A Few Of The Long Awaited Pictures From Kara And Lanie's Visit

Our favorite manatee

Kara and Lanie checking out Baby Grace

Lanie with Baby Grace

Our trip to Homosassa Wildlife Park

Kara chillin in the boat on Rainbow River

Lanie watching the manatee swim by

Lanie pretending to be a manatee

A Florida Panther at Homasassa Wildlife Park

A bear at Homosassa

In Loving Memory Of Bones

Unknown - June 26, 2009

Catch Rikki's Latest Win Picture

Triple Crown Contest Results

Thanks for playing everyone! This was a fun and exciting year for this contest, with a long shot Derby winner with likeable connections, a filly whipping the boys in the Preakness, and another long shot Belmont winner. Congratulations to Conard for his huge success this year and to Melanie for having the complete trifecta. I look forward to seeing everyone back here for the Breeder's Cup contest.

Conard - 231

Chris C. - 177

Pop (Tom Smith) - 170

Joan C. - 161

Nora of the North - 153

Paul - 120

GK - 119

Kara - 113

Ben - 111

Mel - 108

Terri - 93

Nora - 61

Greenpeace - 50

Ginger - 50

Moe Green - 49

John Baldwin - 45

Nora of the North's Tom - 42

Amy - 41

Jere - 37

Gene Edge - 37

Ron - 33

Damon - 26

Donna - 25

OK, Handicappers, Here's the contest:
Pick the top three finishers in the order that you think they will finish. You will receive 10 points for each horse that finishes in the top three PLUS an additional 50 points if you have the horse in the right finish position.




Example
1. Third (10)
2. First (10)
3. Second (10) is worth 30 points

Example
1. First (10 + 50)
2. Third (10)
3. Second (10) is worth 80 points

Let me know if you have any questions. The points scored in the Belmont Contest will be added to the points you have earned in the Derby and Preakness Contests. There is a possible 180 points that can be earned in the Belmont Contest, so everybody still has a shot to win. The prize will be the Triple Crown glass set. (1 Derby glass, 1 Preakness glass, 1 Belmont glass, and 1 Triple Crown glass) Good Luck to all!

The Belmont Field:

Chocolate Candy  10-1

Dunkirk  4-1

Mr. Hot Stuff  15-1

Summer Bird   12-1

Luv Gov    20-1

Charitable Man   3-1

Mine That Bird   2-1

Flying Private  12-1

Miner's Escape   15-1

Brave Victory    15-1

FYI

Obama begins tour at Saudi Arabian farm 

United States President Barack Obama visited Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to begin his tour of the Middle East and met with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz at his Al Janadriyah Farm near Riyadh. The king presented the president with a gold necklace at the farm prior to a bilateral meeting and a dinner. The two met two months ago at the G-2 economic summit in London. Al Janadriyah stands Thoroughbred stallions Torrey Canyon, an English stakes winner who was Saudi Arabia leading sire in 2007 and 08; Blue Burner, runner-up in the ’02 Florida Derby (G1); multiple graded stakes winner Dynever; and Official Flame. Tasso, champion two-year-old male of 1985, is a pensioner at Al Janadriyah. The farm also stood 1987 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and Horse of the Year Alysheba from 2000 until last fall, when King Abdullah sent him home to Kentucky as a gift to the American people. Alysheba, who suffered from a degenerative spinal condition, was euthanized at age 25 on March 27 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Al Janadriyah also is home to several hundred Arabian horses, who are kept in air-conditioned stables, the New York Times reported, and is a frequent stop for American presidents. George W. Bush visited in January 2008. King Abdullah enjoys spending time at Al Janadriyah, according to the farm’s website. “Despite his many official duties in the kingdom, perhaps the favorite moments of King Abdullah are quiet afternoons spent at Al Janadriyah, when he visits his beloved stallions, mares, and foals and delights in presenting them to visiting dignitaries and friends,” the website stated. “With prancing steps and heads held high, the horses gaze afar to the distant dunes, providing a treasured glimpse into the past and symbolizing hope for a future bright beyond measure.”— 

Myra Lewyn 

Television Coverage For The Belmont Stakes

ESPN and ABC will offer seven hours of coverage of the $1-million Belmont Stakes (G1) on Saturday starting at noon EDT, including ABC’s two-hour race broadcast that begins at 5 p.m.  Jockey Calvin Borel will attempt to complete an unprecedented personal Triple Crown by sweeping the three classic races with two different horses. 

