Rockin' the Fort

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After the morning rain subsided and the clouds broke, my driveway doppler was telling me to head up to the Fort for the big race. The $500K Prince of Wales, second leg of the triple crown. I arrived just before the 5th race to a packed parking lot and a beautiful sunny 75 degree day in lovely Southern Ontario. No bridge issues to deal with and customs was a breeze, which it should be when traveling solo in a completely empty car! As it was only my second trip to the Fort, the crowd was very big. I laughed when I saw the James Bond Racing Stables horse van with the 007 jockey silks moniker on the side as I thought it may be a good omen for my boy Pewter, but alas he burned out on the final turn after leading the first six furlongs. I found a nice bench in the sun by the paddock, to read the form, suck down a Blue and take in the sights before the big race. I took a couple pictures of Eibar Coa as he boarded his mount in the 6th, the favorite Sheba (#1 horse below), who was here to ride Harlem Rocker. No Todd Pletcher sightings, as I figure he probably stayed on the Atlantic Coast with Unbridled Belle, scheduled to run in a G2 at Delaware Park.

The lines were long for both beer and betting, but I found a nice tucked away vendor and used my twinspires phone account to avoid the windows, so I was able to take in more of the sights. I hit a small exacta in the 7th, just messing around, and was then all set for the big race. I had thrown out Not Bourbon earlier in the day. That was a pretty easy play, as it was his first time on dirt. I can't understand if you point a horse for the Canadian triple crown and you know that the second leg is on dirt, why you wouldn't give him a try on it before the big race. Harlem Rocker, the morning line second choice, appeared to be taking most of the money at the windows and went off as the favorite at 4/5. He looked terrific in the paddock as did Deputyiformer, who I thought would run a better race than he did.

James Bond's Pewter shot off to the early lead and held it for six furlongs. Not Bourbon was around for a little while, but tired in the stretch and had nothing on this beautiful day. At the top of the stretch, the Rocker made his move and a glorious one it was. He held off a late challenge by 21-1 East End Tap (Jen Morrison of the Toronto Star had him third) and triumphed by nearly four lengths to the roar of the Fort Erie crowd. Pletcher's star showed he is a fast dirt horse and we should see more of him this summer, either in Saratoga at the Travers (where Pletcher will have a full barn) or maybe at the Haskell at Monmouth. Here's hoping he tries the Travers and some of the American classic competition, he seemed to do well with plenty of rest and coming back in three weeks or so for the Haskell may be asking too much. I think everyone at the track saw a pretty good horse win, and should see more good things from him in the future.

In the Spotlight

Tweet It's one of those rare weekends in WNY and Southern Ontario, when the racing world actually focuses on our neck of the woods. There was actually a full page in the Buffalo News sports section devoted to racing today. I can't remember (other than Derby Day) when that's happened. The main reason is that it's Prince of Wales Day at Fort Erie with a seven horse field of Canadian-bred three year olds. The $500K second jewel of Canada's triple crown will be run over the dirt and Plate winner Not Bourbon (7-5 ML) will surely be the favorite when they reach the post sometime around 4:49pm. There's actually plenty going on around here this weekend, as the Yankees have been in Toronto for a weekend series, the second leg of the Big Apple Triple was run yesterday down the thruway in Canandaigua, and the 25th annual Taste of Buffalo is in full force. Congrats to Tin Cup Chalice, love that name, for hitting the second leg of OTB's Big Apple Triple at Finger Lakes. He now goes after a $250K bonus at Saratoga on August 20th in the Albany Stakes.

It rained pretty hard yesterday afternoon and looks like we had some rain last night so the Fort Erie track may be a bit damp today based on what my driveway looks like this morning. It is a good day to play "beat the favorite" as it is NB's first time on the dirt in nine outings and I just like playing against the polytrack to dirt angle. So I'm taking a flyer in this one. Pewter, out of the James Bond barn, should be a big number at the window today, has good off track pedigree (should it stay muddy) and has some very good works on his tab over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga. Bond is a good trainer and wouldn't put him in here unless he thought he had something. He, like rival Harlem Rocker, failed miserably on the polytrack in his last outing, the Plate Trial. Both he and the Rocker (Coa coming in for the ride) are well rested and should be in great shape entering today. So, I'm going with an $007 exacta box with those two (Pewter/Rocker) and $007 win/place on Pewter today. I'll be watching with martini in hand, shaken not stirred.

