Arlington Million Weekend

 August 9-13

It was Arlington Million Weekend and the good news was I had an excellent time in Minnesota, virtually as I played Canterbury on two of the four days I had selections.  Even better, I rallied on Saturday from a 2-for-16 start to end up with a 33% win average including wins in BOTH the big Grade 1 events on the Million Day card.  The bad news is that on Friday and Sunday I could hardly get a sniff at a winner despite being on odds-on favorites many times.  So for the purposes of this journal - and my long term memories of the weekend we'll just chronicle the good times and move on!  On Wednesday I played the Canterbury card.....  The opener was a maiden 2yo race and I liked on filly in particular, a first time starter but noted that I'd let the board be my guide.  Xtreme Diva got hammered at the windows so I upped the bet.  Pressed the pace to the top of the lane and then drew off like a graded stakes winner - ultra impressive.  Good decision to up the bet.

With rain in the area of late the turf races and three of my bets were off.  Missed on another maiden sprint at 2/1 but on my final selection, a maiden event for older Sweet Curalina was every bit as impressive in drawing away as my first winner.  So I closed the night 2-for-3 with a nice profit and thought I was about to have a good week.  Then I went winless on Friday - oh.  This game, so humbling when you think you're really good at it.

Million Day Saturday started the way Friday had gone.....missed with the first two, then won the opener at Colonial Downs where the "Arlington Million" was being run today.  And I was 1-for-3, about my typical win percentage to start the day.  Then lost the next seven and eleven of the next twelve to be sitting at two-for-sixteen at a little before 5 pm as the big stakes events were starting.....

And as it turned out to be throughout the day today, when I won again it was once again with a minimum bet.  I just didn't have a lot of confidence in any of two-year-olds competing in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special but I thought enough of Rhyme Schemes based on his runaway maiden win to make a bet on him.  I liked as well that he was trained by Norm Casse who's married to hottie handicapper and TV analyst Gabby Gaudet - not that this has an impact on the race, but still.  Pressed the pace into the turn and then WOW was every bit as impressive as he debut daylight score.

Thought I had the winner in the Grade 2 Fourstardave when Todd Pletcher's Annapolis sat the perfect trip and shot to a daylight lead at the furlong pole, only to be run down by the defending champion Casa Creed, again.  But then the day turned and I felt really good about myself as I closed the day out with SIX WINS from the last eight bets.  In the Grade 1 Beverly D my pick had scratched.  It was only going to be a minimum bet and so I looked at my comments and noted that I remarked Fev Rover would be the one to beat and I thought - probably even more so now.  Right to the front and never looked back - and again, with just the minimum.

In the Canterbury opener Cupid's Crush was the prohibitive 1/9 favorite in the Minnesota Oaks, but as was typical of the day, 2nd best.  WOW.  But I came right back in a maiden 2yo race when Xtreme Smoke Show - note the similarity to the first winner Wednesday...and had the same human connections - was a dazzling winner. Luckily in racing they pay the same on a winner regardless if it's a stakes or a 2yo maiden event.  And for the first time today, it was with a double investment.

The highlight race of the day was the Grade 1 Arlington Million going a mile and a quarter over the Colonial turf course.  I thought that there were multiple legitimate win possibilities but I've always been a fan of Brad Cox's Set Piece.  And when he won two back they did a feature on this horse where Cox was obviously very attached to him.  I thought (a) he had as good a chance as anyone and (b) if Cox was going to run him here they had to think he had a good chance.  Didn't think much of my opinion as they hit the far turn and Set Piece was dead last.  He began to pick up momentum but turning for home as he swung at least eight wide he was still last of eleven.  This can't be good.  But then he just FLEW past the entire field and won going away.  Certainly the highlight of the day - and he at least partially saved the day because (a) I did have a double investment and (b) he paid $13.40 for the win.

Missed in Canterbury's Glitter Star before winning the next two stakes events (both with minimum bets, of course) when Thealligatorhunter went wire to wire in the Wally's Choice and Roses For Liam split rivals and ran off in the Minnesota Derby.

Lost money but finish 8-for-24 (33%) on the day.  Certainly things will "balance out" tomorrow I thought.  And I had more bets than usual because it was Ellis Park Derby Day in Kentucky.  Won the first race at Ellis and lost every other race at Monmouth and Ellis.  NOT a good day, but there's always next week!

Arlington Park Memories

Social Media this week.....

I had an unusually active "social life" online this week - saw NO ONE "live" of course, somewhat sad that my "human contact" comes through virtual friends, but I guess it's better than not having ANY contact :)  New CBS weekend morning anchor Terri Hornstein and I exchanged multiple comments during the week.  First, she appeared on last Friday on the evening news and that was after appearing on the morning news during the week.  So when she appeared again on the weekend morning news I reached out remarking on how busy her schedule was.  Then when she reappeared on the weekend morning news I reached out again; and we exchanged messages when she posted a Facebook photo regarding the hot weather.

I had a long text conversation with my girl Kimmy who nearly always messages me right back when I reach out to her to "chat."

