Preakness Weekend

 

May 20 - 22

It was a WONDERFUL weekend of racing from start to finish!  Black Eyed Susan Day on Friday saw me score on five of ten selections including the BET of the Weekend.  Saturday I played five tracks and hit on eleven more winners (from just twenty-five selections).  And then unlike many big weekends where Sunday is a "return to reality" kind of handicapping day, I hit three out of six.  Made money every day so this weekend has to go down as one of the best of the spring!

Black Eyed Susan Friday 
You'd never have guessed the kind of weekend I was going to have by the way it started.  The first race of the day & weekend say my pick leave the gate at 4/1 and run a dismal 13th, ouch.  The second race was a maiden claiming event going six furlongs carrying a $40K price tag.  I noted in my analysis that I could understand why you might not want to go with a firster in here, especially drawn on the rail, and most especially at a short price.  But all that said, Brittany Russell's Run Reagan Run WAS the most likely winner in the field.  She was scoring at 28% overall....24% with first timers and 26% with debut runners for a tag like Reagan.  The filly had a dozen works listed (more than is typical for a first time starter) and the rider was a 40% winner for the barn.  Broke sharply out of the gate, held a daylight advantage into the lane, and then held on as she tired late.  I'd doubled the investment, and I was ahead on the money ledger, where I'd stay for the remainder of the three days!

Came right back in the second, a conditioned allowance going a mile and a sixteenth on the grass.  The race seemed wide open to me and I did note that if Shug McGaughey's Never Explain was cold on the board I'd probably back off.  Did not get hammered, but did draw support at 2/1 so I played along.  Tracked the leaders while fourth on the rail under Flavian Prat.  Tracked the 99/1 front runner into the turn, took command and ran on to win by daylight.  Two-for-three!

Passed both the fourth and fifth, both allowance races which looked to have little to any runners with reason to bet with certainty.  The crowd had it right in the third when the favorite romped, but in the fourth it was a 10/1 over a 13/1 over a 10/1 in the top three slots.  The sixth was another conditioned allowance but I liked Another Woman in this sprint, a lot.  The filly began her career for Bill Mott and had run a big figure second in her Gulfstream debut this winter, followed by a score at another big Beyer number.  Tried a route to no avail and now moved to the aforementioned Brittany Russell barn.  New arrivals to her shedrow win at a 40% clip!  Good works, good connections....I looked for a big effort today.  Tracked the leaders while fourth on the rail under Flavian Prat.  Moved into the clear on the turn and blew by to open a decisive lead and drew off willingly for my third win on the card.

I was a disappointing fifth as the 3/2 favorite in the seventh and then a good second in the first stakes of the day, the Grade 3 Allaire Dupont going nine furlongs.  Noteworthy, my second choice won the race at 2/1 while I was second at 3/2.  The 9th was the Hilltop Stakes for 3yo fillies going a mile on the turf and it was my BET of the Weekend!  Christophe Clement's Pizza Bianca had done nothing wrong in his four race career.  Won at first asking at Saratoga in a two-turn turf MSW, and you know only the best juveniles debut at the Spa.  Came back to be a best-of-the-rest 2nd in Woodbine's Gr 1 Natalma Stakes then WON the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.  In her 3yo debut he forged to the front off the layoff but was nailed late by a quality Chad Brown runner.  With one under her belt she looked like a "Free Bingo Square" in the multi-race wagers.  She was patiently handled near the back, some ten lengths off the leaders onto the backside.  Moved up into the turn then shot past into the lane and ran off as TONS the best.  WHOOOO HOOOO!  Hottie handicapper Acacia Clement (our girl from Gulfstream now married to the trainer's son) noted "We'll be having pizza tonight" to which I replied and got a response on Twitter.  

My top pick scratched in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness and I was second at 8/5 in the The Very One Stakes (always a discussion how to say this..."the - THE Very One Stakes").  In the Grade 3 Pimlico Special going the Preakness distance of 9 1/2 furlongs, but this was for older handicap runners saw a field without a clear cut favorite in my opinion.  I'd seen Shug McGaughey's First Captain run last spring and win his first three which led the Hall of Fame trainer to think his colt was a legitimate Travers contender.  But when he couldn't handle the listed Curlin Stakes field in the prep for that he was stopped for the year.  Won his 4yo debut in a life-and-death finish at GP but I was willing to say that was a race he wasn't fully cranked for.  It was all about the promise of this one vs. the so-so credentials of the rest of the field.  Tracked the leaders in fifth some five or six off the lead into the turn.  Began moving up, was third into the stretch and wore down the even money favorite in the shadow of the wire.  Best of all, he'd gone off at 5/1 and paid $12, so I cashed for $30 on my final winner of the day.

