Jim Dandy Weekend

Birthday Weekend:  July 27-30

The entire family was here for the annual ice cream outing at Jaxon's.  We'd had our grandson Oliver for the week, and on Friday his parents arrived and stayed for the weekend.  The day before our daughter Julie (and her dog) had arrived and stayed for nearly a week.  The day before that (Wednesday) my Mom, sister, and niece had all flowing in from Ohio for their annual summer visit to help celebrate my special day.  The other two grandsons arrived Friday afternoon and spent the night.  And their parents met us at Jaxon's.  It was a great time and well worth the money.  Even though I knew the bill would be high with THIRTEEN of us on the tab, still when the bill came and the suggested tips were 20%, 22%, and 24% I thought I'd just round it up to 25% but then noticed that a 24% tip was more than $70.  WOW.  Still, well worth it.  Got home in time to watch the first few replays from the racing day, but as has been the case for the last several Saturdays, I started off without wins for several races.  This time missed with the first five before I was "SURE" I would win the Deputed Testimony Stakes at Laurel where it was a four-horse field and my pick was 1/5.  Nope, second - wow.  Ran 2nd after that at Saratoga before FINALLY scoring in the Alma North Stakes at Laurel.  Beguine was shipping in from New York and looked to have a class edge over the local Maryland runners.  Right to the front and never looked back.

In the very next race, the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks it looked to be one of the two Chad Brown fillies.  I'd backed Shidabhuti in the prep for this, the Boiling Springs, and she'd failed to deliver as the even money favorite.  While I thought she MIGHT rebound, I thought her stablemate Occult was a better choice.  Off a layoff she'd tried the Grade 1 Acorn last time out and had been third behind Kentucky Oaks heroine Pretty Mischievous despite being steadied at the start.  She was near the back to the far turn while the rider seemed very confident.  Asked and immediately she blew by the field, circling them all to reach the front as heads turned for home.  Found another gear and drew off in a very impressive performance for my second win in a row.

The only question, at least from my perspective, in the Grade 1 AG Vanderbilt at Saratoga was if Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Elite Power would improve or bounce off his last out win in the Grade 2 True North.  That day he'd come off the bench and ran "good" but afterwards all the analysts said considering he'd been away for several months it was solid but expect him to move forward next time out, which would be today.  Still, putting together a win streak like his - which reached seven in a row with that last out win - is difficult.  And harder still to build on.  AND as an added obstacle he is an off the pace closer who needs some pace to run at.  Despite all that I made him my best of the day.  Then about fifteen minutes before post time it rained and rained a lot.  The commentators remarked how Elite Power had never been on a wet track.  Just another obstacle.  Sat off the pace, made his move but his main rival - the very talented Gunite - had the lead and was stubborn. But in the final strides Elite Power was first on the wire.  Close, but no doubt.  Make it THREE in a row for me!

The DeFrancis Dash used to be a graded event that drew some of the best sprinters in the country.  But like most races in the Mid-Atlantic these days it's now ungraded and draws the lower echelon of stakes runners.  Lightning Larry was on a two race winning streak - both of which were like this level of race.  But he was third off the shelf with "paired" figures, both of which looked to indicate a move forward and that would make him tough today.  He pressed the pace and looked ready to run by but he had to fight hard through the lane before edging clear for a narrow win late.

I didn't handicap the Del Mar card but looked at the entries and read Brad Free's analysis and based on that made three bets.  The first was in the opener when highly regarded Heartland made his 2yo career debut for Bob Baffert.  He was away slowly on the rail going just 5 1/2 furlongs.  But the rider looked to be riding with confidence.  Made up ground into the turn, then decided to go inside instead of circle horses.  The rail opened and Heartland shot through and drew off in an eye-catching performance.  All the analysts on air were wow'd and remarked that we might have seen an early Derby favorite.  He was impressive, and I had him for my fifth straight win.

