Handi-sitting

Tweet Me and the Space Kid (not pictured) are hangin' together today. Since he decided to take a mid-morning nap as I was expaining to him the turn-back angle, I figured I could sneak in a quick blog since we're mid-Preakness week and things seemed to have settled down out there on the interweb. I figured I could teach him some good 3 letter combinations today, you know, ADW, TVG, OTB....not that boring ABC stuff. He seems to be content eating, sleeping and pooping though. I guess those lessons can wait for another day.

We'll be downloading today's Belmont card and playing a little Grand Slam on races 5-8, that I can handicap during Space Kid's nap time and we can enjoy the races together this afternoon, while we do some bonding. Too bad Fort Erie runs on Sunday-Tuesday, we could have completed his racetrack trifecta of Keeneland/Churchill/? within his first six months. Thinking it through though, however, it's gotta be Saratoga (cuz the Space Gal would kill me if I took him to Finger Lakes today). Speaking of the Grand Slam, I played it Sunday along with a Pick 3 on the first three legs and actually hit the P3 and lost the GS, that's a first. How does that happen? I had decent priced winner Cugatcha ($24.40) in the middle leg on a backup $4 P3 ticket and my two selections for the GS missed the board, go figure.

Congrats to Bella Cavello Stables for the repeat stakes win in the Hancock County last night by La Chica Rica at Mountaineer. She had a six length lead at the top of the stretch and held off Hadavision at the wire by a length to take the $45K first prize money, pushing her over the half million mark with her 13th career win in 39 starts.

Some preliminary Preakness thoughts...

Rachel Alexandra - one of my respected handicapping pals GG ($33K Derby trifecta winner in 05 with Giacomo) thinks she's a mortal lock. He never goes out on a limb like that. He didn't play the Derby this year saying it was a tossup. So I will take note and probably play against her anyway.

Papa Clem - I think he's gotta be tired and due for a clunker.

General Quarters - his on again/off again pattern says he could be ready to fire.

Friesen Fire - fool me once, shame on me....of course, he'll be a pretty nice price and Saez didn't burn him out 2 weeks ago...considering.

Mine That Bird - might get the right pace scenario again, don't think he'll win, but could hit the board late....

Musket Man - Gotta respect him...

Pioneerof the Nile - Impressed me at Churchill, will take a lot of money on Saturday...in the mix.

There always seems to be a surprise horse to complete the Preakness exacta (at least in three of the last four years) like Scrappy T (2005), Bernardini/Sweetnorthernsaint (2006) and Macho Again (2007) so who could it be this year? I'd say Terrain or Big Drama are the longshots worth noting. Interestingly, Terrain's last real dirt race, he faced Drama (who won) and finished 5th as the favorite in the Delta Jackpot. Terrain (4th), the Sky Mesa colt, will join Mine That Bird (12th) as the only two BC Juvenile runners in the Preakness.

Ok, Space Kid is stirring...back to baby-cappin...