Game on Dude

[Silver Charm]

Has run clunkers in 2 out of the last 3 and looked like a tired horse late in the lane in the other one. However he now is down to 122 in weight after toting 128 over the summer. Is there any other speed to go with him? I\'m thinking he is like 7/2 3rd choice in this race after being odds on for 2 years. Hmmmm

[plasticman]

On Feb 8, Privman/Twitter reported that GOD had a quarter crack patch on inside right front when he saw him in the paddock. Who knows if this was a factor in his subpar effort, but it was an interesting read.

[Silver Charm]

He has been dealing with those for some time. His Line will not look good and he could be discounted. I\'m not recommending a play because he is getting a little old in the tooth and has danced a lot of dances. Adds intrigue to a good day of racing.....

[Rick B.]

Silver Charm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Has run clunkers in 2 out of the last 3 and looked
> like a tired horse late in the lane in the other
> one. However he now is down to 122 in weight after
> toting 128 over the summer. Is there any other
> speed to go with him? I\'m thinking he is like 7/2
> 3rd choice in this race after being odds on for 2
> years. Hmmmm

The bet against of the year for me.

I think he\'s all done with racing. He\'s
earned his retirement.

[ajkreider]

He got a wide draw, and considering the form of the two inside, 7/2 seems not rich enough. The morning line is 5/2, and he will get plenty of action as a local fav.  Would rather box MMM and WTC - maybe throwing Blingo in.

[jimbo66]

Rick

U missed the boat on \"bet against of the year\".  After he has lost 2 out of 3, ran awful in 2 of them and his bandwagon is half empty, even if runs dead last he is not the \"bet sgainst of the year\".  He will be the 3rd choice in the race.  Tossing the 3rd choice is ok as far as value, but no bargain.

I would agree with silver that he is interesting here, because he will be loose on the lead and if he is ever going to run a good one, it will be Saturday.  Perhaps one more before he goes off to the sunset.....

Jim

[Tavasco]

A. When in doubt don\'t.  There is a question about GOD\'s form. The potential reward is too small. Even if he is OK he is no cinch to beat either MMM or WTC @ 1+1/4. Exotics OK,  win bet not me!

B. WTC is a 4 y/o now, fully grown and no telling how good he is.

C. MMM did win the BC Classic @ SA - what would be bold is to leave this one out.

D. I suggest the value in the race is Jerry Hollendorfer. Of his two I prefer Hear The Ghost as a legitimate 1+1/4 runner. Since his return he has been running distances that are short for him. He is a classic stayer one speed no burst.

E. Rousing Sermon (the other Hollendorfer) is an enigma. This one was good as a youngster with limited success on the TC trail. Had an uneventful 2013. Now he is entered in the Santa Anita Handicap? He may be another suited to long distances. However - In my experience Mr. J. Hollendorfer is a very practical man and rarely enters a horse he doesn\'t expect to earn a check.

All in all I see more value including HTG  & RS than GOD in the vertical exotics.

On The other hand, absent other pace pressure creates a very good horse a little loose on the lead, A pace handicappers dream come true. Two of GOD\'s recent losses came dueling against fast need to lead contenders. It would be reckless to leave him out of the exotics.

The question of what to do with him is perplexing. Tossing him has merit and the potential to get bitten.

[P-Dub]

It will be nice to see a quality field run in a race rich with history. The Big Cap will finish off a fantastic day of racing: Turf, dirt, sprint, route.  Take your pick, a Graded Race for every type.

The BiG Cap will have 3 quality, marquee horses. The Kilroe looks very interesting with Za Approval, Silentio, and Winning Prize heading a large field of 10. The GR 1 Kilroe is usually a great race and this year should be no exception.

Shakin It Up and Sahara Sky square off in the San Carlos at 7F on the main track. Both have strong resumes and will face a field of 10.

3YO go in the San Felipe, with horses trained by Baffert and a shipper from Lukas heading the field. Another 10 horse field that will help sort out the West Coast 3YO picture.

Yes, P-Dub is a bit excited about the card.  I will be attending the races this weekend with my wife, making this the 21st Big Cap in the past 24 years for me. I know you guys love Saratoga - and with obvious good reason.  But for us West Coast guys, Santa Anita is the place.  I love it more than Del Mar, and I love Del Mar.

The history, the San Gabriel mountains, the art deco, the fountains.  Statues of Longden, Shoe, Pincay, and Woolf.  Whittingham, Seabiscuit, and Zenyatta. The immaculate landscaping. The enormous grandstand facade. Corned beef on rye and a cold beer. The downhill turf course.

Yeah, I\'m rambling. Its 3:30am and in 5 hours I have to get up and check in so we get an A boarding pass. Why the hell am I not asleep??  Its because I can\'t wait to get there.

Anyone heading out to the Great Race Place, hit me up. I\'ll buy the first one.

[richiebee]

P-Dub:

It certainly is a great day of racing at Santa Anita.

