Horse of the Year...

This past year has full of upsets and almost good enoughs. Thus making a complete mess of the ultimate title of Horse of the Year. In the older division the beat contender would be Harve de Grace, and dont get me wrong I love this fillie, but is winning the Woodward (her moat impressive victory) enough for HOTY title? If she won the Classic she would have been the obvious winner, but a mere 4th place, I'm just not sure she deserves the title. Tizway could have been a contender with wins in the Whitney and Met Mile, but then he was sidelines and never finished out the season. Game on Dude can be talked about but I've never liked him so he's not a contender in my book.

For the three year old division we really had no full season break out star. The Triple Crown was won by three different horses, Animal Kingdom, Shakleford, and Ruler on Ice. Our Derby winner had surgery and was sidelined and while the other two had competitive campaigns, niether have won a race since. This now brings us to Stay Thirsty (who I have always liked due to him always being stuck in Uncle Mo's shadow). He won the Jim Dandy and the Travers but then finished second to last in the Classic. Caleb's Posse is a horse I like. He beat Uncle Mo in the Kings Bishop and then won the dirt Mile but I don't think that is enough for HOTY title.

Which then has us look at the 2 year old division. I'm a HUGE Hansen fan, but his two prior races to the Breeders Cup were not against horses of his califer. Union Rags is the other potential two year old, but with his second place finish in the Juvinelle he lost his chance.

And now here is my choice for HOTY: My Miss Aurelia! She broke her maiden in July at Saratoga followed by victories in Andirondack and the Frizette and then won the Breedera Cup Juvenille Fillies. She is 4-4 this year and the only horse with a perfect record who deserves a shot at this title.

Mr. Commons...

So not only was yesterday the day after Christmas, but it was also opening day at Santa Anita. Due to family obligations I missed every race on the card, thus resulting in not the best mood when I ventured down to Plymouth, MA.

While at work today I've been trying to catch up on the races that I missed and the moat impressive win (that I have seen yet) was by none other than Mr. C. Now I happen to be a fan of this horse to begin with and Mike Smith just happens to be my favorite jockey and by throw in some John Shirreffs and that's a good enough combination for me to put money on. In the field of eight Mr. C was second to last for the majority of the race, but if there is one thing that Mike Smith can do, it's a come from behind win.

Going into the second turn is when the pair started to pick things up. Comma to the Top and Riveting Reason were at the lead, only tiring each other out...the boom out of the pack running between the two horses comes Mr. C to win the Sir Beaufort Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths.


Impressive win and congratulations to the connections!

First Post

Well people, I have finally done it and decided to put together a blog on my thoughts on today's world of horse racing. Since my family members will be the only people who read this, I will try to be appropriate as possible....Ya right!

Well coming up with a name was probably the most difficult aspect of this blog, but the name comes from (at this point in by betting career) the longest shot that I have won on; Afleet Again who went out at 41-1 odds who went out from the eight post during the Breeder's Cup Marathon this year. The $2 win-place-show bet paid around $140 not bad odds if I do say so myself. The middle aged men that I was surrounded by who have been watching the ponies for longer than I've been alive were none to pleased. I was in my glory and the next round of drinks were on me.

More to come. Especially when I'm not at work....