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Let's take a peek at some of this weekend's stakes action:
DEARLY PRECIOUS STAKES - AQUEDUCT - RACE 4:
Only a field of four are scheduled to compete in the Dearly Precious following the scratch of outsider MARVELOUS MARGARET, but the top three betting choices look close on ability. WELL KEPT and CORDEROSA, the two-three finishers of the Ruthless Stakes on the Aqueduct inner track on January 14, don't have to face the talented Agave Kiss this time around and that is a big class relief. Both of Well Kept's lifetime victories have come over wet going and she catches a slushy day in New York this afternoon. I'll give her a slight nod over Corderosa, who certainly has scope for improvement in her third lifetime start. SINGLET blew away a pair of next-out optional claiming winners when taking the Xtra Heat Stakes by six lengths here on January 5 and may work out a good stalking trip from the outside.
SELECTIONS: WELL KEPT, CORDEROSA, SINGLET
***
SUWANNEE RIVER STAKES - GULFSTREAM - RACE 9:
As of this writing, the Suwannee River is still scheduled to be contested over a "good" turf course. HIT IT RICH fits the profile of a late-blooming Shug McGaughey-trained runner, and she won at Saratoga over "good" ground last summer. She was very impressive in taking her last two starts and her tactical speed should put her in good stead this afternoon. SPEAK EASY GAL and PERSUADING both have early foot and Hit It Rich may work out a good trip tracking those two from close range. Hit It Rich didn't beat the toughest field in the world when taking the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap in her 2011 finale, but she did it the right way and looks like a solid play if she goes off at close to the track's 8-1 morning line.
SELECTIONS: HIT IT RICH, SPEAK EASY GAL, HEAVENLY LANDING
***
DONN HANDICAP - GULFSTREAM - RACE 10:
It's a classy renewal of the Donn with classic winners SHACKLEFORD and RULER ON ICE tackling TRICKMEISTER, immaculate after five lifetime starts. Sprinkle in six more graded winners and a sloppy track and just about anything can happen here. I'm a big fan of REDEEMED and will go with him to pull off the mild upset. Never off the board from eight lifetime starts, Redeemed came into his own at the end of 2011, taking the Oklahoma Derby at Remington and the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct with identical 94 Beyers. There is no doubt that Redeemed needs to run faster against this tougher company, but this professional 4-year-old seems like an up-and-comer that could work out a good trip tracking Trickmeister and Shackleford.
SELECTIONS: REDEEMED, SHACKLEFORD, MISSION IMPAZIBLE
***
SAN MARCOS STAKES - SANTA ANITA - RACE 9:
SANAGAS looks like the horse to beat in the San Marcos, but ten furlongs might be a little too short for him and the main goal down the road is the Melbourne Cup at the end of the year. NORVSKY, on the other hand, might find this distance a bit too far, but he was very impressive in taking the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes over two quality performers in Jeranimo and THE USUAL Q. T. Norvsky is in career form for trainer Donald Warren and it will be interesting to see where Joe Talamo places him in what looks like a paceless race.
SELECTIONS: NORVSKY, SANAGAS, THE USUAL Q.T.
***
Check out the video previews that Mike Beer and I produced at the following link:
http://www.drf.com/events/weekend-stakes-previews-picks-analysis-more
***
More importantly, who do you like this weekend? I want to know.
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Where are all the oldtimers at today? Really a much better format now.
Come on in.......nobody's gonna bite....
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Just trying to see if this new format works. Hardly got used to the "old" one.
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New format thru facebook...I am Joe L. will take a while to get used to, but I guess
it will work out...
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West Coasters:
Does anone have an idea what Baffert is up to with Brigand, the Flatter colt that looked so promising early last summer (and sold as a yearling for $925K)? I see he has been worling steadily in the last couple of months, and has turned in some bullets. When and where do we see this guy next,,,on the Road to the Haskel perhaps, similar to Coil?
Annie:
I see you posted aways back about Dullahan taling the Paddy O'Prado route to the Derby starting gate...and ended saying something to the effect that if he makes it there it will be his first start on dirt. You meant as a three year, o course,,.as he did close for 4th in the BC Juvie.
I have him along with Creative Cause and Empire Maker the best 10f probable closers in Pool 1 of the Derby Futures.
Curt V.:
You asked something about Drill aways back! Did you not see my comment about that one's game being sprinting? He is a threat in the 7f Swale!
Keith L.
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What's up with HG this week. The blog appears to be evolving into a chat room of little value.
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Hi Dan it's me... Anderson, I like the new blog format. Now the entire comments are searchable using the RSS feature.
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my God, what the hell is this all about?
Bernard Downes
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Well the new platform looks great, some people might have to reintroduce themselves...heehee.
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Spot plays at Dubai...Thursday
Race #1 #5 Scarf
Race #2 #7 Start Right
Race #3 #2 Dux Scholar
Race #4 #12 Ariete Arrollador
Race #5 #9 Do It All
Race #6 Fallen Idol
Play these all $200 Win / Place. Starting early today.
Good Luck!!!
Whackymacky Out!!!
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I like this new chat forum, but it looks like i have to log in now using my facebook page. I don't post as much stuff as previous, but just in case..i use the name Penn National Rick. Hopefully now this chat runs real time rather than seeing messages hours after it was sent and waiting hours for a reply/response.
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Ray Manley,
The Slewster can't make the B-day party, so I'll accept the cake if you don't mind...LoL..
Re:the Hancocks{Claiborne}---The result of Hancock's suggested mating was a strong, bullish foal who quickly became the leader amomg the half-doZen young horses born at White Horse in 1974..
"He was the boss, even when he was little," Mallory recalled..."Didn't nobody bother him while he was eating"........"By the time Jan.1st, before he was actually one year old, he weighed 700+lbs...
"This guy was a handful from the get-go......He always wanted to run........."
Thanx Ray........I actually didn't know the exact foal day.........I do now.......I'll just make a mental note>>Day after Valentine's........
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>> "Well, Landaluce only raced against 2yo fillies and Zarkava won perhaps the most prestigious open grass race in the world, so what does that mean?"
>> "It means Zarkava won a race on grass.........."
Wow, where else can handicappers find such keen, balanced, and insightful analysis?
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Yes, the conversation is about great horses, but for one I didn't say any of those Prix also-rans were great. They had enough credentials to be in a prestigious group one turf race, we'll leave it at that. I also don't mean to say Raven's Pass was great (he wasn't) or faster than Z (he certainly wasn't). Just stating a fact. Now Ghostzapper, he was a great horse. Do I care what his 2 y/o record was? Nope. Len Friedman said he was the most consistently fast of all time (or something to that effect) and suffice to say he's dedicated a fair amount of time to calculating that sort of thing. But again I'm not trying to get into the x is better than x conversation. Not at all; sorry if I made that impression.
I haven't been in this game long (but I am still young...), but Zenyatta is by far the best I've seen & probably will for a while. By seen I mean seen live (only once, but I still have the ticket), followed, watched regularly... Had I lived in Europe this would likely Sea the Stars. Australia, Black Caviar, &c. This type of thing is too subjective to be part of an argumentative debate...
The only point I was hoping to have gleaned from the Len Bias analogy is that one who flashes great potential but never gets the chance to realize it can only be called the greatest of all time speculatively. Len Bias could have gone on to win 7 championships, Landaluce could have gone on to be the first female triple crown winner and posted 2:23 and 6 or whatever. Neither one of these things happen. That is the whole reason I said figures like that occupy a special place. But that is also why being the greatest is so special and so rare: you need not only the talent, you need the opportunity. Clearly Landaluce wasn't blowin lines before cranking off those fractions (unless.....), but I'm not trying to get to that level of analysis. It was a more superficial comparison.
And yeah, there's no woulda, coulda, shoulda in the fractions. They're almost as impressive as the grainy footage where she just keeps getting farther and farther and farther... I'm not saying Landaluce wasn't great, but she didn't get the full chance. Is she going to beat Ruffian? Seems like yes with that time. Is she gonna beat Z routing? Nobody knows. Sure is fun to talk about though. Right, FUN : )
In conclusion, Dan could you please post the pp's for LANDALUCE and maybe GHOSTZAPPER while we're at it... Thanks.
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"I don't respect any horses on DIRT, other than the United States of America"
Obviously, a very astute posting, considering the fact that the overwhelming majority of non-US races are run on grass.
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Annie,
Very excited about the move to Oaklawn. I believe it is the best route to get a competitive horse to the Derby however with the move by Santa Anita back to dirt it may be a different situation this year.
BEBC
An no, we are not finished celebrating yet. Or recovering. Very proud of the fact that we drank a vegas casino out of Dom! Tried it once at Caesars. Didnt work. Floor boss called a tko in the 5th with Lil Chok yelling from my corner "Stay down, Stay down"!
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For the Curlin/rachel foal, how about
CURLINSANITY
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David M,
GradeOne Racing is definitely worth the expense. Lil Chok used it during the NHC and sunday we both got nipped at the wire on a 40-1 horse in pk4 which we would not have even looked at if not for info on GradeOne. Workout info seems to be very accurate.
Scianc22,
Congrats and Lil Chok and I will see you at Santa Anita for BC tourny. If you want, we will probably stay in LV and fly over each day. Join us. Have done it this way twice for Breeders Cup and it is great way to travel.
BigEasyBigChok
captcha-sacrament injourno! Is that some inside Gentile joke?
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Ray Manley,
I saw that Claiborne Farm tweeted that on twitter - that's some heritage. They also tweeted that Princequillo started his stud career on this day in 1945 and that Pulpit was born on this day in 1994.
Hope all is well with you and loved ones in the new year.
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BSB,
I guess my earlier post got lost in space..Butts:I also mentioned Len Bias as WHO ? WHAT ? He never even danced.........Lmao........I said how about Sandy Koufax ? He only pitched I think 11 years..& his post season ERA was>0.95....If he wasn't the best pitcher of all-time, or sure as heck 1-2 or 3, I'll buy you a 3 legged Camel.........Just because he didn't play 25 years, doesn't change squat...IMO, the best pitcher EVER...........Somethings are, just what they are..Len Bias ? A Hambone........Zandy Koufax/Landaluce.......Now that makes sense.......
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Formbloggers,
We will be trying out a new blog platform over the next few days so things might look a little different when trying to post or comment. I'm going to try to perfect the system myself before I make my next post. Randy, last week's HG winner, if you could select a race for next week instead of tomorrow's GP heat, that would be great.
Keeping my fingers crossed that all will run smoothly.
Best,
Dan Illman
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Annie, I'll leave him be. I just didn't like him pretending he said something different than what he did say.
I'll watch it again ,but it needs to get better or I won't keep on. Smarty already made me go to my room to watch it. ;-) Sunday nights have Book TV & Prime Ministers questions on. Bernard doesn't like PMs questions ,but I do. :-) I like Book TV too. It lets me know if I want to buy a book or skip it.
That Valentine was the real deal. :-) When I first looked in a mirror it was love at first sight !!! :-) Whats not to love ? Don't answer that !! LOL.
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Alex,
YoumZain was a check collecting plodder in the mold of Giant ch-Oak. Is there a horse in Europe that didn't beat YoumZain ? :-) Duke of Marmalade ?? LOL. This conversation is about Great horses ! Curlin wasn't a Great horse either . Curlins are a dime a doZen. BTW Curlin ran the best 10f of his life that day so that excuse making wine-er JJ was wrong about him not liking synthetic . I watched him train & race over it and he loved it ! He was just too damn FAT & slow. Z's stablemate Tiago out finished Curlin in the same race. Tiago??? Heck, he couldn't even give Z a workout. ;-)
Ravens Pass wasn't faster than Z :-) Z went 146 and change the day before that on essentially the same track except the air was hotter on friday. She never even got her legs extended. She didn't need to. Put 12 seconds on Z's time and she beats Ravens Pass by a few lengths without taking a deep breath. Speculation that Z could put another 1/8th down in 12 seconds or less isn't really much speculation at all. Heck she probably ran that on the gallop out while being pulled up ! Z can run last 1/8ths in 10 & change if need be. The next year was run over a much different surface .
GhostZapper , LOL . That race was run on Halloween . LOL ;-) LSD can we see Ghostzapper's 2yr old record ? I think he broke maiden at Hollypark. I'm doubting it was in 108 or in July.
Nice pick with Ravens Pass though. I played Henry the Navigator with that SLUG Curlin. (Big Dummy :-)
Len Bias got his chance ,but he coked himself to death. If he wouldn't have he never would have been another Jordan. Not even close. Ruffian & Landaluce weren't an urban legend like Len Bias & they didn't commit suicide. Powerin' down the coke before a game will make your heart attack you. Big surpriZe.
No woulda ,coulda, shoulda in the fact Landaluce ran 21 2/5 * 43 4/5* 56* 108 as a 2yr old in early July around a turn. I don't even need to look it up to know none of those Euro Slugs could do that even on a straight. Not even Shiek Albadou , Dayjur, Hever Golf Rose or any of the sprinters when they were full grown.
I've never been to a Euro track & don't really want to. I have seen lots & lots of Euro, Japanese, Australian ,Chinese & Arab races though. I've even bet on some. Not really my cup of tea. I don't like betting 10 horse races with two 5 pronged uncoupled entries, especially when 5 of the prongs are owned by the biggest bookies in the world. In fact if I was Dictator those guys would be banned from racing in America. We have enough domestic crooks already . We don't need to import them. :-)
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The rain in spain stays mainly in the plain... now were going to the track ,best part of the movie !
One other thing about Lord at War . His pedigree is unusual for the conspicuous absence of a single KY bred in his 5 generation pedigree. You don't see that very much no matter what continent a horse is bred on.
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Test - test- this is just a test - But my last post got posted immediately .
BSB, I will try to wield my whip fairly ...if I can find it :)
& no captcha!
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Alex
How lucky for you to be in London, and able to see such fine racing and horses back then.
Landaluce / Len Bias
I had to google his name, as I had no idea what was being talked about here. And I get your comparision.
Landuluce...as a 2 yo (or a yougnster ) was brilliant, but with her untimely passing, no one would get to see more possible greatness if she was able to compete as an 3yo (or later) in the "Big Time' races for those.
Len Bias..obviously had enough talent in College (as a' yougnster') to be drafted as #2 pick by the then defending National Champions New York Celtics, but his untimely passing would never get us to see how great he could have been in the "Big Time' of basketball at the professional level.
This, versus the established records of some of our more celebrated equine, or human athletes.
Thanks for your thoughts, sometimes learning a bit more about other sports ( for me) IS a good thing :)
Bernard Downes
Your diplomatic & MI5 skills are showing. I am totally enjoying what you have been posting , keep them comming ..
Scianc22
Congrats again! and as BEBC mentioned, if you take the LV to BC route ...I'll be here to share a cocktail, or a Pamplemousse :)
Ray Manley
Thanks for the Seattle Slew website & link. Very kind of you .
'nices sur set' ...Yes! that's us...all nice sirs, lol!
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Don't know what memcache is . Don't know how to enable it. Not sure I want to if I did.
