Lots of doings!

Thursday, Aug 18
We had a Low and an Ariat National Medal Class.  The Low (unrated of course) went perfect, landed every lead, jumped awesome.  The Ariat was fun; we got a bending line AND a rollback.  Jumped fence 1 beautifully, unfortunately did NOT land the lead and skipped the change.  BUT, jumped the scary straw that gave many others fits (a couple of unintentional dismounts in fact) and bent to the oxer and jumped out fantastic.  We had one unintentional swap in the middle of a line (oh NOW you give it to me?!) and finished up well.  We ended up 7th in a big class.  I feel like if we had landed the leads and not swapped, we would have made the ride off.  Oh well - hard to NOT be happy with how he went!

Friday, August 19
We went late late late today (read...last group of the day).  So we went for a leisurely stroll this morning, had some grass, a good nap (him not me) and finally got ready to go.  We had a good low round.  He looked pretty hard at the first jump of the judges line, and I tapped him off the ground, but landed all leads and jumped well.  Then we had a hunter round, and had a bit of drama with his gawking to the right, and me trying to get his attention on the jump, and finally at the last second when he's almost underneath it he sees it and leaps it like a deer.  I get chucked forward and lose my right stirrup but stayed on and we jumped out, and carried on (I finally got my stirrup back before the next line!) and finished up again with the judge's line - in which he decided to pay me back a little for the tap off the ground last time and jumped in and out like a freight train.  Somehow - we still ended up 6th - and had to jog..with him chuckling I'm sure.  Then we had the hack, and Teri said its the best I've shown him under saddle, so we ended up 4th.   All in all a long, but very satisfying day.  We go first thing tomorrow - so wakey wakey!

Random Notes:

• Quote of the Day:  Hunter Ring 3 Gate Person Tracy "If I don't see some action soon, I'm going to start looking for some adults"
• Seeing the Tallulah mare and her Voltaire foal going parade in the Grand Prix field for the Diane Tidball Grand Prix
• So many horses, so much seeming chaos - and yet it all somehow works.  Kudos to TBird Show Park staff!
• Oberon's Playlist today:
• Money - Jessie J
• Rumor Has It - Adele
• Bad Romance - Lady GaGa

930 Horses Oh My!

We actually arrived Sunday night, and got the horses reasonably settled, and fed before heading off to the Holiday Inn Express (free breakfast and internet!) ourselves.  Monday was set up day, as well as giving the horses (Mighty, Cruiser, Rumor and Toby) a good hack and a trail ride (beware the killer blackberries....they could clearly use the services of Totes McGoats here!).  We even got Teri on a bicycle yesterday!  She is pretty convinced I am going to hurt myself on the 2-wheeled non-beastie.  No worries about the 1200 pound beastie ...go figure hahahahaha!!
Tuesday was schooling day, and Mighty got to go first...and beep bop boop (yes I made sound effects) we went around and were done.  He got a bath, and some turnout where he made new friends and got a nice roll (thereby negating the benefit of the bath). 
Our weather is beautiful, and it's *almost* as much fun to fantasy horse shop and people watch as to ride.  Please note the use of asterisks.  We have a pretty easy day tomorrow, then the Ariat Medal Thursday, as well as the Scheduled Entertainment Event of the Evening---the Hunter Derby. 
Notes: 

• to the @#&* who tried to steal our golf cart last night and broke the key off in the ignition....karma will kick you in the ass.....trust
• we've talked about bringing bikes up here for years, and finally remembered...Rock Hopper and Magna have been a hit.  Emily and I took them 4-wheelin' today, got herded by a golf cart and truly took them rock-hoppin'
• There are 930 horses here across all the divisions.  It promised to be super busy, organized, chaos. In other words, a horse show.

