Thanks for the comments Jim,

I play the late four from Cali most every Sunday w/out regard to conviction and this sequence my level of confidence was moderate at best. Delmar, in my opinion is the best meet in the world and there is no shortage of data available.

Riri, a filly, coldcocked maidens, then one x foes by open lengths, a rarity in turf races before contesting a dozen salty fillies in the Grade 3. There, she was bet to favoritism, broke sharp, came back to the boy and when she tried to split horses she got stepped on and went to the shelf. In a very weak 21st rendition of this handicap writing that if she was fit she should win was hardly a bad prerace opinion.

My mistake, an egregious one at that, was in not playing the winner, but in two separate interviews Eddie said she would need one and her lackluster blowout did little to invite inclusion. With that written her last was very very good, the best race on the page arguably better than Cheekaboo's graded score.

You asked why I think the 2yo will be a stakes winner. I like his breeding and his exceptionally long stride. Mikey has been on him in the mornings and his works show big time talent. No discredit to the two who beat him. The winner lowers a fifty year track record and the runner up has been widely touted as a total freak.

As for the Eddie Read, it was clear that Raffie would put the horse on the lead, yet not clear how fast he would have to go and pointed that out. True I am not a performance figure player, but you are foolish assuming that I do not understand their significance, especially in two turn turf heats. My belief, acquired after some fifty years as a profitable player is that these races are better handicapped using class, trip, configuration and pace as opposed to boiling them down to an integer.

Good to have you back posting, wish Miff would resurface, thanks for the good wishes. bbb