{"id":2541,"date":"2006-05-26T00:48:27","date_gmt":"2006-05-26T00:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=2541"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=2541","title":{"rendered":"Can Born To Be A Starr Make It 3 In A Row"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><IMG src=\"http:\/\/i35.photobucket.com\/albums\/d200\/Kbsweet\/alexinbelmont.jpg\"><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Here I go again\u2026 hopping another red eye. Destination: Emerald Downs up in the Pacific Northwest\u2019s very own <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" \/><st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceName w:st=\"on\"><st1:State w:st=\"on\">Washington<\/st1:State><\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=\"on\">State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> (my home state that is).<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:City w:st=\"on\">Mission<\/st1:City><\/st1:place>: write-up a preview for GSR\u2019s 5<SUP>th<\/SUP> annual running of the Cream of the Crop 3-race miniseries.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>The COTC inaugural years began primarily as a dirt series for GSR\u2019s top 2yos sired by 1<SUP>st<\/SUP>-year studs.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Two years back, in 2004, we expanded to include the talented turf runners.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The series began late in the year, so that 1<SUP>st<\/SUP> year of the turf did not include the Bloomsday Wish, thus last year was the inaugural running of the Bloomsday Wish over 5F turf.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The Bloomsday Wish achieved its name after a dear friend of mine, Karen, was diagnosed w\/pancreatic cancer.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her one wish was that she could run in <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Spokane<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>\u2019s annual Bloomsday \u2018marathon\u2019.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Unfortunately she had to miss the race that year.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>In 2005 the filly Tatletale went off at odds of 15\/1.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The longshot was perfectly positioned and thus got an awesome trip to run away with the fillies division of the Bloomsday Wish.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She official set the race record time at 0:59 flat and won it by a margin of 1-1\/4 lengths.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(Unfortunately, that turned out to be her lone win thus far in her 15 race career.)<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple><HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple size=2><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Upon my arrival at SeaTac I hitched a ride from a big yellow cab to the gates of Emerald Downs in <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Auburn<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As I strolled down the shed-row I could see a man dozing in tipped up lawn chair.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Behind him was a open stall window.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I peered closer.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>To my surprise it was native Aussie, <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Broohar<\/I>!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I slowed my steps as I approached the sleeper.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cBOO!\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cGAHHHH!!!\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The poor man sprung straight out of his chair making an obscene amount of ruckus.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Gasping for breath I feel to the floor in shrill laughter.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With tears streaming from my eyes I snuck a peek at the ghastly white man to see a not-too-amused frown on his face.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I laughed harder.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A snort came from the stall behind us followed by the appearance of a beautiful blood-bay head.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The filly\u2019s glistening eyes were wide-eyed as she tried to absorb the scene laid out in front of her.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I stifled my laugh enough to get back up on my feet.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cThis must be your trainee?\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I asked, resisting the urge to break out in laughter again as Broohar shuffled towards me and the horse reluctantly.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cYep.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This is my baby-girl, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Born To Be A Starr<\/B>.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cWell, she must be pretty talented for you to ship her all the way overseas specifically for this series.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I stated as I stroked the dainty white star hidden beneath her forelock.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cI know that you almost decided to scratch the idea and stick to a stakes race last Saturday.\u201d<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><IMG src=\"http:\/\/i35.photobucket.com\/albums\/d200\/Kbsweet\/ptgivenport.jpg\"><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cThis is true.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After seeking advice from my lovely wife I decided that Starr has what it takes to win the COTC this year\u2026 I really feel like she has that extra something special.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The trainer explained as he watched his filly gaze at something off in the distance.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cAnd how \u2018bout them prizes offered up for the winners?\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN class=postbody1><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>Broohar\u2019s eyes gleamed.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201c<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Yeah the prizes look great; you&#8217;ve outdone yourself yet again, Keely!<BR>As far as my chances of winning go, I think she&#8217;s a certainty.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cIs that right?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Hmm\u2026 well then, how do you see this race playing out?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I mean, you have some really fast speed in the fillies <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Abbojo Crown<\/B> and <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Fabman\u2019s<\/I> dynamic duo <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Candlelabra<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Strength N Numbers<\/B>.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cPshh!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Piece of sweet apple pie!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Born To Be A Starr will blitz the turf fillies\u2019 race, even though she drew terribly in gate 15!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has a good jockey on board and even at only RTG she&#8217;ll wipe the floor with the rest of those chumps!\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Boldly stated!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cWow, well, thanks a bunch, Broohar.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I\u2019ll let you get back to your napping; it was great talking to you.