Bring Back the National Pick Four

Tweet Back when I was first gathering some interest in the sport many of my Saturday and Sunday afternoons were spent watching and wagering on the National Pick 4. I would obtain the free Equibase past performances from the NTRA website, study them on Friday night and run over to the Wehrle OTB to wager on the races before post time of the A leg.

As a new handicapper I might not play the Pick Four with the fervor I would today, but I most likely bet a small exacta or make an across the board wager on one or two of the races. The part that hooked me was that the races would be shown on ESPN and I could follow my wagers along. I started to become familiar with horses on the west coast like Lava Man, Borrego and Surf Cat, to name a few. This enhanced my thirst to learn more about the different tracks and to learn more and more about handicapping,

On Filly Friday I was hanging with a group of six or seven guys (including several beancounters like myself) and the topic of the National Pick Four came up. The group all said they used to enjoy playing the wager and watching for the hour to two hour national broadcast and what a great way to attract new players to the game.

I think the last one I remember was back in 2005 or 2006. Sure Frank Stronach has tried a similar wager (the Magna 5) run over his tracks....but they weren't the weekend's big stakes races or televised by the World Wide Leader.

One of my wishes at the beginning of the year was to bring the National Pick Four wager back into the fold. I have to believe it would generate new interest, drive traffic to the NTRA website and increase handle at the tracks with the National races. It's been done before so what am I missing?

Black Friday Hunch Plays

Tweet

So I'm sitting in a hospital birthing room with the Space Gal awaiting the arrival of our daughter (to be named later) and she's about to be induced in an hour or so. She's resting now so I figured I'd test out the Blogger posting by email function...bear with me if it's not in the normal fashion.

It's quite comical that she's having a girl on Black Friday...I can see exactly how this is going to go in her formidable years as this is one of the Space Gal's favorite days of the year. I wanted to do a live blog, but that idea was quickly vetoed...haha...you know how those posts can drag out! I'll spare ya from that...and TMI.

So now you know why it's been a little quiet around the blog. I did have a major score at the hospital gift shop's used book sale nabbing a Dick Francis hardcover copy of Longshot for $2...major score! With all the waiting this book will come in handy today. Tomorrow I'll have a preview of the Cigar Mile for The Buffalo News Sports, Ink blog...looking for Friend or Foe to run a big one.

So while I was perusing today's entries..I decided Finger Lakes had the best hunch plays for the Space Gal and I today!

Race 1 - #4 Mommy's Dearest
Race 2 - #6 Top Lass
Race 5 - #3 Personal Spender (Black Friday!)
Race 8 - #2 Every Little Thing
Race 9 - #6 Wonderous Day

I hope all my racing family/friends had a great Thanksgiving and if you have a moment today say a prayer for the Space Gal and I....and if you have any thoughts for the little gal's pseudo blog name I'm all ears...

Jackpot Contest Day Live Blog

Tweet It's Delta Downs Jackpot Day and we're hunkered down in the Space Cave trying our hand in TwinSpires Delta Downs Jackpot Challenge. The contest for TwinSpires members has attracted 686 horseplayers who will vie for 19 guaranteed seats at the 2011 Horseplayer World Series at the Orleans Hotel and Casino next February.

The contest consists of the last 10 races at Delta Downs today, which includes a number of graded and non-graded stakes, highlighted by the first post-BC race that has implications for next year's Kentucky Derby. The contest races are Races 2-11 and are the typical $2WP wagers (non-live bankroll).

We'll be live-blogging our day as it transpires...and if I start sucking, I'm sure the Space Gal will go into labor or something to interrupt our contest and blogging efforts!

1:54pm: First post at Delta is a non-contest race, but an interesting one nonetheless. We'll bet it for fun to see what foot our days gets off on. I like Miss Polly, 5-1ML who has snuck up to 10-1. We'll start with a little $2PS as the chalk, Bogalusa, looks pretty solid.

2:05pm: Well, is this how it's going to go. Bogalusa romps, Miss Polly finishes fourth out of the money at 8-1, but ran a solid race. We have our HRTV computer feed going as the TwinSpires TV feed seems kind of grainy today. Oh well...first contest race is approaching...

2:15pm: Wonder why TVG isn't carrying Delta today...would make my computer surfing much easier...not playing the chalk Grinder in the contest...leaning towards the #1 Tropical Winds, hoping the favorite links up with the #2 in a speed duel for my horse to pick up the pieces. Did I mention I had gumbo for lunch for good luck?

