To me, there are 3 major year round racing circuits in the US of A: California,
Kentucky and New York (alphabetical order).
Each September, two of those circuits (California and Kentucky) offer Racing
which I would only bet if you put the proverbial gun to my head.
This September in NY, I think 6 or 7 graded stakes races were not run this year
as NYRA tries to tread water until the VLT gelt begins to roll in. As such, NY
racing fans were treated to what have become the staples of NYRA racing: NYB slow
rats, Rudy Rod racing, turf sprints.
Down by the shore, Monmouth is wrapping up its elite meet. Never has such a
cheap, poorly bred bunch of equines had so much purse money thrown at them; what
a disappointment. This was the meet that was going to make us forget Saratoga and
Keeneland?
Just so the glass half full gang, my pals Covel and Silver Charm, dont accuse me
of being a crepe hanger, I will note that the best 5 weeks of racing in the year
begins Saturday at Belmont and at Polywood and next week with the opening of Fall
Keeneland. To say that I am fresh fit and dangerous (to my own bankroll) after a
month of relative pari- mutuel inactivity is an understatement.
Speaking of RudyRod racing, Silver and I joked earlier in the year about Rudy
hypothetically coming close to upsetting the BC Classic with a 20K claim. Not
likely to happen, but if RudyRod\'s Temecula Creek runs big in Saturday\'s Vosburgh,
does he head for the BC Sprint? (RR claimed TC for 7.5K in March).
Oscar, Oscar, Oscar,
Claimed Shifty Shiek for 35k and he ran 2nd in the Belmont Stakes to Creme Fraiche in 85 a few weeks after the claim !!!
That would be Slew of Gold in the Woodward.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
Your correct Joe B.
The 1984 Woodward just looked it up. He claimed him for 35 and won 3 straight allowance races before the Woodward.
My memory is fading !!!
Frank I was at that Belmont. My first visit to the Big Top. That being Belmont Park.
Woody ran 1-2 that year with Stephens Oddessy running second. Chiefs Crown went favored in all three Triple Crown races and lost. I believe Eddie Maple rode the Creme. My buddy and I scored pretty good that day...drove cross-eyed down to Garden State Park and gave it all back. We were working in Philly for two weeks.
Ritchie you are my man. Yes I am gearing up Living Room Downs for Saturday. 3lbs of ribs in the Freezer. Golf game at 8AM. Canes game at 12PM. And then plenty of chances to score in between. Did I mention Zenyatta at about 7:30 and Alabama-Florida at 8PM. Somewhere in there is the Ryder Cup. Replay or not!!
Oscars best work was with Teriyaki Stake. After the claim he won 6 races in month! Each one moving up in class. Look it up! He freshened her up and ran her again at the Spa for $100K Tag.
AND FOR GODS SAKES this was in the Pre-Lasix era in NY.