Enter the Loud House

Tweet This horse racing blog has been temporarily interrupted so we can head down the NYS Thruway to the Loud House (see Carrier Dome) for a monumental hoop clash of Big East titans, #4 Syracuse and #8Villanova. It's time to dust off the 'ole 44 jersey....

Not to piss any Nova fans off, but there have been a few distractions this week for the Wildcats. Should be some interesting signs among the 35K record breaking attendees tonight. I'll be sitting behind the "big heads" behind the basket.

We'll return you to your regularly scheduled horse racing blog on Monday. Thanks for your patience.


Weekend stakes selections (last week was on fire with a 1st and two 2nds in the three Derby preps):
Sham: Setsuko (love Bejarano)
Davona Dale: Amen Hallelujah (Christine Daae looks interesting)

Remembering the First Time

Tweet I broke my maiden at Saratoga Race Course on a Wednesday afternoon in August of 2004. The 25th if you're keeping score at home. The first horse I ever watched live at a racetrack win a horse race was named Lukelynn at odds of 7-1. Of course, I didn't have him. The second horse I ever saw win a race was named Closing Argument. Yep, that Closing Argument. The one who was 71-1 in the Kentucky Derby and finished second to Giacomo, leading to gigantic payoffs in the exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers. He won a 2yo $45K MdnSpWt and paid $13.20. That's definitely something that stayed with me. Now he's at stud and I'm keeping my eye on him.

It took me four races to cash my first ticket, after the Saratoga Resident taught me how to call the numbers at the window, what an exacta and trifecta was, and how to box bets. I hit a $2 trifecta box of three horses that paid about $50. I'm not completely sure, but I think that's the moment I was hooked. There was something about deciphering all those numbers, figures, statistics meant within the hieroglyphics known as the Daily Racing Form. I'm still trying to figure it out, but that afternoon, it was like a light bulb went off in my head, that this was something I could really get into. The rest of the afternoon led to a profit of about $39 and one new fan for life.

I can't believe I missed out on all of the great races that happened prior to this day. Sure, I watched with the rest of the country on Derby Day, but usually with a casual glance at the tube. Maybe I'd watch the Preakness to see if the Derby winner would come back and win. But to be honest, I was never that enamored with it until I became engaged with the sport on site at the track. There's nothing like it. The way the crowd murmurs for the first quarter, half, top of the stretch. Then the noise starts building as they roar down the stretch. People screaming for their horses to "get up" or "stay up" or "go go go." The simultaneous groans of the losing ticket holders with the cheers of the fortunate winners and the rush that comes with it is something unmatched in other sports. Mainly because they are usually played at one team's home venue. This is something that fascinated me.

I remember watching Smarty Jones' Belmont down in Key West while on vacation with the Space Gal earlier in 2004, going for the Triple Crown. I am into watching significant historic sports events and you wouldn't find me on the beach that day, but in a bar packed with sports fans rooting the Philadelphia based horse home. Ironically, he was beaten by the horse who sired two of the 2009 Classic winners, Birdstone. A fitting beginning to peak my interest into the great sport of thoroughbred racing. What's cool for a newcomer like me is that the horses I followed and loved in my first years following the sport (see Roman Ruler) are now the hot sires of the current crop of 2 and 3 year olds.

I'm not sure how my interest has evolved into this? This being the 397th post (mainly on horse racing), and it sure has been a fun ride. I'm eternally grateful for that day in August at the Spa because it was before I knew of any of the problems that have dogged thoroughbred racing, so I was truly seeing it for what it is, a tremendous spectator sport (with a hint of gambling, of course).

Weekend Funnies

Tweet It's been a long week and a little comic relief can't hurt. I've been working on my new fast food blog since my traffic spike due to the McDonald's Filet o Fish ad and subsequent lovefest regarding the Shamrock Shake.

I went to the University of Buffalo (UB) - Bowling Green (former SU star Louie Orr coaches the Falcons!) hoops game the other night as a guest of the UB Athletics department and met an old time horseplayer who is involved in the sports program at UB within the sports medicine phase (the Doc). We shared some stories (mainly his) and I found him truly fascinating. He told me how he had a chance to buy into Summer Squall back in the day, and that didn't one of his prodigy win won of the big races last year? Ha! Indeed he did (Summer Bird!). Well, we'll be headed to the Fort or Woodbine this summer together with some of the UB Athletics staff and I can't wait to spend a full day with this gentleman.