Oberon's Playlist Today:

• Uprising - Muse
• You Got the Love - Florence and the Machine
• Just a Lil' Bit - 50 Cent

Miscellaneous Stuff

It has certainly been a busy few weeks since we left Thunderbird.  The Mighty has a tooth issue, essentially a cavity, due to abnormal growth of an upper molar.   It will have to be extracted - looks like October.  He colic'ed yesterday - so any vendor unfortunate enough to give me a bad time basically got their head ripped off.
We're heading back to Thunderbird next week, for a 2 show stay, after which we will officially be destitute.  Stay tuned for the September garage sale at which ponychick sells everything in the house that is not nailed down!
I decided I am *not* going to my high school reunion.  None of these people were friends back in the day, it's not like we became friends AFTER high school, so why on earth would I pay $100 to go hang out with them now? 
Just for fun:  Current Fave Five
1) Johnny Depp (pretty much locked into the emeritus spot)
2) James Marsters (ditto spot #2)
3) Kyle Chandler (obsessed with Coach Tayler and his puppy eyes)
4) Taylor Kitsch (Riggs, Riggs, Riggs)
5) open...feel free to apply...supply a photo :-)

Last Day - the crowd certainly got their entertaiment value!

We're home - and the last day of the show certainly provided its share of comedy and adventure.  We had the Hunter Stake in the morning - a chance for The Mighty to earn a little $$.  We had a beautiful round going, certainly enough to place highly.  Only 2 fences to go. Then we came to the 2-stride going towards home on the far side.  About the time I could feel him thinking about saying 'no' I said 'yes' most emphatically (and I must confess...too early) and we left out the last stride jumping in...and since I was (again...confession time...getting ahead of him..tsk tsk Michelle) already leaning out, when he jumped in I got popped out of the saddle, and lost both stirrups.  So I'm sort of clinging to his neck and he's wondering what the hell I want him to do, so I tell him to go ahead and jump out of the big oxer dammit.  He did, in 3, which was okay since I didn't make it back into the saddle all the way until after that 2nd fence, and I never did get my stirrups back.  Needless to say - class blown.

But we still have the $1.5k Dexter Hunter Classic- we can redeem ourselves!  These are the fun classes, and for this particular event, they took out the fences dividing Hunter Ring 1 and Hunter Ring 2, with the course itself sending you between the 2 rings.  We also got to bust out our formal tail coat (shadbelly) and cravat.  Off we go - easy peasy.  Right up to fence 4, which was completely non-threatening (to me) but you jump that looking across this suddenly open space across to the other ring, gallop slightly downhill, then slightly uphill and jump the large(ish) oxer in the other ring.  We won't mention names but someone (rhymes with Might He?) decided to try ducking left around the jump and just miss it entirely. So again with the circle back and big cluck and squeeze over it and by now his eyes are bugging out as I ask him to gallop over to the next ring and jump this other big(ish) oxer then around to the right, up the diagonal line, down the judge's line, up over the wagon wheel then BACK to the other ring and finish over another big(ish) oxer. 

Our score was a pitiful 30 + 3 style points, so it was all over for us.  I took him on a trail ride to get both our heads screwed on right, and meandered back to the barn.  I took his tack off and was just getting ready to change clothes and pull braids when Teri came running up and yelled 'put your tack back on you're riding the 2nd round!'  I guess a bunch of riders DNC or had off-course, so we headed back to the ring and did the 2nd round, which again criss-crossed rings, and included a dreaded trot fence.  All of which we managed.  We even got 6 style points :-)  We ended up 7th (and he earned $105!) and got to participate in the victory gallop which we both dearly love - he can gallop with the best of them!  Then we really were officially done.

So - moments of brilliance, and moments of wtf.  S'okay - it's all fun - even the hairier moments make for good stories later.  We were originally scheduled to do the first week of the August series, and have now elected to add in the second week.  It will be good for him, and me (but not my bank account).  But oh well, this is what I do and it's so totally worth it to me.  I really do have a special horse- and even when he's being a dork I love him more than anything.  Sooo.......on to August!!  Donations being accepted hahaha! Items will be sold, extra odd jobs sought!

