And thanks to Paul for getting my old handle back. Thought it was lost to a defunct email account.

Yup. That\'s how I remember it.

The Iso really gets the stumble in a very impactful way. Sorry, don\'t post for ages and now you can\'t shut me up. Happy New Year all.

In which the cheap claimer played by Jimmy Stewart teaches the swells Grant and Hepburn a thing or two about love. So much for \"class\".

Yeah, it sounded like Cary Grant but I couldn\'t place it. I don\'t think I\'ve ever seen The Philadelphia Story in its entirety. I need to remedy that. My reference was to a line by Billy Wilder, who said that the best thing a movie director in doubt could ever do would be to ask him/herself \"what would George Cukor do?\"

It\'s from Countdown to Ecstasy.

But no worries, JB. We count on you for knowing what George Cukor would do.

some last quick thanks on this personal stuff (sorry to those looking for \'capping content) to all the Spa-TGenerates who reached out here or in PMs or emails. Sean and Roger too kind, and I\'m blaming all of my subpar efforts for the last year on the mystery virus. Hoping they get and stay better soon. Richie, Rood & Riddle would have been much preferable owing to the higher quality of roommates (I batted .200) and that nice pool.

Thanks, JB. I was pretty far gone for a while. Doing much better now (to Frank and Richie and Rocky and Sean and TC and the rest of the Spa crew, I was in the hospital for two weeks with a \"fever of unknown origin\" that really laid me out for a total of about six weeks). Good luck in the Derby preps, all!

Just to add to the general silliness here ... you know the old Red Smith line about how to get to Saratoga (150 miles north on the Thruway, left on Union Avenue and go back 100 years). Here\'s how you get to Annandale. 75 miles north on the Thruway, cross the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, left on River Road and go back 50 years.

Hey, Frank! I can get funny looks wherever I go, but, yeah. If Brits and Yanks are \"separated by a common language\", the French/Cajun thing must be that difference amped up on frog juice.

Big Easy and FG one of those big gaps in my traveling/racing CV (w/ Oaklawn & Keeneland). I\'ve heard our host tell of the bon temps that await the lucky pilgrim. Someday soon, I hope. Great to hear from you and GL today!

Would also add that Governor Andy is apparently thinking big re the downstate tracks. A hockey arena at Belmont was floated today. WTF? Gotta believe some big decisions will be made this summer as part of reprivatizing NYRA.

About 7 or 8 years ago there was a horse named Presious Passion who won a whole bunch of graded turf stakes - including several grade ones - by doing precisely that. Came within a length and a half of winning a BC Turf. But that\'s a rare bird.

Grening of DRF just tweeted that x-rays of DeCarlo\'s back were negative, he\'s expected to be released from hospital shortly, and hopes to ride on Thursday, per his agent.

Paul, I saw them only once, but it was memorable.

It was 1973 or thereabouts. I was 16 and had a front row seat to see Tower of Power and Santana at the Academy of Music on 14th Street (a 3,000-seat movie theater built in 1927). New Yorkers of a certain age will remember the Academy for its bathrooms, which - by comparison - would make visiting an opium den a wholesome experience.

It was the best concert I ever saw. At that time, ToP was still fronted by Lenny Williams, who is one of the most underrated soul singers of all time. Click on the link below to check out their (1973) live version of \"So Very Hard to Go\" on Soul Train.

Two great multi-ethnic Bay-area bands at their peak on one bill. 43 years ago, but the music is still as fresh as ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APlwRR9IO_E

Was only pointing out that one of the stats you used often speaks more about one horse than one trainer. Kathy Ritvo averaged $80K per start in 2013. What does that make her?

Temp, no knock on Baffert, but having only half as many starts as CB and winning the Classic the last two years obviously juices those averages. Last year AP won more money than all of Baffert\'s other horses combined.

I was barely paying attention today, and opened up the feed just in time to see that photo, which - having seen on Twitter that Shug\'s horse had won - seemed to be a \"place\" photo mislabeled as a \"show\" photo.

I just now watched the replay and of course you are right. Collmus - who is quite aggressive on calling finishes by eye - said it was a photo for the place and named the 4th place finisher. One instant later they put up the Brown horse in second. The guy just can\'t take a bad picture these days.