Listening to my own advice

The last post on this space ranted about how--with trainers--jock popularity seemed more important than riding skills. it's unfair to the less favored with ability. My point was proven today, in spades and with dollars, as jockey Orlando Bocachica, overcame a stumbling start on Inside Zone to score at 18-1 over favorite Bulara on the Big A turf. What a ride.

The selection of Inside Zone was bolstered by my affinity for move trainer Patricia Farro, one of the sharpest in the game. Apparently she had no hesitation about jock Orlando. I already had Zone alive in the previous double (also as a pick-six single, by the way) and nearly hesitated to bet it across the board--because Boca is not a preferred jock with a high win percentage.

Then, I remembered my own counsel. I immediately doubled my straight wagers and wheeled the horse in the next double. Boom! Can't lose. My wagering day is done.

Thanks, Orlando!

Ride unpopular jocks to profits

Ramon Dominguez, top jock of the recent Big A meet is good; Yet no better than a handful of less respected riders on the NYRA circuit. The difference is that when those riders win their mounts pay more than they should. Dominguez is so overbet that it is difficult to make a profit on his winners.

As in most professions, a jockey's ability seems less important for success than his or her connections. The NY training poobahs have finally gotten wise to the extraordinary riding skills of jock Rajiv Maragh--so he's getting more mounts. They continue to ignore capable jocks like Eddie Castro, Victor Santiago, Victor Morales, Pablo Morales, and Anne Naprovinick. They are a longshot player's dream. I elevate the chances of any horse ridden by the previously mentioned riders. Castro, yesterday had two winners paying $51, and $18.

Perhaps the best evidence of a successful connection is the journey of jock Cornelio Velasquez. For months, he was quietly feeding my pocket with excellent rides at enormous prices. Then, trainer Bill Mott made him his go-to guy. The rest is history.

Ask former leading Suffolk jocks Winston Thompson and Orlando Bocachica about becoming small fish in a big pond. Did they really leave their skills in Boston?

Ditto in Big A 9th at 7-1

(see previous post) Rodrigo Ubilo and Eddie Castro (a monstrous 50% with a $6.50 roi) in the 9th race. This time at 7-1. Nuff, said!

Selective reading costs $

For obvious reasons, horse race handicappers are likened to weathermen. What other professions are there that can claim expertise at predicting a future that is all too often incorrect.

What puzzles me, is that the television touts, while encouraging followers to look at the new Daily Racing Formulator-stats, concentrate only on areas that appeal to their handicapping methods. Being a long-shot player, I can't afford to make these errors.

Today, for instance, in Aqueduct's 4th race, I made a nice $51 score on Wheels Up, a first time turf-starter (At this writing I have the horse covered with four others in the daily double). The 'experts' admitted that the race was filled with improbable contenders. Yet, none of them looked at the trainer jockey stats of Rodrigo Ubilo and Eddie Castro. (a monstrous 50% with a $6.50 roi). Granted, it was a stab. But it was a stab in a stab race. And, I hated the favorite. That's all I needed to at least make win and place bets (and, of course, the pending doubles).

Immediately after collecting on Wheels, I bet a $1 double wheel (with all, cost $10) on the fourth at Keeneland--another impossible 4 1/2 furlong event. And, although it wasn't easy, Kinsolving won the race at an 8-1 mutuel. Key to my wagering decision? The horse was trained by leading trainer Steve Asmussen, and ridden by his sidekick Shaun Bridgemohan. They are winning at a phenomenal clip. As mentioned here, months ago, Asmussen is killing them wherever he sends his stock. When do you get 8-1 on Asmussen?

Winners guaranteed. Now, all I've got to do is wait.

Read the form, folks!

ps: Second favorite won the next race giving me a $198 double and a $65 consolation for a scratched horse. Keeneland's up next. Can't lose!

Hachacha!