Weekend Review

Weekend Overview: If you weren't enthused about the racing offered this weekend, you simply don't like racing. I think overall it lived up to its billing. Wait A While looked superb in her comeback. Scat Daddy got some vindication for those who had written him off, Lava Man did what he always does and Corinthian stamped himself as a major contender in the handicapping division. I don't think it was his most brilliant effort but coming so quick after a long layoff he can hardly be blamed. At this stage I don't see very many horses who are better than Corinthian outside of Invasor.

Performance of the Week: We all saw the stakes races so I'm giving this to Chelokee. He could not have been more impressive while winning Gulfstreams 5th race on Saturday. It looked like it would be a contentious allowance race on paper. The winner would most likely be thrust onto the Triple Crown trail. Chelokee broke well and was sitting in the pocket right on the rail. It looked like everything was working out perfectly until the leaders backed up and he was shuffled all the way back to last. But once he got around that horse he came flying to nail the favorite in the final 1/16th. It was a masterful performance by the Matz trainee who surely would have won by daylight had he not been shuffled back so far. Watch out for him when he steps up next. Perhaps in the Florida Derby.

Race of the Week: I love turf races and especially the Kilroe Mile, maybe its because I've had some success in it or maybe its because you almost always see a great race. This renewal did not disappoint. Silent Name showed some of his old flash but still just gave it away late as a well timed ride by Migliore got Kip Deville up in time. Bayeux was absolutely flying and there were some nervous moments there as it looked like he just might nail them. Kip Deville has made a decent name for himself at the mile distance. He could be a real factor in this division

Flop of the Weekend: Nobiz Like Showbiz had every chance to win the Fountain of Youth, he simply failed to do it. I think that easily makes him the most disappointing performer of the weekend.

TCR Mover’s and Shakers: Lava Man is back on top, after spending most of last year at the summit of the TCR he has once again regained that spot. He may be tough to knock off once again as it seems like he hasn't lost a step. Molengao also looks like a much improved horse and has burst into the top 10 along with Corinthian and Kip Deville.

Tip O’the Cap: I have a soft spot for old warriors and Silver Tree's comeback race just warmed my heart. I thought That Silver Tree and Steel Light would be the principles and that's the way it panned out. Silver Tree gunned him down late to win his first race since April of 2006. This 7 year old un-gelded horse is 29-9-7-4 lifetime with over $1.2 million in the bank. The best part about it is he looked as good on Sunday as he ever has and recorded the second highest Turf Beyer Speed Figure of the year (104).

KC Handicapping: I have to admit to a mistake when I was tallying my statistics in the handicapping roundup I posted that my winning percentage was 20% but that stat is a bit misleading considering the fact that I'm picking 3 horses for every race so if I were perfect I could only get 33%. A more reliable way to look at it is that I've analysed 42 races in total and I had the winner in 22 of those races. When I post the stats now I'll include the number of races selected in brackets beside the number of horses selected. Those numbers include this weekends results. Speaking of this weekend it worked out pretty nicely for my primary picks. I hit with 2 of my first picks and they paid pretty well considering. King of the Roxy also paid nicely. I got burned for going against Half Ours for the third time now, maybe I should start backing that horse. Corinthian, Lava Man and Great Hunter all won as expected as well.

Cumulative record of selected horses: 12(4)-3-1-2 (+$25.40 +105.83% ROI)
Overall record: 106(42)-22-15-15 (+$40.80 +19.25% ROI)