[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Barry Craig! Thanks for asking! I agree that it could get tricky to keep track of comments using this forum, so I’ve created a new page (http://www.theturfboard.com/unlocking-winners-2017-trip-to-saratoga/) with a better commenting system that should make things much easier to keep track of.

Starting today, everyone should post their Saratoga comments on the new page rather than this forum. Let me know if you have any questions or encounter any issues!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

T-shirts! Now there’s an idea! At the very least, they could commemorate the occasion, and maybe serve as identification for different groups of people meeting up for the first time. :)

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Barry Craig! Last week’s post is staying closed, but I just posted a new one analyzing the Whitney Stakes — here’s the link! http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/unlocking-winners-handicapping/archive/2016/08/03/will-frosted-be-beaten-in-the-whitney.aspx

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hello everyone! Unlocking Winners is back now with a new blog post — here’s the link! http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/unlocking-winners-handicapping/archive/2016/08/03/will-frosted-be-beaten-in-the-whitney.aspx

Naturally, I have talked myself into playing against Frosted. :)

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thanks for compiling this, Barry Craig! As trackjack mentioned, the dates for Jim Dandy weekend are actually July 29th and 30th — I made a typo on my comment with the projected weekend dates. :) Sorry about that!

But yes, it looks like Jim Dandy weekend and the two days prior are a popular choice, so let’s move forward with that and see what happens!

As for me, I’d say there’s very small chance that I would be able to make it since summer is such a busy time of year and I’m unable to make plans this far in advance, but I’ll help coordinate things as best I can and make sure it all goes smoothly.

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Barry Craig! Thanks for mentioning that! I did some experiments and realized that only registered users of The Turf Board can see the email notification checkbox, and since I don’t have The Turf Board set up to allow readers to register (like on Bloodhorse.com), only I can see it. Sorry for the confusion!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Great thoughts, JJ the TV watcher! Thanks for sharing all of that! This will be great to keep in mind when the time comes to make the arrangements.

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thank you very much, Barry Craig! I appreciate it! We’ll definitely need someone to keep track of all the details and help keep things in order, and if you’re game, that sounds great!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Good thoughts, mz! With that in mind, I just checked the weekend dates for 2017 to give everyone an idea of what dates might be ideal. Assuming the schedule is the same next year as in 2016, here’s the lineup:

Opening day: July 21
Opening weekend: July 22-23
Jim Dandy weekend: July 29-30
Whitney weekend: August 5-6
Fourstardave: August 12-13
Alabama weekend: August 19-20
Travers weekend: August 26-27
Closing weekend: September 2-4

If shooting for a weekday leading into a weekend is the plan, there are plenty of options — I believe the Curlin Stakes for 3yos would be scheduled for July 29th, so that could be a nice feature on a weekday.

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

I feel so bad for you, Race Day Marc! :( I was thinking of you when I heard the news. But his remarkable success as a stallion will ensure that he is always remembered, and I’m hopeful that he will sire a Derby winner in the next year or two to further cement his legacy.

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Best of luck today, Race Day Marc! I was looking at the fifth race at Fair Grounds earlier today, searching for possible Derby contenders, and I find it interesting that several of these runners don’t have any experience on turf. I think Dancehall Jack and Kid Creole, also-rans in the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs, could have live chances at good odds. In my opinion, the Sunday Silence is among the best $75,000 stakes races in the country, and I think Dancehall Jack and Kid Creole will enjoy the drop in class. Good luck!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Great thoughts, Race Day Marc! We have very similar lists of horses that we like! Gun Runner is the colt that interests me most in the future wager pool, and I’ve also got my eye on Annual Report and Gift Box. And speaking of Conquest Big E, he’s been entered in an allowance race on Saturday at Churchill, so we’ll get another chance to see how he looks before the pool closes, which will be helpful.

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Race Day Marc! Best of luck with your selections today!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

I like your choice of Jennifer Lynnette in the Glorious Song Stakes — I think there’s a good chance that she’ll get a lonely lead and steal this race in gate-to-wire fashion. Good luck!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thanks for joining the contest, Race Day Marc! I’ll post your selections over on Unlocking Winner so everyone else can see them as well. Good luck!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thanks for posting this, English Pete, and thanks for letting me know that the blog comments had shut down! They’re back open now. :) I’ll post a link on Unlocking Winners to this forum so that everyone can see your comment — thanks again!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Marc! Unfortunately, there aren’t many regular participants in the Turf Board’s forums, and I got so swamped with the Breeders’ Cup that I didn’t have a chance to come back and check this forum — I’m so sorry about that! But congratulations on a spectacular, spectacular two days at the Breeders’ Cup! You really nailed the races in brilliant fashion! Great job!!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thanks for posting your wagers and starting this topic, Marc! I’ll be following along with your selections and cheering for you! Best of luck with your wagers!!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

There’s been another very positive update about Lady Eli! According to a story on DRF.com, Lady Eli is doing very well and will be turned out for two months at Dell Ridge Farm in Kentucky before shipping to Palm Meadows to gear up for a possible comeback in 2016. What an incredible recovery!!

