The Old Man of the Mountains Series IV – Race 3
A mile on the Firm Turf Course
$50,000
All horses, 8 years old and up, Non-Winners of THREE within the last year
After the last Old Man of the Mountain weekend this one will seem like a piece of cake. You may remember that we had races in both Vermont AND New Hampshire on Valentine’s weekend with full fields of 20. There were more than 30 entries for this race as it looked like a health fair at the Senior Citizens center with everyone trying to get in. Where do all of these old folks hand out when the Old Man series isn’t in town?!? Anyway, there should be lots of wheezing and geezing going on and it should be a blast to watch.
If you don’t know about this great series, it started three 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 always proves to be great fun with grand old horses and usually the final race deciding the winner of the series. This year our host will be trainer Kelsobarn and the LilBitFarms Stables and their grand old horse, THREE WISE MEN who has had a nice long career and is ready for one last hurrah.
Thanks for joining us at the Pastures of Green here in Vermont, for a wonderful and truly fun series. This week we are running an eight year old NW of THREE in the last year but that could change for the next race with another win by our host for the next race. We have enough experience gathered in this race to probably eclipse the rest of the card at Vermont this weekend. It is always a fun series and a great opportunity for some of our elder statesmen.
The Leader Standings in the series:
- THREE WISE MEN (Kelsobarn) 7 Point
- OR NOT TWO PUNCH (Decker) 6 Points
- P J LORD NELSON (Plunk5) 6 Points
- WORKING TITLE (Gerbil) 3 Points
- CITY DEVIL (Capote99) 3 Points
- DIABOLICAL PRINCE (Ruffino) 3 Points
- TEQUILA SLAMMER II (Rharfonz) 1 Point
- SOLAR SHADE (Jesus) 1 Point
Sun Dial Standings in the series:
- BEEF TOOTH (Faeriebad) 6 Points
- WHO CAN I TURN TO (Pecos197) 6 Points
- THE ARMS OF ORION (CMD2001) 6 Points
- CENTERFOLD SPARK (Millview20) 3 Points
- SANDY RACK (LostKey2) 3 Points
- SON OF RABBIT (WnrsCircle) 3 Points
- BRATTICUS (TheFred) 1 Point
- VERBID’S GAL (Superfly) 1 Point
- SKY WAHBIT II (Nineteen) 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 – GENE SCOTT | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 9/1 | BeeAScout | 9 YRS | 44 | 12 | 116 | 3 Back | $306,274 |
After coming out as one of the favorites in the first race of this series, he finished fourth just out of the points. The crotchety old guy was so ticked off that he refused to run in the series again. I guess he has mellowed for trainer BeeAScout as he is going to give it another go. He can still move for an old guy so he should be able to get the old bones up near the front at the end and have a few more stories to tell back at the barn.
| 2 – SUB WOOFER II (IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 99/1 | Faeriebad | 8 YRS | 65 | 8 | 87 | 4 Back | $ 113,711 |
You know how it is…you get up in years and decide to start going through that bucket list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Apparently this old guy wants to win a dirt sprint because after racing turf marathons for 21 races in a row and all but three of his 65 races, he’s decided to run a short one on the dirt. Or maybe he just forgot what he likes to run. That can happen at this age too. Hopefully trainer Faeriebad can get him to not pace himself too much or the race will be over!
| 3 – SANDY SPRING | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 10/1 | DB | 9 YRS | 38 | 7 | 109 | 4 Back | $79,932 |
After finding this old gent at the auction kicking around, trainer DB has decided to run him against the other elder statesmen of the Sim. He looks like he can still compete too with the SPFs he’s been putting up. Not bad for someone that started his career running against the dinosaurs way back when. He could jump right into this series and start putting up serious points if he doesn’t get too tired.
| 4 – THREE WISE MEN | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 10/1 | Kelsobarn | 8 YRS | 45 | 14 | 105 | Last Out | $287,609 |
Our host is on a hot streak! He has won two of his last three and the other was a third. The last two were in this series of course and he is leading the standings by a point. Trainer Kelsobarn must be thinking that this old guy can host the next OMOTM series as well! This may not have to be a farewell tour. He’s going to have his work cut out for him here as there are a few tough old birds ready to try and wrestle the lead from him. He is as wise as his name though and could be tough once again.
| 5 – CITY DEVIL | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
| 17/1 | Capote99 | 9 YRS | 27 | 7 | 110 | 2 Back | $144,481 |
This old guy just missed winning one of the races last time out in the series. He was nipped at the wire by OR NOT TWO PUNCH who is also in this race. Can he get those nine year old bones moving that fast again? Trainer Capote99 has been resting him and feeding him extra vitamins and iron to get him ready. Will he continue his stellar efforts of the past few races or is he finally wearing down? We will have to watch and see but I think he still has a bit of “Devil” in him.
