Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Tweet "Those aren't pillows!" ~Steve Martin in Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The streak is alive. I'm heading to my fourth consecutive Belmont Stakes and super psyched about it. I won't exactly be taking the same route as last year, which ended up being about a ten hour train ride to Penn Station from the B-Lo, but as usual I will be attempting a circuitous route to the Big Apple via Altoona, Pennsylvania through Allentown PA (to handicap and sleep) onto Elmont Saturday morning. It's a long story, so don't ask. I've never driven to Belmont Park, so I'm sure that will be a treat in itself, and hoping Mr. Tom Tom can guide me safely into the east side parking lot of the third jewel of the Triple Crown. Huge props to the Space Gal for encouraging me to take the journey while she attends graduations and visits with her folks.

The Belmont undercard looks pretty fabulous and I look forward to seeing Hull and Kensei again in the Woody Stephens, they ran 1-2 in the Derby Trial on opening day at Churchill during our Kentucky trip. I'll start my handicapping tonight, but I better have my Belmont pick for the office tomorrow, I think some of my admin staff are now regulars at the Niagara Falls Boulevard OTB (geesh what have I done). Who woulda thunk it that I will be seeing back to back races for Better Talk Now, who last ran at Keeneland during the aforementioned visit to the Bluegrass State. The Manhattan Handicap (G1) looks like a monster race which I'm thinking I'll have to go pretty deep on my Pick Four play. That race will be my first live looks at Court Vision, Gio Ponti and Cowboy Cal.

As someone who's office is off of Audubon Drive, my initial thoughts on the Belmont are focused on Mine That Bird, Summer Bird and Flying Private (the Audubon Triple). I'm actually liking Flying Private to hit the board, his race comments show one nightmare trip after another. But I could be reaching...more analysis required...

A bonus on Saturday will be to see local Saratoga favorite My Man Lars, who scored nicely on a tip from the Puma last 4th of July. He'll be running on the undercard in race 5 for owner Jimmy Olson (no relation to he of Superman lore). People have asked me why I nicknamed my pal the Puma...gotta be the socks...now you know. We'll be checking in late tomorrow night from A-town. Drop me a line if you'd like to meet up in the backyard.

The Keeneland Experience

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It was closing day at Keeneland's spring meet today and the Space gang was lucky enough to take in today's card. Case the Race says we're a little windy here on the blogfront, so I'll keep it short and sweet and share some of the day's pictures which tells a story all its own. I definitely have a new 2nd favorite track (the Spa will always be #1) as the hospitality shown by all of the Keeeneland staff and the tradition of the place shows through wherever you go. The ladies in Guest Services took care of the Space Gal and even gave her a room to feed and change the S-Kid, that's going out of your way.

Ironically, we don't know a soul in these parts, but we ran into our tour guide from Old Friends, Mercer, in Section E before the first race and ended up spending the day with him, which was very enjoyable. He took us down in the paddock for the 4th and we procured some nice pictures down in one of my favorite paddock areas.


The day started off on a great note with an opening trifecta after the ML favorite scratched, who we planned on keying over three horses, so we just boxed the three. We ended up the day at break even and just enjoyed the experience for what it was: a beautiful sunny, windy day at one of the country's best racetracks.



























Julien Leparoux getting ready to take the mount on Nickle Pickle in the 4th.

Edgar mounting Knack before the fourth.






















Kent Desermeaux up on Skim Scam, the winner of the 4th ($10.60) and third leg of my about to be blown apart Pick 4 ticket.





















Overheard in the paddock, bodyguard to NTRA Prexy "I heard that Space guy is here today, I'll punch him in the face if you want me to?"

Gate break in the 4th (see Trakus and straight view on jumbo tron - very cool)





















Auctioneer: "Do I hear $10,000 for the box at Keeneland?"





















Star power: 10yo Better Talk Now before the Elkhorn (G2)





















Grade I winner Champs Elysees before the big race.



























Calling it in: "Key the 2 (Woodford Girl) over the 3 and the 4." Space Kid: "Dad, don't forget the 5." Oh yeah, "and the 5" Race result: 2/3/5....you go Baby B. The kid was a champ all day long (thanks of course to the Space Gal). Not bad that his first track visit is Keeneland and his next is under the twin spires...sa-weet.

Tomorrow's invasion: Churchill Downs Opening Day!