Soundtrack for Sunday:
Uprising - Muse
Stronger - Britney Spears
Basket Case- Green Day

and of course -
With apologies to Katy Perry (Last Friday Night):

There's a stranger on the course, it's not just another horse
Mighty's looking all around, I think a single rail was downed
I smell trouble in the line, he thinks all the fault was mine
Our goose was cooked in the 2, I'm gonna have a giant bruise.
Pictures of this round ended up online - we're screwed...oh well
It's a blacked out blur, but I'm pretty sure it ruled...Damn
Last week in Canada
Yeah we jumped across the tops and we took too many shots
think he refused but I forgot
Last week in Canada
Yeah I maxed my credit cards, but won a round and was a star
then he refused a trot fence, yeah it really made no sense
backed him up and made it work, he's always seein' things that lurk
Last week in Canada
Always say I'm gonna stop - come August show my wallet'll pop, and we'll do it all again
Trying to connect the dots, don't know what to tell my boss
Think I'll be gone again, horse is much more fun than men
JLord ripped her favorite pants, horse show's no place for can't
think I need a vodka shot, and a tackroom with a cot
Pictures of the show made it up online, we're screwed - oh well
It was such a blur but I'm pretty sure it ruled - damn
Last week in Canada !

The Mighty Pulls One Out of the Hat...

Today was a low, a couple of hunter classes, an eq over fences, and a flat eq.  We're all warmed up and seen it all now right?  right?  um...well.....

Warm up went great, and we were ready for our first class.  The Low is sort of your mulligan class, but it would be nice to do well, and then just have to smooth out the edges so to speak.  There was a trot fence (again) for later on, and all the lines were easy, a 5 by the judge, 6 on the diagonal and 2 on the outside.  Easy right?  Well it *started* well.  First fence - awesome.  Up the judges line in 5 - easy, down the single oxer - buried a little under it but no problem.  Right turn up the 2-stride and uh-oh.  He is backing off and giving me the 'no, uh-uh, something scary is in the bushes'.  (I should note that that particular side of the ring has really tall bushes like trees and normally they are a non-issue).  I kicked him up and clucked and got him into the 2-stride and then had a freight train that probably could have done it in 1 going out and bolting off around the turn.  Which...I have to get him back because we still have the diagonal line going home to finish.  It wasn't a pretty round ...but unbelievably we finished (together) and got 4th. 

On to the first Hunter round.  Should be able to fix it all now right?  Well sort of.  Again with the scary whatever-it-was in the bushes, but at least less freight-trainy.  However he opted out of landing all the leads, so it was a m'eh round...which..no lie...knowing how brilliant he can be....was a bit of a let down.  We got 5th...bleck. 

Next Hunter round - gotta be better right?  It was pretty good, which is better than m'eh.  We got 3rd. 

One to go - the Eq over fences.  Nothing too hard...just another trot fence hahaha.  Open with the 5-stride by the judge- great.  Down the single oxer, good, 2-stride - finally! success, continue to the right, and trot. and WHAT THE??  That would be about the time I dug the spurs in, clucked mightily (pun intended) and he leaped over that thing like it was gonna eat him.  Then the bending line which worked out well since I had his attention, roll around the little island, okay, up and then roll back (past the trot fence oh dear god!) and down to finish.  It certainly wasn't our most brilliant eq round, the judge clearly wasn't impressed by the sheer amount of riding that had to be done :-)  I honestly don't remember what we got  hahaha.

We had to do **2** jogs today.  Jog out, walk back.  Change the order, jog out, walk back.  The horses got a good giggle out of it. 

Eq on the flat to finish - which I rode well.  Should probably have been 2nd, and the placings certainly puzzled more people than me.  The person who finished directly ahead of me couldn't sit the trot or pick up the right lead canter.  So I don't know what happened there but oh well.

They announced the Champion and Reserve Champion for the Hunter Division, and I figured we were Reserve.  Imagine my surprise when they announced this same person that I spoke of in an earlier paragrah as Reserve.  Hmmmm........upon re-calculation of points - surprise!  Oberon was Reserve Champion!  Yay Mighty!

