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Wow, a ton of awesome horses were born at the tail end of March/April 1… Man o’ War, Secretariat, Drosselmeyer, Wise Dan, I’ll Have Another, Zenyatta… HANDICAPPING BIAS!

Darley acquires an interest in Animal Kingdom. Damn, next thing you know Coolmore will sprout a clue and buy one too! WAIT, THAT WAS ONLY A DREAM!

I wasn’t planning on buying a house anytime soon, nor a building, but really c’mon…

I know I’m a  bit behind the ball on boasting and it probably isn’t worth it, but while I bombed heart-picking most of the Dubai card, my random love for Planteur [IRE] wasn’t unfounded. One of the lowest Timeform ratings and the horse still got third.

The Oaks fillies are so much better than the Derby colts this year that it pains me to think none of them can enter the Derby without official points. LAME!

True story: I was yelling at my computer yesterday watching Normandy Invasion. C’MON C’MON GET SECOND GET SECOND YOU NEED AT LEAST SECOND YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS! I’ve never been so pleased for a horse to get second.

“One more jump, and I could have won the race. His gallop out was amazing.” - Javier Castellano on Normandy Invasion. It’s like he read my article! YES I AGREE WITH YOU JAVI!

Orb or Verrazano for Johnny V? Is it bad I want him to pick Verrazano because if he picked Orb over the undefeated horse it would ruin Orb’s odds?

Calder’s back on! Hopefully it won’t spurt screwy results on a daily basis like Gulfstream.

I hope Code West gets an “in” for the Derby next, since he too is on the bubble. I thought he was a pretty good horse.

Blind Luck and Giant’s Causeway sitting in a tree… with Winter Memories and Street Cry [IRE]. #horselove

Realizing the other day that Funny Cide’s Derby win was 10 years ago. OH MY GOD OLD.

I’m sorry but I still can’t see myself rooting for Goldencents. Never had the feels for him, he beat out Bern Identity in the Delta Jackpot (III), and his jockey’s post-San Felipe tantrum is still crisp in my memory.

Tweet o’ the Week

I’m bored to death in film class (already know dis shtuff) and am overtired… PERFECT TIME FOR A HEAR THE GHOST APPRECIATION POST!

• Dad is Ghostzapper, who is one fast po-nay
• Grandpops is Awesome Again, who I love pretty obviously [clicky]. THAT MAKES HIM RELATED TO GAME ON DUDE AND AWESOME FEATHER!
• He’s a gelding. NEVER RETIRE NEVERRRR
• Time for Hollendorfer to win the Derby. I still kind of die thinking about Blind Luck retiring  prematurely.
• Nobody is REALLY talking about him yet. I like unpopular things.
• He’s like a male look-alike version of Contested (related, weirdly enough) who I picked to win a couple of races too:

• He was a cute hunk of a baby:

• He’s chestnut, which is the very best color
• Nakatani owes me money after losing on Nehro.

Good news for his fans: Secret Circle is back on the work tab!

I am pleased to announce that after 2 week(ish) of intermittently trying, I won 10 horseshoes on Blazing Silks’ spinny game. WHO’S YOUR DADDY? IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME.

Wilburn made news last year retiring early to take advantage of the Bernardini blood value by being his first son to stand at stud. For 2013, we’ve got at least 6 new ones by Bernardini by my count on Stallion Register, more than new sires that are by pensioned A.P. Indy (5) and deceased Dynaformer (4).

Aqueduct is thinking about changing their inner track to synthetic. While I’m sure synthetic/turf breeders would like an opportunity to get a good shot at NYRA’s gold, have we learned nothing so far about surfaces?

I wonder how good Midnight Lute’s half brother Steel Guitar (by Unbridled’s Song) is going to be. He hasn’t broken his maiden yet, and was 3rd in his 3rd try last time out in a 6-furlong maiden special weight at Turfway. He gathered buzz as the heavy favorite, but was beaten 6+ lengths.

Last night my feed blew up with news alerts that Shanghai Bobby won the Eclipse for Best 2-Year-Old Male. Last I checked that wasn’t news…

An unreal accomplishment of luck, determination, and humility: Morton Fink has just one mare in his business and it is the dam of his 3-time Eclipse champion Wise Dan.

Oh my stars, my leading lady Blind Luck is a madre now :’)

My heart was a little broken to see so many races go sloppy on Saturday, which is easily one of the biggest reasons I did not place any money down on anyone. I should have though at least on Ron the Greek and Oxbow, who I naturally favored in the Lecomte (III). Ughhhhh. Important to note that despite a restricted field on an off track, Ron the Greek got an impressive 115 Beyer his first start back!

What’s up with Vinery that has caused all the stallions to go to WinStar?

Sweet baby Atigun is set to return in Oaklawn’s Razorback (III). D’aww! It’s a little short for him though at a mile and a sixteenth >.>

Unlike my Derby Top 10, I’m having some issues narrowing down just 10 I like for the Oaks.

Mark Valeski was close to that win hot off a layoff in the Louisiana Handicap. Along with Believe You Can and Smitten, a three-year-old Tapit filly I like, Larry Jones has a string of contenders again this year.

