Derby Week: April 29 - May 3
What a week! If you're a good handicapper (and/or are lucky) you win at a 30% clip with your selections. And if you get a return on investment of between $1.91 and $2.00 for every $2 bet you're doing better than 94% of players. For the Derby week races over five days I scored a remarkable 50% win rate and had an ROI of an astounding $3.06 for every $2 bet. To say it was an amazing week at the races as I played at the "Sunshine Simulcast Center" would be a huge understatement. Churchill Downs celebrates the Kentucky Derby with a full week of themed days, and even the week day events draw huge crowds. Here's how my week played out....
502'sDay had a card of nine races and when I'd finished looking them over I had five selections for the day. But I lost two of them to scratches, leaving me with only three bets on the day. The third race was a non-winners of two lifetime claiming event going the extended seven furlongs. I liked 6yo Rivalry who was cutting back from a two-turn event at Oaklawn where he'd run for twice today's price. And he was going third off the layoff, often a horse's best effort. It was a plus that the main foe for Rivalry was a last out maiden winner for a cheaper price tag. Pressed the 8/1 front runner to the turn, overhauled him and drew off thru the stretch to kick off the week in style.
For the third time in the first four races I had a "PASS" as my runner scratched in the third, leading us to R5, another 2-lifetime claiming sprint at the identical 7f of R3. Fun To Run was my choice here, but I had less confidence that in the previous where I'd doubled the bet. 'Fun, like everyone else in the field did not have figures that reached par or gave him a significant betting advantage. But what I DID like, only because I followed the Keeneland meet, was that jockey Jose Ortiz was riding for trainer Joe Sharp and those two had been on fire in Lexington. On the connections I made the bet. Off a beat slower than his pace rivals but quickly slid through to take command. Cleared off on the far turn and was "going, going GONE" as track announcer Travis Stone called it. Paid a generous $6.86 so my winnings more than covered the loss in the last bet of the day and I ended "502'sDay" two-for-three with a clear profit! A good start to the week.
WinsDay On the mid-week card of ten possible races I again had multiple "PASS" races (six of the ten in fact) so racing for me didn't start until R4. It was a turf sprint and my pick left the gate at 10/1 and ran like it. Two more "PASS" events led us to R7, an entry level allowance on the turf. Classic Q had graduated in her second start and in her two next races where she raced a competitive fourth in each. The Mark Casse trained filly looked to have some potential and was getting the anti-diuretic Lasix back today. Classic Q sat fourth to the far turn in a perfect racing pocket. Shot through between runners into the stretch and drew off impressively. Somehow the crowd let her go off at better than 5/2 so the $7.86 payoff meant I netted $39.30. When I lost the last two races, both with added money wagers I finished the day 1-for-4, but because of the payout on Classic Q I lost a meager $0.70 on the day! WHOOOO HOOOO - still ahead for the week :)
Thurby Many years ago Kentucky Derby Saturday included the Kentucky Oaks. But when that race grew in stature on it's own right, Churchill Downs built and entire Oaks Day card full of graded stakes for the first Friday in May. With the overwhelming popularity of these two days, the crowds were huge and prices soared. Local Louisvillians were left without a chance to share in their own city's signature racing day. So "The Downs" cleverly initiated "Thurby" - an anacronym combining "Thursday" and "Derby" as a day for the locals, and placed some minor stakes on the card. The card contained a dozen races and I liked runners in SEVEN of them. When I finished handicapping I wondered if I'd been a little to "open minded" to play races where I had less of an edge than I might normally require, but I went with it.....it's Derby Week after all! In the first, a maiden claiming sprint, trainer Mike Maker was plunging Marmo from a $50K start in his last to this basement level $12.5K. Seemed suspicious to me, but if the colt had any ability he should win I thought. Good enough for the minimum play to start off the day. Shot right to the front but was immediately confronted by a longshot speed ball. Dueled to the top of the stretch then exerted his "class" and edged clear to a daylight lead to draw away as the 7/5 favorite.