2:35pm: Grinder ($5.20, $2.80) at 8-5 wins with JD's Silverjet ($3.00 place) at 9-5 (my second choice) finishing second. No worries as it's early and chalky win to start the contest. My horse is off the board...Did you know it takes 4-5 days for a 20 lb turkey to de-thaw? I'm cooking turkey dinner Thursday for the Space Gal's family.....should be interesting. Will probably be throwing in some Turkey Day fun facts to spice up the live blog today and cover up the fact that I am a terrible contest player...

2:50pm: Good news from commenter NJDerek, it looks like TVG will be picking up Delta at 3:30pm EST. Whew. I like the #1 again in Race 3...the Afleet Alex colt Fast Alex and I hope the price stays up there at it's current 9-1, but I know it won't. Nacho Friend (7-5) is nacho friend in a contest at that price.....the other colt taking money is the #6 My Star Runner, solid horse. Trying to decide whether to stuff the turkey or go Stove Top...thoughts?

2:58pm: Did I mention my mother-in-law is showing up today to spend a week? The #4 just took a bunch of money, then floated back up...WTF? I hate contests.

3:01pm: Damn. The other horse I liked in the Sam's Town was the #5 TwoEx a horse for the course at 25-1....who finished second. To make matters worse I tried to make a $2 place bet on him in my ADW....and got shut out as I was watching my iPad feed which was time delayed. Time to walk Tanner Jones and get some fresh air. Fast Alex made a nice move but went about 40 wide on the turn....ugh.

3:19pm: Didn't make it outside for the dog walk...Space Kid meltdown, nothing chocolate milk and a cookie can't fix. Going with Briecat here to make sure we don't get goose-egged, don't think this is a race where there will be the inevitable bomb...of course, I've been wrong before......

3:45pm: Shutout averted. Mother-in-law is here. Coincidence?

3:59pm: $10.80 in the coffers puts me in striking distance at 198th place (sarcasm). Glad I didn't hop off him, but 5/2 was a decent price for him. Also played a 3x4x1x5 Pick Four (you know in case my picks tank I'll have something to blog about). The 5th race will be a game changer as I think we'll finally get a big price here...I'm on Harlan Street off of a layoff (trainer is 3/8 off layoff) to defend his title in the Delta Mile (currently 9/2). The #9 horse Fifteen Love is also on my radar....little more studying to do...

4:09pm: My first official switch of a pick. Going with Fifteen Love. Concerned with the layoff and the price is definitely an overlay on Fifteen Love (now 6-1 and still over ML of 4-1).

4:15pm: Meh. Well at least it was a 9-5 Z Humor and I had him in my Pick 4 which will pay about sixty cents if this keeps up as my single is up next. Still too early to panic, just gotta catch the right bomb....it'll come. Did you know it takes about 20 minutes of cook time for each pound of turkey? Me neither, but good to know.

4:30pm: Four down and six to go. Dropped 78 spots to 276th place, but still in top third (justification emphasized). Now what? Hot dogs! Nothing beats a dog in the middle of a race day. Oh yeah, my P4 single is Promise Me A Cat (not a cat fan by the way) so guess what my contest play is? Be right back...

4:40pm: Can't stay with 4/5 in the contest, just won't lose that much ground if the Cat wins. Switching over to Niji's Grand Girl (speed seems to be holding so far) who has a nice workout at Churchill and has drifted up from a 4-1 ML to a juicy 10-1....go big or go home has slipped into my vocabulary a little earlier than normal...c'mon Albarado!

4:46pm: Whoa. Good move to toss the chalk there. Nice run by Niji's and she gets me a place ($7.80). Shoot, I liked the Flower Alley winner ($21.20 & $9) last night and then threw her out of my exacta in favor of the undefeated Hoosier Downs horse. Kissing your sister race....P4 is dead, but picked up a few contest bucks....

5:05pm: Delta Jackpot feature up next. Bug Juice takin lots of dough. Picked up a few spots with the placing, currently 201st. Thinking about taking a big swing with Gourmet Dinner here. His sire, Trippi, won a few times in graded stakes at 7 furlongs......hmm. I have been talking about Turkey Day....omen?