The crowd agreed with me in the featured Black Eyed Susan on Santa Anita Oaks runner-up Adare Manor and made her the tepid 2/1 favorite.  I noted in my analysis that TO ME it looked like a showdown between that filly and Interstatedaydream who exited a good try in Keeneland's Grade 1 Ashland.  I was second as the chalk behind the 6/1 winner.....yes, my second choice 'Daydream.  Sigh.

Preakness Saturday 
I had handicapped not only the stakes filled Pimlico card, but also my usual Monmouth Park card, and had added selections from both Churchill Downs and Belmont Park.  Much like Friday I started a tad slowly with a pass race in the opener and then a 4th at 4/1 odds.  In the third my choice was the 4/5 favorite and I ran 2nd, but Twin Spires was running a "Bet Back" today with up to $20 back on your WIN bet if you ran 2nd or 3rd, so it was a "win" as I got my money back.

The next at Pimlico was the first of the Saturday stakes races, the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint.  There looked to be three very evenly matched contenders in here but I went with Jaxon Traveler who had sharp figures, had stakes experience AND had Joel Rosario riding for Steve Asmussen.  I was delighted when the crowd did NOT make him the post time favorite.  Right to the front, quickly clear through the turn.  Challenged at the top of the lane but Rosario had plenty left and he spurted away again to score by open lengths.  I came right back in the opener at Churchill Downs in a short four horse field going two turns.  Was a little concerned when Naval Aviator was at the back of the pack through moderate fractions to the far turn, but once he kicked in he opened up to draw off to victory.  The fifth at Pimlico was the Grade 3 Gallorette on the turf and I tried to beat the heavy favorite.  Didn't but ran second, so I "won" again with the bet-back promotion!

Two scratches and three pass races took up the next forty minutes until it was post time for the fourth at Monmouth.  It was a maiden special sprint that seemed to be all about Moving Pictures.  The two to his inside had been BADLY beaten in their last, and the three outside of him were firsters from barns that were a combined 10-for-114.  Unless one of them took money I liked the chances for Moving Pictures.  After a slow start he rushed up the rail, shot through on the turn and drew clear in the lane.  Lost a photo at Churchill that was oh-so-close and then it was post time for Monmouth's feature, the Politely Stakes.  It was originally carded for five furlongs on the turf but it was now on the main track.  That meant my top choice scratched, but my second choice, Robin Sparkles was ultra quick and I'd bet him both on the turf and on the main track where he'd won for me both times.  Burst out of the gate and never gave anyone else a chance.

At this point in the day I'd bet on eight races.....won four of them and got my money back on two others.  I'm having a good day!  Ran 2nd and 5th in the next two picks before Played Hard ran off as easily best in the 4th at Churchill Downs.  Three pass races took me to a half hour later and the Grade 2 Dinner Party, my Saturday BEST Bet.  I'd seen Set Piece run - and had won with him three times - last year at Churchill Downs.  And in all three - and in his close loss in a graded stakes at Saratoga - he'd come FLYING through the turn with an exciting burst of speed.  I noted in my analysis, "I've seen this guy run and he WILL win!"  Near the back to the far turn and then jockey Florent Geroux asked him.  In a flash he'd circled the field, hit the front and was long gone!  Could not believe my good fortune that the crowd let him go at better than 2/1 and I cashed for $62 - my "magic number" of sixty-two!  I'm having a VERY good day.

SIXTY-TWO DOLLARS!

Right back in the 7th at Monmouth where Frippet looked MUCH the best on paper in a two-turn MSW and he was easily best.  Was third in the following race on the Jersey Shore then just failed to last with Cogburn in the Grade 3 Chick Lane Stakes at Pimlico.  But the 2nd place finish in the sprint was my third "money back win" of the day.  Three pass races, a 4th at even money at Belmont and then I was a very good third at 9/1 in the JW Murphy Stakes on the turf at Pimlico for my fourth "win" through the Twin Spires promotion.

