Weekend Review

Weekend Overview: The Post BC curse strikes again. A slew of odds on favorites have met defeat. I think people keep on forgetting that the BC is just one race that is usually contested while the winner was in a very good form cycle. When horses layoff over the winter anything can happen on their return. It was great to see Appealing Zophie come back strong. I think she can be a real contender in this division along with Get Ready Bertie who didn't look all that good this weekend.

Performance of the Week: Master Command flirted with the top flight last year. He showed glimpses that he could be a serious horse and I think this is the year his connections will really look to step him up. His performance in the Mineshaft didn't look all that impressive from one perspective. He seemed just to be grinding, he wasn't moving all that beautifully and yet his competition was getting further behind and he ran a very fast race. A 110 Beyer Speed figure puts him just about on par with the top handicappers in the nation.

Race of the Week: I think the race of the weekend was the Las Virgenes, the San Vicente was also a nail biter but you get the feeling that EZ Warrior would have made it a different race. I love seeing horses come from well off the pace to nail the front runner on the wire. It's one of the most exciting scenario's in the sport. Baroness Thatcher was not well suited to going to the front but Espinoza played the hand he was dealt. Rags To Riches also didn't get things her own way running in the middle of the track on both turns. It was a masterful performance by both fillies but I wouldn't be so sure that Baroness Thatcher wont be able to match her next out. With a different pace we could have a different outcome. But then one of the most exciting things about the race is realizing that Rags to Riches could be any kind of horse. She is certainly some kind of horse already.

Flop of the Weekend: I think I had my Flop of the Weekend segment already written out before the Risen Star as I prepared for Circular Quay's demise but although he didn't look like a winner he lost all chance with that fall so he gets spared. Instead this has to go to Dreaming of Anna. She did not look very god at all and it has prompted her connections to commit her back to the grass. I certainly hope she doesn't go the way of recent BC Juvenile Filly winners.

TCR Mover’s and Shakers: We have a new leader for the time being. Invasor drops to second behind Sugar Shake who has now won a G-1 and a G-2 this term. Notional continues his rise in the standings and checks in at number 3. Rags To Riches also makes her debut in the top 10 thanks to her victory in the G-1 Las Virgenes. The 3yo filly division also has a top 3 listed on the sidebar. Remember it takes a minimum of 20 points to be included, which is why the Turf Fillies only have a top 2 right now. The standings will likely change so much over the course of the year that probably only one or two horses currently in the top 10 will still be there in December. It's even possible that none of them will be there.

Tip O’the Cap: I always love to see the old warriors step it up and get a nice win so this weeks tip o'the Cap goes to Cloudy's Knight. This 7yo gelding has never been a major player but he's been useful and honest his whole career. He even gets to be 3rd ranked in the TCR Turf division for now. Congratulations to all those involved with this horse, keep up the good work!

KC Handicapping: The Risen Star worked out quite well, or at least it worked out just about how I figured it might. You can never account for a fall but I think Notional was going to win the race anyhow. My top two ran in order to key an $80 exacta. Sugar Shake was the horse that really blindsided me. I didn't think she could do that to this field. Well you learn something new everyday. Rags to Riches and Baroness Thatcher were impressive in my opinion. Cash Included looked a bit rusty and perhaps not up to their level.

Cumulative record of selected horses: 9-2-3-1 (-$2.80 -15.5% ROI)

Cumulative record of selected horses Year to Date: 69-13-11-12 ($0.80 +1.15% ROI)