5:10pm: Thought about Rush Now for a moment, but staying with last night's capping and Sweet Ducky. Hope Bravo wasn't in the French Quarter last night. The breeding and 3rd off the layoff sold me on him. Can't figure out why Classic Legacy is taking dough and Blue Laser isn't?

5:22pm: Are you freaking kidding me? 20-1....why don't I listen to myself...punches self in face.

5:28pm: In the All is Not Lost department, I did include Gourmet Dinner in the first leg of a Pick 3....and the Space Gal is making Ziti!!!!!

5:36pm: Well instead of being in 33rd place we've plummeted to 335th. Time to root home this Pick 3 ticket with 20-1 on top. Just realized I had the P4 if not for my single blowing up in the Princess...also had Decisive Moment in my P4 anchor....oh well....that's why they call it gambling. My P3 has 1,4,8,10 if you're following from home in the $250K Louisiana Jewel Stakes. Tensas Punch is my contest play (for now) first time Lasix and nice trainer/jock combo. Caton Bredar says she looks good....so there.

5:52pm: Labatts Blue Light! Pre-gaming for the Cuse game and maybe it'll get a little more entertaining over the final four races....

5:56pm: Delta Downs doesn't post will pays? What are they calculating with an abacus or something? Annoyed....aside from the Blue Light.

5:58pm: They do get an A+ for the music in between races however. Bon Jovi!

6:04pm: That's what I'm talkin about! Tensas Punch with a uppercut to the field at 7-1!!! Gonna grab some quick ziti...be right back....live to the 5 & 10 in the Pick 3...woo effing hoo.

6:20pm: Ok, 9MTP in the Louisiana Legacy. Go Unitas....haha. He's 19-1 and I will be making a hunch bet. However if the favorite or the #10 Ollie Baby win...Space Kid gets a new pair of shoes. Wheel in the Sky Keeps on Turning! Delta Rocks! Contest pick (we're in 186th after that last winner and have positive ROI for the day) is the #10...gotta take chances with three to go...4/5 isn't going to get it done.

6:30pm: TVG is now showing Turf Paradise instead of the stakes fest at Delta....my goodness...the horror.

6:37pm: Game over. That blows. Lost a huge P3 in a photo? Ugh.

6:41pm: Well that was fun while it lasted...P3 pays $1K...of course it would've been less with Su Casa G Casa, the frustrating part is the #10 burned him out so he had nothing left in the stretch...ok two more races to try and finish respectably....228th at the moment. Unitas came in third and paid over $11.

6:57pm: Have to try and get into the top 19 so need a price horse here. Going with the #4 Saint Belinda at 12-1 over the #3 Thruthegardengate who will be challenged by the extra furlong. Belinda could get me into striking distance with a win. Best chance of the long shots in my opinion.

7:08pm: The Orangemen are on the U in 2 minutes! Last shot at the contest...need a bomb here (but so does probably everyone else) in the finale. Putting rock into slingshot.

7:18pm: Ahhhh...no horse will be long enough to get me in. We'll still try and move up the leaderboard. From the Woulda Coulda Shoulda Department...I'd be in 16th place if I had the nuts to play Gourmet Dinner (see 5:05pm entry) and would tentatively have one of those seats to Vegas.....arrrgh. I am favoring Ashe's Cat a bit, just nosed out in his last by TwoEx who ran well earlier in the card.

7:41pm: Cya Later Geno. I am sooooo dumb. Why not play the longest shot on the board (Cya Later Bert $37.60, $16.40) at 17-1. Huge learning experience today. Not that it would've got it done, but man a big move up the leaderboard (see 7:08pm). Melancon's horse Deputiformer finishes second, he sure did have a huge day. Final tally: 279th, $43.20 and 1,730 words.

Thanks for following along (or reading this far..haha)!

Unitas

Tweet I am considering entering the TwinSpires Delta Downs Challenge on Saturday so I found myself perusing the entries on DRF today and I came across an interesting entry. Unitas. Race 9. Louisiana Legacy Stakes. This automatically had me thinking about my childhood hero. Of course that led me to start visualizing all of my heroes growing up.

I'm going off the board tonight and posting a list of my childhood heroes and why they were my heroes. Athletes (non-equine) are tough to grow attached to these days. I was a huge Mike Vick fan while he was with the Falcons. Now.....not so much. I wonder what heroes the Space Kid will have as he gets older...I pine for the good old days when these guys were the toast of my sports fanaticism....