The featured race at Saratoga was the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and it marked the return of 2yo champion Forte.  After being forced to scratch from the Kentucky Derby and miss the Preakness - both because of over cautious Churchill Downs stewards & vets, he'd run a sharp second in the mile and a half Belmont despite not having run since the Florida Derby.  That was a remarkable performance and I thought he'd run big today.  Was pinned on the rail into the lane, bulled his way between rivals at the top of the lane, exchanging mild bumps, and wore down the loose-on-the-lead front runner on the wire.  There was a long INQUIRY and the analysts/commentators on TV all said he should come down.  But the more times they showed it the less I thought it was any big deal.  I've seen far worse NOT result in a change and I was not surprised when they let the result stand.

Unfortunately that marked the end of my wins for the day (finished 40%).  I had only one win on Friday and was shut out on Sunday.

Birthday Pics

Social Media this week...... 

One of my former students, Michelle is an airline attendant for Delta and she travels alot on her own.  This past week she was in Greece and posted a picture.  Both the scenery and the subject, very attractive!

This week was a special week honoring self-published authors, of which our girl Jillian was one.  Complimented her and got a response.

Channel 10 morning anchor Jacey Birch posted another fashion pic late in the week, but saw her in glasses for the first time.  Commented on the look....

In a Facebook memory there was a pic of my "Disney Girl" Amanda, so I reached out to her....

The day we were at Jaxon's I "chatted" via text with my favorite gal Kimmy for quite a while and asked when she'd be visiting again.

Two of my favorite social media exchanges came, as is typical with my news anchor gal-pals.  First, Karli Barnett - now in Atlanta - reacted to pics I sent from our French River cruise.  And then on the Saturday night chat after I greeted her, she - on her own - mentioned on air that she had watched the videos I sent her and enjoyed them and was glad I'd had a good time.  We then exchanged remarks about Jaxon's.  :)

And finally, Lauren Pastrana.  Reached once to a shout out, but the best came on Monday when at 5:11, right after the news started sent her a message about the weather & hot coffee and four minutes later, while on the air she replied back.  Always think that's cool.

We're BACK! Haskell Weekend

 July 22 - 23

At the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour in London on our final day

On July 10 Kim and I flew out of Miami International on a direct flight to Paris where we boarded the Avalon Waterways Tapestry II river ship.  We met our great friends Pam & Bob Murray there and spent nearly two weeks with them exploring the French countryside and then taking the Eurostar high speed train to London for three nights before returning home.  

CLICK HERE To visit our "Paris to Normandy" web site

We left London early in the morning on Friday the 21st of July and arrived (with the time change) around 2pm in Miami where our driver picked us up and brought us home.  I had handicapped the Monmouth card on the flight and decided Saturday morning to add the races from Saratoga and Gulfstream to the list.  Kim left early Saturday afternoon to go get our grandson Oliver to spend the week (of my birthday) so I had the Sunrise Simulcast Center to myself.  As has been the case over the last three weekends of racing for me my results came in bunches.  I lost the first three when I ran 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd before winning the opener at Saratoga.  The first from the Spa was a 2yo MSW race going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.  Most of the runners in the field had not raced or had not been on the grass, but Todd Pletcher's Noted - who was owned by long time client Michael Repole - had closed resolutely in his debut going five furlongs on the turf.  I made him the bet and as he was getting pounded at the windows I upped the bet shortly before post time.  Pressed the leader into the lane and edged clear late.

It was 40 minutes before my next race but it was the first of the stakes events at the Jersey Shore on their signature day, the fourth being the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes going nine furlongs on the turf.  Chad Brown's Consumer Spending had won the prep for this, the Grade 3 Eatontown and now was 3rd off the shelf with paired Beyer figures.  Tracking confidently while saving ground through the turn in fifth he made his move entering the lane where he got into the clear three-wide and was up in the final fifty yards to score!  Two in a row!