| 6 – TEQUILA SLAMMER II | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 16/1 | Rharfonz | 9 YRS | 82 | 13 | 114 | 22 Back | $ 375,514 |
Eighty Two races for this guy. If he races in the rest of the series he will start to get close to that 100 race mark that ends the career of a Sim horse. He has hit the board more than half of those races so don’t count him out in this one. He’s still putting up some pretty good SPFs for trainer Rharfonz and he’s doing it without the aid of a cane! Those old tires have quite a few miles on them but I think he has enough tread left to keep it interesting in the series. Could be interesting.
| 7 – WORKING TITLE | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 21/1 | Gerbil | 8 YRS | 60 | 11 | 101 | 15 Back | $220,626 |
This well bred gentleman has been equally comfortable on either grass or dirt although he has run much more on the former. His last outing was back on the clay and he looked pretty sharp for an eight year old. Trainer Gerbil has to wonder if he may have run him too much on turf. Is it too late to make a change for this guy. You know the old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s about time this guy decided! Perhaps this race will help in that decision.
| 8 – OR NOT TWO PUNCH | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 9/1 | Decker | 9 YRS | 55 | 21 | 115 | Last Outk | $598169 |
This punchy old grey horse wasn’t messing around in his first try at the OMOTM series. He came from way back in 18th place to win by nearly two lengths last time out. He looked like a horse half his age but that comes from the experience of winning over 20 races. The bones might be a bit slower but knowing what to do with what you have can carry you through. Trainer Decker would like to get this old guy on the board but perhaps not gathering the win so that he can continue to race within the restrictions. Kind of a new way to spin the saying, One-Two- Punch.
| 9- THE ARMS OF ORION | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 23/1 | CMD2001 | 10 YRS | 54 | 8 | 108 | 6 Back | $226,667 |
The first race of this series, this old star gazer finished as the caboose in the race and took the early lead in the clubhouse for the series. Unfortunately, that tired him out so much he completely missed the twin races in the second slot of the series. That means that there is a three way tie for the Sun Dial standings and tow of the participants are here to “anchor” the race. Trainer CMD2001 will have some major competition if he thinks that this horse will be moving to the back easily. He may want to trip over his walker a couple of times or something to try and guarantee it.
| 10 – TOW BITER | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 32/1 | Surfcatt | 10 YRS | 20 | 5 | 99 | 6 Back | $ 46,943 |
There is nothing like a lightly raced ten year old…this teenager is averaging two races a year so he shouldn’t be too tired. You have to wonder what percentage of his feed bill was paid by his $47,000 in earnings. Trainer Surfcatt has owned him for three quarters of those 20 races and has gotten the most out of him. I’m not sure if he has enough speed to contend with his fellow senior citizens but he sure shouldn’t have to worry about wear and tear over the years.
| 11 – QUITE LOST | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 39/1 | Teamgreg | 9 YRS | 59 | 8 | 107 | 14 Back | $105,862 |
It’s nice to see the ladies join us in the Old Man of the Mountain series and this pretty chestnut mare is no exception. She’s had a nice little career and has aged rather gracefully. Don’t think that a grand dam can’t compete in this series as we have had them right near the top of the standings before. You would be surprised how willing they are to stick their walker out in front of one of the guys and trip them up down the stretch! Hopefully trainer TeamGreg will have her on her best behavior here though.
| 12 – ATAKACHAW | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
| 19/1 | Cadiz | 9 YRS | 60 | 17 | 121.74 | 4 Back | $1,809,800 |
This old vet just doesn’t want to hang up the old horseshoes. He is a decorated champion and continues to race with his head held high even though he can tell stories of back in the days when they took the losers and turned them into chariot horses. He was in the first two races of the series and has finished just outside the points. Trainer Cadiz is pumping more Geritol in him and trying to move him up just a bit to get in the mix. Sometimes they can overlook those arthritic pains and throw in a race to remind you of the glory days. Perhaps this will be it.
| 13 – ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
| 8/1 | SherwoodPK | 8 YRS | 51 | 12 | 117 | 7 Back | $491,581 |
A former Graded winner that still runs them like he wants to make sure he isn’t the last for Bingo at the retirement home. He has lots of stories to tell the young fillies back at the stable and wouldn’t mind having a fresher story to tell from this race. You would think that he would like the shorter distance than he is used to in these races but it seems that trainer SherwoodPK can’t get him to move the old bones quick enough to get to the front before the race is over. Maybe he will remember that this is a sprint this time out!