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Good luck tomorrow!\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I smiled as a slipped Starr a chunk of carrot.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=#800080><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=#800080><IMG src=\"http:\/\/i35.photobucket.com\/albums\/d200\/Kbsweet\/dongarcia.jpg\"><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=#800080><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>I didn\u2019t have to go to far before I ran into <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Blacksoxuk<\/I>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Apparently he had reserved an entire shedrow for his string of 6 fillies: Abbojo Crown, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Heavenly Test<\/B>, <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Spanish Main<\/B><\/st1:place>, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Bernabeau<\/B>, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Hat Stand<\/B>, and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Nou Camp<\/B>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I took a peek around the shed but the busy trainer was no where to be seen.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I decided to glance over his crew of fillies instead.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Abbojo Crown loomed a big dark bay filly in the back of her stall.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She was contently taking an afternoon siesta.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Looking over my notes if appears that this lady has posted the fastest speed figure out of all 75 of the COTC entries.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She debuted on the dirt showing some good early speed out of the gate, but never settled in running up the track 10<SUP>th<\/SUP>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Wisely, Blacksoxuk switched his girl over to the turf.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She loved it, cracking the gate and surging to a run away lead only to be caught in the last strides of the race.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Last time out she again broke first making it loud and clear that she had a turn of foot like non-other.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her prior race, however, appeared to have taken more out of her than her backers had figured as she flattened out to finish 7<SUP>th<\/SUP>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A.C. is coming off of a nice 6 week breather and so will most likely be fresh for another sizzling pace-race.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Heavenly Test has been a picture of consistency running 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> in 2 of her 3 lifetime starts.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her debut is the only race she\u2019s finished out of the money in and that may as well be explained by the surface: dirt.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A quick switch to the green stuff and Heavenly Test was making amazing strides to an honest career.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><st1:place w:st=\"on\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Spanish Main<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> is a dainty light gray filly who will be racing off of a 7 week break.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She appears to prefer the stalking position which may prove a very useful tool in this field.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Look for her to be looming dangerous as the field turns for home.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If the mood strikes this one should be gaining ground on the leaders in the last furlong.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Bernabeau is another question mark.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She, similar to Blacksoxuk\u2019s other trainees, made her first track appearance on the dirt.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And, like her stable mates, didn\u2019t take too kindly to it.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Surface change and <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">voila<\/I> she filly charged home and stole a piece of the purse.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Could she get better off of her last one?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I don\u2019t see why not.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I would consider it her true 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> start, and we all know that many 2yos make a habit of performing even better in their 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> starts.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But she will have a lot of other quality speed horses to contend with.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>The question mark of the group is the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Great Britain<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> bred light grey filly, Hat Stand.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The stout filly may be a bit over matched on Saturday.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She will probably make an attempt to go with her stable mates to the lead\u2026 but it is doubtful if she will stay with them for more than 2 furlongs.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Nou Camp is Blacksoxuk\u2019s only winner amongst this group\u2026 it was an honest win, but not unusually impressive.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Speed figure wise I would have to say that she won\u2019t make much of a dent in this company.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>However, every horse does have its day, and with the closing style she has she could upset on Saturday.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple><HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Just across the way was <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Winterheart\u2019s<\/I> gang of 4: <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Skunk\u2019s Holy Grail<\/B>, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">The Creation<\/B>, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Eurotears<\/B>, and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Red Carpet Babylon<\/B>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>My notes said that this crew was the last to arrive as Winter had the least distance to travel and didn\u2019t want to upset her fillies too much.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>They shipped in on Wednesday.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>All 4 hit the track early Thursday morning to stretch out their legs.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>None of these ladies have made a trip to the winner\u2019s enclosure, but being it is still only May they are forgiven.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><IMG src=\"http:\/\/i35.photobucket.com\/albums\/d200\/Kbsweet\/sunking.jpg\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Skunk\u2019s Holy Grail leads the pack with a handy 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> in her lone career start.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The big striding bay curiously poked her roman nose out her stall window to check out <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">moi<\/I>, the weirdo staring at her and her buddies.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I slipped a sugar cube her way, and Skunk gratefully whiffed my hand.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As I walked past her to check out the other girls she gently nudged my arm.