Tip of the Week: Looks Can Be Deceiving

Turf racing at Del Mar. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Workouts usually take place in the morning.
Yet every now and then you might stumble across an instance when a horse puts in the equivalent of a workout during the afternoon, a point illustrated by a 5-year-old gelding named Horizontalyspeakin.
On May 17 at Santa Anita, Horizontalyspeakin finished a disappointing eighth in a $62,500 optional claimer on the turf. In his previous three starts, Horizontalyspeakin turned in much better efforts, finishing first, second and third.
After that dull race, however, Horizontalyspeakin did not race for more than two months. Yet when he made his comeback, he returned not on turf but in a dirt race at the same optional claimer level on July 31 at Del Mar.
That race marked Horizontalyspeakin’s first start on dirt and it didn’t work out well at all. Despite putting in two sharp 6-furlong workouts on dirt, Horizontalyspeakin tired badly and wound up ninth, beaten 29 lengths.
It seemed like a curious placement for a horse that prefers turf, but trainer Carlos Lopez’s intentions became clearer when Horizontalyspeakin was entered in the sixth race on Aug. 23 at Del Mar. This time, Horizontalyspeakin was back on turf and dropping in class into a $40,000 claiming race.
He was also adding blinkers and switching back to a successful, experienced jockey in Martin Garcia.
All of a sudden Horizontalyspeakin’s race on July 31 took on a different look than just an awful effort.
Perhaps it was simply an effort intended to get Horizontalyspeakin back in shape after the two-month break and prepare him for a meaningful try in his next race.
At 15-1 odds in the morning line, it was at least an intriguing possibility.
At a 10-1 price at post time, Horizontalyspeakin proved to be a rewarding wager for his backers. He overcame a six-wide trip and rallied to post a half-length victory, paying $23.80 to win while topping a $119.80 exacta with the second choice in the wagering.
THE LESSON: Under the right conditions, a seemingly weak effort can be a prep for a strong effort in a subsequent start.