California Girls Go Crazy!
by Darcy “Dingo” Macphee
***** BREAKING NEWS *****
Flashes across the screen of my mobile phone, as I turn it on landing in Auckland NZ, having departed my home base of Cairns in Northern Australia just under 5 hours ago. Needing a rest room more urgently than the need to read some News Flash I drop the phone back into my Back Pack. Two hours later I am boarding my flight departing for Las Vegas via a stop over in Los Angeles after a couple of refreshing NZ ales, after taking my seat I go to turn off my mobile phone for the flight, when I remember that News Flash I got on landing and decided to check it out.
***** BREAKING NEWS *****
Against all recent trends a sudden rush on Bud Light stocks saw all remaining on shelf stock sell out totally at all retailers on the West Coast from San Francisco to San Diego. Reports are coming in from all along the coast about blonde bikini clad girls all wearing anti-vax masks buying up every can of Bud Light available. More to follow as we gather more information on this strange phenomenon.
I just shake my head and think to myself, ONLY in California ONLY in the USA, turn off my phone toss it back into its place in my travel bag and settle in for the 12 hours plus night time flight to LA. Having used my charm and some luck I had managed to snag an Airbed row to myself as a free upgrade.
Due to land at around 09:00 local time Thursday in Los Angeles I find myself being gently shaken awake by a vision of Air New Zealand loveliness some 90 minutes earlier than expected.
“I’m sorry Sir, but we have been instructed that the Captain has an urgent announcement that requires everyone’s attention.”
Then she has moved on to wake the next lucky passenger, but with the usual efficient service the breakfast trolley with hot strong coffee and a bagel is following along close behind.
5 minutes later
“This is your Captain speaking, sorry for the early wake up call, this is to inform all on board that due to an unforeseen occurrence in Los Angeles none of the local airfields can accept any traffic for at least 8 hours. We are unaware of what that circumstance is but we have been instructed to land in San Diego and we are hoping our ground staff will be better informed on arrival. Complimentary full buffet breakfast will be available to all passengers in the Air New Zealand lounge, where you will be appraised of the full situation. Thank you for your understanding.”
I won’t bore you my readers with the details of the totally chaotic next 5 hours needless to say we were offered a free hotel room with a free bus ride to LA tomorrow. I took the hotel room offer but declined the bus ride instead opting to rent a car and drive direct from San Diego to Las Vegas. At least that was the plan until I found out what caused this unexpected diversion to my travel itinerary.
After, checking into my freebie hotel room and heading directly to the bar, a rumour rapidly surfaced that a rather strange attack on all of LA’s airports had occurred. An aerial bombardment of all runways able to land a passenger jet by a fleet of helicopters crewed by vax masked blonde bikini clad miscreants. They were emptying out case after case of Bud Light onto the runways below, where the glass and aluminium containers exploded on contact with the concrete creating a beer suds flood strewn with shards of glass and aluminium rendering them totally unusable.
Apparently, this weekend is the Annual California Girls Wanna Have Fun Bash centred around the Sonoma / San Diego / Los Angeles areas. Unfortunately, some bright spark in the media centre thought it would be a good idea to invite a certain “Internet Influencer” to MC the whole shebang. This most definitely didn’t seem to sit well with the authentic California Girls, hence the resulting mayhem to block the arrival of said “Influencer”.
Seems that word went around and some of the Girls behind the running of the Wanna Have Fun Bash heard that ol’ Darcy is a fairly well-known scribe in the Racing World. These Girls sought me out at the bar and asked ever so politely if I would mind covering their Premier Event at Del Mar tomorrow – the Group 1 Girls Wanna Have Fun Stakes.
Now how could a man say no to such an invite especially as it included a free pass to tonight’s Beach Party and Concert down at the San Deguito River Beach.
FRIDAY 25th Sometime in the afternoon
I found myself covered in sand laying in the waterless bathtub of my hotel room with a post it note stuck on …….. my Big Toe that read –
“thanks for the fun night at the beach, a courier will be by at 6pm to pick up your Race Preview Love The Cali Gals.”
So here I am at least trying to hold up my end of the bargain made yesterday
The Group 1 Girls Wanna Have Fun Stakes for 3yo Fillies over 8 furlongs aptly on the Sand Track of Del Mar raceway
I made some inquiries about the race and the hoopla surrounding it and it seems the horses will parade before the race to the strains of guest artist Cyndi Lauper singing her anthem Girls Just Wanna Have Fun along with a rendition of California Girls Surfer Girl and other iconic beach music.
The Field:
No. 1 SUSIE AND ELAINE
Trainer Tamure brings this gorgeous local chestnut filly to Del Mar today for her 13th race start and also her 13th start on a Californian Track. She is most definitely the iconic California Girl in this race and is most definitely acclimatised to the hot weather expected for tomorrow’s race. She has shown reasonable form at the shorter distances.
