At the Gate - Thursday
By Mike Dempsey
It turns out Arrogate ran even faster than most of us thought in his victory in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) last Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
After earning Beyer Speed Figures of 122 in his Travers (G1) win and a 120 in his Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victory, he earned a 116 in the Pegasus.
He stopped the timer for the nine furlongs in 1:47.61.
Clocker Bruno DeJulio hand timed the race in 1:46.87 and 1:46.91 in two attempts, and the fine folks at TimeformUS came up with a time within .04 seconds.
Andy Beyer has updated the speed figure to 119 and TImeformUS upgraded Arrogate’s number from 134 to 139.
Why is this important?
Because it shows that even in the year 2017 the horse racing industry cannot even time their races correctly, meaning we as horseplayers are not getting accurate information when we wager our money.
There have been other races at Gulfstream Park at this meeting where the times have been questionable, and it has happened at other racetracks as well.
This would not be tolerated in any other sport, and it shouldn’t be happening in ours.
Andy Beyer said it best yesterday when he was quoted in The Daily Racing Form: “Bettors can’t play this game without reliable data.”
Don’t hold your breath waiting for changes to come soon.
Here is the opening race from Gulfstream Park to get the day off to a good start:
GP Race 1 OClm $25,000SAL (12:35 ET)
#6 A Square to Spare 3-1
#7 Ventina 2-1
#3 Prove Me 7-2
#1 Beautyofaday 9-2
Analysis: A Square to Spare dueled for the early lead and tired to finish sixth last out against $35,000 starter optional claimers in her first start against winners. She was a good looking maiden winner two back at GP West going a mile, taking the field gate to wire wand winning going away by nearly 10 lengths. There is some other speed ion here but this gal is going to bounce back with a better effort tin this spot.
Ventina stalked the early pace and finished evenly in a fourth-place finish last out at this level. Two back in her first start against winners she was a solid second. She broke her maiden over the turf here at a mile in her debut. She is the logical one to beat here but our top pick is going to offer a bit more value for the top spot.
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 6,7 / 1,3,6,7
TRI: 6,7 / 1,3,6,7 / 1,3,4,6,7
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
GP Race 8 Md Sp Wt (4:02 ET)
#5 Travis County 7-2
#9 Sympatico 10-1
#8 Mutazen 2-1
#3 Tiz a Curve 8-1
Analysis: Travis County stalked the early pace while saving ground and finished evenly in a fourth-place finish last out in his first start off nearly a six-month layoff. The gelding was making his first start on turf after coming up short four times last year on dirt, missing in a photo two back at Belmont Park. The $850,000 Keeneland purchase is by Tapit out of a Giant's Causeway mare that has dropped two dirt winners, top earner stakes winner Cassaat ($714,733).
Sympatico makes his debut for the Nicks barn that is 18% winners with first time starters. The gelding is by Scat Daddy out of the stakes winner Senza Paura ($150,141) who has dropped seven winners including three turf winners. Decent looking works on the morning tab and debuts with lasix.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 5,9 / 3,5,8,9
TRI: 5,9 / 3,5,8,9 / 3,5,7,8,9
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Gulfstream Park
R2: #6 Art Bijou 12-1
R4: #2 Been Waiting 8-1
R7: #5 Kenitra 8-1
R8: #9 Sympatico 10-1
R8: #3 Tiz a Curve 8-1
R9: #4 Amaluna 8-1
R9: #7 Realistic 8-1
Good luck today!