Shutting down the city’s more than 60 OTB offices appeals to Mr. Bloomberg on both financial and moral grounds. Put simply, he believes that the city should not be asked to sustain a system that encourages people to squander the rent money or, worse, their lives.

– NY Times Editorial

I won’t argue that there are issues, however, there’s no need to be so damn judgmental about it, particularly when:

A) the old Grey Lady has become a star struck joke too afraid to really report on what goes on in this country and

B) Mr. Bloomberg’s beloved stock market encourages charlatans to squander people’s rent money, or worse, their lives.

And let’s not forget our highly respected predatory lenders!

Mushka and Johnny V make it look easy in the Demoiselle. (Sarah K. Andrew)

Buried in the DRF article about Court Vision:

Thirty minutes before Court Vision’s victory, Mott saddled Mushka to a last-to-first victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Demoiselle for juvenile fillies. Under John Velazquez, Mushka won by 4 1/2 lengths over Elusive Lady, the 5-2 favorite.

It was 3 1/4 lengths back to Melissa Jo in third.

Mushka, a $1.6 million daughter of Empire Maker owned by Ahmed Zayat, lingered at the back of the pack while Be Fruitful set fractions of 23.35 seconds, 47.91, and 1:13.23. Mushka launched her bid entering the far turn, and despite having to swing five wide at the quarter pole, she swept past the field straightening for home. Mushka covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.61 and returned $10.40.

Jockey John Velazquez told Mott that he was riding the filly early on, but she “was just going to do what she wanted,” Mott said. “He was riding and all of a sudden she took off on her own.”

She got her own headline at NTRA…

Court Vision & Eibar Coa win the Rodeo Remsen. (Sarah K. Andrew)

It was great to be back at “the office”, where Swifty and I spend the Aqueduct winter meet. I handicapped the 4th – 9th races + the De Francis Dash while Swifty had done races 8, 9 & 11 at Churchill + the Cigar Mile.

I was taken out of the Pick 6 immediately by Regal Prince, a first time starter in a state bred MSW. However my best play of the day followed shortly after with the trifecta of Now a Victor, Shopton Lane & Dr. V’s Magic in the G3 Discovery.

I wasn’t sold on Helsinki or Buffalo Man and could make a case for each of my trifecta picks. I really liked Shopton Lane as a front runner with some endurance works poised to make a jump up. Now a Victor was a deserving favorite and Dr. V’s Magic had a nice last race at the distance and two really nice last works. In addition to my tri-box I had Shopton Lane to win, and he almost did. I also have give props to Maggi Moss and her team as this time last year Shopton Lane was running as a claimer. They’ve done a great job bringing out his talent, prior to this race was 4 for 4 on the year and this was his stakes debut. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.

The most impressive runs of the day belonged to the youngins in the Demoiselle and the Remsen.

Empire Maker filly Mushka was incredibly impressive in the Demoiselle, she broke so slow that I thought she got pulled up. She sat really far back as if she wasn’t even gonna try and then came on with a giant run going about 4-5 wide around the field to blow by everyone and win by 4 1/2 lengths. Like all great horses, she made it look so easy and she definitely didn’t look like she was only running in her 3rd start. I didn’t have her in any of my combos but I did like her, specifically that she was the only one that had shown that she could sit off the pace and win, albeit not the 10 or lengths she sat today! Elusive Lady has to also get a nod here as she ran wide on both turns up close to the pace and held on well to place.

The Remsen was a like bumper car ride! Tide Dancer led about half of the way while heavily favored Court Vision was bottled up on the rail surrounded by Springs Road & Big Truck. Attoned was racing close but clipped heals on the first turn and fell back a bit while Trust N Dustan was pulling a Muska sitting way way back. Attoned got his run going and took over the lead going into the stretch just as Trust N Dustan came on wide, again almost replicating Muska’s run. Court Vision was squeezed while Trust N Dustan was banging into him going into the stretch. At this point Attoned was pulling away but Court Vision broke free and poured it on to catch him at the wire. What a tough bunch! I’m looking forward to seeing all them again!

I suppose Daaher was no surprise given that he went off at 2-1, and he looked great too. I felt bad for Midnight Lute struggling in the stretch. Speaking of BC sprinters, Benny the Bull finally had his day in the De Francis Dash. I had him over Miraculous Miss and Miraculous Miss to win but that pesky Talent Search put in a nice run and held on to place! I thought all three of them ran well and was kicking myself a bit for not playing that as a tri box.

I also ended up hitting the low paying late Pick 3 with the win of Premier Perfection in the 9th. While not a great day at the windows it was a great day to catch a glimpse of the excitement and talent coming our way.

