Big Bang ending to a good year

Thanks to the monster move I am finishing the year with a much-needed bang. Hesitant as I am to wager on Aqueduct's quirky inner-dirt-track, I could not ignore 'move' opportunities on today's card: Coach Butts in the sixth, rallied for second at 9-1 and Personal Good (brilliant ride Mr. Morales!), sixth race, rewarded me with $71, $24, $12 and a $169 daily double.

Interestingly, the eighth race odds-on favorite showed a move and won for fun.

I'm glad I ended my holiday sabbatical.

An unrelated aside: The closest thing to an automatic bet at Fairgrounds has been trainer Steven Asmussen. At some point he boasted a 54% winning percentage. Apparently he's moved several horses to the Big A. He's already two for three at decent prices. A word to the wise…

Happy New Year. Clarity, wisdom, restraint and good handicapping in 2009!

Look to the charts, for longshots

How do you pick a $50 winner without the move? Look to the charts. Having been at a loss to find a good 'mover' at Fairgrounds in the past few days, I was getting restless. While investigating the 12/20 card I noticed Geniver in the first race. She had been disqualified at Churchill on November 26, elevating my 'move' choice Griding Miss to first at $43.60 and a healthy exacta.
A review of the result chart showed that Nadisheko, entered from the same race, had suffered significantly from Geniver's antics--enough so, that I wheeled Navi in the daily double. She romped, paying $50.60.

Happy Holidays to all, and better handicapping in 2009.