Catching Up

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I've been neglecting the ole' Space blog this week, but there's been a lot going on so let's get to it, as there's lots to cover.

- First off, one item that had me preoccupied this week was setting up a Memorial Fund for Tiznow Reynolds, who passed away prematurely earlier in the week. The Fund was approved by the Board yesterday and a link at the ThoroFan site to make donations was up early this morning. Please consider donating to support the educational future of the 8-year old daughter he left behind.

- I have to give kudos to my fellow Board Members at ThoroFan for their compassion and thoughtfulness in letting me fast track this idea and get it live so quickly. We should have the PayPal option functional by Monday evening, so thanks for your patience.

- Lastly, before I move on to the weekend racing scene, I have to sincerely thank Stacy Berge, Director of Operations of the Thoroughbred Legends Stables, who helped guide me through the process, dealing with the family and sharing with me her vision for this Fund. It's amazing how our racing community comes together in times of sorrow and need.

- Well since last weekend, my Bills and Orange keep winning (*knocks on nearest piece of wood*) and the town here is pretty alive. There's lots of football to be played though, so no need to get overly excited. They are the Bills, you know.

- I've been betting fairly lightly lately, making only one $2 bet (on Hansen) last weekend, securing my free PP's from TwinSpires. I focused most of my efforts on the Equibase Handicapping contest, where for the first time ever I picked winners in the first three contest races. Of course, I dropped quicker than a prom dress the rest of the way and finished in the mid 300s. This week's contest features races from Belmont and Santa Anita, so game on.

- I also test drove Horse Racing Nation's new Derby Wars contest site. More on this to come in a future post. Although I can say that it was a positive experience.

- My Friday News post is up over at the Sports, Ink blog, in case you missed it.

- Is it Catsup or Ketchup? These are things I'd like to know.

- Trying to figure out what to do for Super Saturday tomorrow. I didn't make the trip to Big Sandy due to a wedding tomorrow evening, but some live (or tape delay) blogging could be on tap. Maybe even a nostalgic trip over to the Wehrle OTB for old times sake is in the cards.

- The card seems kinda chalky, but man, those are usually the days where funky stuff happens and a four figure Pick-4 results. I think I'll go deeper in the JCGC than in any other race playing Rodman, Stay Thirsty, Flat Out and Drosselmeyer (horse for course) in the final leg. Although if it's wet I may narrow it down as Stay Thirsty thrived in the slop on Belmont day.

- Speaking of Super Saturday, my advance for the print edition for the News will be in tomorrow's paper. Glad I left Big Drama (who scratched late today) off my selections where I took a capsule look at the late guaranteed $500K Pick 4.

- Very impressive victory by Hansen last weekend at Turfway in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile...a certain horse named Animal Kingdom won at Turfway last year, too.  Hmm.

- Ok, it is time to do some cappin' before we get after it tomorrow afternoon. Best of luck at the windows tomorrow and thanks always, for reading.

Equinoctial Ramblings

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I'm one who likes to mark the passage of time or a play on numbers and dates here at the Space blog and today is no different. The autumnal equinox is upon us and when summer officially turns into fall you can count on a post that signals that championship racing is not far off...so let's get ready to ramble!

- The new NTRA social media chief seems to be making an impact. The tweets coming out @NTRA and the revamping of the NTRA Notebook are well, noteworthy. Check it out for yourself here.

- Is Super Saturday here yet?

- The Breeders' Cup wagering menu was released today and a new 50-cent Pick 5 was introduced on the first five races on both days. The 50-cent minimun will also be in place for trifectas, P-3's, P-4's and the new Pick 5 play.  A Ladies' Classic-Classic double will also be offered. Rolling Pick-3's throughout the card will continue to be the bet I most likely will be zoned in on.

- My next track invasion looks to be International Day up at Woodbine, really looking forward to a great day of turf racing up in Rexdale.

- Speaking of Canada, conditioner Mike dePaulo will be attempting to strike in the Grade 2 $1M Pennsylvania Derby with Pender Harbour, winner of the final two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. Luis Contreras, who has been killing it at WO, will get the nod again on the 3-year old champ. His ML odds are 12-1, and I wouldn't count him out too quickly.

