Anyone see the Kentucky Derby winner run today?

This is the 3rd time I’ve said that, but I’m going back to one I’ve already said it about.

 Big Brown ….

 Wow … anyone who just watched that performance in the Florida Derby has to be impressed. 22.3 and 45.4? Gone!

The George Levy Memorial, Panaramic Art, & The Big M …

All big stories tonight in the harness racing world. Lets start off at Yonkers, discussing the card they are presenting which features the opening leg of the Levy Memorial for open pacers. Than we will head over to the Big M, were Manhardt will try to get some better cover and storm home in the winners over pace. Even Woodbine gets in on the action featuring their open pacers in the Spring Pacing Championship.

Dubai World Cup & Florida Derby Day …

Big day of racing ….

The first three are in the books in Dubai and so far Rick Dutrow and Edgar Prado are having a big night.

They won the Godolphin Mile with a resurgent Diamond Stripes, who looked finished in early stretch.

They also won the Golden Shaheen with Benny the Bull. Idiot Proof completed an all American exacta.

Mick De Kock continued his dominance of the UAE Derby, running 1st and 2nd with Honour Devil and Royal Vintage.

Jeez … Rags to Riches retired.

What more needs to be said? The filly that won the Belmont and beat Curlin has been retired. Another blow to a sport that can’t take too many more. Her first Grade 1 win at Santa Anita was one of the 5 most impressive performances by a thoroughbred I have ever seen.

“A filly in the Belmont”

Adriano pays $11.60??

I’m still not sure how, but that is exactly what he payed. How could anyone have watched that Gulfstream turf exhibition he put on not bet him back today on the synthetic surface? He was awesome that day and was awesome again in the Lane’s End. He’ll probably just be crowding up the track if they put him in the Derby as he has shown no ability on the dirt yet, but he is sure to be a good runner on the turf in the future.

Busy week = Boring blog

I’ve been pretty busy this week so didn’t get here to update much. Rather slow weekend of racing in my opinion. Turfway offers a nice card, but I can’t get excited about synthetic race tracks nor can I listen to Mike “the Mouth” Battaglia call 12 races. I do like Adriano in the Lane’s End.

When does Keeneland open?

Southwind Tempo romped in the Overbid final last night at the Meadowlands. She is looking quite awesome. Tonights winner over pace is star studded with Maltese Artist, Special Report, Manhardt and Mr. Feelgood who has won both of the big pacing series for Free For All pacers this year.

And it just keeps getting better!

Wow, what a tough weekend for racing. Just about all the reasons this game is dying a slow death were illustrated in some form or another today …

Now it is reported that War Pass had a fever this week yet they ran him anyways. Now, I realize that wagering on this game involves some risk but can’t these people atleast lead animals that are at 100% over to the gate? Is that too much to ask, especially in a race such as todays?

More reasons this game sucks …

Race 3 at Woodbine tonight. #7 New Dice Please jogs in 153.x. His last two, he had trotted opening 1/4 miles in 27.2 and 28.3 and 1/2 miles in 56.3 and 58.0. He finished those two races in 1.58.0 and 1.57.3.

 Well tonight, after a barn switch to Anthony Montini, he gets hammered to 6-5. Obviously live on the board after dropping anchor in his last two. He than proceeds to trot the opening 1/4 in 27.0 and the half in an eye popping 55.3 and draws off to win by 15 in 153.x. He gained over 5 seconds on his two previous efforts. #4 Sundowner Bob who had faced and defeated New Dice Please by 6 lengths in their last starts, was defeated by almost 20 lengths here. A 5 second and a 20 length turn around with the barn switch.

 And you want to attract new fans do you? Explain that to the young guy who is new to the game but went out to the track or turf club with his buddies.

 It seems the hot topic of recent nights at harnessdriving.com has been the driving, or lack there of at Woodbine. It is something I picked up on pretty quickly a few weeks ago when I started paying more attention to the good harness racing in the north. The drivers just seem to be completely content to ride around in single file until they reach the top of the stretch and than they hope the horses up front come back, which rarely happens. It makes for some boring racing and questions about the drivers intentions.

Than I turn my Harness Eye over to the Meadowlands and see names like Ledford and Rucker still doing whatever it is they do  and I begin to question my sanity.

Another reason why this game sucks …

Want another reason why this game sucks and we can’t get anyone new interested? Go watch race 3 at the Big A today and watch a head on if you can. The race winner, #4 Carolyn’s Cat comes out of the gate, veers right and completely eliminated #2 Throbbin’ Heart. Throbbin’ Heart almost falls down she was hit so hard, yet they looked at it twice and made the race official.

 How can you take horses down for slight incidents in the stretch yet leave this horse up after she completely eliminated another opponent. And I mean eliminate.

Tampa Bay making sure War Pass wins …

After three races on the card it is pretty apparent that Tampa Bay has souped up the track to make sure that War Pass wins and that he does it quickly. Two of the three races so far have gone wire to wire, while the other was won by a horse stalking 3/4 of a length of a length off the pace along the inside.

3 year old maiden specials just went 21.xx, 44.xx and finished in 111.xx. The horse that set those fractions held onto win while the favored horses in behind him spun their proverbial wheels while looking full of run. This horse that just went 21.xx and 44.xx couldn’t hang on after going 22.3, 46.1 and had given way before the top of the stretch in his last against the same company.

 Not that War Pass needed any help, but I’ll never understand why tracks do this. When do you see horses going 21 and 44 at Tampa Bay? Never. Good stakes horses can’t even go that fast on normal days.