Gal-pal Lauren Pastrana and I exchanged messages regarding the BILLION dollar lottery which we didn't win.

I also exchanged messages with CBS-Miami reporter Trish who posted she was going to go home to Greece for a break.  I found it interesting that she posted her pic & message and when I wrote to her, she wrote right back in less than five minutes :)

And I had several exchanges with WPLG Channel 10 morning anchor Jacey Birch who is on holiday in London, where we just were.

But has become typical, the most exchanges during the week came from gal-pal Karli Barnett, now a news anchor in Atlanta.  Several private messages and the weekly chat produced comments back and forth.  It won't mean much to anyone but me, but I KNOW when I greeted her on the Saturday chat that I got a "knowing smile" that several others did not get :)  And listen, I get it.....probably make more of it than there truly is to it BUT I had messaged Karli and sent her my Egypt "teaser" video to which she reacted, so at the end of the chat I thanked her for watching it and while signing off she paused and not only reacted to my comment about the video but remarked that she always enjoys following my travels.  That means a lot to me :)  When I thanked her the next day for the chat and following along I got another reaction.  

Birthday Week

 August 1, August 4 - 6

Well, certainly the highlight was the birthday and hearing from so many people who I was once was a part of and now am mostly only through the virtual world.  The racing was "good" as I won with my normal share, right around 35% but failed to profit as all of my "BEST" bets failed to deliver.  Let's start the week with the above birthday pics.  One thing that is on my mind especially around my birthday but more frequently as I get older is how I look.  Because I still feel, largely like I'm younger than the "69" on my birthday cake.  Right, wrong, or in-between I have come to judge how I "look" in terms of my age as how I'm seen through the eyes of one of my favorite past students.  So I sent the above photo which has a side-by-side of me seven years ago and this year's photo.  Her immediate response was, "You look EXACTLY the same!"  Thank you!  And THAT along with several birthday wishes from people who mean more to me than my typical friends made the day.  Here's how the racing played out......

On Friday I went against the favorite in the opener and watched Leo Monte get up in the shadow of the wire in front of that one.  Paid $6.20 so with only two more picks on the abbreviated Friday late afternoon card from the Jersey Shore I was a winner.

Saturday the first several races at Saratoga were off the turf, but I had a main-track only selection ready in Chad Brown's Trade Imbalance.  Took command at the top of the stretch and survived the narrowest of photo finishes to give me a win to start the day.

I ran second at Saratoga in their second race but it was a "money back" race.  Missed at Monmouth before I won two in a row.  The fourth at Saratoga was another "off-the-turf" event and I went with the MTO, Zeebear.  Was odds on and ran like it.  Pressed to the top of the lane, then took off as easily best today.  Minutes later had my lone win on the day on the Jersey Shore when Cocoa Beach won on the Monmouth turf at a generous 2/1 price allowing me to cash for $30.

Missed in the first three stakes of the day, including the Grade 3 Troy at Saratoga where Caravel was my Best Bet of the Day - fourth.  Got back into the winner's circle when Strong Promise was TONS the best in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile at Louisiana Downs.  Now perfect in three starts we'll have to see if he can handle open company.

Missed twice more before getting two in a row and then a money back race to "cash on three straight.  In the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic Woods N Water tracked the pace setters into the lane, split horses and burst to the front before clearing off.  And in the Del Mar opener Bob Baffert's first time starter, 2yo Mission Beach edged clear late to win with my triple investment onboard.

Missed in two more stakes before the last race I would watch LIVE was run.  The finale at Saratoga was an allowance race going seven furlongs.  Everso Mischievous came from the Brad Cox barn was the prototype of an entry level winner.  Had been a just-miss 2nd on debut to a runner who'd come right back to win.  Then won at today's 7f trip.  Stretched out to a mile and was beaten a head while six clear of the show.  A best of 53 bullet work and the three Beyers of 90-91-91 sealed the deal.  Pressed the pace to the stretch, took command and opened up for my seventh win on the day.

I closed out the day well after 9pm with the featured Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch from Del Mar going a mile and a sixteenth.  Bob Baffert had the two favorites but only one looked like a legitimate two-turn stakes winner.  Adare Manor tracked the leader into the lane, wore her down inside the 16th pole and edged clear to close out the day as my eighth winner on the day.

Sunday I played the early evening Mountaineer card as it was West Virginia Derby Day.  Two of my six picks scratched.  In the two opening bets they were off the turf but I was odds-on.  In a four horse field in the opener I was 1/5 but finished second - WOW.  Then watched the replay of the second to see my horse walk with it at 4/5.  Check the payouts and I'm listed third.  WHAT?  Watched the replay, taken down for coming out of the gate and heading to the rail.  I remember the stewards doing this years ago in a stakes race with a multiple graded stakes winner shipped in, cleared the field and won by a pole and they said, "Uh Uh, not taking our money."  And then missed on the last two.  Fortunately before that I'd won three times on the Monmouth afternoon card.  Todd Pletcher's first timer Nosmos drew off in a one mile MSW for 2yo in the opener and then Rose E Holiday came up the rail to be JUST up in time.

