Host and Series Leader both MIA in Old Man Series!

The Old Man of the Mountains Series III – Race 6
A mile on the Firm Turf Course
$50,000
All horses, 8 years old and up, Non-Winners of THREE within the last year

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If you don’t know about this great series, it started two years ago with Sunnybank hating to see the end of MEAT LOAF LOOP’s career come about too quickly so he set up a ten race series where “MEATY” would host the races with his conditions and any fellow old codgers could join in the fun and gather points during the series for scoring first through third in the races. The twist to this series is that if you win, you have to wait for the Host to win too or you won’t qualify for subsequent races until he does. It proved to be great fun last year and went down to the wire with the final race deciding the winner of the series. This year our host will be trainer RiverDance and the LilBitFarms Stables and their grand old horse, USA who has had a nice long career and is ready for one last hurrah.

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Unfortunately we are facing something that has never happened before in any of our three Old Man of the Mountain Series…our host USA took a serious injury and still isn’t ready to race. He had been kind of floundering the last two races and trainer RiverDance knew something wasn’t right but after last race he’s really been laid up and there is really no telling when he might be back. But as they say in show business, The SHOW must go on! We are also missing series leader LEGADILLO who seemingly just forgot to show up this time. That certainly happens from time to time with these elderly horses but not usually with the leading horses.

Anyway, that leaves the top open as two of the youngest oldsters aren’t going to compete. We have plenty of dead weight at the back of the pack though and that is always a hotly contested race for the final spot coming across the wire. That is the fun part of this series, you really have NO idea what may happen!

Here are the standings to date in the series:

The Leader Standings in the series:
• LEGADILLO (LuvsTheKey) 16 Points
• WHISPER (Be1stFarms) 8 Points
• CELTIC LEGEND (Correction) 8 Points
• OASIS CAT (MEP) 6 Points
• USA (RiverDance) 6 Points
• COROKEYPRIN (IrishMan2) 3 Points
• FURIOUS ODYSSEUS (RedRum) 3 Points

Sun Dial Standings in the series:
• PRESTO (Ernieman) 16 Points
• USA (RiverDance) 9 Points
• RUBY ATTIC (FaerieBad) 9 Points
• MARIO MOMENT (Tsunami3) 6 Points
• SLY SHOT (Tsunami36) 3 Points
• LARIONOV (IrishMan) 3 Points
• SERPENTINE INVADER (DarkFaerie) 2 Points
• BRATTICUS (TheFred) 1 Point
• LYNCHBURG LEMONDADE (ErnieMan) 1 Point

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 – RECORD SETTER	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	23/1	GreenIrish	8 YRS	64	12	99.23	4 Back	$ 246,052

It’s been a kind of frustrating series for this old record setter. He’s come in fourth a couple of times but there are no points for that. Trainer GreenIrish is hoping that by having him parked this far inside he might finally get on the board. This will be his third time from the post in this series and the other two were the fourth place finishes. Perhaps he can find just a bit more energy this time in those old legs.

2 – LYNCHBURG LEMONADE	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	99/1	Ravin	10 YRS	66	5	102.53	27 Back	$73,868

This old Southern Gent was more than 30 lengths back at the end of the last race and he still didn’t finish last! He has run a few of these races though and is always a strong threat to bring up the rear. Trainer Ravin has been known to share one of those Lynchburg Lemonades with the namesake of that favorite southern drink, hopefully the old boy can stagger home!

3 – PRESTO(GB)	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	AVG SPEED	EARNINGS
	99/1	ErnieMan	9 YRS	65	14	96.67	10 Back	$277,628

This old magician did a real presto-changeo last time out when he again disappeared during the race only to bring up the rear well after everyone else had finished. He cemented his lead in the Sun Dial series and should once again be using his magic to put himself to sleep and challenge for the caboose in the race!

4 – SERPENTINE INVADER	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	99/1	DarkFaerie	10 YRS	48	5	99.93	4 Back	$ 34,809

This crooked old guy had his best race of the series last time out when he finished in eighth. Perhaps that will inspire him to continue to move the old bones up the ladder like the old Invader used to do in the old days. I’m afraid that those days are just a distant memory and he will probably move closer to his customary spot at the back of the field.

5 – CELTIC LEGEND	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	3/1	Correction	9 YRS	48	17	121.44	6 Back	$753,480

This old Legend really seems to know what he is doing as he continues to finish in the top three and gathers points without worrying about being disqualified for the conditions of the race. His Irish heritage must include some sort of Leprechaun powers with the fountain of youth ‘cause he keeps getting it done at an advanced age!

6 – WHISPER	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	3/1	Be1stFarms	9 YRS	82	24	113.41	2 Back	$848,728

The old gal is back for more and she has been giving the old boys as much as they want to handle! She is constantly finishing in the top three then sashaying back to the barn and rubbing it in their old faces! You can bet that they don’t like that much but there ain’t much they can do about it if she continues to beat them!

