Give thanks for DRF info

Hats off to the Daily Racing Form for providing more statistics than any handicapper can possibly use effectively. There is such an overload of information that one rarely knows what to look at and what to dismiss.

Luckily for me, I pay particular attention to the trainer/jock stats: Who rides for who when it's go time for a win. Today's second race at Aqueduct paid me handsomely for my devotion to this tidbit.

Lady's Lunar Luck paid $78. $25.8, $14.2 across the board, beat the odds-on betting favorite for a $380 exacta and was an easy $2 daily-double wheel that returned $437.

Key to my selection was the 50% win record of white-hot trainer Dan Conway (19% in 2009); 67% when using jock Eddie Castro; solid numbers from sprint to route (24%). Although there was no stat for first-time turf wins, that changes today. Bottom line, this was also a two-year-old race--by definition an open contest. Read your form!

I'm King (Congie) of the world, $88

Family demands have left little time to post to this blog. But had to publicly pat myself on the back for collecting nearly $4,000, today because of Monster-Mover King Congie in Aqueduct's fourth race.

Despite enormous 43-1 odds, I was so confident in this two-year-old colt that I made Congie the nucleus of my bets from races two through five. That means, the horse completed my second race pick-three, was wheeled with all in the fourth double and was keyed with logical contenders in the exacta and third-race pick-three.

Bunches all around. Collected on everything. Truthfully, there was a second mover in the fourth race that required a small saver wager. I was convinced, however, that expert conditioner Albertrani and pilot David Cohen were due to pay their up-to-no-good taxes. Happy to go along for the ride.

The move is a monster when it hits!

Know what you know. I like Mike!

There are few reliable factors in thoroughbred handicapping. When a player finds one, it's like the 'all-in' call in hold-em poker. NYRA trainer Mike Hushion has long been one of my reliable favorites. He is also a prolific Monster Move trainer.

Good ol' Mike sent out Quality Council, in the fifth race at Belmont today, off of a qualifying move in it's first race at Monmouth Park. That day the colt had to break from the rail for a considerably higher Maiden Special Weight purse. Today, Council was to be ridden by M. Garcia, a better than average jock from another circuit--but relatively unknown in New York. Need I say more? The colt went off at 12-1 and romped to an easy win to pay $26.2, 11, 6.8.

Council completed a $696 pick-three for me, a $139 daily double and finished ahead of the favorite for a $113 exacta. At this writing the colt is a single on my small pick-six ticket.

Props to Mr. Serling

Respect to NYRA handicapper Andy Serling for reminding viewers of today's third race at Saratoga that "the way to make money at the track is to search for hidden form." Props, again to Mr. Serling for pointing out the less than obvious value of long-shots Gotta Go Round and Who's Willie Fitz against a 1-5 shot in the race. He made me take a second and third look at both horses. Hope he had the $619 exacta, as I did.

'Soaring' over Rachel's return

Those of us on the ground, playing the ponies day-to-day, do appreciate greatness. Super-horse Rachel Alexander returned to the races at Monmouth Park, today, winning as easily as expected. Hoorah!
The more difficult challenge is how to make money off of the promised victory. I can't say a monster move prompted the $20 double connecting Rachel to 30-1 Black Hawk Soaring in the following race. But, two of my favorite move performers--trainer Patricia Farro, and underrated jock Angel Serpa--gave me enough confidence to take the shot. It was worth a $42 double. A significant earlier win including a $160 daily double (see earlier post) was the other major ingredient.

Really good day.

Earning while learning

Yes. I'm still struggling with the finer points of the Monster Move system. But, once in a while a I get a chance to earn while I learn. Such was the case today in the Desert Vixen Stakes second race at Monmouth Park. Island Time lead every step of the way to pay a generous $33.20.

My interest in the filly, naturally began with the prescription last running line. Closer examination showed she was near the lead on turf at six furlongs in 1:11.3. Monster trainer Jason Servis found out what he needed to know. The rest was up to jockey Carlos Marquez. He slowed the pace sufficiently so that Island had plenty left to outrun the odds-on favorite. Brilliant ride.

Island Time completed a juicy $64 double with odds-on in race one. I am alive in the next wide-open dd with four contenders.

Bogey not bogus. Yields S39

Follow your instincts. The major move I spied on Belmont's Friday card was Pat Kelly's Yield Bogey in the eighth race. Knowing Kelly as a move trainer and the supporting evidence in the pp's made Bogey an all-go for me. I mixed him in doubles, pick threes, and placed a hefty across the board wager on the monster mover. The horse won in a romp at $38.4. I love this system.

Being greedy, I am now searching for one more monster on the Churchill Downs twilight card. Think I've got a few.

