Tip of the Week: A History Lesson
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King Kreesa takes command in the stretch of the Poker Stakes on June 13 at Belmont Park. (Photo by Joe Labozzetta/NYRA)
There’s an old saying about history, warning that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
If failed to pick the winner of the 2013 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park and then ripped up your tickets after this year’s edition of the race, you know exactly what that adage means.
The winner of last year’s Poker was King Kreesa, a New York state-bred who registered a length and a half victory at 9-to-2 odds.
Among the field of nine for this year’s Poker on June 13 was, yes, King Kreesa. Only this time he was listed at 12-to-1 on the morning line and went off at 17.40-to-1.
In one regard, the lack of interest at the betting windows was understandable. Two years ago, King Kreesa came into the Poker off a victory in the Kingston, a stakes for New York-breds.
This year, he was third in the Kingston and sixth in his only other start of the year.
Surely King Kreesa is not the same the horse as he was in 2013. Right?
KING KREESA WINNING 2013 POKER
Photo by Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Perhaps, though one important difference with King Kreesa was that since 2013 the gelding had turned 6 years old. At that age, it would not be unusual for an older horse to need a little more time than in the past to recapture his best stride.
In King Kreesa’s case, although he was coming off two losses, he showed improvement in his previous start and if he could take another step forward in the Poker?
Well, at 17.40-to-1 odds, it was probably worth the fling to make at least a small wager on him.
As it turned out, those who backed King Kreesa not only got an “A” in history, they pocketed $36.80 for every $2 they wagered on him when he posted a three-quarters-of-a-length victory.
The others who ignored history? Since they didn’t learn from history, they were doomed to once again have a handful of worthless mutuel tickets.
Class dismissed.
THE LESSON: Even in handicapping, history can be an important and helpful tool.