The second today was a 2yo MSW event. One of the more "interesting" stories of the week, and an equally interesting running. On the Wednesday card trainer Larry Rivelli had sent out a 2yo in a MSW dash just like this. Rivelli is typically the master of juvenile races at Arlington Park, but they've been closed (by CDI, still unhappy about that), but I've noted when Rivelli ships anywhere, he's very dangerous. I noted for today's race that if his 2yo on Wednesday ran well I would be betting Mercilesanhilator in here. The Wednesday race saw his 2yo filly burst out of the gate and win by multiple lengths without ever being threatened. So I was going to bet this one. Taking tons of money at the windows so I upped the wager to a double investment. Broke third, quickly got to the front and dueled with another. At the top of the lane the rival got about half a length in front, and my pick was buried on the rail. BOTH those things nearly always mean even the most experienced of runners is done for the day. But not Mercilesanhilator! Surged back to re-engage the leader, then drew off to win by daylight. WOW! Two in a row!!
A rich $50K claiming event anchored the early Pick-3 going seven furlongs. I thought the morning line on favorite Two Eagles River was too short for his legitimate odds, but he did win HERE for $80K when claimed away by trainer Mike Maker. Since then he'd earned $36K back and a win today would turn this into a profitable investment for the connections. Even more so if claimed away. Left the gate as the even money favorite and tracked the leaders in third along the rail into the turn. Collared the 5/2 front runner in the stretch and edged clear to give me THREE IN A ROW to start the Thurby Day card!
As a long time horse racing player I am fully aware you can't win them all, and I did NOT win Race 4 OR Race 5.....because I didn't bet. LOL :) The 6th was the first stakes of the day, the Kentucky Juvenile going five furlongs. I'd bet Wesley Ward's Pinky Finger on debut at Keeneland and she had quickly put double digits on the field going 4 1/2 furlongs. My only question was if she took pressure could she last the additional half furlong. She bobbled out of the gate and for a front runner that is NEVER good. Because either they rush up to the lead, expending unnecessary energy they may need in the final furlong, or worse they don't make the lead. Quickly got to the front and dueled. Another bad sign - already questioning her ability to last. Now a less than ideal start and pressure once she did get to the lead. But turning for home she opened up a multi-length lead and looked long gone. To the 16th pole when two closers were rallying. I saw jockey Joel Rosario look under his shoulder and when he didn't ask the filly for more I knew that she was home safe and she was carrying my triple investment. OH MY - four in a row, and my first stakes winner of the day. WOW I'm having a very good day.
Passed the next two before we arrived at R9, a six furlong non-winners of three other than allowance. You don't see these kinds of races carded often, and when you do they are almost always written for stakes experienced horses. Two stakes winners in the field, who I'd both bet on and won with earlier in their career were strictly routers, and they were on the comeback trail. But World Record had NEVER gone two turns. In addition to being a bona fide sprinter, he'd been on the board in six of seven starts and one of his three career wins came in Saratoga's Grade 2 Amsterdam last summer. Coming off the bench, like the other contenders, but he had two sharp bullet works and got the nation's best jockey, Flavian Prat on board today. Broke on top and took pressure through sizzling :21.1 and :43.4 splits. Turning for home he opened up and drew off impressively stopping the teletimer in a whistling 1:07 and change leading the FanDuel commentators to ask, "Can I make a future bet on the Breeders' Cup Sprint, wow!" I had been so impressed looking at the past performances that I wagered a triple investment so I cashed for the FIFTH consecutive time, collecting over $30 on this winner. I am have THE MOST wonderful day.
