Posted on 1/8/2008 6:14:14 PM

Horse Betting Action – Fabulous Fontana

By Brian Mulligan

Take a dash of New York, sprinkle in a Boston attitude, stir around a family of 6 and 13 grandchildren and sharp horse bettors could do much worse than follow the horses trained by Charles Fontana at Tampa Bay Downs this year.

Those horse punters that want value will get it in spades with this guy.

Tampa is a nice little horse betting secret that is attracting better horses and better horsemen every single year.

It’s like running the option play in Florida. If you get tired of hobnobbing at Gulfstream, then versatile horses bettors can look to Tampa.

Few know the track opened in 1926. The Tampa Bay Derby has become an important race on the Triple Crown schedule, and handle and attendance has been on a steady upswing for about 5 years now and last year was its best yet.

As for Fontana, horse bettors should know that he won’t win any titles because he’s down in the trenches but there are some clues gamblers should follow that will produce results.

When Fontana is hot, he stays hot. He won with all three starters on one spring day a couple of seasons ago and the momentum has not stopped.

Since he started working with horses as a youngster, he knows what it takes to make them happy and is not averse to giving them time to heal their own wounds. When he picks out a comeback spot for a decent horse, cagey horse bettors have to pay attention.

A transplanted Red Sox fan, he was in the top 5 in the standings at Suffolk Downs recently. This guy is a fixture at Tampa and will be for a long time. The sooner horse bettors’ get a handle of his stock, the better off they will be.

The best thing about Fontana is the upside that his stock presents. In 2005, despite a ton of slices, he had an improved year and last year was even better.

This is what astute horse bettors should look for in Fontana’s stock.

When he dips into the claiming box and takes a horse, circle that runner and bet him back until he wins. Charlie Fontana has posted a gaudy flat-bet profit with runners right off the claim and he’s equally adept after they race once in his name.

When he gets new stock, either through a private sale or just with a new owner, he’s a monster.

As far as extended layoff runners are concerned, cagey bettors may be wise to watch one before teeing it up. His second off the layoff charges do much better.

Also, stay more attuned to his dirt runners as his turf performers are seldom up to snuff.

Lastly, forget about his straight maiden special weight runners. The fact of the matter is that he just doesn’t bring the high profile stock to the party that is needed to compete with the bluebloods of the local circuit. But don’t give up.

When he saddles maiden claimers, few at Tampa are more dangerous and more dangerous at prices.

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