As Madison and Floyd have noted to the left, I am at this moment ensconced in a Holiday Inn Express in Savannah en route to a week’s holiday in south Florida; on the west coast, so I’ll be making my maiden voyage to Tampa Bay Downs in a week or so. I was tempted, but only briefly, to go to Gulfstream for opening day. Not sure what my internet access will be over the next few days, so here are some thoughts on upcoming races:
In perusing Aqueduct’s Saturday entries, I was struck by the names of several former three-year-olds whose connections had Triple Crown aspirations:
The first race, an allowance optional claimer, features Doc Cheney for $50K, and Hemingway’s Key and Platinum Couple, neither of whom is entered for a tag.
In the third, the Gallant Fox, Nolan’s Cat races; he was the longshot who finished third behind Afleet Alex and Andromeda’s Hero in the 2005 Belmont. I had the exacta, and cat hunch bettor that I am, I should have the triple, too. Woulda, coulda, shoulda…even two and a half years later.
In Friday’s last race, my personal favorite, Duchess of Rokeby, goes, and her stablemate, Irish Blast, hits the track for the first time on Saturday. Best of luck to both of them.
And to me, as I head south through the Sunshine State on Friday.
Brooklyn Backstretch 
Way to crush that $22 exacta. LOL
Safe travels and enjoy. Tampa Bay is a great track. The three levels of the clubhouse are super. Worth the price of admission.Plus, they’ve expanded the poker room, which I’ll be patronizing when I visit in late January. I know you don’t dabble much in poker. Anyhow, I’ll be spending New Year’s Day on the fifth floor dining room of Philadelphia Park. It’s easier than driving to AQU. At least now we know they’ll be open through 1/23. Again, safe travels — enjoy the holiday and Tampa Bay Downs.You may come home to a blockbuster New York Rangers trade that’s been bandied about in the papers. We’ll see.
Anon: I also had the Afleet Alex/Scrappy T exacta in the Preakness, along with money to win and place on both of them, which more than offset my paltry winnings in the Belmont. =)Tom: Thanks for the advice on TBD. Looking forward to the visit. Good luck at Philly Park…
I’m not sure bragging about betting on two horses to win and to place in the same race is a good rebuttal, as that is a horrendous betting strategy.
Anon: didn’t mean to come across as bragging, and as for your assessment of my betting strategy: too true! I’ve often said that I’m a decent handicapper and a bad bettor. Fortunately, that day it worked out despite, rather than because of, my decisions.