Thoughts-- Various and Diverting

[richiebee]

By my count, 13 racing days remaining at the Spa. Have you been up (down)there yet? There\'s really no excuse.

Some of my first posts on this board involved my fears that Stronach/ Magna would get control of Saratoga and ruin it. In the past year, my fears have subsided. It seems like Magna\'s books would never stand up to due diligence and IMO their best chance may be to be a partner in a consortium which might eventually take over for NYRA (think CD, Magna and a major (non-racing) gaming entity).

The new model for racing facilities is certainly going to be the Magna model currently being developed at Gulfstream. Call it a \"3R\" approach if you want-- Racing, Retail, Recreation, or something like that. Horse racing will be a component of the experience, but probably not the focal point. As I have said before on this board, it appears as if Frank Stronach hedges his bets when he develops a new facility; in the case of Gulfstream, for example, his retail/ entertainment complex will still be viable even if the popularity of racing takes a turn for the worse, or if the politicians in Florida try to over- regulate racing again.

Horses will never be relegated to racing somewhere in the background at Saratoga. The old wooden structure (amazing it has never burned to the ground, perish the thought) does not lend itself to, nor does it require, extensive enhancement or renovation. Of course it is not perfect... the pillars which support the grandstand roof bring to mind the \"obstructed view\" seats in old Yankee Stadium, but between the track and the Museum/ Hall of Fame across the street (try standing next to the glass case containing the trophies from Kelso\'s FIVE JC Gold Cups and not getting goose bumps) Saratoga is the Mecca of American racing. Sorry all you KY hardboots, as historic as Churchill is, as beautiful as Keeneland is in Spring, you cant be Mecca when you have Turfway and (H)Ellis(h) Park.

Ran evenly again this weekend, could have gotten off to a huge start if Red Snoony could have prevailed in the photo in Friday\'s first race. I thought I was stealing money, getting the only turf winner in the field (a two time turf winner at that) at 4/1.

My whole weekend came down to even money Diamond Green (affectionately referred to by Miff as \"the Frankel junk\") in the Troy Stakes. If DG wins I cash decent DDs, P3s and P4s. Careful with DG, for all his big Timeform numbers, he has now run second in 6 of his 13 lifetime starts.

Enjoyed chatting with TGJB and Bill Spillane over the weekend. These seminars are not lectures, there is a lot of give and take, and as a \"recreational handicapper\" I feel like I\'ve learned quite a bit about the TG product and  racing in general from the morning sessions I have attended. Any plans to hold a couple of these on track at Belmont on the big days leading up to the BC?

[Saddlecloth]

Diamond Green is no fan of firm turf, frankly him being here is a mystery to me.

[richiebee]

TGJB or Bill had mentioned that DG may have bled in his last out and sent over here for Lasix.

After getting beat last year on 9/25 (beaten by 15 lengths in a Group 1) he ran in the BC Mile at Lone Star (8th, beaten 4 lengths, broke slow, steadied turn) without Lasix.

Owners may want to go in BC Mile again.