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The nerd in me sighed with glee when I found an article online talking about the effect of blinkers on horses using *gasp* linear regression graphs. I f—king hate you, pre-calculus, but this softens your blow on my leisure time.

GAME ON DUDE!!! My HOTY/Classic pick since January hasn’t changed.

I was having a hard time figuring out which juvie filly I liked most for the Breeders’ Cup, So Many Ways or Dreaming of Julia… luckily Maggi Moss made the decision to keep the former out of the trying Breeders’ Cup, and automatically made me a bigger fan of her.

Black Caviar: the only champ to not retire this year.

There’s no record of an American horse being registered as Jailbait before… no I don’t know why I looked that one up… should be a future Big Brown filly name though, UNF!

I might actually go to the mall near here soon for the first time. Do you think Jo-Ann’s Fabrics would carry giant red pom-poms? I’m still toying with the idea of making a Trinniberg-mobile.

A great must-read that reflects my sentiments about those million-dollar yearlings written by Cot Campbell of Dogwood Stables, one of my favored connections. I mean really, other than A.P. Indy how many of those super-expensive auction horses returned the investment? How many champs do you see this year with less-than-trendy pedigrees AND less-than-perfect conformation (I can think of a few… I’ll Have Another, Little Mike, Dullahan, Fort Larned, Ron the Greek)? Exactly. I guess this is also why Seattle Slew is my favorite Triple Crown winner.

Royal Delta to race for the Classic and Dubai World Cup next year. Smart moves for this classy gal, hope she can kick it all next year.

Once again, we’re in for an embarrassing three-year-old presence in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. I’m wagering that Alpha will finish second-last just like Stay Thirsty did… although I will admit, the latter seemed to be through with racing at that point last year while I’m not 100% sure Alpha’s fuel is spent just yet.

Hey, hey guys… remember before Paynter started running he was named M C’s Dream? Yeah, how embarrassing that would have been… IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR TACO, STONESTREET!

I always wondered if this sort of thing ever happened, and it did this past week at Hoosier Park: the starting gate was immobilized during a route race and was unable to be relocated as the horses rounded the bend. Look at that one jockey vault over the rail!

I am not sure if I can pick between Brown Almighty or Fredericksburg should both go for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. MY HEART WILL SPLIT INTO TWO!

I’m ashamed at the Zenyatta nation dolts who said that Baby Z has that “handsome Bernardini head.” What? No. I think Stay Thirsty and Alpha look pretty similar to each other, but Baby Z looks like Zenyatta… the ears, the eyes, the nose… don’t argue with me!

Some of the country’s best bloodstock is offered on a yearly basis at the mega gathering that is the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, best known for its reputation as a breeder’s paradise, a horse flesh mecca. Some of racing’s finest runners have been sold at Keeneland September, and by the looks of it, some really phenomenal-sounding prospects were sold for very promising prices over the first couple days. Here are some of the best-sellers and sale highlights that really made the buyers swoon… or not!:

SALE TOPPERS

• Hip No. 87 - A bay colt by A.P. Indy out of Malka, by Deputy Minister (a half sister to the dams of Super Saver and Bluegrass Cat). Sold to a group of people including Mattel’s CEO for $1.4 million, who have announced plans to have Neil Drysdale train this guy to win the Kentucky Derby.

Hmm… a blue-blooded sale topper + Neil Drysdale + Kentucky Derby victory ambitions from the get-go… sounds an awful like the story of Fusaichi Pegasus!

• Hip No. 63 - A bay colt by Street Cry out of Forest Music, by Unbridled’s Song. Sold to George Bolton for $1.2 million.

• Hip No. 116 [pictured]- A gray/roan filly by Unbridled’s Song out of Silvery Swan, by Silver Deputy (dam of Haskell winner Roman Ruler). Sold to Mandy Pope, breeder of Tizway, for $1 million.

• Hip No. 72 - A bay colt by Street Cry out of Hollywood Wildcat, by (Breeders’ Cup Distaff (I) winner and dam of multiple stakes winners including grade-I winner and successful new sire War Chant). Sold to Besilu Stables for $925,000.

