4/3/2010 Derby Preps

I've been on the Eskendereya bandwagon for a while now. What's not to like? His Florida race, best breeding in the Derby bunch (by Giant's Causeway out of a Seattle Slew mare!), and now - his 9+ length victory in the Wood. If I was looking for a drawback, I would say short, questionable field in NY - and 1 of the only other real contenders had an abysmal day. Eskendereya will rightfully be the favorite on Derby Day.

If you are looking for a horse who might be more of a price, how about Awesome Act? Nice Gotham, and then in the Wood, he broke bad, lost a shoe, was strangled by Leparoux until about the 1/8 pole - where he then had the unenviable (impossible) task of trying to chase down the romping Eskendereya. He wound up 3rd, and I would expect him to improve off that race.

Lookin' At Lucky is the reigning 2yo champ, but has had 1 problem after another in his races this year. The latest was the Santa Anita Derby - where Sidney's Candy ran off and left everyone. Abysmal trip aside for LaL - will it really get better in the 20 horse cavalry charge that is the KY Derby? As for the winner - speed speed speed - and I don't think that's gonna do it this year in KY. (unless of course it rains - then I say go with the speed horse!)

American Lion - Il Derby. hmmm......stamina and class question(s). Nice horse, War Emblem pulled this off, but probably (at best) part of the exotics.

Honestly at this point, it's going to take a helluva horse having a helluva day to beat Eskendereya. But as we well know, oftens it's not the best horse who wins the Derby; it's the horse who gets the best trip.

5 Things I (think) I Think

"I'm not here to brainstorm, I'm here to clean up your mess!" One day I will actually use this line on someone.

I can't wait for opening night at Emerald Downs! Now that's some action I understand!

I don't know that I will ever understand craps. You roll the dice, something or other comes up. You want this, you don't want that. Push, behind the line...wtf?

Mighty Puck Star - you were a star indeed last night. Well, at least after we re-installed a portion of your brain, which you apparently left in your stall. Well you know what they say - nothing like a brisk gallop to get your head screwed on right.

Discovered some great tunes - not new to anyone but me. Take a listen to india.arie's "I Am Ready for Love", or Cornelius Bros. "Treat Her Like A Lady"

A letter to the MPS

Dear Mighty PuckStar - you are such a guy! Let me count the wayz....(mebbe not...more crazy making)

1) You eff with my head on a daily basis. "Look - I'm sound! Oops....3 legged! No! Sound!"

2) Even when you are semi-out of commission, you expect the same, if not MORE attention! Thank god you can't talk - or you'd probably whine like a man too :-)

3) Its all about you, 24/7 - every day of the year!

Oh well - you are certainly better looking than most (well - with some exceptions - hello Johnny Depp, Kiefer Sutherland, Henry Cavill, Taylor Kitsch, James W. Marsters...) But okay...aside from that you're way more fun...and a MUCH higher R.O.I.

Oh well - you love me no matter how crazy pants you make me....and you never comment on a bad hair day :-)

Love your crazy pants owner

Ahh...Spring...or How the Mighty Tanked his First Show

Spring. Who doesn't look forward to that first horse show of the year? Sure, being the NW it might rain on us ...a little. But seriously; getting out the show clothes, finding an excuse to buy a new show shirt to add to your collection of 20, getting that first prize list, sending in entries...ahhh..heaven!

Unless of course, you are The Mighty Puck Star. Then, for some bizarre reason known only to yourself, you plot, scheme and dig your way to an elephantine right front leg, and cause your owner to wail, pull out her hair and gnash her teeth. All of which is very entertaining to you - 3 legged horse.

What actually happened was this. Our first show was to be a return to glorious (?!) Monroe for the Spring Inaugrual the first week of April. If you recall, we did very well at this show last year, despite the rain. About 4 weeks ago, his Imperial Highness of The Kingdom of Making His Human Crazy-Pants (TKOMHHCP - official title) decided that digging a hole to China - or at least to the property next door would be an entertaining use of his time outside. His hole was knee deep, his right front swelled up enough that I gave a little scream upon first seeing it - and that was all she wrote for April.

He has actually been sound through-out, and I was able to get the swelling down using my old racetrack tricks. He's been back under saddle (flat only) for the last few weeks, but no jumping (yet).