Closed out the Jersey Shore with a win in the featured Incredible Revenge Stakes when All That Magic went right to the front, set torrid splits....looked about to be collared, but dug in and held on for the win!

Social Media & Birthday Wishes.......

I found it "interesting" because of the way my social media pages have worked in the past that by late afternoon I only had heard from about a dozen and change friends & family with birthday wishes.  But by the time the day was over a big flurry had come and the total was well above eighty well-wishers.  I appreciated - and responded to each and every one of them.  But I'd be lying if some of the wishes were not from people who are more special to me than others.....

Chloe is the daughter of my buddy, former asst principal Jeff Nelson.  Chloe and I interacted a few times when she was a student at Cypress Bay, but it's been since she because a graduated adult that we've become very good pals on social media.  I was particularly touched when she was one of the very first to wish me a happy birthday early in the morning.

Gator Gal-pal and former work mate Mishelle is closing in on finishing her career as a counselor, finally.  And we've stayed in tough quite frequently.

My "Disney Girl" Amanda was a sophomore in my World History back in the early days at Western High.  She has remained a close friend as she grew up, went to college, got married, and had three boys.  I enjoy our long text chats when we have them.  I can always count on Mandy's wishes.

I always thought Michelle was a special young lady and she so impressed me when she decided to completely start over in her adult life by moving to Hawaii to train to be an airline attendant for Delta.  Which she still does today.  She's been in and out of a couple of relationships and I can't understand why this very attractive young woman who's as sweet as can be has not been swooped up by someone.  She is not typically one to reach out on my birthday so this had special meaning to me.

From my days at Oasis High where I coached with my oldest son Jeff, I still am in contact with several people who became good friends.  I got a very big smile on my face when "Coach Mindy" - who worked with the girls' volleyball team and was on our sideline every Friday as her step son Hunter was one of our best players - reached out.  And even bigger smile when Christy reached out.  She was the principal who I really had MAYBE three face-to-face conversations with.  But we because social media pals and I'm in touch with her often.  So her birthday wish was also very much appreciated.

Next I had birthday wishes from three former Cypress Bay gal-pals.  My girl, "My Shari Bush" as I call her reached out - we try to get together at "our place" (Chilli's) at least every couple of months.  I've become VERY close friends with Melissa (and her husband Ben) online even though we only worked together physically one year.  And I heard from one of my closest gal-pals, Sha who was the personal assistant to the principal for all my time there.  We were close pals on the graduation team and we were each other's fantasy "Shades of Gray" characters (in name only alas!).

My sweet sister-in-law Karrie was one of the first to reach out with birthday wishes - over the last several years we've seemed to grow closer and she seems much more interested in our travels.  And I'm so excited she and her husband Randy have signed on to travel with us on the Rhine River in 2024.  Long time gal-pal Shelly has always been a real sweetheart to me and we often communicate online, so her birthday wish was one of my favorites.

But clearly the top choices for birthday wishes came from these final four.  The first I'll include in her is a Mom to one of my all time favorites.  Cindy is my very-fav Kimmy's Mom and ever since we met on a Florida Derby Day we've been pals.  We often exchange messages about Kimmy and travel.  Next, Karli Barnett.  I'm very fortunate that unlike a lot of the "viewers" and "fans" of Karli online, we have exchanged some personal messages and she's taken a big interest in our travels.  So when she mentioned last week about watching our travel videos, unprompted, that was cool.  But when I shared my Jaxon's ice cream sundae pic she wished me a happy birthday and that was meaningful to me.

Finally my very two favorite "birthday cards" of the day.  No one is cuter than our adopted daughter Jillian who we've known since she was born.  She's blossomed into a beautiful woman and is a great mom.  Andy time we communicate it's special for me.  And finally, always ALWAYS at the top of the list is my girl Kimmy.  Since she was in my sophomore World History Class at Cypress Bay we've just had a connection.  As she became an adult and career girl that friendship has grown to a closeness that is just very hard to explain, except that it's what we share.  We had a nice text conversation on my birthday which meant the world to me.

In addition to the social media birthday wishes, I did have some other interaction with my online girls (because it's next to never guys).  After last week's photo of the Jaxon's sundae and then chatting about it on the Saturday chat last weekend my girl Karli remarked on the photo I sent to her personally.

As I mentioned at the top of the page, when I reached out to Kimmy with the side-by-side birthday pics she made me feel good by saying I looked the same.

Had two interactions with my other news anchor friend Lauren Pastrana, and her new cohort Teri Hornstein.  The first, I reached out to Lauren one morning after it had occurred to me how appreciative I was as a viewer to be able to trust her sharing the news stories - especially this week when the former President was indicted three times for felony crimes and that led to a JUMP in his popularity in the race for the Republican nomination for President - go figure people.  And on Friday new morning anchor Teri Hornstein was on the desk with Lauren and I reached out to them.

Finally shortly after MY birthday it was another of "my girls" who had a birthday.  Newly certified medical doctor Tatiana had a birthday late in the week and we exchanged text messages.  And my up and coming track assistant former teaching buddy Jennifer and I chatted on FB messenger this week.