The official fireworks don't begin until around sundown this evening, but Mike Mulligan's BetBestBreeze.com got off to an early start on the final Sunday of the year. If one of the firecrackers is known as a blockbuster, the first one exploded two days ago.

    Sunday's selections included just six tracks - Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Santa Anita and Sunland Park. After scratches, there were 17 starters remaining and they compiled a record of 5 victories, 6 seconds and 2 thirds, which means just four were off the board. That produced a winning percentage of 29.4 and an eye-opening in-the-money percentage of 76.4. 

    Here's how it transpired:

Aqueduct: 3 winners out of four starters - Bobbyfromthepalm ($9.00), Hellbender ($4.00) and London House ($6.10).

Fair Grounds: The day's blockbuster was Runchiefrun, who paid $91.60, $25.20 and $11.20. The $1 exacta paid $259.70, 50-cent trifecta $3,777.80 and 10-cent superfecta $2,512.75. There were also two seconds and a third in New Orleans. 

Gulfstream Park: Three runners, three seconds, one by a nose and another by a neck. 

Laurel Park: One runner off the board.

Santa Anita: Three runners, one winner (Venetian Harbor - $4.00, by 10 3/4 lengths) and one third at 21-1.

Sunland Park: Two runners, one 2nd. 

A $20 win bet on all 17 runners would have cost $340 and returned $1,147.  comments powered by Disqus