Buckle Your Seat Belts

Tweet It's one of those special days in the world of horse racing, like the one where Squints conned the beautiful lifeguard Wendy Peffercorn in the pool scene in the movie, The Sandlot. "He walked a little taller that day and we had to tip our hats to him."

Today the best filly since Ruffian takes on yet another challenge [albeit with a nice weight advantage] in the Haskell. Ms. Rachel Alexandra will take on six other rivals in the much hyped-race around 6:15pm. With it raining here in the metropolitan Buffalo area (weather update at MTH), we are locked and loaded in the Space Station with the family (and my 2006 Haskell hat on) to watch the day's events unfold. My only wish is that TVG would turn on the HD...racing is simply awesome on HD. RA trainer Steve Asmussen will try to reverse his last Haskell disappointment, when the mighty Curlin finished third behind Any Given Saturday and Hard Spun in the 2007. A tiring 14-race card at the Shore's Greatest Stretch today. As one racing tweeter says a 10 race card with just stakes would do him just fine, and I tend to agree. Man, 7 hours of racing is a long time to stay focused (and maintain a bankroll).

While she should dominate here, don't count out the locals on Haskell day. The MTH jocks can be tough and they know the track well. I think Atomic Rain could be a factor. Not sure Munnings can get the distance, but I hope he can as he is a fan fav here. In the Haskell game contest today, I focused on a lot of horses with the hot MTH jocks and those who have previously won at the course. Survival at the Shore update: slipped to 27th, but still alive with two preservers.

So much for my plans for a hockey playoff-like beard for the Spa meet. After three winning days, our grand slam bet went up in flames with Love Cove and Here Comes Rita in the Lake Luzerne. Oh well, today is another day. GbG and the Dresden File each garnered a point in the Toga Party Contest (see standing in right margin) with Kensei's win in the Dandy. I really liked him (especially when he momentarily drifted up to 5-1), but the tote resettled and I sat out the race. He's a nice horse, who I was fortunate enough to see run in the Derby Trial S. in April on Churchill's opening day. Here's a shot I got of him in the paddock heading out for the Trial.
















Let's hope today is as special a day as Michael Squints Palledorous had that one magic summer day....