Chris Ado's Del Mar Diary. Handicapping notes, horses to watch, track bias, and workouts.

Del Mar Handicapping Notes and Information from Chris Ado
Del Mar Notebook for the Week Ending August 6, 2006

Track Bias Report  | Horses To Watch  | The Two Minute Lick

Track Bias Report

1 – Mild
2 - Preferred
3 – Strong

August 7: None
August 9: Outside Path (1)
August 10: None
August 11: None
August 12: None
August 13: None

There is not a strong pace or track bias for the week ending August 13 here at
Del Mar. The only noticeable trend occurred on Wednesday August 9 when a
real mild bias towards the outside path existed but it was not strong enough
to designate it as Preferred of Strong bias. In regards to the turf course,
it is completely fair as once again mentioned it is far more important to
determine the pace set up for this layout than to assume that speed will
carry when the rails are up 7 or 14 feet.

HORSES TO WATCH

JEWELS OF BAGDAD
08/07/06: One of the top two choices as the horses reached the gate lost all
chance before the race actually began. He broke though the gate and ran off
a furlong before the start, taken back and actually allowed to run and
re-loaded, dueled for the lead with the eventual winner, Heirloom Rose, and
was no match and he tired to finish a distant third. Her antics before the
race cost her any chance she had.

MOONLITE ROMANCE
08/07/06: Needed this race off the layoff. He showed excellent early speed
to duel with the eventual winner MCNASTY through moderate early fractions,
continued in the battle to the top of the lane and weakened in the drive to
finish fifth. He should move forward with this race under his belt and has
shown in the past a clear affinity for the Del Mar main track.

SWEET WAY
08/07/06: Three quarter sister to 2004 Juvenile Fillies champion, Sweet
Catamoine, finished fourth but was clearly best in her turf debut. She was
devoid of early speed while outside of a rival down the backstretch, she was
maneuvered inside into the far turn where jockey Alex Solis found himself
blocked behind a wall of horses around the far turn and into the stretch,
angled outside for a clear run and finished well too late. If allowed a
clear trip there is no doubt she wins this race.

OUR FINALE
08/09/06: Found no room in a pace less Allowance N2X in a race where the
winner, Mighty Empire, took advantage of these conditions to score gate to
wire. The gelding tracked the leader inside early, moved forward leaving the
half mile pole, was within contention of the lead along the rail around the
far turn, appeared full of run only to be boxed in through the length of the
stretch and by the time he got out it was too late as the winner was game
under slow early pace conditions.

SUR CHI CHI
08/09/06: Caught a freakish winner in Master James in the second fastest six
furlongs this meet (1:08.95) and can improve considerably for King Juan
Garcia. Making his career debut, he was force to stalk the pace in a
uncomfortable position between rivals down the backstretch, maneuvered
towards the rail when forced in going to the far turn, came off the rail
leaving the quarter pole, and ran even one paced through the stretch like a
horse that needed this race.

MEA DOMINA
08/09/06: Making her first start off a nine month layoff as she has been
bothered by physical problems pulled jockey Tyler Baze as she stalk the
leaders, moved up three wide to engage the leaders entering the far turn,
took the lead into the stretch but offered no resistance as the winner
POLYFIRST rallied past her easily in a race she needed. This G1 and G2
winner could show up next in the G2 Las Palmas at Oak Tree.

FILM FORTUNE
08/10/06: The grand son of A.P. Indy never had a fair chance under a stupid
grass ride by jockey Jon Court. He was taken four wide to the first turn and
lost ground through the clubhouse bend, forwardly placed while losing ground
in mid pack down the backstretch, continued to race wide through the final
turn, and rightfully had no punch when the real running began. Under a
ground saving trip, he merits another chance for Hall of Fame trainer Jack
Van Berg.

QUEMAR
08/11/06: Making a drastic jump from a Allowance N1X win on opening weekend
into Classified Allowance did not have a fair chance under the trip she had
to encounter. She was closer to the pace than usual sitting just off the
pacesetter GRECIAN, was un justly angled towards the outside of the lugging
out ladder forcing her to lose ground through the backstretch, around the
far turn, dropped back in the stretch, and weakened. Jockey Martin Garcia
rode her terrific in her first win and only need a similar ride with the
trip to Allowance N2X next time out for Roger Stein.

FIRDBIRD SWEET
08/12/06: After two even one paced sprints, this son of Stravinsky is set to
stretch out with the switch to turf in his next start. Coming in with two
huge works according to Andy Harrington, he was devoid of early speed, made
a three to four wide move around the far turn to move closer, and went
evenly through the drive like a horse that will appreciate two turns. By
Stravinsky by a Shadeed dam is bred and runs like a sort that will adore two
turns on the turf.

