No pussyfooting around tonight…here are my good vibe / horse-lovin’ / touchy-feely picks for
Saratoga Race Course
Saturday, 4 August 2012
RACE 1:
Stopshoppingmaria
Vuitton
(NOTE: I’m thinking that Maria and Vuitton are somehow connected–if not an exacta, I’m sure that Maria digs Vuitton bags…)
Strategic Missile – Two notes here. Fun, FUN ATB (across-the-board) bet on this chicklet–she’s 30/1. AND, might I add–being a five-year-old Thoroughbred is NOT a bad thing, BTW. Thoroughbreds aren’t even fully grown until they’re five. Really.
RACE 2:
Grand Rapids / Joking – OK, I’m a huge fan of Darley. (HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum) The man knows and loves horses, passionately. And McLaughlin, I’m thinkin’, wouldn’t be training for His Highness if the man wasn’t gifted. They’ve been a team for quite a while. I’d love to see this 1 and 1A come in 1, 2…
Cape Glory
Guilt Trip – You know that Chad Brown’s a hot trainer, right?
RACE 3:
Fortify Darley, McLaughlin. 🙂
El Duro – Pletcher, Two-year-olds. There ya go.
Favor Factor – Chad Brown…
RACE 4:
The Thinker – Leo O’Brien rocks.
Tapitdar
Windafull – I dig Rudy Rodriguez.
RACE 5:
Winning Cause – Pletcher, Two-year-olds.
Craving Carats – Romans and Rosario. I like this team.
Soulsinging – If ever you think that Mott doesn’t have it…repeat after me: “Cigar. Cigar. Cigar…”
RACE 6:
Hope Still Springs – Yep, this is because the name spoke to me. One of the best things about Life is that…hope springs eternal…
Poloziotto
Professor Chaos – Julien’s riding this nice longshot…at 20/1, I think this is a must-do ATB.
RACE 7:
Thane – You know my thing about strong names for horses, and this name is STRONG. Sheikh Mohammed’s horse may not be named for the thanes of Scotland–bodyguards for lords–but that’s my only experience with the word. I hear this name, and I think of thousands of screaming, wild-eyed Scots with turquoise dye in their hair. The kinda guy I’d want as my bodyguard, for sure. If this horse isn’t rippling with muscles and confidence when he walks onto the track–I’ll be shocked.
Subsonic – Shug McGaughey. That’s all you need to know: Shug.
Flying Bird – Mrs. Whitney and Nick. A lovely team, a team that’s unseated a Triple Crown contender.
RACE 8: The De La Rose
La Cloche: Carol. James. Winter Memories’ stablemate. Smart people, fast horses.
Julie’s Love – Julien rides a Motion horse. Nice, nice combo.
Dealbata – Ramon and Chad. Natural for leaders to work together.
RACE 9: The Prioress
Agave Kiss – You know she rocks, and she rocks for Ramon and Rudy. She didn’t come here to lose.
Jamaican Smoke – I like Eddie Kenneally.
Livi Makenzie – Your fun ATB. I dig Moquett, and at 20/1–why the heck not?
RACE 10: The Whitney
Hymn Book
Rule
Flat Out
So many reasons for each of them, I could write a book. I won’t.
RACE 11:
Dominus – Yep, sorry, this name feels sacred, because “Dominus” in Latin means, “Lord.” After that comes, “Vobiscum”–“be with us.” Add that spiritual aspect to the fact that “Dominus” is just-plain a strong name, and…well, I have to think that–with Stonestreet, Pletcher and Johnny V–this horse has a future,not just a claiming past. (Can you say, “John Henry”?)
Philippe – Edgar’s up. Edgar’s up.
Star Harbour – Rajiv’s up, and I LOVE Rajiv.
Fun Bet: Wishful Tomcat. Hot boy Ortiz is up, and at 30/1–really, are you going to let this longshot go?
RACE 12:
Not Today
Love Man
Happy High – Contessa, Ortiz–great, fun 20/1. Go for it.
