Thanks very much

[covelj70]

I am very sorry that I am so late posting this but it\'s been a crazy few days.

Immediately after Testa Rossi crossed the wire, we started partying as if she had won and that didn\'t stop for a long time after that.  That was an absolutely huge thrill for her to run like that in a field of fillies that talented.  The winner was breathtaking and deseerved to win but I am absolutely thrilled to run second, especially with the trouble at the top of the stretch.  I said before the race that I thought she was a speical filly and I obviously still very much feel that way.

I wasn operating at about 10% speed all day Saturday and then took the redeye home on Saturday night to make it to my son\'s football game and my daughter\'s soccer game and then I passed out last night so I am just getting caught up with everything now.

The main reason I wanted to post was just to thank everyone for all of the awesome thoughts before, during and after the race.  It really is great to have a group of people to share expeirences like this with, even if you have never met some of those people.

And speaking of meeting people, one of the other highlights of the weekend for me was getting to meet Paul (aka PDub) from the board.  He was great enough to come by our seats after the race and introduce himself and he is an awesome guy.  I gave him a big hug which was pretty funny but I feel like I have known him for many years as a result of sharing ideas here on the board and it was really terrific to meet him in person.  An awesome, upbeat, super friendly person for anyone who hasn\'t met him and Paul, I hope we get to see one another again soon.

A number of people have asked me about plans for the filly.  She is back at Palm Meadows now.  The current plan is to give her the winter off and then bring her back at Tampa in the Florida Oaks and then target a race like the Ashland.  That\'s a very tenative plan as these things change daily but that\'s the preliminary idea.

thanks again so much to everyone

[TGJB]

Did you go to awesome detox? After that weekend, just two?

I mean, where you used breathtaking you certainly could have put an awesome there.

[FrankD.]

awesome, detox, from, the, king, of, comma\'s !!!!

Creative writing for T-generates will become a requirement next semester.

Numbers were spot on all weekend TGJB; I like many others who posted outsmarted ourselves a bit trying to beat some very logical conclusions.

[TGJB]

I thought I was the king of (parentheticals).

[covelj70]

Well, I was going to throw in another awesome to describe the hug I gave Paul but I thought that would be a little weird.

[BH]

I have a theory about all this awesome stuff:

It\'s been heavily advertised in the trade journals lately about two sons of Awesome Again retiring to stud. . .

Jim?

[P-Dub]

covelj70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, I was going to throw in another awesome to
> describe the hug I gave Paul but I thought that
> would be a little weird.

Jim,

I was 50% responsible for the mutual \"man hug\".  For 2 people that had never met before, it felt like we were good buddies that just hadn\'t seen each other for awhile.

I don\'t know how many of you have had the opportunity to meet Jim, but what a good dude. Jim was basking in the glow of his filly\'s performance, and I told him I just wanted to take a minute of his time. It was a big moment and I didn\'t want to intrude on his group\'s celebration.

He said not to worry, and we had a great conversation for 10 minutes or so. He treated me with the utmost respect, made me feel a part of his day. An absolute gentleman and the definition of class.  This is the type of guy you root for, and I rooted for his filly as if I owned a piece of her.  Nice to see good things happen to good people.  Jim, an absolute pleasure to meet you and I look forward to the next visit. Besides, you still owe me a drink!

[richiebee]

P-Dub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> covelj70 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, I was going to throw in another awesome
> to
> > describe the hug I gave Paul but I thought that
> > would be a little weird.
>
> Jim,
>
> I was 50% responsible for the mutual \"man hug\".
> For 2 people that had never met before, it felt
> like we were good buddies that just hadn\'t seen
> each other for awhile.
>
> I don\'t know how many of you have had the
> opportunity to meet Jim, but what a good dude. Jim
> was basking in the glow of his filly\'s
> performance, and I told him I just wanted to take
> a minute of his time. It was a big moment and I
> didn\'t want to intrude on his group\'s celebration.
>
>
> He said not to worry, and we had a great
> conversation for 10 minutes or so. He treated me
> with the utmost respect, made me feel a part of
> his day. An absolute gentleman and the definition
> of class.  This is the type of guy you root for,
> and I rooted for his filly as if I owned a piece
> of her.  Nice to see good things happen to good
> people.  Jim, an absolute pleasure to meet you and
> I look forward to the next visit. Besides, you
> still owe me a drink!


See, P-Dub, you lead a charmed life. You got to meet (and hug!) Covel at the Breeders Cup at Sunny Anita. I got to spend a few minutes with Jim on a day when he was running a maiden in the dead of winter on the Inner Dirt at Aqueduct about 3 years ago. Jim was very generous with his time, and for the people who have not met Jim, he is every bit of the gentleman that P-Dub and others have described.

After meeting Covel, I was reminded of Lance White, a polite, charming, by the book private investigator played by a pre Magnum Tom Selleck in a couple of \"Rockford Files\" episodes...always maintaining decorum, never uttering a discouraging word...

...which will make it all the more satisfying after we all watch a You Tube sometime in the future of Covel screaming at and trying to strangle a jockey after a bad ride in a big race.