Jeff T . It was me . Smarty is my sister not my wife though. My ex-wife would have said, you can go to the track or to your shop or put a cork in it Slim. Those are your 3 choices, make your pick :-) If you choose #1 than you can take the kids with you & don't leave them in the sun too long Mr. Shady . LOL.
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BSB
My Fair Lady , a Classic
Especially at the race track ... "Com' on DOVER, move yer Blooming arse !!
Love it!!
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Curt V,
Having becoming increasingly disillusioned by our recent exchange of posts, in particular yours of Feb 14 05:51, I sat down this morning and drafted a long philosophical piece covering my take on recent sporting history. I wrote that post WW2, America emerged as much the strongest, most affluent, nation on earth, and that this manifested itself in the US domination of sports. I went on to suggest that the World has now changed and that your domination is greatly reduced and in some sports (Tennis? Golf?) it has disappeared completely.
I then started to relate that change to horseracing....But at that point, I suddenly stopped. Firstly, I was becoming too pompous, too dogmatic (and who wants to be too dogmatic?). Secondly, I realised that 99.9% of the people on this blog know that the US is part of the racing world, not the whole of it. And they don't need it rammed down their throats.
So, in answer to your last post, I don't need any road maps thank you. I know your fixation for US dirt racing. You don't need any debate, you know ALL the answers already.
Perhaps it was your earlier conjecture about the "Big Gal"....."struttin her stuff on grass" that led me to think we were discussing a wider subject.
Anyway, no problem. I am out of this "greatest ever" comparison game forever. If I ever should stray into this area again, please shoot me. It would be much more humane.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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SRVegas, c'mon now. Its not nice to tell fibs . So you keep that whip out for the fibber. Not the guy calling fib. He said I was funny & sometimes I am ,but that time I wasn't being funny.
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Scianc22 , thanks for the offer. In my drinking days I would have headed down the mountain immediately and waited until you got there :-) I was a little disappointed in the gouging techniques employed by SA's last Cups & swore I'd never lett'em do that to me again ,but maybe I'll forget about that by fall. If I don't make it, rest assured that I'll keep my fingers crossed for your good luck. Please ,please, no olive branches though ! Ouch those things sting !! ;-)
Really, congrats to you & good luck in the contest and from now until then.
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BEBC, LOL. Get Up ! Get Up ! :-)
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Alex, yes it is fun . I hope you know I was having fun with the speculation. I was enjoying another voice in the discussion. Don't be dissuaded by my manner of argument . I'm just a blowhard sometimes. :-) Sometimes I'll argue the side I don't believe just for the exercise. :-) Landaluce vs. Ruffian , that would have been fun to see.
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Bernard, we get the whole thing on C-SPAN. My favorite channel. Nearly all politics all the time. I'm a political history buff. Not an amatuer like Newt. LOL. I'm a little more well versed than that ! He makes a lot of stuff up. Its easier to follow the threads to whats real when you don't have wings.
You know who the Bookie is you're not fooling me :-)
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Does anybody here besides Calvin & me know how the Hancocks got their start ?
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CurtV , I'm with ya on the greatness of Landaluce,buttZ... you know I don't believe in the Synthetic /Dirt/ Turf thing. That was an excuse made up by losers like The Dogman & Andy for their dismall performances at picking a winner in the BC. Great horses can run on Colorado Blvd.
You probably remember a little old Euro turf horse by the name of Exceller ? :-) I know Slew remembers him. :-) I think he could run on Dirt a little . Or maybe Lord at War ? Bernard why do you think his name was Lord At War ?
I'm thinking some of those losers were thinking dirt was going to mean something to Animal Kingdom ? It didn't.
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Laura , if you could see him bleeding through the lasix that ain't a good sign.
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Well now, My Fair Lady is coming on. Good movie. Its got horse racing in it ! Poor Professor Higgins ...
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MKB Workouts
----------
2/14/12
Palm Meadows - Dirt/fast
Souper Speedy - 5F 1:03.22 Breezing - Katieattherail
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2/15/12
Oaklawn Park- Dirt/muddy
Optimizer- 5F 1:00.20 Breezing - Patrick S...A Bullet!
Santa Anita - dirt/fast
Liaison - 4F 0:47.00 Handily - Laura /IMS
Aqueduct - Inner track/fast
Ancient Rome - 4F 0:49.66 Breezing - Kelley Belles
Hollywood Park - all weather/fast
Rousing Sermon - 4F 0:49.40 Handily - Anderson
Entries:
as Annie mentioned,
Handsome Mike - MPM101
in the 1 1/8M 200K El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate on Saturday.
http://www.drf.com/race-entries/GG/USA/2012-02-18/D/8
Good Luck !
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PGM - good Giant Oak recap. Horseplayers all seem to have the one horse anchor we always play even though we know we shouldn't. I tried Giant Oak a few times and thankfully gave up on him early on. Trainer Block sure had a good year.
P Ensign or others - I see conversations about horizontal betting using an A-B-C, etc system. What makes a horse a A or B in this specific context? Morning line?
Alex - I like the simple point you make that the star struck horses like Landaluce never got a chance to prove it to the extent that a Z got to. 20 races for Ruffian or Landaluce would have been a joy.
The worst feeling I get even today is my bet on Foolish Pleasure v. Ruffian. As a teenager I took my lawn mowing money for the week ($10) to the local bookie and bet FP. Memory blurred on specific times but it seems after a torrid 6F in about 1:08 and change Ruffian was no longer with us. I got about $8 profit and can't forget the bad feeling.
I see Larry Jones is sending both Valecki and Mr. Bowling into the Risen Star. Possibly still an aversion to Pat Pope intact. Hopefully it works out. Just stay home in New Orleans and run over nice FG surface. I see OP may be splitting the Southwest Stakes. Pope says two great fields can be assembled. I did not realize there were 21 good 3 year olds at OP or willing to ship in. I would rather see one very competitive field rather than two fields with a bunch of NW1 types with 70-75 BSF. Just me, to each his own. Going to FG for the first time in mid-March. Supposed to be a good thing unveiling. Any tips on FG or good places to stay would be appreciated.
Bodemeister ran big and blew me out of several tickets at SA. I took one Baffert but not both due to low odds. The final time was under 1:35 so that caught my eye. While Bode went wire to wire, Stirred Up closed late but it was already over. I usually only play Lemon Drop Kid's on turf or synthetics. Most seem to need lots of ground and always come running late in the race. I will be reverting back to that to that old rule. Why take Lemon Drop Kid over an Empire Maker on dirt when making pedigree plays? Does not work for me.
GradeOneracing - anyone using this regularly? My free subscription is ending and I was thinking of signing on. I do like the workout information. Trip lines seem bit more in depth. They have a preferred list of horses they like. Problem I see there is it is massive. Same race may have multiples watch horses. I prefer the AVOID types they offer. They do say avoid a few that exhibited issues in their works or races. Those were helpful. I can see the workouts being valuable at KEE but not sure they will cover the track. Now they have SA, GP, and AQU. It is $375 annually so with the DRF annual, HRTV online computer subscriptions, Race Replay subscriptions, Direct TV for TVG, road trips to tracks I can see I need to win the 2013 National DRF Handicapping contest to just to cover my fixed costs. Maybe Congress can consider a bailout for the horse players.
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Keith L.,
Drill ? I said before that race in La.{Sabercat} that Drill was a false favorite. I then said to put a Fork in him in his latest fiasco. Now, forget the Fork, & go immedaitely to the Shish Kabob..That horse is going nowhere fast.....He is NOT coming East.......Oh!! Even if he decides to run a little bit, & that's about all he can do......Save the plane fare.......What do you see in that horse ? He is another, The Factor-less........
Ray My Man, Manley,
How shall I say this ? 1st..Thank you....SeattleSlew.com ? Now !! Let's see. I've got books, the DVD, the VHS, Belts, Pictures, Angel Cordero's #, Hats {the Black & the Yellow one}, Shirts, & a matching set of Jersey's..Coffee Cups, Drinking glasses, Portraits........& my memories, Priceless..
BTW:the Taylor's are nuts{cuckoo birds}......They did their best to destroy him......Just to run for those owners is a true accomplishment....Indeed a testament to the greatness of the horse himself.
Jess Jackson is a pussycat compared to them......of course after the TC & they made the money, then they became nice, except for the race in Cali, when Turner told them the horse was sick, & they opted for commercials w/Xerox.....Turner was right..The horse almost died....Turner got fired, but was justified & then the Taylors blamed Turner...WTF ? Talking about reverse blame ? That's enough...Off the soapbox....Thanx again, my man...........
The Old Coggers ? What can I say ? They always usually say that..My Dad is 83 & he's got Frequent Flyer Mileage to all the tracks..He's been there & done 'em all...& he still works everyday & hasn't lost a step..He's got all his faculties......Go ask him..He'll smile & tell you it's a NO Brainer..
Seattle Slew, hands down..despite that other horses' jockey, Eddie Arcaro...Who himself said about the '77 Ky. Derby...."That is the finest demonstration of a horse in any race I have ever witnessed....">>>Now that was Eddie Arcaro........Think he knew a little bit about Citation ?
Now, what this has to do with Grass horses, I'll never tell............Rofl..........
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PGM,
Oh man!!! Funny stuff....Re:Giant Oak.......That 1982 tri-colored Citation just about had me in stitches.......You could have used the Ford Pinto also......rear-ends & exploding gas tanks..LoL...
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Curt,
Your "joke" about Americans being the best dirt horses in the world was so funny, everyone forgot to laugh except you. Does this sound like a joke or a serious statement?
"... the American horses are the finest DIRT horses in this Universe... American horses are a superior breed on DIRT."
That might be the finest impression of Captain Obvious I've ever seen. It was a real knee-slapper too. If Johnny Carson were still here, he might invite you to sit down next to Ed. Bravo!
My rhetorical question was not nearly as convoluted as your humor. Are you not the one that went on and on a few days ago about age being a major factor and how 3yos can look brilliant against their peers, yet are bad bets against elders? It seems like a contradiction to put Landaluce, who only raced 5 times against other 2yo fillies, in the all-time best category, while slighting a horse like Zarkava (who beat elders in the Arc as a 3yo filly) because she's a European who ran on grass. I'm not sure how that logic works.
If you want to call it a stupid and inane comment, that's fine. Until you can intelligently argue the points of a discussion, it doesn't mean a thing. I'm not holding my breath for that though. You'll just make more jokes that only make sense to you.
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Bernard Downes,
Here's a tweet from the world of twitter:
Dabirsim will sidestep the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in favour of the French equivalent.
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/12/02/15/RACING_Dabirsim.html&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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Keith L, gordon p
Thanks Keith for passing on that beyer for Street Life. Ouch ! Not too impressive. More support for gordon's statement about maidens in Feb. Oh well, I will still be cheering him on when he faces winners for the first time.
Dick W
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Curlin - Rachael Foal
...who said ' Curling Iron ' ? I liked that one :)
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Just catching up on my reading and want to say hello to everyone.
I was working all weekend on a lawsuit for a client (who was "pro se") and was watching some races in between drafts and phone calls. I do recall seeing Slim Shady on the track (warming up) and he looked like a $1M dollars. Talk about busting up the Pick 4's/Pick 6's. You had to be pretty lucky or skeptical to look past the #'s 2, 4, & 8. I read where some of you (I think BSB and Alfredo come to mind) actually took a stab at the #7 (Slim Shady).
What I don't recall is: Which one of you was singing the Slim Shady rap song where their wife was patiently waiting for the race to run? Was that you BSB? I found that amusing because I often do silly things like "singing" to alleviate the pressure when I'm playing horse races. I sing the horse's name that I'm taking a shot with and, as I recall; it all started with the "Fusaichi Pegasus" maiden race when he was even money. Some of my compadres at the OTB ask me to "tone it down a bit" when I don't process the pressure (octavely speaking) well.
I sure wish I had the time to go to Florida for the Formblogger's convention. I can't think of anything more enjoyable than solidifying friendships that were initiated at a distance/electronically... AND then being able to play the races with them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck to all for the rest of the week and weekend racing.
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Virgin Queen
You're welcome. I'm glad I could contribute something you can use.
Annie
Thanks for asking BSB to be nice. I was looking around for my whip :)
C
... you are C-racking me up, lol !!
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Oh Oh! It's on..last post I got a "You must use the PECL memcatched or memcatched extensions to use memcatch.inc"! New platform jitters now....hope that last post went through!
Keith L.
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Dick W. and Gordon P.:
Your discussion of the 3 yr old Street Life's recent maiden win at Aqueduct (he got a 69 Beyer for his impressive looking closing run, I believe) reminded me about another late starting 3 yr old at Aqu I posted about a few weeks ago.
The Lumber Guy, a son of Grand Slam out of the Unbridled's Song mare Boltono won going away by 9&1/2 lengths in a 6f debut opener on Jan 28th. Some pretty quick fractions didn't disuade him cruizing to victory with a 90 Beyer...and his trainer, Hushion, was quoted as saying that he knew the dam's offspring and distaff family very well, and they will go long!
I think that one might have a better chance for a NY bred to show up in the Gotham or Wood next, especially as he has come back already to breeze a sub :48 4f; 3rd of 38 at the distance.
Oh, and yes, he is a PGH!
jimi:
When no less a conservative financial media house as Forbes runs an article alerting their readers to the Vegas Sportsbook Derby Futures wagering, there must be something good to be gained from venturing there, no?
VQ:
I wouldn't shy away from betting Drill in the San Vicente over Creative Causeway. It seems that sprinting is very much Drill's game, and he beat the gray before. Besides, you're probably sure to get playable odds!
With Liasion and Sky Kingdom disappointing in the Robert Lewis, don't lose hope that, depending on the outcome this weekend, Drill doesn't get back on the Derby Trail in one way or another.
Keith L.
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well the ole MKB gives it another try to tomorrow...trying to build some small small 50 cent pick four tickets with Sir Bond's race being the second leg...and it doesn't look easy...so if anyone is playing the FG Thursday 2/16...I'm open for suggestions...
Right now looking at Race 6 (leg one) 25 K Claimers N3L 1 m on turf...
will use the (1) Vee.as an A..sired by LeroiD of A kingdom fame...He cuts back a 1/16 of a mile from his last race at FG (ALW 41 K) went to the lead and backed up in a rain by good turf course....He is no speed demon...but maybe the closet thing to being near the lead
Looking at two, on the B tickets...the (2) Here Oui Go again beat the 1 in the last race, but she comes from wayyy back. She likes the FG turf course. The (3) Ellsive Wildcat looks like she's bred to be more of a sprinter (Forest Wildcat-Elusive Air)...has run well in two sprints at FG this meet at around this level. Bernie Flint clicks at 26% going sprint to route, have to wonder if he was trying to sharpen her up with those dashes to go long...