Oh yeah...he also shared a couple jokes with me I'll pass on....

Doc: So, Gene did I tell you that I had a horse that went off at 5 to 2 today?
Me: No, what happened?
Doc: Well he came in about a quarter to 3.

Much laughter ensued.

Ok...this one is better....

This horseplayer was sitting at the kitchen table reading the Form when his wife came out of nowhere and cracked him on the head with a frying pan. The horseplayer yelled in pain and asked his wife "Why did you do that??" She said that she had found a piece of paper in his pocket that had the name "Jane" on it. He responded that that was just a horse he had a tip on the previous day and made a bet on it. She apologized and she got him a bag of ice for his head.

The next day the horseplayer was once again sitting at the table perusing the Form and lo and behold his wife cracked him on the head again with the frying pan. Once again, he yelled in pain and asked her "Why did you do that again??" The wife responded, "Your horse just called."

Enjoy the weekend Derby trail stakes races....you know there will be an upset in at least one of the three big races. Don't forget to join the TBA league (54 entries and climbing) set up in the Road to the Roses fantasy contest which starts today. (League ID: 3173203388 and Activation Code: 2247553444). In today's big races I like Tempted to Tapit in the Risen Star, Dublin in the Southwest and Eskendereya in the FOY....but I'll be sitting on the sidelines just enjoying the races. Good luck if you're playing.

Randomlicious

Tweet I came up with tonight's post title completely randomly (no pun intended), but ironically when I googled it to find a picture I found this blog instead, and it's worth a look...very funny. But I digress.....Randomlicious, it's the new rage in Kalamazoo.

- Wireplayers.com Derby Dozen Volume 3 has just been released and no change in the Top Two (Lookin at Lucky or Buddy's Saint) but a big jump up by Rule after his win over the weekend at Tampa has him jumping from 10th up into the top 3. Ten of my twelve selections are in the Dozen, with only Dave in Dixie and Dryfly not part of the elusive list. The two on the list I don't have are Drosselmeyer and Tiz Chrome.

- The horse I am highest on right now: Eskendereya. I have him #2 behind Lucky. His pedigree is decent, sire Giant's Causeway and broodmare sire the Slew. I'd bring up dosage, but can't take the mudslinging that may ensue. He can get the distance. Could he be Pletcher's (and Johnny V's for that matter) first?

- The TBA has a league set up in the Road to the Roses fantasy contest. Closest thing you'll get to fantasy football for horses. (League ID: 3173203388 and Activation Code: 2247553444). C'mon and join up and test you luck against some of the finest bloggers and race fans around!

- A new Derby-based poll is up on the right (no, your other right) sidebar. The polls have really been rocking (been averaging well over 200 votes) with some great questions over the past few weeks, make sure you cast your vote.

- Feeling kind of bad for the folk who bought tix for the original Apple Blossom on April 3rd, as Oaklawn may not be honoring those tickets on the 9th or granting any refunds? Kinda sucks, no?

- This race needs a name (ala Thrilla in Manila)....anyone? anyone? Bueller?

- Been working on some things with the folks over at Thorofan. They have started out on the right path and are doing good things for racing from an educational and charitable standpoint. Stay tuned.

- USA! USA! USA! Team Canada meet Ryan Miller (your worst nightmare on home soil). Rumor has it the Saratoga Resident is in Vancouver cheering on the red, white and blue...

- That's all for now....I could really go for a Filet o Fish right now.....told ya we were random tonight~

Buzz Level

Tweet Happy Valentine's Day. With a lot going on in the major sports lately (Super Bowl, NBA all-star game, college hoops) and the Winter Olympics kicking off, I thought I'd grade out my take on the current buzz level regarding some of the second level sports starting with......

HORSE RACING. Grade: A minus. It couldn't get much better right now with the announcement of the big race on April 9th between 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and the defending Breeders' Cup Classic champion, Zenyatta. Add to that the Road to the Roses is starting to heat up (a great prep on President's Day in the Southwest tomorrow)....I'm thinking we have a bit of a buzz going here. Don't call me a homer, we have good karma right now.

