Look for These Attributes for an Off-the-turf Winner
by Rich Nilsen
This is the story of how I gave my buddies a 27-1 winner that won for fun, and I think they wagered a total of $10 on her.
A few weeks back I picked up my Brisnet Past Performances for the 8th race at Gulfstream Park, an off-the-turf claimer for non-winners of two races lifetime. First thing I did was look at the MTO (Main Track Only) runner who had drawn into the field and was now the favorite. The four year old filly had so-so early speed and just struck me as a one-paced runner, the type that makes a slow, steady late run that isn’t going to win many races…especially at Gulfstream Park. She also showed declining speed figures for her 9% trainer.
Immediately, I was interested in who might be able to beat this vulnerable favorite. The #2, 5, and 12 were all turf runners that had no show little-to-no ability on the main track. Toss.
That left only the #4, 6, 11, and 13. The #11 was a terribly slow horse for a bad trainer. Easy toss. The #4 had won a maiden $10,000 claimer at Tampa and this was a $25,000 2-life at Gulfstream. She looked slow and outclassed for this level in South Florida.
That left only two possibilities if I was going to play this race. The #6 Just A Bit Sassy had run twice on the dirt and had placed twice both times while earning decent figures. However, she was beaten a total of 18 lengths and had failed to show much early speed. She was being heavily bet as the second choice and I felt the risk/reward wasn’t there.
#13 Lilo’s Call, on the other hand, had gone wire to wire in her maiden win first time out at Laurel last March. Off that start she ran a lackluster 6th on the turf (toss). She was then well beaten in her next two starts in tough allowance races and one of those starts came in the slop. I only needed to forgive her last start in order to make her a play.
Sometimes you just have to forgive a bad last race for no reason. Today, the daughter of Drosselmeyer was making her first start for her new trainer, a low profile but solid 21% trainer John Collins. She had three solid works for the new barn, a very positive sign that she might revert to her prior good form. Lilo’s Call was bred to love the distance and dirt, and she was already a proven, front-running winner in a one-turn mile race. Went I looked at the toteboard on my ADW I couldn’t believe my eyes. She was 40-1.
I’m a privileged member of the LoneSpeed.com text thread, a select group of really good handicappers. The small group of six includes superstar handicapper Dylan Donnelly (currently #1 on the NHC Tour) and wanna-be star Justin Dew.
It was 6 minutes to post and I texted my buddies about a longshot that I thought had a big shot. Radio silence.
They broke from the gate and Lilo’s Call moved up into a perfect stalking position in third, just off the early pace setters. At the 3/8th pole Miguel Vasquez asked and Lilo responded, cruising to the front. From there she took command and then proceeded to just run the rest of her rivals off their feet. She hit the wire 6 3/4 lengths in front. The MTO favorite plodded along in second. My phone exploded.
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The filly paid $57.20 win. The congrats came in via the text thread, and double NHC qualifer Dew acknowledged that he had a few bucks on her.
Overlays like this aren’t easy to come by. When you handicap an off the turf race, look for a horse that is proven on the dirt or has an excellent dirt pedigree. Give the edge to runners with good early speed or strong tactical speed. Couple that with an angle or two that makes sense, and you have the icing on the cake. Best of luck!