1. Johnny U. He was mesmerizing to watch. He quarterbacked my Colts (at the time) to a Super Bowl V victory when I was seven and just getting into sports. My dad took me to Buffalo (ironically) on a train from Syracuse to see him play the Bills at the old Rockpile where he led them to a 17-0 victory in 1973. I remember the man sitting next to us giving me his binocs so I could zoom into seeing Unitas at work. I'll never forget it. Add the unbelievable battle with Namath in 1972 to games that will always stick with me.

2. Brooks Robinson. The human vacuum cleaner. Won the World Series in 1970 against the Big Red Machine (man, that was a good year for me) claiming MVP honors. I never saw him play live, but did get his autograph at a Genessee Beer Sports Night in Syracuse in the 70s that my dad brought me to. Hank Aaron also received an award that night. I sure wish I could find those autographs...haha.

3. Arnold Palmer. My dad and grandfather loved watching golf, so naturally I would watch too. Something about his unorthodox swing and the fact he loved to go for gusto attracted me to becoming part of the Army. Never saw him live. Loved watching him beat guys like Orville Moody and Charles Coody on Sundays.

4. Notre Dame Basketball. With the UConn women's team approaching the 88 win mark, it brings back that magical afternoon in 1974 when Dwight Clay broke UCLA's back at the Athletic and Convocation Center, snapping the streak. John Shumate, Austin Carr, Kelly Tripucka and Orlando Woolridge. Guys I loved to watch play for the Irish. I'll never forget that game, I was literally in tears with 3 1/2 minutes left and the Irish down 11. The comeback was epic. (my apologies to SU hoops)

5. John McEnroe. Hey, they all couldn't be good guys. I used to love when he challenged the officials with that look of disgust. The man could flat out play tennis though. His matches with Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg were incredible. I can't see myself sitting down to watch tennis today.

6. Bobby Clarke. Growing up in hockey-less Syracuse, I gravitated to the Philadelphia team since most of my family is from there. Schultz, Dornhoefer, Bernie Parent and the Broad Street Bullies were my team growing up. (I didn't adopt the Bills and Sabres until moving to the B-lo in 1985...and have been hardcore since then).

7. Cassius Clay. I can't really say I was a big fan of Ali, but he mesmerized me and like coming across a train wreck, you can't take your eyes off of him. I'd never miss his fights, back when the Wide World of Sports was a weekly ritual. Listening to Howard Cosell calling the fights or interviewing him was entertainment in itself. I rooted for Frazier in all three fights. I think Ali-Frazier I was the first sporting event I could really remember gambling on, and I was only in first grade!

8. The Big O/Pistol Pete/Earl the Pearl. Three way tie for my hoops hero. The Big O had it all and I was a big Bucks fan (poster in the bedroom and everything). Pistol Pete had incredible moves that every kid tried to emulate and who could forget those gray socks. Earl the Pearl just rolled off the tongue so nicely that you had to love him.

Honorable Mention. Steve Carlton & Greg Luzinski (Phillies), Lew Alcindor (Bucks), Ken Norton (Mandingo), Bert Jones & Roger Carr (Colts), Jim Palmer (Orioles), the Louie and Bouie Show (SU hoops) and last but not least, Seattle Slew.

Let's just say I'll be making a certain hunch bet on a 2yo horse named Unitas this weekend.

We will now return you to your regularly scheduled racing blog.....

BC Hangover

Tweet I can't seem to get motivated lately...call it Breeders' Cup hangover. The anticipation of some of the best races of the year build up to a crescendo, then come crashing down in a New York minute. Maybe it's because there are other things on my radar these days, but I can't seem to find my mojo...

Even the quadruple Pick Six carryover (which our three man syndicate hit four of six) at Aqueduct last Friday seemed anti-climatic in comparison to the big stage at Churchill the week before.

- It was nice to be at a jam-packed OTB (Buffalo Wehrle Drive) on Filly Friday where it was SRO. You can't beat a bucket of six beers for $10, either. We had a fun crew together to watch the races and pool some dough together while watching the fillies and mares get after it.

- Next up is Triple Crown season which has had me thinking the last few days about the results of the last few years. We really could have had a TC winner each of the last few years....think about this.....

