A4synapse's Weblog

One of my favorite things to do is to watch the peregrine falcons on webcam here. The University has upgraded to two cameras and it’s no longer stop-motion. I think she’s sitting on eggs, but can’t say for sure until she gets up. Sometimes they give you information, but there’s no new info this year, yet.

Spring evenings are dominated by these noisemakers, but they’re invisible. This photo shows the juxtaposition of two accidental entities.

They were lying in the road, near this piece of curb which had fallen. We have to construct or reconstruct our environment. They’re tiny, about the size of my finger from the third joint to the end, but they make a lot of noise.

Each year the best colts/geldings (and the occasional filly, but not this year) are nominated and prepare for the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday of May. For my money, May 7 will be the best day of the year. But today’s race is a critical steppingstone.

Soldat was impressive in the Fountain of Youth. Kiaran McLaughlin is always dangerous as a trainer. Soldat’s sire is War Front (and also the sire of The Factor). Many analysts get into the dam’s side of the ledger. I’m skipping it. That is not a comment on whether the dam’s qualities matter; it’s simply that I don’t want to get into those details. Soldat has a nice way of going. He is the morning-line favorite. His Jockey is Alan Garcia, who I think is smart and has a way with a horse.

To Honor and Serve is in the best of hands with Bill Mott. He didn’t fire in the Fountain of Youth and the pre-race chatter was that he wasn’t expected to win that day because he ‘needed the race’. I have a little problem with trainers entering horses to get some experience into them. I understand the necessity, but entering a horse you’re pretty sure will lose seems a bit disingenuous, even if all the bettors know it. That said, he’s a Bernardini and should get the distance, and from what I’ve seen, he covers ground well. Garrett Gomez is the pilot; one of the best, although I’ve seen him make the occasional mistake.

I haven’t seen Arch Traveler run, and know little about him. He’s 20-1. By Sky Mesa, and seriously inbred to Mr. Prospector.

Same for Bowman’s Causeway. His trainer is Patrick Biancone, who sometimes skates close to the edge. He’s a Giant’s Causeway, so distance should not be a problem.

Shackleford I like just for his name. Dale Romans is very capable and I’ve loved the pieces I’ve seen of him and his wife as they run their stable. Also 20-1, and I don’t know the jockey. By Forestry, out of an Unbridled mare.

Stay Thirsty (also a great name). Trained by the Toddster and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, and getting blinkers for the first time. 8-1. By Bernardini, out of a Storm Bird mare. One of the best riders, one of the best trainers, but he’s the number two in his stable.

Dialed-In. His move in the Holy Bull was spectacular. His next race, not so much. Nick Zito, Julien Leparoux (a personal fave). He needs the race to set up well for him, which is dependent to some extent on his jockey. Eight horses should work to his advantage, but twenty horses in the Derby will be a real problem. I love, love, love the way he moves. By Mineshaft out of a Storm Cat mare. Also love the pedigree.

Flashpoint, by Pomeroy, whose offspring have been distinguishing themselves this spring. Also love the way he moves (high cruising speed) and his last proves he can keep going, which entrances me. Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez and trained by Rick Dutrow. I respect this jockey, but he’s not the best jock here, which is worrisome. R. Dutrow is a very good trainer.

So: Dialed-In and Flashpoint. Because they move well. One gets in front and dares the rest to come and get him (except he has more in the tank). The other waits until the far turn and then runs down the rest of the field. Every horse needs to get a good trip, so it depends on who is lucky and has a smart jockey. I think Leparoux is the smarter jockey, but I think Dutrow is the smarter trainer.

This is the first time since the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile that a group of quality colts has actually run against each other. So there may be some clues here.

Here are the entrants: (from the Daily Racing Form – http://www.drf.com/entries

Florida Derby

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds |  G1STAKES |  Purse: $1,000,000

Exacta / Trifecta / $0.10 Superfecta / Daily Double (Races 10&11) Bet 3 (Races 10-11-12)

#	PP	HORSE	JOCKEY	TRAINER	CLAIM $	EQUIP.	MED.
1	1	Soldat ML: 9-5	A. Garcia 122 Lbs	K. McLaughlin		–	L
2	2	To Honor and Serve ML: 4-1	G. Gomez 122 Lbs	W. Mott		–	L
3	3	Arch Traveler ML: 20-1	J. Lezcano 122 Lbs	J. Jerkens		–	L
4	4	Bowman’s Causeway ML: 20-1	P. Lopez 122 Lbs	P. Biancone		–	L
5	5	Shackleford ML: 20-1	J. Castanon 122 Lbs	D. Romans		–	L
6	6	Stay Thirsty ML: 8-1	R. Dominguez 122 Lbs	T. Pletcher		Blk-On	L
7	7	Dialed In ML: 2-1	J. Leparoux 122 Lbs	N. Zito		–	L
8	8	Flashpoint ML: 6-1	C. Velasquez 122 Lbs	R. Dutrow, Jr.		–	L

Kanaka Wai Wai (traditional, Hawaii, from Chicken Skin Music, Ry Cooder)

when a fellow has the blues and feels discouraged

when he has nothing else but trouble all his life

when he’s always grumbled at, and never happy

living with a scolding, aggravating wife

if he’s sick and tired of life and takes to drinking,

do not pass him by, don not greet him with a frown

do not fail to lend a hand and try to help him

always lift him up and never knock him down.

if he stays out late at night because he’s worried

and because his home is not what it should be

have a smile for him whenever you should meet him

it will help him just the right way, don’t you see?

if he gambles when he’s in a town or city

tell him what he ought to do to gain the crown

lend a hand and do not fail to show him pity

always lift him up and never knock him down

bridge

if he cannot pay his debts and feels disgusted

if he’s blue and doesn’t have a word to say

let him know you are his friend and can be trusted

it would cheer this lonely fellow on his way

if he finds it’s hard for him to keep his family

let a kind word greet his ear when he’s around

don’t say anything at all to make against him

always lift him up and never knock him down

if he has no friends and everyone’s against him

if he’s failed at everything that he has tried

try to lift his load and help to bear his burdens

let him know that you are walking by his side

and if he feels that all is lost and he has fallen

try to place that poor man’s feet on solid ground

just remember he’s some mother’s precious darling

always lift him and never knock him down

I think this was translated from Hawaiian which accounts for the odd expressions. It’s quite beautiful, and has remained one of my favorite songs from Cooder’s library. A lot of his songs are renderings from the depression. The sentiments expressed here could only have come from a society that was coping with disaster. This outlook is deeply Christian from a simpler era. This person would be labelled as a bum, pure and simple, now. The behavior described would be labelled as ‘sucker’, ‘loser’, etc. I think it also describes a certain spirit that is important for a society to function well; that is a willingness to look beyond appearances and simply be kind.