It happens so infrequently, I’ve just got to brag a bit. I actually picked a winner.

I picked Well Said as the winner of the North America Cup final after his disappointing fourth-place finish in the Burlington and before his win in the NA Cup elimination.

I’ve often said that my handicapping skills are such that I couldn’t pick Somebeachsomewhere out of a cheap claimer, but for once I was right. Miracles do happen.

Okay, it wasn’t really such a courageous pick. I liked Well Said last year when he was the freshman champion, so he was hardly a long shot. He went off at 5-2 in the Cup elimination and 3-1 last night, but he wasn’t the favorite in either race.

Keep It Real was the slight favorite last night and he made a bold move to the front for Condren. He fought gamely through the stretch, but Well Said got a dream trip on the back of Brian Sears when he stepped on the gas with Dial Or Nodial.

In fact, when you saw Dial Or Nodial in high gear coming to call on the outside and Well Said drafting along behind him, it wasn’t too difficult to figure out what would happen in the stretch. Well Said just exploded with pace and the race was over.

Okay, that’s enough bragging about picking a winner. I promise not to do this too often. In fact, with my ace handicapping methods, this isn’t likely to ever happen again.