All Belmont programming on ABC and ESPN will be aired in high definition on ABC HD and ESPN HD, respectively. Joe Tessitore will host the programming with analysts Jerry  Bailey and Randy Moss, reporters Jeannine Edwards, Rece Davis, Jay Privman, Steve Cyphers, Tom Rinaldi, and Caton Bredar, and handicappers Kenny Mayne and Hank Goldberg. Rick Reilly will provide commentaries.  ABC Sports will use 38 cameras to cover the race, including a super slow-motion camera and a helicopter camera.

Quote Of The Day

“It bothers me to no end. I never, ever thought being a rider I’d be involved in this. It’s really tearing me apart, the condition he’s in. It’s going to change my life forever. It’s going to change me as a rider, it’s going to change me as a family man, it’s going to change me as a normal person.”

Jockey Jamie Theriot, in Daily Racing Form, on the one-horse spill that seriously injured rider
Rene Douglas at the top of the stretch during the Arlington Matron Stakes (G3) on May 23 at Arlington Park. Douglas’s mount in the race, Born to Be, was bumped by Theriot’s mount, Sky Mom, after that opponent was angled out entering the stretch. Born to Be then clipped heels with fading pacesetter Boudoir and tumbled straight down, leaving Douglas no chance to react as he fell headfirst to the main track. Born to Be was knocked unconscious and rolled over onto Douglas, who has undergone several hours of surgery but has no feeling in his legs. Born to Be was euthanized because of injuries, and Theriot was handed a 30-day suspension, which has been appealed.

Catch Rikki

Not only did Catch Rikki win again in a six length romp, but he also earned the 2000th North American victory for his jockey, Manoel Cruz.

Superstar!

story here

We Have Two Winners!!

Congratulations to Conard and Pop for picking both the Preakness winner and loser. This is how the points stand now:

Conard = 151

Pop (Tom Smith) = 150

Chris = 107

Kara = 103

Ben = 101

Teri = 93

Nora North = 93

Joan = 91

Mel = 78

Ginger = 50

Paul = 50

GK = 49

Moe Green = 49

Nora = 41

Amy = 41

Jere = 37

Gene Edge = 37

John Baldwin = 35

Ron = 33

Nora North's Tom = 32

Greenpeace2 = 30

Damon = 26

Donna = 25

Don't forget to play the final leg of this contest, The Belmont Stakes, in three weeks!

Preakness Quotes

“Horse racing better hold its breath and hope this filly gets to the finish line healthy and happy.” -Louisville Courier-Journal columnist Rick Bozich on the ramifications if something were to happen to Rachel Alexandra during the Blackberry Preakness Stakes (G1) today

“About 30 seconds after the Derby.”
-Trainer David Fawkes on when he decided to send Big Drama to the Blackberry PreaknessStakes (G1).

“It’s a good position to be in. Like I said all along, I think she’s the best horse in the country,and I’m not going to go back on my word.”
-Jockey Calvin Borel on Kentucky Oaks (G1)winner Rachel Alexandra

“I didn’t see the winner; Tom Durkin didn’t even see the winner.”
-Sohby Sonbol, racing manager for Zayat Stables,talking about Pioneerof the Nile on the lead turning for home in the Kentucky Derby and thinking he was going to win

“You get a look at that horse and wonder how’d that little runt beat me.”
-Gary Stute, trainer of Papa Clem, who finished fourth to Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby

“I love coming here, because in the stakes barn everybody is relaxed; the Derby is over. You get to see everybody and then you get to get a good look at the horse that beat you.”
-Bob Baffert, trainer of Pioneerof the Nile, who finished second to Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby

“A minimum of eight goggles—minimum.”
-Retired Racing Hall of Fame jockey and NBC Sports analyst Gary Stevens on how many goggles Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will have to wear when riding Mine That Bird if the track is muddy or sloppy for the Preakness Stakes (G1)—compiled by Ed DeRosa and Jeff Lowe

The 2009 Preakness Contest

Attention players!

For the Preakness contest, you will only be picking two horses:
1. Pick the horse you think will win (50 pts.)
2. Pick the horse you think will finish last (50 pts.)