Calder Trophy Winner Draws Field

Tweet The NHL's Rookie of the Year and most famous living South Buffalonian (RIP Tim Russert) drew the field for Sunday's $500K Prince of Wales Stakes (G1) at Fort Erie Race Track across the border from downtown Buffalo. Patrick Kane, rookie phenom for the Chicago Blackhawks and Calder Trophy winner, was present today to draw the eight post positions for the second leg of Canada's triple crown. Kane led all rookies scoring 72 points, including 21 goals in his initial professional campaign, lifting Chi-town's hopes for future success and bringing the hockey throngs back to the United Center. This is the biggest race held at beautiful Fort Erie, run at a mile and 3/16ths.

Not Bourbon, who will be running on dirt for the first time, drew the 7 post and was made the 7-5 favorite by oddsmaker Jerry Davis. He is trained by the popular Roger Attfield, who last won this race in 2005 with Ablo, and he has won it four times in his career. The Buffalo News' beat racing reporter Bob Summers was on hand and has a nifty video here showing the draw live. "Pletcher's white horse" drew the 4 hole and was made the 2-1 second choice. That white horse being Harlem Rocker, the Withers winner over J Be K (winner of his last two stakes). Their last head to head meeting, Not Bourbon trounced the Rocker in the Plate Trial at Woodbine, in his first effort on sythetics, maybe he'll get to return the favor in the POW on Sunday. The talented Eibar Coa will be in town (will Todd come east?) to ride the Rocker in the big race. Pletcher won his only POW in 1998 with Archers Bay. The last Canadian Triple Crown was won in 2003 by Wando, who was the 7th winner since it's inauguration in 1959.

For even more exciting Prince of Wales news, check out the TBA's two Canadian bloggers, Cangamble and Jen's Thorough Blog where you can find all of the post positions, morning line odds and the Canadian twist on the race. We'll try and handicap here closer to the weekend and keep you posted on the Western New York angle and press it receives on this side of the border.

Bourbon and Ginger, please....

Tweet Thank you, bartender, for that sweet tasting exacta.

Robert Summers, Buffalo News handicapper, nailed it in his Friday's pick column on the Queen's Plate, up in Toronto yesterday, and wrote a nice race summary this morning. The self-proclaimed Happy Handicapper, was right on writing "....the Handicapper’s selection of Not Bourbon isn’t entirely based on sentiment. This is a pretty good colt who might go off higher than his 5-2 morning-line odds. " And he sure did, going off as a 5-1 overlay with a ton of money going on the filly Ginger Brew, running back after her victory two weeks ago in the Woodbine Oaks, who he overtook by a head at the wire.

Sweet news for one of my faves, Sweet Vendetta, who was sold to WinStar Farms and is pointed at the Alabama (woo hoo). The David Cassidy-bred daughter of Steven Got Even, was last seen winning the Black Eyed Susan (G2) in May.

Congrats to the undefeated Finger Lakes (scheduled to be my next track visit in nearby Canandaigua) shipper Tin Cup Chalice winning the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont yesterday, returning $11 as the third choice of eight. It is also the first leg of The Big Apple Triple, with the next leg, The New York Derby, at his home track in July with the anchor race in August at Saratoga called the Albany Stakes. Last year, Chief's Lake took the first two legs only to falter at Saratoga in the Albany, as did Ferocious Won in 2006 and Image Maker in 2000. The Big Apple Triple series for NY breds began in 1999, the winner taking home an additional $250K bonus plus the purse total of $400K.

Who says English teachers can't handicap? The latest NHC winner at Belmont Park, Joe Lods, was busy quoting J. Paul Getty after his victory saying "There are one hundred men seeking security to one able man who is willing to risk his fortune. This weekend, my strategy was to be that one able man." Well said. I will try my fortunes in a NHC qualifier on September 11th while in Vegas at the Sunset Station Casino, while the Space Gal is tending to a toy show. Viva.

