Post by jimhorseman on Sept 23, 2007 16:40:04 GMT -5
Nicknamed "The Buffalo Gang" by our friend and board member Jay, three of us (Jim, Jack and Mike) burst into Northfield Park Friday night with full pockets and high hopes. Five hours later we departed with good feelings and full pockets. Sadly, on the way out those pockets were full of losing tickets.
I have been to Northfield a dozen or so times in the past few years and am still taken aback when I first walk in by the seemingly small size of the track and the amount of banking on the turns. Honestly, the track looks like a quarter mile instead of half mile oval. I can see why horses can still close despite the short stretch as a lot of momentum can be gained coming wide on the final turn.
We were quickly greeted by Jay; who with his wife Loretta, were extremely hospitable hosts. Longshot Mike soon joined us and quickly displayed why he has the nickname as he seemingly cashed big tickets every race. The company was good and made even better when Jay's horse; Sharon's Future, roared to victory. Jay was gracious enough to allow all of us into the winner's circle but apparently Sharon is not fond of out of towners. She bucked her back legs and just missed hitting our friend Buffalo Mike in a very sensitive area. It's been a lot of years since I saw Mike move and jump so quickly. I then observed a strong what I'll call "barn smell" that I assumed came from Sharon's Future but can't be sure didn't originate from Mike after the incident. Sharon refused to settle down so we didn't get a group picture on this trip. Hopefully it will work out next time.
There is nothing like being at a track live. I asked Longshot Mike how he crafted wagers and he said the biggest factor is seeing the horses warm up. He can see which look full of run and which may look a little sore. Sometimes a big effort takes a little extra out of a horse for the next start and he watches for that. Longshot Mike accurately predicted several heavily bet horses he thought might be short and pointed out a couple of nice price horses that ran on the ticket. He has one of the best eyes for horses I've seen and his being at the track and paying attention leads to his success. Nice job Friday Mike.
With Jay having a winning horse and Longshot Mike giving us all kinds of good information how could we lose? It was easy as the chill I had in Buffalo followed me up the Thruway right to the Park. A couple of quick examples:
Race 1 - I had a big tri key with Mom's Datebook that looked like a lock at the top of the stretch when Mom's Datebook broke stride. Disaster, but maybe not as I had a small back-up trifecta bet with O Minnie Go winning (yes!), Queen's Kool running second (yes!) and either Hylite Lavec or Secret Dancer third (NOOOO!). I watched from the finish line in horror as I saw that Kurt Sugg and Hylite Lavec couldn't run down Call Me Your Baby. My stomach only hurt a little when I saw the $4,000 tri price.
Race 6 - I loved the 5-1 Belle Buckley and singled her in the pick three. I also played a tri wheel for $2.00. I used Belle Buckley with Back Home Again and Sharp Alma for second with all for third. In mid stretch Belle Buckley looked to have three lengths and I began rooting hard for the 30-1 Back Home Again to get past the favored Sharp Alma for second. About 20 feet from the finish line it looked like Belle Buckley had a stroke and again I watched in horror as Back Home Again not only got by Sharp Alma but also Belle Buckley at the finish line. AAARRGGGHHH!!!
Race 9 - Martha's Revenge wins like an even money horse should. Thanks to Longshot Mike (who had the exacta) I have Our Beautiful Doll at almost 40-1 for second in the tri. However; I was a dollar short of being able to wheel for third. I check my wallet and only have two hundred dollar bills left. Two choices, break a hundred or leave a horse off for third. I chose to leave Joey Mapes and his 70-1 horse Eagle Creek Beauty off the ticket and again am stunned when he roars up for third. My own fault as one of my rules is anything can run third. I was burned in the first race but that was a small couple of dollar back up bet. This was my primary wager. Just dumb and it cost me a big tri payoff.
Race 11 - At least I'm alive in the Pick Four coming into the last race. Just need one of the three favorites to win. Hello 10-1 Ms Maize N Blu and good bye ticket.
Race 12 - Sharon's Future wins and I have big double tickets with Jayci Honey, Surf N USA and Eagle Together. Three horse photo at the wire and the winner is, is,....Joey Mapes and Masquerade's Model at over 30-1. I was standing near the winners circle when Mapes and his horse entered after the race for the picture. A patron yelled at Mapes, "I wish I knew you were alive, I could have made a killing." Mapes had the classic comeback; "Hell, even I didn't know I was alive." Great. As I'm heading for the exit Longshot Mike states he backwheeled Eagle Together (he thought she might be a bit short) and caught the exacta. An appropiate finish to the evening.
