The Post-Belmont Blahs Blog

It was a fun day at Penn National, betting on Belmont races -- and the first ones at PennNat -- & wishing I could make money.

But the Belmont (Stakes) was a bust.  Third Triple Crown race in a row where I said "who the F!?!?"  I didn't even have to look at my fistful of tickets -- I knew had none with the 12 (Palace Malice) on top.  Like I knew in the Derby I didn't have Orb alone, or Golden Soul at all.

Here's the thing about the Belmont: a) plenty of people pumped Palace Malice (I heard it called the "wise guys pick"); b) the shape of the race was almost exactly what I said it'd be in yesterday's blog -- or one of the shapes.  It was the speed race with no one heading them.

The two you thought would go out fast (1 & 2, Frac Daddy & Freedom Child) did -- the first half mile was the 2nd fastest in history (so much for the mediocrity of this year's cohort) -- with Palace Malice right behind.

Then they died, as we thought they might, and Revolutionary bolted forward, but didn't catch Palace Malice & Oxbow.  Then came Orb.  Revolutionary burned out and Orb didn't have enough to catch the  fast-paced horses.

The rest of the day?

I was ahead by about $30 without the Belmont.

Cashed a show ticket in the 6th (the first in the Pick 6) to start the day; I also had a P6 ticket with JG that started with a W.

Sat out the 7th, but on the first anchor of the P6, won.

In 8th, made the day's "vig" by picking the exacta & cashing a nice ticket. Gave me enough to bet what I wanted in the Belmont.

If you missed it, the JG P6 was 3-for-3.  None of them were particularly long shots, and it ended up paying "only" $6,345 (it was over $2 mill pot), but still...

The 9th started the day the wrong way.  Forty Tales swept to a win in the Woody Stephens, paying $19.80 & brushing aside the 6 & 11 on both the P6 & P4 tickets.

Ouch.

But, whoa, boy!  Came back with a PS cash on 10th AND the second anchor on Pick 6 wins, meaning I've got 4 of 5 on P6 & Orb & Revolutionary, the two favorites, in the last race.  You know how that turned out.

Suddenly in the hole for the day, lost a $2 W on 3rd at Penn Nat.  Waited on waitress to bring our bill.

Decided to bet 12th.  PS on it hits.

Still waiting -- races were 3 minutes apart.  Use 2, 3 from my dead P4 on 4th @ PennNat and hits.

Finish the day with two double digit wins.

Finish nearly even.

I have no regrets, except I didn't win.  Ignored the Palace Malice "wise guys," (listened to the ones on Overanalyze, which would have made a Triple O Triple Crown, but also ignored late push on Incognito [if you missed it, 4th only pays if you have the rest of the Superfecta] & Unlimited Budget -- neither name I heard called during the race).

It was fun.  Hope your day at the races was too.