If 24-1 Blue Stripe had won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Saturday — instead of losing by a mere nose — players in a betting group at Assiniboia Downs would have been dancing among the carrels, hailing DRF clocker Mike Welsch as their hero. A Blue Stripe victory would have resulted in their collecting thousands of dollars for their pick-5 ticket instead of having to settle for $632 because 5-2 Malathaat edged out Blue Stripe.
Why was the clocker on their mind? Because, as you may have read in my Breeders’ Cup Special on Friday, Welsch said in one of his reports that he was so impressed with Blue Stripe’s workout, he planned to bet on the longshot. “I love this work,” he said in his Oct. 26 online report. “And boy was she terrific in the gallop-out. I think she’s going to get a little bit of my money because she’s going to be a bit of a price.”
All of which prompted the ASD group to add Blue Stripe to their tickets. Even her second-place finish gave her backers handsome returns. The $1 triactor paid $283 and the $1 superfecta $900. Even a $2 exactor with 5-2 Malathaat on top paid $110. Thanks, Mike!