* Curlin (2007) - a third in the Derby, Preakness win and nosed out by Rags in the Belmont...

* Big Brown (2008) - no foot issues after the Preakness and maybe he pulls it off at Big Sandy?
* Mine That Bird (2009) - don't laugh....think about this...Rachel doesn't get purchased by Jess Jackson and Calvin doesn't pull the trigger too early in New York......hmm....he really could have done it.

* Rachel Alexandra (2009) - Jess Jackson buys her before the Derby and she runs on Derby day and blows away the field (she did run very well in the slop) and she's looking at beating Summer Bird, Dunkirk and MTB in New York....possible?

* Lookin at Lucky (2010) - bad draw in the Derby...he was rolling in the slop after he was bounced around early...wins Preakness...and what might have been in the Belmont...maybe I'm reaching here...but one never knows.

* Going back before 2007, you had winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown in 1997-1999 and 2002-2004.

Moral of the Story: It's still a real possibility and I'm guessing it will happen sooner rather than later. No need to change the format (and this is a change for me) or race spacing, the challenge of accomplishing it over the current five period is not impossible.

- Was thinking that Zenyatta could be the only horse that could be declared the Horse of the Decade without winning a single Horse of the Year vote. No easy feat.

- How about them Bills? Funny what low expectations can do for a person.

- How about those Orangemen? (and not the ones in shorts!)

- Now if only we could get the Braves back...

D'oh: Belated Recap

Tweet Who am I?

A) Trainer Michelle Nihei after the Marathon

B) Everyone who wagered on Life at Ten

C) Trevor Denman ready to make a lifetime signature call

D) The gate crew in the Juvenile Fillies Turf

E) Jaycito's connections after watching the turn into the backstretch

F) Me, after Shared Account nipped Midday at the wire = totally wrecking my Pick-3.

G) All of the Above

Man, was that quite a weekend. My serious recap for The Buffalo News is here. My not-so-serious recap is here. As in, right here.

I've taken a few days to reflect on the events that occurred in Louisville, Kentucky this past weekend. I was sitting in my neighborhood bar this evening to pick up a couple steak sammys for the Space Gal and I, and overheard not one, but two conversations talking about the Classic and the terrific race that was. Not only did the ratings triple versus the 2009 edition, but people continue to talk about that awesome stretch run by the great Zenyatta. It truly was a thing of beauty. I actually said to the Space Gal..."holy sh!t she's gonna win," during her dramatic drive to reach the wire ahead of the solid and steady Blame. As Patrick eloquently stated in yesterday's Paulick-worthy post, we saw a gear we've never seen before....and what a gear it was.

Horse of the Year, you say is the next debate. Quibble away pundits....I'll go back to reading the latest AJ Jacobs novel (hilarious, by the way) I really couldn't be bothered. Then again, MLB's Golden Gloves were awarded yesterday and I ignored those, too. I'd rather get excited about the Cigar Mile and the Clark Handicap, thank you very much.

One thing that's kind of been lost through this whole, Queen Z thingy, is that one Garret Gomez, got the monkey off his back. Well, maybe not the Derby monkey, but a large chimpanzee. He won a big one, and he beat back Martin Garcia and Lookin at Lucky in the stretch, the mount he was taken off of after the Run for the Roses. I say big congrats to GoGo...it must feel great. A few weeks prior he was feuding with trainer Michael Maker when he refused to mount a horse that just didn't seem right. I obviously don't know all of the facts, but I have new found respect for Gomez, and am really happy he finally got that big W. I've always been a GoGo fan back to my first Derby visit in 2006....a TC race is next....

Wonder if Workforce had a nice flight home? Hope he didn't pay for the expedited passport...

I'd rather peeps (and tweeps) would start talking about her trying Dubai in March (on the synth!)...now that would be a decent discussion. No retirement announcement yet....I can see Jerry do a little globetrottin' with the Big Z...you'd turn the Middle East upside down....

C'mon J-Moss....turn on the red light...

Fear the Calvin

Tweet When you think of horse racing, that is, if you're part of the casual viewing public, you think of bluebloods, prim and proper dress and pomp and circumstance. That all went out the window yesterday when an incensed Calvin Borel, jockey of three of the last four Kentucky Derbys, had a Bobby Flay Throwdown with Javier Castellano in the winner's circle. I guess any publicity is good publicity and I assume it is making headlines across the country today, not to mention every ESPN Sports Center lead-in.