GOLF. Grade: D. Are they playing golf right now? Has any sport fallen into the doldrums quicker than PGA Golf. Mickelson and Woods are both skipping the Accenture Match Play tourney. They need oxygen (see Tiger Woods) stat.

TENNIS. Grade: C plus. Coming off a ho hum Australian Open. Who won the women's championship? No clue. Roger Federer is the only reason this sport gets an average grade from moi.

CURLING. Grade C. Who knew the Brits invented it? Could pick up this week with some prime time Olympic coverage. Not.

HOCKEY. Grade A. I'm not counting it as a major right now (mainly because it's my blog), but the buzz is huge here and the Canucks need to win to make up for the opening night malfunctions and to break the Great White North's gold medal jinx (when hosting). Looking forward to watching Buffalo's Ryan Miller between the pipes for the red, white and blue.

NASCAR. Grade B plus. Go Daddy.com. 'Nuff said.

SOCCER. Grade B. Are you ready for the Vuvuzela? Get ready to be annoyed. It's like watching a game in a bee's hive. Grade is B only due to fact it is a World Cup year.

BOXING. Grade D. Can you name the current heavyweight champ (without googling)? Me neither.

AMERICA'S CUP. Grade F. What happened to the days of Ted Turner trash talking the Aussies and Kiwis? News flash: The Kiwis won this morning and some New Zealander won his fourth cup!

BEER PONG. Grade B. Lots of buzz.

So I'd say we have as much buzz going out there in the minors as any of the others. Hopefully we can build on this over the next few weeks and there are no hiccups in either of the fantastic duo's prep races....

Friday Night Fights

Tweet I wasn't totally off board when I warned in Sunday's post not to make your reservations to the Apple Blossom just yet, because if you did, you'll be at Oaklawn Park a week early (six days to be exact). As most of you already know, the race has been moved back to April 9th, a Friday night. This immediately set off a firestorm of naysayers bemoaning the Friday date and the moving back of the race. My take? I say, hurray. You couldn't ask for a better lead in on ESPN (assuming they will televise it) with Masters Friday wrapping up around 7.30pm EST, especially if Tiger is playing. Most of my partners in crime typically take that Friday afternoon off and head to a local watering hole to watch the golf action and throw back a few Labatts. Most of us on the East Coast will be out of work by race time and it will be around 4pm on the West Coast (happy hour!). If they promoted this race of the ages during the Masters telecast, it could do wonders to boost the awareness of this race and generate huge TV numbers.

If you are looking to make the trip to the Hot Springs, Arkansas track for the big weekend (the Arkansas Derby is on Saturday - Oaklawn's closing day), it appears you most likely have to fly into Little Rock to get to Hot Springs. Since I am an East Coaster, I had no sense of geography or any idea how far Little Rock is from Hot Springs. A quick google search told me that the cities are 53.1 miles apart and if you decide to hoof it from Little Rock, it'll take around 17 hours to make the same trek.

I think it's a good thing to change things up by racing early Friday evening; the track owner is putting up big dough ($5M), so he too deserves to make a few sheckles with back-t0-back big racing days. Plus it should boost the economy whereby a lot of folks will make a weekend out of it. It's ironic after the uproar that occurred when the Breeders' Cup moved all the filly & mare races to the so-called Filly Friday, that the two best horses of 2009 will be part of a spectacular Filly Friday Night Fight at Oaklawn in April.

That is, of course, if all goes according to Hoyle. Fingers crossed.

Cold As Ice

Tweet It seems like yesterday when Tim Ice and the Jayaramans were standing in the basement of Belmont Park at their winning press conference where Dr. KKJ was lavishing praise on his trainer. But in the theme of "what have you done for me lately" the Jayaramans relieved Ice of his training duties of 25 horses, rendering his barn practically empty (six horses remain). Five of these horses were nominated to the 2010 Triple Crown. While I'm sure you've already heard the news, I took a burn to this, mainly due to my affinity for Summer Bird and his terrific 3yo season wherein he won the Belmont Stakes, the Travers Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. KKJ cited "communication issues" with Ice. From where I come from it takes two sides to communicate and I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't cut a guy who delivered him a Triple Crown race some slack. Ice did a fabulous job training the Bird during his Eclipse winning season (don't forget he was 6th in the Kentucky Derby and 4th in the BC Classic to boot), winning over $2.3M in the process for the Jayaramans. His move to put blinkers on Summer Bird before the Belmont was a terrific job of training. Not too shabby. But I guess his current Oaklawn meeting numbers (2 for 15) for the doctors just aren't cutting it so....thanks for coming.

