Well, here we go-My best Haskell, EVER
So, the best person who ever friended me, Stephanie, accepted my invitation to come out from Oregon for this year's Haskell because her doggie daycare closed for the week and my dad decided to stay home after his knee replacement on July 8. Brooke came out last year and we had a blast, and she came to Monmouth today too, and despite the weather and my idiotic eccentricities, we were there to admire the best race horse that I have ever laid eyes on in person, or on TV, Rachel Alexandra. I made an early trip out to Oceanport on Friday when Rachel schooled in the paddock, and I have never been as giddy as I was seeing a horse in person as I was that day. My ridiculous character flaws that popped out this weekend started when I left my camera in the car, and the way I get bursitis in my right leg, didn't walk back to the car to get it. I took a few with my phone, but they don't do Rachel justice(Not that I can take a decent horse picture, anyway-The led on my camera washes out in the sun, and I can't focus). I left Monmouth shortly afterward to come back to Philadelphia Airport to pick up Stephanie who was getting in 2 hours late from Portland because her scheduled flight had plane problems, and she was switched from American to USAIR(thanks to the nice lady at AA reservations.) On the way, a nasty thunderstorm blew through, making the drive unpleasant, but not unsafe because I took my time and drove reasonably slow speeds(yay me!) I picked up Brooke at her house after depending on stupid Mapquest directions to her parents place, and we went to pick up Stephanie. We had dinner, I took my friends back to Brooke's parents house for the night and drove out to my hotel near Monmouth Park. When I got there, I went to my room and the key I had wouldn't open my room-I had another key that I had left in my car, I went out to the car and got it, and it didn't work, either, so the hotel clerk made me a new key-I went in and went to bed. Little did I know, that I locked my car keys in the car on the gear shift console. I woke up on Saturday morning and didn't have my keys! I also didn't have my drivers license in my wallet. The hotel clerk asked me for it the night before and I didn't have it. I probably took it out of my wallet at home, or need to go to the photo license place and pay for a new one. So I call AAA after my dad suggested I do so and the guy came out and opened my car in 2 seconds-burglar proof? I go to Monmouth for the day ans got to say hello to my favorite Monmouth trainer, Jason Servis. That guy is so cool, a typical Servis! I broke even on my bets for the day, then Brooke and Stephanie came out to the shore to stay over and go to Monmouth for the Haskell. Since I don't stay this close to the track that often, I don't know a lot of restaurants to go to(Not that my tastes in food are anywhere near other human beings anyway) We drove down to the ocean and found this nice area of shops and restaurants, but I couldn't find a parking place, so I let my companions out to take beach pictures, while I drove around and waited for them. We then headed away from the beach looking for a place to eat, some place nice but not pricey. It was getting late and we were unable to find a nice place, so I stopped at a diner we always passed when driving down from Woodbridge where we usually stay at when my dad and I come to Monmouth, The Americana on Route 35 in Shrewsbury-AVOID THIS DUMP AT ALL COSTS! The food was awful, and the prices weren't that reasonable. So while we're driving around, I demonstrated another of my pathetic character flaws, talking over other people when they're talking. I'm not the best conversationalist in the world, so I'm constantly rude to others. I sincerely apologize for that-I need a muzzle, for sure!
Haskell Day prelims are over! Haskell day arrives, and after a great breakfast, off to the races we go! We go to the paddock and I introduced Stephanie to the best race caller that I've ever known, and one of the nicest people I've ever met at a racetrack, Larry Collmus. His Haskell call was brilliant! We hung around and saw Jason Servis and his dad Joe and said hello-Jason won the first race on Haskell day for the second year in a row! I had met Joe Servis, a former jockey and jockey agent on 2 previous occasions at Charles Town Races, where John and Jason Servis grew up. I can't gush about Jason Servis enough, especially since he does so well on the major circuit that I follow the most. Both of Joe's sons are chips of the block, better quality horseman you'll never meet anywhere. Then the rain came, a nasty band of lightening and moderate rain that caused 2 incidents in a turf race and a main track race back to back. I thought the day should have ended there, but the show must go on, and went on with no further incidents. Turf racing was canceled for the day, gutting the major turf stakes on the card. But then, the race of the summer came up-Rachel Alexandra's Haskell. Brooke and Stephanie camped out in the paddock for 2 races to get a good spot to see the Haskell horses, and I watched them walk over from my seat, and saw them from the second floor windows overlooking the paddock. Rachel came today to run-it seems that she has run the best race of her career every time she has started this year, and today was no exception. Again she broke from the gate cleanly and alertly, rating off a sprinter's pace for the second start in a row, stalking and ready to pounce. As she likes to do, she made her move and overtook Munnings going into the final turn, opening up on the field like she joined the race at the half mile pole to win by 6 lengths. In the past, I rarely took to such dominant runners like her, but her Oaklawn races convinced me that John White and Jeff Segel knew their stuff early this year when they said that Rachel Alexandra was talented-she's the best horse I have ever seen in person or on TV in the modern era post Secretariat-sorry Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Skip Away, Smarty Jones, or Big Brown. I make no apologies for the admiration I have for gushing over this beautiful, powerful horse, she is it for me. I don't care if I die tomorrow after seeing Rachel today. I will see her somewhere when she runs as a 4 year old, absolutely! Her connections were tremendous today-Steve Asmussen was so nice to Stephanie and to Brooke, and he was very complimentary to Monmouth and the fans, as was Jess Jackson. Granted, they did take $750,000 home from Monmouth, but I've heard others come out here and win and not say half as much. The closest I remember after winning here were Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher-Jess and Steve are in their class.