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Naturally, I gave her one more! <\/SPAN><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings\"><SPAN style=\"mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings\">J<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>As I turned back around to make my way to the next stall, the three amigos were jealously staring our way.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Skunk nodded her head up and down and appeared to smile\u2026<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Then she quietly disappeared back in the dim-lit stall.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>The Creation is a flashy chestnut with a long blaze down her face.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She had declared loud and clear that she did not appreciate a soft course one bit in her debut event.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her last outing she contested the early lead, but tired down the stretch.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I really wish I had a chance to ask Winter a few questions about Creation.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As it appears that the filly wants the lead, but looks like it may be wisest to try and rate her since she doesn\u2019t appear to have the same turn of foot as the other speed demons.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s just a little something for you bettors to pay attention to at the windows come Saturday.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><IMG src=\"http:\/\/i35.photobucket.com\/albums\/d200\/Kbsweet\/blackpanther.jpg\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>The beautiful black head peering at me is Eurotears.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She doesn\u2019t have a single white marking on her body\u2026 but the few flecks of white on her nose telling me that she would shed out lighter as the years aged her.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is one of the lighter raced ones, having only one career start.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She rated fairly close to the lead in that start, but still managed to close a little distance between her and the leader to finish a hard-working 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She\u2019s had plenty of rest since then.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her works have been great.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She could be the dark-horse of the field (no pun intended)\u2026 you just never know with 2yos this early in the game.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Red Carpet <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Babylon<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>\u2026 The bay filly looks like she may be out of her league.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She will need to try a different racing tactic to stay alive in the stretch.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Hmm\u2026 now where?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I think I\u2019ll head over to <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Mr. Fabulous<\/I>\u2019 barn.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Turning down back down the row another head suddenly appeared from what I had mistaken to be an empty stall.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A copper colored head with a big round white circle on her forehead snorted at me as if to say, \u201chow dare you not acknowledge me!\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A quick glance at the filly\u2019s halter plate and I soon found out that this was little Pumpkin.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Pumpkindale, that is.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The filly hadn\u2019t made the final cut for the COTC, but she had wanted to run so badly that Winter decided she had to bring her along as well as to prevent a depressed horse.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cHey girl,\u201d I patted the velvety nose.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cI ran out of treats.\u201d <o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>The crafty filly sniffed my pocket and snorted.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I was caught red-handed.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I pulled out a couple sugar cubes and Pumpkin devoured them.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Greedy little thing.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cHey, Keely, quite patronizing with the enemy!\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>a happy-go-lucky voice called out.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I turned around to see the tall jockey <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Rbokie<\/I> himself shoving a ho-ho in his mouth.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He had made himself known as a premier <st1:State w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Tennessee<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> jockey, Sim trainer, husband, and recently father.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>How he juggled all that I don\u2019t know.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His reward for all that hard work: ho-ho\u2019s and beer.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cSince you\u2019re here, mind if I check out your fillies real quick?\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I asked.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cNot a problem.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>They should have slept off their hang-overs by now.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I flashed him a quizzical look.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cI\u2019m only kidding! <SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN>You think Karie would let me feed our horses beer?\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cWho knows with you and the crowd you run with\u2026 A.K.A. Mr. Fabulous and his trusty pal, Nextbonus.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Rbokie laughed.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cThe girls are down this way.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>A few sheds down, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Powerbomb<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Perfectly Circular<\/B> were awaiting the return on their trainer.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cNow that I look at my watch I see that I don\u2019t have much time to left.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>So what can you tell me about these two?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Powerbomb\u2019s pedigree looks really great, and she was training beautifully\u2026 so what happened in her maiden race?\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Bokie mischievously smiled.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cThat wasn\u2019t her debut\u2026 this will be her unveiling.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I used that last one merely as a work for the COTC.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>So all those other trainers better beware because her jockey is instructed to go all out this time around!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As for Perfectly Circular, I\u2019m not really expecting too much out of her actually.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is bred for like 12F so she probably can\u2019t get up in time for 5F\u2026 that is unless she takes the speed inherited from her DDS and disregards the her sire and DS.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Besides, she\u2019s a claimer for life.