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.