The eighth at Churchill looked like another one of "those" races where it would be a "free bingo square" in the multi race wagers Runnin Ray had run three consecutive 90+ Beyers which topped the combined 84 lifetime starts of today's rivals.  Right to the front and clear, but quickly became hounded by a 16/1 outsider.  Still, 'Ray looked in hand as they hit the far turn.  Then the longshot ramped up the pressure and actually put his head in front of the 2/5 favorite - yes, 2/5 - but 'Ray battled back, head up and head down stretch duel....PHOTO FINISH....

WHEW that was close for a 2-5 shot!  Two pass races between this win and the 11th at Pimlico where I thought D.Wayne Lucas' colt Ethereal Road should prove best.  He'd suffered three losses, but against what I thought were better.  Close enough in those to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby, but instead he will be a favorite answer to the trivia question, "What horse scratched OUT of the 2022 Kentucky Derby field to allow 80/1 longshot Rich Strike to get in and WIN the Derby?"  My logic was if he was good enough for Derby consideration he certainly was good enough for a listed 3yo stakes like this.  At the back approaching the turn he circled the field, was five wide into the stretch and then drew off to deliver as the favorite.

Missed at 6/5 at Churchill when it began POURING down rain as they got into the gate on the turf course, and again at Churchill when perennial runner-up 3yo Rattle N Roll was second, again as the 4/5 favorite.  The twelfth at Pimlico was the Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes, named in honor of long time ABC sports host Jim McKay who was a native Marylander and always promoted Maryland racing.  Carotari looked best barring any kind of bad luck.  Filtering out the graded stakes on the page, in his last ten turf sprints he'd WON four, was 2nd beaten a neck, and third to a loose on the lead front runner.  Luis Saez looked to be prominent from the get go from post two.  Burst out of the gate, right to the front, never threatened as he ran away with it, carrying my triple investment wager for my TENTH win of the day.

The final win came in the tenth at Belmont in a six furlong turf sprint under entry level conditions.  I liked that Deep Cover had run as well as anyone in his previous when he was "hard held while on heels" waiting for room to run.  I thought with a cleaner trip he'd be a likely winner.  I doubled the bet.  Within the first 16th of a mile, after a clean start he was in front.  And with each passing furlong he got farther and farther in front.  I was DEEEEE-lighted as he was a big 9/2 on the board so I cashed out on my final win for $55!   

In the Preakness I backed D.Wayne Lucas' Kentucky Oaks winner, Secret Oath against the colts.  Made the exact same move on the turn like in the Gr 1 Arkansas Derby against the boys, looked like a winner - like that day in Hot Springs - and hung, running evenly, as she did in Arkansas, to finish fourth.  But oh what a day it was as I scored with eleven picks and had another big profitable day.

Sunday at Monmouth 
I often say, and always wonder after a big weekend about having picks on Sunday.  After a big day I just hate to have an "off day" that brings the weekend's numbers down.  But I have learned that over the long haul I win as often as any other day, so you never know.  And today was one of "those" days where I was so happy to have played.  Missed in the 2nd when Paco Lopez wired the field at a generous 5/2 price - oh, how I hate to miss on that guy who wins ALL the time here.  Then in the third, a MSW on the grass Tap the Gavel looked way too good for these.  Even with two Chad Brown runners and a Todd Pletcher runner.  But Paco was on board 'Gavel instead of riding for the "big boys."  Pressed the pace to the turn and took off easily with my triple investment....and I'm ahead for the day!  Was second at 5/2 when Catania came too late with her rally in the fourth.  

Then in a "bonus play," my "Best of the Day" was in the Sunday Belmont feature, the Seek Again Stakes.  Most Sundays I look at the entries to see if anyone I "know" is running or if there's an "obvious pick.  Here, in a short field, Chad Brown's graded stakes placed Juddmonte colt, Masen, looked easily best.  The five horse field was reduced to three with late scratches.  Pressed the pace to the top of the lane and then under a hand ride, drew off by a pole.  Belmont just givin' away money!

Three races I didn't like before I was a fading fourth as the 2/5 favorite in a starter allowance.  Then the finale, and the story of this Sunday afternoon.  To me it seemed so very obvious.  And I was surprised to see Jose Delgado's runner, The Critical Way listed at 7/2 in the official program.  CERTAINLY everyone would see what I saw.  Scan down through his past performances....