Bella Cavello's star mare, La Chica Rica, is entered in a $42K allowance on Friday night in the feature at Mountaineer, stay tuned for more on our favorite stable to watch.

Ohhh Canada...

Tweet Hard to believe I've lived in Western New York for over 23 years, but today was my first foray over the bridge to beautiful Fort Erie Racetrack. After the Space Gal decided to go see "Sex and the City" for the tenth time, it was the easy choice between doing a little yard work, writing a proposal for work (tomorrow's another day), or going downtown to watch the Gus Macker 3-on-3 (close second), so it was onward to the True North.

Don't let the fact that it was Queen's Plate Day at Woodbine escape you, as that also factored into the equation of checking out the race while in Canada. I had planned several weeks ago to drive up to Toronto, but once Harlem Rocker decided last weekend to skip the race, I did too. After a successful border crossing (no jokes here, serious business crossing the border these days...more on that later), the track is literally two minutes from downtown Buffalo. After buying a Canadian Form (Woodbine, Ft. Erie, Belmont, Hollywood and Arlington...sweet), I meandered over to the paddock before the opener to check out the surroundings. Here's a couple of photos of the paddock area which is nicely shaded and has a number of picnic benches to handicap or smoke a cigar (check, check).

They even had Bob the Bugler (Canada's version of Sam the Bugler) playing right there in the paddock. Film guy in the background was filming the daily handicapping show by James Hoser, Ft. Erie track handicapper. So off I went to attempt my American handicapping skills on $5K Ontario-bred claimers and mile and 70 yarders. I was sure to count all of the horses in the paddock before the race, as I heard sometimes they disappear off the tote board!! A spent some time in the paddock to watch the horses more closely than I usually do, say at Saratoga or Belmont, and spotted a horse acting up that I really liked on paper. I threw him out and replaced him with Athenais (5-1), and immediately and hit my first exactor of the day with Athenais (7 horse) over the favorite Piece of the Pie (1 horse) for a nice $25 winner. Here's a shot of the finish and the winner getting ready to pose for the winner's photo:

I decided to sit out the 4th, a $10K maiden claimer and smoke a Fuentes on one of the aforementioned picnic benches and take in the sights. I had some Canadian change in my pocket and just glanced at the form lazily. Since it was a sprint, I noticed a Storm cat filly Princess Roarcat, that was creeping up in the odds, so I decided to throw the Canadian change ($3) that was in my pocket at him for fun. Doesn't he win and pay $10.60!! I'm starting to like this place. (Note to self: dangerous situation, racetrack 20 minutes from work and home). I hit my second exactor of the day in the 6th (another $5K claimer for f&m) with Lastchancehitter (#4) over Strathmore (#1) for a nice pickup. I got a great shot of her closing on Strathmore at the wire. Funny these were the only two wire photos I took all day, both winners!

Here's a photo of the other 75 people who were at the track with me.

So, all in all, it was a really fun day at a really nice, clean, pleasant, comfortable race track. I was able to bet in US dollars all day long, and the people working were very friendly. It was an extremely relaxing day and a nice breeze blew through the simulcasting facility as I started to handicap the Plate. I threw my token $2 on D Flutie (what Bills fan wouldn't?) and then really started to watch the tote and see what looked interesting. Some very nice prices on the board and I was extremely surprised at the Plate Trial winner Not Bourbon being around 6-1 with 9 MTP (he went off at 9-2). He appeared to be excellent value, so I keyed him on top of a triactor with Flutie (24-1), Palmers (24-1), Ginger Brew (2-1 fav), Jungle Brew (10-1) and Solitaire (3-1). It was a fantastic race and a fantastic finish as Not Bourbon held off the late closing filly Ginger Brew (Javier Castellano up) by a head for a sweet $33 exactor! A terrific way to wrap up the day. Solitaire finished third 4 1/2 back. Flutie led early but burned out after setting fast early fractions.

The day ended with only a half hour wait at the Peace Bridge, which is totally my bad, as I know better to get behind 1) a van, 2) out of state plates, and 3) said van loaded to the gill with recreation stuff. Did I mention I love the Canadian national anthem too? We stand on guard for thee.....