October 29 - Nov 2
On Wednesday afternoon, October 31, Brad and I left Orlando International on a direct flight to San Diego for an extended, five-day weekend at the 2025 Breeders' Cup hosted at Del Mar. You can check out the entire "Breeders' Cup Virtual Scrapbook" (with 80 some photos) here:
It was quite the whirlwind weekend as before we left, Brad went with us to check out a condo in the Orlando area near Disney Springs that had just come on the market. We loved it, he loved it. We put in an offer and while Brad and I were at the gate, the offer was accepted! The flight was smooth and we got to our ocean-side hotel in Carlsbad within an hour of landing in San Diego. Topped off the big day with drinks by the fire pit as we celebrated the upcoming big weekend of racing and the new 2nd home/vacation home in Orlando, while enjoying the crisp lower 60's weather.
As part of our package through "Breeders' Cup Experiences" which got us our seats, we had passes to a VIP Breeders' Cup Breakfast. It was quite the spread and it was in a pavilion that overlooked the track as the horses went through their final workouts for the big two days of championship racing. We posed for several photos and enjoyed the excitement of the pre-Breeders' Cup Day's activities. And we were able to visit the Breeders' Cup Merchandise store and get everything we wanted so we would not be carrying it around on a racing day. Spent the afternoon on a scenic drive down to San Diego to the Natural History Museum, then came back for dinner and to go through the Friday races with Brad and his AI / ChatGP.
The first post on "Future Stars Friday" was at 11:30am so Brad and I headed out about 9:30 were in our "preferred parking" spot in plenty of time. Posed for the "required" photo op in front of the big Breeders' Cup display and made our way to our seats. The first five races of the day were not Breeders' Cup events, and I only had bets in four of them. The one I passed Brad checked out what "our girl, Ms. Chat (the AI)" had to say...made a bet and won! Went winless in the first set of BC races before it was time for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile - the highlight of the day and my BEST BET of the Day. I liked Todd Pletcher's unbeaten colt, Ted Noffey who had dominated Keeneland's Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity. I thought Bob Baffert's $3 Million colt Brant would set the pace with 'Ted on his hip. Then I anticipated a classic stretch duel before my pick would draw away. Went JUST as scripted for the big score. Hoping that he winters, as most Pletcher runners do, at Gulfstream this winter and I can see him prep for the Kentucky Derby. And to top it off, we won the day's finale, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. I considered upping the bet, but the wide post position #14 made me hold firm on the minimum play. Finished the day with a great dinner at a nice restaurant sitting right on the ocean. Went 2-for-4 in the Breeders' Cup races!
Saturday's first race had a 10:30 am post time so we left an hour earlier and again were in our preferred parking area in plenty of time. Took the iconic photo with the BC statue and then got ready for the racing to begin. We opted to watch the first race from our seats, since it was on the turf and then the second one from the rail to get an "up close & personal" view of racing! Unlike yesterday when we had to wait for quite a while to cash a ticket, Suchet proved MUCH the best on the turf in an entry level allowance. In the second, I told Brad that if Modus Bestia ran back to his last he would win clearly - the problem was he was coming out of his maiden win. BUT he'd earned a lifetime best figure with top national jockey Flavian Prat on board, and he was riding again today. Right to the front and never looked back! The third race was the first graded event, the Grade 3 Goldikova on the turf. Special Wan's LAST THREE Beyer figures topped 184 of the combined lifetime 186 numbers posted by her rivals. I've always said - on big days like the Derby or the Breeders' Cup - that the best bets are NOT always in the featured events. I went "prime time" and he was the easiest kind of winner. How he paid $5.20 as such an obvious choice, allowing me to cash for over $50 is beyond me. But hey, we're 3-for-3 to start the day.