But then had a four race losing skid, which included a fourth place run with a 4/5 favorite, 6th at 3/2 and 3rd at 8/5.  I then entered the highlight portion of the day a little after 3pm.  The sixth at Gulfstream was a 2yo MSW going six furlongs.  Big Effect had been 4/5 on debut and set the pace to deep stretch before just failing to last.  Today after a sharp break the rider took hold of him and he sat just off the leader to the far turn.  When let loose he easily took the lead and drew off by nearly a pole.  Less than ten minutes later at Saratoga there was an entry level allowance going seven furlongs on the dirt and it looked clear to me that Chad Brown's Undervalued Asset was the obvious choice.  Debuted with a win then was 2nd best in the Grade 3 Forward Gal first time winners.  Didn't handle the stretch out to a mile in the Grade 2 Davona Dale, but off a short break just missed in a Churchill allowance going six and a half furlongs.  Tracked the leaders in third to the top of the lane and wore down the front runner in deep stretch to score with my triple investment on board.

I went for my third straight with a prime time play in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup going nine furlongs on the main track.  Proxy was a standout on paper, but as the on-air analysts discussed, the concern for the Grade 1 winner in this spot was that he typically came from off the pace and the Jersey Shore strip played strongly to front runners and pace pressers.  The gates opened and jockey Joel Rosario immediately put the best horse on the lead.  Pressed all the way to the top of the lane he found himself in a three-way pace duel in between runners turning for home.  Rosario asked the classy runner for his best and he surged to the front then opened up, all class to draw off with authority.

One of the reasons I'd elected to play Gulfstream was the presence of "Horse for the Course" Fly the W in today's seventh race.  This synthetic specialist is a NINE time winner over the Gulfstream all-weather and has won five of his last eight, including the last two.  He seems to be able to adapt to any pace scenario and finish the job.  Today he found himself a little farther back than usual.  Made a strong middle move to the front turning for home and then J-U-S-T lasted on the wire, whew....make it four wins in a row!

The first of two graded events at Saratoga was the five and a half furlong Caress where fillies & mares would sprint on the lawn.  Since Roses For Debra had been switched to trainer Christophe Clement he put her on the grass and she responded with back-to-back wins.  The two Beyers were new lifetime tops and I thought she was a star on the rise.  Pressed the pace setter through a wicked :20.3 opening quarter then opened up and drew off in an impressive style.  FIVE straight!

I missed in the Wolf Hill at Monmouth then scored with odds on winnder Second ID who looks to have stakes races in his future off his impressive win at Gulfstream in allowance company to run his record to 2-0.  It would be an hour and a half before I won again but in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher where "EVERYONE" thought Search Results would defend her title, she came up short at 4/5 but thanks to a $25 "Bet Back" promotion from Twin Spires I "cashed" the ticket.  

After finishing off the board in three straight following that race I hit the feature at Saratoga.  The Grade 1 Coaching Club of America Oaks for 3yo fillies looked like an evenly matched group.  I thought that MAYBE we could toss the disappointing try in the Gr 1 Kentucky Oaks where I'd had a lot of confidence in Brad Cox's Wet Paint, and then her 2nd place run in the Monomoy Girl when trying to rally into a glacial pace by a loose-on-the-lead front runner.  She sat mid-pack under Flavian Prat, made a strong bid on the turn, but when floated wide into the lane looked to have too much left to do.  Inside the 16th pole though she found another gear and surged to the front to WIN!

Despite only having two races under his belt and the "most recent" being in January, Arabian Knight was the favorite in the Grade 1 Haskell for Bob Baffert.  I thought he'd steal the race.  But a longshot insisted on the front and he sat just off that one.  Took the lead on the far turn but weakened to be third in a good effort.  But again, thanks to the "Bet Back" promotion I got all of my "prime time" bet back when I "cashed" the ticket.  I came right back with ANOTHER prime time play in Saratoga's 10th, a six furlong first level allowance.  Chad Brown's Accretive had shown talent from the start.  Won for fun on debut and in his second start was 2nd beaten a neck by multiple graded stakes winner Gunite in the Grade 2 Amsterdam.  Didn't fare well in the Grade 1 Jerkens - too deep, too far.  Went on a break and now returned - the Brown barn 30% with fresh runners.  Tracked the leaders to the top of the lane, was between horses and challenged turning for home, then accelerated into the clear and drew off impressively.