As a C-The (5) Suede Shoe is the wildcard...ran her turf races in France, where she was close but had just two thirds in 5 outs...Won an All at MNR last fall...then flopped in Dec in a Clm 30 K on the Poly at TP...hasn't run since....but really working well
The 7th is a real headscratcher...46 K MSW at 1 1/26
Four horses as an A (1) Henny One gets a nice draw...finished fourth behind two of the A's...Sir Bond and Proper Empire...Shane Sellers for Josie Carroll...should be close to what shouldn't be a cooking pace. Sir Bond drew the 11 hole...which could be a problem...same for Proper Empire (9)...both horse got hung wide last race...but still seem to have the breeding to get the distance....Now to contradict myself, the sneaky A horse is the 13-Last Gunfighter for Helen Pitts...He ran third in his debut, finishing 2/14 lengths behind Lake Victor, who came back last Saturday to win an allowance. Even though he's drawn widest...he comes out a sprint and seems to have some tactical foot...hoping he'll sit behind one of the horses I'll use for a (b) which is the 6-Global Money. He was hard bet in his debut at CD last fall...where he showed speed in the slop and stopped....a month ago, on the stretch out at the FG he did the same..got out and quit...but that was his first trip around two turns. The other B is Carroll's other entry (2)Coolymore Place...just missed 3rd last month in a MSW FG 6f...but man, Josie's numbers with maidens making 2nd start (32%) as well as Sprint to Route (26%) are killing
The 8th...is an OC 40K at 1M 70 y. Looks like two A's The (3) Cease comes off a 5th place finish in the BC Marathon, where he led heading into the stretch after a pretty good clip. Before the BC, he ran three fine races on the dirt...breaking his maiden with 102 Beyer at the Spa in the slop...came back to win another mudder...the lost the lead in the Hawthorne Gold Cup and finished 3rd behind Headache and Where's Sterling, who as we all know had a bad trip in the Donn (grrrrr). His trainer Al Stall hits at 34% off the bench The drawbacks...Drawbacks.. works aren't too hot (is he really ready to run, or is this a prep?) and his race times aren't that great. The other (A) is Inrattini (4). He brined chalk last month at this distance/level in his first race since Nov. However he chased Nate's Mineshaft who ran a 1 mile 70 in 1:41.4...Very nice work last week...likes the distance and the FG.
Heading to the 9-MSW 46 K...Turf. Two A's...The (1) Doozer, ran well in his turf debut at a mile last month at the FG...drew the 9 hole...hung 3 wide...he slipped to 5th but only finished 3 1/2 back...the show horse came back to wire his maiden and then win again last week with a 77 beyer...Love James Graham on the turf...and off come the blinks which is a (33%) move for M Stidham. The other A is the 5 Encyclical, who finished ahead of Doozer last race, running second...his other turf try found him rallying for for fourth, after getting hung wide
Will throw the (3) Forgotten Vow on a b ticket...He had a wide trip in a poly sprint at WO...but I'm thinking a Broken Vow get might get better with some distance...some popping works and again, his trainer Josie Carroll does well with 2nd Maidens and Sprint to Route....
Thanks for letting me borrow the blog to think out loud...Best of luck to all!
Captcha-they datahoo....Whom you choose to date is your own business...
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And here's the part you wouldn't understand if it fell out of the sky & hit you in the noggin'....oops!!
LoL....I almost forgot......
You are the Good Humor-less Man.........LoL........You actually believe that I don't know, Euro's are mainly Grass & the USA are mainly Dirt.....Duh? Anybody home ? OMG.......Leave it to you to ruin a running joke......I can't help it if you ask a serious convoluted question on this blog that has me cracking up w/laughter......How else can I possibly answer something so inane ? The answer is:>>
Something just as stupid...........
Posted by C
>> "Well, Landaluce only raced against 2yo fillies and Zarkava won perhaps the most prestigious open grass race in the world, so what does that mean?"
>> "It means Zarkava won a race on grass.........."
I get it now...You really don't know why I forgot to include the Lmao..or LOL....or rofl..........Okay..here it is.....
>>"It means Zarkava won a race on grass...........">>LoL>rofl...Lmao..I'm sorry...Me bad....Heeheehee.....Phew !!!!! You are one tough comic.......
BSB,
Help a brother out, again..............LoL..........OMG.......OMG..........PleaZe Lord.......
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David M,
The A or B use is from Steve Crist, check out Ticketmaker, and you as a handicapper decide who your A or B and even C horses will be. I honestly don't see "Ds" mentioned too often.
You have quite an outlay for the many tools you use in your pursuit for profits. GradeOne is no doubt superior for works. They now have more clockers scattered through the country than ever. Last year I was on board with them for the entire year. I'm not a big player and felt that $375 for this year was not really that beneficial to my bottom line. If I was on the NHC trail, I probably would have resubbed, but I'm not. Have you noticed you are on more live horses than before your subscription?
I did notice you were subscribing to Direct TV in order to get TVG and you also sub to HRTV.com. You would be much better off if you could switch to DISH TV since they carry both TVG and HRTV.
A new platform for our beloved Formblog. That I'm looking forward to and it will not cost us one red cent!
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Alex,
I enjoyed your "Zarkava" "apogee" post. Didn't she lose lengths at the start and still won.
I was interested in your Ascot comment. The new grandstand is an impressive piece of architecture, but you should have seen the previous one - a bit dated in appearance, but a whole lot more atmospheric. I was there for the opening of the new granstand (Royal Ascot 2006?), but I was so disappointed by the standing view, I walked out and got a refund. After a barrage of criticism the Ascot authorities reshaped the steppings to give racegoers a better view.
Calvin,
Thanks for the info on Dabirsim. My previous speculation was way off - sorry. It will be interesting to see how both races shape up.
Blackseabass,
Allowing for some natural exaggeration, I was intrigued by your reference to "5 pronged uncoupled entries". I take it you are not a fan of uncoupled entries? I don't like horses run as pacemakers (Coolmore fashion), but as long as every uncoupled horse runs on its merits, I am okay with it. By the way, which Bookie owns multiple horses?
So you were serious about Prime Minister's Question Time. Do you get the full 30 minutes, or an edited version? US TV must be desperate on Sunday nights.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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David M
Think Michael Beychok may have answered your ??'s about Gradeoneracing.com in his guest column today at that site. I have been using it primarily for the workout info by Bruno de Julio and his crew....I also play the free contests there as they can be quite lucrative.
Regards
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Fellow Thongs & Boxers,
It's that time of year again. The annual Road To The Roses Contest (a/k/a RTTR). As I have for the last four years, I've set up the DRF BLUE BOXERS AND THONGS League. Here's how to enter.
Go to http://www.roadtotheroses.com and sign up. If you've signed up in previous years, you don't need to sign up again, just enter your stable name and password.
2. Create your stable. Select 15 horses, 2 jockeys & 2 trainers, name and verify your stable, then pick 2 power horse.
3. Once your stable is created, you can join a league. On the left side of the webpage, you will see your stable name. Under your stable name you will find the titles in light gray "Power Horses "Remaining Stable" and "Stable name Leagues" Under "Leagues" you will find a link to join or manage a league.
4. The "Create or Join a League page will appear. Click on Join A League. Enter the following:
League Identifier: 647939968
Activation Code: 2173828917
You can create up to three stables.
5. Here are the rules of the game: http://www.roadtotheroses.com/G=98/official_rules.phtml
Every week, you will pick 3 horses from your stable as power horses for the upcoming stakes races. You can add horses during the two supplemental draft periods (March 19 & April 16). I'll post when the drafts are open, plus you'll receive a reminder email from RTTR.
Every week, I'll post the leaders in the game. If you have any questions, please email me at: lross@ironmaidensthoroughbreds.com
Laura
Uh oh, here we go again with blog changes. Hope it goes more smoothly than last time. Remember, if we have problems posting, it isn't Dan's fault, so don't shoot the sheriff!
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For those interested, sign-ups are open for the "Road To The Roses" fantasy challenge. Had fun with it last year, and another way (in addition to MKB horses) to have fun with the preps without monetary investment :)
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Annie
CASTAWAY, hic'-up ...Cheers ! Squeal !
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Tueday notes...
Happy Valentine's Day to all of the Blue Thong's out there....
BSB
You are funny fisherman. When I mentioned about backing up Annie with a bankroll, the thought process was to help out with cashing some of those Pick 5's at SA... It was killing me that she was spot on, but always coming up short because of leaving off that one horse. Missing a $1,300 pick 5 for 50 cents because of leaving off a horse that she liked, is a big kick in the aarrss!!! Just a thought. I know that she doesn't need any help in her selection's, but day after day, it seems that she gets stung by missing one of the five races.
Annie
If you watched the Sunday payoffs in the early pick 5 at SA, what a payoff they gave the players.
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. D
5. A
Payoff for 50 cents was $672.70 !!!! One of the winners was 1/5 !!!
Let's get to the Pick 6. I know that you do not play it much, but here we go.....
4. D 15-1
5. A Fav
6. A Fav
7. B 5-1
8. A Fav
9. A Fav
Payoff = $41,418.40 !!!! Big payoff with those tickets....JMO
Sunday at GP. Bridge Jumper Alert !!
Fit the profile; Race #4 Pletcher / John V. 1/5 Shot 6 HF
This champ finished last and was bet big all over. Big in the show pool....
Payoffs were: $20.00 / $10.40 / $8.80 to show. A little light....
Good luck this week to all!!!
Whackymacky Out!!!
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Thanks guys for all the well wishes. It really means a lot. I havent exactly been a regular contributor to the blog for a while but I still read from time to time so it was awesome to read that I havent been forgotten. Thank you for lifting my spirits as I have been in the worst slump of my horseplaying career. It was great to bust out of it a little and it couldnt have come at a better time.
Those of you that know me know how long I have been trying to qualify for Vegas and the Breeders Cup Challenge. After more bad beats that can be counted it was truly awesome to get off the schneid. I had just about given up on contest playing and was going to take the year off but Little Chok, Alan, and Lenny inspired me with their great runs in Vegas. They give me a little confidence back and it paid off. So A special thanks to those 3 guys for getting me back in the game.
Now if anybody can find their way to get to the breeders cup this year LMK because I will be buying the 1st few rounds after Fridays races. I dont know how much bankroll I will have left after Saturday:) so Friday is the safer play for me.
BSB I know we've had our differences in the past but if the cobra can make his way out for the BC, the mongoose would like to extend the olive branch and by some venom shots.
Take care
Scianc22
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SRVegas
thx 4 the link 2 the sportbooks
i can use that
VQ
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i'd like 2 wish all the Blue Boxers happy *VD* especially the formblog Romeo KeithL
VQ
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"Well, Landaluce only raced against 2yo fillies and Zarkava won perhaps the most prestigious open grass race in the world, so what does that mean...."
It means Zarkava won a race on grass..........
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bobc
..thank YOU! It's nice to see you back :)
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"1. A
2. A
3. A
4. D
5. A
Payoff for 50 cents was $672.70 !!!! One of the winners was 1/5 !!!
Let's get to the Pick 6. I know that you do not play it much, but here we go.....
4. D 15-1
5. A Fav
6. A Fav
7. B 5-1
8. A Fav
9. A Fav"
Okay - first, I just finished watching round one of "luck" and can't say I'm very impressed.
the way my teller takes it, that ticket would have been $3240, not $864, and I would have had 19, not 15, consos, but hey, that's just me, I do math... (although the likelihood of co-favorites paying exactly the same for 6/6 is virtually nil, and I'm pretty sure I've never seen and probably never will).
with reference to the above - yes, "a" horses win most often, followed by "b" horses and so on - the trick, the ultimate separator trick is knowing which "a" horses to use, which "b" horses to use, and, as above, which "d" horses.
I know it sounds obvious, but when you say "adding one horse" of course, if you miss by one, that's how many horses you would have needed to add.
- the $600 or $41,000, or million dollar question is would you have chosen that one right horse? (and of course, to add said horse, might you have removed one of the other right horses...)
case in point, last week I played the SA carryover on Sunday and singled something called Imperialistic Diva. She ran second at 14 or 15 to one, (longest shot on ml?) and with a 5/2 shot winning that race the p-6 paid almost $2k. I had no problem missing that payoff, as I don't play p-6's to hit small, (that's what exactas and trifectas are for) and this was the race where I saw the most obvious value.
Had my horse started her run a little earlier and gotten past what turned out to be a game frontrunner, the payoff would have pretty easily hit 5 figures - (and with a scratch earlier into a fave, would have given me the sequence twice.)
I did everything right, but my horse, my separator horse, came up a length short. That day it did and I can live with it, because on the good days it wins and so do I.
The a,b,c thingy makes it sound all easy, but you still gotta pick the right a's in the right races and, most important, the right d's in the right races...
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& one more thing.....BC @Santa Anita in 2008 was an All-Weather Track.......That aint Dirt........More Apples & Oranges........
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meathead01,
Funny comment..I see you said you can't/won't use a cell phone.......Holy poop Batman, please tell me you aren't still looking for "Phone Booths".......LoL.......
Hey, what's it they like to say........."Oh, stop being "Provincial"..........I love it when they use that word........Like they're not ?........Lmao......9x's........
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Dear BSB,
Happy Valentines Day you handsome devil :-) I really love you a lot :-) I don't think I could live without you :-) I really mean that :-) Forever yours xoxoxo !
Your ardent admirer
BSB
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Bernard Downes,
I was just thinking..See if this will help you out..It's right up your alley..
LANDALUCE>the Slewster is the sire..If her Pop doesn't get you, then how about the rest.......
BOLD RULER- 2X's>Top & Bottom>He was the leading sire for a GaZillion years.......
PRINCEQUILLO{IRE}>2X's>Top & Bottom>Did you see Ireland ?
NASRULLAH{GB}>2X's>Top & Bottom>Did you see Great Britain ?
Care to argue about Princequillo & Nasrullah ?>>>>.........especially Nasrullah{GB}.....LoL........
Do you really want to see Pegasus fly ? Please see the the link next, Sir........
http://www.pedigreequery.com/landaluce
Move your cursor to the small icon of the horse, to the right of, her name in bold>LANDALUCE
& click it.........Look at the picture.......They are all in the air..........Her legs.......
Pay attention to her all four legs.........She flies Bernard...She flies..Pegasus is real Bernard.....
She set her WORLD record in a 6F race & she only won by 21 Lengths....Heeheeheeheeheehee.....
Allen Poe,
I'm glad I took notice of your comment. It seems I did indeed miss it, Union Rags does have the Slew. Capote/Slew. Now, that just may change my view....I can't spot them all......You must be paying attention then..You went out of your way to find that out.......Uhm...Very interesting....LoL...
Is it rubbing off ?>Heeheehee..........
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" I think that if you post your picks earlier,*I* will put in some alls and hit some of those plays"
Just where in there does it say anything about backing up Annie with a bankroll to help her out Whacky ?
It doesn't say that, because that isn't what you said and it isn't what you meant.
You meant what you said and I meant what I said.
No secret code . No interpretation needed. Nothing ambiguous about it.
