I actually struggled with writing this post as a gaggle of things (school, finances, etc) have been distracting me from the blog. But there is also a bit of apathy flowing through me about the happenings last weekend @ Churchill Downs. Part of it is from the results of the races run and the other part was my inability to correctly wager on those results. While there were some good moments, like General Quarters' owner/trainer Tom McCarthy being as giddy as a schoolgirl over his charge's victory in the Woodford Reserve, there was just no "spark" to this weekend's races for yours truly.
There was not a "wow" performance like in years past. No "Rachel demolishing the Oaks". No "Street Sense with an absolute perfect rail-skimming ride". No "Barbaro in a sublime performance". No "Orthodox shocking in the American Turf @ 45-1!". (Which this blog had singled in his pick four that paid $805) While the races themselves were exciting, none of them will be nothing but a footnote in the long run. Even with this blog hitting Atta Boy Roy @ 9-1, nothing on the wagering front inspired either due to poor betting. (No exacta, even with this blog's 3rd choice running 2nd.)
Maybe it is just this blog's "iffy" feelings for the group of horses who ran. Or maybe is the lost promise of the big "E"'s (Eskendereya, Endorsement) being taking out of the Derby picture so late. Or maybe it is just the vagaries of the game that come with the love of this sport. But whatever it is, hopefully is nothing but a brief state of melancholy that will be broken with the prospect of this blog's early (as in January, as I said here [note the date on the post]) pick for the winner of the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic, Blame. This blog cannot wait for him to run on the Preakness undercard in the Grade 3 Schaefer. Hopefully that will be followed up with a win oir the Derby winner Super Saver in the Preakness to keep the hopes alive for the sport's first triple crown in 32 years. Hopefully by then this blog will be out of its post-Derby malaise.
Buck up my friend. I needed a few days after Derby weekend to re-charge the batteries, but i'm totally jacked abut seeing BLAME next weekend - thx for reminding me! I saw him in Oct at Keeneland win the Fayette w/out so much as breaking a sweat. We'll see how he looks off the layoff, but this guy is for real. Would love to see him take on big Z in the BC.
ReplyDeleteI think about five years from now, people are going to easily forget about the horse who won this race.
ReplyDeleteSure enough the also-rans.
I wasn't "feelin' it" going into the Derby and I'm certainly not feeling in now.
I think it's actually sad that so many folks cannot look beyond The Derby or The Breeders Cup. There is good racing the rest of the year also. A true racing fan knows where to find it and appreciate it for what it is - even if it is at Mountaineer Park.