The tenth race today was the second added money stakes event, the $350K Opening Verse going a mle on the turf. Brilliant Berti was my pick of the two I thought most likely to win. First of all I was willing to dismiss the last which was a 9f Grade 2 at the Fair Grounds as being too far. Second, the Cherie DeVaux filly was a perfect 3-for-3 here at Churchill Downs. Tracked in mid-pack to the turn then began picking off horses. Five wide into the lane she wore down the leaders to reach the front. Dueled for a 16th of a mile before edging to the front in the final fifty yards. Cashed for almost $30 on my SIXT STRAIGHT - count them, 6 wins - on the day. WHAT A DAY! OK, so you really can't win them all so I was not bothered by finishing a well beaten 10th at 9/5 in the last bet of the day in an overnight stakes event. For the day, 6-for-7 with a profit of over $60. WHAT A WEEK I'm enjoying.
Derby Week Highlights: Part 1
Before I went through the past performances I knew a lot of my friends on Facebook would want to know who I liked in the Oaks & Derby so I analyzed both those races and put my picks online:
Friday: Kentucky Oaks Day I have to be honest as I've "seen this movie before" wondering if my early success through the first three racing days of the week would even out with a less than impressive set of results today on the Oaks card and again on Saturday on the Derby card. When I finished handicapping the card on Thursday I thought to myself, and even said to a few people, "I don't know how the Derby card can be better than this card, it's one of the best I've seen in a long time!" And even before I looked over the past performances for the featured Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks I was certain that this race would be the BET of the Weekend and my most likely winner of the week. The late morning opener (11am post time) was an entry level allowance for 3yo's but my top pick scratched. I was close to betting my second choice who was the prohibitive favorite, but he'd never gone two turns and was shipping to Churchill from Gulfstream (where I'd bet him in his maiden win). Opted to just watch. Wire to wire impressively. My pick in the second, a MSW for older also scratched and I did go with my back-up/second choice. Sent off as the 9/5 favorite - finished a dismal 8th. Uh oh - am I "coming back to reality" was my first thought after the success Tuesday-thru-Thursday. The third race was a nine furlong turf event and was another maiden special event. We'd begun to have some rain which softened the course but I still liked World Beater in here. Trainer Riley Mott (son of trainer, Hall of Famer Bill Mott who's the trainer of my Derby pick) had started this one on the dirt and after two starts sent him to the turf. Ran a much improved third, a neck off the runner-up who came right back to win. After earning a career best speed figure she came back on the turf at Keeneland and was a best-of-the-rest second behind a highly regarded runner with an improved figure again. Now today's race on the stretch from eight and a half furlongs. Was in hand near the back of the pack to the turn. Accelerated noticeably thru the turn, split rivals in the stretch and blew on by to win going away. Paid a nice $7.00 and even with my minimum play I'm ahead for the day!
I was the 6/5 favorite in a 3yo entry level allowance sprint. Chased the leader, made a bid into the lane to third then had no closing kick. The fifth was the first of the big stakes events on the card, the Grade 2 Edgewood on the turf for 3yo fillies. I'd had Mark Casse's Nitrogen as my BEST Bet on Tampa Bay Derby Day when she won the Grade 3 Florida Oaks and again as the day's BEST Bet on the Blue Grass Day card opening weekend at Keeneland. My only concern was how many times could she run better than the last. Strictly on paper she looked formidable. I decided, largely because I already had a "BEST" of the day to reduce the wager a click. Tracked the leaders while saving ground to the top of the lane. Came off the fence about four wide and quickly caught the leaders. At the 16th pole she lengthened stride and drew off without having to be asked for her best. WHOOOO HOOOO.
The next, R6, was the Grade 2 Alysheba and I had a bit of a conundrum. Last year Todd Pletcher's top 3yo was Fierceness who was a runaway winner of the Gr 1 Florida Derby for me and the Gr 2 Jim Dandy for me. He'd also beaten Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Travers and was a sharp 2nd in the $6 Million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic. Not seen since then, I'd have no problem playing him here. BUT....Pletcher had sent stablemate Locked out in the Grade 1 Pegasus where he was my pick. But a bad start led to a late running 2nd. Then he was shipped to Santa Anita where Pletcher next to never goes, and he set a record winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. Because of two different owners he had both here. I was a bit more "intrigued" when I read that the original plan was to run Fierceness in the Westchester next week at a one-turn mile. Hmmmm. But then I read an article where Pletcher explained - reading between the lines - that this appeared to be a softer spot. Still, if Locked ran his best and Fierceness was less than 100% that could be a problem. Doubled the bet. Locked didn't fire at all - clear he wants at least 9f if not more, this is NOT his distance. Fierceness pressed the pace, took control in the lane and drew off to stamp himself a legitimate older handicap star.
