Thoughts on Saturdays Gotham Stakes

February 28, 2014

Dear Readers,

            As promised I took a look at the entries for tomorrows Gotham Stakes. In 1973 Secretariat added this race to his resume while he was on his way to winning the Kentucky Derby and ultimately the Triple Crown. So to say this race is officially considered a prep for the Kentucky Derby might be a bit of an understatement.

            The list of horses to win the Gotham Stakes includes some very memorable ones. Besides the aforementioned Secretariat, there was Native Dancer, Jaipur, and a thrilling dead heat between Lure and Devil His Due. The latter ran in the 1992 Kentucky Derby along with my own horse, Casual Lies.  

            The inaugural running of the Gotham was in 1953, and has been run at various distances over the years. But since 2006 the (gr.III) event has been run at one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt at Aqueduct Racecourse in New York.

            After looking at their charts and watching the videos that are available, here are my thoughts on the horses running tomorrow.

In Trouble:  Yikes, he hasn’t started since the end of September last year. He did win both of his lifetime starts and looks to be a nice horse. But those two starts were both in races going six furlongs or less. In Trouble does look like he will go longer distances; I just think he might’ve needed a race under his belt before taking on some of the horses in this race. If he does win, oh boy that would be impressive.

Financial Mogul: I suspect when the connections of this horse were looking for a race to run their talented horse in, it was any race that wouldn’t include Cairo Prince in the entries. When I look at this horse’s charts, I can’t really detect a pattern. He can run with the leaders and yet he made a strong move in the Holy Bull after dropping back to next to last in the early stages of the race. So with all the speed in this race, I suspect they will try lying back off the leaders. 

Uncle Sigh: This lightly raced colt is very impressive. He was never challenged in his second race and romped off by so far, I’d have to throw that race out. The other two, he fought gamely down the lane. He’s a trier, and definitely could reverse the order of his last race and outrun Samraat.

Noble Cornerstone: That last race is a head scratcher.

Monopolize:  I think he’s going to go off with a big price.

Deceived: I don’t think this horse’s connections are pleased to see Samraat in this race. But hope springs eternal and something I embrace every day.  

Classic Giacnroll: Seems to be getting better with racing, but I don’t see him outrunning the horses who beat him so easily in the Withers.

Samraat: Oh my…how could anyone bet against this horse? Admittedly Uncle Sigh probably made Samraat’s connections pucker up for a bit in that last race. But it looked to me like Uncle Sigh was clearly going to get outrun from the three-eighths pole on. Now let me play devil’s advocate. It’s hard to tell from the angle I got while watching the race replay, but it looked like Samraat was lugging in for the last three-eighths of a mile in the Withers. The jockey was flagging him pretty good with the left handed whip. But there must have been sufficient room for Uncle Sigh to keep on running full out, or Samraat would have been punished by the stewards. So my question is; if Samraat was lugging in, why? Also this is an entry, and I don’t imagine Noble Cornerstone was entered just to fill the race. Very interesting.

Extrasexyhippzster: I don’t think this horse is going to like all the competition on the front end in this race. If he goes with the speed and finishes strong, he will definitely be a horse to watch going forward.

Master Lightning: This horse has run behind some very nice horses. He comes from a strong stable, but nonetheless he would be a surprise.

Harpoon: In his last race, though he ran second, to me this horse never looked comfortable in his race. Coming out of the turn he practically ended up in the grandstand and yet, once he straightened out he was still running erratically coming down the lane.  It’s just a feeling, but I think he will love this outside post position.

            So what do I think? I can’t get past the chart on Samraat. But if I was going to take a flutter, and bet against the obvious favorites, it would be Financial Mogul. I’m also very curious about Noble Cornerstone, though I wouldn’t bet on him, something wasn’t right in that last race; I wonder if he swallowed his tongue or something.

            Don’t forget to take a look at my memoir about Casual Lies.  It’s a candid look about traveling the road to the Kentucky Derby with a horse nobody thought had a chance and a trainer so many felt didn’t belong.

Take care,

Shelley Riley, author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure

www.shelleyriley.com

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi Review

February 26, 2014 
             
Dear Readers,
 

I read Rikki-Tikki-Tavi as a child, and due to the quality of the story, I was not only captivated, but I was motivated to continue reading Rudyard Kipling’s children’s stories, and I didn't stop until I’d read them all.

I’ve just finished Rikki-Tikki-Tavi again, and this time with a sound track on Booktracks.com. I was a rapt reader as well as listener and  I’m inspired to travel down the Rudyard Kipling path once again.

Thank you Booktrack.com and Chazz Hill-Hayr, for reminding me what a great narrative gift to the world of literature are Rudyard Kipling's writings.

