Frank would like
to speak to the
horse’s manager.

Eleven races. Two opinionated handicappers.
One more turf maiden testing Frank’s customer-service voice.

Two out of three ain’t… payable.

Premium crew,

Frank won the first leg of Friday’s Late Pick 3. He won the last leg. Unfortunately, the betting system continues to insist on the middle one. We have raised this with management.

The culprit? A first-time starter paying more than $29, trained by the same man as Frank’s logical single. His horse finished second. Apparently, “use the other McCarthy” was an instruction, not a family reunion seating plan.

That’s the Pick 3 for you: two beautiful slices of bread, and somebody steals your bloody sandwich.

Today we have another maiden turf race. Frank has done the homework. Ciaran has an ALL ticket. One is conducting research; the other has placed the entire classroom under surveillance.

The meet has receipts.

O’Neill is collecting winner’s-circle photos like the rest of us collect screenshots of bad beats. Meanwhile, Baffert’s 26% strike rate helps explain why both our guys have landed on the same pair in the Debutante. The white hair remains annoyingly relevant.

Official meet standings through Friday, September 4; percentages as published. Source: Del Mar’s meet leaderboard.

Ciaran’s strongest opinions.

BEST BET · RACE 4 #7 ON THE WHIM
Ciaran’s best bet and his model’s top pick today. A remarkably casual name for a horse about to become the subject of several very serious conversations.

VALUE PLAY · RACE 11 #4 JAGUAR JON · 8/1 ML
Ciaran’s price interest in the finale. Frank gives him backup consideration but worries about the pace and trip. Andy Mathis is 2-for-32 at the meet: a reason to demand a price, not commission a statue.

POSSIBLE SINGLES: Race 1 #5 and Race 6 #8. Those are Ciaran’s potential singles; the horses have not signed anything.

Where they agree. Where they argue.

R9: The firster support group. Frank leans hardest on #8 Dash, with #1 Candy Cole the other A. His backups include #9 Forewarn, #11 Vendetta and #7 D’yquem. After Friday, leaving out the “other McCarthy” would require written permission from Frank’s therapist.

R10: A rare moment of domestic harmony. Both put #9 Miss Monica ahead of #8 Holmby in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. Frank keeps #2 Dear Diary as his B alternative. “Dear Diary” may also be the title of his post-race statement if the Bafferts get beat.

R11: The group chat splits. Frank wants #7 Owl and #6 King’s Ride; Ciaran starts with #11 Jetovator and #4 Jaguar Jon. Jetovator is ten years old. At this point, he should be allowed to saddle himself and complain about the music.

Entry watch: R9 #11 Vendetta is listed as also eligible in the supplied Matrix and is cross-entered Sunday. Include her only if she runs; recheck the final field.

Ciaran’s complete Saturday card.

Frank’s ticket desk.

The opinions have now been converted into numbers. This is traditionally where the horses stop cooperating.

Late Pick 3 · Races 9–10–11

Total: $81

Late Double · Races 10–11

Total: $95

Frank’s listed package: $176. The overlapping tickets add weight to his preferred outcomes.

Ciaran’s ticket desk.

Late Pick 3 · Races 9–10–11

Total: $93*

Late Double · Races 10–11

Total: $115

Ciaran’s listed package: $208*. His ALL ticket covers the first leg and singles #9, then #4. Even a man embracing chaos likes to put it on a timetable.

*The $33 ALL ticket assumes 11 starters in Race 9. Its cost is $3 × the final number of starters; the Pick 3 and package totals change accordingly. Other ticket costs are as supplied, before any further scratches. These are two separate wagering plans; choose the structure that fits your budget.

“I don’t hold grudges. I just remember every horse that beat me, who trained it, and what I could have bought instead.”

The microphones return Sunday.

No Double Trouble Live show today. We’re back Sunday. Frank says there’s a Saratoga Pick 6 story with a twist coming on Sunday or Monday. Names will be withheld to protect the innocent. The guilty can probably identify themselves from the ticket structure.

Thanks for being premium members. You make the homework, the arguments and this highly specialised horse-based comedy club possible.

May your trips be clean, your prices be fair, and the trainer’s “other horse” finally be one you used.
— Ciaran, Frank & Mark Gelding

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