D. Wayne Lukas returns to the place where he made his bones, back when we were
young, or not even born yet.

Silentio and Za Approval America\'s best milers behind the \"Wise\" guy.

My favorite winter sport, the Downhill (Turf Course).

Easily the strongest jocks room in the US.

Interestingly, and nowhere near as significantly, in the first 5 races at Aquedump
on Saturday, there are two maidens who last raced at SA: Blue Cherokee in the
first race, who looks like a private purchase going from Doug O\'Neill to David
Jacobson (no comment) and a Len Friedman/Wachtel owned maiden who is being
transferred from HOF Mandella to HOF Mott in race 5. Also, a Baffert trained first
timer in race 3 who has been working at Belmont since October.

Enjoy the day my friend.

[FrankD.]

Paul,

I hope all is well and as we freeze in Saratoga this winter; BIG CAP DAY sounds awfully juicy.

I\'ve been to Santa Anita quite a few times and it is beautiful, not since 87 but I\'m plotting a BC excursion this year. Your portrait was going oh so well until you got to the corned beef part! You have way too many New Yorkers on this board to sell the \" California corned beef \" ticket  and get away with it!!!! LOL

Good luck,

Frank D.

[moosepalm]

Last night on \"Horseplayers\" (which featured a cameo by a \"celebrity\" of some renown, in these parts), the saga moved to Saratoga.  At one point, two of the principals were discussing the relative merits of Saratoga vs. Del Mar.  As both were Easterners, it was easy to handicap their predilection.  I, too, am an Easterner, and haven\'t missed attending a Saratoga meet in nearly thirty years.  But, I see no reason to diminish any of these grand venues in an effort to laud our personal favorite.  It\'s akin to having an opportunity to bed one of three movie stars, and disparaging the two we\'ve passed over.  Who are we kidding?  If I want a convenient trip to a race track, I get to visit Finger Lakes.  So, I\'m going to knock Del Mar because it\'s not the same hallowed ground as the Spa?  

The last time I was at Santa Anita, over twenty years ago, which coincides with the length of my marriage (those are not independent variables), I saw the author, Charles Bukowski.  If you\'re not familiar with his work, I\'m not sure I could describe it in any succinct fashion.  Richiebee recently described some Staten Island watering holes as \"buckets of blood,\" and those establishments would have fit comfortably in Bukowski\'s wheelhouse.  I wanted to tell him that I was a great admirer of his \"typing\" as he described it, but he had a visage that could only be charitably described as intimidating.  I stalked him from afar.

As others have said, this will be a great card Saturday.  I think other races will have more betting allure than the \'Cap, but it will still be one of racing\'s finest moments.  For those of us consigned to this bitterly cold winter (record lows, today), the sight of the San Gabriel mountains will provide welcome vicarious warmth.

[Silver Charm]

Jimbo yes that was the point.

The glass half full says he was cooked in a speed duel in last and can excused. The Churchill race was not bad and was in like 30 degree temperatures. That can be tough on any ones lungs. His line will look terrible and he will not be bet like he usually is.

The glass half empty says he has seen better days and is not really freshened or interested anymore. AND these other two horses might just be better than him anyway!!

[P-Dub]

FrankD. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Paul,
>
> I hope all is well and as we freeze in Saratoga
> this winter; BIG CAP DAY sounds awfully juicy.
>
> I\'ve been to Santa Anita quite a few times and it
> is beautiful, not since 87 but I\'m plotting a BC
> excursion this year. Your portrait was going oh so
> well until you got to the corned beef part! You
> have way too many New Yorkers on this board to
> sell the \" California corned beef \" ticket  and
> get away with it!!!! LOL
>
> Good luck,
>
> Frank D.

Good one Frank.

I have a good buddy from NY, and I hear the corned beef/Pizza thing all the time.  Hear about baseball teams moving out here from NY back in the day, AL DAVIS is from NY. He especially loves that one.

My wife loves the corned beef at Santa Anita, but she\'s from Massachusetts, so what the hell does she know about corned beef? And while it may not stack up - no pun intended - to \"your\" corned beef, when comparing it to standard race track edibles it gets bonus points.  

I will say, Milton\'s down the street from Del Mar makes a tasty West Coast corned beef.

No wonder I\'m listed on the overweights in your program, here I am talking about food.

Frank, we plan on another BC trip this year. Would be great to meet you and perhaps others. Looking forward to the board chatter these next few days, great racing this weekend.

PS: Completely forgot to add the best jockey room in the country, led by perhaps the greatest of all time. Mi.....aw forget it.

[Tavasco]

7/1 with 16 minutes to post. Enticing. I feel the pull.  $1 Exacta will pays @ 12. Rather than try the tri  I will go super GOD on top of our two BC stars in both second and third and Hollendorfer in 4th.

[Tavasco]

Damn 7/2 as projected. Now I\'ve got a bet I\'m not thrilled about.