Talkin’ Horses at the Fair Downs
It was a really nice day today in the Bay Area and by the time the races started I began to feel badly about sitting at home in front of the computer. Thankfully my brain felt like leaving the house to go sit in the turf club at the San Jose Fair Downs qualified as “getting out”.
I stayed there through the Donn. I am a MEXIKOMA fan. He is a prior Derby future wager. And I liked his chances quite a bit there and was glad to put in some bets built around him at 10-1. Close but no cigar. It would be neat if he came to Santa Anita for the Big ‘Cap, as Team Valor indicated was a possibility on Twitter.
I did notice in the race conditions that the top three received $10,000 in travel expenses and free nomination to the Big ‘Cap. I don’t know how old that incentive is, but I like it. Southern California can use a little bit of a boost in the quality and/or competitiveness of its stakes fields.
It was a more lively crowd than any I have been a part of at the Fair Downs. This was probably my fourth or fifth time going. There were some guys who knew their stuff and would talk about it. Talking horses is always fun. Of course the one anecdote to pass on is of the guy who annoyed me the most. I have to get it off my chest.
But this guy lost his shit when UNCLE LINO put some pressure on I WILL SCORE early. Flipping out because they’re dueling and why would you do that!?!?! Everybody’s like, “Dude, they’re taking it easy.” He’d have none of it. He never would even say what his bet was. It must have been I Will Score, and he wanted him to be free up there.
But then even when Uncle Lino held for second he was adamant Gary Sherlock was a dumbass. So maybe he had that one? And wanted him to sit back of another with an easy lead and have to make up a bunch of ground on that? You think he would have done better than he did?
Aggravating and hilarious at the same time.
Also, Tampa Bay Downs taking the fifth race off the grass messed up my whole day. That is merely aggravating.
