Al's Saratoga 2011 Blog - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

OTM Al · 07-08-2011, 12:42 PM

Yeah, I know I wasn't going to start this for another week, but the itch has become unbearable. The wife just came back from business there and has come bearing tales of a very good Cuban sandwich being served at Jacob and Anthony's. I don't generally like mustard or pickles, but a good Cuban sandwich is a thing of wonder. This will be checked out very quickly.

"Bought" my train tickets the other day. I say "bought" as I didn't have to pay a dime for them. 5 round trips for nothing. Amtrak kept trying to to get me to apply for their credit card. They offered some obscene amount of points if I got it, so I did. I still have enough points left for part of next year and saved over $500 on the tickets for this year. Feeling like a winner already.

Some changes to look forward to. UK Racing will now be at The Post, the bar area that is by the paddock and Shake Shack. That should be fine as long as it isn't rainy. Probably will be able to find me often there early in the mornings. Plenty of new concessions this year as well. The old UK Racing tent will not be there this year and instead the area will be for concessions.

Maybe it's because I haven't had any time off yet this summer, but I am looking forward to getting up there this year more than ever...if you couldn't tell

sonnyp · 07-08-2011, 06:49 PM

spoke to a cousin who lives in saratoga today. the town and track are ready. the stripped awnings are up and the flower boxes are in bloom. he says the oklahoma track has a full card of workouts each morning and open house is a week from sunday.

been rainy and cool up there, but supposed to turn hot and muggy next week.

the downtown is very busy and the stable people are making their presence felt. the "grand old lady" looks as good as ever and the town residents are eager for another banner season.

"THE.....august place to be"

PaceAdvantage · 07-09-2011, 11:25 PM

Can't wait to start reading your blow-by-blow accounts Al...thanks for doing this!

OTM Al · 07-09-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Can't wait to start reading your blow-by-blow accounts Al...thanks for doing this!

Hey, I can't wait to write it. Probably placed my last bets til the meet starts and proud to say Belmont did me well this year. Made two withdrawals from my account and still have a nice little roll to start the meet with. No huge scores, just nice consistent hits. Feel really good about my play going in, though as we all know, Saratoga can break your soul just as quick.

Want to take my camera and do a few more visuals this year. Got to find the right sized USB cable. I swear I won't post a picture of "Vinnie" if we see him again. I really want to see him again

Got a few early plans. Will be up for Open House Sunday (we're leaving a week from today) and going to go to a Museum event that night. Also planning to go to the HoF lunch. Got an invite to the Museum ball as well, but that one is way too rich for me. The black suit went to the cleaners today to get the Belmont paddock dirt off of it, so going to be ready to roll in style.

Six days and a wake up. We are all short!

kensc1nj · 07-12-2011, 04:01 PM

Al,

I enjoyed reading your reports last season, and look forward to this year's as well.

Ken

Rookies · 07-12-2011, 06:06 PM

As did I and also meeting you.

OTM Al · 07-13-2011, 04:54 PM

Got to make it through 2 more days then on the way up for Open House weekend. The last 15 min of the work day are going to last forever today, so that almost seems an eternity at the moment. The heat finally broke a bit down here in the city, so I'm expecting near perfect summer weather.

Hey Rookies. It was good meeting you last year too. And you brought that darn tasty Canadian brew! I am going to be up there the weekend before the PA shindig as well, so let me know where you'll be and when and I'll stop by and say hello.

I'm tempted to dive into today's Ray Paulick poop-storm. Think I'll wait and see how that plays out and spend my last few minutes here. Sadly, those in California only have Delmar to look forward to....

Honestly though, I'd love to visit there some day, but I think I'll wait til they start running on a real track again. Like Saratoga (that damn commercial is stuck in my brain...It's post time aaaaand party time! Saratogaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh)

Mr Saratoga · 07-13-2011, 07:25 PM

Al, just because the two major racing networks are based in California does not make Ca. racing the best. Saratoga is still the Premier track in the summer.