Despite the continued bad luck/lost photos and poor betting decisions I did enjoy myself. I'm sorry I won't be able to attend the Oct Handicapping Board weekend. I would definitely encourage all who can to be there.
I have been to Northfield a dozen or so times in the past few years and am still taken aback when I first walk in by the seemingly small size of the track and the amount of banking on the turns. Honestly, the track looks like a quarter mile instead of half mile oval. I can see why horses can still close despite the short stretch as a lot of momentum can be gained coming wide on the final turn.
We were quickly greeted by Jay; who with his wife Loretta, were extremely hospitable hosts. Longshot Mike soon joined us and quickly displayed why he has the nickname as he seemingly cashed big tickets every race. The company was good and made even better when Jay's horse; Sharon's Future, roared to victory. Jay was gracious enough to allow all of us into the winner's circle but apparently Sharon is not fond of out of towners. She bucked her back legs and just missed hitting our friend Buffalo Mike in a very sensitive area. It's been a lot of years since I saw Mike move and jump so quickly. I then observed a strong what I'll call "barn smell" that I assumed came from Sharon's Future but can't be sure didn't originate from Mike after the incident. Sharon refused to settle down so we didn't get a group picture on this trip. Hopefully it will work out next time.
There is nothing like being at a track live. I asked Longshot Mike how he crafted wagers and he said the biggest factor is seeing the horses warm up. He can see which look full of run and which may look a little sore. Sometimes a big effort takes a little extra out of a horse for the next start and he watches for that. Longshot Mike accurately predicted several heavily bet horses he thought might be short and pointed out a couple of nice price horses that ran on the ticket. He has one of the best eyes for horses I've seen and his being at the track and paying attention leads to his success. Nice job Friday Mike.
With Jay having a winning horse and Longshot Mike giving us all kinds of good information how could we lose? It was easy as the chill I had in Buffalo followed me up the Thruway right to the Park. A couple of quick examples:
Race 1 - I had a big tri key with Mom's Datebook that looked like a lock at the top of the stretch when Mom's Datebook broke stride. Disaster, but maybe not as I had a small back-up trifecta bet with O Minnie Go winning (yes!), Queen's Kool running second (yes!) and either Hylite Lavec or Secret Dancer third (NOOOO!). I watched from the finish line in horror as I saw that Kurt Sugg and Hylite Lavec couldn't run down Call Me Your Baby. My stomach only hurt a little when I saw the $4,000 tri price.
Race 6 - I loved the 5-1 Belle Buckley and singled her in the pick three. I also played a tri wheel for $2.00. I used Belle Buckley with Back Home Again and Sharp Alma for second with all for third. In mid stretch Belle Buckley looked to have three lengths and I began rooting hard for the 30-1 Back Home Again to get past the favored Sharp Alma for second. About 20 feet from the finish line it looked like Belle Buckley had a stroke and again I watched in horror as Back Home Again not only got by Sharp Alma but also Belle Buckley at the finish line. AAARRGGGHHH!!!
Race 9 - Martha's Revenge wins like an even money horse should. Thanks to Longshot Mike (who had the exacta) I have Our Beautiful Doll at almost 40-1 for second in the tri. However; I was a dollar short of being able to wheel for third. I check my wallet and only have two hundred dollar bills left. Two choices, break a hundred or leave a horse off for third. I chose to leave Joey Mapes and his 70-1 horse Eagle Creek Beauty off the ticket and again am stunned when he roars up for third. My own fault as one of my rules is anything can run third. I was burned in the first race but that was a small couple of dollar back up bet. This was my primary wager. Just dumb and it cost me a big tri payoff.
Race 11 - At least I'm alive in the Pick Four coming into the last race. Just need one of the three favorites to win. Hello 10-1 Ms Maize N Blu and good bye ticket.
Race 12 - Sharon's Future wins and I have big double tickets with Jayci Honey, Surf N USA and Eagle Together. Three horse photo at the wire and the winner is, is,....Joey Mapes and Masquerade's Model at over 30-1. I was standing near the winners circle when Mapes and his horse entered after the race for the picture. A patron yelled at Mapes, "I wish I knew you were alive, I could have made a killing." Mapes had the classic comeback; "Hell, even I didn't know I was alive." Great. As I'm heading for the exit Longshot Mike states he backwheeled Eagle Together (he thought she might be a bit short) and caught the exacta. An appropiate finish to the evening.
Despite the continued bad luck/lost photos and poor betting decisions I did enjoy myself. I'm sorry I won't be able to attend the Oct Handicapping Board weekend. I would definitely encourage all who can to be there.
