Colts Next Door

Tweet I was watching SNF last night in bed, hoping Colts QB Peyton Manning would stop throwing one yard touchdowns against my fantasy team, so I would stop cursing my season that was slowly slipping into purgatory. After being scolded by the Space Gal she gave me that smirk I usually give her. I asked her what the deal was? She replied that she wanted to watch a show and that I'd enjoy it too since it had to do with the Kentucky Derby. Bring it on, I said! Well after turning over the clicker (with much trepidation, especially on a Sunday night) she stated that I was in for a treat. Hmmm...what could it be......?

E! television network's Girls Next Door Sunday night episode was Hef and the girls going to the Kentucky Derby. I actually laughed out loud thinking this should be good and could be pretty funny. They spent the first ten minutes making hats (Holly, really...My Little Ponies?) and playing a prank on one of the elder ladies in the group. The Space Gal picked up right away on the fancy hat box of the shop in Saratoga where she has frequented on occasion (Anne Sawyer - Fabulous as the hat you wear). Anyhow the episode goes through the celebrity parties, the big bash at the Barnstable Brown gala ("the place to be seen at the Derby"), etc. Kendra, who is dating (?) Philadelphia Eagle Hank Baskett, is probably the funniest (dumbest) of them all during the episode, here are some good "quotes" from a pop culture blogger. They find themselves in the Turf Terrace on Derby Day and Holly bets a G on Pyro, Hef and Bridget bet on Big Brown and Kendra changes her mind after spending the day touting BB and bets on Court Vision, only to go down in flames.

Celebrity cameos from Smokey Robinson, Nick Lachey, the New England Patriots and grimy guys trying to horn in on the party. High comedy indeed. Hef says about fifteen words during the entire show, the most meaningful about not wanting to wear a tie. Hef buys them all a $1,000 mint julep benefitting the Secretariat Foundation and retired horses, nice touch. However, nobody likes the bourbon (except Hef, of course). No mention of the Eight Belles breakdown, but the racing action and scenes in the paddock were pretty good.

Well, there's 30 minutes I'll never get back.

And Away They Go...

Tweet Can't wait for Trevor to utter those words at Oak Tree around 3:35pm today on the Deuce. Received an email from my pal JB yesterday describing the anticipation of the start of the BC championships with: "Being a 4 year old on Christmas eve is a lot like being 44 year old on Breeder's Cup eve. There is a lot to like about the next 2 days of racing." After completing our evening game of fetch with Tanner Jones I settled down into the Space Crib to do some late night 'capping. Here's what I came up with for today's five BC races (note to newcomers, i come with a warning label):

F&M Sprint. Indian Blessing is the chalk here and rightfully so. She's won on the surface, Baffert likes his chances (when doesn't he) and she can handle the distance. The Pick. Intangaroo shows some nice speed figures is 5-3-1-0 at the distance and has won over the surface. Ventura ran off at KEE in her last race on synthetics at this distance and with the speed in this race early (Dream Rush, Dearest Tricksi), I think she'll hit the board.

Selections: 1- Indian Blessing, 2- Intangaroo, 3 - Ventura

Tanner Jones longshot: Dearest Tricksi

Juvenile Fillies Turf. Sugar Mom tries the turf for the first time (I'm taking a leap here) and trainer Catalano's stats for first turf (24%, ROI $2.30) and Synth/Turf (26%, ROI $2.21) look too juicy to pass up at 10-1 or higher. Laragh has the best turf jockey in the States in Prado aboard and looks to be the chalk. Consequence with Johnny V up, is a El Prado (IRE) filly running for Shug who has to be respected in any BC race.

Selections: 1 - Sugar Mom, 2- Laragh, 3 - Consequence

Tanner Jones longshot: C Karma

Juvenile Fillies. Stardom Bound is the class of this group (another chalk, I know) and is a good time to wheel a trifecta with her on top. Mike Smith knows the course and she has matching Beyer tops (good angle) coming into the race. Sky Diva won the Frizette (G1) handily over Persistently (another Shug entry), neither who have been on artificial surfaces. I look for NY-bred Doremifasolatido to be coming hard at the finish to maybe catch a piece.

Selections: 1-Stardom Bound, 2- Sky Diva, 3- Persistently

Tanner Jones longshot: Doremifasolatido

F&M Turf. Loving Mauralakana (Fr) in this race. This 5yo mare for Clement should be there at the end in this 1 1/4 mile turf route. Halfway to Heaven (IRE) sports some fine Group One victories over the pond and has the venerable Johnny Murtagh aboard. Wait a While, a SpaceMan favorite, is on her home course and has the best jockey in the world (imho) in GoGo up. She would have been the favorite last year at Monmouth had the turf. I struggled not including Forever Together here (looove Julien Leparoux on the turf), just not sure she can handle the distance.

Selections: 1 - Mauralakana, 2- Halfway to Heaven, 3 - Wait a While

Tanner Jones longshot: Dynaforce

Hugh Hefner Handicap. While I would love to try and beat Zenyatta, the Street Cry filly, and many undefeated horses have gone down on BC day (Lost in the Fog, etc.), it's hard not to key her on top of a trifecta or super here. Like the matching Beyer tops, too. But it could happen, so exacta back-wheels could be in play. Music Note dueled Ky Oaks and Alabama champ Proud Spell to the wire at the Spa in August, just don't know if she'll handle the synthetics for the Sheikh, but I am a fan of this filly and am sticking with her. Defending champ Ginger Punch had a tough trip and race in the Personal Ensign and lost her next race out (was it due to that strenuous Spa race stretch duel?). She's definitely a threat here to unseat the Big Z.

Selections: 1 - Zenyatta, 2- Music Note, 3 - Ginger Punch

Tanner Jones longshot: Hystericalady

Well it all gets started this afternoon, should be great racing, hit a bar ask for the Deuce, have a nice Budweiser and enjoy the day. How will the Big 3 trainers do? Will Big Z stay undefeated? Will day one handle surpass last year's (~$31M) due to placing graded races on Friday, one CEO thinks so. Good luck everyone and invest wisely.