Wait til Next Year

Tweet Well I gave it the ole' college try yesterday in the BRIS/Twin Spires Club contest. Gave it my best swing. Can still look myself in the mirror. Yep, you guessed it, wait til next year space fans...

I was going to post a picture of Scott Norwood based on the events earlier in the week at One Bills Drive, but hey it's not the end of the world as we know it (as it was that January evening in 1990).

I broke well out of the gate winning the first two races from Churchill (Races 3 and 4) picking Montalvo ($13/$4.40) and No Image ($3.80/$2.80). The $24.00 bankroll total propelling me to vault to the top of the leaderboard (first time that's ever happened - stop the contest!). The third of eight mandatory races was from the Fair Grounds (a place I admittedly have little experience handicapping) and I picked Kim's Gem (8-1 ML, 5-1 at post time) who finished dead last. Good bye leaderboard, it was nice knowin ya.

The next race was the killer, again from Churchill. I was between two horses, I really liked Master Mizzen (7/2 ML, 4.1 post odds), but also had Barastraight (6-1 ML, 6.5 at post) highlighted during my Friday night analysis based on his shortening up to a mile for the first time in a number of races (an angle I like to play). But with Leparoux up and a win at a mile two back, I went with Master Mizzen. Barastraight held off a charging Master Mizzen in a photo at the wire, where he made a thundering late run at the leader. This added $5.80 to my bankroll, instead of the $22.40 from Barastraight, ugh. Up to $29.80 after four races, not bad, but coulda woulda shoulda at this point. The next two races were from Calder (another track I rarely play - although I used it in September at Sunset Station in several non-mandatory plays) where I went with the ML favorite Cinnamon Road (odds 3.7 at post) and Hey Byrn (8-1ML, odds 4.7 at post) in races 9 and 11, respectively. Cinnamon Road led throughout his race, but tired in the stretch to fifth, and Hey Byrn was right there for most of the race, rating nicely, but had nothing to make a late run at How's Your Halo and Golden Spikes, finishing fourth. I really thought he had the most class in the race and would be there at least in the top two, alas two races to go.

I felt I could still make some noise with my entry in the 10th at CD, but he scratched, a Smarty Jones firster (Smart Attire), who would have been a big number. He had some very impressive works over the past two weeks and thought a late big longshot strike might be needed on my scorecard. So I was relegated to my alternate, Oceanage, who had the lead at the top of the stretch, but again like some of my other contenders, faded to third. I finished on a high note as Union Strike ($7.20, $4.20), won the final contest race at the Fair Grounds in an impressive performance as the second choice. I finished the day with $41.20 (ROI $2.58) in 92nd place with the winner at $76.80 (and third place at $69.80), a mere $35.60 (and $28.60 from a qualifying spot) away. All in all respectable, picking 3 winners (37%) and a runner-up, but just not getting it done. Looking forward to trying again next year, maybe even in a couple more in-person events.

Well a little good football news surfaced here in Buffalo, all while the tundra continues to freeze, as the University of Buffalo football team coached by former Nebraska QB Turner Gill beat Bowling Green on Friday night to qualify for its first bowl game since the 1958 Tangerine Bowl. Interesting note on that was that they declined to appear in the '58 bowl game when the hosts said UB's two black players wouldn't be allowed on the field. Ironically, UB is currently the only Div I program in the country with a black AD (Warde Manuel - hired away from Michigan), a black football coach, and a black basketball coach (Reggie Witherspoon - another super guy with local ties). Hopefully this year's team can take this opportunity to make a statement on the 50 year anniversary of the rascist snub that occurred in Orlando.

Back to your regularly scheduled racing blog, Aqueduct's feature today, the $65K Itaka Stakes, going one mile, features Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck, (who finished in 17th in the Derby for trainer Barclay Tagg), Preakness show horse Ichabad Crane and the ML favorite Stormin Normandy for Dick Dutrow with Edgar Prado in the irons. Gary Contessa enters an interesting longshot play Finger Lakes shipper (20%) South Fourth St. just off the claim (22%) with Javier taking over for the first time. This looks to be a super race and will be on the Space Den radar screen later today.

Enjoy your Sunday. *searching for Cubs hat*

On to Neverland

Tweet The big race this weekend is the G2 Peter Pan Stakes, to be run Saturday at venerable Belmont Park. It's shaping up to be quite the race and a prep for the final jewel of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes in early June. Tomcito, the Peruvian wonderhorse, will be running from post 2 for the first time back on dirt since he finished 3rd behind Big Brown in the Florida Derby and after failing to qualify for the Kentucky Derby with his showing in the Coolmore Lexington. I've said in previous posts that he is more suited for the longer races and his connections now have him heavily pointed towards the Belmont. Also pointed in that direction is the Japanese horse, Casino Drive. One of the threats to steal Big Brown's Crown away from him in four weeks (with an extra week's rest). The Drive was shipped over last month from Japan all eyes pointed to June 7th. He is a three-quarter brother to Rags to Riches and half brother to Jazil, the past two winners of the Belmont. His sire is Mineshaft, also the sire to Derby starter Cool Coal Man and his dam is Better than Honour. Other interesting starters on Saturday are Deputyville, a Contessa trainee, who comes out of the Federico Tesio stakes, third to Ichabad Crane and behind Mint Lane (who is in post 3) and Todd Pletcher's Ready's Echo, who lost his first two year old race at the Spa last summer to Derby starter Z Humor and then broke his maiden at Gulfstream in March. The other major horse who I like a lot is Golden Spikes, who ran second to Recapturetheglory in the Illinois Derby after finishing fifth in the Fountain of Youth. This race is loaded with talent and the top contenders should be looking at being the spoilers come June.

ESPN is reporting today that the Jockey Club announced the formation of a new safety committee to study equine health, including track safety and the rules of racing. Dr. Larry Bramlage, the vet on the scene at the Derby, will be one of the committee members. Here's another interesting article from, of all places, the Winnepeg Sun, with some special quotes from the illustrious Dick Dutrow. Geez, Dick if he wins the Triple Crown, are you saying you won't be running him at Santa Anita on Breeder's Cup Day? Really?