Heidi Game Flashback

Tweet It wasn't exactly the Heidi Game today in the Space Station, but close. I had blogged last evening about the deft clicking ability that would be necessary to navigate the five races between 5 and 6pm. One would have to deftly weave between NBC, TVG, HRTV and MSG+ to see all five races running during the dinner hour. All was well with Keeneland on TVG to see Stardom Bound get upset in the Ashland (G1) by Foolish Pleasure favorite Hooh Why. That's when my afternoon went haywire.

I think Alex must have been sticking pins in his SpaceMan voodoo doll as I maneuvered the channel to NBC to see what Gary Stevens and Tom Hammond had to say, when I saw the dreaded words. Telethon for {Insert Local Charity here}. Horse racing preempted for all day telethon in Buffalo. Damn. I had no Plan B. So I decided to flip over to MSG+ to watch the Wood, found out it's not part of my DirecTV package (even though I have the special sports package...wtf?) I sent out a tweet for help. My nine year old was on the computer in the Space Den. "Umm DJ, could I interrupt your Club Penguin session to watch a race?" His reply, "Sure Dad, for ten bucks." The boy is well trained.

We watched the Illinois Derby (track was reported to be fair by a very good source) and Santa Anita Derby together (he's convinced he won the SA trifecta and that I'm supposed to pay him - now I owe him $27.70). At least it was a good bonding session and he learned a few things about investing in horses. Special thanks to Alan H. who sent me a text on the goings on of the Wood after he saw my tweet of despair.

Not only did my TV session of racing nirvana get totally screwed up, but The Pamplemousse scratches and Imperial Council's got nothing in the tank, both horses in my futuracta box from Future Pool 2. About the only thing that went well today was that I wasn't wagering and that I think I scored pretty well in the R2R game. Two firsts (PoTN and Capt Candyman Can) and two seconds (West Side Bernie and Chocolate Candy) and Gomez/Baffert with Pioneer. With five horses available for selection on Monday, I can concentrate on the Blue Grass, Arkansas and Lexington with three horses and pick up two majors for the Derby.

I did watch the race replays tonight and was very impressed with Joe Talamo's ride on I Want Revenge. It looks like the Wienermobile will be making its way to Louisville, but a new driver will be navigating (Mullins).

Nothing better than Chocolate on V-Day

Tweet I have the best wife ever. She knows the way to my heart....she gave me the commemorative Kentucky Derby 135 glasses (see inset) and this year's super cool Kentucky Festival poster for the big day this year. Add in a little April trip to Keeneland after tax season and wah-lah...wife of the year honors are hers.

How good is it that EquiSpace R2R stable homeboy Chocolate Candy wins on Valentine's Day at Golden Gate Fields in the El Camino (G3) at 9 furlongs! He's a son of Candy Ride out of Seattle Slew mare Crownette who padded his graded stakes earnings in his shot at a starting gate on the First Saturday in May. I've had the watch on him ever since his 3rd place showing in the Cash Call Futurity at Hollywood where he closed late after being four wide on the turn to finish only 1 1/2 lengths behind Pioneerof the Nile and 1/2 length behind I Want Revenge. The last time a Derby threat emerged from this race was 1996 winner Cavonnier, who finished second in that year's Derby to Grindstone. Of course, Candy's future odds have dipped to 28-1, wherein they were north of 50-1 yesterday.

Speaking of futures, we'll take a look later this afternoon before 6pm to see if anything whets my taste. It's probably too early and risky at this juncture, but a couple $2 fliers may be in order. Big Drama, Candy and West Side Bernie are sentimental picks that if they stay upwards to 40-1 or so, it may be worth a shot.

Only watched three races live yesterday due to work and visiting in-laws, but was able to see the Sam F. Davis and watched by Public Handicapper selection AP Cardinal go out in fast fractions only to back up in the stretch. Ugh. It was one of those races I wished I had watched some earlier races, as they showed General Quarters last two races on TVG, both my father-in-law and I both said, wow that horse was closing fast at a shorter distance. Sometimes it pays to do your homework. I liked Cardinal's pedigree and the way he looked to be moving forward in his training. Oh well, he's not the first AP colt that's burned me.

Took a tough beat in the Hallandale Beach with Lime Rickey, who was closing fast but ran out of track. Lastly my Santa Maria Handicap selection Visit finished sixth as the favorite. She had never run on the fake stuff (rookie mistake), I was a little too trusting in Frankel's instincts, although Gomez looked to get boxed in and couldn't rally from the back of the pack.

