SPA Friday, Day XVII, August 1, 2025

[Trigger]

The SPA weather looks very nice, in the mid to high 70's today.  The DIRT track will probably be FAST or GOOD because of the damage from yesterday's weather.  The humidity is very high, 95% which means the Turf should be GOOD to YIELDING.  NYRA's MO is to take all races off grass, and leave the one stakes race on it.  That's how I'm studying.

I'm only wagering on Race 7 (436pm) - Grade 2 on the Inner Turf at 1 mile.

One of the best turf horses in the country is in this race G3,2,1 winner and 6/7 lifetime Zulu Kingdom.  Respect Zulu on firm turf.  I'm not using you as a key horse because I believe moist grass is kind of your kryptonite, you win but looking very mediocre.  Maybe ready for a clunker like 4th time out as this is 8th time out.

The #3 & #4 out of their tree, #5 first time grass and they're reaching for solutions I think and this ain't it.  The #6 never been out of the money and was beaten into oblivion to do what he did last.  The #1 is a toughy and I wouldn't be surprised if for once he doesn't leave, stalks and is actually very good.

I think the MTO #9 McAfee will be scratched.

I'm going with two horses both as keys that I think will appreciate a moist grass turf, #2 Luther (Rosario for Shoemark  ) & #8 Tank (3/30 Tampa win ).  I hope the bridge jumpers jump aboard Zulu and he disappoints.

24 wps on 2 & 8 = 144
25 exx 28 = 50
4 ex 28/all = 56
2 ex all/28 = 28
3 tri 28/28/all =36
1 tri 28/all/28 = 12
1 tri all/28/28 = 12
.10 sup 28 x 28 x all x all = 36
.40 sup 28/28/all/all = 24

= $398, Can I please get a first place finish dead heat between the 2 & 8 and a longshot finishing 3rd!  Just a very small ask LOL! 

[JT]

Hopefully better luck today for us both. Yesterday was like a kick in the balls. 3 pick 5's where I had 4 out of 5. I'd rather fail miserably then have that happen.

[Trigger]

Hopefully better luck today for us both. Yesterday was like a kick in the balls. 3 pick 5's where I had 4 out of 5. I'd rather fail miserably then have that happen.

It's ok to blow off steam. 

But you're, or trying to capitalize with the smaller connecting races too.  We're also discussing other strategies to mitigate loss / secure the investment.

If you were getting blanked, or 1,2/5 this conversation wouldn't be happening because soon enough we'd all be onto the road of what works.

Good luck and let's make it happen!   

Remember, we're business men doing what we enjoy and trying to make $, not suicide bombers! 

[Trigger]

The SPA reports as Fast and Firm, changes everything if that holds for my 7th race.

Early scratches:

Scratches & Changes
Race    P#    Horse    Changes    Notes
1    #4    Imperia Blue    Scratched @ 10:09 AM    
 
2    #6    Awesome Aaron    Scratched @ 10:09 AM    
   #7    Disarm    Scratched @ 10:09 AM    
   #8    Film Star    Scratched @ 10:09 AM    
 
4    #2    Americathegreat    Scratched @ 10:10 AM    
   #8    Tax Holiday (GB)    Scratched @ 10:10 AM    
   #10    The Grumpy Rabbit    Scratched @ 10:10 AM    
   #11    So Vain    Scratched @ 10:10 AM    
   #1A    Uncatchable    Jockey Change: Jose L. Ortiz    
 
6    #4    Schwarzenegger    Scratched @ 10:10 AM    
   #10    Oscar's Hope    Scratched @ 10:10 AM    
 
7    #4    Maui Strong    Scratched @ 10:11 AM    
   #6    Out On Bail    Scratched @ 10:11 AM    
   #9    McAfee    Scratched @ 10:11 AM    
 
8    #1    American Litigator    Scratched @ 10:12 AM    
 
9    #2    Outlaw Country    Scratched @ 10:12 AM    
   #11    Kunshan Bridge    Scratched @ 10:12 AM    
 
10    #2    Queen Atlas    Scratched @ 10:13 AM    
   #9    Aviso    Scratched @ 10:13 AM    
   #11    Best Impression    Scratched @ 10:13 AM

[JT]

2 bets on this glorious Friday afternoon.
Gulfstream Pick 5
1,2,3,4,6,7/3/3/1,2,4,5,6/All $105 bucks

Spa Pick 5
All/4/All/4/All..$90 bucks

[JT]

2 bets on this glorious Friday afternoon.
Gulfstream Pick 5
1,2,3,4,6,7/3/3/1,2,4,5,6/All $105 bucks

Spa Pick 5
All/4/All/4/All..$90 bucks

Well Gulfstream is cooked in leg 2 the 2/5 favorite loses to the longest shot on the board.

