1) I agree with many here that the Preakness is not an attractive betting
proposition. That being said I would not be surprised to see AmPhar sent from
the rail, putting his two viable competitors in chase mode, and holding off
some outclassed closers while being geared down. Then on to Elmont, where a
date with destiny brought to you by F- Troop, er NYRA, awaits.
Will the Goo Goo Dolls perform a medley of their hit? The sad thing is that a
huge fireworks display at the end of the day\'s races would be much more
appealing than a performance by some aging, irrelevant rockers, but hundreds of
skittish thoroughbreds living on the Belmont backside have voted \"neigh\" to this.
2) Brief glance -- Friday\'s Black Eyed Susan card might be more appealing than
Saturday\'s Preakness card.
Race 11 -- Black Eyed Susan, wide open, Baffy\'s Luminance a 9/5 favorite, never
raced outside of Cali, arguably certainly NOT fastest in the race on the TGs;
Baffy less than overwhelming on the Oaks/Derby undercards. Lots of ways to go
here but I am thinking of starting by leaving Baffy off the horizontals
(yes Frank that makes her lock of the weekend).
Race 10 - the Allaire Dupont Distaff, features 3 of the top 4 finishers from
last year\'s Alabama and a mystery filly (see below).
Race 9 - the Jim McKay, an ungraded turf sprint, features Ben\'s Cat who is back
for more at age 9. Leaning towards Amelia\'s Wild Ride here, him having kept
company with J. Covello\'s Power Alert throughout the winter and spring. AWR is
saddled by Ramon Preciado, who sends out winners from his Bensalem base at a
35% clip.
3) A few years ago a Russian based runner shipped into the US from Pyatagorsk.
I was dismayed that there were no TG numbers for this runner and immediately
volunteered to do the ground for tracks in Russia. I seem to remember the
negotiations breaking down over the compensation package, which included a
Swedish built dacha, an Italian sports car, an unlimited supply of
Belgian beer, and a staff of young female administrative and household
assistants to help keep things running on an even keel.
Imagine my dismay at seeing Queen\'s Blade\'s graph (race 10) and not seeing any
TG numbers. This Korean bred (by Menifee) and raced 4YO filly started 15 times
in Korea, winning seven times with five second place finishes. She beat up on
15 horse fields in both the Korean Derby (run at Seoul) and the Korean Oaks
(run at Busan). I do not know what the current conversion rate from Korean
won to U.S. dollar is, but this filly shows earnings of nearly $972,000.
This will be QB\'s second start in the US, and while I am not expecting an
international upset of grand proportions, I must note that she will be
stretching out to a suitable distance and adding Lasix.
JB, the offer to do Russian ground still stands. Korea is a boozy 12 hour ferry
ride from Russia and I will volunteer to do Korean ground. I am backing off my
original demands slightly: I will live in the wife/mother-in -law dacha
outside of Moscow, will retain the aforementioned wife and mother in law as my
staff, and will settle for TG picking up the tab for shipping my 2002 Chevy
Impala over to Moscow.
As an added service, I can hawk TGs at the Moscow Hippodrome, even though I was
denied entry the last time I visited. I have always postulated that I was
barred because I was wearing a TG baseball cap, and that Len\'s Party
affiliations run deep.
PRICELESS!!!
Tossing Baffy from the Black Eyed Susie myself and in agreement about the Friday card so far.
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JB, the offer to do Russian ground still stands.
> Korea is a boozy 12 hour ferry
> ride from Russia and I will volunteer to do Korean
> ground. I am backing off my
> original demands slightly: I will live in the
> wife/mother-in -law dacha
> outside of Moscow, will retain the aforementioned
> wife and mother in law as my
> staff, and will settle for TG picking up the tab
> for shipping my 2002 Chevy
> Impala over to Moscow.
>
> As an added service, I can hawk TGs at the Moscow
> Hippodrome, even though I was
> denied entry the last time I visited. I have
> always postulated that I was
> barred because I was wearing a TG baseball cap,
> and that Len\'s Party
> affiliations run deep.
