Racebook Betting - Turn Horse Notes into Cash
Shortly after Bobby Frankel’s Latent Heat turned in a flat performance at Keeneland on October 13th, 2006, the Hall-of-Fame trainer blamed himself for running the horse, stating that “he was sick going in”. Then he caught my attention when, quite out of character, he predicted that “Latent Heat will win the Malibu”. That racebook betting race was two-and-a-half months away! Nevertheless, I made a note of Frankel’s brash comment, and filed it away.
When The Malibu Stakes (at Santa Anita) rolled around on December 26th, Latent Heat, with regular rider Edgar Prado aboard, was being overlooked in the racebook betting at odds of nearly 6-1. He won by two lengths in fast time, defeating a talented field that included Midnight Lute, Da Stoops, Brother Derek, Arson Squad and Hyperbaric. He paid $13.40, $8.20 and $5.40, and I made a nice score.
Keeping notes like this is definitely worth the time and effort, whether you do it on the computer, or with 3 X 5 cards. With that in mind, I’ll offer a few observations from the past week of racing. Hopefully, we can turn these tidbits of information into cash at a later date.
On Thursday, August 28th, in the 6th Race at Saratoga, first-time starter Glacken Queen signaled that she’ll be a force in the 2YO filly division with a game runner-up finish to stablemate Megalicious. The Dale Romans trainee displayed talent as well as tenacity in her debut effort. She stumbled at the start, engaged in a three-way speed duel between horses to mid-stretch, put those horses away, and fought tenaciously to the wire, losing by a head. She should win next out at Belmont.
On Saturday, August 30th, Barclay Tagg unveiled a very special 2YO in Hello Broadway in Saratoga’s 8th Race. This half-brother to Grade 1 route winner Nobiz Like Showbiz ran to his grand looks, notching a neck victory in a field of 11, covering 6 ½ furlongs in a rapid 1:16.80. Like Glacken Queen, he too emerged from a three-way speed duel to take the lead turning for home, fighting off the late challenge of Imperial Council, despite that rival bumping him repeatedly while attempting to lug in. This colt has Grade 1 written all over him.
Lucky Island was anything but lucky in The Forego on Saturday. The horse racing odds favorite stumbled at the start, was taken up after being pinched back early, made a sustained five-wide run into contention at the top of the stretch, and flattened out late to finish 6th, missing second by a mere half-length. Bet him next time out, as he has rebounded from his other defeats with authoritative victories.
2007 Horse-of-the-Year Curlin got the job done in The Woodward, but wasn’t his usual impressive self. It will be interesting to see where his connections point him next.
Off a 2 ¾-length score in the 3rd leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, you might have thought that Marlang would be heavily favored in the horse racing odds for the G3 Saranac vs. a relatively undistinguished bunch. However, bettors’ inherent bias against Canadian invaders inflated his price to 5-2, and he won for fun in front-running fashion (try to say that fast three times)!
Nick Zito appears to be the modern version of giant-killer H. Allen Jerkens. The trainer of Belmont upsetter Da’ Tara pulled off another shocker with 16-1 shot Anak Nakal in the G2 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Labor Day. You have to seriously consider anything Zito sends out in the major races. He knows how to get a horse ready for an important engagement.
Here’s hoping that these notes will help you turn a tidy racebook betting profit somewhere down the road.
Pete Mitchell has been handicapping horses since his teenage years. He has been a professional horse player for many years, and came to BetOnline.com’s attention through multiple referrals from industry insiders/sportsbook owners. Pete is revered for his horse handicapping opinion and industry experts acknowledge his impressive career winning record. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
