New WInner In OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN Series!
The Old Man of the Mountains Series – Race 9
A mile on Fast Dirt
$50,000
All horses, 8 years old and up, Non-Winners of TWO within the last year
If you don’t know about this great series, check out the link: HERE.
Thanks for joining us at the Pastures of Green here in Vermont, for a wonderful and truly fun series. We are back for the ninth race in the ten race OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN RACE SERIES. A.Contender won the last race to fall into fourth just behind Eminent Minstrel in third and Deputy Wood andRasputin who are tied for the series lead. The top three are out of the series until our host Meat Loaf Loop can win another. That means that last races winner. A.Contender who has “contended” throughout the series can finish second this race and win the final, he will be the Old Man of the Mountain series Champion and garner all of the accolades that come with that. Certainly a nice thing to hang on your wall at the Old Horses Retirement Home! If Meaty can win this time, there will be lots of possiblities by allowing the series leaders back into it. There is always an interesting story or two with a group this old too. It should be fun and interesting as always so let’s take a look:
- The Standings to date in the series:
- Rasputin: 15 Points
- Deputy Wood: 15
- Eminent Minstrel: 12
- A. Contender: 11
- Meat Loaf Loop: 6
- Burg Grooving: 5
- Wally’s Count: 4
- Greek Judge: 3
- Prince Jerry: 3
- Brother Hot: 3
- Brother Metro: 2
- Australia Mat: 1
No disrespect meant to these truly respected veterans but I’ve tried to write this preview with a bent toward having some fun with this series. I hope that you enjoy it and accept it with that in mind. We’ve got a nicely matched field of old codgers so let’s take a look before one of them expires!:
1 – BROTHER METRO ODDS OWNER AGE RACES WINS TOP SPEED AVG SPEED EARNINGS 12/1 StormRun 8 YRS 25 2 93.1 88.0 $28,818
The old guy finally finished back in the top three in the last race of the series. That probably tired him out enough that he won’t be a factor here. Last time he did that, it took him four races to catch his breath again! It will help that he won’t have to run so far from the inside post. He will appreciate that!
| 2 – ADMIRAL JOHNNY | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/1 | LoveOfGame | 10 YRS | 79 | 12 | 86.7 | 75.1 | $ 148,183 |
It’s too bad this old sea captain didn’t join the series earlier because he is really working his way up the board. Let’s see…11th, 10th, 9th…if the series were to go 17 races and he keeps that up he might get that win. You can always plan to see the old Admiral plot a course full speed ahead , unfortunately that full speed just ain’t what it used to be!
| 3 – CHARISMATIC DANCE(GB) | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99/1 | Pagasus | 9 YRS | 84 | 8 | 80.2 | 66.1 | $92,420 |
AH, once again my favorite entry in this series, for some unexplained reason he took the last race off. There were lots of rumors flying but I think he was just getting tired from the previous seven races in the series. Always a contender for the prestigious last place in the OMOTM races, he hasn’t made it yet but he’s come darn close. Once again at 99/1 he is certainly in the hunt but has to worry about that 11 year old Maiden that always seems to trail him. Could be interesting.
| 4 – BURG GROOVING | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/2 | FuzzyCat | 8 YRS | 55 | 8 | 95.7 | 93.0 | $227,663 |
Always poking around the top five in the OMOTM series, he’s like some geezer poking around looking for his glasses. He never seems to find them but finds lots of other lost stuff he’d been looking for. In this case, the lost stuff is top five finishes which he’s accomplished but can’t get that elusive top spot. He seems to run out of energy toward the end of the race for that last push. I guess that’s what happens at this age.
| 5 – WALLY’S COUNT | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | Madrid | 8 YRS | 66 | 17 | 98.4 | 91.4 | $375,607 |
After gathering a second and a third in the third and fourth chapters of the OMOTM series, this guy completely forgot he was supposed to enter and went off and ran against some youngsters. He bumped into one of the other entrants at the bingo hall and now he is back for his third try at the series. I hope those other races didn’t tire him out too much though!
| 6 – PRINCE JERRY | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/1 | CrowBar | 8 YRS | 38 | 9 | 94.1 | 91.4 | $287,856 |
In his two previous series races he finished fourth and second and may have been a real contender in this series if he had started earlier. Unfortunately, he was waiting for his AARP card to come through or something and didn’t get started until late. That seems to be a prevailing problem with the older set. He is certainly one of the favorites here though. A win would sure be nice to share back at the old horses home.
