Stakes Season!

The Betsy Ross eliminations are drawn for Sunday, and they will start our stakes season.  Ten top pacing mares will contest two $40,000 heats on the matinee card.

My Little Dragon squares off against Arts Diva, Four Starzz Meliss, Mind Boggling, and Spring Break.  Although Luc Ouellette is coming in to drive Four Starzz Meliss, My Little Dragon is a GIFT at 5-1.  I know she's in off a layoff, but she should definitely have her way with this first field.

Darlin's Delight, Martha Maxine, Apache Dame, Go On BB, and Southwind Tempo are in the second elimination, and it looks more wide open.  Martha Maxine beat Darlin's Delight and Southwind Tempo in the Classic Distaff at Dover last week.  Darlin's Delight hadn't raced for a few weeks, and Southwind Tempo just looked dull.

Hopefully the weather stays better for this weekend, as the rain's put a damper on things for the past two nights.  For now, I'm off to lunch and then to the track!

Bloody head-cold!

Opening day is Monday, I have to call trials in all of six hours, and I'm up with a sore throat and congestion.  Not a good combination, but I'll get through it.

Monday's and Tuesday's cards of racing look tremendous, and it's good to get back in the broadcast box (although some people think the sight of binoculars on a stick is an embarrassment--you know who you are!).  Since I'm not writing the morning line or doing a tip sheet this year, I'll post a couple horses that I like every now and then.

Chester - Monday

Race 5 - #3 JK Jack.  Faced similar company in his last two, and won both times.  Positive driver change to Andy Miller is no hindrance, and Joe Hundertpfund knows how to classify his horses.

Race 10 - #2 Its Cherry Ripe (NZ).  Recent Kiwi invader comes off a win, and has taken well to local racing.  Won a nose from third-over in last.  Up in class, but should handle it.

Race 12 - #1 Dynamic Dream.  Shows two wins in last four.  Closed best of any from second-over to be third beaten a neck against similar.  Picks up Tim Tetrick this week.

I know these three are pretty chalky, but also look at in Race 11 - #8 CR Dream Catcher.  15-1 ML, but has been up against the hard-knocking Preferred Trotters at the Meadowlands.  28.2 LQ, Pierce to Tetrick, class drop.

It's bound to be some good racing, and I'm going to try to go back to sleep since I've had my second cup of tea.

Hello, yeah, it's been a while . . .

I've been remiss in posting on this thing.  I'll be better about it this time, I promise.

The past week has been a truly great experience.  I'm writing from North Versailles, PA (an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh) where I'm playing in the pit orchestra for a local school's production of Footloose.  As much as I've performed in live settings (vocalist, trumpeter, piano player, and even on the hardwood myself for five productions), this is my first time in the pit, and it's been plenty of fun.  I've got faith in my piano playing ability again, the cast has been great to work with--I've been coaching a few of them on vocals here and there, and my fellow musicians are tremendous.  This week has definitely pushed me over the top to start composing again.

Last night was opening night, and the energy throughout was tremendous.  Live theatre is never perfect, and just as I told a few members of the cast to not think, live in the moment, and keep pushing forward throughout, I need to remember that myself as I start composing again.