Dale Romans wins, Ramon Dominguez wins, Little Mike loses. :( Sad sigh.

Tweet o’ the Week: Not to sully the glory, but I was kind of thinking the same thing

Psst… Christmas card requests are due in by this Saturday (December 15)! Lava Man will be getting one per a request on Doug O’Neill Stables’ Facebook. Send him one too if you want! (Lava Man c/o 122-A E Foothill Blvd #300, Arcadia, CA 91006)

IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME… the Delaware Handicap (I) is finally a G1 race after being a G2 for leading ladies like Blind Luck in her unforgettable stretch duel with Havre de Grace, and winners Royal Delta, Life at Ten, and Hystericalady. It really should have been upgraded before the Cotillion got its boost.

Even though I’m not into Pletcher horses, I really liked In Lingerie back around the time leading up to her win in the Bourbonette… probably because I like Empire Makers so much. She didn’t retire in the same form, but I have high hopes for her future Frankel baby. Can’t. Wait.

Ughh… that photo of Michael Phelps and Graham Motion. Graham looks like a classy Brit… Phelps… those glasses… I didn’t think it was possible to despise him more than I already do. Gold medal collection or not, don’t nobody give me a hard time about it or ask me to explain. The man just looks weird and it always looks like he’s breathing out of his mouth.

He can dirt as well as turf! Fredericksburg made his dirt start yesterday at the competitive Gulfstream Park and finished 2nd!

How the tables have turned… Henny Hughes is welcomed back into Kentucky’s bluegrass with open arms. Who’d have thought he’d sire so many stakes winners so soon?

I honestly don’t see Gary Stevens actually returning to race-riding, but it’s a cozy thought.

Remember last year’s Illinois Derby (III) winner Joe Vann? He just got adopted as an OTTB at New Vocations!

Madman Diaries… now that is a name I have not heard in a long time…

Part of me is intrigued and excited to see the CashCall (I), the other part chortles at the thought of a legitimate Derby horse emerging from this race. Why is this still a Grade 1 event?

Paynter got my vote for the Vox Populi.

I read somewhere that Buffum was purchased for $1.2 million as a yearling. Oh ow…

I’m kind of surprised that the New York Times won the Team Valor journalism award. Half of the racing-related stuff they published was demeaning smut, and don’t get me started on what I think of Joe Drape’s personality. (Which is saying a lot having read some of his work before reading what he had to say to people)

Tweet o’ the Week: No pun intended?

In the event you didn’t sense it from my tone, I was very unsure about doing any actual things involving money this weekend despite being excited about Super Saturday. Last year, I did all sorts of predictions only to have the track turn up wet at Belmont, which led to I believe all but one race being totally off and Blind Luck getting retired prematurely. What a bad day. This year wasn’t quite that bad, but I only wagered— unsuccessfully, at that— a couple Game On Dude-on-top exactas. At least he won. Out of all the upsets that happened, I was ecstatic to see Barclay Tagg’s Jersey Town snap out of his funk, but I don’t know how good he’ll be for the Dirt Mile. To Honor and Serve definitely took a big step back for me over the weekend.

My best race was shockingly enough a sprint: the Vosburgh won by The Lumber Guy. My first choice Poseidon’s Warrior came in 3rd, third-choice Caixa Eletronica rallied to be 2nd, and second-choice Sean Avery placed 4th.

Between the off track, the bad juju, chalky finishes, and being busy at home for the weekend, it was generally a good decision to stay away from what would have become an all-day affair in front of the TV getting worked up. Off tracks more often than not produce upset winners, and no doubt Santa Anita was too-properly souped up for opening weekend. But, it was not without its purpose, providing a lot of new input that could potentially inflate some odds in time for the Breeders’ Cup:

• Love And Pride’s odds will likely be unrealistically short— I don’t think she’s that good despite two G1s in row, and with a lot of speed in the Ladies’ Classic she won’t be left alone
• Ron the Greek’s poor showing in the JCGC was probably due to the track. He likes 10 furlongs and at running that distance at Santa Anita with a lot of speed up front will work in his favor. His continuing lack of a fanbase is also encouraging good odds.
• Flat Out was a shameful “miss” on my behalf over the weekend being in peak condition and on his favorite track, but he will likely regress off of it.

In regards to Santa Anita, I don’t recall having an awful time of figuring out races there, but over the next month it will demand close inspection leading up to the Breeders’ Cup. Slim Shadey [GB] wired the John Henry Turf on Sunday. Executiveprivilege also went wire-to-wire on the dirt this weekend as well as Love And Pride, and Game On Dude was just off the front end. Is the track biased and will it remain that way into November? For most people it is safe to say it was.

The masterful performance of the weekend goes to the grass: Point of Entry is one of America’s best horses despite battling on yielding grass over the weekend which would have benefited others more than himself. While I did not handicap any turf races for the weekend, out of any of his starts this year, the Joe Hirsch (I) was Point of Entry’s to lose with the predicted poor footing and pressure from in front and behind. He is now the victor of 5 races— 3 of them G1— and if Acclamation was a candidate for it last year, Point of Entry is almost certainly a shoo-in for Horse of the Year nomination should he take down the Euros in November.