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I have to inquire... Have the folks who are (somewhat jingoistically) writing off Euros been to a European racetrack? Watched much European racing? I was living in London in late 2008 and I bet the Prix Zarkava won (not Zarkava either...) and she was impressive. She beat Youmzain, Soldier of Fortune, Vision d'Etat and Duke of Marmalade. The Aga Kahn himself called her the apogee (apex/culmination, for those who may need to look this one up) of his family's century-long breeding practices, and I venture to say he's seen a few good ones in the stables over the year. Speaking of betting, I was also fortunate to have Raven's Pass at 10-1 (if I remember) while I was at Ascot (by far the nicest track I've ever been to) in the QEII & won 100 pounds of beer money (for the 3rd annual beer festival they had at the track, which was dry by the 5th race or so, but that's another story...). I had him in the Breeder's Cup too when I got back to the States where he dusted Curlin, &c., in the fastest time since one Ghostzapper - faster than Big Z, Invasor, Tiznow, ans Sunday Silence, 4 of my all-time favorites. Woulda, coulda, shoulda is a low form of conversation. Landaluce was an absolute freak, but the circumstances don't always allow things to unfold. Was Len Bias better than Michael Jordan? Well, he could have been, but he never got the chance. This is cut-and-dry, this is why Zenyatta is greater than Landaluce or, my gal, Ruffian: she had the opportunity to be. No one in their right mind would say Len Bias is the G.O.A.T., because he never got the chance to be. Jordan got the chance and was. Like Z, Slew, &c. It is a sad and special pantheon that indivduals like Landaluce and Ruffian and Len Bias occupy, but projection isn't 6 championships, or 20: 19-1-0. It just isn't.
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Bernard Downes,
I don't know what you want me to tell you. I mentioned Princequillo{IRE} & Nasrullah{GB} in a very favorable light. Did you actually read my post ? They made up what constituted LANDALUCE, along with the Slewster. Do you want me to draw you a road map ? Do you want me to walk alongside you ? It could have been very possibly the reason for her greatness. So, what part of the comment don't you understand ? Do you have great horses ? Yes....Butts: You have to run on grass. & Quite frankly, there aint a Euro horse who can run on Dirt, past or present, worth a fiddler. Your track record is abysmal...Another words, just to be clear..On Dirt, they stink.........I don't need to hear the pontification of Euro horses..I bet them all the time on grass. They are a superior breed to any on this Planet, Earth...If that aint enough, I'll make it the Milky Way Galaxy. Butts: On GRASS only.......Conversly, the American horses are the finest DIRT horses in this Universe..Seriously man, you need to get a grip. American horses are a superior breed on DIRT.
Now, this should clear up any ambiguity.......I don't respect any horses on DIRT, other than the United States of America........I say Dirt, you say Grass....Now, who cares ? Go pick a winner...& Collect....That much I can tell you....makes no difference to any of us.........$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ talks.
Next thing your'e gonna tell me, Great Britain has many Heavyweight Boxing Champs....Lmao........
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Just a note regarding Shack's lackluster performance in the Donn.
I'm sure Dale Romans has his reasons to omit possible reasons why Shack quit halfway through the race, but I was standing past the finish line and watch Shack come loping back. It was obvious that he bled through the Salix and he looked like a very tired horse. Just a feeling, but I think last year's campaign took something out of this hard-trying horse and he may not be the same this year.
Laura
ufree passenger - I do not have passengers! I shower and use flea/tick powder daily!
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gordon p
Thank you for the apology. I accept. I will also apologize for being such a cranky old fart with my reply. You caught me in a bad moment. I also suspect that you are correct about maidens running this time of year. And while I have some knowledge of pedigree, I am by no means a pedigree expert. So I am not sure what to make of Street Life's pedigree. I was a big fan of Street Sense, however, and keep an I out for his offspring and would like to see him prosper as a sire. Anyway, we will see soon enough whether he (Street Life) can cut it against winners. I still think he made a nice stretch run on a track that tends to favor speed. Peace.
Dick W
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I thought I heard it said that it meant, My Sweetcake, but the soundtrack for this crumb of a show leaves a lot to be desired.
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Patrick S
Thanks for the heads up on the RTTR opening up. I enjoy this each year :) Good luck !
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Bernard Downes , Landaluce was never a wager. She went off at 2/5 -1/20. She was just a horse to watch. I would say this with a fair degree of confidence. She would easily beat any colt on the Derby trail this year on either side of the Atlantic. No problemo.
Those 108s were at Hollypark . That was a 97 speed rating with a 16 variant. Believe me when I say this ,California sprinters on Saturdays back in those days weren't slow. They were and really for the most part still are, the fastest sprinters in the world horse for horse top to bottom. Turf or dirt. So that wasn't on any souped up asphalt track like The Factor was running on. That was a loose dusty Hollypark track that hadn't seen a drop of rain in months most likely.
She wasn't going to be just a sprinter . She won a gr. I at 8.5 F in 141 and change on cruise control as a 2yr old .
I didn't mention Zarakava because I never saw her live. I've seen the video. She was a runner with a real nice kick. Regardless of what C said , Zarakava would have found herself with an awful lot to do against Landaluce. It wouldn't have been any cakewalk tracking a bum of a rabbit & then punch it in the last 1/16th.
Zarakava would have to have had a Zenyatta like kick. She didn't . No shame in that . Nobody else did either.
My guess is Zarakava would have got tired trying to stay in touch with a real pace and her kick would have flattened out like the Great Plains. Thats just a guess and it could be wrong. I've been wrong a couple of times. :-)
You know I don't have a Euro bias or I wouldn't mention The Tetrarch or Ormonde so often. I wouldn't say Frankel could have won the TC last year. He could have ! Shack keeping up with Frankel ? Don't make me laugh. Frankel is a BSBFFF 1. To bad his trainer is a gelding. Like Hollendorfer was with King Glorious. The horse that Whittingham wanted no part of with Sunday Silence. The best horse nobody ever heard of.
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Blackseabass,
Re "greatest ever" horses, I agree its fun to speculate, but you are even more spot on by saying its a matter of opinion. I suppose thats what got my goat (temporarily) about Curt V's post. He seemed to be reading from the Ten Commandments, not expressing an opinion.
Landaluce, a 2 yr old against exceptional 3 yr olds, without a "weight break"? On grass I would have taken your money all day, until you squealed.
A more general point, one thing to bear in mind in any comparison is the style of racing. Curt mentioned Landaluce winning by 47 lengths in 5 races. Incredible. But thats not the way we race over here. Remember, SLOW, SLOW and then a sprint at the finish. Our horses are trained in a similar fashion. They run comfortably behind a lead horse and are then encouraged to finish just in front.
That why Frankel has grabbed so many headlines with his unusual racing style. He never wants to race slowly and so he has picked up some impressive winning distances himself. In his 7 Group races (including 5 Group 1s) he has so far won by 32 lengths and, hopefully, he has not finished just yet.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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Curt V,
I am going to break yet another promise by responding for a second time to your "greatest" posts.
You can eulogise about any any number of US horses, you can post any number of exceptional performances, and it proves nothing.
Forget breeding, forget cumulative wining distances, until you can recognise that in the last 230 years we have had a few decent horses in Europe, it is a totally pointless exercise. In what other sport do you only keep the score for one team?
I don't sense you are close to being crazy, just fixated with your own point of view. Fair enough. Sorry for wasting your time.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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Castellano choosing Algorithms is much ado about nothing. As of a few days ago, Castellano had 5 potential mounts and 4 of them were trained by Pletcher. Matz wanted an immediate answer, but committing to Union Rags at this stage might've left Castellano with nothing if the horse didn't make it. It's mid-February; a lot can go wrong from now until Derby day. This doesn't necessarily mean Castellano thinks Algorithms is so much better than Union Rags. The agent said they would've preferred to make their decision after both horses worked, but Matz was pressuring them for an answer. Castellano sticking with Pletcher is just the smart move, nothing more. This means absolutely nothing from a handicapping standpoint for me, although Algorithms may be the better choice anyway.
Bernard,
"From what I have read about Landaluce, she was an exceptional 2 yr old. But fate denied her the opportunity to prove her worth. You cannot award titles for what might have been."
I have to agree. Landaluce did more in 5 races than many do in a career. She was brilliant, but how should one compare her to, say, Zarkava? Totally different fillies. They really cannot be compared very easily.
There was a lot of discussion a few days ago about 3yos being at a disadvantage against 4yo+ because they only compete against other 3yos until the end of the season. Well, Landaluce only raced against 2yo fillies and Zarkava won perhaps the most prestigious open grass race in the world, so what does that mean? They were both brilliant in their short careers, but Zarkava did more and beat better, plain and simple. There is nothing else to really compare them on.
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DaZed and Confused , LOL . doggone it I like you big fella . LOL. At least at the moment ;-)
Congratulations to Scianc 22 on winning the free buy ! He had Shack in the Preakness. He's good. Funny too. Mixing up his cliches and stuff like that when he gets mad and goes on a berating mission . :-) He says it like he means it ! I wish him luck in the contest.
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very sorry dick w. I did see the race and he charts. the ny bred comment was my mistake. I still belive any three year maiden running this time of year leaves much to be desired'
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longwaytomay,
I hear ya. The future wagers, to me, always seemed like a place you go to when you have a nice feeling about a horse that you expect to be a short price come derby day. A few years ago I liked Pioneerof the Nile early on, so I took him at double-digits in a future KNOWING he would be low odds in May because he was already fairly high profile, was Zayat/Baffert's #1, & I thought double-digits looked pretty nice on him, especially when he came into the stretch and took the lead, but we all know what happened after that...
So much of the Derby money goes to the big name juveniles and/or big name trainers, & all those types are in the futures pool. Those types will be low prices in May. The horses that make up the field are the late bloomers, or under-the-radar types. They'll be the high half of the odds. Why take them collectively at 3/2 when they'll individually be much better prices Derby day?
I would never bet the field. I would never be Union Rags at 7/1 either. Only small amounts on horses I personally like at high double-digit odds. Did I put a small sum on Sabercat at 34-1? Yes I did. What I like futures for is to get a better price on a good horse, not a bad price on a group of horses likely to go off at long odds down the road. It seems kind of antithetical, or just silly, like betting the NFL's London game or something: for those who really need the action...
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Annie,
Thanks for the alert about the jockey (agent?) choosing ALGORITHMS. I hope they are good judges of a racehorse.
I thought they might go that way because, over here, you can never be certain that a horse has trained on from 2 to 3 yrs. That said, with your timed workouts, that shouldn't be such an important question.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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Curt V,
Just read your post to SR Vegas and Keith L. Life must be pretty simple when you are so certain of even the most difficult assessments.
Your Slewster more influential than Northern Dancer? Landaluce better than Goldikova? Better than Miesque or Dahlia or Allez France or Zarkava? Are you sure?
Me, I wouldn't have the nerve to be so certain, not in front of an audience of experienced race fans. Certainly not without offering a few words of evidence, or at least listing the criteria you are using to judge horses from different generations.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
P.S. Of course, this could be another joke, in which case LOL.
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Annie
I just saw that Discreet Dancer did have a workout yesterday. Looks like his malady might have been a mild one. Hope he is back on track for some graded earnings.
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gordon p
If you want to take a cheap shot at my comments regarding Street Life, at least get your facts correct. Who said anything about N Y breds ? This was an OPEN MSW $65,000 race which happened to be run at Aqueduct. All were KY bred except one ON bred. The following trainers had horses in this race: Pletcher, McPeek, Zito, Breen, Rodriguez and Chad Brown had the winner. Ever hear of any of these guys ? Besides, I did not say the horse would win the Derby or even get to the Derby. I only said he made a very impressive stretch run. And he did ! Did you watch the race ? Or the replay ? Or even look at the chart ? I'm guessing not. Don't be so quick to throw dirt on someone's comment who is merely reporting what he saw. Of course he needs to move on to the next level to prove himself. Of course he could be just another one of the hundreds of 3 year olds who don't make it to the big races. But that was a very impressive move he made and I wish him well.
Dick W
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Keith L.,
Sorry, I put the hex on our play! The winner Layers was much the best! I am hoping to see AV in an n3l'er or a conditional claimer when they resume AQU turf racing in April. I like the horse (as well as the breeder and owner!)
Jonah,
Our buddy scianc22 is a great horseplayer and his contest success this weekend was long overdue! And they better watch out at SA this fall, because this is the Year of the Formblogger! Go Mari...uh, scianc22!
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David M.,
I'll concur with bobc's thoughts; just indicate you're going to _______ track on _______ day, leave your email, and there's a good chance someone will take you up on the offer.
One area with a good pool of FormBloggers is Chicago (for each of the three full seasons I've been going to Arlington/Hawthorne, there's been a meetup of some sort).
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meathead01,
You asked somebody for Dick W's moniker, so I thought I'd post it again, & include the others just in case you ask. This is a repeat. God man, have you learned to copy & paste yet ? How many times have I asked you to e-mail me & I said you'll get it in no time flat..Tell me you remember me offering my help ?
Precocity (Jeffrey)
smarty jones
mrboots (blackseabass)
baltimore_brian
p ensign
Pick Em Right (Patrick S)
mbernier7389
Pig Bodine
tencentcielo
Double espresso (Ned Daly)
Anderson
meathead01
Ouzo Tower (Alfredo)
Dick_W
BSB,
Damn......I read that post about LANDALUCE 3x's before moving on to the other posts. I've never done that before. Man, that was good. That's right up there. I dare say I couldn't have said it better myself. You know which part I may disagree with though ? BUTTS:I doubt it woulda/mighta happened, but a Big Butts:the Slewster was a softie...He would have done what any proud papa would have done. He would have feigned a sore leg...........Lmao.........
Bernard,
Do I have to ? I'm a DIRT fan. Didn't the Euro's learn their lesson ? Happy TIZNOW to all of youZe......Oh yeah !! Happy TIZNOW to all of youZe, 2X's.........LoL........Call me when you win one...let alone 10 or 20......Did you ever see LANDALUCE run, or better yet, did you ever see Pegasus fly ? She was the FASTEST horse I have ever seen run, & that includes her old man.....6F anyway......7F & up ? I'll tell you this much..She would have given the old man a run for his money, a hell of lot better than Affirmed did.......& he was no slouch.....Except for Affirmed, the above other 3 horses are SLEWSTERS...........Does this make you feel better>>>It's all just
IMO...........How's that ? & I do appreciate the humor you have injected in your recent posts..That's the truth.......
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ALLEN POE,
Bodemeister is a descendant of Fappiano and he's a young colt I'm very interested in at the moment.
I believe he has more upside than Fed Biz and Out Of Bounds – who was my long shot pick in the Sham Stakes. If Bodemeister continues to improve and lives up to his breeding he has the potential to wear the Roses in May.
it's still a long way to the first Saturday in May, but I'll be watching Bodemeister closely.
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Keith L
"But seems to me it would take a sizable wager to bring the odds down that much...Dan? "
(on Blingo 225/1 to 40/1 )
I'd be curious to see what Dan has to say on this.
But if I'm not mistaken the Sportsbook manager actually gets the names and odds started in the computer. If I don't see a horse (maybe it was not in preps yet) I'll ask to have it added, and an odds line will be set bt the manager.