However, this will be her 1st attempt going longer than 6.5 furlongs and this could be a telling unknown factor in her chances as she will start outsider of the field at 12/1.
No. 2 SIG SAUER
There is no doubting that trainer Crandy brings her to the race as the Gun of the field, at least by name. Having never raced outside of the Continental USA she has shown she also enjoys racing in the warmth of the Californian sun. She has reasonable form as a 2 year old, but so far has failed to live up to expectations as a 3 year old. She did manage a 100 SP for the first time last outing, but even so she finished mid pack in an NW3L Allowance.
Under her true odds at 9/1 for me, I would prefer to wait for a softer race maybe the music can spur her on to greater heights!
No. 3 SCARABYTE
Coming off the back of 2 Group 2 wins in her past 3 starts, she has not only the look of greatness but the form to back it up. With a name like Stoners her trainer was obviously at the Beach Party last night, and by the look of him probably still should be. With 10 of her past 12 starts being at a different track, she obviously enjoys travelling.
At 3/1 she would appear to be the value bet for those punters who like to back a horse in form and with an impeccable pedigree. But there are dangers lurking!
No. 4 WOETTE’S VIZION
Trainer Zeco brings this striking Grey Filly back to the scene of her best Group run a 2nd in last April’s California Oaks. She travelled to Kentucky to take on a hot field in the Bluegrass Oaks on Derby Day, but found the opposition just too strong for her. The drop in class here along with a return to a track she likes gives her a definite chance.
Prepost at 6/1 she will definitely attract some solid bets and it would be no surprise to see her give trainer reward for effort. He has even flown in a member of the family to ride her tomorrow.
No. 5 HONOR PEPPER
Hopes are high around the stables of John5539 as word circulates around the stables that she is on a definite improve. Winner of 4 of her past 6 starts and with only 8 lifetime starts she has always shown plenty to her connections only to dash them twice when reaching for a higher class win.
If enthusiasm can win a race then she is almost in the winners circle already, if only she can match the stables enthusiasm with her ample talent, 7/1 will be over the odds.
No. 6 CANDY TWO FLOSS
Winner of her past 2 starts at Group 1 level and of 6 of her 9 lifetime starts this strong Filly has never missed the board and looks the biggest danger to the favourite in tomorrow’s race. Trainer 3away has her trained to the micro second, for a huge effort tomorrow.
One of 3 fillies on the 2nd line of betting at 5/1 she is one that you definitely need to put in all your exotics, failure to do so would be making a donation to the Betting Gods!
No. 7 COSMIC REWIND
Trainer Theoc must be the optimist among the trainers, (every big race has one). This sweet little filly and she is tiny, finally 4 starts back broke her maiden at her ninth attempt. However, that win seems to have boosted her confidence as her past 3 runs have been her 2nd win sandwiched between 2 second place finishes, the last of which she posted a career best 111 SP.
Most likely on the back of her last start the bookies are keeping her safe as another of our 5/1 shots.
No. 8 POST RUN
If the trainer of the 7 horse is the optimist of the field, trainer Giroux28 must be the sneaky one. Although probably the most inexperienced of our trainers, they have managed to snag Mr Mike Wallace as the jockey for their filly. Giroux28 was the only trainer who realised that if there were bikini clad girls to be found Mr Wallace would not be far away. Convincing him to take the ride wasn’t difficult when a free stable pass to tomorrows after race party plus a horse that has won her last 3 starts including the Group 2 Meow Now last run, were on offer.
The third of our fillies on the second line of betting at 5/1 and with the magician of coding in the saddle thinks look bright for a great result tomorrow.
No. 9 GREY DARK
The last of our 9 runners for the big race tomorrow, trainer Thebigshow quite openly admits that he is aware that his filly is at best a long shot for tomorrow’s race. He is also happy to admit he doesn’t mind one iota, he loves the California Beaches and the California girls and when they have fun he wants to be there. His catch cry of “It’s All About The Show” was heard echoing off the cliff’s in the early hours of this morning and are sure to be heard for the remainder of the weekends festivities.
At 10/1, no-one gives this filly much chance, but the lack of any pressure on her may just spring a surprise for her more well performed opponents.
Tossing the form papers onto the desk I am finally able to relax and take a shower along with a scotch and 3 Advil.
The girls advised me that if I can manage to select the trifecta there will be some kind of bonus in it for me at the after-race party tomorrow night, I have no idea what they are offering, but no way it can’t be something worth collecting
In order I select 6 to win from the 3 and the 8 – fingers crossed, I think I will try and negotiate that I can at least claim a win if I get the trifecta boxed.
Just in time the courier has arrived to pick up this preview, look for it in the BTB (Babes, Tushies and Boobs)
Cheers
BTB has gone Playboy After Hours!
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