Bourbon and Ginger, please....

Tweet Thank you, bartender, for that sweet tasting exacta.

Robert Summers, Buffalo News handicapper, nailed it in his Friday's pick column on the Queen's Plate, up in Toronto yesterday, and wrote a nice race summary this morning. The self-proclaimed Happy Handicapper, was right on writing "....the Handicapper’s selection of Not Bourbon isn’t entirely based on sentiment. This is a pretty good colt who might go off higher than his 5-2 morning-line odds. " And he sure did, going off as a 5-1 overlay with a ton of money going on the filly Ginger Brew, running back after her victory two weeks ago in the Woodbine Oaks, who he overtook by a head at the wire.

Sweet news for one of my faves, Sweet Vendetta, who was sold to WinStar Farms and is pointed at the Alabama (woo hoo). The David Cassidy-bred daughter of Steven Got Even, was last seen winning the Black Eyed Susan (G2) in May.

Congrats to the undefeated Finger Lakes (scheduled to be my next track visit in nearby Canandaigua) shipper Tin Cup Chalice winning the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont yesterday, returning $11 as the third choice of eight. It is also the first leg of The Big Apple Triple, with the next leg, The New York Derby, at his home track in July with the anchor race in August at Saratoga called the Albany Stakes. Last year, Chief's Lake took the first two legs only to falter at Saratoga in the Albany, as did Ferocious Won in 2006 and Image Maker in 2000. The Big Apple Triple series for NY breds began in 1999, the winner taking home an additional $250K bonus plus the purse total of $400K.

Who says English teachers can't handicap? The latest NHC winner at Belmont Park, Joe Lods, was busy quoting J. Paul Getty after his victory saying "There are one hundred men seeking security to one able man who is willing to risk his fortune. This weekend, my strategy was to be that one able man." Well said. I will try my fortunes in a NHC qualifier on September 11th while in Vegas at the Sunset Station Casino, while the Space Gal is tending to a toy show. Viva.

Bella Cavello's star mare, La Chica Rica, is entered in a $42K allowance on Friday night in the feature at Mountaineer, stay tuned for more on our favorite stable to watch.