Toss the bottom race run on the main track.  The next ten turf sprints resulted in SIX WINS, two 2nd, and a third....ALL in stakes races.  And note he last two races HERE he'd won stakes events, including last year's edition of this Get Serious Stakes as the short-priced favorite.  OK, maybe you're concerned about the first off the layoff back in December at Tampa where he was "pulled up and walked off" - that can't be good.  But since then he's worked fine, and then when returning here he earned a sharp bullet from the gate on May 4th, then a blistering, best-of-58 bullet move on May 12.  Obviously, OBVIOUSLY he's ready to go over a course we know he really likes!  He's certain to go off the favorite today, I thought, but maybe we get a "fair price" of 8/5 or maybe even 9/5 instead of last year's 4/5 price.  The loaded into the gate and immediately jockey Angel Rodriguez was clear of the field by daylight.  As they hit the turn the closest pursuers were a 3/1 horse who looked to be going evenly and a 20/1 outsider.  Meanwhile The Critical Way looked to be well in hand as they hit the top of the lane.  Rodrigues shook the reins and the multiple stakes winning sprinter burst clear to win going away.  The best, THE VERY BEST part ..... he'd left the gate at a huge 4/1 price.  Oh my!  Cashed for over $50 on my final winner of the weekend!

WOW I had a great three days :)  The final numbers:

41 / 19 - 10 - 3     46.3% WINS     $2.69 ROI     PROFIT:  $157

Preakness Weekend Racing Highlights

Preakness Fashion Pics

Hottie Handicapper/TVG Analyst Brittany Eurton on Black Eyed Susan Day

Me Celebrating the $62 Payoff On My Saturday Best Bet!

Social Media This Week

The first five social media interactions of the week all came from my CBS-4 anchor girls, and all when they did pieces on our Florida Panthers who were moving into the second round of the playoffs.  Lost BOTH home games, the latter in a heart-breaker with 3.8 seconds left.  I thought it was cool that after I'd reached out to Lauren initially on her piece that it was also "liked" by Panthers announcer Steve Goldstein, then later SHE reached out to me to tell me she HAD said "Go Panthers" only to have her mic cut out before she said it :)

On Friday, as I mentioned in the journal, I exchanged comments with Acacia regarding the Clement filly winner, my BEST BET of the weekend.

And finally, the usual Saturday night Facebook chat with Karli Barnett took place on Sunday this week, and I popped in for a quick hello to both she and meteorologist Jennifer Correa.

May 12 - 15

The Week BETWEEN The Derby & The Preakness 

Downs After Dark / Big Stakes Day at Belmont

As mid-week rolled around, and we were in the midst of our Stanley Cup Playoff first round battle between the Washington Capitals and our very own Florida Panthers, I said to myself regarding the racing..."you know, it doesn't have to be a Grade 1 championship event to be a good race and pay off!"  And so I looked through the schedule and decided that Thursday would be a good day to kick off the week.  Why?  Because BOTH Belmont and Churchill Downs had "Twilight Cards" on the schedule.  The races in New York didn't start until a 3 pm post time and the Louisiville first post was even later with a 5 pm post time.  So I handicapped both those cards and found some interesting races.

First up was Belmont and a Wesley Ward / Irad Ortiz 2yo went off at 1/2 and was outfinished to be second to begin the day.  In the third was a starter allowance that required a start for $50K or less.  But the entire field showed their best races in the $25-$20K price tag range.  Brilliant Brooks was the even money program choice and deservedly so.  He'd buried a group of $25K and was claimed away.  Moved into a listed stakes event and ran a good fourth.  He'd won four of eleven career starts, and hit the board in eight out of nine.  Was a likely winner but I wasn't willing to raise the bet.  Pressed the pace while three wide through the far turn then drove clear to score for my first winner on the day.

Came right back in the fourth, a maiden claimer going six furlongs.  I backed Merger of Equals as much for the connections as what was in the Form.  The $185K colt had debuted in a MSW turf sprint for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables, moderately bet at 6/1.  Pressed the pace for a half mile and faded away.  Now immediately in for a $25K tag?  That can't feel good as an owner who laid out that kind of cash!  Sent off as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite he was third along the rail into the turn, dropped back then rallied wide and edged clear through the final furlong.

