Wednesday started off like it was going to be The Day. Hit the first race cold, and was hot rolling right through # 2 with my selections running 1-2-3.  The Day. 

Well, we faded like we ran the first quarter in :21 flat. Finished the 8-race card with a record of 2-4-4, which dropped us to a win percentage of .27% for the first part of the toughest race meet in the world to handicap (at least it is, for me). My Top Pick has hit the board 48.6% and my top three picks have been “In The Money” (as if you were betting them across the board) on 37.80% of the time.

For the year, though, we are doing OK. Through 521 races dating back to Jan. 1, we are 176-193-194 and our top pick has won 33.80% of the time.

Here’s hoping we can sustain a little good mojo today, and our look at the card:

1st: 4-5-7-1-3…Krewe Chief (4) nearly pulled off the win in the last one, getting nipped at the wire despite having to go 4-wide. Gets a new rider today, and I am a fan of this young rider. Has talent, and works hard. This one came back after the last race to work well at Oaklawn Park. Stretches back out today and that may be an issue. Esposito (5) is one that I have touted and played at the Fair Grounds a couple of times over the Winter/Spring. Was claimed off Tom Proctor two starts back and was moved up in class and stretched out. Tired late in that one, but was beaten by a solid campaigner. Should be more fit for this one today, and drops back in class, too. Donwell (7) may be the horse to beat, coming off a victory down at Delta Downs for a top barn operation. Loses that condition, though, and will have to face tougher in this spot. Gets Corey Lanerie to jump off the #5 to ride here, and this one has hit the board in 8 of 13 starts. Should be close again. I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in the exacta.

2nd: (13)-9-2-3-8-6-1…If Wonder Stone (13) draws into this one, she is the horse to beat, in my opinion. Working well for a trainer known to get the babies ready for debut at Keeneland. Gets a top rider for this one, and they may enjoy a quick start from the far outside. If they do not get in, I go to Better Yet (9), who gets the saddle from one of Kentucky’s best trainers. The dam of this one has 4 winners from 7 starters and 2 Stakes Winners, to date. World’s best rider climbs aboard. Adds up. Dragic (2) — let it be known that I despise this “name;” took me four times to type it in because of “spell check” — is another from the barn of Wesley Ward. Worked well up at Turfway Park getting ready for this one. Dam has 5 winners from 7 starters and 1 Stakes Winner. This one cost $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Can’t dismiss. I bet the 13-2 across the board, and then box the top 3 numbers in the exacta.

3rd: 4-3-1-7-6-8…Fort Wise Treaty (4) gets the ultimate slap in the face, in an attempt to wake him up. Trainer Brad Cox drops him from a Stakes event on the grass at the Fair Grounds to a $30,000 price tag on the dirt today. This one did win over the poly track at Turfway and won a nice one on debut over the sod at Ellis Park last summer. Inconsistent sort, but has talent. Should love this company. Tres Equis (3) is the likely one to beat. He gets the class drop today, as well, after winning at Turfway Park two times back. Trainer hits with 19% of those making the debut in the claiming ranks and this one has had two really nice works back-to-back up north. Worth watching. No Lemon No Lime (1) is exactly what my good friend Greg Schell tells the waiter/waitress when he is order his Tito’s about 5:01 p.m. every afternoon. But this Discreet Cat colt has some talent, too. Got the Lasix for the first time when running back after a year layoff. Tired late in that one, but should have needed the run and exercise. Gets HOF jock Calvin Borel in the irons, and I love the 15-1 odds. Upset Special? I bet the 4-1 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exacta.

4th: 3-2-12-1-11-10-8-7-5-4…One Fast Ride (3) didn’t make the debut until Feb. 16, and won Tampa Bay in a nice run. Runner-up in that one came right back to win the next time out. Trainer elevated this one right into a very solid Stakes race the next time out and this one ran a very competitive fourth. I love this one today, after a solid work on March 28 at Palm Beach Downs. My first Best Bet of the Day. Get the Facts (2) has thrown two clunkers in a row, but there are excuses for both of those dull efforts. Two races back, he was moved to the dirt. Didn’t like that one bit. Last time out, he was stuck along the rail with no where to go. Still, while running 9th, was beaten only 31/2 lengths. Three back this son of Tapit won up at Belmont Park. Nice work on April 6. Blockade (12) broke his maiden last time out when getting the Lasix for the first time. Don’t like the post position one bit, as he could be hung way wide throughout. But, obviously, has talent and the breeding. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta. I key the 3 over/under all the numbers in two more, as well.

5th: 5-6-2-1-9…Catkins (5) gets in this spot with 6-1 ML odds. Love the fact that the trainer is shortening this one up off the two-run route, and gets back to the dirt, where he has flashed speed in two previous attempts. Drops from the MSW ranks into the claiming ranks for the first time, and the barn hits with .20% of those making this kind of class drop. Nice work here on April 5, and gets a top rider aboard today. Nice. Silver Soiree (6) has run 8 previous races all in the MSW ranks. Now, finally, gets a bit of class relief for a top owner operation. Has 2 seconds and a third on the resume, and does flash speed early and often. Should appreciate the return to the dirt, as well. Lou’s Chardonnay (2) didn’t like the slop last time out, bailing out of that one early. But look at the winner of the debut race? That filly is now a very impressive Stakes winner. A return to fast dirt today may be the trick to elevate this one’s game, again. Working well for the 2018 debut. I bet the 5-6 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exacta.