Lifesaver jock method, long-shot jock Santiago

Like all horseplayers I have my share of bad days. Either my decision making is off, distorted figures, or lots of seconds and thirds when I need wins. Or I merely can't figure what the hell is going wrong.

My natural tendency is to limit wagering, tighten my requirements, etc. Best success comes from refusing to bet any selection not ridden by the few I consider superior jocks. No matter what my other handicapping indicates. If the horse is not ridden by a 'super-jock' no bet.

These riders don't necessarily lead the standings, although most have done so at some time in their careers. But. they rarely ride unless a horse is a "go."

In New York, John Velasquez is one of my favorites. As are Kent Desormeaux and Alan Garcia. Out-of-town: Anthony Black, Corey Lanerie and John Graham have saved my day numerous times. Apologies to the others I don't recall at this writing. But I know them when I see their names in past performances. For me, they are as close as it gets to 'automatic bet.' Gracias!

Speaking of jocks, Victor Santiago has become my leading long-shot rider in New York. He rides as well as anyone. See his work in Belmont's eighth today on mover Raffie's Rose, $28. The horse had every reason to quit. Santiago kept her going. Trainer James Ryerson has found his rider.

Eldaafer $13.8 win is no 'stab'

Apparently I missed the memo that turned the art of thoroughbred handicapping into a lottery game of spread your dollars and hope. I am still laboring under the misguided notion that you can select and wager on a logical horse that is often overlooked by the public and it's handicapping mavens.

The more I listen to the so-called experts, I realize that most merely have enough cash to survive a bad streak of odds-on and morning line contenders finishing out of the money in consecutive races. How sad.

To be fair, I am not sure how well I would do offering opinions on nine races a day. But, this is my point. I can be selective; wait for the races with a monster mover, or lone speed, at a distance or on a surface where I have some insight.

That being said, you can imagine my amusement at NYRA's TV cappers dismissing the chances of Eldaafer in the 5th race at Belmont, today. El was the only horse I liked today on the card. He won by open lengths at a generous $13.8.

Not that I am so smart. But these guys overlooked the following information shouting at them in the form:

• Horse was coming off a move race in grade three company (I forgive them for this)
• El had won three of of four starts at the distance; winning two of four starts at Belmont; finishing third in the other two
• Well-regarded west coast trainer Diane Alvarado wins one-third of the time adding blinkers. The rest of her percentage line at routes, days off, etc. sported boxcar numbers
• She brought leading California jock Valdivia with her for this ride.

Exactly what is it that you need? With the proceeds of this win, I think I'll go play lotto.

Movers Day at Belmont

Monster movers Crepe Sucre, $59.5; Ashley's Mission, $22.4; and Spiritual Tune, $16.8 were winners at Belmont, today. A profitable trip for the system.

Derby? What derby?

It's awfully difficult to get excited about this year's version of the Kentucky Derby after scoring a huge $56.50 hit with monster mover Le Grand Cru in Belmont Park's opening day feature race: The Westchester

Trained by hall-of-famer Allen Jerkens and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, Cru boasted impeccable credentials at Belmont Park including two wins in three starts at the one mile distance--in graded stakes company.

Even though the horse hadn't run in a month, the all-important monster move running line pointed Cru out as a possible selection. Pass the Point also showed the required line, but had no other credentials to compare with the eventual winner.

At this writing, I am also alive in four daily doubles.

Sweet dreams are made of this.

Oh, the Kentucky Derby? Bob Baffert's Lookin at Lucky, Gomez up, is the only horse to show a last race monster move line. Morning line odds of 3-1 are much too low for a wager. We'll see at post time, tomorrow.

Afleet scores at 24-1

Only the most astute student of the Monster Move would have even dared to make even the smallest wager on Afleet Again in Aqueduct's featured Grade III Withers. Guilty as charged.

The most difficult part was to identify the last running line as a qualifier. Experience has taught me that if it looks like and quacks like a duck, then.... It didn't hurt that I was familiar with the training methods of Robert Reid (30% winners) and the able riding of jock Mariano.

Afleet was making its first start since the Grade 2 Gotham, where the colt chased of a 1:11.4 six furlong pace before stopping to a gallop. At leg three of the all important running line, the colt was 20 lengths behind the leader. Remarkably, he only lost four more lengths.

Today seemed like a go! Afleet romped by three at 24-1. With the odds-on off the board, show paid almost as much as the win price. Additionally, my selection won the last race for a huge $456 double price.

A duck is a duck.

'Beach' day at Keeneland

A real satisfying win in yesterday's finale at Keeneland. It took a little more work than usual to come up with Beach Commander but it was worth it. Horse paid $29 to win, and coupled with logical second finisher, a $209 exacta. A value win on a day when everything in New York was chalk.

