Opening Week at the Spa!

Dear Partners and Friends,

For those of us here in Saratoga, the first four days of the meet seemed more like forty! You forget during the rest of the year how incredibly tough handicapping can be at Saratoga. I call it the big ice cream headache. Two days ago Ray Smith, Jim Copley and I all had seven horses we couldn't eliminate in ONE race and they weren't the same seven :(. Suffice it to say we haven't bought any islands with our winnings yet.

Because there is so much to report we will now do it in bullet fashion:

1.  Brother O'Connell will run tomorrow against winners for the first time. I expect him to run well but would be surprised if he won. He breaks from the 11 hole and no horse has won a race at Saratoga outside the 7 post through four days. 

2.  O'Prado Ole runs Friday going a mile and 3/8ths after a very long layoff. He will need the race but he is training well.

3.  Irish You Well runs in the Grade II for older horses Sunday at Monmouth and Keen Ice will run in the Haskell the same day. Both horses will have their hands full. To be honest, Ice's breeze yesterday left a lot to be desired.

4.  For those of you familiar with the escalator malfunction last year that sent Conor Foley, Ray Smith and myself flying (and tore up the wee Irishman's suit), you'll be glad to know there have already been two more of those this year.

5.  On opening day, following the first escalator malfunction, the weather Gods sent a tornado our way mid racing card. Where do you go at a racetrack during a tornado? As it turned out, the tornado didn't get closer than four miles to the track.

6.  There have been four inquiries and Joe Savage has been on the wrong side of all four. Seems the good die young ;).

7.  The morning seminars at 11 a.m. on the porch continue to be the stuff of legend, but not necessarily of winners. Jim Copley missed his calling in life as his monologues on track condition and other topics would sell tickets in Vegas.

And this just in!!! DONEGAL WINS TWO!!! Yes, that's right! We won twice last Friday as we sold Dr. K'eogh and Culprit got claimed. Wins in anyone's book ;).

Two nights ago we went to dinner at "The Parting Glass Irish Pub." It featured a terrific Irish band that would have been enjoyed, volume-wise, from about 1,000 feet away. We were at a table next to the stage. Fortunately, the food wasn't good anyways (the cooking not being the top Irish talent) so we went outdoors where the music was at a perfect volume.

And finally, we have tons of partners coming to stay. Twenty-four signed up so far. But we still have the odd room available here and there on our calendar so let us know. Also, if you are going to need ticket help let us know now and not later!

Okay, back to the handicapping. We will keep you posted on all things Saratoga.

Jerry