Unlike 'parimutual' wagers at the track, these are not necessarily real time or based on the monies comming in.
( I will surmise) that The manager may review on a regular basis and adjust the odds as he sees fit in the computer system based on the activity level, or he may adjust them as hes sees the Ky Derby futures Pool I & II come out. It explains why The Wynn, Lucky' and LVH (Hilton) odds are all different, or have a different list of horses available to future wager.
But, whatever you see in the sheets, it is what is in the 'computer' when you make your wager, that you get.
example:
I have a 11/14/11 sheet from The Wynn with Algorithms at 150/1 (RATS!!) ...by Dec he was down to 25/1. Now? Current Wynn 10/1 , LVH at 8/1 Lucky's at 10/1 and Derby Pool I at 12/1.
Another example is Brother Francis was (Wynn) 40/1 in Dec ...now he is 50/1.
Here's the link that I use to get the sportsbooks odds:
http://www.viewfromvegas.com/Race_Book_Notes.html
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SR Vegas
I always welcome and enjoy reading your comments to any of my posts.
I appreciate your clarification. That was the line I was referring to in my post to BSB.
Looking at it know, with that added information, it reminds me of what I chided myself for doing in the past, attempting to be humorous without realizing my words could also be interpreted as offensive.
Although I still find the line "Over the Top" , I certainly retract my statement that it was the "most obnoxious and unseemly comment I have ever read on this blog.
Thank You for putting things in a clearer light.
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SR Vegas,
The problem is it pisses me off, because I have it all in my memory banks, BUTTS: I then have to go find it, in which book, or what site I got it from. & that my dear infringes upon my beauty sleep.....LoL.......Check this......
In 1984 somebody decided to try & benefit off the Slewster..Butts:He was NOT a Slewster...
They bought his half brother{out of My Charmer, Nijinsky}. Slew had been syndicated for a Gazillion $$$$$$$$ in 1978......The half bro was Seattle Dancer{misnomer-NOT a Slewster; you got to know your Slewsters}. This was at the time the highest ever paid for a yearling...............
$13.1 Million $$$$$$$$$ @Keeneland Summer Sales....He became a Dudster.......
Translation:It's the Slew that makes the cake, not the cake that makes the Slew.....Go ask Zenyatta or Rachel...One wants speed & the other wants stamina......Hehn ? You think they're looking for Mr. P or ND ? These 2 aren't performing for Ted Macks amateur show.......You make me laugh anyway SR......That's what counts......& BTW: I saw UR comment over at the Dogman..
NHC ? Trying to get a front row tix next year ? LoL........
Keith L.,
I'm only gonna respond to some things..That triple thing ? I aint going there....LoL...
They can thank their lucky stars the Big Girl didn't want to embarass anybody by struttin' her stuff on grass. God only knows what her closing times would be if she opted to run there.
Goldi ? Very nice filly......Butts: LANDALUCE & RUFFIAN are the Aces of Spades, in Trump......& the French ? When Ronald Reagan decided to bomb the smitherines of Gadafooooofy in Libya in the 80's after he killed our servicemen in Germany, those Freakies objected to their airspace..So, we used our real allies & went in via Italy........Me ? I woulda bombed France too......just for the fun of it.........It's okay when it was their troops, butts:when it was ours, they all of a sudden get sanctimonious & amnesia sets in.....That's all folks.......
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Keith L
.."BLINGO went from opening at 225-1 odds down to 40-1!"
Sorry Dear, Blingo has been 40/1 odds since 12/27/11. Still "someone" must know something :)
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MKB workouts :
-----------
2/13/12
Payson Park - dirt/fast
Forward March - 5F 1:01.20 Breezing - Annie ...A Bullet!
Palm Meadows - Dirt/fast
El Padrino - 4F 0:48.28 Breezing - CHAAZZ
Algorithms - 4F 0:49.20 Beezing - Bernard Downes / IMS
Gemologist - 4F 0:49.77 Breezing - Longwaytomay
Discreet Dancer - 5F 1:00.90 Breezing - Ned Daly
Union Rags - 5F 1:03.02 Breezing - Laura Lawduck
Palm Meadows - Turf (dogs up) /firm
Our Entourage - 5F 1:05.13 Breezing - SR Vegas / IMS
Hollywood Park - All Weather/fast
Out of Bounds - 6F 1:13.40 Handily - Gracie
Santa Anita - dirt/fast
Castaway - 6F 1:12.40 Handily - Chalky / IMS
Secret Circle - 6F 1:11.60 Handily - Alex F ...A Bullet!
Hierro - 5F 1:02.60 Handily - Spartan Tom / IMS
Unbridled's Note - 4F 0:49.00 Handily - BigEasyBigChok
Brother Francis - 4F 0:51.00 Handily - TurnbacktheAlarm
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bobc
Even though your post was to BSB, may I comment ?
( and no way do I want to rehash or bring up old stuff already covered and, in my opinion, resolved )
But with that said, don't be too hard on BSB, the one line response he made to Nancyb which is ...."NancyB , you ignorant @#$% ! " .....yes?
I guess it sounds pretty obnoxious taken out of context, or would that be content?
She actually said it in a earlier thread, as she was doing a 'catch up with formblog post' .But unless someone wants to go over 300+ posts..or to February 09, 2012 04:29 PM...
in which she (as others ) had been making a couple observations about the blog.
In part she posted:
"To be honest, I don't understand why anyone would respond to posts that they found personally insulting or unfairly critical or even read them in the first place. I have never found it difficult to skip over posts from those who are only interested in inciting argument, or belittling (all those that start with equivalents of "Jane, you ignorant slut".)
Best of racing luck to you all -- go Consulado!"
I took the BSB response as a play off 'her words' in a friendly sorta' way.
So.... No harm, no foul ?
Nancyb
It IS nice seeing you back posting again, and I hope you are fully recovered and bettor, ummm I mean better !! and I hope I did not offend by reposting part of what you said from your excellent post :)
and bobc , I love your KFC as much as the Colonel's, ha!
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Bernard its strictly an opinion nothing more,but I've seen Dahlia ,Miesque & Goldikova in person. Fine horses all. Different kind of horses than Landaluce for sure. Turf vs. Dirt. Although Landaluce probably could have acted on turf. None of those three could have got within sniffin' distance of Landaluce IMO.
In fact if I can make an outrageous guess. ;-) On dirt Landaluce at 2 might have beat any of them at maturity at 6 furlongs .Probably without a weight break & certainly with one. Lets say Landaluce with 117lbs of Laffit Pincay vs any of the three under 128-130 . In a 6f match race that wouldn't have been a match. Landaluce might have been able to take down The Spotted Wonder even.
My logic is simply this. Landaluce would have just run off from them and thought it was just another workout. Like all her races were. She never knew she wasn't just running around by herself. Her game was to get the lead and increase it at every pole. She was Frankel on steroids. Like Curt said ,its a shame she didn't survive to possibly duplicate her Daddy's TC feat. We can never really know ,buttZ ... she was something else.
Really almost forgotten by history ,but not by anybody that ever saw her run ! Or of C-horse by the Goatman himself. She may have been better than her Daddy !!! Sorry Goatman ,buttZ remember the only time I saw him in person he got dirt kicked in his face for a mile then he stopped. ;-) I know he was sick ,but I didn't know it that day and I was as shocked as everybody else was. Landaluce never got any dirt kicked in her face and she never kicked any dirt in anyones face, because nobody was ever that close to her ! :-)
Its fun to speculate on this kind of stuff. My second favorite horse of All-Time is The Spotted Wonder. He was a freak. Spectacular Bid (the second best horse I ever saw run ) took after the Spotted Wonder. He was a freak too. We don't know if The Spotted Wonder could run long ,but we know his offspring could and when we see a PGH we can be 90% sure we know where those spots come from without even tracing its pedigree.
Its snowing here now so I better bring in some firewood before it gets to cold. Have a nice day.
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Hey Dan,
Back in the early 2000's when i was dating we watched 2 horses race in the PA Governors Cup race...Names were Bop and RudyRudyRudy(now i know there is a horse with that name currently racing), but this one was from back in early 2000's. Can you post the PP's for those 2 horses. We ended up winning a lot of $$$ when they were 1st and 2nd in a stakes at Meadowlands following the Governors Cup race.
Thanks,
Penn National Rick
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BobC - thanks for your comments. I hope to attend a Form Blog gathering. Hopefully another happens at Arlington and I can meet some of the fine folks.
Pippen - I see thru Annie's post you have Big Blue Nation. Hopefully he did just need the race. The clockers reports out of Gulfstream were "bearish" on him. He had been running versus several other Pletcher's in the am and not holding up well. The report I saw used the word "exposed" so I avoided in the mutuels. It is very early yet. I would really like to see him progress too as I know the connections and love the Big Blue.
SA - yesterday two horses out of Benchmark and a Betrando on dam side won when debuting on grass. They were rated 315 and that is above average for Tomlinson believers. I don't use them but I suppose I give them a glance at the end of handicapping the race. I have been playing this line Benchmark/Betrando with some luck. Just missed in December on bomber first turfing out of the combo but did manage to hit both these yesterday.
Arabella looked tremendous beating little. I suppose a future grade I versus ALW types will usualy look tremendous.
FG - Joyful Victory gutted out a win this weekend. The come home time was very slow but I can wait for Dan to share the BSF. Seems it will be very mediocre but Andy's crew can surprise you. She showed some fight to come back but Ravi's Song, while nice, is not Grade 1 material. It will be interesting to see how Larry manages the year. Maybe Joyful Victory can progress off the injury to a Grade II and leave the big ones to HDG.
GP - nice card Saturday. Tried to key around long shot Gold D'Oro. She ran well but could not go with Snow Top Mountain in last yards. Good run by Gold D'Oro, tab this one back on firm grass at price at KEE. Ding Dong Donn battle with MI and Hymn Book. Not sure if that was the highest quality running but it was fun late. Finally Pletcher had one beaten.
KY Derby - field low in wagering but that is the annual trend. Algorithims and Fed Biz seem the most impressive of the 2012 starters. I laid off figuring I did not want to weigh down any young three year old with my weight until May 5th.
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Jonah, thanks for the heads up!
Scianc22
Well, it was just a matter of time, eh? As you have come so close in the past . Congratulations!! and continued good luck with the other qualifiers you may enter.
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to dick w. three year old new york bred maidens running in Feburary in new york couldn't run fast on on a cement track. Wait until he at least runs against real race horses.
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Permit me, if you will, to quote the wonderful Stuart Smalley.....
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me........
PaZ
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Blackseabass,
I wonder whether I, as a novice blogger AND as a cultural outsider, could comment directly to you on your pretty fierce late 12th Feb post to Annie, re "Whacky" and some lamenting "socialites".
I love banging heads with you, especially when I can decipher your language and humour, but 40 years of low level service to the British Government has given me a very thick skin - some others don't have that attribute (or do I mean curse?).
I think the best blogs are lively, occasionally confrontational, not limp sedate affairs, but without departing from that aim (if you agree with it), would it not be possible to withdraw your claws just a little in your more forceful posts? You can make a point just as easily with a tap on the head, rather going for a knockout blow every time.
Okay, tell me to mind my own business - I have got my suit of armour on.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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Scianic 22
Congratulations!!!! That's quite an accomplishment.
The Formblog Hall Of Fame continues to expand.
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Curt V,
I will only post this one follow up on the greatest filly question, because you are clearly not for shifting.
I deliberately didn't mention Ruffian because her race record DOES warrant consideration for that title.
From what I have read about Landaluce, she was an exceptional 2 yr old. But fate denied her the opportunity to prove her worth. You cannot award titles for what might have been.
You say you are not joking on this one so, taking you at your word, can I ask why you are so dismissive of non US horses. I can understand if you prefer to watch and bet dirt races, that is a perfectly reasonable choice for an American fan, but not to see the merits of any non US grass horse is unreal. I don't mean this to be offensive, but didn't someone once say that there is "none so blind as those that will not see"?
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
P.S. I take it your attitude is not payback for us colonising you all those years ago?
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David M
You don't have to wait for a Formblog Convention (Although, meeting Dan is worth the wait, and one is coming up in March at Gulfstream) to meet a Blogger.
Just let the blog know when you are planning on going to the track. If someone on the blog lives nearby the track, I'm sure they'll respond and you can than determine how best to meet at the track.
I guarantee you, you won't be disappointed.
If you or any other blogger plans on being in S. Florida in the future, let me know thru this blog, I'd would enjoy meeting you.
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SRVegas , I'm the fish. I was just following the chumline laid down by others. :-)
Jerry told Escalante that if somebody asked him about a woman that he still had eyes for, he'd tell him she had crabs.
The investigator is a cop, the serial killer insurance scammers have moved along to Pennsylvania and the cops have their trail.
Like Annie I haven't figured out exactly what Ace is up to. I think he's going to use the fancy young guy for a front man to bet against the track & his enemy partners using derivatives and make a killing when the track goes belly up ?? I'm not positive about that . They are leaving that a little unclear.
Like TVG & C said ,the show is pretty cliche. They're LUCKY they already signed another season because it probably is losing viewers at the moment.
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Just a quick comment about a 3 year old that impressed me while breaking his maiden Saturday in R5 MSW at Aqueduct going 1 mile 70 yards. His name is Street Life and he is by Street Sense out of a Grindstone mare. This was his second start. In his first start going 6 furlongs at GP, he trailed the field and passed a couple of horses in the stretch finishing 8th of 12. In the race Saturday he again trailed the field until the top of the stretch where he absolutely exploded and ran past horses like they were running in wet cement. He ran up on a couple of horses so fast that he had to alter course sharply twice, once to the out side and then again to the inside (read the comments in the official equibase chart), drawing clear and winning by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:45.20. Later in the day, Pretension won a minor stakes for 3 year olds at the same distance in 1:43.87. Anyway, he reminded me of his daddy and I plan to keep an eye on him.
Dick W
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Keith L.,
I'm not sure if this is good news for you, but I too am a fan of #5 Victory Assured in PRX9 later today. I think he has a great chance to sit on the tail of Silver Rocket and perhaps also Hampton Bays Sun, then Ortiz will go for the lead at the top of the stretch and hold off the closers. Underneath I am looking for a somewhat longer shot in closer #9 Minute. So I'll play WP #5 and also EX #5/9.
BTW, wait until they get the now 4yo gelding back on turf later this year!
Good luck today!
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Dan and Formblog Readers,
Formblog alumnus, scianc22, inspired by FB's recent winners, qualified for the 2012 Breeders Cup Betting Challenge by finishing in the top five in yesterday's qualifying contest. This means he won a $10,000 entry into the largest live bankroll handicapping contest (contestants keep all contest earnings). The 2011 winner qualified through the same contest, and took the prize with his final bet, $7,000 to win on Drosselmeyer.
Congratulations, scianc22!
Best,
Jonah
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Hi Dan, wondering if you could post the PP's for one of my favorite European horses, YEATS. Just re-watching some of his Ascot Gold Cup wins (only 4 to choose from) and getting nostalgic. Thanks!