7 – BRATTICUS	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	AVG SPEED	EARNINGS
	39/1	TheFred	9 YRS	46	7	102.66	10 Back	$274,287

As you get a little older life seems to become more consistent. You get up the same time, you go to bed the same time, you eat the same time, you even … well you get the idea. This guy gets it too. In his five race in this series, he’s finished 11th three times, 10th once, and 12th once. What does that get him…1 stinkin’ point in the Sun Dial standings. He needs to be just a bit slower and a little less consistent and he could be right in there. I’d hate to see him get off of his daily routine though!

8 – SEDAN DIP	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	5/1	Aussie	9 YRS	62	8	112.74	22 Back	$210,152

Here’s a guy that has been running with the youngsters and doing fairly well but the last time he actually won a race it was right after those dinosaur races! He can enter any conditions that state NW in Last 22! Trainer Aussie realizes that maybe it might be getting time to start collecting that Social Security check and hanging around at the Bingo Hall a little more than running around that oval. He is one of the favorites here though, so we will see what he can still do.

9 – COROKEYPRIN	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	7/1	IrishMan2	8 YRS	68	12	104.30	8 Back	$ 207,345

Two back he wheeled his walker out to a second place finish then it tired him out so much that he barely made it home in sixth last time out. He’s been gobbling down the geritol and chasing the young fillies a bit since then and trainer IrishMan2 feels that he might be ready to get back into the points gathering for this series. Hopefully he won’t over do it again and have a set back. It takes a little longer than it used to when it comes time to get those old bones going.

10– RUBY ATTIC	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	99/1	FaerieBad	12 YRS	81	7	106.66	10 Back	$ 72,473

This ancient equine was right in the mix of the Sun Dial series going into the last race and then he completely forgot to show up! That happens a bit when you are a 12 year old. You can forget almost anything… now where did I put that saddle? Anyway, he is back now and it looks like he has everything that he needs to run near the back of the pack. He should challenge PRESTO for that coveted caboose position in this race. That is if he doesn’t fall asleep in the gate!

11 – FIVE GROUSE	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	AVG SPEED	EARNINGS
	12/1	MtnMan	8 YRS	49	9	107.12	2 Back	$342,329

Another newcomer to our series and who better to train a horse for the Old Man of the Mountain series than MtnMan? This old bird should be plenty tough as he won his next to last race and was running in Stakes races just last year. The only thing is that he is another year older and isn’t used to running a whole mile. He may be wheezin’ and geezin’ at the end and looking for the line to the oxygen tank. In that case, he will fit right in with the regulars!

12 – SURELY WITHIN FOOL(GB)	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	13/1	Steelers	10 YRS	40	7	101.17	2 Back	$160,918

This lightly raced ten year old averages about four races a year in his career. He ought to have plenty of energy saved up for the twilight of his resume! He won two back with a crawling 76 SPF and came back with a 92 last time out at a mile. Looks like he was training for this one and could surprise a few folks. That’s not always good around these old horses as sudden surprises can lead to heart attacks and such but if he can just slip up on them in the stretch it might be okay!

13 – FURIOUS ODYSSEUS	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	9/2	Redrum	8 YRS	60	13	101.03	12 Back	$235,811

Mr. Grumpy here keeps coming back for more and keeps just missing out on the points they are handing out at the front of the field after the race. He keeps getting more and more Furious about it too. Word is that he hasn’t been much fun to be around back at the Senior Citizens center and some of the old guys were actually talking about throwing him a third place just to escape his sour attitude. There is still too much competitive blood flowing around these old timers and I doubt that will happen though.

14 – BEEF TOOTH	ODDS	OWNER	AGE	RACES	WINS	TOP SPEED	LAST WIN	EARNINGS
	72/1	FaerieBad	9 YRS	47	2	97.99	15 Back	$48,445

After knocking around a bit in the last OMOTM series, this old guy said “Why not?” when trainer FaerieBad asked if he wanted to try something new by turning back to the turf. He has run on the dirt in almost all of his 47 races but what the heck, he is nearing retirement and needs something to do when that happens. Might as well practice strolling around on the grass now while he can still do it. We will see if that stroll actually leads to anything here.

Morning Line = 5-6-13-8-9
Paz Picks = 6-5-13

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In this series it is actually prestigious to finish at the way back of the pack. There are plenty of horses to challenge for that spot in this race. I believe that PRESTO will once again finish last and pad his lead but with LYNCHBURG LEMONADE and RUBY ATTIC in this race, he will really have to slow it to nearly a standstill if he wants to make sure of that. We will really miss our host USA and hope that he is doing well and can rejoin us next race. It looks to me like there will be two horse battling it out for those points in the absence of Series leader LEGADILLO . I think that CELTIC LEGEND. and the Grand Dame WHISPER will be battling it out and whichever can win will move within a couple of points of the overall lead in the OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN standings. I’m picking the spinster, WHISPER to once again beat the boys and throw it in their faces back at the barn.

Good luck to all runners!

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