Sigh....so the lone peon (serf, slave, worker) in TKOMHHCP has NOT gotten out her show clothes, NOT purchased a new show shirt, NOT filled out entries, and is NOT getting the first week of April off.

Sadly for my sanity - I still love him like crazy, and am making plans (sshhhh! secret ones!) for May! But I'm not telling His Imperial Highness!

Is it possible that January is busier than December?

Travel, travel, travel - I'm hitting the road this month. First up is Lost Wages aka Las Vegas. This is actually a working trip (stop your snickering right now). I have to stay at the Rio - but will mos' def' be making a trip to Red Square for my favorite Key Lime Pie martini.

Then its off to San Francisco for another Symposium. Since I am one of the sponsors - gotta get together 400 gift bags, plus media, plus,plus,plus! I think all this marketing genius of mine would be well served marketing horse racing!

Before all that however - I get to figure out if this shoulder thing is just severe inflamation or a small tear in the rotator cuff. MRI here I come!

Rant of the Day: thanks to the tall blond (male) s.o.b. who hurried into the elevator and hurriedly pushed his button so that it closed the doors on the 3 of us right behind you. Your mother would be so proud of your manners.

Rave of the Day: the weather doesn't get many raves from me, but today was a beautiful early winter day with temps hovering at 50F.

2009 in Review

Well since everyone from Andy Rooney to Entertainment Weekly does a year in review, I figured why not me?! So I'll start, logically enough, with January (bet you didn't see that coming). I'm only doing one calendar quarter per post..just because.

Hmm...I remember spending the first part of January being very happy that it wasn't still December, with all the snow that got dumped on us. Then it seemed like there was some work in there a bunch of days, and of course as much time as possible at the barn.

I did go to San Francisco for a work related Symposium. Not only was it productive, but there was open bar! January also marked the return of Lost! and 24, as well as American Idol. What can I say, I like to be entertained.

February..lets see...scratching my head here. Yup, I'd say February is pretty much a blank; work, ride, work, ride. I *did* barn sit so Teri and John could celebrate their anniversary with a trip across the border to Canada. Most memorable moment is hoping and praying that Otto will NOT let himself out of his stall and go a-wandering. Kiersten solved the issue w/a lock and key...note...do NOT leave key in lock for Otto.

Now March starts to finally get interesting. Its the month of my birthday of course, AND we got to send in entries for our first horse show of the year (which actually took place in April).

I'm sure there are some people out there who are wondering what exactly is being recapped here. To tell you the truth, year in year out, what I remember most are times spent with my family and friends, my precious, precious barn time, and of course my life's sound track.

5 Things I Think

1) Politics is a dirty business, and so are those involved in it. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you are on - the bottom line is all about power. Power to make people do and say exactly what you like. Power corrupts, absolutely. And for those who insisted on seeing who signed a certain initiative here in WA state - how pitiful. Its like your vote - if you want to reveal how you voted - great. If you don't - it shouldn't be made public. One day this will come back and bite the folks who pressed for it in the a**; something they signed or did that should be confidential will be released, and I will laugh my a** off.

2) I miss Ireland. It was so easy to forget how obsessed with PC'ism the Seattle area is (people can't even laugh about something that's TRUE without someone getting up and huffing out of the room w/some bizarre sense of hurt). That's why no one talks to each other anymore - so worried that someone somewhere will take offense - even if whatever is said is absolutely true. The other thing I definitely did NOT miss is the Passive-Agressive (ism) that the Seattle area has turned into an art form. Say what you mean to say - back it up, and go to the matt for it.

3) I can't emphasize enough how much I am LOVING my New Orleans Saints. I have rooted for you (the team) all my life - and no matter what happens, this has been the most exciting 7 weeks in the NFL EVER for me!! Drew Brees for the Nobel Prize! He's at least as qualified as the last recipient. And given his work for the city post-Katrina - quite possibly more so.

4) I forgot just how good the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series was. Great characters, storylines, and all around entertaining. Just saw Zombieland this weekend - and enjoyed that too! I think those rules could apply to multiple situations...!

5) I want/need to carve out more horse time somehow...(don't I say that all the time?!)