Saturday September 6
I was very excited for this Saturday as my 2yo filly Love Like Lucy was making her second start, trying stakes company in the $100K Desert Vixen. I became even more excited when I received an email on Thursday before the day and was invited to an "Owner's Experience" to be hosted by the CEO of MyRacehorse in the Ten Palms restaurant which offers panoramic views of the track. It came with a buffet lunch and the opportunity to win some prizes. I headed out at about 11:30 and arrived just after noon when it all started. We had tables reserved with excellent views and an individual TV at the table to go with the multiple big-screens around the restaurant. From the get-go it just was "one of those days" at the races. And considering the 8-for-15 day last weekend, it "figured" that the numbers would even out. It made for a long afternoon for me, kind of dampening the afternoon because as I awaited the opener from Gulfstream I was distracted and missed the opener at Kentucky Downs where I had the nearly $7 winner. I'll take credit for the win for statistic purposes, but not for money purposes. From noon until when I left at about 5pm I had only twelve races that I bet on. This was due to several "PASS" races where there wasn't anyone with an advantage, and multiple scratches of my top choice. Of the twelve I bet on I ran 2nd or 3rd EIGHT times in every way possible. I was the lone speed and caught nearing the wire....I was the closer flying at the finish, and just missed getting there on time....and I had a few where I wasn't ever in it at all. The "highlight" of the afternoon at the track came at about 3pm when the MyRacehorse CEO made his final drawing for a giveaway. He called my number and I won the opportunity to go into the paddock for the saddling of our filly. It was actually a bit of a let down as nothing happened....the horses walked around, the jockey got on - no interactions and off they went. Love Like Lucy was up against it I thought. First, coming off a debut maiden win facing winners, and stakes company would be a challenge. Second, I was hoping the eventual winner, Lennilu would scratch as she was cross-entered in a $2 Million stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sunday where she was the short-priced 7/5 favorite. Considering she'd won a stakes here on the grass and ran in a Royal Ascot grass race, why would she run for a $100K purse on the dirt. But she did. She had to win a desperate head bob, but the experience paid off. The photo-finish runner-up also had an experience edge. Third, while I have high hopes for our filly, her debut wasn't a "WOW" kind of race. I do think from the way she ran today, and in the debut that she may be better going further. She's on target for a $200K stakes on October 20th going a furlong further.
Before I headed down to the paddock, because I knew regardless of the outcome I'd be driving home after the Love Like Lucy race, I'd made the next several bets on my Xpressbet account online. As I was driving home the 10th and final from Colonial was run. It was the Old Dominion Derby going a mile and an eighth on the turf. World Beater figured to be a short priced favorite and a decisive winner if running back to his last. He'd won the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby last time out and now was facing listed rivals. Tracked the leaders while fourth thru the turn, swung into the clear and handily ran by as much the best. FINALLY a "real win!"
After missing twice in the final two races at Gulfstream and in the final two races at Kentucky Downs, all I had left were the multiple stakes races at Canterbury Park where it was "Festival of Champions Night." In R3, the Minnesota Distaff Turf, Cupid's Crush was destined to be a prohibitive favorite. After drawing off with ease two back at 1/5, she came back on just two weeks rest and left the gate at 1/9 odds, but came up just short. This was my ONLY concern, especially in what figured to be a short field where upsets are not uncommon. Still, on paper she figured to be much the best. I made her the BET of the Day. She tracked the 25/1 leader into the turn, then took off without being asked and won by a pole. Her odds went from 3/5 as they entered the gate to 1/9 into the far turn. Well, nobody ever said in THIS handicapper's corner that it was about the money as much as it's about being right.
After just failing to last in the Minnesota Distaff Sprint, I was the front runner in the Blair's Cove on the turf going a mile. Unlike the previous race, Frosty View lengthened her margin into the lane and ran away with it as the 6/5 favorite.
Got the final winner of the day in the Northern Lights Juvenile, a six furlong sprint for Minnesota-bred juveniles. How Bout That Curt was of the two in the field of seven who'd actually won a race. And to me what set him apart was that he'd defeated OPEN maiden specials. He pressed the leaders through the turn while pinned on the rail. Found a small opening and burst thru, then ran off as easily the best.
The photo op of the day when I had high hopes for a successful day of wagering :)
In a somewhat related development.....for several weeks I'd had the idea brewing that I'd like to get "complimentary" Del Mar polo shirts for Brad and I when we head out to San Diego for the Breeders' Cup. Polos from the track, or the Breeders' Cup for that matter are always overpriced, but the ones from the Del Mar "Silks Gift Shop" were really cool and who cares about the money. Brad and I exchanged messages about what pair we'd like and settled on two which I then ordered. Should come, I'm hoping while we are gone on our upcoming trip.
This will probably be the last racing weekend for a while as this coming Thursday Kim and I leave from Fort Lauderdale International on a marathon 22-hour travel day, flying to Hanoi, Vietnam. There we will meet our good friends Valerie & John whom we met on our Nile River trip. We will be overseas from September 11 until September 29 meaning it will probably be no racing for me for the next three weekends. Note in the photo the "dragon" shirt I'm sporting....bought two of them for the trip! You can follow our adventures HERE.
Social Media this week......
It was a fairly light week for interacting with my social media friends. Towards the end of the week, one of my best Cypress Bay pals' daughter had a birthday. Danielle - recently a Mom after marrying a little over a year ago - is a real cutie. But here's the thing....she's an in-field FBI agent! And apparently she is quite the agent! She appreciated my reaching out to her.
I had several exchanges with our realtor in Orlando as our personal friendship continues to grow. I had looked on Zillow for homes that MAYBE might not be on the list Sophia had generated through her real estate search and had found two. I responded to her updated list and asked if there was something about these two that made them not make our list. It drove her nuts, she said :) but she figured it out and that led to expanding our search criteria. Then later in the week we "talked" about when we'd go on another search and she said that she would be crossing her fingers for my filly :)
I reached out to Lauren Pastrana a few times early in the week but didn't get any reply or reaction. But to be fair, she also apparently didn't even open her account. When she did she reacted to my comment about her upcoming investigative piece on tattoos and shared that she thought they looked good but she personally did not have one (that was a relief to me!). And the next day she reacted to my message about my filly running at GP and her doing the late night news in a solo broadcast.
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