Thorpedo Anna was the odds-on choice at 1/4 in the Grade 1 La Trioenne. My only concern was she'd run just three weeks ago winning the Grade 1 Apple Blossom. Maybe too quick? But trainer Ken McPeek seemed pretty confident when saying that a big win here and she'd take on the boys again in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster in a week. I'd originally planned to play three Pick-3 tickets starting with the Nitrogen race. But I opted not to and was happy with that when noting my tickets would have cost $38 and I'd only get $34 back when 'Anna won. But she ran dismally and the winner was one of the "other" runners I had on the ticket - I'd have more than doubled my investment. Oh well..... The eighth was the Grade 3 Modesty and it was widely agreed that She Feels Pretty for trainer Cherie DeVaux was the best older turf mare in the country. She was last seen winning a Grade 1 at Keeneland last fall. So despite the layoff she looked to be tough here. I'd planned to wager $15 but after passing on the P-3 wagers and the way she was being complimented by the on air analysts, and the way she was taking money, I upped the bet to a "prime time" $20 bet. In hand third thru the turn, glided up effortlessly to take over and drew off without being pushed AND SET A TRACK RECORD. Smart move to up the bet. I thought the 3/5 price was fair as I cashed for the fourth time from seven bets.
As is always the case on Oaks Day and Derby Day, at this point the post times become stretched out. 45 min to the Gr 2 Eight Belles then an hour to the Gr 1 Kentucky Oaks. I was watching FanDuel TV and a stakes race at Oaklawn was coming up. On a Friday? Just an overnight affair, but I know the favorite in here, Skelly who at one time was an early favorite for the Gr 1 BC Sprint last year. Well worth a $10 "fun bet." Right to the front - "paid public workout" and I cashed again (for little profit but I'll gladly take the "free money" and pad my stats!
Was off the board with both those stakes leading up to the highly anticipated "Run for the Lilies" - The Grade 1 $1.5 Million Kentucky Oaks. Last year trainer Brad Cox had managed Godolphin's ultra talented filly Immersive to an unbeaten record, a win in the Grade 1 BC Juvenile Fillies and an Eclipse Award as top 2yo filly. But she's yet to take to the track this year. At the end of the 2024 season Cox sent out another top Godolphin filly, Good Cheer to win both the Rags to Riches and the Grade 2 Golden Rod, HERE by open lengths. Came back off the layoff in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra where I made her my best. Several runners scratched with the imposing filly in the gate leaving her only three rivals to out run which she did easily. Came back 2nd off the bench in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks and faced seven rivals. Had a troubled trip and had to go wide in the stretch but she drew off anyway. Not visually as impressive but TODAY in her third start off the bench I thought she'd be electric. Made her the BET of the Weekend going all in with a $50 wager. Tracked the leaders mid-pack while outside and in the clear. Surged five wide into the stretch inhaling the field and drew off impressively yet again to the thunderous cheers of the more than 100,000 fans - mostly dressed in pink - in the historic grandstands. The Godolphin home bred had been 6/5 in her Indiana Grande debut for the first of her wins and had never been above 3/5 since. Today, somehow - and fortunately for me - she was let go at more than 6/5 odds meaning my big bet returned nearly $120 and shot me into the black for the day, and by a large margin! Ran 7th in the 13th and my horse scratched from the 14th. For the day, ANOTHER six win day - this time from a dozen selections, and a profit of almost $60!