There are three more of Rudyard Kipling’s works that have been enhanced with sound effects on the Booktrack.com site. I intend to read each and everyone of them now that they are enhanced with sound.

Tomorrow I will take a look at the entries for the (gr. III) Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct to be run on Saturday.

Take care,

Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure

www.shelleyriley.com

Intense Holiday, Albano and the Risen Star

February 24, 2014

Dear Readers,

            Since I concentrated on the Fountain of Youth in Florida, I didn’t watch the Grade II Risen Star Stake at the Fairgrounds until today. Intense Holiday won the race in a very close, head-bobbing photo finish over Albano, and a tiring Vicar’s in Trouble.

 

            Everybody loves a winner, as do I. However, wait for it…but, and a big but it is. Intense Holiday has, no doubt, been running against some of the best three-year-olds that are out there so far, and no one can argue he doesn’t have the right connections.

            So I took a good look at his races, all of them. Throw out the first career start, five and half furlongs, green…yadda yadda.

 

Second race: He made the lead and he liked it.

Third race: Foxwoods Champagne Stakes GI at Belmont, well placed and had good position at the head of the lane, but came up empty.

Fourth race: He broke well and settled behind a tightly bunched pack. Then he was checked slightly down the backstretch as he ran up on heels. At this point his rider moved him to the outside where he passed a few horses on the turn. Down the lane he ducks sharply over to the rail, interfering with another horse while doing so. He then passed some tiring horses on the way to the wire. Intense Holiday didn’t look like he came up empty, nor did it  look like he was out classed. He just didn’t look enthusiastic about running down the leaders. Now that might have been the jockey, who could clearly see he wasn’t going to be able to improve his position, so why beat up on the colt.

Fifth race: Broke well, settled nicely in a race with a very slow pace being set on the front end. He had a clear path coming down the lane, and he did extend himself. However, it did look, to me, that he was lugging in and the jockey had to keep checking him slightly. He wasn’t going to win, but he could have been closer.

Sixth race: For me this was his best race yet. He looked like he tried. His move on the turn was impressive and he ran between horses. He didn’t look to be lugging down the lane and though he couldn’t come anywhere close to the winner, he did try.

And that brings us to the Risen Star. There were a lot of really long priced horses in this race—I’m just saying.  Intense Holiday was reported to have been fractious in the saddling paddock, but he was perfect in the gate, and one of the first loaded in a big field. He broke in a little and rounding the first turn had to be checked strongly when a hole closed up on him. I thought he looked more focused throughout the race and he took dead aim on Albano once he passed a tiring Vicar’s In Trouble.  

       Now I love speed, hey Quarter horse roots here, but I think Albano is a lightly raced question mark. His jockey, more-or-less, implied he didn’t see Intense Holiday coming. With Vicar’s in Trouble occupying the lane between the two, I can see how that happened.

       So what do I think? I would like to own any one of the horses in that field. But as far as the Kentucky Derby goes, can anybody spell Cairo Prince?

       Lots of fun to be had over the next few weeks on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and I must admit it’s a lot less stressful tapping away at my computer, than campaigning a Kentucky Derby contender. But I would do it again, acid indigestion, sleepless nights and all. The wonder and excitement, easily outweighs the trials and tribulations.

Take care,

Shelley Riley, author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure

www.shelleyriley.com

Top Billing in Fountain of Youth

January 22, 2014

Dear Readers,

          As promised, I am back to the horse races. Got to looking at this race a little late and before I get this posted on the blog, the horses may already be headed for the gate. But here you go, this is The Fountain of Youth, a GII race at Gulfstream Park.

          I took a quick look at all the horses, and here is an equally quick comment section. I have bold typed the names of the horses I think will be most in contention in this race.

Commissioner – out ran Top Billing in Commissioner’s last race. This colt is lightly raced and impressive.

We Miss Artie – likes to stalk the speed, got in lots of trouble in the Breeders Cup. He definitely needed his last race and is always game in the lane. He’s a high headed runner, which is not my favorite running style. Gut wrenching photo finish in his last.

Medal Count – At first glance he seems to in over his head, but then again, you never know.

Wildcat Red – Speed, lots of speed, but can stalk the pace up close. Lost a photo to General A Rod. Another gut wrenching photo finish.

General A Rod – Running himself fit against tough company. Won the photo over Wildcat Red. Another gut wrenching photo finish.

Casiquapo – Beat a long way in Delta Downs Jackpot Stake.

C. Zee – Beat pretty handily by Wildcat Red in the Hutcheson.

Almost Famous – Is definitely going to be first or second in the early stages.

Best Plan Yet – Looked good running in restricted stakes. Last two outs tell a tale, however.

Our Caravan – Looks to need more seasoning against easier company than this.