- Congrats to my fellow Buffalonian, The Turk and Little Turk, on his 3-year blog anniversary. The dude can flat out handicap and if spend some time reading his mantras and philosophies on playin' the ponies, you will come out of it much more knowledgeable then when you went in.

- I love Good n' Plentys, it's my candy of choice, especially when writing.

- Heading to Happy Valley this weekend, with a possible detour to Beaver Stadium for the Eastern Michigan game and my annual thrill of the scalp on College Avenue. The Toga Party champ has given me the green light with the appropriate chaperone.

- Nice to see the Kentucky Cup races return this year and not lose their graded status after not being run last year. Turfway Park will host five Cup races on Saturday, three of which are graded.

- Missing the Pats game this weekend due to the family trip, but will be tuned in on Sunday's ride back...check out this photo from the pre-game last weekend...not too shabby for a photo hack...

- Two weeks to Keeneland and the first Saturday of racing will be featured on NBC!

- My Friday News post is up at the Sports, Ink blog which discusses the new Fan Council created by the NYS Racing and Wagering Board and where to provide input for fan and horseplayer issues.

Have a great weekend and best of luck at the windows.

Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Matey

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So the Bills are 2-0, the Cuse is moving to the ACC and today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.  All is good in the world.

So in that order, let's discuss the Twilight Zone in which I live in. Is it ironic that the Bills came back to beat a team named the Raiders, on the eve of Int'l Talk Like a Pirate Day? It's harrrrrrd not to believe it. Seriously, that was one of the most exciting football games I've ever attended. The Ralph was jumping like we were back in the late 80s/early 90s. Let's hope the magic continues. The Evil Empire is up next. I think the Space Gal injured herself in a celebration of the next to last touchdown by Stevie Johnson, it's rough being a NFL spectator.

As for the Cuse going to the ACC...I'm actually pretty excited about it. The basketball will be spectacular and gives me even more reason to hate Duke. The lacrosse league is going to be pretty awesome too with Duke, UNC, Virginia and Maryland competing with the Orange on an annual basis. The Big East wasn't a very strong football conference, so that appears to be more of a lateral move, although Miami and Florida State can still bring it.

As far as my favorite holiday...I'll toss a few jokes out there as I do every year on this date, courtesy of the twitter account @piratejokes.

Q: Where do pirates eat fast food?
A: Arrrrrrrrrby's

Q: What do you call a good looking priate girl?
A: Aye Candy

Q: What did Black Beard say to his men before they got on the ship?
A: Let's get on the ship, men! 
(that's my favorite one this year)

Q: Why didn't the pirate cross the road?
A: Because it was made of tarrrr.

Ok, that's enough.

If you're playing some pirate hunch bets today...make sure you consider these:

DEL7  #9 Going for Gold
KD5    #1A Wayward Sailor
KD6    #4 Ninety Schillings
FL1     #2 Hooked On Money
MNR1 #1 Swarr
SUF5  #10 Captain Wood
THD6  #3 Sea Dancer
THD8  #5 Raging Sea
FE2     #2 Buffalo Storm

Have a great day, mateys.

Bucket Listing

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It's been awhile since I've done one of my patented lists, so I figured since we have a bit of a lull in the action within the racing world that I'd share some racing (and non-racing) bucket list fodder with you.

About a year and a half ago I shared by track visit wish list, and in the past 18 months have only managed to knock off 2 tracks (Finger Lakes and Pimlico - live). Not a very good showing by yours truly. The problem is that all of my travel was confined to the Triple Crown, Woodbine and Saratoga, so I've been remiss in tackling some of the tracks on my wish list.

But this bucket list won't just be visits, it'll be other stuff that's racing related and then for those interested we'll venture onto the personal list, which of course, has a bit of a sporting twist to it...

I did knock off a couple this year, notably (a) be part of a winners circle win photo, (b) complete personal Triple Crown in one year, (c) attend a racing Hall of Fame Ceremony and (d) guest co-host of simulcast program (at Fort Erie).