Ice said during the Belmont press conference, "If my career goes nowhere from here, I've got a Belmont win. They can't take it away from me." Let's hope he can pick up the pieces and some new, more appreciative owners in the process. He's still has this fan in his corner.

Super Sunday

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Some days can't get any better. Cuse wins a tough road Big East tilt, we're live in Gulfstream's P4 (we're on the Hallandale Beach Stakes 3rd leg right now) and to top it off we're slow cooking some ribs for some special guests that are soon to be arriving.

Lots of racing news this week and here our some thoughts in balmy Buffalo (no snow):

- No way Jackson has Rachel
Alexandra show up in the Apple Blossom...I think he waits until she runs a couple races to get the rust off. I wouldn't rush to make any reservations just yet. Slow and steady wins the race.

- Quality Road ran a big one over the weekend in the Donn Handicap and posts a huge Beyer (122). Seems a tad high to me.

- Eightyfiveinafifty did not make my list for the WirePlayers.com Derby Dozen that I am a pollster in, where he was ranked 5th...thinking I made the right choice, although you'd think he'd be a hunch play of mine with my affinity for breaking sub 4 hour drives to the Spa....

- Santa Anita washed out on Saturday with big races on tap. All weather, indeed.

- Colts 35 Saints 31. Only cuz the Space Gal has 5 and 1 in her SB square pool. Of course, I drew 2 and 2. Whatever.

- Just nailed the third leg at Gulfstream with Bim Bam (nosing Interactif at the wire). Live to two horses (Notes Prince & Raising Timber) in the last leg.....and Joey Bravo is prolly off Raising Timber after taking a bad spill in the second leg (Race 7 on Souma) where he went over the rail....hoping he's ok.

OK, gotta keep an eye on those ribs...wish me luck on that final leg.....

Sunshine Millions Day

Tweet I can't tell you how excited I was for Sunshine Millions Day. When the Space Gal gave me her desired dates to head down south my eyes widened when I saw that the Saturday of the weekend we would be in South Florida was Millions Day. As I stated in the previous blog entry, I've visited Gulfstream several times over the past five years, but never on a big race day. The joint was definitely buzzing on Saturday and for good reason. I was most excited to see the Sprint, looming as a duel between This One's for Phil and Pashito the Che.

My pal, Frank reserved a table for six up in the Ten Palms Restaurant on the second floor of Gulfstream and we had a nice view of the track around the eighth pole. What excited me most was the Space Kid on the last day of his first year of life completing a track trifecta of Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park. He is my good luck charm. When we walked into Churchill, we hit the trifecta on the first race we played. On Saturday, ditto ($42.30). I need to bring him along more often. Ironically, the 32-1 we had in the third spot was named Family Holiday. Not a bad hunch play. I followed up the tri in the 5th with a $5WP on Hollywood Left ($10.60, $5.60) who held off a 40-1 longshot in a photo in the day's only turf sprint. The Kid was still giving me good vibes.

The day got better as we scored another trifecta in the 6th ($77.10), again with the favorite and third choice in the first two slots and Don Cavallo (a 5-1 Pletcher/Johnny V) underneath (thanks Frank). My newest play is a 2x3x5 one dollar tri (cost $12) that was successful several times over the two day visit in the sun.

We visited Ernie who was doing his thing and played a little stump the guitarist with the Space Gal. The Gulfstream folk are wise to have him play and initiate chatter among the faithful with his racing trivia knowledge. Good times.

The last play of the day we put together a joint effort $80 Late Pick Four, which we hit for $120. Not a huge score, but better than a sharp stick in the eye. My good friend the Saratoga Resident taught me early on, "first you cash the ticket, then you complain about how small it is." So from a gambling perspective it was a great day. The Space Gal topped it off by surprising me with a Edgar Prado Gulfstream bobblehead.