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Bokie joked.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cThanks for the report, Bokie.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Good luck on Saturday.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>\u201cCool.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple><HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple size=2><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>I chuckled as I walked on to find Fabman\u2019s 2 charges.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Just around the corner I found them: Candlelabra and Strength N Numbers.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>These two girls added to the complex speed duel that could form when the gates open on Saturday.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s hard to separate the two.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>They eerily run the exact same way.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Both have made one career start, their maiden race, in which they both wired their fields and won by the same margin and with the same speed figures.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I wonder what Fabman will instruct the jockeys to do on Saturday?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I\u2019ll be curious to see.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple><HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Hawkz<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> ponies were right next door: <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Wontaknow A Secret<\/B> and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Milledout<\/B>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I don\u2019t see Milledout performing with most of these ladies.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>However, her stable mate looks to have plenty of potential to pull the upset!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her last start was her first turf attempt and it was quiet impressive.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Watch for her to devour the frontrunners coming down the stretch to snag a piece of the prize if not win.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Lastly to look at are <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Thats Amore<\/B>, trained by <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Dundey<\/I>, and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Forty Ravens<\/B>, trained by <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">ts1442<\/I>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Thats Amore is another speedster.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I\u2019m not sure if she is quick enough to gain the official early lead, however.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>You\u2019ll probably find her within a length of the leader as they head into the first turn.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And I feel that unless her jockey attempts to save something for the finish, she will be toast before they hit the last 100 yards.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Forty Ravens is the last of the select few fillies to have visited the winner\u2019s circle.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She knows how to get here.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But can she be quick enough on her feet Saturday to make up lost ground after the unsightly speed duel that is destined to occur on the front end?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Your guess is as good as mine.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple><HR id=null><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple size=2><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=#800080><IMG src=\"http:\/\/i35.photobucket.com\/albums\/d200\/Kbsweet\/alextryingtowin.jpg\"><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=#800080><\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>Here are the horses in the somewhat zone of preference.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>My picks are bolded for top 3 finishers.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Now you make your picks\u2026<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Good luck too all of the runners.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Anyone can run big and win.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><U><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Front-runners<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">: Abbojo Crown, Bernabeau, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Candlelabra<\/B>, Strength N Numbers, The Creation, Thats Amore<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><U><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Stalkers<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">: <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Born To Be A Starr<\/B>, Heavenly Test, Eurotears, Powerbomb, Perfectly Circular, Milledout<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><U><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Closers<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Nou Camp, Skunk\u2019s Holy Grail, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Wontaknow A Secret<\/B>, Forty Ravens<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><o:p><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple><U><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Keely\u2019s picks<\/SPAN><\/U><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> (AKA: \u201cdon\u2019t pick them!\u201d) <\/SPAN><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings\"><SPAN style=\"mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings\">J<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> <o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>1<SUP>st<\/SUP>: Born To Be A Starr\u2014she\u2019s a nice stalker who\u2019s style seems to suit sprints brilliantly.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This ought to let her get the first jump on the closers as they all round for home thus I think that will hand her the edge.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT color=purple>2<SUP>nd<\/SUP>: Candlelabra\u2014she is probably the strongest front-runner of the bunch of 5 or 6 ladies.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I gamble that she has enough stamina to see her to the finish and hold off Wontaknow A Secret.<o:p><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>3<SUP>rd<\/SUP>: Wontaknow A Secret\u2014I believe she will make a very nice closing move after relishing the crazy pace on the front-end figured to be set by at least 4 of the fillies.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The disadvantage for her is that she doesn\u2019t have enough running ground to steal the win.<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple size=2><\/FONT><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple size=2><\/FONT><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><EM><FONT face=Tahoma color=purple>The top 10 horses move on to the 2nd leg: the Washington Apple going 6.5F on the turf for fillies only (5 weeks down the road).<\/FONT><\/EM><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><EM><FONT face=Tahoma color=#800080><\/FONT><\/EM><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><IMG src=\"http:\/\/i35.photobucket.com\/albums\/d200\/Kbsweet\/noblecauseway.jpg\"><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">*Pictures taken from <A href=\"http:\/\/www.bloodhorse . com\">www.bloodhorse . com<\/A><\/SPAN><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Star In The Making<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2541\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}