VERMEIL
08/12/06: Ran the best race in defeat on this afternoon. He appeared to have
left his race in the post parade as he came into the gate washed out and was
pushed away from the start to establish a pressured pace with SMOKIN FOREST
as those two zipped through insane splits of 22.23 and 46.01 seconds. He
dueled his rival into the ground (tired to finish eighth and last), opened
up turning for home, drifted out while tiring at mid stretch, and was run
down by the opportunistic closer. Fits right back on the turn back versus
mid level claimers from $20,000 to $32,000.

GINNY’S SUNSHINE
08/12/06: With only a 3% rate with first time starters, trainer Rafael
Bercerra gave this pricey Fusaichi Pegasus colt a race. Coming unto the
track with four wraps was not hard urged away from the start as he settled
inside stalking the early pace, continued around the turn on the rail, and
went evenly through the stretch to be a clear third like a horse that will
want to route. He had out worked several of his stable mates in the morning
showing speed according to Andy Harrington and has more zip than this race
would indicate.

GREAT HUNTER
08/13/06: The Aptitude colt needs more real estate before he delivers his
best as he was second to post time favorite Principle Secret in the G2 Best
Pal. He raced off the pace as his stable mate, Stella’s Posada, was used as
a rabbit for his stable mate, rallied along the inside on the turn, split
horses in the stretch, and finished with a one paced grinding style to be
second best in a strong highly rated race (1:16.15) as the longer the better
for this Reddam-O’Neil combination.

MORE DAYLIGHT
08/13/06: Off a huge work according to Andy Harrington he was never given an
opportunity to show his early speed in a race filled with other speed
rivals. With Cousin Joe and Greedy Way in the field, jockey Jon Court took a
firm hold of this gelding and became very rank as he was taken outside of
his typical running style, raced wide for the entire journey (reference Film
Fortune), made a mild run on the turn, and flattened out. Wants to rip from
the start and in a pace-less field he is gone.

Two Minute Lick:

This week’s Two Minute Lick is a little story about the amusement of how
horse racing and woman have had a profound affect on my life. I hope you
find these stories amusing and entertaining as much as I had to look through
the photos of these women in my closet as I recollected my thoughts of
writing these stories. Enjoy.

Women And Horseplayers Can Mix.

When I began handicapping the horses and reading the Daily Racing Form at
the tender age of five, I never had the thought of women. It was just my
Racing Form, my father, the horses, and the money made with interpreting the
past performances correctly. As I began to read literature on handicapping,
I came across Andrew Beyer’s legendary book, Picking Winners. He stated in
that book that Women and Horseplayers could never mix. A few years later, in
his latest book, Beyer on Speed, he mentioned that marrying the right woman
as she told him to not cut corners in structuring his wager had made him realize
that he had married the right woman, and that eventually women and horse
players can mix. Being counseled by Michael Kipness AKA The Wizard helped me
realize that if a woman cannot like you for who you are and cannot accept
the fact that you are a “Winning Horseplayer,” it is probably best to dump
the girl and move on. In my lifetime, I came across certain women who have
had a profound affect on my handicapping and wagering on the horses and
their stories are listed here for your entertainment.

In High School, I fell completely in love with a Filipino girl called Ms.
Bayani. We would joke with each other, talk, have lunches, study, and
sometimes help each other cheat on exams so we could pass! As diligent as she
was at studying for exams, she found ways to either pass with a below average
grade or barely just miss the line to get an A on a test. This habit
continued throughout my three years of knowing her and when college
applications were complete and sent to our schools, she was a complete mess
about her chances of getting into a school. I had already been accepted to
my first school and choice, University of California at Riverside, and now
she wanted to come along and join her best friend at Riverside. I was so
confident that she would be accepted that I made a bet with her that to this day
proved I am the stupidest gambler in the world. I made a bet that if she did
not get accepted to Riverside I would give her $100 and if she did get
accepted she would have to take me to prom. Well guess what happened. Part of
the money that I won on the 2000 Santa Anita Derby program was gone in one swoop
as I paid her $100 when she did not get into Riverside.