Saturday: Kentucky Derby Day
I have to be fully transparent here because I KNOW how the world of handicapping goes, and in particular if there's one thing that has been ultra-consistent about my handicapping over the last 17 years since I began tracking the more than 30,000 wagers I've made, it's that the percentages DO even out. Never really concerned when I slumping because I know good days are ahead to balance it out. And while I enjoy the winning at a big percentage like I've enjoyed this week, I know that I'm likely to lose more than I win to "balance" the selection sheet out. Add in that I thought yesterday's Oaks Day card had a lot of "I'm going to win" bets, and today had a lot of "I MIGHT win" bets and you can see why I was a bit anxious. First post was again 11am but Kim and I planned to go to the track for a Derby Day lunch around noon, maybe watch a race or two live and then come home for all the big ones. Once we arrived I went to "my girl" Kimberly who greeted me with a big smile at the windows. I had tickets to cash from Florida Derby Day which I did and then I only made the Kentucky Derby bet for my Mom and myself. Decided I'd rather play online because (a) the first three or four bets would have to be made ahead of time, and (b) the later bets I wanted to have the opportunity to alter the wagers. On the drive out I shared with Kim I was doing something a bit different with my Derby bet. What's that she asked. I explained that she knows I always bet WIN only because the statistics show I'll cash fewer tickets than betting to place & show, but I make more money. Right, she replied. Well, I went on to explain, I think any one of six would be no surprise to win the Derby. I like Sovereignty enough to bet him on a $10 WIN ticket but I also think it's wide open enough that I'm nearly certain if he doesn't win, he'll run 2nd or 3rd and with this field I'll get most if not all of my money back even if he doesn't win. And so that's what I told Kimberly as the tote machine showed me with more than $50 credit. "Race 12 - $30 to WIN-Place-Show on #18" I told the pretty blonde and she punched it in, counted out the money I was getting back and handed it to me with a smile saying, "Good luck to you!" We then headed over to the Yardhouse restaurant for lunch. As we sat down the horses were in the final 16th of a mile and Goal Oriented was crossing the line first - my bet in the race! Looked up the results and discovered I'd run 2nd and 3rd with minimum bets in the first two races, but with the double investment here I was ahead for the day already.
After lunch, before heading back home to watch the rest of the races we stopped at the bar and I asked if they had the Derby signature drink, a Mint Julep in a Kentucky Derby souvenir glass. That was a yes so I enjoyed that and had Kim take a photo out by the rail. Got the car and headed for home. Missed on the next four races, hitting the board twice. And it reminded me, much like last weekend, that I was irritated (a) that TwinSpires had let my bonus expire meaning I was playing solely on Xpressbet now, and (b) that Xpressbet didn't have any promotions over the weekend. That's because through the first seven races while only winning once I ran 2nd and 3rd four of the other six times and WOULD have gotten my money back were I playing on TwinSpires (or if XB had the same promotion).
We'd now past the mid-point on the card and racing had been going on for over four hours and I had but a single ticket cashed on the day. Today apparently IS "even out" day, or so it would seem. Race 8 was the Grade 1 Churchill Dows, a seven furlong event carrying a huge $1 Million purse. It was about this time last year that I "began my relationship" with Todd Pletcher's Mindframe. On Florida Derby Day he'd made his debut and I'd won with him as he was ultra impressive. Pletcher brought the St. Elias Stable, owned in partnership with Michael Repole, back on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard in an allowance and he was a runaway winner. Off those two efforts he went to the Gr 1 Belmont. Took the lead turning for home and then ran greenly through the lane which cost him in his narrow 1/2 length loss. Came back in the Gr 1 Haskell to face the same foe and again took the lead in the lane after stumbling at the start which cost him thru the final 100 yards as he ran 2nd again. Wasn't seen again until Fountain of Youth Day this year in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile He was my BET of the Day despite the long layoff and ran away with the race with my big $50 ticket on him. Now he shows up here. While not that big of a bet, I made the 3/1 morning line choice my Derby Day Best Bet. Broke sharply, then was allowed to settle in eighth (of eleven) more than half a dozen lengths off the front. Began advancing on the turn and he looked too far back to me, and I was NOT encouraged as he swung at least eight wide into the lane. But he had a full head of steam and as he reached the pack at the front I thought "this is going to be close." Still seemed out of it with 50 yards to go, surged and four of them flashed across the wire in unison....PHOTO FINISH! I THOUGHT I won but several angles and slo mo finishes were not enough for me to note it on my results sheet until the numbers came up with him on top. The best part.....the crowd had let him go off at more than 7/2 odds so I was cashing for over $90 and suddenly despite being just 2-for-8 I was ahead by almost $30 on the day! WHOOO HOOOO.