Another skid of five races - only one of which was the favorite (any one of those hits and it's a "BIG" day for me!).  Closed out the day by winning two races late at Del Mar.  In the 8th, a MSW for 2yo Bob Baffert's Dua was a $400K daughter of champion Arrogate and looked to be working sharply.  Off slowly, quickly got up close while three wide.  Surged to the front turning for home, was immediately challenged but would not give in and edged clear late with a tremendous show of courage and potential.

Then in the finale out west I liked Anisette to win the 3yo Grade 2 San Clemente going a mile on the turf.  The Euro import had won her US debut against older and ran faster in each successive quarter - that's a very good sign!  The only question was could she get the trip through the tight turns and short stretch at Del Mar.  Weaved through and burst to the front drawing off "stylishly" as it was called by track announcer Trevor Denman!  Ended the Saturday racing day with 12 wins and a near-40% win rate.

Won two races on Sunday - the second at Monmouth, a two-lifetime claiming route and the highlight of the day came when Todd Pletcher's Nest returned to the races for the first time since the Breeders' Cup on the first weekend in November to beat Steve Asmussen's Clairiere who'd been 2nd in a photo in the Grade 2 Azeri in February, then had won back-to-back Grade 1 events.  But when Nest turned for home there was no catching her - very impressive!

Social Media.......I had multiple exchanges with social media pals while on the adventure and once we returned home.....

Ever since Karli Barnett left as the weekend evening anchor and Brooke Shafer left as the weekend morning anchor I've had far FAR less interest in the program.  But recently reporter Terri Hornstein was promoted to the weekend morning anchor.  She's a breath of fresh air and I can see her rising up through the ranks like Lauren Pastrana did.

CBS-Miami anchor Lauren Pastrana have reached the point - it would seem - that our messages are often NOT just about what she's chatting about on the news or online.  So the first evening back I took a quick pic of her on air and sent her a tweet that I was glad to be home and seeing her on the telecast.  I also replied to a Facebook post where she noted HER return from a recent vacation.  Both got a reaction and while on the air she messaged me back "Welcome Home!"

New gal-pal CBS-Miami reporter Trish posted a new profile pic, to which I replied and sent her a photo from France noting our trip, which drew a reaction.

My former student and adult gal-pal Kimmy had asked me to send her some pics, and was especially interested in the photos from the Harry Potter experience.  I sent them and a video of me "flying" on the Nimbus-2000 broom.  She messaged me back how much she'd enjoyed that.

Karli responded to two sets of photos I sent to her from Paris & London.  The morning cup of coffee over looking the Seine River got a "heart" from her and when I sent her multiple photos, including one of me eating an éclair she asked about it and noted it looked "yummy."  Saturday evening on her live chat I had several exchanges with her.  The one comment which I found MOST interesting came when the conversation turned to places to travel.  I asked about her interest in Egypt but it was her reply that caught my attention.....a few weeks ago we'd exchanged messages about travel and I suggested we should travel the world together and do a travel show.  She "liked" that idea.  But then Saturday in response to my Egypt inquiry she said she'd like to go there, and so many places, then said, "....if I had the opportunity to travel the world all day, every day and have a travel show, I'd love it....."  Could that be a coincidence?  As Kevin McAllister would say, "I don't think so!"

Sunday I reached out to NYRA analyst Maggie Wolfendale to ask her opinion about the virtual match race between champions Nest & Clairiere in the Grade 2 Shuvee.  I noted that I'd just returned from a river cruise in France.  In her reply which came within ten minutes, she noted the nice photo of me :) and said she had the utmost respect for Nest but thought Clairiere was her pick.  It was a great race and I replied to her right afterwards, which she reacted to almost immediately :)

