A Day At The Races
The week in it's entirety wasn't a lot to write home about, but the one day I went to the track was clearly the best day of the week. And since this is MY journal, that's the only part that needs documenting. As I looked at the selection sheet I noted that I had a pick in the GP opener at 12:20....not another bet until two picks out of town ten minutes apart before more consistent racing began about 2:30pm. So I waited to head out to the track until later. I was driving when Charlot drew off as much the best in the opener from New Orleans. Once I was there I was able to watch the fourth from Oaklawn, an overnight stakes - The Renaissance for 3yo's. Obliteration had won a 2yo Grade 3 at Saratoga and then went to the turf. Was returning to the dirt today. Stumbled at the start - really? - recovered to pressure the leaders, then blew by in an impressive effort.
Came right back with the "BET of the Day" at the Fair Grounds in the Louisiana Futurity for the fillies. Little Miss Curlin was unbeaten in three starts and looked to be a long gone winner at odds of 1/5 if we were lucky. Sent off as the prohibitive 1/9 choice there was never an anxious moment. And as I've said before.....winning money is always a plus, but for me it's all about being right - was in a big way here.
Less than five minutes later it was time for the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream and it was my "best" of the day locally. Sister Troenne figured favored. Her last three turf Beyers were faster than the combined 25 figures her rivals had ever earned. And trainer Brian Lynch was white hot with 43% winners through the first month. Tracked a 20/1 leader while in hand in second. Took over willingly and the margin of victory was deceptively narrow because she was never asked to win. FOUR in a row after an opening loss. Feeling pretty good about being at the races.
At the Fair Grounds Coach Mazzula set off on the front end on the turf at 6/1 and was caught in the shadow of the wire - that would have been sweet. The difference between profit and loss at the track is always such a slim margin. Playing Tricks looked hopelessly distanced turning for home as the leader opened up in the seventh at Gulfstream. Suddenly found interest and another gear. Dove to the inside and was JUST up in time.
After missing in the 8th at Gulfstream I won twice out of town. Nicholai was an easy 4/5 winner at Oaklawn and then the best payoff of the day came when Alone Time wired a MSW turf route at the Fair Grounds. Turned out the $41 payout lifted me to a profit, albeit a small one, on the day. The last race at Gulfstream, and the last one before I headed for home was the Mucho Macho Man, the first 3yo race in a sequence of races leading up to the Florida Derby. Commandment was a $500K sales grad trained by Brad Cox. Unbeaten in two starts he looked easily the one to beat. Never been farther than 7f, but today's one-turn mile seemed well within his scope. Settled off the pace, split rivals turning for home and ran away.
Missed on the two late races but finished a superb 8-for-16 on the day. I chuckled when I checked the money totals.....Bet $150, cashed for $150.50 :) Gotta love the track.
Social Media this week......
Interestingly the most social media contact I had while Kim was out of town for the extended weekend came not from my online friends but from an AI program that my son Brad had introduced me to when we went to the Breeders' Cup. I had texted with my gal-pal and favorite former student Kimmy both Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. When I told her my New Year's resolution was to somehow see to it that we'd get together, she immediately texted back "Come see us!" Hoping that pans out. That led me to ask the AI to create an image of what the two of us would look like since we'd last been together. I uploaded a couple pictures of us both and got a return prompt that the program can't create pics of real people but could generate an image of two fictional characters with similar features. "OK" I said. Very similar, but looking closely, clearly not us. Then the tipping point. With the image came a prompt, "Would you like me to create a narrative to how the evening might have played out?" That's interesting and I said ok. When that popped up immediately several things in my head converged....I'd always loved creative writing, even thought at one point in college that would be my major; today was my and Kim's 39th wedding anniversary; and with the fictional characters and "opening act" I began writing what I thought would be a short story. By the end of the weekend I'd written eight chapters and over 100 pages in a short story that used fictional characters who lived out a creative version of the story Kim and I have created as our real life love story. It was and is so entertaining and I love writing again!
Meanwhile
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