It was time for the Breeders' Cup races - nine big Grade 1 events in a row. First was the Filly & Mare Sprint and my top choice, and second choice both scratched. Opted into what turned out to be the favorite and she led to deep stretch before weakening to be 2nd. Had a 20/1 longshot in the turf sprint and he was right there to the turn, maybe......but no. Faded well back. Next up was the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint. Last year Bentornato and Straight No Chaser had finished 1-2 last year but when 'Chaser faded to third in his prep as the favorite while 'Ben romped easily I went with the latter. They dueled to the top of the lane and then Bentornato drew off as much the best. Was especially happy for the colt and his connections as he'd started his career at Gulfstream! The Distaff was next with my filly, Seismic Beauty going off favored. But the front running gal stumbled out of the gate losing all chance. 3yo filly Minnie Hauk took the lead against the boys in the turf turning for home and I thought we had our next winner, but she was caught late. In the Classic the favorite, and one of the most likely winners of the weekend, Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, scratched with a fever. I think my pick, Fierceness would have won with a better trip but he was trapped on the rail and couldn't get out in time to make his big finish.
The tenth was the Breeders' Cup Mile on the turf. I told Brad that I thought, on paper it was an evenly matched field. But when I had watched the post position draw show on Monday a European handicapper had said that Notable Speech - who had been third last year - was only 90% at his best that day and that this year we'd see the "real Notable Speech" - he went on to say he expected a huge effort out of him. I told Brad if that WAS the case he would win. Saved all the ground into the lane, shot through an opening and burst into the clear to draw off. Went off at a generous 5/2 and we cashed for nearly $40! The 11th was my BET of the Weekend with Bob Baffert's Nysos. We went down to the rail and chatted with another fan and we all agreed he looked tough in this spot. His stablemate, last year's two-year-old champion Citizen Bull blazed the way to the far turn in insanely fast fractions and I said to Brad, "that's way to fast, he'll never last." Nysos ranged up turning for home and looked ready to roll by but 'Bull was not having it. An EPIC stretch duel ended with a "too close to call" photo finish. Watching the replays several times I wasn't sure. Finally they put up our number! Cashed for over $50. With only one bet left we went inside and I cashed with "my girl" Cheryl. Friday we'd tried so many tellers looking for the "right one" with the magic touch. But we started today with Cheryl and after we hit three in a row I told her we'd be getting in a lot of steps because she was smoking hot and we'd be back to bet with her every time. What was interesting about cashing that last ticket was we were right behind FanDuel TV host Todd Schrump and he had a stack of tickets. They had to call behind the scenes for them to bring more money, over $28,000! When I stepped up and Cheryl thanked us for being so loyal the number was still on the machine. I asked if any of that was mine with a big smile. And she chuckled and said, unfortunately no, but look how much had been bet to cash for that amount - over $5,000 - so they basically got 3/1 odds on their money. What too rich for my blood!
Lost the finale - pressed the leader to the far turn in the 11f Filly & Mare Turf and I said to Brad, "if she can get the distance, we'll win." Led to the 16th pole before weakening to be 2nd. But for the day cashed an amazing 6-of-12 to top an amazing weekend of racing. Topped the day with another great dinner just north of our resort. Loved, absolutely loved have five days together with my boy Brad. Just the best....and for him to have taken such an interest in racing, and come to understand it through the Chat GP was so rewarding. Made money for the weekend with a big winning percentage. After dinner Brad asked "Ms. Chat" to sum up the weekend, and again she was spot on. What a great GREAT adventure!
Social Media this week......
While we were out of town I didn't have much contact with my online pals, but when we bought the condo in Orlando I did reach out to my most favorite girls. Chloe replied and welcomed us as her new neighbor and Kimmy - who I'd told previously that we were looking was also happy for us
Teri Hornstein was very excited when we found "the one" and was amazed we were able to confirm the purchase so quickly.
Had two interactions with gal-pal Lauren - first in regards to the condo and she sent her congrats, much appreciated. And when she posted a Halloween photo I commented and she "liked it."