Indiana Derby - Belmont Derby - Delaware Handicap Day

 The Weekend of July 8

This week was the final week of racing prior to Kim and I heading off on our next adventure to Europe.  We leave on Monday evening, July 10 and will fly non-stop from Miami to Paris.  We'll board the Avalon Waterways Tapestry II and sail on a week long adventure to the Beaches of Normandy with our good friends Bob & Pam Murray.  At the end of the cruise we will take the train from Paris under the English Channel to London and spend three nights there before flying home on July 21st.  You can follow our adventures on our "Paris & Normandy" web page, here:  

Click the pic to go to our "Paris To Normandy" web page

The week's racing kicked off on Thursday and I was excited to watch the races from Horseshoe Indianpolis because MY horse, Classic Cut was the 7/5 favorite in a first level allowance event on the turf.  So I handicapped the card as well as the twilight Woodbine card.  My colt just didn't run all that well, especially when turning for home he was just flat.  I won a race earlier on the card when another MyRacehorse runner, Vow, was much the best.  What COULD have been a very profitable day of racing was lost when Nikolaou was 2nd by a neck in the 4th at Woodbine and in the eighth Hot Omelet was also second by a neck there preventing me from cashing out for a combined nearly $75.  You gotta love the thrill of racing, right?

Friday I had five selections on the Jersey Shore.  After my first pick scratched out of the first it was in Race 4 that I bet on Artie's Angel.  Before moving into Kelly Breen's barn he'd earned three Beyers of 56-60-59.  Once in the long-time Jersey Shore conditioner's care he rattled off four Beyers of 80-70-79-79 while winning twice against more expensive runners than he faced today.  To be fair he'd not raced since October but showed six works topped off by a bullet work and got Paco Lopez today.  Dueled from the very start of the one-mile turf event, got a little daylight turning for home and was all out to hold off the second choice who rallied from the back of the pack.  The generous $6.60 payout allowed me to start the day by collecting over $30.  In the next race it was all about did you go with the "obvious" choice at a short price or shop for value.  I could see why people would look for a price as Todd Pletcher's Crupi had been out five times with three thirds and two seconds.  Maybe he just doesn't want to win?  But for me, the last time he came off the bench - like today - he earned a massive 87 Beyer when just missing, which was good enough to start in the Grade 2 Risen Star and Grade 2 Wood Memorial - AS A MAIDEN - in his next two starts.  I took the short price.  Tracked the second choice into the lane and wore him down late before beginning to edge clear as they approached the wire.

Note the official photo bottom left - VERY close!

WHOOO HOOOO - two-for-two!  Two seconds sandwiched around my third winner of the day in the 7th race.  Kingmax had made his first North American start a decisive and impressive one off an eleven month break.  Typically you want to look elsewhere in the allowance ranks than to bet a horse off a win in nw1x allowance moving into nw2x company.  But I thought he might run even better today.  Rallied from the back and blew by in hand to make Friday a very profitable day for me :)

Saturday July 8

Del 'Cap Day 2019 - I was AT Delaware Park!

Saturday I had picks from Monmouth and the three tracks which were hosting big stakes events:  Belmont, Horseshoe Indiana, and Delaware.  Coming off of a big day Friday I hoped to keep the momentum going.  And I could not have been more pleased with the start of the day, especially considering that all the big races and big bets would come later in the day.  The opener at Delaware was a maiden claiming event for 2yo and no one has been hotter on the Mid-Atlantic circuit than trainer Brittany Russell.  She was sending out first time starter Insoucient who faced a pretty ordinary group of runners I thought.  I was amazed when he sat at 4/1 as they left the paddock.  The smarter bettors knocked him down to 2/1 and he drew off by a pole, paying $6.60 and letting me start the day by collecting more than $30.  The first at Monmouth was a maiden claimer on the turf and I liked Payout Ratio from the Chad Brown barn.  Right to the front of this mile and a sixteenth test and when the fractions went up as :22 and change and :45 and change I knew that he'd never last.  But as he hit the far turn he opened up and drew off like a stakes winner.  WOW.  Minutes later we were in the gate for the second at Horseshoe Indiana where Roman Goddess looked to be odds on in a MSW test.  The question was could she run to her turf figures in the last two starts on the dirt today.  Looked like a winner from the start, tracking the pace to the turn, taking over willingly and opening up.  But the wire came JUST in time to save the day and our third consecutive win.  Closed out the sequence in the 2nd at Monmouth.  Reckless Place looked best on paper in the "beaten" sprint, but that 15/1-6-4 resume was scary bad.  Tracked a longshot leader to the turn, took over, opened up and won for fun.  FOUR-for-FOUR to start the day - WHOOOO HOOOO!

