This is the Year

You only get one chance in a lifetime to call a life altering experience, but I'm going to cash in my ticket now. The Triple Crown will be won this year. I don't know which horse, and I don't know why or how, but I just get the feeling. First, karma regularly kicks me in the ass, and I use Visa as my card of choice, so it goes that Visa must also be Karma's bitch. Seeing they pulled the plug on the Triple Crown bonus wouldn't it be a good year to have one? Second, my daughter was born this year and I just have had an optimistic outlook on everything since she's been born, even the Knicks can't get me down. So, this is the year take it to the bank. I also think it would be a nice time to go over exactly how close we've been these past 5 years. 2005 - The "Dead Rail." Jeremy Rose can blame himself all he wants, but I blame the rail. The race was run rediculously fast, but there was AA at the end holding off the on rusing closers and as he tired he headed towards the rail and lost it right then and there. At my party I think a girl had AA (I give out a $2 win ticket on every horse) and was on the ground imploring just a couple more yards while the guy who had Giacomo didn't even know he won. In retrospect this was the closest triple crown bid in 5 years. I couldn't find a picture of Rock Hard Ten and Eddington molesting Smarty on the back stretch but that's what it looked like from my vantage point when I was there. I think Bailey knew his horse couldn't win and there's no way a guy from Philadelphia Park was going to win the Triple Crown. I'm sorry that's just the way I feel. It was just race riding and totally legit, but still it was a shame. Empire Maker needed a Grade I win in the Triple Crown trail. His pedigree plus that status was a guarantee 6 figure stud fee right out of the box. So, Frankel rested him after the Derby. Personally, I think it was bogus. I'm NOT in favor of changing anything about the TC trail, but I can feel for the people that think if you run in the Derby you can't skip the Preakness and show up Belmont Day. I'm not a big fan of Frankel as he usually wins when I go against and loses when I bet him. I'm sure he knows where my $2 is going. I just wonder what went through Espinoza's head right here. I can't think of a worse feeling when you have everything on the line and it's over before it really starts. I actually cashed a winning ticket on this race. My Dad bet Sarava, I don't remember why, but I do remember being the only guy at Monmouth screaming his name. This is Point Given trying to kill himself before the Kentucky Derby. I wonder what was worse; what went through Espinoza's head above or Baffert's head right here. I don't think this attempted somersault did Point Given in, it was more likely the surface of Churchill (wicked fast) and the type of race it set up. So, you can now see how close we've been over the last 5 years. This is the year!