Gulfstream Championship Season
It's my favorite time of the racing year - the Championship Season at Gulfstream Park! To be sure, things have changed at the Hallandale Beach facility, as they have in the racing world in general. Less races, lower quality, and here locally while we still have the big name trainers & riders often our stakes races do not draw the same "world class" fields they once did. And to make the handicapping more difficult there is the synthetic surface as a third track. But despite all that the racing is excellent, the weather is typically "Chamber of Commerce Postcard" perfect and there's still nothing like being AT the races. Each live racing card I'll post my analysis and betting selections. "And they're off!" Check out my handicapping records by clicking my photo at left.
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Beginning Friday April 4 we will start the "Spring-Summer-Fall" racing seasons and all the selections and journals will be on my "Handicapping Corner" page.
Florida Derby Day 2025
Kim and I hosted a party of ten in our box seats on the finish line for the 74th running of the Florida Derby under overcast skies. We had a good time , as usual, enjoying friends & racing action. For all the stories & highlights of the final week of the winter racing season, CLICK HERE.
March 19-23: La Derby Week
Initially I'd thought I'd go out to Gulfstream for the big day in New Orleans on Saturday, but in the end decided it would be better to spend the day in the comfort of the Sunrise Simulcast Center watching the races on the big screen and hearing the analysis & race calls. The rest of the week - which is the next to last week of the winter season at Gulfstream saw me continue to roll along at a "win-a-day" pace with limited selections. Up until the end of the day Saturday I did very well, but missed several at the end to lower by day's percentage to just 30%. Was pleased to win FOUR stakes on the big card at the Fair Grounds, including the BET of the Day! To see all the photos & read the stories, CLICK HERE.
Virginia Derby Weekend / Ohio Visit
I spent the week in Ohio during mid-March which - from a racing point of view - came over a moderate weekend of racing, highlighted by Virginia Derby Day. After an awfully slow start to the week I hit on ten of sixteen on Saturday to boost the winning percentage back to where it should be. Hit the BET of the Weekend on Friday when Book'em Danno just missed the track record winning the Boston Handicap. And on Saturday I won three races at Gulfstream to go with a Pick-3 and the Virinia Oaks at Colonial. To see all the pics and read all of the stories from the week, CLICK HERE.
Saturday March 8 - Tampa Bay Derby Day
The day was a good one on Saturday with the weather being superb for a So Fla winter day, and it's always great to be at the races. I won both BIG bets on the Tampa Bay Derby card, won the featured Gr 3 at Gulfstream and closed the day with a score in the Grade 3 Azeri at Oaklawn - which was my BET of the Day as 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna made a dazzling return to the races. Hit 33% overall, had some great track stories as well. But a report of the day wouldn't be accurate if I didn't mention that the quality of racing - with the exception of the stakes races - was noticeably very subpar. Especially at GP where the races and horses were average at best - and it seemed that this reflected in the size and quality of the racing fans at the track today. Still - nothing like being at the track on a Saturday! CLICK HERE to see this week's pics & read the stories.
March 1st: Fountain of Youth Day
It was one of the biggest days of the winter racing season and it was a "Chamber of Commerce" kind of day weather-wise. And I have to say that I was pleased to win ten races. That included three of the big stakes at GP - one being the BET of the Day - two of the stakes at the Fair Grounds, and the nationally featured Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. I also had ELEVEN runner-up finishes including four photo-finish losses that cost me nearly $150 in winnings. Still, was a wonderful day. To read all the stories and see all the photos, CLICK HERE.
Feb 19 - 23: Rebel Stakes Weekend
I think that this week will be remembered not so much as "Rebel Weekend" but as COMEBACK Weekend! You'll have to read the full story & see the photos, CLICK HERE, but suffice it to say that the first three days saw me go winless, and then in one fell swoop I was back in the game on Saturday which kicked off a series of wins that propelled me to a winning week overall. That was led by the BET of the Weekend in Oaklawn where Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert unveiled a beast of a race horse that was ultra impressive. And in another ironic twist, as much as I've struggled to win races at the less-than-competitive Gulfstream meet, I won seven times over the last two days here.
