Recap for Sat. Jan. 5th

The pick3 [R4-6] paid a generous $137.80 for a buck, glad I choose to go deep in the final leg. It also helped that the 3-5 favorite was uncontrollably rank and exhausted himself fighting the jockey for the first 4 furlongs. Winner was coming back on seven days' rest and switching to Luis Gonzalez in the irons. His previous race on Dec. 29th, won by the Clement-trained Flying Dismount, may well turn out to be a key race; 2nd & 3rd place finishers Twinbucktu and El Gran Tony should be given extra consideration in their next starts, as they were well clear of the others.

Also caught the modest exacta twice in the fifth. The winner, #1-Ashley and I, not only got jockey Joe Rocco, Jr. off an 0-41 schneid to start the meet, she earned trainer Barbara McBride her 1,000th career victory- and they had to withstand an inquiry, to boot.

In the ninth race, Anglers Reef turned in a dull effort; I'll probably give him another shot if he's turned back to 7F, but he's certainly not the same horse as last season. He's only just turned 5, so I don't think he's on the downside yet; at the same time, he's had front wraps added recently which make you wonder how ouchy he might be.

Meet record: 13/52= 25% Bet: $447.00 Won: $620.00 Profit: $173.00