AT THE RAIL
AT THE RAIL
Life and Racing in Upstate NY
The upstate and western NY is the brunt of a lot of jokes. Armpit of the northeast and all that. The people that say that obviously have never spent the summer here. Sure the winters are brutal, but from May to October there is nowhere better weather-wise in a 4 season climate.
Such will be the setting on Saturday for the Go For The Gold Stakes. The 10th race here in Upper NY, A Grade I tilt covering 8.5F on the fast dirt. This race is restricted to fillies and mares 3 and up.
I wish I was able to report that my “surface and distance” theory worked well on my first week back. No chance. The Sim gods had something else in store for me. BOTH systems, the S&D theory and my daughter’s right hand both delivered a ZERO% strike rate.
So this week we try again. It may turn out we determine this system totally sucks. It was good for 40% hit rate 10 yrs. ago. I guess a lot has changed in the sim or like I said, the system sucks.
I will list each horse from most S&D points to least:
4 UNION JACK FLYER 5/1 28 S&D points- This 5yr old poowilick mare has it all. Has proven she can win at this distance against graded company. Has best speed at this distance with a 112. Should win easily. Even has best jock in race.
7 GO DOWN SWINGING 7/1 15.5 S&D points – She is very consistent with her speeds from numerous distances. This bigrick2 mare has 17 lifetime dirt wins and with her top speed of 110, while probably not quite enough to take the 4, will be around at the end.
9 TEXNOW 16/1 13 S&D points – This one can be looked at so many interesting ways. Originally bred and trained by super trainer texasace then claimed by lopickles who has done a masterful job working her into the 28th ranking. So then why the long odds? Well for one thing she has won a bunch of her races in starter and allowance company in purchased races. But the potential of a big payoff for a mare that has cashed 25 of 29 times as a router including 9 times at today’s distance? I’d say she has a gamblers chance of scoring here. Couple her to the backend and hope.
Kaylee has declined to be part of this nonsense again so we will just stick with my picks. 4-7-9 Exacta box..
See ya next time from upstate NY.