Was off the board on the next three races, all stakes but still was clinging to a narrow profit of just over $10 on the day. It was time for the Kentucky Derby! As they approached the gate my phone lit up several times with friends & family wishing me well and wondering who I had (despite having posted it publicly online Thursday!). I felt pretty confident in two things....I really didn't think the favorite from So Cal was going to win - though I thought he was as good as the main contenders - and I really felt confident that my pick, Bill Mott's Sovereignty would hit the board. I'd been sitting in the front row on the finish line on Fountain of Youth Day when he'd come off his layoff to blow by and win that Grade 2. I was so impressed that on Florida Derby Day I told everyone with us that if he ran back to that race he'd win the Florida Derby and would win the Kentucky Derby. But unlike his big win, he closed ground to be second but was far less impressive. Now I had a dilemma. I'd noted before the Florida Derby my concern that maybe, just maybe he was NOT fully cranked for the Gulfstream race and they just wanted a good effort to set him up for Kentucky. Was that the case. I'd read a lot and followed the morning works leading up to the first Saturday in May and had been encouraged how glowingly Mott talked about his colt. And then on Friday it was reported that Mott had said he'd only been 80% ready on Florida Derby Day. Now all I needed was some racing luck for the late running Godolphin colt. I felt pretty confident there would be a hot pace to set him up but would he get the trip. Off they went to the roar of over 150,000 fans on a rain-soaked Saturday and he was away cleanly. As they hit the backstretch I stood up and went to the TV pointing out to Kim that he was having a perfect trip in a pocket behind the front running pack of horses and ahead of the deep closers. On the far turn he began to pick off runners one by one and as they swung into the stretch he surged to the front and collared the favorite. At the 1/8th pole I called out to Kim, "HE'S GOING TO WIN!" Drew clear late to earn the Roses. I was so SO excited. He'd been a big 9/1 heading to the gate but some late money took him down to 7/1 at post time. Still, who's complaining about a $10 WIN ticket on a $17.96 payout. And you may remember that I'd also put $10 to Place & Show. Those payouts of $7.50 and $5.58 brought my total return on the $30 bet to $155.20! OH MY, I'm a BIG TIME winner. Note, just as I had thought, had he only run third I'd have cashed for almost the full $30 :) What a great week, and what a great Derby Day!!!!!
But I wasn't done yet! In a reminder of a lesson that I've often preached to people who ask who I like on a big racing day, I am known to say that they pay off the same for a maiden winner as they do for the winner in a Grade 1 $5 Million race. I had bets in both the 13th and 14th, and ironically my co-best bet of the day was in the 14th, a maiden race. Both Patch Adams and Pursuitneversleeps survived stretch duels and close finishes to score. So after starting a meager 1-for-7 on the day, I finished an impressive 5-for-14 with a profit on the day of nearly $225!
Derby Week Highlights: Part 2
The Week's Totals were beyond impressive and probably will carry me through the summer. As I said at the beginning of this journal entry....every once in a while you have one of "those days," but it IS exceptionally rare to have a full week like this. The ONLY "losing" day came on Wednesday when I was $0.70 behind. W-O-W !