Here’s a link to the story: http://www.drf.com/news/lady-eli-making-progress-heads-farm

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

More great news — Lady Eli is still doing well in her battle against laminitis and is progressing nicely! http://www.theturfboard.com/lady-eli-doing-well-in-battle-against-laminitis/

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thanks for starting a topic, Rose Edwards! I was very, very impressed by Rachel’s Valentina’s performance today — for her to win like she did after breaking slowly and racing very wide was exceptional! At this point, I would say that she’s my top choice for winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, as her pedigree absolutely shouts longer distances, and she should only get better as the year progresses!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Great news!! According to an article on Bloodhorse.com, Lady Eli is doing very well in her battle against laminitis! https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/93274/lady-eli-showing-improvement-from-laminitis

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

I’ve got some good news about California Chrome! It has been reported that he will head back to Los Alamitos in a few months to resume training with Art Sherman, and could be back racing by the beginning of 2016!

Just confirmed with Art Sherman that California Chrome should be back at Los Alamitos in 75-80 days. Could be racing as soon as January.

— Jeremy Balan (@BH_JBalan) July 19, 2015

Here’s a link to Jeremy Balan’s full story on Bloodhorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/93090/california-chrome-to-return-to-racing-in-2016

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Was the book “Kentucky Derby Dreams,” by Susan Nusser? If so, I’ve read it as well, and I really enjoyed it! I thought it was nice that one of the foals in the book grew up to be Creative Cause, the grade I winner that ran third in the 2012 Preakness. :)

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Good news! There was a positive update on Lady Eli from David Grening of the Daily Racing Form this morning! Here’s a quote from Lady Eli’s trainer, Chad Brown, that Grening included in a story on the subject:

“I’m happy to report that Lady Eli had a really good week, everything is going as well as it possibly can up to this point,” Brown said Saturday morning at Belmont Park. “She still has a long way to go, but so far, so good.”

Here’s the link to the artcle: http://live.drf.com/nuggets/18284

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

I’m glad to hear that you made some money off of Hard Aces! :) Thanks for starting some topics in the forums — I appreciate it!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Good question! I’m doing some behind-the-scenes work on the website, and the ability to add pictures might be in the near future! :) I’ll let you know if I can get it to work!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Floridabred! It sounds like California Chrome’s cannon bone bruising will keep him out of action for the rest of the year, but indeed, a strong comeback from one of the other talented older horses could make things very interesting! Over the last couple of days, I’ve been pondering what might happen if Wise Dan comes back strong, wins the Woodbine Mile and Shadwell Turf Mile, and then ran in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and upset American Pharoah. Would three grade I wins and a victory over American Pharoah be enough to swing the Horse of the Year battle in Wise Dan’s favor? It would be epic if Wise Dan could win a third title after all that he went through last year with the colic surgery and ankle fracture!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

I just did a test comment while I wasn’t logged in to the back door of the site, and it looks like editing isn’t allowed in the forums — just on comments on regular articles. However, I can edit forum comments through the back door of the site, so I fixed the typo for you. :) Thanks again for stopping by and starting a topic!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Floridabred! Thanks for stopping by! I agree, it’s going to be fascinating to see how Take Charge Brandi runs in the Test and throughout the rest of the year. It sounds like she’s training better than ever, and if she runs well in the Test, the tentative plan is to run her in the Travers against colts, where she would likely face American Pharoah. It would be exciting to have last year’s two champion 2yos run against each other at Saratoga!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Thank you for the kind words, Susan Arthur! :) And thank you for starting a topic in the forums — you’re the first person (outside of myself!) to do so! :) I think you’ve got a good idea replacing Hoppertunity with Finnegans Wake — although Hoppertunity’s record at Santa Anita is good, I do remember Bob Baffert saying that Hoppertunity is much better at other tracks, so that’s something to keep in mind. Additionally, it’s been 1 1/2 years since Finnegans Wake last ran on dirt, and I think he’s improved a lot since then and might handle the surface better now. Best of luck tomorrow!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Good question, Daniel! I think the track conditions probably won’t make much a difference to American Pharoah, but if the track comes up wet, it might compromise some of his key rivals and make winning the Belmont an easier task in that respect.

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Kevin! I agree, American Pharoah’s best chance is to probably be more aggressive in the Preakness and Belmont — early speed tends to dominate both races, and is an often-overlooked weapon in the Belmont Stakes. But indeed, you’ve got a great point that California-based 3yos haven’t had much luck in the Belmont Stakes recently. Off the top of my head, I believe Paynter is the first and last California-based 3yo to run well in the Belmont since Sunday Break, and he could only finish second to the East Coast-based Union Rags during a year in which the California 3yos were generally superior to the eastern colts. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and you have a great weekend as well!

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Kevin! I like your comparison of Dortmund to Lawyer Ron — there are definitely some striking similarities!

Indeed, Dortmund fought on well in the homestretch, and I think his effort was particularly notable considering that the rail may not have been the place to be at Churchill on Derby day. With a cutback in distance for the Preakness, over what will likely be a less tiring racetrack, I think Dortmund might have a shot to turn the tables on American Pharoah.

[J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”)]

Hi Kevin! Thanks for stopping by, and thank you for the kind words! I’m sorry I didn’t reply sooner — I’m still getting used to the setup of this forum! :)

I agree about Tom Durkin — I really miss his racecalls, and I think he would have done a fantastic job with that terrific stretch run in the Derby. But Larry Collmus is getting close — he always has a lot of excitement in his voice, and I’ll never forget his call of I’ll Have Another’s Preakness Stakes.

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