Any person who gets both the winner and the last placed horse will win 100 points and two Preakness glasses. All points earned will be added to your Derby points and carried over to the final contest, the Belmont Stakes. The one with the most points for all three races will win the Triple Crown contest and be the proud owner of the Triple Crown glass set. Here are the entrants:

Blackberry Preakness S. (G1)

1. Big Drama - 10 to 1
2. Mine That Bird - 6 to 1
3. Musket Man - 8 to 1

4. Luv Gov - 50 to 1

5. Friesan Fire - 6 to 1

6. Terrain - 30 to 1
7. Papa Clem - 12 to 1

8. General Quarters - 20 to 1

9. Pioneerof the Nile - 5 to 1

10. Flying Private - 50 to 1

11. Take the Points - 30 to 1

12. Tone It Down - 50 to 1

13. Rachel Alexandra - 8 to 5

In My Humble Opinion...

It may come as a surprise, but I'm not all that keen on Rachel Alexandra running in the Preakness. A part of me would love to see a filly take on the boys and really whip them but another part of me would love it to be in the fall after the big picture of the boys is more clear. I would really like to see the cream rise to the top in the big picture of who is the best male contender right now. The Derby has left me with a lot of questions; was Mine That Bird's victory a fluke? Will Pioneerof The Nile improve on his second dirt start? Will Papa Clem continue to improve? Musket Man?

I also hate the fact that Calvin Borel has to make a choice between his Derby winner and his superstar filly. I understand why he is choosing the filly who he has ridden all along over the Derby winner that he rode only once, but it doesn't seem fair that he should have to give up either one. Wouldn't it be better to see Rachel Alexandra win the filly triple crown, then go and take on the boys in the Haskell? Or better still, what about Rachel Alexandra going up against Zenyatta? What is your take on this?

Quote Of The Day

“Quite frankly, it didn’t occur to me that he’s giving up a potential Triple Crown winner. I’m thinking like most people are—that Mine That Bird is a fluke, kind of an anomaly. … Rachel
Alexandra is the best filly I’ve seen since Ruffian; the most dominant filly since 1975.”

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, in the San Diego Union-Tribune, on jockey Calvin Borel’s decision to ride Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra instead of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes (G1)

And The Winner Is...

Chris - 57

Kara - 53

Conard and Ben - 51

Ginger, Tom Smith, and Paul - 50

GK and Moe Green - 49

Teri and Nora North - 43

Joan, Nora, and Amy - 41

Jere and Gene Edge - 37

John Baldwin - 35

Ron - 33

Nora North's "Tom" - 32

Greenpeace2 - 30

Mel - 28

Damon - 26

Donna - 25

Congratulations everyone and thanks for playing. Don't forget to play the Preakness Contest. (As always, check my math... I usually make mistakes!)

The 2009 Kentucky Derby Contest

* Very Important!!! I Want Revenge has been scratched. Anyone who picked him (which was most of us) needs to pick a replacement horse.

Welcome to the Annual Horse Circle Kentucky Derby Contest.

This contest is free to play and the winner will recieve a set of two Kentucky Derby glasses. The rules are:

Each contestant will pick FOUR horses. Points will be assigned as follows:
1st - 20 pts.
2nd - 19 pts.
3rd - 18 pts.
4th - 17 pts. .... all the way down to last place receiving 1 pt. This contest is open to anyone who wants to play. Here are the entries and Good Luck to all of you who play!

1. West Side Bernie
2. Musket Man
3. Mr. Hot Stuff
4. Advice
5. Hold Me Back
6. Friesan Fire
7. Papa Clem
8. Mine That Bird
9. Join in the Dance
10. Regal Ransom
11. Chocolate Candy
12. General Quarters
(13. I Want Revenge - SCRATCHED)
14. Atomic Rain
15. Dunkirk
16. Pioneerof the Nile
17. Summer Bird
18. Nowhere to Hide
19. Desert Party
20. Flying Private

Derby News

Quality Road is out of the Derby.

My Darling Rikki - Click On The Picture To See Full Size

Quote Of The Day

“For the Belmont Stakes (G1) a couple years ago, I made a decision between two horses. We had already picked up the mount on Hard Spun, and it was kind of a last-minute decision that Todd [Pletcher] was going to run Rags to Riches. We could have bailed on Larry Jones, but that would have been the wrong thing to do and not very respectful. We try to be very honorable with our call and it wasn’t like Hard Spun wasn’t a good horse to get on anyway; he was a top competitor that year. Of course, Rags to Riches wound up winning, but it’s not a thing you can second guess and say ‘would have, could have, should have.’ Hopefully, the decision we made this year will be one we don’t look back on in that way.”

-Jockey Garrett Gomez on his blog on www.ntra.com on his choice to ride Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Pioneerof the Nile instead of highly regarded Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Dunkirk in the Kentucky Derby.