By far, the race of the day was the Sprint and a terrific duel as expected with This One's For Phil holding off Pashito for Rick Dutrow. The Distaff was won via a game effort by Sweet Repent. The Turf was won by Jet Propulsion (3-1), who gave me some distance questions, but with Julien Leparoux up, I was wise to keep him in our Pick 4 play. All in all it was a fun day with friends and family. Here are a few more amateurish shots of the day.....

A glimpse of the beautiful Gulfstream paddock from the second floor balcony.

Tricky Rick Dutrow was in the house.





Even money This One's For Phil looming large in the paddock.

Eclipse winning jockey Julien Leparoux who rode Accredit in the Sprint.

Gulfstream racecaller Larry Collmus in the perch.

Back to balmy Buffalo and subzero temperatures. Gulfstream, I'm gonna miss ya....

Space Invasion: Gulfstream Park

Tweet If you’ve noticed it’s been a little quiet around these parts, it’s because the Space Clan took a little sojourn down South Florida way before the busy season cranks up to full tilt. We celebrated the Space Kid’s first birthday with Mickey and made a couple visits to beautiful Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.

While in full relax mode, I spent more of Friday snapping pictures while flying solo then on Sunshine Millions Day. I caught about six races on Friday afternoon, where the crowd grew as the day passed, but it was pleasantly comfortable as I moved between the paddock seats and the rail all day long.

This was not my first visit to Gulfstream, but a lot has changed in and around the track since my last visit two years ago. I usually try and make a trip the second week of January, but with the little guy’s first and the Sunshine Millions on Saturday, tradition was put on the back burner and we came down a few weeks later. The weather both days was very pleasant, a little overcast with a warm wind swirling around the park. I really enjoy (to the chagrin of John from Not to the Swift) the Gulfstream surrounding, especially hanging out in the paddock area with a dollar draft (very dangerous, the dollar draft) and the Form in the bright Florida sunshine. Let’s say life was good.

I introduced myself to Travis Stone, Louisiana Downs race caller and co-founder of Horse Racing Nation on Friday after one of his simulcasts between races. We exchanged pleasantries and he was nice enough to spend a few minutes with me. His site seems to be doing rather well and he reported traffic has been increasing significantly.

This was a total gambling trip for me (on vacation from the blog too), so we concentrated on winning some money more than looking for blog intrigue. Not that anyone is ever intrigued by anything I write! We got out of Friday alive by hitting a trifecta ($57.50) in the 5th using the even money chalk (I’ll Take Two/Pletcher/Velazquez) on top of two 7-1’s (Shehashighhopes and Albali) which put us up a few schillings going into Saturday’s big day.
The next two races probably made my day (even though we suffered through gambling losses) from a fan perspective. In the 6th, Jose Lezcano rode a game Prestidigitation ($9.80) to a 4 1/2 length come from behind victory. I was watching from just beyond the finish line next to the winner’s circle and caught an extremely giddy Wayne Catalano greeting his winner upon his return to the winner’s circle. Cell phone in hand and screaming into it his excitement over the big win, he gave the five year old gelding and winner of 5 of 20 lifetime a nice pat on the rear.
The next race was crazy as Pletcher/Velazquez struck again after Drover ($10.80) wired the field after fast turf fractions (23:07, 47:03 and 1:11:87) opening up a 12 length lead after the half and holding off the hard charging 43-1 longshot Forty Nine Acres in a photo.

Day one was a success both from a fan perspective and in the ADW account. Here are some shots of Gulfstream and some of the day’s events.….

Gate break in the 4th on the turf with Aventura's condos in the background.

Cordero, Pletcher & Velazquez before jumping on Five Fifty Five, a Zayat horse that finished 8th.

Travis Stone doing the simulcast from the paddock for HRTV.

Alan H of the Bug Boys would be proud that I captured this shot of the Jockeys heading out of the saddling paddock.

Prestidigitation with a dominating win with Jose Lezcano up.

Well, maybe he's not so giddy. Trainer Wayne Catalano on the horn after Prestidigitation's big win. Believe me, he was a happy man.

That's a wrap on day one of two. Sunshine Millions post up next...