The boys again enjoyed a leisurely turnout today.  We went and watched the Ride and Rally which was the most fun.  Horses did a jumper round on the Grand Prix field, the rider bailed off and ran over to the next ring, jumped in a Kubota golf cart/ATV thingy and did a round (you had to go between the cones and not knock the tennis ball off the cones).  It was hilarious and very cool.

Tomorrow is the last day till August.  Boo!  I wish Walgreen's would give me 6 month's severence so I could just ride and show the rest of the summer :-)

Today's soundtrack:
Don't Play A Game That I Can't Win - Beastie Boys featuring Sanigold sp?)
Paparazzi - Lady Gaga

Oh Mighty Puckstar - I gotta praise you like I should.....

Today may have started less than auspiciously in our warm up - let's just say that the maple leaf leapt out of nowhere causing Mighty's patented look prop and bolt.  And when he did it at the other end of the ring - I couldn't tell you what it was...air maybe. 

ANYhoo...we went in for our Low 3' and had an okay round...just need to smooth it out a little.  Next was our Hunter round - and it went great.  I saw distances from a mile away, so could look across to the next fence, he maintained a nice rhythmic cadence all the way around, got his leads...all in all a round to be very proud of.  So we were feeling pretty good when it came time to do the Equitation class.
\
I opted for the bold opening move of walking in, immediately galloping down to a 7 stride line.  And it went exactly as planned, then the 6 stride line, then the single oxer on the diagonal - all going great.  Land the oxer soft, turn right and trot over a teensy trot fence.  Easy peasy right?  Tell that to the Mighty who did another of his patented moves; go right up to the fence lift off in front like you're going to jump it, then slam them back down and slide into the fence sending dirt flying.  I was so flabbergasted!  I just back him up 4 or so steps and put my spurs into his heart and he trotted right up and jumped over (like he was supposed to do the first time!) and then down to the stone wall, rolling back to the other stone wall and done.  Winning round ...except for that one tiny glitch...arrrrrrggghhhh! 

Easing the pain was the fact that we got called back first for the jog.  Now - for those of you who are runners this probably seems simple right - you're jogging the length of the arena - no problem right?  Well now do it in tall boots that are NOT meant for running, deep footing, a horse in your right hand that you are trying to keep in a straight line and moving well, and you have to keep up him - and DON'T look like a dork doing it.  Go on...try it....I dare you.  Well, we won the Hunter class; I'm sure the judge could hear The Mighty laughing at me running with him all the way there! 

So, it was a good day - coulda been great - but I'll take it anyway :-)  We had successful turnout with our buddy Cruiser, and got a good roll and grazing time in.  Tomorrow will be a busy day - hopefully it goes at least as well as today if not better!

Random thoughts:
Teri threatening us with a summer's worth of trot fences (nooooooooo)
Tiffany and Jessica coming to turnout armed with cameras to catch The Mighty's famous antics - only to have him wave them off with a 'not today folks'
Doing the mosquito clappy dance in Fort Langley ( I think Teri actually got it on video)
Fake tail (is that like fake boobs?  false advertising???? discuss amongst yourselves)
Playlist: Toxic, Sexy Sax Man (Careless Whisper), Praise You

"We've come a long long way together
through the hard times, and the good.
I got to celebrate you Mighty.
I gotta praise you like I should"

1-2-3-4 Come on Mighty...

Haha...just a little giggle and some old-skool Miami Sound Machine.  JLord will get it.
Well the 'r' word made an appearance today - but we've certainly ridden in worse -so it wasn't an issue.
I rode Mighty in the U/S  - and we got 4th, after pulling a few of his patented LPB's during 'work at will'.  Apparently working at will to him means look, prop and bolt.  We kept it together long enough to make it through the class, and were happy to be done with it frankly.  Teri had him for 2 jumping classes, and he finished 3rd and 4th.  So it was only a so-so day. 
This getting to sleep in and roll in to leisurely get ready has rocked - but that's all over now.  Tomorrow we have 3 jumping and 1 more of those damn flat classes.  Fingers crossed for sun!
Today's Soundtrack:
Rumor Has It
Heads Will Roll/Thriller
1-2-3