Go for Gin & Jerry Bailey returning the winner’s circle (Jason Moran)

Gelded sons of Go for Gin won the 1st and 9th races today at Aqueduct.

Banrock ($8.40) took the first race sitting off the pace, coming 3 wide to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a 1 3/8 mile $56K AlwN1X on the dirt.

Premier Perfection ($6.50), one of the few favorites to win today, took the $50K AlwN1X on the turf by a neck after setting a moderate pace and digging in to hold off a game Trickanometry. It was also Premier Perfection’s turf premier after coming off a 6 month lay-off… both premier and perfection for sure!

Johnny V was aboard Premier Perfection and had 3 wins on the card. Full wrap-up later (after left overs).

Today is my first full day of playing since the BC, I’ve played a few hunches here and there but no concerted handicapping efforts. I’m going to play the 4th through the 9th at Aqueduct and the De Francis Dash. I’m also going to watch the baby races at Churchill and if I get a chance to really look them over I’ll play them as well.

Unlike the Cigar Mile, The De Francis Dash is a pretty well matched competitive field. While I think Talent Search will do better in this company than he has his last few starts, I think the pace scenario will favor closers. Benny the Bull is the natural pick here, I liked him at Saratoga and thought he did ok in the BC but I’m also really interested in Miraculous Miss. I thought she had one of the more impressive non-winning runs of the BC. This pace could be hot enough for her and if Benny the Bull isn’t on his game or doesn’t get a good trip I think she can do it. I’ll using both Benny the Bull & Miraculous Miss in a box and Miraculous Miss to win.

While I singled Midnight Lute in the Pick 6, I think Daaher has a reasonable chance. However, my fun wise guy play is Sir Greeley! He’s got a good record at the distance, loves to place, a decent last work and solid times at the distance. Do I think he can win? Not really, but anything is possible. Do I think he can place? Most definitely. I’ll be fooling around with combinations of those 3.

Good luck everyone!

A.P. Indy catching up to Pine Bluff in the 1992 Belmont. (Jason Moran)

In the 11/17 print issue of Bloodhorse is the first of an excellent new series entitled (you guessed it) Training Offspring of Sires.

In the first installment 10 trainers are asked how they work with progeny of a prominent stallion, in this case A.P. Indy.

As someone who’s hasn’t been around the handicapping block just yet (i.e., didn’t actually watch the racing career of any of the current crop of stallions), I found this to be fantastic. I’m just now starting to make a concerted effort to learn what traits can be ascribed to certain sires. While more seasoned handicappers probably wouldn’t find any surprises I would imagine trainer insights are always helpful.

The general take aways were: Be patient/they get better with age and while not sprinters, they’re very versatile but do their best at longer distances.

There were also plenty of interesting one offs:

I’ve had all different types but one thing they all have in common is they all seem to benefit from a race; they’ve all improved with a race under their belt, which I found interesting.

Even Bernardini, who trained really well and looked like a horse who would win his first start, he went out there and didn’t run as well as I thought he would first out. But he came back after that one and the rest is history.

– Tom Albertrani

Thorn Song paid $16.80 in the G3 River City Handicap at Churchill today in an exciting down to the wire finish beating Cosmonaut by a neck.

Close readers of this blog might remember Thorn Song as a horse that taught me a valuable lesson this summer.

Time got away from me this afternoon between the leftovers and errand running. I fired up my Brisbet account literally right as the race started so I didn’t get a chance to throw any money on him but I’m happy to see he’s really improving!

It was also Kent Desormeaux’s 3rd win of the day.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Monkey just finished 4th in his turf debut. 99-1 shot Brother Albert opened up about 9 lengths on the field with the Monkey & Bearing Point both coming on going into the first turn. At that point the Monkey showed real speed without being asked and he looked good doing it. He still looked good into the stretch but he just didn’t accelerate, again.

At least Gomez seemed to give him a better ride… I would love to know Gomez’s take on what happened. Very odd considering how good he looked coming into the stretch.

The Green Monkey, monkeying around at Belmont. (Sarah K. Andrew)

As Michael noted, the Monkey is entered in Turf MSW this Wed at Hollywood Park. They’re also trying Gomez this time out + stretching out. I’m happy to see their trying someone else, Johnny V’s rides seemed too panicky… hopefully GG will be a better fit.

When I saw his work out last week at Hollywood Park, I thought maybe they would try him on the Cushion track. Actually, looking back on that post, the Monkey was listed as having the bullet along with 2 other horses, now it says that he and the other 2 are 3rd… odd.

There’s also some discussion of the Monkey’s latest effort over at the Formblog.

Best of luck to the Monkey! (even though it is edifying to see such greed rewarded appropriately).