I'm back. Between the holiday and then an intestinal bug that I have been suffering with for almost a week, I have been working short hours, so not much blogging.

Having flu-like symptons sucks. It's like having a hangover but not getting the beneift of the good times the night before. I've lost almost 15 lbs, which I grant ic an afford to lose, but this is not the best way to do it.

We had some great Sires Stakes races as the two-year-olds debuted July 3. I missed Jim Dailey's good one, Deep Chip ($7.20), who I had picked third. He showed qualifiers at Hoosier and Lexington, so I shied away, especially when, due to other commitments, I didn’t see him warm up. As he returned to the winners circle., I said to Jim, “Do you still train at Urbana (fairgrounds)?” “Yep,” he said. “This colt trains on a half-mile track.”

I knew Dailey had been at Urbana for about a million years, but didn’t double check, and with him qualifying the colt at Hoosier instead of Scioto, I thought maybe he had shipped there for good. My lack of “due diligence” cost me a good winner.

I putzed around a little bit at the windows, losaing aboyt $35, but mostly I watched the babies. It was good to see my friends Skip and Tammy Hoovler in the winners circle when Medooland Mac won. This youngster is immensely talented but has some steering problems. As I was making the trophy presentation, after Mac survived an inquiry, Skip mentioned that when I picked them second he told Bob Sidley he would be thrilled-- "Give us the 2nd place check and we won't even race," were his exact words, I am told. The difference was $5,000 in purse money--the $10K winner's share vs. ther $5K to the place horse. Now, after 5% to driver Chris Page and 5% more to trainer Mike Medors, I figure Skip owes me $4,500. But I am feeling magnanimous. Skip, when you read this, how about we split the difference. Send me $2250 and we will call it even.

Had a good night Friday as the public almost ignored the fast improving Tori's Angel $8.80 and a $11.60 double with a 1-5 in race 2. They also ignored Kareydale Charm in the mares open as the cold Polo Jenn - Marvel Sahbra exacta yielded just $13.60, but with Andy Coblentz's nice mare flying late to match her effort last week, the tri paid $236.60. 26/26/all would have cost you $12 (an 8-1 return0 but I was even cheaper, using just the 1, 7 and 8! Not bad until I got home and started returning my dinner.

More regular posts to follow-- I promise!