The racing gods had a mezzo mezzo day as far as we’re concerned here at Brooklyn Backstretch. Miss Saul “broke slowly and failed to reach a contending position,” but let’s hope that she learned something from her first start and will run better next time.

As they are wont to do, however, the gods smiled upon one of the racetrack rookies featured on the left. Furlong’s Acquired Cat scratched, but Crazy Catlady hit big for Ruffian, earning her a profit of $25.40 in her first foray. I got home a few minutes before the race, and, given the current ratio of felines to humans in my home, figured that a small hunch bet on Crazy Catlady was in order. “If she wins,” I told myself, “it will be a sign that I should keep them, right?” At 12 – 1, I reasoned, such a sign was not likely forthcoming; imagine my incredulity when she drew away in the stretch, winning by four lengths. The effect on my NYRA account was immediate; the effect on my pet ownership remains to be seen.

NYRA has launched “Rachel’s Sandbox,” similar to Curlin’s Corner. You’ll find news, video, interviews, trivia, and a blog. I must admit that some elements of the Rachel campaign have been eluding me, so in response to a query, I learned that the “sandbox” refers to the sandy make-up of the track at Belmont (on which, presumably, Rachel Alexandra will toy with her playmates). I also learned that “Is She the One?” has multiple meanings: allusion to Calvin Borel’s raised finger (“She’s #1”) as he and the filly cross the finish line; allusion to that question that men apparently ask themselves and each other (“Is she the one?”); and allusion to something in The Matrix, which I’ve never seen.

I was happy to see that today’s feature race is the Sabellina, for New York-bred fillies and mares, three and up, on the grass. I loved Sabellina; she was racing when I first started paying attention again, and I last saw her run at Saratoga in 2007, when she was in foal to Pulpit. At age three she won the Yaddo and was second in the Ticonderoga; two years later, she was second in both of those races.

I’ve occasionally tried to find out what happened to that Pulpit foal and whether she was bred again, but I’ve never been successful. I sent out a query late last night and will update if I learn anything.

Brian’s $350,000 guaranteed Pick 4 preview will be up Friday morning, followed on Saturday by a look at Mother Goose (the filly) and this year’s race named for her.

Now, back to those cat horses. In a departure from our usual equine-based donations, any feline profits at the end of the Belmont meet will be donated to the cat rescue that brought me Furlong and Ruffian–no matter how long they stay.

After yesterday’s win, Furlong was very psyched for his sister.