Saturday Silence

Tweet No lead picture today. First time ever. In memory of Wanderin Boy who broke down in the Cigar yesterday. So much for my sitting down last night to watch the race replays and enjoying the day's races DVR-style, after the fact without knowing the outcomes. Unfortunately, I knew what was going to happen. I knew something bad was happening when I got a return-text from Alan of the Bug Boys that there was an injury earlier in the day in the filly stakes race (Springside who won) and that it was a somber day at the Big A. Later in the evening, I received a Facebook message from him with the awful news of the break down in the Cigar. Sucks to be a racing fan sometimes. I can't sum it up any better than that. Ernie Munick sent out a message to the TRNY Facebook group today that I just kept nodding my head at in agreement (even the dog stuff hit home). He was spot on.

Geez, and all I did yesterday was take my children to see Madagascar 2, and all hell breaks loose? First, the tough day at the Big A (see recaps here and here) including a tough beat for Harlem Rocker (give Edgar an Oscar) being DQ'd in the feature for allegedly shutting off Tale of Ekati at the rail. That freakin' horse wins when I count him out and loses went I am all over him. Whatever, I'm done with him. Of course all my tickets blew up, too (I thought Sky Diva was a lock). Then, I read this morning on the Paulick Report that the NHC twinspires.com self-proclaimed "Biggest Handicapping Challenge Ever" went bust, yep, the one with the $250 entry fee. Travis Stone, racecaller at Louisiana Downs (among other places) had bought two entries and I had looked forward to reading his insight and strategy playing two cards. It appears the computer system went down (ala Derby Day) in the middle of the contest and all entries had to be refunded. Can you say embarrassed? I wonder how they make that right for the people leading the contest?? Talk about losing an afternoon....wow. Think someone in IT will be looking for work on Cyber Monday?

Anyways, I didn't plan on posting this morning as I'm headed out to the stadium to see the 49ers enjoy our winter weather and see if our Bills can make something out of the last day of the holiday weekend that went south yesterday. *pulling on long johns*

RIP Wanderin Boy, you may have been second in a lot of big races, but you had the respect of the racing brethren with your grit and determination. May you be on a handride in the big oval in the sky.

Light it Up...

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Ok now that the tryptophan is out of the system I can get back to business....

One of the best handicapping overlays I have ever taken advantage of (and actually jumped on) was Purge's (see inset) Cigar Mile upset in 2005. I was sitting in an OTB passing some time while the Space Gal was home visiting relatives and noticed that the 10-1 morning line Purge was creeping upwards to 25-1. After spending some time with the PP's there was something I really liked about this horse and had played him underneath in my exotic wagers. With a minute to post I decided to pull the trigger and went across the board with him. Garret Gomez experiences a dream trip and pace scenario to close late for Todd Pletcher and win! "The 4-year-old son of Pulpit covered the mile in 1:34.26 and returned $53, $21.80 and $18.40." It was one of those moments that you get a shot at only every once and a while. Lately, I've passed on them (see Slambino on Travers Day...couldn't pull the trigger)....anyhow tomorrow's big race is once again the Cigar Mile and it has a tremendous field going a mile at the Big A.

This race has a little bit of everything. A couple of west coast stars (Monterrey Jazz and Arson Squad), a sprinting start stretching out to a mile (Kodiak Kowboy), several Classic trail horses (Visionaire and Tale of Ekati), an elder warrior (Wanderin Boy), a Canadian Classic champ (Harlem Rocker), a horse taking a major step up in class (Bribon) and an undefeated late blooming 3yo (Storm Play) also making a big class jump. Wow, where do you start?

I'm looking towards the old guy, Wanderin Boy (#6), who appears to be in great shape (two consecutive bullet works), and well rested (last raced 9/27) after losing to Curlin by 3/4 length in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. I also favor Monterrey Jazz (#8), coming off a layoff, who handled the dirt and some decent competition at Lone Star Park. I think TofE will bounce after a career best and that Visionaire (#1) should rebound after losing to TofE in the slop last out, and I'll use him underneath with Harlem Rocker (#3), Bribon (#4) and Kodiak Kowboy (#9).

I'm thinking of two plays a trifecta and an exacta:

6,8 with 6,8 with 1,3,4,9 $1 tri cost: $8
6,8 with 1,3,4,9 $1 exacta cost: $8

Good luck, let's hope to light that victory Cigar in honor of the past champ!

Haunting Words?

Tweet Back in April around the time I started posting blogs at this site, Handride had a post requesting thoughts as to Curlin's Road to Eternal Greatness that generated a lot of commentary and arguments as to his future races and his eventual legacy. I had hoped he would follow Lawyer Ron's trail to the Breeders Cup via the Whitney/Woodward (got it half right) at the Spa, where I was quickly rebutted by commenter LJK with the now famous Steve Asmussen quote: "I think Graveyard of Champions and the best horse I’ve ever had shouldn’t go in the same sentence. That’s how I’ve always felt about it. I didn’t give it that nickname, but we’re aware of what happens here.” I wonder how many times he's been reminded of that quote since announcing he would run in the Woodward two weeks ago? Anyways those words could haunt him today, in his run at Cigar's all-time earnings figure and his pursuit of "eternal greatness." Regarding legacy, that will be debated long after this race is concluded, especially if he is retired after his 4yo campaign. Today he faces seven other horses in his first ever run at the Spa. He'll be challenged by formidable Divine Park (winner of the Met Mile in a late charge over Commentator in late May), turfer Out of Control, last seen in the amazing wire finish in the Manhatten on Belmont Day and my upset choice Wanderin Boy, for giant-killer trainer Nick Zito. Let's face it at similar weights (126), Curlin, on an ordinary day should have no trouble facing foes like these, but this isn't an ordinary day (his first at the Spa) and his trainer may have foreshadowed the result with his 2007 quote. That's why they run the race.

Being in Central PA this weekend visiting the in-laws, I had a chance to watch HRTV for the first time and was delighted to get a chance to watch last night's The Pursuit of the Cup hosted by Laffit Pincay, and his annoying voice inflection. Wow, I'm glad I don't have to listen to that voice every day. The show, however, was pretty good with lots of highlights and the like. I actually wish TVG had a similar show (maybe they do?). Of course, they didn't explain the BC points system that they showed constantly and I can see how viewers could be confused. They could have also done a better job explaining the supplemental fees also for the casual non-horse racing fan, but I guess the casual fan most likely was watching Temple-Army or a baseball game...oh well. That's why the TBA standings (simple to explain, simple to understand) would make a lot of sense if implemented to be the standard for the industry (similar to NASCAR and PGA scoring systems). On that same note, welcome to new sponsor of the 3yo colt category, North American Trainer Magazine!

Today's Forego highlights favorite Lucky Island and can help solidify the trainer/jockey titles for Kieran McLaughlin and Alan Garcia, respectively. Pletcher/Velasquez could only pick up one win on three joint mounts yesterday (and six total for JV), while Garcia won two races to extend his lead to four with his 35th and 36th wins of the meet. McLaughlin's (16) maintained his one-win lead over Pletcher in the tightly contested trainer matchup. Lucky Island faces Forefathers (from the ice-cold Mott camp) and First Defence (Frankel/Channing Hill connection). My longshot in here is Real Estate (15-1 ML) a Levine/Coa entry who beat Aquino (impressive winner on Travers Day opener) in his last outing. Lucky Island should prevail on paper, but you know what Stevie A once said......