And, with apologies to Travie McCoy and my man Bruno Mars:
I wanna be a billionaire, so frickin' bad
Buy all the horses I never had
I wanna be on the cover of PH Magazine
smilin' next to Rodrigo and Beezie
Oh everytime I close my eyes
I see my name in shining lights
A different horse show every night
Oh I swear, the world better prepare
for when I'm a billionaire

The Mighty does his thing....

Day 3 - and hot, Hot, HOT! But....considering that summer didn't even arrive in the (great?) northwest until about 2 weeks ago, I'm not complaining!


Let me also say I feel quite decadent sleeping in until 7:30 at a horse show! We breakfasted here at the Holiday Inn Express, and trundled off to the show. Teri forgot her show coat, so I had to go back for it - since I had the only motor vehicle - and it was a little too far for the horses :-)

We went for a nice stroll on the trail to stretch our legs, and then it was time to get ready to show. It was trainer day today, so Teri got to take him around - and what a lovely boy he was. He had 3 classes today, and took 1st, 3rd and 4th. He seems happy and relaxed - which is all I could ask for.

Big Red Truck is now repaired! I took Teri down to pick it up - and then we headed to Otter Co-Op. If you've never had the chance to go - it's amaze-balls. They have everything you could imagine! Farm equipment - you betcha! Clothes - sure! Groceries- uh huh! You name it!

Random thoughts:

Supposed to cool down tomorrow - so fingers crossed!

The Mighty entertained folks today by taking the stick out of my pocket and waving it around while we were walking in front of the show rings. He always plays to his audience :-)

To the people in the room next to mine - your child screams non-stop morning noon and night. He was screaming in the breakfast room this morning, he screams at night. You are poster people for birth control.

So, I wanted to upload my video - but TMobile essentially sucks, so will have to wait until I am on another computer (work :-) )

JLord and Tiffany's dad (Sid) arrived tonight - so more hands and fans!

Equitation? Why yes...please.

Day 2 of our Northern Adventure! We actually got an earlyish start, and had the horses ready to go by 10. Teri did Cruiser and Tiffany first, then it was The Mighty's turn. He motored around like a pro, but the real fun kicked in when we got to do some equitation stuff; 2 roll-backs to a trot fence (my nemesis!) bending to a single oxer in the lower center 20 metre circle. Can we have more like that please?! Teri believes I have too much time to think in the hunter courses, and not enough to do, and the equitation is the perfect marriage of having to think AND do.


We cooled out with a nice trail ride, then had a good bath and lunch. We were (again!) not particularly successful at having turnout....good grief! I have a portion of the mania on flip cam, and will attempt to upload.  We were efficient and got out of there after feeding dinner at 5, and now I'm ready to turn in. Tomorrow is trainer day, and the arrival of Tiffany's dad and JLord (one of The Mighty's favorite cheerleaders!!)

Big Red Truck update: looks like it will be fixed tonight and ready to go tomorrow.

Hmm....they have So You Think You Can Dance Canada! I'll tell you though, their host is no Cat Deeley! But Jean-Marc Genereau is hilarious.

Gotta find 'Unstable' on the tv now...I still think we could film the stateside version!

Soundtrack to date: Rumor Has It, Bright Lights, Bigger City, Paris - Ooo LaLa

Bright Lights (not) Bigger City

Here we are - back in the great north - also known as Canada. Just before I left - Debbie made sure to send me a photo of the Stanley Cup - however I sadly left my Bruins jersey at home :-) Just a little joke for my Canadian pals.


There are just 2 of us this trip, The Mighty and his buddy Cruiser. We made it up to the show park without incident, although it appears red truck needs some work before we can go back. Shades of 2001. Red truck was dispatched to the mechanics, and we set up our stalls and canopy, etc.