And so are my friends Stephanie and Brooke-they are good quality people who endure my shallowness and rudeness and share my love for beautiful horses, my life. These are 2 of the best people that I've had the pleasure of sharing time with, and I thank them for putting up with my quirks. In closing, I missed my dad tremendously this weekend-I must have called him 30 times for handicapping advice and for tickets he wanted to put in-he gave me the winning late pick 4 today. His knee that he had replaced is coming along tremendously, and will be ready for our Daytona trip on September 18, coinciding with closing week at Monmouth. Lsst year we went to the simulcaast place down there and he hit the pick 4 at the Meadowlands on my BDay for $1561, and the next day he hit another one for $840. He watched Rachel today and just raved about her when I called him tonight
Haskell Day prelims are over! Haskell day arrives, and after a great breakfast, off to the races we go! We go to the paddock and I introduced Stephanie to the best race caller that I've ever known, and one of the nicest people I've ever met at a racetrack, Larry Collmus. His Haskell call was brilliant! We hung around and saw Jason Servis and his dad Joe and said hello-Jason won the first race on Haskell day for the second year in a row! I had met Joe Servis, a former jockey and jockey agent on 2 previous occasions at Charles Town Races, where John and Jason Servis grew up. I can't gush about Jason Servis enough, especially since he does so well on the major circuit that I follow the most. Both of Joe's sons are chips of the block, better quality horseman you'll never meet anywhere. Then the rain came, a nasty band of lightening and moderate rain that caused 2 incidents in a turf race and a main track race back to back. I thought the day should have ended there, but the show must go on, and went on with no further incidents. Turf racing was canceled for the day, gutting the major turf stakes on the card. But then, the race of the summer came up-Rachel Alexandra's Haskell. Brooke and Stephanie camped out in the paddock for 2 races to get a good spot to see the Haskell horses, and I watched them walk over from my seat, and saw them from the second floor windows overlooking the paddock. Rachel came today to run-it seems that she has run the best race of her career every time she has started this year, and today was no exception. Again she broke from the gate cleanly and alertly, rating off a sprinter's pace for the second start in a row, stalking and ready to pounce. As she likes to do, she made her move and overtook Munnings going into the final turn, opening up on the field like she joined the race at the half mile pole to win by 6 lengths. In the past, I rarely took to such dominant runners like her, but her Oaklawn races convinced me that John White and Jeff Segel knew their stuff early this year when they said that Rachel Alexandra was talented-she's the best horse I have ever seen in person or on TV in the modern era post Secretariat-sorry Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Skip Away, Smarty Jones, or Big Brown. I make no apologies for the admiration I have for gushing over this beautiful, powerful horse, she is it for me. I don't care if I die tomorrow after seeing Rachel today. I will see her somewhere when she runs as a 4 year old, absolutely! Her connections were tremendous today-Steve Asmussen was so nice to Stephanie and to Brooke, and he was very complimentary to Monmouth and the fans, as was Jess Jackson. Granted, they did take $750,000 home from Monmouth, but I've heard others come out here and win and not say half as much. The closest I remember after winning here were Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher-Jess and Steve are in their class.
And so are my friends Stephanie and Brooke-they are good quality people who endure my shallowness and rudeness and share my love for beautiful horses, my life. These are 2 of the best people that I've had the pleasure of sharing time with, and I thank them for putting up with my quirks. In closing, I missed my dad tremendously this weekend-I must have called him 30 times for handicapping advice and for tickets he wanted to put in-he gave me the winning late pick 4 today. His knee that he had replaced is coming along tremendously, and will be ready for our Daytona trip on September 18, coinciding with closing week at Monmouth. Lsst year we went to the simulcaast place down there and he hit the pick 4 at the Meadowlands on my BDay for $1561, and the next day he hit another one for $840. He watched Rachel today and just raved about her when I called him tonight