I’ve always wanted to go visit Chicago. If only I could make it there for the Arlington Million (I). Someday…

Pimlico made an awesome movie trailer-like tribute to I’ll Have Another over here. Watch it when you can.

Even horse racing paparazzi Adam “Moosh” had issues finding affordable headspace at Saratoga. Feels bad man!

Why the hell was Holy Candy the favorite in the Oceanside Stakes? Have you heard of Chips All In at all?

Not that I’ve been really impressed yet, but Almighty Brown is definitely my favorite two-year-old. Chestnut, blaze, and a son of Big Brown! Think he’ll be a grass-dirt freak like his dad?

The next star son of Galileo is named Mars. Easy one to remember.

Rest in peace to the legend Frank “Pancho” Martin, who otherwise probably would have had a Triple Crown winner in Sham.

The racing gods heard my bitching: Saratoga is offering free wi-fi backed by a Fastnet mobile wagering application. No more fighting off crowds! (Hopefully it works!)

If the feed’s been a little slow this past week post count-wise, it’s because I was mourning Union Rags. He’s not dead, but in a way it feels like he is. I felt the same way when Blind Luck was pulled out of contention last year.

Could Frankel beat Danedream in the Arc? Hmm…

Sorry race organizers! I do not want to run in your race to benefit tornado victims (still having issues around here?). Instead I want to spend the day nomming food and picking ponies in Saratoga. You were supposed to be held in September anyway!

Congrats to Barbaro’s little brother Lentenor on a stakes win yesterday!

If it were up to Rick Porter, he’d breed his Horse of the Year Havre de Grace to Bernardini if he weren’t planning to sell her auction. No no no… pick something else… I don’t understand how people can say he is the best stallion on the market right now…

Looks like Godolphin has another live three-year-old filly this year with Questing [GB].

My first Bluegrass Cat love has been retired due to a liver inflammation. Cheers, Kathmanblu.

New name to add to the “best pony names” book: Thewifedoesntknow. And he’s cute!

Tweet o’ the Week

As I’m sure everyone had to recently, I agreed to Tumblr’s new privacy policy/rules and gave it a quick read-through. A few things I had to scoff at, including this “guideline”:

Non-Genuine Social Gesture Schemes. Don’t participate in schemes to gain non-genuine gestures like follows or reblogs. Don’t orchestrate or engage in “follow trains,” where users are encouraged to follow lists of other users to gain more followers for themselves. Don’t scatter deceptive links to your blog or Follow pages. Don’t make bulk or indiscriminate use of messaging features like Fan Mail or Asks to bait followers.

LOL, that’s the whole point of Tumblr for so many people. I’m proud to say I’ve never whined for more followers, nor do I ever intend on making something like the Derby Handicap Contest a competition for the most reblogs/likes/follows. That’s just filling our wonderful Internet with more spam, not to mention it’s annoying.

I find it slightly amusing how Larry Jones is pushing to get Havre de Grace a break in the weights for the Apple Blossom Handicap (I). How fair does your proposition sound to other potential contenders who dare challenge the Horse of the Year? Blind Luck got a 2-pound advantage in last year’s DelCap because Grace beat her recently (and pretty easily) while Life At Ten’s last G1 was months behind that… THAT is why the handicaps were adjusted that way. Really, had this been the other way around I doubt Grace’s connections would be complaining so loudly… not like the racing secretary’s going to be listening!

NAME PLAY TIME!: The Lumber Guy is going to the Wood Memorial (I).

Dubai World Cup wish: Chantal and Game On Dude win it. Dubai World Cup prediction: a foreign entry wins it… unless they cut holes in G.O.D.’s blinkers.

Not sure whether or not I like Mark Valeski. Could be I just don’t like his name! :3

The Bernardini spam continues! This time, Better Than Honour, dam of 2 Belmont Stakes winners (Rags to Riches, Jazil) is the victim. Meanwhile, it was announced today that Rachel Alexandra is now in foal to this prolific beast.

That moment I get a comment/message from a well-known industry person:

Looks like Hansen’s connections *sort of* listened to me… they’re keeping Hansen in Kentucky instead of shipping him back to New York to run in the Blue Grass (II). I’m game!

Alpha is the Mitt Romney of Derby contenders. He *will* run in the Wood Memorial (I) after all now that Hansen’s not going, despite having McLaughlin list the reasons why the Louisiana Derby (II) is the perfect spot. Yada yada yada, you never fooled anyone, dude…

Still can’t get over my excitement about a future Tapit x Zenyatta babeski. Imagine that thing now… gray/roan… precocious… a late burst that kills… after Zazu, would it surprise anyone that Jerry and Ann Moss picked this sire?

If I were to ever feel bad about not doing so well handicapping Santa Anita, I shall remind myself how many freakin’ carryovers happen for the Pick 6 at that god-forsaken race place!