Risen Star Stakes Day: Saturday February 15
Headed out to Gulfstream for a full day of racing as the big stakes events were at the Fair Grounds and Laurel Park. Was not a very successful day at Gulfstream - you'll have to check out the journal as I "won" twice but somehow the photo finish that was posted showed the other horse winning. Not sure how that happened. But I did win three of the four stakes at Laurel and won three of the six stakes races at the Fair Grounds. This week was also Valentine's Day - enjoy celebrating the day and exchanging gifts with MY Valentine, my wife....and enjoyed exchanging Valentine's greetings with several of my favorite online pals. CLICK HERE to see this week's pics and read the stories.
Feb 8: Tampa Bay Festival Preview Day
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Day
Oh we had SUCH a great day on Saturday! I had handicapped the races for Gulfstream and Tampa Bay for their big Festival Preview Day. But I watched the first several races on replay because we spent the day with Brad, Lauren, Oliver & Dana & Susie at Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And we had a great day to see the many, MANY photos, nearly 50 CLICK HERE. As for the racing. The first bet of the day was from Tampa and Lamplighter Jack went wire to wire at 15/1! Those winnings enabled me to make a small profit on the day as I only hit about 30% all day. Added a big day Sunday, including another upset winner, to push the week to nearly $50 in profits while still hitting just under the 30% win avg. To see the racing pics and read those stories, CLICK HERE.
February 1st: Holy Bull Day
It was a glorious Saturday as I returned to Gulfstream to enjoy the first big prep for the Florida Derby. The weather was "Chamber of Commerce" with temps approaching 80 and clear blue skies with a gentle breeze off the ocean. At Gulfstream I picked winners in six of the twelve races including two of the big stakes and my BEST Bet. At Tampa I swept their featured pair of graded stakes. And included in the FIFTEEN WINS on the day (over 40%) I hit the BEST of the Day at both Tampa, Santa Anita, and closed out the marathon day by winning three stakes at Delta Downs on their Premier Night program, including the BEST BET of the Weekend! CLICK HERE to see all the pics and read the many stories from this week!
Pegasus Week 2025
It's one of the biggest weekends of the meet but I've decided not to go this year. I had tickets and did plan to go. But I've seen the prospective fields for the big $3 Million and $2 Million races and there are not any real stars projected in the line-up. The one turf star I was looking forward to seeing backed out with a minor injury. So with the decline in the quality of racing AND then with not only my family coming over the weekend from Ohio, but also my son Brad and his family coming I decided to sell the tickets and watch from the "Sunrise Simulcast Center." And as if that wasn't disappointing enough, on the big day I had one win - one, count them - 1 - on the entire Gulfstream card. Sigh......But I did go 4-for-10 in our of town races, including two stakes wins on the big Oaklawn card. To see the pics and read this week's stroies, CLICK HERE.
Sat Jan 18
"Road To The Derby Day"
We lead off this week's recap with the very good news that my handicapping skills have returned thanks to some quality racing from both the Fair Grounds and Laurel Park. The bad news is that the programs at Gulfstream have just deteriorated to such a low level of racing that I had very few selections for the entire week. AND there was a story in the Daily Racing Form indicating that Gulfstream may discontinue in three years or less. To see the pics and read the stories, CLICK HERE.
Disco Time RALLIES To WIN The Grade 3 Lecomte at the Fair Grounds
Sunshine Millions / Cal Cup Week
The skid continues for handicapping I must admit as I went winless on Wednesday and Thursday; had a single winner on Friday and only two wins on Saturday. Then was shut out again on Sunday. Lost every which way I could - consistently was "away last" losing all chance at the start. When I had the front running favorite I was run down late.....when I was closing I was too late to catch the long shot front runner. "WON" the big stakes at Tampa - went to grab a photo later and read the headline he'd been DQ'd following the race for a "questionable' move on the turn that had nothing to do with the runner-up. OHHHH, you gotta love the racing game! The best part of the week came when our son Brad surprised us by showing up at our doorstep on a day that he just knew his Mom & Dad needed him. I'll never, ever forget that moment.....goosebumps and misty eyes still. And then on Saturday morning Keith and I ventured down to the track for "Breakfast at Gulfstream." Was very cool To read the very few stories from the week, CLICK HERE.