OTM Al · 07-13-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Saratoga

Al, just because the two major racing networks are based in California does not make Ca. racing the best. Saratoga is still the Premier track in the summer.

Never implied that it was. Frankly I think the Delmar cards during the week are pretty poor and the weekends aren't a lot better. This was an East Coast-West Coast jibe. See, we get Saratoga to look forward to and they have Delmar. No contest in my book. But it is a beautiful looking place that I would like to see someday. When they have a dirt track.

OTM Al · 07-14-2011, 02:20 PM

I just realized I spelled Del Mar incorrectly as Delmar. The latter happens to be the name of my local pizzaria, which, as coincidences go, we ordered from last night. Pepperoni, mushroom and olive, my personal favorite. The wife said she wanted a good NY pizza before heading north. Honestly, while Delmar's is a pretty good pizza joint, I like the pizzas I've had around Saratoga a little better. Less greasy I think and tastes very fresh.

We, as mentioned before, are heading up Saturday and that night's plans are set. Going to go to the racino for dinner and to catch the stakes races at Colonial. The Virginia Derby is a personal favorite and the card looks good. I wish we had better turf runners in the US as I like those races much better than the ones on dirt. I got kind of locked in on the 5f turf sprint around Preakness weekend, but since most of my play is at NY tracks, haven't had one to bet on for a while as they didn't run any that short at Belmont that I saw, 6f and 7f being much more prevalent there (and nowhere else but Woodbine...size thing....).

The 5f and 5 1/2f races are real specialist things and a horse good at 5 may not be the one you want at 5 1/2 and vice versa. Don't know any other distances where the half furlong makes such a big difference. So those of you complaining about too many turf sprints, I suggest you actually learn how to play them. They are actually pretty formful and at least for now can pay pretty well.

Oh, and I'll keep an eye out for Vinnie when we are at Saratoga Raceway.

OTM Al · 07-16-2011, 08:17 AM

The bags are packed, we leave today!

Well, almost packed. Doing my regular Saturday morning laundry. Saturday morning at 7am you say? Well, work has beat me down so I can't sleep in anymore and when you live in a neighborhood/building that has a pretty decent Jewish population, what better time to do it?

Oh, and I do still have that picture of Vinnie.

Next report from Saratoga Springs NY.

lamboguy · 07-16-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTM Al

The bags are packed, we leave today!

Well, almost packed. Doing my regular Saturday morning laundry. Saturday morning at 7am you say? Well, work has beat me down so I can't sleep in anymore and when you live in a neighborhood/building that has a pretty decent Jewish population, what better time to do it?

Oh, and I do still have that picture of Vinnie.

Next report from Saratoga Springs NY.

have a great trip and a safe trip

OTM Al · 07-16-2011, 03:25 PM

Traffic was a little dense here and there, but we are now in Saratoga. It's pretty warm out right now. Going to need to get some supplies, then off to the raceway.

For those driving in, the bridge that goes back over 87 when you get off exit 14 is half missing. Looks like the thing just fell down from far away, but clearly they have just started demolition on the span. This means all traffic is going over the other span, so on big days, I expect there will be some backed up traffic, so might be a good idea to take an alternate route.

OTM Al · 07-16-2011, 08:45 PM

Back from the racino. Ran into friends so they joined us at Fortune's, the restaurant that overlooks the track. Not a bad place. We all went for the buffet. $24.95 per person and pretty good. I hit the prime rib twice, even after a nice tortelini salad and corn chowder. Had a few mussels and some stuffed pasta shells as well. Only disappointment was dessert. Thought it was cheesecake, but it wasn't, alas.

Played the stakes races at Colonial while there. They have monitors at most tables. Of the five races, played 3. One hit, one near miss, and one whiff. All told though, it's another $200 + to the bankroll and another winning day. Guess what my winner was? Turf sprint again. Starting to like those alot. Going for a drink at Sperry's now. See you all tomorrow!

horses4courses · 07-16-2011, 09:19 PM

Good to have you back reporting from the Spa again.....

Good luck at the windows, and have a memorable trip!