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.