I wonder how many times I’ve driven up to Saratoga over the years (some meets I’ve been lucky enough to pretty much just stay up here, others it was shuttling every weekend). Using a little back-of-the-envelope math. . .I’ve been coming up regularly about fifteen years, maybe four trips up-and-back average , so let’s call it about 60. I’ve shaded three hours for the trip once or twice. Those would be #1 and #2. Yesterday had to be #60: a 5 1/2 + hour traffic extravaganza where every navigation decision seemed to backfire. I guess I kinda forgot that leaving the city at 2:45 on a Friday is like leaving at 5:15 on a weekday.
When all was said and done, Susan and I (with a consenting vote from Mugs) decided that we didn’t have the energy to go out to dinner. We picked up Hattie’s takeout (a great Saratoga wiseguy dining secret so shhhhhhh don’t tell anyone) and had a wonderful little repast in the back garden as the sun set over Saratoga. Susan had the catfish. I washed down my fried chicken with red beans and rice and cole slaw with a couple of Green Flash IPAs. As I’ve been known to say: KABOOM.
It’s looking cloudy at the moment but the general forecast is OK and I actually like a few things on the card today. I’ll try and get there early in and secure a place in the Secret Spot, but I’ll also be making regular appearances at the regular place if you’re around and want to say hi. I may attempt to do a little guerilla mixology over there today as well.
What’s that now? When you saw the headline “rough trip” you thought I was going to write about something else that happened yesterday? Nah, I’m over it.
BANKROLL PLAY OF THE DAY:
Race 2:
$50 win and place on #3 WESTERN SADLER
My hope here is that a lot of folks will see two mediocre dirt races and scan right by this gelding. But IMPAHO (in my personal and humble opinion), that would be a mistake. The two runs come with excuses. The first race came back slow, yes, but was too short and he ran well and was bet, which is often good to see. The second race was ugly but he had a flow excuse and it was dirt again. Meanwhile, there’s weeds on both sides of this pedigree and the shrewd outfit he hails from es en fuego. Let’s see if we can’t get off the mini-schneid.
MEET TO DATE RESULTS: $-425.00