Richie, I think if you drop the requirement for shipping the Impala, and settle for a rental of a Lada, you\'ll have a deal. I suspect other commodities could be rented in lieu of shipping the wife and mother-in-law, but we\'re not going to go there. It is best to walk away from the table when you are clearly ahead of the game. As for the deal breaking TG cap, I can only surmise that the incident described must have predated the dissolution of the USSR, as I can\'t imagine Friedman or Ragozin having any cachet with entities who allow market forces to change the value of the ruble from hour-to-hour, depending on which way the wind is blowing, so to speak.
All that aside, it was an epic piece of writing. You and Magicnight could tag team any website, racing or otherwise, into literary oblivion.
As for actual racing commentary, I continue to be somewhat mystified by the complete rejection of value in the Preakness. If so, TGJB must be simply seeking a symbolic victory in this week\'s ROTW, but I seriously doubt he traffics in that currency. Looking at his analysis, there is a possible throw out of one of the three major contenders, from the trifecta. Is there a logical candidate from the also-rans for a third place finisher to provide you with a semi-cold trifecta, keying the other two major contenders on top? There are a couple that could probably be dropped from immediate consideration, so if one has a strong opinion on a horse to clunk up into that tri, would the compensation not represent sufficient inducement to punch a $25 tri key, instead of spreading $50 over trifectas in a 10-12 horse field, when you lack a similar strong opinion, but are simply hoping for that highly coveted big score?
These are the kind of questions I lose sight of in the midst of the adrenaline rush of the last-minute wagering decision-making, compounded by my inability to handicap my way out of a paper bag in recent weeks. Fortunately, I have not lost the ability to bastardize metaphors.
Richie-- SoCalman is doing Moscow ground, straight up for sheets. Re the baseball caps, there\'s a good chance a few taxi drivers in Tehran are still wearing Victory Gallop caps from the girlfriend\'s 98 trip there. I think the horse is still in Turkey, if he\'s still alive.
Nobody asked me either, but that was some post.
Roger, this is turning into an all-star game. But buried in there is also the kernel of an idea, with Richie (and you?) not needing a newspaper any more to have a column.
I ran into Barry Irwin at Derby and believe it or not he mentioned he was going to Korea here very soon. That there was a lot of money involved there from the Government (something like that) and racing was a profitable proposition there.
As Racing growth stalls here domestically it appears to be growing internationally in some totally unimaginable markets. I wonder if the powers that be in Kentucky, NYRA or Maryland can see this or are they stuck in the 1940\'s still.
BTW-Saturdays Card isn\'t bad and it looks like its gonna be dry. There wont be many Grade One types here because they point for Derby and Belmont Day. Adjust your Beyers down about 5 points per race (excluding the Preakness) and you will think you are looking at super quality racing. Enjoy!!!
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1) I agree with many here that the Preakness is
> not an attractive betting
> proposition. That being said I would not be
> surprised to see AmPhar sent from
> the rail, putting his two viable competitors in
> chase mode, and holding off
> some outclassed closers while being geared down.
> Then on to Elmont, where a
> date with destiny brought to you by F- Troop, er
> NYRA, awaits.
>
> Will the Goo Goo Dolls perform a medley of their
> hit? The sad thing is that a
> huge fireworks display at the end of the day\'s
> races would be much more
> appealing than a performance by some aging,
> irrelevant rockers, but hundreds of
> skittish thoroughbreds living on the Belmont
> backside have voted \"neigh\" to this.
>
> 2) Brief glance -- Friday\'s Black Eyed Susan card
> might be more appealing than
> Saturday\'s Preakness card.