[Calhoun]

Good luck to all betting Saratoga. It's too bad they have mostly 5-6 horse fields. Looks like Aqueduct winter on a bad day. jmo

I'm going to kill some money on the Ellis late pick-5 that has a $42k carryover.

[JT]

Good luck to all betting Saratoga. It's too bad they have mostly 5-6 horse fields. Looks like Aqueduct winter on a bad day. jmo

I'm going to kill some money on the Ellis late pick-5 that has a $42k carryover.

Thanks for the heads up Calhoun. I'll look at that right now on my lunch break. Ellis is tough.

[JT]

2 bets on this glorious Friday afternoon.
Gulfstream Pick 5
1,2,3,4,6,7/3/3/1,2,4,5,6/All $105 bucks

Spa Pick 5
All/4/All/4/All..$90 bucks

Well both those bets sucked.. on to the next

[JT]

Spa take 2
Pick 5
All/4/All/5/All.. $108

[Trigger]

Been on the phone all day fighting LOL and just catching up!

JT, that GP p5 was heartbreaking!, I think I get more emotional with your bets than my own. 

I think you're going to have to start winning very soon or I might start busting things up here at my home office! 

I'm not sending any SPA bets in the 7th, fuck it!  I would never bet against Zulu in a million years on a Firm track.  Is it firm they say it is, have they ever lied sure they have.  But the humidity dropped so it could be drying out.  I only liked the 2 and 8 because of a good - yielding, even soft, heavy course.

If my numbers come in so be it! 

[Trigger]

Been on the phone all day fighting LOL and just catching up!

JT, that GP p5 was heartbreaking!, I think I get more emotional with your bets than my own. 

I think you're going to have to start winning very soon or I might start busting things up here at my home office! 

I'm not sending any SPA bets in the 7th, fuck it!  I would never bet against Zulu in a million years on a Firm track.  Is it firm they say it is, have they ever lied sure they have.  But the humidity dropped so it could be drying out.  I only liked the 2 and 8 because of a good - yielding, even soft, heavy course.

If my numbers come in so be it!

So I watched the race, see Zulu win and get back on the phone and start fighting.

I'm checking the payouts and find out he got dqd  .

Turns out I would of won about $237 against my commitment of $398 bets and even with scratches I would of just increased my bet amounts so it would of been around the same, so it safe to say I saved money, $161.

I saw the dq, not actually some hardcore shit, more like total bs and Zulu got robbed.  But I didn't!   

[JT]

So I watched the race, see Zulu win and get back on the phone and start fighting.

I'm checking the payouts and find out he got dqd  .

Turns out I would of won about $237 against my commitment of $398 bets and even with scratches I would of just increased my bet amounts so it would of been around the same, so it safe to say I saved money, $161.

I saw the dq, not actually some hardcore shit, more like total bs and Zulu got robbed.  But I didn't!   

I was wondering what the outcome would have been. Sometimes the best Bets are the ones we don't make. Yeah that first pick 5 at Gulfstream was tough.  I flip flopped leg 1 and 2. Need to single the 3 in race 1 and hit the all button in race 2. Oh well at least it only paid 10 grand LOL

[Trigger]

I was wondering what the outcome would have been. Sometimes the best Bets are the ones we don't make. Yeah that first pick 5 at Gulfstream was tough.  I flip flopped leg 1 and 2. Need to single the 3 in race 1 and hit the all button in race 2. Oh well at least it only paid 10 grand LOL

There is a lot more to the Zulu story.

Charlie Fellowes Luther's trainer who has a team of like over a dozen, came here with only him, only the one horse, weird.

He's stirring up some international fractional ownership deal.

Reading that last night on his website only bolstered my feelings he'd rebound, but the track condition change put me off, he didn't win technically, wins through dq, and NYRA is always a suspicious bunch of who they get in bed with.

Some shady shiz!