Today it's off to frame shop to pick up a copy of the super cool lifesize poster collage of Curlin, sent to me by big Curlin Libby, who presented a similar copy to the Jacksons. It includes two blog posts, one by Kevin of Aspiring Horseplayer and yours truly, numerous action pictures of Curlin, tons of fans signatures and notes from Curlin fans. I have a special spot for it on the wall in my office that's been bare for a couple weeks....thanks again Libby for including me in that special tribute.

Another Big Contender

Tweet I watched the Jackpot last night on Twinspires TV and Big Drama ($9.80) held off a closing West Side Bernie (my first two choices) at the wire to take home the $450K first place money and virtually assure him of a berth in the gate at Churchill Downs in May. Looks like we have another Big contender on our hand, and not the Big Truck version. Isn't it fitting that his last name is Drama, exactly what we need in our sport and it should make some good headlines! Terrain faded in the stretch and wrecked my predicted trifecta and finished a disappointing fifth as the favorite.

Happy Birthday to fellow Western New Yorker The Turk who should also be basking in the following news:

Congrats to the MAC Champion University at Buffalo Bulls. They pulled a monster upset last night on ESPN2 against 12th ranked (in the country and the BCS) Ball State Cardinals in the MAC championship game in Detroit. It's not too often the words Buffalo and championship are used in the same sentence. A couple defensive touchdowns sparked Turner Gill's boys to a major victory for a school and town that has been craving a winner, and rendered Coach Gill speechless post-game. I was trading some Facebook posts with Las Vegas Review-Journal handicapper Richard Eng (author of Betting on Horse Racing for Dummies) who was publicly touting laying the 16 points. I warned him that UB was for real, but to no avail. It appears UB will be headed to the International Bowl, just up the QEW in the Rogers Centre (f/k/a the SkyDome) where the Space Gal and I are headed tomorrow - yeah call us traitors - for the Dolphins game.

In TBA news, a belated welcome to new member The Thoroughmetrics Blog, where statistical research is king. We've also started to Twitter (see tab on left), a new phenomenon (not really, but it sounds good) where streams of consciousness can be shared via web or mobile device. A tab at the TBA homepage shows those of us who are tweeting and twittering....I'm a little late to the party, but will give it a shot, and if Shaq can do it, so can I.

Saturday stakes selections:

Display Stakes (Woodbine): Bear's Rocket (update, 4th)

My Charmer (Turfway): Kiss with a Twist (update: 1st, $6.40 win)

Tropical Turf (Calder): Spice Route (update: 1st, $8.00 win)

Native Diver (Hollywood): Past the Point (update: 2nd, $3.40 place)

Hollywood Turf Club (Hollywood): Church Service (update, 3rd, $3.40 show)

Have a great weekend....will be tweeting from the Rogers Centre and the Great White North tomorrow.

West Side Story

Tweet He was my colt in the Juvie, but had a rough trip from the 12 hole and finished a decent 6th only 3 lengths behind Midshipman and 3/4 lengths behind 4th place finisher Terrain. So I am stickin' with my boy, West Side Bernie (surely the kiss of death), in the Jackpot tomorrow night. It's scheduled to go off around 10:17 EST as race 8 as I previewed on Tuesday. I'm not sure what has me jazzed up about this race, but I can't wait to check it out. Maybe it's that the Derby trail is starting to kick up or maybe it's that not too much exciting is going on right now, but I am super charged about a couple of my early Derby horses going head to head down yonder. There's some real speed in here (Trinity Magic scares the hell outta me) that could set this one up nicely to kick off the weekend for Bernie (nyuk nyuk). I also think Big Drama is going to be in the picture, with Eibar taking a ride down south to join the boys down in the bayou for this one on Big Drama. We could use another Big horse on the Derby trail, couldn't we, especially one named Drama!

Skipadate tries dirt for the first time in five starts, he has an impressive placing behind Bittel Road in a non-graded stake at the Spa in August and trainer Mark Casse must think this is a good spot for him after a dismal 11th place finish in the BC Juvie Turf race at Oak Tree.

So based on what I think will be a decent pace scenario I'm going with the following in a trifecta box (predicted order of finish below):

1- West Side Bernie
2- Big Drama
3 - Terrain

For free PP's for the race, check out the TBA homepage and click on the link under the Stakes PP's heading.