I passed FOUR races sandwiched around a never in the hunt fifth at 8/5 in the second at Churchill before I got my next winner which turned out to be the "DAY-CHANGER" play of the day.  The seventh at Belmont was a second level optional-allowance event going six furlongs on the turf.  This time last year, Maxwell Esquire came off a nearly identical layoff as he had today, and ran in a second level allowance, exactly like today, on the turf at six furlongs, yes...exactly like today!  Irad Ortiz rode for Christophe Clement and he won as the 6/5 favorite.  Same connections...same race....same pattern.... uh oh.  Irad had him near the back through a wicked pace, collared the 3/5 favorite (what were THEY thinking....quackity quack along the railroad track - sis, boom, bah!) and edged to the front in the final 16th of a mile.  Best part....he was 3/1 and I cashed for forty beans!  WHOOOOO HOOOOOO.

My pick was 8/1 in the 4th in Louisville - ran like it (7th) before I hit again at Belmont.  It was hard to look past Chad Brown's lightly raced Key Point, even at a short price.  He'd won his debut at Saratoga with a strong 82 Beyer figure.  Wasn't seen again until last month when second beaten a nose at this entry level allowance level earning an even bigger 95 Beyer.  You had to figure he'd improve with a start under his belt.  Tracked the leaders in fourth to the turn, then blitzed by four wide and drew off with ease.  My fourth winner of the day!

Less than ten minutes later at Churchill Downs we were going the elongated nine furlongs on the turf under "beaten" claiming conditions.  Mike Maker's Kygo had won two of four with a second in his native France before arriving here.  His four starts state-side all produced efforts that would win today except when over his head in a Grade 2.  He was well, WELL back as the field approached the far turn.  Tyler G gave him the "GO" sign and he swept up in a flash, blew by and drew off with authority to seal a winning day for me!  Missed with to minimum bets later in the day which both ran third.

Saturday promised to be a F-U-L-L day of racing!  And that was because I was playing at Monmouth today which had a 12:15 first post, as well as Pimlico, Belmont, and finally Churchill Downs which was running a "Downs After Dark" program with the final race going off at 11:15 pm!  WOW - nearly twelve full hours of racing action!  My races for the most part were spaced out and I enjoyed the day, along with the breaks between multiple spots where I had a "PASS" or a scratch.  The first three plays of the day were all odds on, and all failed to deliver..... 3rd at 1/1, 2nd at 2/1 and a dismal 6th at 1/1.  We were now an hour and a half into the day and the horses were going to post for Race 2 at Belmont.  It was a nw3L claiming sprint on the turf and Ring of Fire looked like he'd run well off the bench for trainer Rob Atras who wins with nearly 30% of those.  His first seven starts were in MSW company on the dirt, and they produced nothing.  Moved to the Atras barn and he put the runner on the grass while dropping him for a tag - BINGO, winner.  Came back to be 2nd in a starter allowance turf sprint, then won a similar event.  Off the shelf, drops for a first time tag - like the maiden move - hard to go past.  Sat the perfect pocket trip in fourth to the stretch...split rivals and ran down the leader to score as the betting choice.

Right back in the third at Pimlico.  It was a maiden special for 3yo around two turns and I honestly did not have a lot of confidence in Serifos looking at the Daily Racing Form.  But DRF analyst Dan Illman wrote that trainer Graham Motion was 6-for-11 (55%) with dirt routers third off a layoff, like this one was today.  His last two were a 7f try, then a one turn mile.  The crowd made him the 8/5 favorite.  He waited patiently through the far turn and when the rail opened he shot through and drew off easily.

JUST missed in the co-feature at Monmouth with Dean's List in the Long Branch - which had been rescheduled from last Saturday's washed out card.  Then it was time for the co-BEST Bet of the Day at Belmont in the first of their multiple graded stakes.  The third in New York was the Grade 3 Vagrancy going six and a half furlongs.  The ONLY argument against likely odds-on choice Bella Sofia was that (a) she was coming off a layoff and/or (b) it's horse racing, so you never know.  She was 3-for-4 at Belmont, had three bullet works, and was exiting a fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.  Oh.  She pressed the 7/1 front runner to the top of the lane, took over and looked ready to take off when collared by the second choice.  The two of the dueled in a thrilling stretch run before Bella Sofia was just, JUST up on the wire.  WHEW!  Not how you figure 1/5 favorites will win, but it was another "W" with the prime time play on board.