• Hip No. 147 - A bay colt by Street Cry out of Balance, by Thunder Gulch (a multiple grade I-winning millionaire, half sister to Zenyatta). Sold to John McCormack, an Irish stock agent, for $750,000.

• Hip No. 73 - A bay filly by Indian Charlie out of Lu Ravi, by A.P. Indy (dam of grade I winner Ravi’s Song). Sold to Besilu Stables for $775,000.

NOTABLE PURCHASES

• Hip No. 127 - A dark bay/brown filly by Curlin out of Tears I Cry (third dam is dam of Street Cry). Sold to West Point Thoroughbreds for $700,000.

• Hip No. 183 - A bay colt by Elusive Quality out of Kobla (making him a full brother to champion Quality Road). Sold to Fox Hill Farm (owners of Havre de Grace) for $650,000.

• Hip No. 55 - A dark bay/brown filly by Street Sense out of Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy (dam of Alabama Stakes winner Royal Delta). Sold to for $650,000.

• Hip No. 101 - A dark bay/brown colt by Street Sense out of Pilfer, by Deputy Minister (dam of graded stakes winner To Honor and Serve). Sold to Shadwell for $500,000.

• Hip No. 207 - A dark bay/brown filly by Indian Charlie out of Proud Spell, by Proud Citizen (first foal out of 2009 Kentucky Oaks winner). Sold to Besilu Stables for $500,000

PRACTICALLY STEALS

• Hip No. 174 - A chestnut filly by Unbridled’s Song out of Mining My Own, by Smart Strike (dam of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird). Sold to Shadwell for $325,000.

• Hip No. 129 - A chestnut filly by Giant’s Causeway out of The Administrator, by Afleet (dam of Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro). Sold to Besilu Stables for $350,000.
• Hip No. 71 - A chestnut colt by Lemon Drop Kid out of Heat Lightning, by Summer Squall (dam of millionaire Stevie Wonderboy). Sold to Cam Allard for $300,000.

Failed to sell due to RNA (Reserve Not Attained):

• Filly by Distorted Humor out of Turkos Turn, by Turkoman (dam of Belmont/Travers winner Point Given).
• Filly by Bernardini out of Beautiful Pleasure, by Maudlin (recently deceased BC Distaff winner).
• Colt by Bernardini out of Flanders, by Seeking the Gold (recently deceased undefeated winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies).

The world has succumbed to chaos: fighting terrorism overseas, heckling with the gas pump, the DOW taking a nosedive. There is no time for anyone to be looking at spending serious money on horses, especially ones who are only a year old with no credentials outside of their looks and their parentage. BUT, thee folks at Saratoga insisted on selling them anyway in this shallow market.

Superfection (Medaglia d’Oro x Supercharger, by A.P. Indy), Super Saver and Brethren’s half brother - $1.2 million to Sheikh Mohammed

< Hip No. 114 colt (Bernardini x Easter Bunnette, by Carson City) Half brother to Havre de Grace - $1.2 million to Sheikh Mohammed

Whippendeal (Unbridled’s Song x Dream Supreme, by Seeking the Gold) Half brother to Majestic Perfection - $975,000 to agent Dale Romans

Hip No. 73 filly (Bernardini x Sugar Shake, by Awesome Again) - $950,000 to Irish bloodstock agent John McCormack

< Hip No. 47 colt (Street Cry x Don’t Tacha Me, by A.P. Indy) - $800,000 to Sheikh Mohammed

Hip No. 6 colt (Bernardini x Mountain Mambo, by Mt. Livermore) - $750,000 to Sheikh Mohammed

Hip No. 10 filly (Bernardini x Nataliano, by Fappiano) - $600,000 to Sheikh Mohammed

Hip No. 75 filly (Medaglia d’Oro x Alta Love, by Gone West) - $575,000 to Sheikh Mohammed

The average price of yearlings went up 15.9% over last year while the median price rose 4.2%. Big buyer Sheikh Mohammed was responsible for the purchase of 13 yearlings at the sale, including the two $1.2 million sale toppers, for more than $8 million. It’s been made apparent we don’t have money to spare at all on young horses, and certainly not on the best ones at Saratoga! Keeneland, I hope you’re ready to grovel in pain next month. (End of sarcastic post)