Came back to reality when I ran off the board in four straight before going on another "run."  Funny how today is playing out like last Saturday:  win a bunch, lose a bunch, win a bunch......  The fourth race at Delaware I'd listed as a "maybe" bet.  It was a maiden claiming event on the turf.  I didn't see anyone that I particularly liked but Bring The Magic, who had been out EIGHT times already, was listed as the top choice of two of the three public handicappers and the second choice of the other.  As the betting went on the 3yo filly was taking some money so I put the minimum on her.  Then when she was hammered late I doubled the minimum bet to a double investment.  Tracked the leader while in hand to the turn, took over and drew off like a graded stakes winner.  Smart move to not only bet but double the wager.  Then in the next race it was the first of the stakes races, the Dashing Beauty Stakes - a six furlong sprint.  Alva Star was lightly raced and on the improve.  First stakes try but looked good enough so I went in for the minimum.  Right to the front and widened impressively through the lane.

The Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont wasn't the deepest field of this historic stakes event going the classic mile and a quarter distance, but it presented an interesting quandary - Todd Pletcher's enigmatic Charge It was likely to be a short priced favorite today and you had to decide WHICH Charge It would show up.  After his maiden win in his second start last spring he'd run second in the Gr 1 Florida Derby then ran a massive 111 in the Grade 3 Dwyer here.  He'd come back off the layoff to start his 4yo season this past winter with a 102 Beyer winning a Gulfstream allowance but had not fired since.  Would he return to form over the track he'd run his best and reunited with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez?  Right to the front and he looked like he could win by a pole from the time they were half way down the back stretch.  Impressive today.

Another maiden special event at Delaware on the turf was my next bet.  This race was an excellent example of how in handicapping "the rule" is there are no rules!  Sun Bee had already been out seven times - a typical immediate toss for me - and worse, five of the seven had seen her finish second.  OUCH.  But three of her last four starts earned Beyers that would win nearly every MSW turf event here in New Castle, and in two of those the winner had come right back to beat winners.  AND she was the BEST Bet of two of the handicappers on this stakes highlighted card.  I was "uncomfortable" with her sitting in a tracking spot about 3-or-4 off a glacial pace of :25 and :50.  Moved to the leaders when fanned wide into the lane and eventually wore them down to be up in time late.  Whew!  The three-out-of-four winning sequence came to a close as I ran in four of the next six and third in the other two.  Fortunately two of those races were "bet back" promotion events.

The highlight of the Delaware card was up next, the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap.  Brad Cox's talented filly Idiomatic had been my choice a month ago to post the mild upset in the Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs and she'd been impressive, earning a big 102 Beyer.  So today she stepped up into graded company and the question was, would she run back to that figure or not?  In the Shawnee Idiomatic had gone wire to wire, and while I didn't think she was a "need to lead" kind of runner, I expected her to be on or pressing the pace.  The gates opened and immediately she was last.  Read later that she'd stumbled out of the gate, yikes....that's not good.  Got into a good tracking spot by the time they'd reached the far turn, but had she used up too much energy making up ground.  Got to the leader turning for home, stretch duel.....JUST up on the wire!  AND because she'd taken so much money I had upped the bet to a "prime time" play!  Minutes later got the winner in the Monmouth finale when Road To Stardom proved best. as well.