Jockey Julien Leparoux was asked on his twitter account how the mood in the jockeys room was after the fight. He replied "it was ok after 20 min. Everybody calm down, and the rest day went well. The good thing is nobody got hurt. Anyway it was great races today, hopefully tomorrow will be as good or better."

The day continued to get stranger with an objection in the next race, which also included an incorrect gate load prior to the race. Then, culminating with the strange non-scratch of my pick, Life at Ten, who certainly wasn't right before the Ladies' Classic. As the announcers on ESPN were capably noting Life at Ten's stiffness and issues during the post parade, the track vet or stewards did not gate scratch her.

I quickly cancelled all of my bets on her, and switched in Malibu Prayer instead of Unrivaled Belle in the heat of the moment. That's why they call it gambling, folks. Jockey John Velasquez said this about Life at Ten, “She seemed okay. She felt okay. I don’t know. She didn’t feel like running today. She never put in any effort whatsoever. I tried to warm her up and wake her up, and she just never felt like running.” Trainer Todd Pletcher tried to explain that it possibly was an allergic reaction to Lasix medication.

On call veternarian Larry Bramlage released this statement regarding Life at Ten: "Life At Ten, along with all of the other horses that started in the Ladies’ Classic, was observed on the track prior to entering the starting gate by three veterinarians. The vet team did not observe any physical problems. She was examined again after the race and again no physical problems were observed. A more in-depth examination will be conducted this evening and tomorrow."

My Saturday selections for the Juvenile, Turf, Mile and Classic in The Buffalo News are located here.

I cashed one ticket yesterday, a $2 saver win bet on More Than Real, Bobby Flay's horse that paid $29.20. Midday's loss flamed out a decent P3 I had rolling with Dubai Majesty and Awesome Feather in the first two legs. The TwinSpires Players' Pool crapped out in the Pick 6 in the last two races on a $33K ticket, the good thing is they have about $110K left to play with today. The Pick 6 carryover is over $817K, so we'll be watching our investment in that Pool closely.

Quick Picks in the other BC races:

Juvenile Turf:

1 - Banned, 2 - Master of Hounds, 3 - Madman Diaries

Sprint: 1 - Smiling Tiger, 2 - Girolamo, 3 - Big Drama

Turf Sprint: 1 - Chamberlain Bridge, 2 - Rose Catherine, 3 - Stradivinsky

Dirt Mile: 1 - Tizway, 2 - Vineyard Haven, 3 - Thiskyhasnolimit

Good luck and let's cash some tickets!

Breeders' Cup News and Notes

Tweet Some news and notes before I head out to meet the boys at Wehrle OTB for Filly Friday.

- Hoping it's not Filet Friday, but sticking by my guns. I tried to go with my gut and not be distracted by what others had to say.

- First print article in The Buffalo News can be found here (and on Page B6!!)

- My Filly Friday prognostications for the The News' Sports, Ink blog are here and Saturday's should be up later today.

- I contributed to Steve Munday's Locks and Bombs post yesterday....cool idea.

- 10 members of the TBA have posts up at ThoroFan's Handicappers' Corner, be sure to check them out.

- Rightly So has scratched out of the Filly & Mare Sprint....oh well.

- I made a couple spot plays in the Jockey Bet with the Space Gal's favorite Javier Castellano (16-1 with an hour left) and my favorite jock, Johnny V (9-1). The Field looks to be the smart bet, but there's not much value at 3/5 at the moment.

- Still no word on whether the Arc winner will run in the BC Turf tomorrow. “Right after training, we’re going to give it a short (three minutes) shot of water, because of the wind, just to make sure that it’s not drying out,” Breeders' Cup Turf Consultant Peterson told trainer Michael Stoute. Peterson also stated that there was a 40 percent chance of rain in the forecast, so they were not going to water ahead of that. “We are still concerned about the ground and what the weather will do,” Stoute said. “Obviously there are concerns with a big heavy horse like him. The added problem is moisture evaporation with this wind. “We’ll play for time, and make a decision in the morning, and obviously we’ll talk to Ryan after he rides on the course today.”

Good luck everyone.