Also, I was pleased to learn my man TACKLEBERRY breezed 4f in 48 and 3 (2/73 at Gulfstream) on the 4th and Olivares is looking at the GP Spring Championship or Hdcp, where he got Tizway last year, sans Lasix, which I seem to remember he is on now? Anyways, cool horse... Apologies to those for whom this is redundant.
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Blackseabass
This is in response to your answer to Annie in which you mentioned my name.
1. You either differ with my view or I touched an Open Wound with my blog.
If it’s the first, I already apologized in my original blog and I don’t find it necessary to apologize again. If it’s the latter I have something far better than an apology, I have a remedy.
It’s called the KFC Remedy. (I even believe the Colonel uses it, although not to spice and cook his chickens.) It’s a very simple remedy that anyone can use to cure non-physical Open Wounds.
Kindness, Forgiveness and Compassion.
2. You asked why I didn’t respond to TBTA?
I was Personally Critical of only one person, that was Myself, I did however write:
“I do believe it is incumbent upon ALL OF US to consider if what we are writing might potentially offend another before submitting it.”
What part of ALL Of US suggests I was excluding or including certain bloggers?
3. You called me a “Personal Pal of TBTA.”
Thank You. No one has ever paid me a Higher Compliment of this Blog. Although I have never met TBTA in person: Something I hope happens in the future. I am “Honored” to be called her PAL.
4. You “Bestowed” ownership of the Silent Majority on me. “Him & his Silent Majority”
You are extremely generous.
In case the KFC Remedy, should you choose to use it, does not work immediately: I would like to return your generosity by inviting you to join the “Silent Majority” for as long or short a period as you choose.
Finally, your one sentence response to Nancy B, located in the middle of one of your posts, (If you don’t know the one I’m talking about, let me know) was as obnoxious, and unseemly as any I have ever read on this blog. You are “Better” than that!!! That was a Prime Example of what I meant when I wrote: “This is about “Getting up Close and a Little Too Personal”
Kindness, Forgiveness, Compassion
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"who makes these kind of bets?"
LongWayToMay
ever hear of the childrens nursery rhyme
Simple Simon
peace
VQ
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Oh Bernard Oh Bernard,
No joke chap..LoL...I aint doing it again..You heard me..The Slewster is well, the Slewster. He is 1st & everybody else is behind.......Pick your horse, it don't matter.......This is Finite.......
LANDALUCE might be the greatest of all his children..If I start up on this story again, you're gonna have me Crying my eyes out..& that's no joke..How about a couple of tidbits..5/5-0-0 undefeated & by a total of 47 lengths..A WORLD record for a 2 yr old filly going 6F>1:08 Flat..She was just getting ready to take on the boys & fate happened. & I'm sorry, but, I can't relive it here again. Goldi isn't even in consideration at this level. Or, anything you have/had/or will have.....& If you don't know about RUFFIAN, I suggest you go get a book. 'Cause I aint reliving that catastrophe again either..Either story will make any man cry......& that's no joke..Just ask D. Wayne Lukas..He cried his damn eyes out..........& so did I......
Bernard, this is old news..If somebody else wants to dime in, let them..I'll be here for the rebuttal..
& oh Yeah !!! There is no need to mention Zenyatta, do we..She's up there w/the other two..Not yours..Sorry chap........LoL.......
I do see you are getting funnier & funnier..I especially like your closing>>"P.S............................"
Have one on me Bernard, butts: I'll have an Iced Tea w/Lemon, hold the sugar.........
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David M -- It was reported on HRTV yesterday that Joyful Victory got a 95 bsf for her win Saturday. The year is still young and she is moving in the right direction.
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Annie
LOL! Great recap , especially the 'stronach' , it sounds like the storyline is moving along.Thanks!
Curt V
..."NHC? Trying to get a front row tix next year ? LoL........"
Moi' ? I think I get the best seat in the house each year , LoLl!
Blackseabass
Please, let's not 'chum' the waters. I don't want to see what might come up :)
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Saturday's are workers for me, except during the Spa when I refuse, so it's hard for me to contribute to the stakes thoughts in a timely fashion. I've taken to doing a gambling van winkle for 2 or 3 months after Thanksgiving the last decade so Saturday's Gulfstream and Aqueduct cards were rust busters for me. It felt good.
Curt V.:
First, I wound up on the same horse as you in the Donn. I also couldn't believe there wasn't an inquiry. I'm not trying to find anyone guilty - heck I've not even seen the headon yet. When I got in the first thing I did was watch the replay,, they had if official in no time at all! When you've got the winner and the 4th place horse doing a summo smack up and the 2nd Dutrow piece doing his own weaving right in front of them you would think that at least they would take a minute for a peek no? Ah well. Lezcano's got to be good to get put up by the people who use him, but he sure seems to find his share of trouble.
Second, and more important I think, thanks for your Seattle Slew bounce back. Your Crueget line brought back the late John Campo's comment when asked about the upcoming "77 Belmont. "A mile and a half's a long way to go without the Frenchman making a mistake." I always liked Crueget, but he sure got more than his share of grief.
The main thing I wanted to mention to you was if you are aware of the great site the Taylor's have. seattleslew.com. If not I know you'll love it. The write ups about his races are classic. Enjoy if its new to you.
Annie:
Thanks for letting me in on the second draw. How do I proceed? Keep me posted if I'm required to do anything.
Are they any nice Macho Uno colts left out there with a foundation dam somewhere in the tail female?
Bernard:
Your story about the hospital stay had me in stitches. I thought of it again Saturday night when the local PBS station broadcast "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and Nicholson had his own head nurse to deal with.
Laura:
If you google "life size painted ponies" that would be the best way to get to see them. The link is an ad infinitum string of characters.
bobc:
I'm a newb here, but I've been banging around other DRF blogs since the beginning. Want to say I think your comment is one of the best I've ever read.
I give myself one chance in ten to interpret this captcha.
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Randy
A belated congrats to you for your $100 ex in the HG last week !
Dick W
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Curt V,
I know I can sometimes be a little pedantic, but in order to placate any Irish readers I should point out that Ireland is not part of the UK (they can get very upset). But I do get your point.
Sorry you and the wife didn't like France. A cruel friend once said that France would be a better country without the French, although SR Vegas made a great point about Parisians being the problem.
Blackseabass,
Black Caviar's last run WAS against very inferior animals but, generally speaking, there are some good grass sprinters in Australia. As I posted earlier, the Dubai race will tell us much, much more.
Keith L,
Thanks for your very detailed explanation of the significance of two turns. At least I think its thanks, but I need some time to absorb it. Whatever, I am certainly happy to be betting in Europe, handicapping is much less complex.
Ron Zuercher,
Having dismised Slim Shadey's chances in his race in January, I am not two-faced enough to have joined his fan club just yet. Nevertheless, it is perhaps relevant to point out that his distant 4th place in "one of those races" was in the most important European race before June.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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CurtV , he's done it before . I haven't kept an actual count just in the memory bank, but he's been around a long time and so have I. They have always cashed some tickets. Its a betting barn. They made a run for the money & got caught . They gave them a pile of money for a good try.
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Bernard Downes, she certainly looked like a racehorse with a lot presence !! We get lots of Aussies here in my neck of the woods. Some of them can deal . Like I said they didn't put up any fractions that I saw. Visually it looked like a walk. She sure had no trouble disposing of them though. Its hard to say from TV ,but she looked tall and kind of thin. Sort of an equine BSB. LOL. It also looked like the first part was slightly uphill ? I'd like to see her go down The Dip ,but I don't suppose I ever will. Maybe you'll get a chance to check her out this summer. I didn't have PPs so I wouldn't know for sure what she beat . I guess you know it wasn't much ? I was just guessing off the visual. She didn't even have to stretch her legs. Do you think she's faster than The Spotted Wonder ? Don't try to say that was before your time Bernard ! You were around to see Ormonde. :-) Everybody knows that. :-)
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Annie , nope I was referring to your reply to me about Whacky's coattailing post .
I didn't try to hurt Bass-o-matics feelings, his post to me was much more a personal attack on me than mine was to him. People that couldn't see that are poor readers or biased in favor of their personal "friend" or both. In fact I asked him one simple question. He didn't answer it. I asked you the same simple question . You didn't answer it either. You deflected it . I didn't insult him, I asked a question.
When I asked about the kool-aid stained faces of little kids in an OTB that couldn't pay off $ 4000 so he had to go home because he only had $27 in cash left . Was that an insult ? They would have at least had the $1000 that he supposedly bet if they started the day without a dime & they could have gave him a voucher no matter what. I don't know any OTBs that let Kool-aid stained little kids faces in them. Maybe there are some somewhere ? Not in California. Maybe they let little kids in the OTB in AriZona ? Not being able to pay off ? LOL. It wasn't uncivil to ask the question, it was an obvious question to ask. He didn't want to answer that one either so he disappeared for a few months. It doubt it was the first time and it wasn't the last I know.
I get tired of hearing the lamentations of the socialites,but hey thats just me. Others appear to be enjoying it, and I don't want to spoil the fun. I particularly get tired of hearing of the sordid departures of people that were long gone before I ever came here,but hey thats just me again. Must have been somebody else besides BSB that chased them off huh ? :-) Like the long list that TBTA posted when she was giving DaZed & Confused a piece of her mind. Thats okay though, DaZed & Confused is a nobody and TBTA & Steve are superstars right ? Its okay if they rip somebody. Afterall TBTA came to formblog on the Mayflower? LOL. All formbloggers are equal ,its just some formbloggers are more equal than others right ? Funny how her personal pal BobC didn't have anything to say to her about that. Him & his Silent Majority . Nixon had a silent majority too if I remember correctly. LOL.
I'm not mad at you Annie. I'm just trying to explain a few of the complexities of the situation in a very peaceful and restrained manner. Just trying to bring a little honesty to the discussion. I'm happy to let it drop, but if people want to keep commenting on it I'm down for that too.
LUCK is on tonight . Maybe we'll find out what Ace is trying to set up.
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P. Ensign , Yes playing a race like Slim's is a gamble that you're going to be right about what you see. It was worth taking.IMO.
Playing a coin flip isn't gambling . Its just a matter of playing them and picking up the money half the time. So sometimes playing horses is gambling and sometimes it isn't. Most people just don't know the times that it isn't.They're to busy being artists. :-)
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Then I intentionally mis-type the Captcha and it takes it. GGGGRRRRRR
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Can I borrow this blog to vent...here is how horse racing has gone for me the last two trips to the track
1/28..Sunshine F/m T have Romacca and Speak Easy Gal in an exacta...they lose to Hooh Why by a neck and nose
In the Sunshine Turf...my exacta of Little Mike and Bad Debt gets split
In the Classic...Ron the Greek closes like a train...loses by 1 1/2
MSW closer...I have an English Channel on the turf...he has to check hard twice...no shot
SA...in the Santa Monica...Sugarinthemorning has a major battle in the stretch loses to Sweet Aspen by a neck...ihave Sugar
Turfway-Forego...Tend who I have to win is leading in deep stretch...the horse I have running for second is right next to him...they both lose to some bomber...Tend's loss-a neck
yesterday...Gulf...race 6...play a super...my horses run 1/2/3/5
GP 7) As my key horse for several gimmicks...Mobilizer runs third by a length...challenges the leader at top of the stretch (Bergerac) but Egar Prado on Bergerac has enuff horse to not not let Mobilizer by...they both get beat by Joinem
GP 9) Hit it Rich has lead deep stretch..loses by half a length...
GP 10) Where's Sterling makes big move...gets bumped big time...finishes fourth
and the coup de grace came in the closer at Oaklawn yesterday...MSW...race features several pro maidens with 7 to 14 starts...so I look for a new face..I'm debating between the 7 horse..sired by Bellamy Road,(whose horses usually run well) he had a bad out last July...but showed a nice work... or the 9 horse.. no starts... but tons of great works and trained by Tim ritchey who does great work with maidens...I mull this over for 30 minutes...and land on the 9...he runs second...the 7 wins at 26-1
And tell me again...this is supposed to be fun, right?
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Annie,
That would be the card carrying Blue Thong MKB guardian of future KD winner Out of Bounds. (I know my horse has it in him, I just hope Mr. Harty does. I'm not crazy about having a Yankee fan training my boy.)
Boy it p's me off when it tells me that the Captcha doesn't match and I didn't even have one. GGGGGRRRRRRRR
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Annie , no he wasn't. He was sticking a knife in my back and giving it a twist even though I've never been anything but nice to him. I defended him and his trick when the woodworkers with their anonymous e-mailers were jumping his case. He didn't want to let things calm down . He came along to rekindle the flame.
I said what I said and I meant it.
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Funny lawyer joke Pippen0707. LOL.
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Curt V
I am sure there are many Seattle Slew fans and aficionados' out there ..and your knowledge is apparent. So don't get your Blue Boxers all in a knot, LOL!
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Ronnie Z,
Thanx for the insight..However, it's more than, "When you got Slewster, you got horse".........
You forgot the addendum, "You got to know your Slewsters.">Which translates into,>
The Temptin' Temptations> circa 1964>
"The Way You Do the Things You Do"........I think you need to listen & watch.....Heeheehee.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDakhsaPTE0
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Annie
With my Festive Spirit not being nominated to the TC, as a good owner, I will continue to keep an eye on him. I'm sure he will do well this summer.
May I have a 2nd draw MKB horse to keep my 'My Entourage' company? You know how I like to collect horses and I must keep the IMS in a steady supply :)
What says the Genie?
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Thanks to all the formbloggers for the nice comments sent my way.
I'm selecting for HG 271 race of the week a Starter Allowance from Gulfstream Park.
Thursday Feb. 16th Race 5 at Gulfstream A Starter Allowance race on the Turf scheduled for 1 1/16th, with a full field of 12.
Good luck to all, Randy
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Annie
..." 'horses' more interesting than housework" ..
That's definitely a no brainer in my book , LOL!
MKB workouts :
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2/10/12
Belmont Park - dirt training / fast
A Boy Named EM - 4F 0:48.47 Breezing - Keith L / IMS
Palm Meadows - Dirt/fast
Casual Trick - 4F 0:48.02 Breezing - knm / IMS
Hollywood Park - All Weather/fast
Blingo - 6F 1:13.80 Handily - Dan Illman
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2/12/12
Fairgrounds - Dirt/fast
Sir Bond - 4F 0:51.60 Breezing - Brutus4633
Palm Meadows - Dirt/fast
Motor City - 5F 1:02.42 Breezing - Dave B
Gulfstream Park - Dirt/fast
Hansen - 5F 1:02.00 Breezing - Danny B
Cozzetti - 5F 1.03.85 Breezing - Calvin Carter
Takes the Gold - 4F 0:49.15 Breezing - AnneM
Currency Swap - 4F 0:50.80 Breezing - Dick W
Hollywood Park - All Weather/fast
Holy Candy - 5F 1:00.80 Handily - Hairy
Creative Cause - 6F 1:11.40 Handily - jerry ...A Bullet !
