Monday Morning Musings

Previously I touted the usefulness of the Countdown Clock of Utmost Importance. Therefore I feel that it is imperative that I post impending significant dates that you, the reader, can utilize:

Only 26 Days Until Derby Day
Only 3 Days Until Live Racing Resumes at Lone Star Park
Only 7 Days Until Income Taxes are Due
Only 6 Days Until I Begin Working on Taxes
Only 22 Days Until My Daughter's School Project on the Mayans and Aztecs are Due

Generally, I'm not noted for rehashing the races of weekend past, however I am completey aware that many of you have returned to work with little ambition because you spent yesterday consuming Peeps and jelly beans and maybe you snagged a Cadbury Creme Egg or two out of your kids' Easter baskets when they weren't paying attention.

So the following should be considered a Public Service.

Aqueduct Report: I was glad to see that blinkers and cotton balls worked well for Nobiz Like Shobiz in the Wood (G1) to keep the colt from being distracted by the boisterous crowd of 7,848. What will be Barclay Tagg's equipment plans be for the Derby when there are 534,661 people at Churchill Downs, with 68.4% of those people crammed into the infield consuming a variety of beverages and smoking cigarettes, cigars, and "others"?

Also, my personal thanks to Stuart and Silver Wagon. Stu encouraged me to play most of my races as Pick-3 or Doubles, all of which paid off, as Saturday's card offered great wagering strategy, especially since I'm a cheap bettor. Silver Wagon gets my appreciation for winning the Carter Handicap (G1). He's a solid competitor and has been great to watch over the past few years. I like him.

Santa Anita Derby Report: I didn't wager because there wasn't an entry that even excited me. And we all know the outcome: Longshot Giacomo II rallied to win, beating Zach Johnson.

Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino Report: Only one race had my attention in Florida. A little OC62k/N1X sprint for 3-year-olds. Double Colico (Storm Boot) appears to be very promising. I saw this colt break his maiden at first asking at Tampa Bay back in February, winning by 8 lengths. His second race, a little venture into the allowance ranks, had him hooked up in a speed duel that drained his tank. However, on Saturday, he forced the pace and drew off driving, beating the Pletcher-trained-and-always-favored entry, Northern Duke. Double Colico's morning line had been 20-1, but he went off at 7-1 ($15.40).

Oaklawn Report: The Apple Blossom (G1) was the featured race on Saturday, during the Racing Festival of the South Pole. A race that had been won three times by the beautiful and talented, Azeri. Saturday, the beautiful and talented, Ermine won. And although Ermine is beautiful and talented, she is not aptly named, as an ermine is a short-tailed weasel and weasels are not beautiful nor talented and I seriously doubt that any racetrack would welcome the opportunity to name a race after a weasel.

Have a great day. Now get back to work.