/1 shot - favorite and yet it returned $1032.80 -- significantly more than the parlay value of $382. With big fields, there is no better day than BC day to play multirace exotics aggressively. Lahudood 's11/1 upset in the Filly and Mare Turf left us holding our $48 "get through leg one so we can still say we are alive in the Pick 6" ticket while the rest went up in flames (for 6 of 6 at least).

Things looked bleak in the Sprint when Midnight Lute broke a step slow and trailed the field by 15 lengths down the back stretch. Covered in mud with just the yellow cap of Garrett Gomez visible to distinguish him from the others, the Lute moved to the outside of horses at the top stretch and unleashed a spectacular drive to the wire. It appeared as if everyone ahead of him was moving in slow motion as he inhaled the field and drew away to a five length win. Let's hope they bring this monster back next season and try him at Classic distances, perhaps he can tear a page out of Ghostzapper's book ("sprinter turned Classic winner and Horse of Year" chapter; not the "ducking other horses, running against tiny fields in nothing races, and going down as one of the most overblown overhyped racehorses in history"chapter). The beginning of the late Pick 4 (and the third leg of the Pick 6) was the sweetest moment of the day for me. My A horses ran 1-2 and Kip Deville got a perfect rail trip from Cornelio Velasquez and got clear at the top of the stretch and had just enough to hold off a hard charging Excellent Art. The exacta paid $70.80 for $2. Things could've turned ugly in this race as we had no tickets in either wager with 7/2 second choice Nobiz Like Shobiz. With a better trip, he just might have won and blown us up with three races left. The last of our three consecutive A horse to win, Ginger Punch, looked hopelessly beaten with a furlong left but regained the lead and held on to beat Hystericalady and Octave. English Channel dominated the Turf despite his usual antics during the race (throwing his head about and looking uncomfortable). Odds-on favorite and Arc winner Dylan Thomas never handled the track and finished off the board. That left us very alive in the Pick 4 in the Classic, with payoffs if any of the logical horses won the race. We would turn a profit on Any Given Saturday ($3), Curlin ($2), or Hard Spun ($1) and get half our bankroll back with Lawyer Ron ($1) or Street Sense ($1). We also would get 9 consolation 5 of 6 payouts on the Pick 6 if Any Given Saturday were to win. A lot was on the line. Any Given Saturday broke well and had a perfect stalking trip behind the front runners, but when he was called on he came up empty. The race came down to Hard Spun, free wheeling on the lead, and the late running Curlin and Street Sense, who ran as a team picking up horses down the backstretch and around the home turn. Curlin went to Hard Spun's outside and Street Sense his inside. We had another installment of the epic battles between this year's great crop of 3yos (they were the top three finishers in the Derby and Preakness). Curlin engaged Hard Spun and eased by him while Street Sense sputtered and was eventually passed by Awesome Gem for the show spot. With the victory Curlin clinched Horse of Year and can add BC champion to his resume which already includes wins in the Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Arkansas Derby.  

Curlin's victory gave us a modest return of $3013 for $1929 invested (each $1 Pick paid $1506.50, slightly better than the $1093 parlay value). For each $20 share, you get back $31.24 for a profit of $11.24. In the bright side that is more than a 50% return. However it could've been so much more. The consolation 5 of 6 paid over $1500. Thus a victory by Any Given Saturday would have yielded nearly $20k.

Oh well, there is always next year (or is there? Next year they are running the BC at Santa Anita over a synthetic racing surface I abhor and find incomprehensible. "They" say it is for the safety of the racehorses but there is not one shred of evidence to support this. I may sit next year out.)