Although 'Beach' was not a picture perfect monster mover, the last race running line was sufficiently close to warrant deeper investigation. A qualifying back race and leading jock Mena up, were the clinchers. Ultimately, a solid bet.

Time permitting, I'm back

No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get more than 24 hours out of any single day. Since my South American trip, I've picked up more required responsibilities. I am already in charge of the day-to-day living of three octogenarian relatives who haven't a care in the world. Monster research continues. Something had to give. And, it's been this blog.

My apologies to the few who regularly look for information about the Monster Move system. I haven't posted in more than a month. I will attempt to do better.

The best thing is that nothing has changed with the system. It continues to score larger than expected mutuels on predictable horses. Joining the list of trainers who have used this method with aplomb is former New York rider Rudy Rodriguez. He has already sent out more winners than he rode all of last year. Temecula Creek, paid $25 on the same day notable Steve Asmussen sent out cinch Natural Speed to score by daylight at $14.40.

I have been busy investigating the pick-three and pick-four potential of these movers. Early results are encouraging. Imagine using a 15-1 shot as the key single in the middle of an inexpensive pick-three wager. I have taken down $1400, $870 and $581, for starters. Stay tuned.

Big A cancels; It's Not for Love pays 11-1

Cancellation of the Big A card because of frozen temperatures warmed my heart with an opportunity to score on an historic monster mover at Gulfstream Park. I have caught It's Not for Love both times that she was a go. This was no different. The mare was coming off two moves and returning to her favorite 1 1/16 distance on the turf. She paid $23.6, 10, 5.8. A textbook mover.

Mover Living a Dream, $48, thanks to Luzzi

Don't know how solid jock Mike Luzzi fell out of favor with this punter. But, after his ride on 23-1 Living Out a Dream for Jennifer Pedersen in today's fifth race at Aqueduct, Luzzi is now on my favored list. It was undoubtedly his perseverance against three other contenders through the stretch that made 'Dream' a winner. A small across-the-board wager returned balloons, including exacta, and a daily double wheel into the sixth. Hindsight is 20/20 vision. Next time Luzzi rides a mover, I'll load up on the wager..

$erpa no Surprise

Don't say we didn't tell you. Angel Serpa is the real deal. In a previous post at the beginning of the Big A meet (December 10), I recommended that players pay particular attention to any horse ridden by the phenom . There are few decent tips in this game. But I gave you one of them.

Serpa has been the source of several huge hits for me this meet, including two pick-three singles: Strummer ($!6.6) yesterday and mover Star Over Malibu ($20.20) --one of three winners--today. The apprentice rides like a journeyman. Nuff said!

Knowledge Power ditto

The few players who regularly read this blog need only look to my previous post to understand how I 'confidently' picked the 9-1 winner in today's first "dog" race at Aqueduct. Monster Boots won by open lengths, was a wheel in the upcoming daily double and a single in the first pick three. Why? Trainer Benjamin Perkins…an under rated master conditioner. The horse did not qualify with a monster move. But in a field as bad as this one, it was worth a decent wager.

Unicorn Girl continues move streak at Big A

Unicorn Girl, $27.4, 8.8, 6.2 in Aqueduct's fourth race, made three days in a row that a NY monster mover won at gratifying double digits. The mare, sent off at 12-1, benefited from a heady ride by CC Lopez who drove her to the fast- rail to just nip odds-on Positive Prospect, Trainer Ben Perkins is a master of the tactic so I loaded up on this wager: surrounding doubles, across the board mutuels, double exacta. Knowledge is power.

One Brave Cat fills me up in Big A second

Two monster moves in the second at the Big A. Shamroge opened at 6-5. Ed Lotruglio's One Brave Cat, Bocachica up, went postward at 17-1. Easy decision. Cat was never threatened in completing a $71 double with first race odds-on horse. Main meal mutuels of $35.2, 9.8, with a $196 exacta as gravy. Dessert will be served next as the smallest double in my wheel is $168. I'm full!

3rd race observation: Broadway Producer and More than a Reason, don't like to win. We'll see!

Wadi Suki, Ezzy get 2010 off to a bang!

Two monster movers, at the big A, got the new year off to a profitable start. In the last race on January 1, Wadi Suki lead wire-to-wire for a return of $34 , 12.8 and 6.9. Jockey Souza's first win of the meet. Time to watch trainer Gary Contessa.

Ezzy, trained by Bernardo Callejas and ridden by jockey Hill, wired the field to complete a $401 first double, yesterday and paid mutuels of $47.8, 13.4 and 8.20.

Hello 2010. I'm ahead for the whole year (sic).