I decided to take The Mighty for a leg stretcher - which turned out to be more like a leg-stretching-back-cracking-make-everyone-think-you-are-crazy mini-adventure. I thought a nice stroll on the trail would be good - until he screamed and lunged sideways and backwards. I think it was a maple leaf. We finally got going forward again, but the rest of the stroll (and I am using the loosest interpretation of the word now) was a series of halts, jumps sideways and yells (him not me). I got him to his designated turnout spot, a nice fenced paddock with grass, and put him in there for a bit. He rolled, leapt up, let out an ear piercing shriek, and proceed to amaze and entertain the folks watching with his very realistic portrayal of a completely insane horse.

When I finally caught him (he did manage to, thank god, grab some grass in between the leaping, while also pulling off one of his boots) we headed back to our barn. He actually walked....most of the way. Cruiser was calmly munching away, and as I put him back in his stall, I hoped The Mighty would follow that example.

The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully (PTL!) and we are all set for schooling day tomorrrow. Both boys seemed nice and quiet as we tucked them in for the night.

Michael Baze's death a wake-up call for racing

Michael Baze's death a wake-up call for racing

2011 Kentucky Derby

“Wide open race” may quite possibly be the most over-used phrase on the first Saturday in May – every year. This year is no different, and yet it is. There is no clear cut favorite, a case can be made for almost every single horse in the field, and with the scratch of last year’s juvenile champion Uncle Mo…well it just goes to show that it’s a tough road to Churchill.

That said, the usual saws apply. Look for a horse coming up to a good race, not one that may bounce off an extreme effort last time. Are they training well and holding their weight at Churchill? Do they have a couple of races over a mile and an eighth on their resume? What does their pedigree suggest (i.e. speed bred to speed on top of speed last gen probably does not bode well to go a mile and a quarter). Does the trainer have some experience in the big races (not necessarily need to have won, but has handled the pressure before, and not let armchair quarterbacking change their gameplan). Lastly – who looks like the now horse that just grabs you visually ?

In post position order:
Archarcharch: Won the Arkansas Derby, and is sired by a horse I loved in his Derby year – Arch, out of a Woodman mare. Honestly though, this one makes me go ‘meh’ . Will finish in the first half of the field.

Brilliant Speed: Won the Bluegrass. By Dynaformer out of a Gone West mare. Me thinks his name says it all. *However* if it rains at Churchill Fri/Sat – you should consider keeping the best of the speed horses in your exotics, as speed holds in the slop there. If the track comes up sloppy – use this horse.

Twicetheappeal: Won the Sunland Derby (NM). By Successful Appeal out of a Cormorant mare. BooBoo Borel gets the mount – which may be the best part of this entry. Nope.

Stay Thirsty: Won the Gotham. Beautifully bred; by Bernardini out of a Storm Bird mare. This one may be a live one at good price. I’d see what the track condition is – but I like this horse.

Decisive Moment: Won the Jean Lafitte stakes (second in the Spiral to Animal Kingdom). By With Distinction out of a Dehere mare. Nope.

Comma to the Top: Won the Cashcall Futurity, Generous and Real Quiet Stakes. By Bwana Charlie out of a Stormy Atlantic mare. Um…PVal rides…and I say possible Rose Colored Glasses award here. Back of pack.

Pants on Fire: Won the Louisiana Derby. By Jump Start out of a Capetown mare. I think his pants may be the only thing on fire. He *would* move up in the mud/slop – but I don’t see him winning or even in first half of field.

Dialed In: This is everyone’s hot horse. He won the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes. Beautifully bred by Mineshaft out of a Storm Cat mare. Has the hot rider and trainer hand also going for him. He and Shackleford were 1-2 in FL. So if you like one, you pretty much have to like the other. He *is* the morning line favorite – and friends don’t typically let friends bet the chalk. However, I think it would be foolish to leave him out. Top 4.

Derby Kitten: just won the Coolmore Lexington. By Kitten’s Joy out of a Menifee mare. Nope.

