Racetrack Diaries
Penn National
April 10, 2004-With me being off on Easter Sunday me and the girlfriend
decided to take a ride out to Grantville, Pa and Penn National Race Track. Penn
National is a one mile track and has a turf course. I headed to the dining room,
ordered a hamburger and let the handicapping begin. Race #1 was 4 1/2 furlongs,
maiden claiming with a purse of $5,800.00. I played a $2 exacta with a10 pound
bug boy Christian Perez. Daniel Benandes mowed down the #1 and beat him in a
photo in the last jump. Didn't have it and the exacta paid a nice $31.00. Race
#2 is a one mile maiden claiming with a purse of $6,700.00. I decide to play a
win bet and the #1 looks like a pretty good wager at 5-1 so I throw $4 to win on
him. My #1 gets 3rd and I lose ha ha. Race #3 is a claiming race going one mile
and 1/16th with a purse of $6,500. I see trainer Patricia Farro shipped up a
horse, so I say what the heck I throw $5 to win on her and the #4 horse. #4 wins
and I collect $30. Sounds good to me.
Race #4 is 1 mile and 70 yards, claiming, with a purse of $7,300. I play a
4, 2 exacta box for $2 and I win again as the #4 goes wire to wire and he was
tiring and my #2 gets a fortunate 2nd. I collect $25.20 for that exacta. Race #5
is a claiming race, going 5 1/2 furlongs with a purse of $5,800. The #1 horse is
usually in the money so I throw $5 to win on him. He is way back, but he usually
closes really good. He only managed 3rd, so I lose. Race #6 is a claiming race,
6 furlongs with a purse of $6,300. Full field of 12. I just play $3 to win on
the #4 and it was longshot city as it was 5, 11, 12 and the exacta paid
$1,549.00. Yeah I had that ha ha. Race #7 is another claiming race going 6
furlongs with a purse of $5,500. I throw $3 to win on the #6 horse. #6 is
leading and he fades to 3rd and I lose. Race #8 is my last race for the evening.
It is a 6 furlong claiming race with a purse of $6,100. I decide to play a
trifecta and an exacta. I play a 2,3 exacta box and then I play a trifecta 2,3
2,3 with 6. #7 on the morning line is 8-1 and when he gets bet down to 5-2 I
know something is up and he comes off the pace and wins the race. I had a pretty
good time here at Penn National and I'll see you next time in the winner's
circle.