Big Chuck?

Tweet This is what happens when you let a non-turf writer cover a race....really...Big Chuck? Maybe he covers the NBA?

I think he meant to refer to Big Truck...

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*

Handicapping Puzzle

Tweet Today's two main Derby preps appear to be light years apart, when looking at the talent that landed in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1). The puzzle is how to figure out how this race will unfold, as we all know, "pace makes the race." The morning line favorite Pyro seems to be set up nicely here with the typically slower times on the polytrack and the lack of any real speed horse (that I can see). He will stretch out to nine furlongs for the first time and should have plenty of run in him late if the pace is slow. In studying what may unfold, I think I will be going the exotic route and playing an exacta with my top two choices, Cool Coal Man and Pyro over a few horses that have some interesting items of note in the PP's. I like CCM, who had a perfect stalking trip to win the FOY, who has beaten Court Vision, the top two Illinois Derby finishers, and has won at this distance twice. Underneath I like the following horses: Big Truck (nice workouts over the past month) and could be a factor late, Medjool (run all races on the synthetics and could be ready for a big effort), Miner's Claim (I like this horse a lot with improving beyers, won on synthetics, will also make a win bet on him) and finally Halo Najib (Gomez aboard, solid race last time out on the poly). Big Question Mark: Will Todd get shut out?

$1 EX PART WHEEL: 1,7 with 1,6,7,9,10, 11 (cost: $10)

Picks: 1- Cool Coal Man, 2 - Pyro, 3 - Big Truck

The $1M Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn has some big graded stakes money available to fourteen runners and could send up to three horses to the Derby with the size of the purse. I'm playing against west coast shipper Gayego (first time on dirt) and actually like all three Asmussen horses in the race. But will go with King's Silver Sun (improving beyers, familiar with track and has hit the board six of seven in lifetime races, pace could help). I also like My Pal Charlie with Julien up (improving beyers, looks to be out on the lead early) and Ablaze with Spirit, another Asmussen trainee (improving beyers and could be a factor late). Others that rate a look underneath in exotics: Z Fortune and Liberty Bull.

Picks: 1 - King's Silver Sun, 2 - My Pal Charlie, 3 - Ablaze with Spirit

Also running this afternoon is the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) which only landed seven horses and nothing exciting, but it will be shown live on ESPN's coverage today. Hey Byrn (8/5 ML favorite) needs to win to have any shot at the Derby. Too bad there are not more purse dollars at stake here as the competition would be much better than what's entered.

Le Name Game

Tweet Four weeks ago we brought home our first dog (after 44 years) and had to come up with a name for him. We let my eight year son give him his middle name and let the family decide what the first name should be. Because of his brown fur it came down between Cappucino and Tanner, and the consensus went with Tanner. Well my son has the basketball jones…so what better way to complete his name, than Tanner Jones.

I then started wondering if there were any horses out there named Tanner Jones. I went to a horse pedigree inquiry site and found that there were five Tanners, but no Tanner Joneses. So much for keeping up with the Joneses. None appear to be standouts, but one had a sire named Financial Matter (hey I'm a CPA), and one had a dam named Days Like This (pretty cool). Anyways, it started me thinking further (dangerous thing) about what I would name a horse. My pal, The Saratoga Resident, said I should name it "Don't Do That!" which is what he always tells me while out on the road together. I was thinking more of something like "areyoufreakinkiddinme" which would be a great race call down the stretch. Or how about "Boots with the Fur?" Yep, time to hang it up.

After reading another horse racing blogsite where the group named a race at Aqueduct for $300, it piqued my interest to see what it would cost at Saratoga. I received the following email reply from a NYRA customer service representative who stated:

"On the day of the event the name of your personalized race will appear in the Post Parade magazine. A few minutes prior to your race a representative of the Customer Service office will escort you to a trackside location for viewing and then upon completion you'll step into the Winner's Circle along with 9 of your friends. There you'll present the winning jockey or trainer with a commemorative Irish crystal picture frame. The frame is yours to keep along with (1) complimentary (8"x10") color photo of your group taken by the Official track photographer. The photo, which includes the personalized name of your race, is usually mailed within 1-2 weeks time. Additional photos can be purchased thru the track photographer."

All for the EDLP of $1,000!

The Blue Grass Stakes draw was very interesting and trying to handicap these horses on the synthetic track at Keeneland will surely be a challenge. Most of the top tier horses have the necessary graded earnings to qualify for the Derby, it will be the second tier of horses needing the win badly. I actually hope Pyro gets beat here, mainly so his price will improve for the Derby, as I think a closer in the right spot might just steal it on 03MAY with the amount of speed that should be out there. (i.e War Pass, Recapturetheglory, Big Brown, etc.). I will be keeping a close eye on Cool Coal Man, Big Truck and Visionaire to see how they run against a quality field.

Chalk eating weasels?

Tweet Looking to play beat the favorite again in this weekend preps…picks on Friday….what is a chalk-eating weasel anyway?

TVG televised the Blue Grass Stakes draw today live which resulted in even money race favorite Pyro (worked 4f on Monday in 0:50.6) landing the 7 hole. The full field of 12 (first time since 1983) including my guy Cool Coal Man (post #1, 4-1 ML), Visionaire (post #12, 6-1), Big Truck (post #6, 6-1) and Cowboy Cal (post #3, Pletcher horse). Visonnaire last matched strides with Pyro in the Risen Star (taking third) and the Michael Matz trained colt will be coming off his win in the Gotham at the Big A for the rematch. Cool Coal Man comes off a win in the Fountain of Youth at GP, so four graded stakes winners (including Big Truck who won the Tampa Derby) will highlight the day at Keeneland on Saturday. Trainer Todd Pletcher puts up his last hopes this weekend to keep from going "dark" on Derby day. Dominican won last year's Blue Grass over Street Sense.

The Arkansas Derby draw is scheduled for Thursday and looks to have a full field. Past Arkansas Derby winners at Oaklawn include Curlin (2007), Lawyer Ron (2006), Afleet Alex (2005) and Smarty Jones (2004), so look for a promising horse to surface from this race.

Made my plans for the annual trek for Alabama Day weekend at the Spa on Monday. This year's undercard also features the $550K Turf race, the Sword Dancer (G1).

Late $1 Pick 3 Keeneland today: 2,3,5/2,4,8/10,11 (KEE contest picks bolded)