Actually I wasn't...I did see live racing that day though, just not the card at Anita; my (*cough*40th) birthday was Friday, so my wife threw an incredibly fun party for me at Los Alamitos on Saturday, night. The feature was the Grade I Super Derby for quarter horses, and the 6th race--a filly and mare thoroughbreed maiden claimer--was named "Happy Birthday Ted." We went to the winner's circle after that race and got our picture taken. I did see Zenyatta twice in person--once at Del Mar for the Clement Hirsch , and also at Zenyatta Day last year at Hollywood about a month after the BC--she didn't race that day, but they gave her a parade around the track in between races and I got up really close to her in the walking ring before that. Amazing horse.

Oh, and I did bet her to win, of course.

At 5-2--how did I get 5-2!--I took the cash. Plus, I have to admit I bet it via my ADW account.

I like MTB; I don't think 'fluke' is the right word to describe his Derby. I would say that he does need things to set up exactly right for him to do his best work. I think the BCC was probably asking too much from him--I think he'll go on to be like Funny Cide and Giacomo, two horses that tried hard every time racing at high levels of competition, not always winning but usually picking up a share of the purse. I'd spot him in GII, GIIIs where he can win--the San Californian at Hollywood and San Diego at Del Mar would be my summer goals, or else I'd keep him in the upper echelon of NM races. That said, he seemed to like Churchill, so maybe there's something in the spring meet, maybe even on the undercard of the Derby.

I almost bought a win ticket on Big Brown to keep for the books, but thankfully I didn't--I think Big Brown was a pretty underrated horse, when it's all said and done, but his connections are so distasteful. The ticket I wish I had was Lava Man winning his third Gold Cup, it was such an exciting race and I couldn't beleive he went out at 7/5 or whatever it was. I was surprised he was playable and bet him, but I just cashed the tickets when it was all over.

I hope so. Maybe we'll see him in the Stephen Foster?