When I am home in Colorado I have lately been acting as the racing analyst at Arapahoe Park. It’s sort of a combination of Andy Sperling and Maggie Wolfendale. I get to stand in the paddock and talk about the horses, including my perceptions of their physical appearance. I’ve done my share of soothsaying about the horses for a lot of years and I’ve studied conformation and appearance. I’m better than the average racegoer when it comes to assessing a horse’s looks, but I’m nowhere near Maggie Wolfendale’s league. She’s positively an alchemist when it comes to turning looks into gold.

In the 8th race at Saratoga today I’m feeling good about my pick-4 after the 11 horse in the 7th race  can’t go slow enough in the stretch to not pass the 9. I’ve got the horse I think is the speed, Joe’s Blazing Aaron, the big back class horse Battle Force, and two of the pressing closers, Middleburg and Upgrade. If I’m worried about anything it’s Silver Freak pushing Joe’s Blazing Aaron. Sperling turns it over to Maggie and she is absolutely glowing about Silver Freak. Nice muscling, keyed up. And I don’t have a ticket with the 2 on it.

I admit it. I go up and single the 2 with the four horses I’m using in the 9th and the 3 I am using in the 10th. $12 pick-3 to cover myself. Silver Freak takes the lead, Joe’s Blazing Aaron tracks in second. Middleburg makes a mild closing bid, but Silver Freak essentially finds another gear and wins for fun.

Naturally I hit the 9th and 10th and had half of a $290 pick-3 to console myself.

I know how hard her job is and I’m giving her all the credit in the world. She does her job extraordinarily well. She doesn’t tout horses, she just reports what she sees. She gets the greatest compliments she can get from a handicapper. She has influence and she changes the tote board. I hope NYRA realizes what an amazing job she does.