Top Chef update (Timeout from racing, those not interested, thanks for reading)

I'm not a big TV watcher and limit my reality TV to a show or two, but Top Chef has totally hooked me. Of course, we also gamble on it. We have a little five contestant Top Chef pool going with the Space Gal, the Saratoga Resident, yours truly and a couple fellow EC alums living in Toga and after 3 weeks we are all alive with our selected competitors. With the top pick I selected "Island" Gene (the Flyin' Hawaiian) who has been pretty much flyin under the radar. Fellow alum and defending champ A-Ron selected the Euro Fabio who looks to be the toughest competitor with a strong showing through 3 weeks (nice duck entree last night). The Space Gal in the third slot selected the other Euro, Stefan, who should crash and burn based on having the biggest head (ego) in the contest, although his huevos rancheros last night looked awesome in the quickfire challenge. Fellow alum Rusty went off the board with Hosea, who has started some romantic shiznit with Leah, which is never good in reality TV -land (see Tim in The Apprentice where the chick was his downfall - lost focus). Finally with the final draft selection the Toga Rez went with Jeffrey, a slick chef who has been in the bottom three and top three in consecutive weeks. He has leadership qualities, but has time management issues which should be his downfall. The Euros are strong, but their opinions and egos will ultimately get in the way. I'm with my namesake all the way......stay tuned. One interesting thing, last week's throwout made s'mores and lost, geez if you were one of fifteen top chefs in the country would you make s'mores on national tv??

Eureka!

Tweet Pondering the Derby trail while wondering how Plax's thigh is feeling and thanking the Big Guy (*pointing upward*) for the Jags' Matt Jones' second half performance last night leading me (and my silent partner) to the eighth and final playoff berth....Eureka!

Friday night the Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot Stakes (G3) gets it all rolling with a big fat purse of $750K ($450K to the winner) and graded stakes earnings credit, which should just about guarantee a starting gate at Churchill Downs come early next May. EquiSpace favorite (#4 Terrain) is looking for some Derby cred while he takes on another early favorite of mine, West Side Bernie (#5) over 1 1/16th on the dirt at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana. DD is a modest little racetrack which doesn't have much history, the Jackpot has been around since 2002 (ironically, the same year that the slot machines arrived). According to Horse Racing Coast to Coast: The Travelers Guide to the Sport of Kings, "in its first two weeks, gamblers fed the casino $7.9 million. This sum was so far beyond the projected figure that money-handling complications temporarily closed the doors." Holy cow, when does that happen! We're making too much money, let's close the doors! It appears the purse has come down as it was a $1M purse in the past and has been lowered to $750K for the 2008 edition.

Past winners of the Jackpot include Z Humor and Turf War (Dead Heat - 2007), Birdbirdistheword (2006) and Texcess (2004). 2005 Kentucky Derby runnerup at 71-1 Closing Argument, finished second in 2004 as another competitor in this race. The highest winning beyer was the initial 2002 winner Outta Here with a 98, followed by last year's dead heaters at 96. The 2005 race was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina.

Terrain and WSB join eight other entrants, including stakes winners Big Drama, Kick On, and Trinity Magic in one of the richest juvenile contests on the Road to the Roses trail. We'll look at the race a little closer in the coming days.

I'll leave you tonight with one of the challenges I deal with every day at work. It is one of the best quotes I have heard in a long time and of course, has absolutely nothing to do with horse racing....

"Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It separates us from the animals...except the weasel."

~Homer Simpson

Last Big Day of the Year

Tweet Ventura got things off to a resounding start on newfangled Filly Friday and Championship Weekend was underway. My pal JB called the Ventura victory in an email on Thursday and kudos to him. The Puma hit the triple and all I had was the measly exacta, but on the board positively off the first race. The rest of the day was fairly chalky on top but some longer odds horses placed (Sealy Hill at 49-1 in the Turf, Dream Empress at 13-1 in the Juvie and Heart Shaped at 11-1 in the Juvie Turf) screwed up all my exotics. A long 20 cent Superfecta win in the Classic cut some losses. But today is another day and the racing was very exciting.


My TBA selections ($2WPS contest) earned me $13.20 (pretty weak) with a placing (Indian Blessing) and two shows (Sky Diva and Music Note). Today's another day, just trying to avoid last place.