| 14 – DIABOLICAL PRINCE | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 7/1 | Ruffino | 8 YRS | 48 | 13 | 115 | 4 Back | $ 701,774 |
This old Prince just missed in the first race of this series and forgot to race in the second race. That happens quite often at this age, they will forget most everything. Now where did I put that saddle…oh there it is, right on my back! Trainer Ruffino has been with him all along and knows this vet quite well. The two of them should be able to get it together and compete for the win here.
| 15 – OUR REASONS AGAIN | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 9/1 | Rharfbeam | 8 YRS | 62 | 20 | 109 | 5 Back | $ 689,191 |
This old girl could definitely give the guys a run for their money. It wasn’t very long ago that she was running and winning Stakes races and she can still get the old legs a swingin’ pretty good. Trainer Rharfbeam has had some really good times with this girl and would like a few more feathers to put into that cap of hers before she heads off to the breeding shed to turn out little reasons. She has a good chance to embarrass the old men here and they sure hate that!
| 16 – BRATTICUS | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 99/1 | TheFred | 10 YRS | 51 | 8 | 102 | 3 Back | $ 304,727 |
This old geezer is in his third consecutive OMOTM series and he has challenged for the back in all of them. He doesn’t care whether it is a long or short race, on turf or on the dirt he can slow down with the best of them. There are rumors that trainer TheFred is feeding him lead pellets to make him even more able to bring up the rear. A very real candidate for the Sun Dial award here.
| 17 – PENNY SAVER | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 11/1 | GotsToBe | 8 YRS | 62 | 10 | 106 | 3 Back | $160,223 |
This regal guy with the cheap name and the excellent pedigree was running like a youngster until he ran in the first race of our series. It appears that when he got around all of those Senior Citizens staying up late and telling all of those old stories in the stable, he missed out on his sleep and ran like the old man that he is. Hopefully trainer GotsToBe will enforce a curfew and let him get some shuteye so he can compete again.
| 18 – VERBID’S GAL | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 99/1 | Superfly | 10 YRS | 72 | 19 | 99 | 16 Back | $125,272 |
Although this old guy with the gal’s name has won 19 races in his career, the last one was far enough back that he probably doesn’t even remember it. He is a worthy candidate for our Sun Dial standings and actually has some points there after the last race. Trainer Superfly watched him miss a near photo finish at the back of the last race and he should be in that mix again especially when parking this far outside at the gate.
| 19 – PJ LORD NELSON | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | EARNINGS |
| 6/1 | Plunk5 | 8 YRS | 56 | 17 | 111 | 2 Back | $517,982 |
After blowing away the field in our first race of the series, this old admiral decided to really feel his oats and take on the youngsters in a Stakes race. He did quite well but couldn’t hit the payoffs. Did that race wear out these old bones or is he ready to show this field again what it’s like to run like a youngster at a ripe old age. Trainer Plunk5 would like to see a finish in the top three here and if he wins, wait until May to get back under the restrictions when one of his wins falls off. If he could manage a second, he could stay in and really rack up some points in the series.
| 20 – BEEF TOOTH | ODDS | OWNER | AGE | RACES | WINS | TOP SPEED | LAST WIN | EARNINGS |
| 99/1 | Faeriebad | 10 YRS | 54 | 2 | 97 | 22 Back | $ 48,445 |
This old guy is running in his third straight Old Man series and he showed them in the last race just how slow he is. They run this race last on the card just in case they get a horse like this one that might not finish before the next race started if they ran it in the middle of the card. Trainer Faeribad is famous for finding these old gents and he has a true candidate for the Sun Dial award here. Hopefully he will finish before all of the patrons go home!
Morning Line = 19-14-1-8-15
Paz Picks = 19-14-15-4-8
I don’t know if our host, THREE WISE MEN can do it again but there is some tough competition in this race. How do these trainers get so much out of these old vets at this age? My horses never seem to make it past three year olds! I am picking THREE WISE MEN for fourth in the race. I like the old girl, OUR REASONS AGAIN for third and she has a chance to move up and embarrass the old guys. That leaves two grizzled old vets to battle it out for the win and I think DIABOLICAL PRINCE will fall just short to PJ LORD NELSON who will take the lead in the series. In this series half of the fun is the fact that it is just as important to finish at the back as it is to win. There is a separate award for that and I think that SUB WOOFER II will have an adverse reaction to the short race on the clay and finish close to the rear. It should be a real race for the caboose though between BRATTICUS and BEEF TOOTH but the “TOOTH” should be able to throw out the old anchor and finish last in the race and first in the Sun Dial standing of the OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN series.
Good luck to all runners!
Email your comments to pazjazz.btb@gmail.comI love to hear from you!