Betting on horses on a part time basis is tough, but when you are in a
relationship with a loved one it becomes almost impossible and my first three
years of college proved that winning is sometimes the only way.
I had met my first girlfriend on my first full day of
college at a fraternity party a couple of blocks from campus. What started as a chat began to go into long
conversation for the entire evening with us driving to the dorm together. I
tried my best to keep horse racing out of the subject as she wanted to know
how I was able to get spending money to go out on a frequent basis but she
found out in one of the funniest moments of my freshman year of college. A
Darrell Vienna trained Janet was returning from a brief layoff and had
exited a upset win at Del Mar before being turned out for the Oak Tree at
Santa Anita meeting. I made a $40 Win bet on her with $5 Exacta savers using
her underneath in a $50 total play. I had the entire afternoon off and
decided to watch and wager on the horses from my dorm in Riverside. I got up
in time to make the wager with online account and watch as Janet sat in the
rear of the one-mile turf Allowance race. She was sitting in last as the
field reached the top of the lane when I stood up from my chair and yelled
“ here comes the big mare,” as Janet roared from last to rally past the
leaders to win as I was yelling a loud knock came from my door. It was
Lauren! Oops. “What are you doing Chris?” she said. “You know that trip to
Big Bear you wanted to go next month, well we can go,” I said. And with a
smile she laughed as she asked to see what I was doing and explain the Daily
Racing Form, video race replays, and strength of trainers in handicapping
the races. It was not the brightest moment of my life but it began a journey
that lasted for three years and highlighted by the score that propelled
Lauren to meet her idol Lea Salonga.

In our freshman year of college, Lauren had music from Lea Salonga in her
dorm and started singing her music as I happily listed to her singing “On My
Own,” from the musical Les Miserables. It was like a dream come true. Having
a beautiful girl that is Filipino also able to sing! I was familiar with the
artist as my mother watch her performed her role as Kim in Miss Saigon at
London’s West End and I told her the story and she gave me that big smile
and told her that when Lea comes to L.A. we are going to watch her together.
The only problem was I did not know when she will perform in L.A. Sure
enough by the end of our first year in college; Lea was indeed coming to
L.A. to star in the Flower Drum Song in the fall of our second year. Talk
about having your prayers answered. I had money but the tickets were
completely sold out and ticket brokers were charging a very high price for
each seat. Her best friend told me that she did not want to ask me to get
tickets because she knew how much they meant to her. I saw the show the week
it first opened with my mother and Lea Salonga told me that her run will end
by the beginning of December. With less than two months left, this meant it
was time to go for a big score, on the biggest horse racing event next to
the Kentucky Derby, the Breeders’ Cup.

The 2001 Breeders’ Cup was being held at Belmont Park and I knew this would
be a perfect opportunity to seize the moment and go for the score to get
money to pay for Lauren’s advance Christmas gift. For a whole week I was
focused studying the advance Breeders’ Cup edition of the Daily Racing Form,
watching video replays astutely, calling the Wizard to share our thoughts on
the program, and making my morning trip to the gym every morning. I was the
equivalent of Tommy the Pinball Wizard not being able to see or hear
anything I studied the Daily Racing Form, wrote up my analysis, and compose
my wagering strategies until the early hours of next morning that I studied
for my mid term the day before my exam on Friday, took it the next morning,
and went to sleep the whole day. On the eve of the Breeders’ Cup I asked
Lauren at 6PM to wish me luck and said this “have November 21 free on your
schedule you are going to watch and meet Lea.” The reason why I picked
November 21 is because the next day was Thanksgiving and we will have a four
day weekend. It was the first time in my horse racing life that I felt
confident about the next day’s program. I was putting up nearly $500 of my
own money as the tickets cost $165 each and I wanted to win more than just
what it takes to pay for the tickets. I got up early on Saturday morning,
jogged around the block, and with my notebook, Racing Form, and wallet I was
prepared. The day started with a bang when I nailed Tampera on top at 12-1,
then my best bet Val Royal won at 5-1 and the exacta to Forbidden Apple,
then Banks Hill won for fun, Johannesburg, Fantastic Light and TizNow put
the cherry on top of the ice cream Sundae giving me the Pick 3 and Pick 4.
If it were not for a mistake in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, I would have had
the Pick 6, but more importantly this victory gave me the money necessary to
take Lauren to see the Flower Drum Song with Lea Salonga. It still ranks as
the greatest moment in my life watching her smile as she took her picture
along side Lea and me as that picture is in my room as a reminder of why
giving is more important than taking.

While seeing Mamma Mia and Miss Saigon came through our three year
relationship and doing a show together, sadly our relationship came to an
end on our senior year of college as she separated her self with her group
of friends and I separated myself with my own friends and it was mutual
separation that to this day I do not regret the times spent trying to win
money at the track so we can go out together. Throughout my life I have
learned that having a comfortable girl that keeps me motivated to handicap
and wager on the horses at my best is one of the main reasons that keeps me
afloat for all these years whether I win hundreds and thousands or lose a
tough photo that could result in a handsome Pick 4 or Pick 6 payoff. Whether
it be a girlfriend wishing me luck, a close friend, or even a co-worker who
is radiant every time you see her wishing me good luck it is these scenarios
that help me inspired to sit down at my desk, print out the Daily Racing
Form and began the process of handicapping horse racing until the early
hours of next morning.

Here’s to Fast Horses and Big Mutual Prices

Christopher Ado
Horsehats.com