January 4: Racing AT Gulfstream
Mucho Macho Man Stakes Day
It was a crisp Saturday afternoon as I spent the day at Gulfstream for only the second time since last spring's Florida Derby Day. Not only was it great to be AT the track, but I scored a dozen times, swept the Gulfstream featured stakes, won 3-of-the-4 Derby preps on the day, had a 40% WIN average, AND made money for the day. CLICK HERE to see the pics and read the stories from the week.
Christmas Week
The week kicked off the day after the big holiday with Opening Day at Santa Anita featuring six graded stakes, and I won nearly half the races that day. Finished the final four day racing week by winning four races, including a sweep of the two 2yo stakes at the Fair Grounds. CLICK HERE to see this week's photos and read the stories from Christmas week.
Saturday Dec 21st
Fort Lauderdale Stakes Day
We were in Passau, Germany as my son Brad made my wagers for this big stakes Saturday in So Florida. Scored in two of the stakes (2-for-6 overall), including the best of the day. CLICK HERE to read the recap.
December 15 - 22: Viking River Cruises - The Final Adventure Of the Year
"Danube Delights Christmas Markets"
CLICK HERE to check out our adventure
Off On A Christmas Markets Cruise
Tropical Park Oaks/Derby Weekend
As Kim continues her remarkable, but slow recovery from double knee replacement my niece Khloe and I set out for Europe and a Christmas Market adventure along the Danube River. As we flew to Hungary on Saturday December 14th, my selections for the La Champions Day at the Fair Grounds and the picks for the Tropical Park Oaks & Derby at Gulfstream were off and running. Our layover in Newark allowed me time to watch replays which saw me win 5-of-12 and make money on the day - including the BET of the Day and a sweep of the Gulfstream features. CLICK HERE to read this week's recap!
December 5 - 8
Cigar Mile Weekend
Following up last weekend's exemplary results, this weekend was far more average. The highlight without question was scorring in three graded stakes on the Aqueduct card, which included my BET of the Day in the Grade 2 Demoiselle.
To see the pics & read the stories CLICK HERE.
Opening Weekend at Gulfstream
November 28-Dec 1
The winter meet at Gulfstream officially kicked off on Thanksgiving Day and I enjoyed a very good first week of racing as I played not only all the Gulfstream races, but also had selections from around the country Thur-thru-Sat. The best bets at Gulfstream both scored, in the featured stakes races, and I hit the BET of the Day under the Twin Spires on Saturday as well. To see all the photos & read the stories, CLICK HERE.
Pre-Season Racing
Opening Weekend At The Fair Grounds
Opening Weekend 2024-25
OK, so the official Opening Day isn't until next Thursday but with my schedule and with the racing action that was scheduled for Friday Nov 22....and the fact that it was Opening Day at the Fair Grounds made THIS DAY my winter opening day. Waking up with temperatures in South Florida a chilly mid-50's it was an ideal day to head out to Gulfstream (especially since I AM retired and CAN do this if I want!). Scored with over 40% of my picks Friday at the track, had a flat-bet profit and scored with the BET of the Weekend! Can't ask for a better start than that! CLICK HERE to check out the pictures and stories from the start of the 2024-25 winter racing season.
Gulfstream 2024
Florida Derby
Day 2024
What a great way to close out the 2023-24 Winter Season on the biggest day of the meet, Florida Derby Day. We hosted a group of sixteen friends & family for the day at the races, including several first time Derby goers. CLICK HERE for a "virtual Scrapbook" of the day at the race. I played both the Gulfstream Derby card and the Arkansas Derby card in Hot Springs. I provided a detailed analysis in a program for all sixteen guests. It was an exciting day of racing and just THE BEST to catch up and visit with everyone. On the track I WON both the Florida Derby AND the Arkansas Derby. To read all the stories from the final week, CLICK HERE.
Gulfstream 2021-22
Gulfstream 2020-21