>
> Race 11 -- Black Eyed Susan, wide open, Baffy\'s
> Luminance a 9/5 favorite, never
> raced outside of Cali, arguably certainly NOT
> fastest in the race on the TGs;
> Baffy less than overwhelming on the Oaks/Derby
> undercards. Lots of ways to go
> here but I am thinking of starting by leaving
> Baffy off the horizontals
> (yes Frank that makes her lock of the weekend).
>
> Race 10 - the Allaire Dupont Distaff, features 3
> of the top 4 finishers from
> last year\'s Alabama and a mystery filly (see
> below).
>
> Race 9 - the Jim McKay, an ungraded turf sprint,
> features Ben\'s Cat who is back
> for more at age 9. Leaning towards Amelia\'s Wild
> Ride here, him having kept
> company with J. Covello\'s Power Alert throughout
> the winter and spring. AWR is
> saddled by Ramon Preciado, who sends out winners
> from his Bensalem base at a
> 35% clip.
>
> 3) A few years ago a Russian based runner shipped
> into the US from Pyatagorsk.
> I was dismayed that there were no TG numbers for
> this runner and immediately
> volunteered to do the ground for tracks in Russia.
> I seem to remember the
> negotiations breaking down over the compensation
> package, which included a
> Swedish built dacha, an Italian sports car, an
> unlimited supply of
> Belgian beer, and a staff of young female
> administrative and household
> assistants to help keep things running on an even
> keel.
>
> Imagine my dismay at seeing Queen\'s Blade\'s graph
> (race 10) and not seeing any
> TG numbers. This Korean bred (by Menifee) and
> raced 4YO filly started 15 times
> in Korea, winning seven times with five second
> place finishes. She beat up on
> 15 horse fields in both the Korean Derby (run at
> Seoul) and the Korean Oaks
> (run at Busan). I do not know what the current
> conversion rate from Korean
> won to U.S. dollar is, but this filly shows
> earnings of nearly $972,000.
> This will be QB\'s second start in the US, and
> while I am not expecting an
> international upset of grand proportions, I must
> note that she will be
> stretching out to a suitable distance and adding
> Lasix.
>
> JB, the offer to do Russian ground still stands.
> Korea is a boozy 12 hour ferry
> ride from Russia and I will volunteer to do Korean
> ground. I am backing off my
> original demands slightly: I will live in the
> wife/mother-in -law dacha
> outside of Moscow, will retain the aforementioned
> wife and mother in law as my
> staff, and will settle for TG picking up the tab
> for shipping my 2002 Chevy
> Impala over to Moscow.
>
> As an added service, I can hawk TGs at the Moscow
> Hippodrome, even though I was
> denied entry the last time I visited. I have
> always postulated that I was
> barred because I was wearing a TG baseball cap,
> and that Len\'s Party
> affiliations run deep.
Lupica\'s stylistic role model nods in approval from the grave.
Years ago someone noted that if Howard Cosell was a sport, he would be roller derby. Richiebee? He would be thoroughbred racing at the very highest level. Allez Richie!
The Preakness is boring. There\'s a lot more to talk about in the undercard.
Lupica couldn\'t fill the waistband of Jimmy Cannon\'s jockstrap.
I hear Richie might caddy at Spa State Park this August.
Dick Powell Wrote:
> I hear Richie might caddy at Spa State Park this
> August.
Speaking of the TG Open ... can we make it any Friday except August 14th? I\'d love to make it this year, but I\'m taking some friends to the Spa on 8/14. Thanks.
Not repetitive enough to be Lupica himself.
Richiebee
\"...medley of their hit\", ahem, I\'ve heard that before.
Alan:
Cursory research shows that a band called \"The Swirling Eddies\" (?) released a
song called \"A Medley of Our Hit\" on their 2007 album \"The Midget, the Speck and
the Molecule.\"
I first heard that line in 1972, at a coffehouse at Cornell University, from a
folk duo named Aztec Two Step, themselves the subject of a PBS documentary called
\"No Hit Wonder.\"
I know Aztec Two Step. I have a vinyl of theirs which I have not listened to in a long time. Oy.