Santa Anita - dirt/fast
Sabercat - 4F 0:50.60 Handily - Capt. Ron
Drill - 5F 1:02.00 Handily - Virgin Queen
Midnight Transfer - 5F 0:59.40 Handily - Dennis of Moline
---------------
MKB Entries:
Sir Bond -Brutus 4633
1 1/16M 46K mdn spl wt at The Fairgrounds on Thursday
http://www.drf.com/race-entries/FG/USA/2012-02-16/D/7
Good Luck !
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ron z , yes I bet the horse. He ran exactly the way I expected. I was salivating all day waiting around for him to wire them. You have the PP's . You figure out why, ron.
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Dick W ,yes he did ! ;-) She was yelling at him to get me ! I get Lucky every now & again though. She was getting real tired of me walking in & out of the house all day saying , my name is, my name is, my name is, Slim Shady ! She was just wishing for that race to hurry up and run so I would finally shut up .
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Curt V.:
I think you are have been much to hard on our longstanding allies the French! Sure there is the thing about De Gaul and his attitudes to the US attempts to dominate Europe after World War II, and that was understandable on his part...I mean they didn't try to insist on having French military forces stationed on French bases in the Colonies after they helped us with our Revolutionary War.
And I suppose there is that thing about strange plumbing mostly found in Paris...I mean those Bidets have no seats for us men to put up and down as our women insist we do!
However, on the plus side, there are those three things we learned we should thank the French for from The Legend of Rickie Bobbie (or Talledega Nights) movie; i.e. The Statue of Liberty, Mayonaise, and the Menage a Trois!
And of course, the greatest filly/mare of the 21st Century, Goldikova! What's that you say, sir?
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ? Naw, the Goldi ran on Grass! And that surely made her the superior distaff race horse, no?
Keith L.
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Allen Poe,
If you want to dissect my comments about Seattle Slew, I suggest you do a whole lot more of reading & a whole lot less of talking. I submit I know more about Seattle Slew than most people. And, that is an understatement. So, stop the one line zingers. So let's get real as you say. First, I said when the Slew started it was $1 MILLION. That is what I said. Not what you decided to read. Either way, your attempt to discredit me aint flying here. You tried it before, & it didn't work. So, here we go again. I'll just give you a little tidbit, and then we can move on......
"Entering the 1985{he started 1978, where it was HIGHER}} breeding season, Slew's STUD FEE was set at $800,000.00{800K}, with no guarantee of a foal. Most stallions have a "live foal" agreement written into their breeding contracts, but those breeders booking mares to SEATTLE SLEW thought the potential well worth the risk..............."..."Through 2000, Slew had sired 92 stakes winners, 35 more than Secretariat, 18 more than Affirmed, & dozens more than any Ky. Derby winner of the 70's. As of 2000, his runners earned more than 66 Million $$$$, and his average per runner was an astonishingly $109,288. His average Earnings Index{AEI} was an outstanding 4.30. That's 4.3 Times his contemporaries over the years they raced. Just his yearlings sold at auction averaged $414, 635. Even as an old man when he turned 26 on January 1st, 2000. His stud fee was still an outstanding $150,000, still one of the HIGHEST in North America....................."
Seattle Slew, by Dan Mearns>>>>>Reproduced by, "When you got Slewster, you got horse..."
Pick something else Allen....Like Albatross Hambone or something.....This horse the greatest of all time, is all mine..........Man I love that horse.......
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Wow just reading your column for Saturday's pick's, Ouch! GS was my day yesterday, pick-4, pick-5 spent $16.00 on each ticket, made over 4K...it all happened, singling first leg, all second, 8&10 third leg, single 7 fourth,and 12 & 2 last leg....sometimes we are just on! Hope to see you at DP this year. Don
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Recap of yesterday's races:
My handicapping of yesterday's big races wasn't really terrible, it just wasn't very good. I knew I was in for a rough day when my picks in both the Suwannee (Cumulonimble) and GP Turf (Boisterous) were scratched. I had invested a fair amount of time in coming up with those selections and did not feel so good about what was left. As for the Donn, after narrowing it down to Redemeed and Hymn Book, I think I allowed the lure of a slightly better price to over ride the more objective data such as speed figures and strength of opposition to cause me to use Redeemed as my top choice and Hymn Book second. So of course I ended up with 1st and 3rd in my exacta boxes (besides boxing those 2, I also had those 2 with Trickmeister). I would never have had Mission in there as he was one of my first tosses along with Shackleford. The other horse I gave some consideration to was Where's Sterling. So I actually had 3 of the top 4 in my top 4, and yet all I got out of it was the show money on Redeemed as I had him across the board. In the Suwannee/Donn double, I has 3 tied to both Redeemed and Hymn Book, but the best I could do in the Suwannee was the 2nd by Hit It Rich.
So yes, Brutus, I kind of know how you are feeling. On to next weekend !
Dick W
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Meathead
Also, congrats on getting to 13th in the PH standings. BSB (mrboots) moved into 60th place which is also not too shabby seeing as there are well over 2,000 participants.
Dick W
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Annie - Please put me down for a shot at MKB II.
All - With two hours left in Pool 1 betting, I'm shocked Fed Biz is still 23-1. I know he doesn't have any graded earnings but with a $500,000 Rebel and one of the big three in April, I'm sure he'll make his way into the field.
Keith - I also noticed how little the Cal horses are getting bet. Wrote a lot about it for my next column. I might just throw a couple of bucks on Midnight Transfer (69-1), Liaison (56-1), and Rousing Sermon (72-1). Unfortunately, I'll Have Another got pounded from 41-1 after Friday night to 27-1.
I got a feeling the Derby winner will not come from the field this year.
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Meathead01
It actually was not me that posted the PH monikers, but here is what I have:
PH Tags
Alfredo - Ouzo Tower
Ned Daly - Double espresso
Matt B - mbernier7389
BSB - mrboots
tencentcielo
meathead01
smarty jones
p ensign
Anderson
Ron Z - melindy
Pig Bodine
Keith L - Taurus94
Patrick S - Pick Em Right
Jeffery - Precocity
baltimore_brian
Dick W - Dick_W
Dick W
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Thanks for all for the kind words. Dick W always does a great recap of the Public Handicapper weekly action.
It is enjoyable writing up my PH analysis most weeks. I'm sure all of you, when looking closely at a race, have thousands of thoughts and words that go through your head. Writing all those down would be impossible unless you are like the reincarnated James Joyce equine stream of consciousness handicapper. I will have to try that approach some time huh! In the looking over the San Marcos, Charlie Whittingham popped into my mind several times and the superior European turf scene just as often. The races Slim Shady competed in did give me hope for my selection because of several considerations. First the connections thought enough of Slim Shady to enter him in Group Ones. Even though Slim Shady wasn't too competitive I found it interesting that in the Royal Lodge he was 16:1 as a 2YO in the small field; so he was not completely dismissed by the international bettors, as he would be in the British Guineas next out.
The Bald Eagle was important to me because he did teach me the hierarchy of European racing. His best imports came from the UK and France followed by Ireland then Italy. I am sure he had a couple of German breds but I can't recall any. I have learned over the years that the horses of Deutschland are marathoners. The San Marcos was only a mile and a quarter. Sangas, a German bred, shortest winning distance was a mile and three-eighths. Another thing I will always remember Charlie teaching me was " Horses are like strawberries; they can spoil overnight." I remember reading that awhile after seeing King Pellinore run a mediocre race in his comeback race after his huge win in the Champions Invitational Hcp. Of course we all know that in the sport we love "there is no such thing as a sure thing," but Charlie had his way of saying the same thing that was more eloquent.
So to the Bald Eagle, you have been gone for over a decade but your words and influence can still be felt by at least one handicapper. Jay Hovdey did write a book about the legendary trainer. I will make a point of reading it.
Sheriff Dan,
Any chance we can get some PPs on King Pellinore?
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yuwipi,
Yes my time in that hospital was eventful - a mixture of drama, anger and humour. In the first week I fought a running battle with the Senior Nurse over my toilet arrangements - I could go into details, but it could get a little x-rated and not suitable for a family audience. In reality, the nurses were stars and together with the Doctors they got me through a couple of hairy moments.
Annie,
I can see the problem you had with that weight issue yesterday. Given your facts I would certainly have bet the same as you. 12/1 is my sort of price.
Annie and Brutus,
With my excitement over ALGORITHMS I had rather forgotten about Sir Bond. Best of luck Brutus.
Best Regards - Bernard Downes
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Bernard,
You are starting to get really funny......I hope it gets contagious around here....How about all of the Britain or the British Empire ? Does that work ? Either way, I had no problems there or anywhere..ButtS:I knew better about those Beret wearers......
They don't like _______ Americans......Fill in the blank w/any word from the dictionary..28 million combo's..
& BTW:maybe you misconstrued me, or I was vague..Let me get this clear..I never had a bad time in France..You know why ? Because I had the wherewithall NOT to go.....Lmao..I said I told my wife to go withOUT me..I knew better..So, what happened ? She took a girlfriend, & she paid the price.....I threw out the French just like I throw out false favorites...."It's eeeasy, justa like Sunday mornornings......".....Heehee........
Yuwipi,
Well aware of the site..Thanx again..I got most of my stuff there..& Yeah !! That Donn race needs an investigation....Something was amiss......Hurry up, kiss me quick, my mom is coming..
Allen Poe,
Mr. P & ND ? They had so many girlfriends they had to blindfold the pair..They did anybody..Some was ugly....I'm thinking that's where they invented Cialis.......
Quality over quantity always gets trumped..When SS started, his opening girlfriends were paying to the tune of $1,000,000 per/pop.........That's One Million $$$$, not $10,000.........LoL.......HeyZeus, Mr. P probably makes up about 75% of the horse race population......w/o him they would start having 3 horse fields.....Rofl........
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Hi Dan,
Sunday vent: The headline that Hymn Book is “a turf horse no more” is a funny one. And this year’s renewal of the Donn Handicap was thrilling right down to the wire. But Hymn Book was great when he needed to be great and really remains a turf horse – albeit, one with a Grade 1 win on dirt. Mission Implazable was gallant in defeat, but seems to remain a second tier horse.
The real problem is that you had two Triple Crown (race) winners in Shackleford and Ruler on Ice that threw in clunkers, and that is the predicament that horse racing now endures. The stars don’t shine when they really need to. So who other than those already involved really take notice?
Shackleford sat too close to a hot pace and was cooked by the Top O the Stretch. Fire on Ice, who one could suppose was a “mud lark”, barely raised a hoof. Not good.
The record will reveal that Hymn Book won the 2012 Donn Handicap. But few will notice and fewer will care if what we see on the race track is merely justification to hit a lottery ticket.
With that I yield.
Congrats if you cashed.
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bobc + Formbloggers in person = PRICELESS
I loved your post !
I count myself very fortunate to meet Dan Illman and many of the Formblogger Friends over the years, and it really is something Special :)
...and Chalky concurs!
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anyone,
since curt v is complaining about the Donn
we had all our money BTW already spent on the #2
i'd like to know why Mission Impazible drifted so badly?
my video replay was all blurry
did Castellano shift his weight or use too much whip instead of urging or what?
tom & cindy
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"...I am trying to reduce the gambling aspect of wagering. I passed the race. If I may be so gauche, did you bet Slim Shadey? Were you gambling? "
What is it with people who don't want betting on the outcomes of horse races to be gambling?
From the minute we wake up in the morning we are gambling with something:
the eggs don't have salmonella
the guy texting in the car next to us won't swerve and force us off the road
the government will remain solvent and the FDIC will be able to cover our deposits
there are varying degrees of certainty with every single aspect of life
I know that I've read before on this blog that betting on horse races isn't gambling (for some person, forget who that was...) but guess what
any parimutuel bet that anyone places on a horse race is gambling
sheesh
(ps slimshadey was a good BET, gambling propostion, investment, whatever you need to call it, strictly because there was really very little pace in the race and he figured to have the easy lead he ended up with)
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Good day all,
Excuse me if this posting turns out to be a mess but I thought I'd paste my analysis of the San Macos from Public Handicapper below to see if a couple of pictures would show up:
SA 9
The SoCal turf handicap division has declined in
quality steadily since the passing of Bobby Frankel and actually
started south in the late 90's with the departure of
Charlie Whittingham.
The Bald Eagle
Charlie used to dominate the scene with high quality European imports.
When I first got involved in racing he would have these
juggernaut entrees in the late 70s that really ruined many a
turf race as a betting contest. The first horse that ever made an impression
on me was King Pellinore.
King Pellinore with Shoe aboard
His daisy cutting stride was hypnotic to this neophyte.
This son of the great Round Table was the damsire of Best Pal.
Ah yes the glory days of racing.....
Well those musings actually lead me to my top horse in today's
San Marcos. I like the import Slim Shady.
No doubt the more publicized import Sanagas will be favored
but offers little betting value plus the German bred 6YO gelding
might just want a longer distance.
Slim Shady has won at this distance at Santa Anita and if you look
back to his Euro PPs you'll notice he faced the great Frankel in
the UK at a mile. Simon Callahan is a young trainer that has
hopefully discovered this 4YOs best distance and has him in top form.
Horse for course Bourbon Bay will take some money and can't be ignored.
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Who's this commercial for? Oh, yeah.
Buy a Chrysler and get off my damn lawn!
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Formblog: Reflecting On Friendships And Losses
Meeting Laura at Gulfstream today, made a Great Day of Racing seem almost insignificant. As the friendship we have developed is far more rewarding than any winning ticket I have ever cashed.
It is truly amazing how much she loves horses and how hard she works at her Labor Of Love. She has undertaken quite a chore by agreeing to Head the South Florida Thorofan Association. They had a meeting this morning consisting of Thorfans Originator who flew in from New York, several Officials connected with Gulfstream, people interested in joining Thorfan in S. Florida and of course Laura.
Aside from trying to increase the Thorofan membership, Laura is diligently working on the upcoming Formblog convention at Gulfstream, which I’m sure will be an enjoyable event for anyone who attends. This is all work she has volunteered to do and does not include her incredible pedigree analysis and some “Major Undertaking” she is doing with Steve T.
I mention all of this not to impress anyone with Laura’s ability, most all of you already are aware of that.
My intention is to state how “Truly Wonderful” it is to meet Fellow Bloggers in person and how our chances are slowly eroding.
Many of you have had the pleasure of meeting a blogger, whether at Del Mar, Las Vegas, Arlington, Woodbine, Saratoga, Belmont, Monmouth or wherever, and have spoken of such encounters with great eloquence.
I have experienced first hand the fact that this blog has benefits for us beyond increasing our horse racing knowledge, but in order to maximize those benefits we need to do our part in insuring that people remain on this Blog. Thus, enhancing the possibility of such meetings,
I do believe it is incumbent upon ALL OF US to consider if what we are writing might potentially offend another before submitting it. ( I know that there are blogs that I have written in the past, which when I submitted them seemed humorous, but later realized could have been interpreted as offensive.) Unfortunately, once submitted you can't retrieve them. One can only apologize.