Alphabet Soup for the BC

Tweet
















A is for Avioli, the BC's Big Cheese
B is for Baffert, there's no better quote
C is for Churchill, the 7th time's a charm
D is for Drama, I think he' ll run Big
E is for E Train....make sure you hop aboard
F is for Frankel, we'll miss him this weekend
G is for Goldi vs. Gio, a BC Mile dream matchup
H is for Hot Cha Cha (only cuz I like to say it)
I is for International, the BC's best scenario
J is for JuLep, a newbie jock tweeter
K is for Kentucky, the great bluegrass state
L is for Lucky, ready to roll 7's
M is for Moolah (as in lots to be made)
N is for Night Racing, to be unveiled in the Distaff
O is for Oliver Peslier, who we see but once a year
P is for Pletcher whose loaded for bear
Q is for Quality Road, stuck on the rail
R is for Risk (without it there's no Reward)
S is for Stay Thirsty and drink lots of fluids
T is for Twenty (as in wins in a row)
U is for Uncle, who comes in with lots of Mo
V is for the 'Ville, it's my kinda town
W is for Win & You're In, a qualifier of sorts
X is for horses thrown out of your monster Pick 4
Y is for Yellow (which goes well with purple)
Z is for Zenyatta.....best of the century?

Got Woof?

Tweet It's Breeders' Cup draw day in Louisville and 168 horses have obtained a spot in the starting gates for the two-day world championships. Some notes and quotes about the draw:

BC Classic

- Lookin at Lucky (6-1 ML) drew the outside post (12) in the Classic, the complete opposite of his horrid rail draw in the Derby. Although this was the cause of his second place finish in last year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita when he was in gate 13, I don't seem to think this will be as much trouble with the extra eighth of a mile. Even his trainer Bob Baffert seemed somewhat relieved: "It’s not that horrible, it’s not the end of the world. I’m just glad he’s out of the one-hole."

- Quality Road (5-1 ML) drew the rail, not the best place to be, but I think the fact that Paddy O'Prado is inside of him and Haynesfield will probably shoot to the lead from the three hole shouldn't be too much of an issue for the Road. If the track is souped up on Saturday (probably not says the conspiracy theorist in me) look out for this one who has been flying under the radar since his loss to Blame at the wire in the Whitney. Remember the Saratoga track was deep and tiring for most of the summer. If the track resembles anything like Gulfstream's speedway in the earlier races on Saturday, I'll be taking note with my bankroll.

- Zenyatta (8-5 ML favorite) drew the eight hole and the BC hype machine is rolling. Her every move being glorified. It seems like everyone in Louisville wants her to win. Don't get me wrong, I love her, but let's not go overboard. There's still a race to be won. Owner Jerry Moss liked the draw: “That is excellent. Eight is our lucky number. We’re very happy to be here. If we didn’t think she was up to the task, we wouldn’t have brought her.”

BC Juvie

- Boys at Tosconova (5-2 ML) drew the two hole and has Ramon Dominguez aboard. Rick Dutrow has rested him since closing day at Saratoga where he won the Hopeful (G1). Will he be ready to roll? Dutrow thinks so: “He showed in the Hopeful he can sit behind horses and rate. He’s done everything we’ve asked and he’s ready. I’ve absolutely loved this horse from the first time I laid eyes on him. If Uncle Mo shows up with his best game we are going to be in for one hell of a show.”

- The Todd Squad Stay Thirsty (8-1) and Uncle Mo (7-5 ML favorite) will be right next to each other in the six and seven spots, respectively. Respect the "other Pletcher horse," which in this case is Stay Thirsty, with Javier Castellano aboard. The Bernardini colt finished secon to Boys at Tosconova by just under two lengths. I think I need to review the Turk's prep course for this race.

- The two SoCal horses have to be respected also, Jaycito (8-1 ML) and JP's Gusto (10-1 ML), who finished 1-2 in the Norfolk (G1) at Hollywood Park's Oak Tree meet. JP's trainer David Hofmans on the draw of the four spot: “We’re OK with it. I would have preferred the outside, but I’m just glad we’re not in the 1 or the 2.”

That's all for now....appears most of the trainers are woofing up their horses in the pre-race hype. I'll be hunkering down with the past performances for the next two nights and we'll post some picks later in the week. Also, keep an eye over on the Handicappers' Corner over at ThoroFan where most of the races will have a handicap by one of our TBA bloggers. So be sure to head over there and check it out.