Derby Fashion pics from the two days.......
Social Media this week.....
As I've said many times, were it not for my online friends, I'd have very little contact with the human world (other than my wife) unless we're travelling. EVERY year I hear from people on Derby week because so many people know I'm a thoroughbred racing fan and they want to know who my Derby pick is. I beat them to the punch this year by posting my selections online on Thursday. Always, ALWAYS a highlight of my week is when I am in contact with my most favorite former student, Kimmy. When I shared a photo of me at the track and explained how I'd done Friday she quickly wanted to know if I was a millionaire. LOL. And she was the first person I reached out to sharing my BIG win in the Kentucky Derby, and she answered immediately with an enthusiastic "WHOOOO HOOOO"
Perhaps THE sweetest message came from another of my favorite formers, Jen. When I was running the WISE program at Cypress Bay High I typically was the mentor for one or two students. In Jen's year I was her mentor and I remember her sharing the news that she'd been accepted to the Univ of Colorado. I was surprised she was going so far from home and when she told me she did NOT know anyone there I thought she was very brave. Fast forward to the fall and as we messaged she was so homesick. It reminded me of when I had left home for college. I had a trip planned to visit my oldest son Jeff in California and all my flight options had layovers in Denver, a short drive from the campus. I asked Jen if she'd like me to come spend the day and she was all for it. I flew out in the morning, rented a car and met her on campus. She showed me around and we had lunch. Later after I'd left her parents were so thankful to me for helping their daughter, but it had been my pleasure. Jen told me later that it settled her down so much that she stayed for all four years, graduated AND stayed in the area when she got her job out of college. So shortly before the Derby my phone lit up and it was Jen reaching out to me. So very sweet. After I told her who I liked and the race was over she excitedly texted me her husband had bet my horse and made money :)
When I coached with my oldest son Jeff at Oasis High, "Coach Kelly" had her first job as a head trainer. I became good friends with this cutie and we always shared a smile about the day I was "injured" on the sidelines and she "bandaged me up!" This week was Kelly's birthday so I wished her well which she appreciated.
At Cypress Bay I was in charge of graduation and I could not have done it without all the help from the people on our committee. Most especially was the principal's personal assistant, Sha. We'd always been friends, but something about our connection changed when we both enjoyed the book series "50 Shades of Gray." Ever since I retired and she left we've remained close online pals. She posted a pic this week which I commented on and she replied to.
Another former teacher pal, Mishelle (who shares fan-dom with the Florida Gators) has recently remarried and is so very happy. I'm always glad to see her and her new husband out enjoying life - as she was this week and she replied back to me.
One of my former students from long ago, Heather, rarely posts and we very infrequently communicate. But this week she posted a photo of her taking her son to a playoff game. We exchanged messages about a possible meet-up.
Gal-pal and former CBS-Miami weekend anchor Karli announced she had been nominated for an Emmy award. I chipped in my support as I have always thought she was talented (and so attractive!). She replied back thanking me for always being supportive.
Yet another friend from Cypress Bay High days, Melissa who now lives in Naples with her realtor husband Ben, posted a gorgeous sunset pic which I commented on and she reacted to.
Weekend anchor gal-pal Teri was on the week day anchor desk and we exchanged messages - notably about the Panthers and going to a game. She also messaged me back about the Kentucky Derby week.
And finally, I always hear from my friend Lauren over the course of the week. When I saw her going solo on the desk at 11 on Monday I commented and was delighted to hear she would be solo all week long, so of course I watched them all - either live or recordings. When I asked if she'd reached her goals on a fund raising drive last year she replied yes and cheered on the Panthers. She also replied when I commented on her "Panther Red" outfit one night. Later in the week she posted a reel about how quiet she used to be and I reacted saying I couldn't imagine "our Lauren" not talking and she immediately replied that her kids are always telling her to be quiet LOL. Lastly, like most things that I find important and I share with Lauren, I told her about the weeks' racing and she liked them all.