Ran third in an Indiana stakes, but got my money back, and then cashed the first of two "big" payout tickets - this one in an allowance event from Belmont.  It was an entry allowance going seven furlongs on the grass and I noted in my analysis that you win a lot more races like this if you prefer lightly raced runners who've run a race or two against winners, and run well.  Chad Brown's Appraise was just such a runner.  After winning a turf sprint as a 2yo she tried a sprint stakes at Saratoga and then was a best-of-the-rest 2nd in Woodbine's Grade 1 Summer Stakes.  Not seen since that October effort she came here and Brown is excellent with long layoff types.  Pressed the leader for the opening quarter and then put that one away and ran off as MUCH the best.  Paid a sharp $6 and change allowing my triple investment to get a return of over $45!  Missed in an Indiana stakes before the second big score of the day in the NY feature, the Grade 1 Belmont Derby.  I'd seen Far Bridge run at Gulfstream this winter and remarked he would be a stakes winner.  Second in two straight graded stakes I thought just maybe he didn't get the best of rides.  Trainer Todd Pletcher put Jose Ortiz back up - and he'd been the winning rider at Gulfstream.  Sat near the back to the turn, moved up the rail to the top of the lane.  Angled out and sprinted to the wire.  The best payoff of the day, $8.70 netted me over $65 :)

I ran 2nd in the Indiana Oaks, so I got my money back.  And finished off the day when Verifying was a gutsy winner of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby for my thirteenth win of the day with a prime time ticket on him.

Sunday saw me win just one race at Monmouth, but it was the featured Irish War Cry Stakes when He'spuregold came roaring down the middle of the turf course to score.

Over the next ten days or so I'll have few selections as I'll be floating through France and wandering around London.  I DO know that on Thursday I'll have at least one bet as my 2yo filly Lady Blitz is slated to run on Opening Day at Saratoga in a maiden event.

Saturday's Results

Social Media this week.....

I had a lot of "contact" with my online pals, and as I've mentioned before, that's rewarding for me to have the social contact since I typically don't see anyone in real life on a normal basis.  BUT the upcoming trip is where I DO get to interact with real people - looking forward to that.  The first interaction came with former CBS-Miami weather girl Jennifer who's since moved north to Palm Beach but I keep in touch with her.  We chatted about the current oppressive heat & humidity.

On July 4th WPLG Channel 10 morning anchor Jayce Birch showed off her patriotic outfit which I complimented and got a reaction from her.

Hottie handicapper Acacia Courtney posted a pic of her and her anchor pal Paul Ladouca and both reacted to my happy 4th wishes.

On Sunday Kim and I were watching the weekend Today Show and they went to the weather.  There was "our girl" Angie Lassman who used to do the week-day weather on our NBC-6 station.  Not a fan of the girls who've replaced her, but maybe that's just because I've always been a fan of Angie's.  I thought it was so cool that "our girl" had "made it big" to the Today show so I shot her a message and minutes later, while still on the national broadcast she messaged me back.  VERY cool.

Our "adopted daughter" Jillian posted about her latest in-school book read and we exchanged remarks about how great it is to interact with kids in the classroom.

Saturday at the races Maggie Wolfendale was on the desk for the first part of the "America's Day at the Races."  You look at her and you'd never guess she was 30-something and a mom.  She always looks really attractive, but today in a powder blue halter top dress she was quite the eye candy.  I reached out to her and minutes later she reacted :)

I had an exchange with CBS-Miami reporter Trish who I've become a big fan of....thinking she'll one day be an anchor girl :)

And I chatted briefly with former CBS-Miami Weekend Anchor Karli who said she wished she was going on our trip with us :)

The two most rewarding interactions / conversations of the week came when I exchanged messages with two of my most favorite girls who were once students of mine and have gone on to be successful career women and moms.  The first was Erica who did her WISE project on being a news anchor and eventually WAS a news reporter and anchor for several TV stations.  When a photo of her and I meeting for lunch - after she'd done a live report on TV - was on my FB Memory for the day I reached out to her and was touched that she wanted to get together.  I do so hope we can work that out.

And then my most, MOST favorite gal-pal, Kimmy and I exchanged a series of text messages about my upcoming trip.  The two things that meant the most to me were when she told me I was NOT old :) and even more importantly when I said I'd look forward to drinks/dinner with her and she replied that SHE was looking forward to that.  So sweet.