Hesinfront – Not sure why this horse is in this race. It would be a surprise if he won.

Top Billing – Let’s see….hmmm. Okay he’s got a great trainer, one who is known to have a lot of depth in his stable. He’s got a pedigree to die for. On the down side, he hasn’t hooked up with top company yet. But then again, there is speed in this race and he should be coming at the end.

East Hall – Has the most experience in this race, he’s just not one I would choose to outrun the top flight horses he's up against in here.

So then, who do I pick?

In his last race, Top Billing looked to me like he didn’t like the dirt in his face, early on, especially when the field was bunched up in front of him. He looked amazing rounding the turn for home. He was very wide and looked like he could go off and win by ten or more lengths. Then coming down the lane he went to looking around, jumping up and down and still he won by almost three lengths.

Wildcat Red, We Miss Artie and General A Rod, I can’t separate them. Each is a very nice horse and also extremely game. They all have great futures in front of them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any one of the three finished on the board.

But if I was going to put my two dollars to work, I think I would go place it on Commissioner, lightly raced, and he outran the horse that will probably be the horse favored to win—Top Billing.

In conclusion, this race is so tough, I can’t give an opinion as to how they will stack up. I can’t give you a first, second and third order of finish. If one horse goes off and wins by many in this field, he will definitely be eyeing the road to the Kentucky Derby, and that I can say with certainty.

Take care,

Shelley Riley, author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure

www.shelleyriley.com

Beezle on Booktracks.com

February 19, 2014

Dear Readers,

      So what have I been doing the last few weeks? Writing…lots of writing, just not for the blog. I’ve been working on short stories for inclusion in a compellation to be published in the next few months.

            I’ve completed five so far, not all of which will be included in the first book. Since the common wisdom dictates you should write about what you know, the first book of short stories will be based on a horse/livestock theme.

            On Saturday past, I attended a seminar where a new content creation platform for electronic books was presented. Reading accompanied by audio elements? I was not particularly impressed with the idea at the beginning of the presentation. But half-way through I was curious, and by the end I was inspired to try it out.

            To that end I have uploaded and posted “Beezle” on Booktrack.com. The service is free, no charge to download and use Google Chrome, which you need to have in order to access the content. There is no charge at present for using the site, and all the reading material is currently free. Eventually they will have a premium channel, but for now, in its early stages, it’s FREE.

            Oh how I love free, and it has been my observation so do other readers around the globe, which is why blogs are so popular.

            So how does it work? Currently you use your PC to read and listen to the books, poems and short stories. Booktrack will be launching a new app, in the next couple of weeks, which will allow readers to use their smart phones and tablets.

            These are not audio books; they are books with sound tracks. When I read the first one, I found it distracting. But very quickly it all came together for me and I really liked it. So there is, what I would call, a reading curve.

            The reading speed is adjustable, so the sound effects should be heard in the right places for readers of any speed. So be sure to use the + and – symbols to adjust the reading speed, though the program is intuitive after you have completed the first few pages. It would be a bit of a distraction to have gun shots going off when you have immersed yourself in the next scene, which could be a romantic encounter, a wedding or even a birth.

            Since I tend to read quite rapidly, I did find that the sound effects loading at the beginning of each page included a bit of a lag. I learned to pause or slow down as I turned each page. This is an issue that will be corrected when the new app is launched.

            I spent hours sifting through all their sound effects, and music clips to come up with what I thought enhanced the reading experience. If you don’t like the sounds and just want to read the story, turn down the volume. Beezle has nine scenes and the action is quite compelling by the time you get into scene nine.

            There are a lot of classics currently available and quite a few authors have included pieces in order to introduce readers to their work. I got a kick out of reading a couple offerings in the young adult section.

            One in particular I felt compelled to add a comment to when I’d finished it. If you have time take a look at it; “Priscilla and the Wimps” and it is written by Cole Martin and Robby Brocoli . It is short and entertaining. I don’t know if these are the author’s real names, it has a kind of veggie feel to me, like they may be pulling my leg. But nonetheless, I liked the story, if not the ending.

 

            So here’s the link to my short stories on Booktrack: Beezle is an adventure with lots of action. Token is a flight of fancy I wrote for my Fantasy critique group. I’m not sure the fantasy genre is in my wheelhouse. But I do love Lord of the Rings.  I hope you enjoy reading and listening to Beezle and will want to read my book when it comes out. http://cdn.booktrack.com/studio/index.html#!/bookshelf Or you can type in Beezle or my last name in the search engine. You don’t even need to sign up to read. But if you choose to leave a comment, or rate it, you do.

            So if you haven’t already seen Booktrack.com, I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to share it with you. Next blog I will be looking at the races.

Take care,

Shelley Lee Riley author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure

www.shelleyriley.com