This has nothing to do with contrarian opinion or civil disagreement. This is about “Getting up Close and a Little Too Personal” We should not have to rely on Dan to interpret our thoughts or to exclude “words written in the heat of the moment”.
Although this Blog would not exist without Dan’s generosity and oversight, it is also the many bloggers over the years that have made this forum blossom into something so enjoyable, entertaining and informative; and it is to some degree a loss for all of us when someone, for whatever reason, chooses to leave the Blog. Whether it’s a lost laugh, thought, Kentucky Derby Winner, or a missed opportunity to meet that person sometime in the future, it is unfortunate and perhaps unnecessary.
When someone who hasn’t blogged in awhile suddenly reappears, ( Caymen, Chicago Gerry) just to name two, we rejoice because a friend has returned and we know they are well.
When someone chooses to leave for whatever the reason from (Slew of Damascus to Steve T. and everyone in between or before or in the future) there is a sense of loss. It is natural that some loss in inevitable, but we need to look within ourselves so as not to hasten any loss.
I can’t imagine that anyone who has contributed to making this Blog so wonderful could be happy about these losses.
I would hope that those who have chosen of their own free will to leave will reconsider and return in your own good time. You are missed and the blog is NOT AS STRONG WITHOUT YOU!!! (IMHO)
I know some of you have already spoken on this matter and some would choose to let it die, but I cannot.
I should have expressed my views sooner, but instead I chose to be part of what I believe may be the "Silent Majority." But after meeting Laura today, and reflecting on a freindship that might not have happened had one of us left the blog, I thought it important to convey my feelings.
For those of you who share my view, I hope you will speak out on this issue. We can’t afford more losses!!!!!!
For those who might have a differing view. (I forgive you.)
Okay. I Apologize to whomever I may have offended!!!!!
P.S. ( I hope each and everyone one who has or will contribute in anyway to this blog, ( even including some occasional and thankfully short term trolls LOL) gets an opportunity to experience the warmth, joy and camaraderie of meeting another Formblogger it truly is PRICELESS)
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Keithy L,
Annie wasn't the one to come up with the Blue Thong name, I was. I'd gladly pit the Blue Thong's 'capping skills against yours or any other guy on the blog. We've proved we can hold our own and then some. Don't get Annie mad, you'll wind up with a really hopeless MKB horse!
Laura
CAPTCHA: Kytaein Seducers...I dunno, but it sounds like fun, count me in!
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Bernard Downes,
I would enjoy that very much. Maybe someday we'll meet and enjoy a pint to "The Queen." Cheers.
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BSB
Smarty's horse almost ran you down in the San Marcos ! Lol.
Dick W
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BSB, Alfredo
Great PH pick with Slim ! And a little Stormy to go with him.
Meathead
Nice job with Hymn Book. And you had some Stormy as well !
Ron Z, Anderson
WTG with Hymn Book !
Keith L, Pig
You nailed Snow Top !
Ned Daly
And a Stormy fish cake for you !
The rest of us didn't do so good.
Dick W
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Singing superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48!
It can ALWAYS be worse.
Few were more talented.
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Sir Bernard of Downes,
Slim likes firm turf, nice weather and 10f Bernard. He took the track in a race devoid of speed & beat some decent older horses today (getting 5lbs )
Formblog PHers did pretty good again today. Meathead01 nice job again . I think you might crack the top 10. Hymn book & Stormy WTG ! Not very many guys on the front page with winners.
Anderson & RonZ with Hymn book
KeithL & Pig Bodine with Snow Top.
Ned with Stormy
Alfredo with Stormy & Slim
Formbloggers ham & egged the PH pretty good today. Well done guys.
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Bernard:
The discussion of two turn vs. one turn routes needs to be considered in terms of pace handicapping factors. Naturally, horses running in the turns run at a slower rate than they do in the straightaways. Of course, jockeys may also influence the pace factor, as it's highly possible they are less agressive early in a two turn race than in a one turn race with their mounts.
Running in the turns on the preferred left lead (on our counterclockwise tracks) means also that a horse might tire on that lead more quickly, and may need to make a few changes of lead also, which compensates some for the loss of time in the two turn races.
On most of our 1 mile circumferance race tracks, a one mile race puts a horse in the position of running part of the first quarter in the first, or Clubhouse turn...while the first half will include all of the Clubhouse turn. Most 6f-6&1/2f sprints (and even 7 furlong sprints if out of chutes) those first quarters are run in the straightaway, with only the final turn run in the whole...and the first halfs will include only a portion or so of the final turn. Hence, jockeys can be more aggressive early on.
A horse that excells on a two turn route racemay is required to adjust to the 2nd turns, being less agressive early, then picking it up on the backstretch, then adjusting to the positioning on the 2nd turn, then accelerating in the home stretch. The real speed demons, like Hansen for example, suffer under such a scenario as the jockey has difficulty rating the horses speeds accordingly, and also encouraging the proper lead changes.
Of course we have our track annolomies too, with Belmont's track allowing for one turn 8.5f races; or Delta Downs, where that 6f circumferance oval has a chute to accomodate a two turn 8.5f race, which means the initial run to the Clubhouse turn in a race like the Delta Jackpot gives a horse an advantage of getting up to cruizing speed early before hitting the Clubhouse turn.
Note, Sabercat won that race in 201 in fine fashion, but if you compare his final time with the two 8.5f editions run prior to 2005 (no race that year due to Hurricane Rita), and the 5 after (2006-2010), you see his was the 2nd slowest time of those 7 runnings. That he did his best running in the final turn and the stretch is probably a testament more to the fact that the early pace setters dueled themselves into submission than his superior routing ability, perhaps accounting for the slower time. Noteably, My Adonis rated much better in the 1 mile Holy Bull at GP, and used his speed to finish in the money therefore. Of Hansen and My Adonis, the latter is a horse that has the look of one who is learning his trade now. Of course, your Algorithms was much the better of the two, rating and closing with professionalism in fine overall time!
Hope that wasn't too confusing!
Keith L.
"rd'oyxt observation" you might say!
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Anderson, turn it up !!
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Dan,
Never mind. I called Mike Welsch of the DRF & here's what he had to say>>>about the #1, Where's Sterling..........
"Redeemed raced well placed throughout, came up empty at the end but outlasted Where’s Sterling by a neck to be third. The latter was in the midst of a big run when forced to alter course behind a drifting Redeemed near the eighth pole, losing his momentum after bumping with Hymn Book.....">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hymn Book the winner.....
I'm not losing my mind....LoL...I know I saw what I saw..I had the right horse..I had the money spent.......already..........
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Fire on Ice?
ripped from the pages of DRF:" Fire On Ice, visually the most impressive maiden-winning 2-year-old colt of the Saratoga meet, suffered a condylar fracture of his left hind leg and will miss the remainder of his 2-year-old season and most likely a shot at the spring classics, trainer John Kimmel said Thursday.
Kimmel noticed something wrong with Fire On Ice Thursday morning, one day after he worked five furlongs in 59.94 seconds over Belmont’s main track.
Kimmel had owned Fire On Ice with Eli Gindi but recently sold controlling interest of the Unbridled’s Song colt to Frank Stronach. Kimmel said Stronach took the news “better than I did.”"
from September so no news is probably not good news:(
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Anderson,
Thanx for the link to TOP & Santana, via You tube......Hey, that new singer for TOP, he looks an awful lot like Terrell Owens, doesn't he ?>>LoL............
Dan,
That Donn Hdcp ? The #1 was playing bumping cars w/the winner coming down the lane..Was it Lezcano ? I was waiting for the objection....The #1 was next to the winner out about in the 6 path, w/about 200 yards to go. He veered sideways & finished on the rail. That's like 10 lengths & still finished 4th......I mean WTF ? He should have finished at least 2nd if not won the race. I mean he was moving & right next to the winner. Of C-horse I didn't see the replay yet, as HRTV had a brain cramp & only showed the horse in the winners circle when it was official. Something smells like Denmark to me..........I rarely beatch.....Butts:..........????????????????? Am I losing my mind ? Don't answer that.......loL..........
I do want to know though..& not if I'm losing my mind either.......LoL........
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Very interesting that al khali opts for the donn instead of the turf... Garcia in for 1 mount, could surprise with all the speed
Has anyone heard anything about fire on ice, 10 length maiden winner at Saratoga?
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Annie:
Got to like Spring Hill Farm and Unbridled Minister now a bit, hmmm? They kind of impress for late starters, and after all, if they had raced in Nov or Dec in a MSW or two, would that have qualified them anymore for an inclusion in the Magic Kleenix Box? All that history since Appolo is just as ready to fall as did the curse of the BC Juvinile winner did, imo. With the average starter in the Derby field today having something like 5.5 races under their belts, we just may see some more late starting 3 yos in the fields in years to come, especially if the continued rash of injuries to the 2 yr olds becomes the norm.
Gil:
Annie should be allowed to pursue her delusion that Blue Thongs are winning the HG at a high rate (I'm sure that is the real reason she tried to make an obviously Blue Boxer's name into a Blue Thong monikor). However, we humor her, and allow one of the distaff bloggers to post a victory like once out of every Blue Moon or so, just to keep them trying!
Ronald H.:
Nice story about Mickey Roonie at Arlington! By the way, this February 19th, Turner Classic Movie Channel (TCM) is running THE BLACK STALLION at 6:00P to 8:00PM EST. Featuring the Mick himself in his role as Trainer! (Somethink every handicapper imagines his or her's self becoming at some point, I suspect).
Keith L.
"emotional iefurion"...what I might have engenerated with one of my above comments?
Keith L.
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1st Turfer of the day at GP went out in 25.02 / 52.40, so I'm thinking that is a "soft" course.
For what that is worth.
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Dan,
Good races at GP today, liking the "McGaughey double": Hit It Rich & Hymn Book.
Alfredo,
Thanks for putting some pics in your PH comments.
David M
Mr. Beyer indicated some of the problems with Trakus. I tried to track Trakus a few years ago but found it to be very cumbersome. But it is good if you want to look over a particular race in detail. Use the pop-up menu to see the cumulative FINISH (for example) http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/Woodbine/Racing/Trakus/Pages/WoodbineThoroughbred.aspx
HG OBJECTION?/ INQUIRY!?!!!
Posted by Randy
Tencent---I have a $100 straight exacta. Randy
Posted by Bullet Bob
Didn't Randy pick a $100 ex 3-8 for the contest.
Battle of the Bands,
Snowed in? Just for you, we got WAR on the turntable...
You Tube "video"
WAR - All Day Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQD70wb5fj8
OR turn the heat way up...
Tower of Power/ Santana - What Is Hip?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnwCiR9igBk&list=PL5450741E3BC54EFE&index=14&feature=plpp_video
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Dan, Dick W and others looking at today's stakes and/or PH
Waiting for scratches and focusing on wet/off track results should have helped. Let us see if it does.
Suwanee River
Heavenly Landing - won at G3 last out at GP, won 3X and won wet
Denomination - Won 3x at G3 and won a G3 wet
Hit it Rich - Won a g3 last out, won last two, wins wet
The Donn Hcp
Ruler on Ice - Class, success at this level, won wet
Redeemed - Won a G3 last out, won last two, Dutrow's tricks
Shackleford - Placed in G1/G2 last two
Also liked Hymn Book - Fast, placed in G1, won wet
GP Turf Hcp
Get Stormy - won twice at G1 including one wet
Silver Medallion - won last two at G3 level inc. one at GP
Yummy With Butter - Placed in G3 last, won twice at G3 in the summer
Good luck to all this week!
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10c, I believe I had a $3 tri for $310.50. Won't be good enough to win, but pleased with getting out of the red.
St
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Quickie picks:
Donn Hcp.: I hate the 4yo's altogether, Shack is gonna get cooked by Trickmeister. I like Flat Out, but I would use him, Where's Sterling, Mission Impazible and Hymn Book in multi race exotics.
GPT Hcp.: It's as easy as 1-2-3 in this race. (Silver Medallion - Hollinger - Big Blue Kitten)
San Marcos: IF (and that is a huge if) Bourbon Bay is NOT wearing front wraps, I like him to go GTW. If he is wearing front wraps, I'll just watch.
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Hg Results update
Okay, I missed Randy's $100 exacta because he didn't CARE to separate his bet from his analysis. There is a reason I ask that all contestants do that, so this doesn't happen. Randy definitely knows better, considering how often he has played in the HG. :-(
He won with the bet.
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Dan,
Who do I like, you asked ? In the Donn, R10 @the Gulf, I'm taking a shot..Just a shot mind you.
Matter a fact, I forgot to write his name down...& I aint going back now, it's too late..Anyway, he's the #1 horse....Heeheehee......Nick Canani>23%, J. Lezcano>18%, 31-60 days> 26% & the 12-1 odds ? They should balloon upwards..I've got my other reasons, butts:like Bernard says, "What's the difference ?" He's right..I'm betting the #1 horse, whatever his name is..What's the difference ? LoL.........WP & if I feel lucky, I'll box him 1-2 w/UR 3 horses...UR due pardner......
BTW:Stay out of trouble down in Florida....I need you back for Spa Babies........I don't want a Bummer in the Summer.......
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Hi Dan,
Really liked your (multiple) rendition(s) of Suwanee River on your W/E Stakes review. Penned by Stephen Foster of "My old Kentucky Home" fame, it is the state song of Florida. And with lyrics like:
"Way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away,
Dere's where my heart is turning ever,
Dere's where de old folks stay." why not? ( other than problems with spelling and race relations).
Anyway I don't really like the race (Turf probably closer to soft), but feel that Shackleford could run big in the Donn. Good Luck.
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Great day at Gulfstream today! Too bad some of the early races are off the turf, but still great stakes and maiden races! For example, In the upcoming GP2, 2ndTS Hunter Jak, the HB to Hainesfield is currently 30/1. I can't resist!
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Dan
I hope I don't jinx you, but my pick in the Donn is also Redeemed. I know his figures are a little light and he hasn't faced the likes of these, but he loves to win and I think he is going to give a good account of himself today.
As to the 2 big turf races, both of my original picks scratched. #1 Cumulonimble in the Suwannee River and #5 Boisterous in the Gp Turf. Aaaaaaarrrrrggg !!! Now I don't know who to go with. But I will take a stab with the following:
Suwannee River
Speak Easy Gal, Denominaton, Hit It Rich
Donn
Redeemed, Hymn Book, Trickmeister
GP Turf
Al Khali, Yankee Fortune, Silver Medallion
Good luck to all this weekend !
Dick W
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Best Bets
MUTINY was claimed from seventh straight loss, and returned eight weeks later to beat a dozen rivals in best effort since last July; back to dirt and back with Rosie Napravnik after turf try on short rest. RUFFINO probably won't match 92 Beyer earned last time on this track last fall, but grizzled old pro got back in win column recently, when claimed by savvy owner-trainer; second in '09 Empire Classic over sloppy going here. HILL CROSSING has been freshened since Mar. 18 score second off the claim that earned best figure since daylight win here last summer; needs fast footing.
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