Racing Bucket List

1. Visit Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The difficulty in this one is that it runs during the Saratoga meet and that's it's clear across the country. This one is gonna happen one of these years. San Diego is too nice to pass up and it would probably show up there, but who wants duplicative lists?

2. Attend the Arlington Million. I love turf racing and hear how awesome the track facility is. I have blogger friends who could also show me a good time.

3. Hit the Derby Trifecta. Have come close a few times (last three years) hitting 2 of the 3 spots...this one is one I really want. Better yet, would love to call it cold in the paper.

4. Write a racing book for the non-racing fan. I have some thoughts here about a humorous "How to" book about horse racing. Hoping to sell more than 10 copies.

5. Wear a top hat at Royal Ascot. Those bad boys are sweet.

6. Attend one of the thoroughbred auction sales (preferably at Keeneland). It's something I've never attended and everyone says it's the place to be.

7. Qualify for the NHC Handicapping Tournament in Vegas. Haven't been too serious in my attempts, mainly the on-line free contests and survival contests. Will need to devote some bankroll one of these years and bear down and attempt to do it.

8. Attend the Eclipse Awards. I own a tuxedo, I could probably get a credential. January in a warm place? Listen to Kenny Rice bad jokes? I'm in. (Waiting for the snoozefest comments....fire away).

That's it for my racing bucket list for now...on to my personal non-racing (non-family related) short list....of course I'd love to have the Space Gal do them all with me...

1. Watch the Bills win a Super Bowl. Spoiled in the early 90s, it's been all famine since. Seriously teased last Sunday by the huge win at KC. (I'd even take a win over Tom Brady as honorable mention).

2. Watch the Sabres carry the Cup around First Niagara Center (formerly known as HSBC Arena). This could very easily be #1A, coupled entry.

3. Try Surfing. Really. I'd even wear one of those beach necklaces with a turquoise stone in the middle.

4. Attend games at Wrigley and Fenway. Two iconic parks I've never stepped inside of. I've got Notre Dame Stadium in the books already, but these two ballparks are beckoning.

5. Attend a NBA Final. Other than a Super Bowl, I've been to most major championships, would love to see an NBA Final, preferably in LA (not that I like either LA team).

6. Play a Round at Augusta. Who wouldn't want to take a shot at Amen Corner. I haven't played much golf over the past few years, but that would be one course that would be bucket-list worthy.

7. Beer Taster for a day at the Heineken Plant in the Netherlands. Quality control is right up my alley.

8. Attend a World Cup USA Soccer Game. The South Africa World Cup hooked me. I feel some allegiance to another non-mainstream sport that gets its moment in the sun every four years.

What's on your bucket list?

O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

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Charismatic on ESPN Films Schedule - October 18

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Looks like the Charismatic documentary is a go. I'm not sure how I missed this, but back at the end of July, ESPN Films released their schedule for a number of new films (7) that will be released this fall.

Originally scheduled as part of the "30 for 30" series, various issues postponed and ultimately moved if off of the schedule. I emailed the 30 for 30 folks last October and reported their reply in my "What Happened?" post that the documentary would be a future ESPN Films production, so what do you know.

The Steve Michaels documentary is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1 [Update: Changed to October 18] at 8 p.m!  The film summary as listed at the ESPN site is as follows:

"In June of 1999 an unlikely colt named Charismatic, with down and out jockey Chris Antley aboard, headed down the stretch at the Belmont Stakes, just seconds away from becoming the first Triple Crown winner in nearly 21 years. Thoroughbred racing was desperate for this story of deliverance as track attendance was in steep decline. Into this void stepped Charismatic and Antley, both thought to be lost causes. Together, they became the biggest long shots in 59 years to win the Kentucky Derby, and then followed up with another underdog win at the Preakness, before tragedy struck."

Giddyup.

Guest Post: Toga Party IV Winner - The Space Gal

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Sometimes a blind squirrel finds a nut. Sometimes you step in the mud and pull out a twenty dollar bill. Sometimes lucky is good. Sometimes you smile and nod. This is one of those times.

As promised in yesterday's announcement of the Toga Party IV winner, in exchange for passing up the grand prize, she elected to write a guest post summing up the victory and how she trounced yours truly and all of her contest secrets.