I had four passes and a scratch making the time lag over an hour before I lost the next three; another pass and FINALLY got back in the winner's circle two hours after the Vagrancy.  This time with the co-feature at Monmouth, the Spruce Fir Handicap going six panels.  The one thing I had a question about regarding Alta Velocita was her off the pace style because Monmouth, like Gulfstream is typically speed favoring.  The inside three runners all looked to set the table for her late run and it was a positive that she'd won the NJ Breeders' Stakes here at this same distance last summer.  Stalked the pace from mid-pack to the turn under Paco Lopez, shot thru on the rail turning for home and drove to the wire as an open lengths winner!

I'd tripled the bet on my fourth winner of the day.  Nearly got the "big one" when Masked Marauder was 6/1 in the seventh at Belmont and was oh-so-close before settling for second.  Had a scratch and a pass before it was time for the Grade 1 Man O'War going a mile and a half on the Belmont turf.  The question was WHICH favorite, Yibir - winner of the Jockey Club Invitational here last year and the Gr 1 Breeders' Cup Turf - or Gufo, a multiple graded stakes winner, would win.  Well, no one figured on the double digit winner who held off both the favorite through the stretch run.  Three pass races and another scratch took us to 90 minutes later and under the lights at Churchill Downs.  I was enjoying watching "my girl," hottie handicapper / newlywed Acacia Courtney-Clement analyze the races as I scored with three of the first five plays under the Twin Spires.  Each bet was bigger than the previous as Dunvegan Doll scored in a maiden claiming with a minimum play, then I upped the bet on Sonic City who ran away with a 2-lifetime claiming route before I tripled the bet and won with Quick To Blame in a maiden claimer going a one-turn mile.

This brought us to the featured Mamzelle Stakes for 3yo fillies going five furlongs on the turf and it was my BET of the Day!  Last fall as a two-year-old Wesley Ward's filly Twilight Gleaming won her second start and first on the grass at Belmont.  Shipped to Royal Ascot and was second in a Group 2.  Stayed overseas to win a stakes at Deauville Race Course in France before returning to win the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, beating the boys.  She'd made her return this spring winning the Palisades Stakes at Keeneland and unless that zapped her she looked to be an open lengths winner here.  Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rocketed to the front right out of the gate and turned for home with a commanding open length lead.  But as the wire approached the closers were flying fast......OH SO CLOSE, but a winner again!

In the finale I had the 8/5 favorite in a Maiden Special turf mile event, but Beachfront Bid had been beaten three consecutive times as the post time favorite.  Looked to be making the winning move, only to be outfinished and run second.  BUT this was one of three races Twin Spires was offering a money back special, so I "WIN!"

World Traveler BLOWS BY To Win Monmouth's 3rd on Sunday

Magia Nera Proves EASILY BEST In Monmouth's 6th Race Sunday

Sunday I had six races at Monmouth and won with two of them to close out the week 16-for-40, a sharp 40% win average!

Social Media This Week.....

Our girl Karl Barnett posted she was hosting an awards event for high school broadcasters....

While the Panthers were battling through overtime on Monday I exchanged messages with Panthers sideline reporter Katie Gaus

The next day my favorite weekday news anchor and gal-pal Lauren Pastrana did a piece on the Florida Panthers and their heart-pounding overtime win.

Two days later Lauren did yet another piece about our Panthers after they'd rallied, at home, from a 0-3 deficit to take control of the series 3 games to 2 with a 5-3 victory.

This week Lauren has worn several outfits that were green that for what ever reason just seemed to pop, so I complimented her and her continued coverage of the Cats.

On Wednesday night as the Panthers were trying to rally,  gal-pal Katie Gaus tweeted out she'd put her hair up into a pony; then on Friday she showed she had it back up for the series-clinching game in Washington!

Saturday night I spent the evening with hottie-handicapper Acicia Courtney-Clement as she hosted a light night edition of "America's Day at the Races" on the Fox Network.

Finally, Saturday night, Karli Barnett held her nearly weekly live chat so I chimed in....

And on Sunday I felt I had to write a note to Karli who'd kicked off the chat with some sad news about a mass shooting, because it was breaking news, but skillfully guided the conversation back into areas where people could enjoy the "gathering."  I got the sweetest note back :)