In the Thoroughbred Racing in NY Facebook group Caboose contest I had one dead laster (Bear Now). It's even harder to predict who will come in last than picking winners after trying that. So at dinner last night, the Space Gal (who petitioned to be called Space Vixen - which in the current in foal status got the big veto - for now) said she could probably do as well as me just speed-capping the races on Saturday morning. Well then. Challenge accepted. We are having our own inner circle contest and I'm willing to be humiliated and give her my blog for a day should she win the $2WP on seven races today. I'll stick with my TBA picks (other than the Mile where I'm jumping on Goldikova) and I'll post hers below mine.


Zenyatta sure did make her case for HOY with an awesome 10 length comeback win over the fillies in the 3H Classic. Watching on the Deuce in HD was pretty cool, except for some of the wild camera angles leaving me with no idea where they were on the track at times.


Pro-Ride Mile. Well Armed loves the Pro-Ride and Bobby Frankel has to be respected here. Lewis Michael could be the cream of the crop in here and is looking to redeem himself after last year's sloppy 5th place finish. My Pal Charlie is a favorite of mine and a sentimental pick only (not that anyone takes me seriously) and I'm hoping he handles the synth as this appears to be the right distance for him.

Selections: 1 - Well Armed, 2- Lewis Michael 3 - My Pal Charlie
Space Gal: Lewis Michael

Mile. Goldikova (IRE) has some Group 1 victories under her belt and takes on the boys, looks like a solid choice. Dick Dutrow has Kip Deville ready to roll coming off a poor effort in the Woodbine Mile. Whatsthescript (IRE) will bookend the Irish trifecta with Gomez in the irons. Have a Guinness and relax.

Selections: 1 - Goldikova, 2- Kip Deville, 3 - Whatsthescript
Space Gal: Kip Deville

So as I am writing this I'm seeing her selections for the first time (she had my Form for about an hour) and I'm thinking maybe this isn't such a good idea.....

Juvenile. I featured Munnings in a post last week and I'm sticking with him here. He has chased Vineyard Haven (not running) in his last two and he should be ready to fire (the 1 hole wasn't all bad yesterday - ask Zenyatta). West Side Bernie is my longshot play of the day, has some super works at OSA and a win over the poly at Turfway Park, maybe the bombs coming in second will continue. Midshipmen has matching Beyers coming into the race and has won or placed in his three races on the synth.

Selections: 1 - Munnings, 2 - West Side Bernie, 3 - Midshipmen
Space Gal: Terrain

Juvenile Turf. Bittel Road (4-1 ML) is undefeated and look for Pletcher/Velasquez to get on the board with a BC victory here. Skipadate has some nice speed figures and I like the grey to hit the board here at a nice price. Julien Leparoux is one of the best turf jocks in the land and Marylou's Ninth Client should complete the tri. Lastly, the Euros will make an impact on the turf today and Westphalia has to be respected and he should be considered underneath.

Selections: 1 - Bittel Road, 2 - Skipadate, 3 - Ninth Client
Space Gal: Ninth Client

Sprint. The Smart Strike gelding Fabulous Strike (7-2 ML) with Ramon up has some impressive speed figures is 7 for 11 at the distance and has some nice works under his belt. Street Boss (TBA's TVG Sprint division leader) should be the favorite at post time on his home track and is his second race off a layoff is poised for a super race. Fatal Bullet (the SG's 2nd choice as volunteered by her) romped on the poly over Turfway competition in her last outing, and will be stalking the pacesetters.

Selections: 1 - Fabulous Strike, 2 - Street Boss, 3 - Fatal Bullet
Space Gal: Street Boss

Turf. All Euro trifecta. Grand Couturier (GB) has been a monster of late and should be there at the wire. Toss up between Red Rocks (IRE) and Soldier of Fortune (IRE) underneath. Dead heat?

Selections: 1 - Grand Couturier (GB), 2 - Red Rocks (IRE), 3 - Soldier of Fortune (IRE)
Space Gal: Red Rocks

Open Classic. Looking for the improbable here. Is anyone sick of the phrase "Curlin versus the world?" It's up there with "5 dollah, 5 dollah, 5 dollah fooooot longgggg" in the annoying phrase category. Sorry, now you're probably saying this in your head now and you won't be able to get it out. My bad.

Selections: 1 - Go Between, 2 - Curlin, 3 - Colonel John
Space Gal: Curlin (she says she'd also drop a nickel on Tiago, not that she knows what that means)

Here's hoping Hank Goldberg doesn't have similar selections. Good luck and may they all come home safe today with the spotlight on.