Connecticut has a pedigree but hasn’t made a deep run since 2014. Florida Atlantic plays in a small gym on a campus that’s an owl sanctuary. San Diego State got in on a free throw. And Miami’s coach likes his self-help advice.
Jockey Julio Garcia got #2 JJ Minister to come again in the stretch to nail#11 Certainly Certain by a head
In the write-up before this race, I said that the experienced runners starting in this event had not come within 10 Beyer Speed Figure points of the median number that wins at this class.
Therefore, I took a long look at the five first-time starters and was prepared to bet on four of them if I got the right odds. However, both #4 Tiger Trysts and #12 Celestic Night were scratched and neither #7 Proud Jenny, at 28/1, and #10 Jakesam, at 4/1, fell into my odds range of 10/1 to 19/1. My final possibility, #9 Elessar, was also scratched. I was at Del Mar for Opening Day, but saw the odds and did not stay for the 10th.
The race, however, turned out to be an exciting one. As the gates opened, #2 JJ Minister shot right for the lead on the inside. Nearing the turn, #6 Mandelieu cut JJ Minister’s two-length lead down to one. But jockey Julio Garcia kept hustling JJ Minister around the turn and, when the colt entered the stretch a bit wide, it enabled #11 Certainly Certain to catch up.
Certainly Certain had a half a length on JJ Minister at the eighth pole, but Garcia never quit and JJ Minister responded by coming again. He paid $44.60.
Because of the scratches and undesirable odds, I had no bets in this race.
PGM
PP#
NAME
JOCKEY
TRAINER
ODDS
FN
2
1
J J Minister (CA)
Garcia J
Perez S
21.30
1
3
2
Unbridled Score (CA)
Rivera C
Stute M
32.60
8
5
3
Alex T (KY)
Gonzalez A
Bacorn H
35.40
7
6
4
Mandelieu (CA)
Verenzuela J
Polanco M
43.10
10
7
5
Proud Jenny (NM)
Medellin A
Gonzalez S
28.70
9
1
6
Grand Maneuver (KY)
Pedroza M
Velasquez D
2.80
6
8
7
Bigmikeistheman (FL)
Smith M
Fanning J
1.10
5
10
8
Jakesam (KY)
Baze T
Hollendorfer J
4.10
3
11
9
Certainly Certain (CA)
Santiago Reyes C
Solis W
8.70
2
1A
10
B. J.’s Hope (KY)
Espinoza V
Velasquez D
2.80
4
SCR
–
Celestic Night (KY)
–
–
SCR
–
Liquid Asset (KY)
–
–
SCR
–
Elessar (KY)
–
–
SCR
–
Tiger Trysts (KY)
Gryder A
Kitchingman A
–
–
Pgm
Win
Place
Show
2
$44.60
$22.20
$12.20
11
–
$9.40
$7.40
10
–
–
$5.00
Exotic Payoffs
$0.50 Pick 4 paid $850.35 (5/11-3-1/10-2)
$1.00 Exacta paid $189.70 (2-11)
$1.00 Pick 3 paid $289.30 (3-10-2)
$1.00 Place Pick All paid $1943.80 (9 OF 10)
$1.00 Super High Five paid $5042.50 (2-11-10-1-8)
$1.00 Superfecta paid $3149.80 (2-11-10-1)
$1.00 Trifecta paid $1452.00 (2-11-10)
$2.00 Daily Double paid $236.20 (10-2)
$2.00 Pick 6 paid $324.20 (4-8-5/11-3-1/10-2)
$2.00 Quinella paid $128.40 (2-11)
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