6th: 2-3-7-1-5-6…I love Kowboy Karma (2) in this spot today. This one made a nice move in the G3 LeComte Stakes in his 2018 debut, but the rider drove him to the rail late in that one — and that was the dead part of the track in the deep stretch. Instilled Regard — who was on the Derby Trail after that one — beat him that day, and Snapper Sinclair was third. Not a bad effort. Returns to the Allowance ranks today and this one has been training lights out. J. Larry Jones — who went on a little dry spell in Lexington over the past couple of years — is on fire here this meet. Had another impressive winner on Wednesday. My second Best Bet of the Day. The victory here, though, will not come easily. Exclamation Point (3) is undefeated after his first two career starts at Oaklawn Park. Flashed plenty of speed in both of those events and now seems plenty fit to go the 7-furlongs in this one. Worked well on April 7 in the mud. Will have to be caught to beat. He Hate Me (7) will be making the 2018 debut for a top trainer on the East Coast circuit. Nice work at Laurel on March 31. Stalker will be ready to pounce if the speed backs up at all. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta. I key the 2 over/under all the numbers in two more.

7th: 6-11-7-3-4-1-10-12-9…Mr Cub (6) gets into this one with a generous ML odds of 6-1. He ran 6th in a  G3 Stakes event at Gulfstream Park last time out, but was beaten less than 5 lengths by Oscar Performance — a real good one. Before that, this one ran a huge one in the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream park. Likes to be closely placed and should appreciate the 1 mile distance today — where he is a perfect 1-for-1. Has won over this course, too. A play here. McCormick (11) is the preferred choice’s roommate, and has credentials in his own right. Ran a huge second at Gulfstream Park two starts back and has hit the board in 3 of 4 lifetime tries over the grass. This one has 8-1 ML odds. If the rider can stir this one clear of the trouble that he found last time out, then he should be competitive at the end. This one has talent. Ran a game second to Hence in last year’s Iowa Derby. Keep Quiet (7) returned to the races on March 24 for the first time since Nov. 4, 2016. Ran very well, beaten only a head in that one. Won a G3 here in October, 2016. If he is back on his game, he will be tough to beat. But second time out after a long layoff can be a tough obstacle. I bet the 6-11 across the board and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta. I key the top 3 over the rest in a smaller version.

8th: 3-7-4-1-2-9-8…Zipp On By (3) is a talented son of City Zip, and will get the saddle from one of my favorite trainers in Ian Wilkes. This one has two nice seconds in a row, including a 1/2-length loss to Wynn Time, who was mighty tough in New Orleans this winter. This guy had a bullet work here on April 3 and was the beaten favorite last time out. Trainer scores with .27% of those returning after being bet down to such lofty status. (Brisnet.com Stat of the Day. Go to www.brisnet.com for all your handicapping tools.) Time to Travel (7) moves back to the dirt and also moves over to the barn of trainer Ralph Nicks for this one today. Has not run since last July, but the conditioner does well with first timers in his barn (.20%) and OK with those away from the track this long (12%). This 4YO gelded son of Hard Spun will be equipped with blinkers for the first time, as well, and that should sharpen him up for this return to the sprint races. Gets a top rider aboard. Lenstar (4) goes for trainer Nick Zito, who doesn’t get as many winners as he once did. But this one has run well over this track in the past — with 2 seconds in 3 starts here. Nice work on April 2 here, as well. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in one exacta, and key the 3 over/under all the numbers listed in two more.

9th: (16)-7-11-9-1-10-2-12-3…City Day (16) is unlikely to draw into this one, and even if she does she will have a tremendous obstacle to overcome in the post position. But, on paper, she is the best of this field. If she gets in, I have to use. If not, I go to Mountain Dove (7), who could give trainer Ian Wilkes and his son-in-law/jockey Chris Landeros a tremendous day today. This one ran a closing third on debut at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 25. Had trouble in the first turn of that race, and wide throughout. The runner-up in that one came right back to win. The “show” horse in that race may turn that trick today. Dabinett (11) is a first time starter for the barn of Chad Brown — who had a tremendous opening weekend here. This filly is out of a pure grass mare, and has been training forwardly at Palm Meadows. Can’t dismiss these connections. V J’s Bet (9) nearly won the debut race on Feb. 17 at Tampa. Will face tougher today, but well bred and training well for this one. Don’t let the Tampa Bay Downs fool you. Very nice horses there this winter. I bet the 16 if she gets in. If not, I bet the 7 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in the exacta. I key the top 3 over the rest in a smaller version.

Good Luck & All the Best/Gene