| 7 – THEIR FIGHT | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99/1 | DarkFaerie | 11 YRS | 26 | 0 | 64.1 | 57.7 | $4,209 |
This 11 year old MAIDEN came in last in the seventh race of the series and it tired him out so much that he had to take the next few weeks off. He and Charismatic Dance always seem to be fighting it out for the final spot in this series. This old guy not only hasn’t won in his eleven years, he’s never even finished second! Trainer DarkFaerie say that he is always first to the feed box though. Never seems to miss a meal!
| 8 – BEASTIE PRICE(GB) | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | PeaceFam5 | 8 YRS | 14 | 2 | 91.5 | 83.9 | $46,042 |
Now here is a horse that really knows how to pace himself. This will be his fifteenth race in his eight years. He doesn’t want to extend himself too much. At this rate he might be running his 50th race at age 25! That will be nice, he will be able to run against his grandchildren and maybe even great grandchildren! Wouldn’t that be a sight?!?
| 9 – MOE NATION | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1 | Snake12 | 8 YRS | 73 | 12 | 98.5 | 94.1 | $314,419 |
Now this is more like it…this old guy is running his seventy fourth race and still running in the high 90 SPFs. Not exactly ready yet for the Horsey Nursing Home. Host Meaty had better hope that this guy comes to the party late again for this series next ear because he might be a candidate to win the whole thing. Of course at this advanced age, you just never know when the bottom might fall out!
| 10 – OUR HABANERO | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | WinnersCir | 10 YRS | 30 | 6 | 104.1 | 97.5 | $90,084 |
From South of the Border comes this Hot Stuff Horse. He is actually coming here from a Stakes entry which hardly seems fair to the rest of this geriatric set. Unless he trips over somebody’s walker during the race, he ought to be able to fend off the other oldsters. Of course when you get this old, you never know when someone may stop to take a quick nap so you have to be careful of that.
| 11 – A. CONTENDER | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | WindHmHill | 8 YRS | 46 | 6 | 93.1 | 88.0 | $ 183,656 |
Here is the story of the race. If he can finish second here and win the final race, he could actually win the series. He has played it just right for the series but has to continue to place while hoping that our hose Meaty doesn’t win this race. Trainer WindHmHill has kept the old guy in linament and Geritol and whatever else it took to get him through the series. He only missed the first race and has made the rest. A.Contender for sure!
| 12 – HIS TRAPS | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35/1 | SixesPlus | 10 YRS | 65 | 9 | 79.8 | 73.6 | $71,960 |
You’ve got to give this guy the award for stuborness. He has now been in five races in the series and never finished higher than 10th. That won’t stop him though. He lines up every race just like the guys at the Social Security office. He may be in the race for last with the previous old guys that I mentioned. That’s not all bad as that is just about as prestigious as finishing first in this race!
| 13 – MEAT LOAF LOOP | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | SunnyBank | 8 YRS | 86 | 19 | 95.6 | 83.2 | $513,515 |
Our host is parked out in the Handicapped Lot way out on the outside. That means he has to run even further than normal and he hasn’t exactly been burning up the track on his last couple of races. Maybe he needs to lose the cane. That thing might just be getting in the way. There is no one in the race with more heart though and don’t ever count this guy out. I sure wouldn’t be surprised to see him rolling down the stretch in first or perhaps that is just a distant memory at this point.
Morning Line = 10-9-6-11-4
Yoss Tipsheet = 9-10-6-11
Paz Picks = 10-9-6-11-13
In this series it is almost as important to pick the last place as the first. It should be one whale of a race for last place between HIS TRAPS and CHARISMATIC DANCE and that old maiden THEIR FIGHT . It is hard to pick against any of them but I think that THEIR FIGHT will bring up the rear. I always like to mention our host, MEAT LOAF LOOP and I have him picked for fifth as he always puts forth a good effort and looks like he may ready for another win. Pretty tough in this crowd though. I like A. CONTENDER to just miss the board and have a fourth place finish. That would end his series possiblities. It looks like PRINCE JERRY should be able to move his walker up into third place and I like MOE NATION to battle it out for the win with OUR HABANERO . It appears to me that OUR HABANERO has enough hot sauce left to win this ninth race in the series.
Good luck to all runners!
Email your comments to pazjazz.btb@gmail.com. I love to hear from you!
