About that Woodward and Forego

Apparently Lawyer Ron ran a pretty big race last time out. At least I'm pretty sure that's what a -6 on TG and 116 BSF indicates, and those numbers also indicate that he could bounce and still win the Woody by open lengths. However, the track was of the funky variety that day, and the rail draw may force Velazquez to use LR earlier than he'd like to today. Magna Graduate is worth an inclusion in trifectas if he's a decent price, as is Brass Hat, but I'm looking at Diamond Stripes for my Saturday heroics, although I'd prefer to get more than his 4-1 ML. Been a big fan of the Notebook gray for a while because of his consistency, but hoping that he finally turns the corner in here. According to TG, he jumped forward from a -1 to a -2 1/2 last time out, and he raced against the grain of the racetrack while three wide around both turns. And because I strangely don't think Lawyer Ron is a stone cold lead pipe lock, I'm probably going to be keying Stripes over the Lawyer and Brassy over Lawyer, Brassy, Magna Graduate and Political Force in the treble.

As for the Forego, it's difficult not to be floored by the race that High Finance ran in the Tom Fool, dueling Commentator into the dust through an absurd :43 4/5 half, striking the lead at the 1/8 pole and never being seriously threatened by a closing Awesome Twist. But predicting when High Finance is going to run a huge race is like trying to figure out why the hell Jan Rushton still has a job. Just when you think you've got some empirical reasoning, they'll rip it to shreds and leave your head spinning. Shame that Chatain is likely scratching, because I think he's a freaking superduperstar, and even if he doesn't scratch, it's tough to have as much confidence in him knowing about the foot bruise. Attila's Storm is still kicking at five, and Rick Schosberg is having an okay meet, I guess (25/6-8-4, 24%, 72% ITM). Simon Pure, who's been a disappointment as a $655,000 purchase, appears to have finally come into his own and could clunk up for second or third at a Rodney Harrison price (juicy). Gomez keeps the mount rather than ride the resurgent Praying for Cash. Midnight Lute and Benny the Bull appear to be fringe contenders and it's difficult to ever leave Awesome Twist out of a trifecta around one turn as well. High Finance and Simon Pure are the keys to pick fours, the rest are underneath for me.

Will take a glance at the rest of the late races in a few.

I'm out, and I'm back

Amtrak and I are shuffling down the banks of the Hudson River at the moment, so you must know what that means. The live racing part of the summer has come to a merciful end for Giuseppe and I'll soon be maneuvering around tourists in the center of the universe, rocking that college thing and doing my money burning from the comfort of my four walls in Brooklyn.

Needless to say, the blog has been a disappointment for the most part, but for those of you who've beared (bore?) with me, I'll try to really make with the write write through Monday. Tomorrow's card is outstanding by any standards, and I'll be sure to run it over repeatedly tonight as long as I don't become alarmingly soused at an early hour. One would think there'd be a big "welcome home" box social for the kid, but the rugrats I hang with aren't much for sentimentality.

Don't forget as well, that I've got about a hundred pictures to share with the masses from my five weeks up at the Springs, so there's that.

There also will be a Joeyseph + Breeders' Cup announcement fairly soon thanks to one Mr. Byk.

More later. You're not dead yet!