I've let her have the helm just once before and she did not disappoint....back in June 2008, when we had a brush with a certain prince in Saratoga.

Kudos to the Space Gal.  Not only did she defeat me, but 10 other bloggers, two handicappers from Buffalo and Albany, one horseplayer from Syracuse, one NYRA television personality, one horseman and my brother. Not too shabby.

Here is her guest post (and no that's not her real hair).....

Winner!  This is a yearly contest, right?  That means I get to gloat that I beat my husband for an entire YEAR??   My husband who sits for hours in the man cave watching every track in the country on the weekends?  My husband who has attended all of the major East Coast races for the last how many years?  My husband who gets paid to write racing columns and handicaps for the local paper?  That guy?  I beat him and I get to brag about it for an entire year?  Wooooooo hoooooo!!!

I guess all of my preparation and hard work really paid off.  And because I’m pretty much an open book, I’m willing to share all of my secrets.  I know I should be saving them for my book “The Space Gal’s Guide to Handicapping,” but I still have some more tricks up my sleeve that I’m saving for that New York Times Best Seller.

So here’s how I did it.  I googled last year’s statistics… and then picked numbers close to that.  Basically, I was under the gun, had NO idea what even the ballpark answers were and didn’t want to make a fool out of myself.  I mean, opening day attendance??  I have no idea!  Guess, guess and guess again.

Todd Pletcher is my not-so-secret trainer crush so of course I picked him for Leading Trainer.  Johnny V was nice to me at the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund calendar signing on Belmont Stakes Day, so I picked him for Leading Jockey.  I picked “Tizway” because I like going to the restaurant “Tiznow” in Saratoga.  And “Stay Thirsty” who gave me 2 points, I picked him because I remember my husband talking about him a lot.  I thought maybe he had won a time or two in the past.

 

There you have it.  That’s it.  That’s my BIG strategy.  Now you know my secrets.  I should probably add that I do know how to read the Form.  But now that I have two Space Munchkins, I just don’t have the time to read it like I used to.  Plus, I never won anyway.  So, I’d like to accept this first prize on behalf of Google and Todd Pletcher’s hair.  Without them, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to tease my husband relentlessly for an entire year.  Thank you.

[Editor's Note: We'll get back to the regularly scheduled blog in a few days, once I get over this.]

Space Gal Takes Down Toga Party IV

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In the "I'll never hear the end of it" department, this one takes the cake.

My lovely wife (aka The Space Gal) took down Toga Party IV leaving no prisoners capturing six of the 15 possible points with her nearest competitors only having four points to show for themselves.

She did it the old fashioned way by nailing three of the five stakes races (two by Stay Thirsty), added Pletcher/Velazquez (pretty much gimmes) and missing the jockey wins by 1. Overall very impressive. She decided to pass accepting the top prize (a handicapping book of her choice or a Bills game in December) since she has access to both and decided that she wanted her own guest blog to share some of her contest secrets for earning the victory. I'm betting most of it is from hanging around me or osmosis since we share pillows at night....she may beg to differ though.

Second place ended in a tie between me (damn that Castellano) and 2009 champion Saratoga Spa, both of us garnering 4 wins buoyed by the 8/8/11 win by one #8 horse (it's a lock every year).

Some of this year's notable contest feats:
- Kennedy nailed the trainer wins on the nose with 38.
- Tencentcielo was the only one to select Royal Delta in the Alabama
- The Space Gal was the lone backer of Stay Thirsty in the Travers
- Josh of Polish Numbers missed the $2 Woodward exacta by a buck.
- Yours truly guessed the opening day attendance within 30 peeps.

I hope everyone enjoyed the ride, it was a fun contest to keep an eye on again this year with record participation. I thank all of you for taking the time to participate and look forward to next year.

I think I am going to tweak a couple of items. If you nail any of the numerical items (other than the #8 horse) I'm going to double the points. In addition, I think I'll make the leading jockey earner's dollar amount the tie-breaker. If you have any other thoughts feel free to let me know in the comments.

Thanks again and look for the (unedited) winner's guest blog in this spot tomorrow.