Apr
11
Pick Six Letdown
Filed Under Uncategorized
With $570,000 carried over into Sunday’s Pick Six, there was huge anticipation for the Easter Sunday card. Lo and behold, when five of the last six races were won by favorites, the Pick Six return was a whopping $898, with consolations paying $18. Not exactly the windfall Pick Six dreamers were looking for. It happens. Sometimes they run like trained pigs. The little guy has a chance on days like this, the big syndicate tickets take a beating. My $96 ticket (actually reduced to $72 with the scratch Lonely Highway in the 5th) had five, missing with ABALANCHE, one of my three “singles” on the card.
But days like this really expose the antiquated IRS sign-up rules. You know, sign your name and social security number to any payoff returning more than 300-1 ($600 based on a $2 bet). So with 1,709 winning tickets, everyone of those winners had to go through the tedious signing process, and will have to report this as gambling income on the 2007 tax return. Never mind that no money was withheld–that only happens when the exotic payoff exceeds $5,000. In this era of exotic betting, when trifectas, Pick 4′s and superfectas regularly exceed the $600 threshold, it’s high time for the IRS to change its rules. Why not just sign and report when there are actually taxes withheld?
Two wins on the card for Garrett Gomez, who leaves for Keeneland with a 10-win margin over Victor Espinoza. John Sadler continued his excellent run with a pair of victories, putting him third in the standings. Impressive stakes victory by TRY TO FLY, giving outstanding apprentice Joe (Remember the) Talamo his first Santa Anita stakes win. ‘FLY was making only his second start but won like a seasoned pro and might be able to stretch out in distance for Doug O’Neill.
Saturday’s crowd of 56,810 was the largest for a Santa Anita Derby since 1984 and eighth largest in track history. Total handle of $24,335,478 was 14% higher than last year.
Welcome back to Jerry Antonucci, who has been recuperating at home with a detached retina. And best wishes to Fermo Cambianica, who is experiencing some health problems. Fermo, one of nicest guys of all time, will be retiring at the end of the meet and we wish him all the best.
To view a Free Sample of Sunday’s Premium Plays, click on the link below: Premium Plays for Apr. 8
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