Twinspired: won the WEBN Stakes. By Harlan’s Holiday out of an El Prado mare. Nope.

Master of Hounds: ran second in the UAE Derby. Regally bred by Kingmambo out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. The Euros keep bringing over horses trying to win the Derby, and keep missing. This horse is certainly bred to go the distance, has a US rider w/Garret Gomez – and Aidan O’Brien is one of the great trainers. I can see this horse getting a piece of the Tri or Super fecta pie – but not the win. As lovely has he is, better have tried from over the way, and failed. He’s never run on dirt before – not sure the Derby would be my choice for first start.

Santiva: Won the KY Jockey Club stakes and was second in the Risen Star to Mucho Macho Man. By Giant’s Causeway out of a Smarten mare. Will split the pack.

Mucho Macho Man: Won the Risen Star. By Macho Uno out of a Ponche mare. Mid-pack.

Shackleford: finished second to Dialed In in the Florida Derby. Big old chestnut by Forestry out of an Unbridled mare. Another hot horse that has a lot of people on his bandwagon. Move up in the mud/slop, but I feel like he’s a mid-pack finisher.

Midnight Interlude: Won the Santa Anita Derby. By War Chant out of Groom Dancer. Nope.

Animal Kingdom: Won the Spiral Stakes. By Leroidesanimeaux out of an Acatenango mare. He’s never run on dirt before – not sure the Derby would be my choice for first start, but he’s been training like a…well…animal.

Soldat: Won the Fountain of Youth and With Anticipation stakes. By War Front out of a Coronado’s Quest mare. Have him in my top 4, and moves up in the mud.

Nehro: 2nd in the AK ( to Archarcharch) and LA (to Pants on Fire) Derbies. By Mineshaft out of an Afleet mare. Had a ho-hum final work up to the race – but looks fantastic physically – and I would use him in my top 4.

Watch Me Go: Won the Tampa Bay Derby. By West Acre out of a Deputy Minister mare. Nope – another Rose Colored Glasses contestant.

Top 4:
Stay Thirsty
Dialed In
Nehro
Soldat
(if it rains and is sloppy – must also toss Brilliant Speed in here)

If you don’t like those – how about (as in…these have a good shot if luck fails the top 4):
Shakleford
Archarcharch
Animal Kingdom (mostly because I love his breeding – not so much that he hasn’t raced on dirt)

If you really wanted to – you could fabricate a case for:
Derby Kitten
Master of Hounds
Santiva
Mucho Macho Man
Midnight Interlude

Rose Colored Glasses award:
Twicetheappeal
Decisive Moment
Comma to the Top
Pants on Fire
Twinspired
Watch Me Go

And of course – I may be completely wrong and you should go to the windows on everyone I picked to lose! Here’s to a great…and SAFE..Derby Day for the horses!

Random Thoughts on a Friday

1) How did Chris Brown and Cee Lo Green know to capture my thoughts EXactly in song?  "Deuces" and "F**k You" have basically been on perma-playback for me - they actually make me LOL.  Deuces to AC, SS, and a few others.  FU to a few more...hahaha..makes me laugh thinking about it. Does that make me a bad person .

2) Pink's "Sober" is another awesome song on perma-play.  Don't ask, but 'yes'.

3) Even when work is at it's most insane (oh wait - that's like every freakin' day) - going to ride The Mighty gets the world back spinning on its axis correctly.   I can't imagine what a "normal" life would have been like, and happy I've never been cooerced into finding out.

4) My goal is to use this in a meeting: "I'm not here to brainstorm, I'm here to clean up your mess".    

5) I can't wait for Emerald to open for racing!  I miss my friends - and just haven't had time to get to Portland to see them. 

6) Life is pretty good.  I have cool friends, an awesome horse, my family around me, a job, some cool outside projects in the fire, and no encumbrances.  What more can a person ask for?!

7) Promo possibility:

Every Man Needs a Tool Kit - featuring Fresh Balls, Dry Goods, condoms, lube, and a couple of toys.  Yes? No?