Kentucky Derby + Mr. Gray-Glo = Broke
Posted by: Al in Blogging The Mundane Slog on May 8th, 2012
Back from Keeneland with less cash in the kitty than before. But a good time was had by all during Derby 138.
For the first time in history a horse from the 19th post won the Derby. I’ll Have Another is that winning horse.
No where in my handicapping notes did I consider using I’ll Have Another in my betting.
The payouts were huge:
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(Off: 6:31 Next Post: 7:20) | Surface: Dirt | |
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| Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands | |||
| 1 1/4 Miles | 3 Year Olds | STAKES | Open | |||
| # | HORSE | JOCKEY | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | I’ll Have Another | M. Gutierrez | $32.60 | $13.80 | $9.00 |
| 6 | Bodemeister | M. Smith | $6.20 | $5.60 | |
| 5 | Dullahan | K. Desormeaux | $7.20 |
Times in 5ths: :221 :451 1:094 1:35 2:014
Times in 100ths: :22.32 :45.39 1:09.80 1:35.19 2:01.83
Winning Trainer: O’Neill Doug | Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
Scratched: My Adonis
| Unplaced horses listed in order of finish. |
| Also ran: Went the Day Well, Creative Cause, Liaison, Union Rags, Rousing Sermon, Hansen, Daddy Nose Best, Optimizer, Alpha, El Padrino, Done Talking, Sabercat, Gemologist, Trinniberg, Prospective, Take Charge Indy and Daddy Long Legs |
$2 Exacta (19-6) Paid: $306.60, $2 Trifecta (19-6-5) Paid: $3,065.60, $2 Superfecta (19-6-5-13) Paid: $96,092.80, $2 Daily Double (1-19) Paid: $817.60 Daily Double Pool $1,138,854.00 , $2 Daily Double (OAKS/DERBY 9-19) Paid: $731.20 Daily Double Pool $2,351,108.00 , $2 Pick 3 (6-1-19) 3 Correct Paid: $3,297.40 Pick 3 Pool $1,442,960.00 , 50 CENT Pick 3 (OAKS/WDFRD/DERBY 9-1-19) 3 Correct Paid: $3,492.45 Pick 3 Pool $642,736.00 , $2 Pick 4 (10-6-1-19) 4 Correct Paid: $31,124.40 Pick 4 Pool $2,757,984.00 , 50 CENT Pick 5 (4-10-6-1-19) 5 Correct Paid: $23,923.80 Pick 5 Pool $1,074,309.00 , $2 Pick 6 (2-4-10-6-1-19) 5 Correct Paid: $3,161.80 Pick 6 Pool , $2 Pick 6 (2-4-10-6-1-19) 6 Correct Paid: $675,148.00 Pick 6 Pool $1,789,048.00 , $1 Super High Five (19-6-5-13-8) Paid: $0.00 Carryover Pool $276,914.00 , $2 Future Wager (FUTURE EXACTA POOL 1 13-24) Paid: $257.80, $2 Future Wager (FUTURE EXACTA POOL 2 12-3) Paid: $1,661.00, $2 Future Wager (FUTURE EXACTA POOL 3 11-2) Paid: $1,351.40, $2 Future Wager (FUTURE POOL 1 – 13) Paid: $60.20, $2 Future Wager (FUTURE POOL 2 – 12) Paid: $46.20, $2 Future Wager (FUTURE POOL 3 – 10) Paid: $45.60
Mr. Gray-Glo liked #8 Creative Cause and #15 Gemologist. Gemologist was who I really thought would win it. The race unfolded pretty much how it did with the two speed horses Bodemeister and Trinniberg setting a fast pace, and they did. But the pace was too fast for Bodemeister to keep and he didn’t as the eventual winner I’ll Have Another did catch and pass him. Gemologist was the horse I thought would come from the pack to challenge the pace setters and win with his late strong kick in the end. But he didn’t and my tickets are trash.
I did to well in race #7 when I hit both the Exacta and Trifecta: $2 Exacta (4-6) Paid: $16.20, $2 Trifecta (4-6-7) Paid: $174.20. And that was it.
But I consider betting to be spending and winnings to be a bonus. Mr. Gray-Glo would be living in an appliance box down by the river if he ever thought he could make money on betting horses. You only make money handicapping by selling tip sheets about handicapping.
The only member of our party to hit on I’ll Have Another was The Kid. Actually it was her friend who asked her to place a bet on a horse with purple colors in the silks. The Kid looked through the program and found a few with purple in their silks but because her friend is a bartender, she thought I’ll Have Another was the perfect pick. It was for her friend who is now $32.60 richer for The Kid’s handicapping skills.
After pouring over Beyer speed figures, past performances, races against like horses…and all other ‘real’ data designed to flesh out an winner…you can’t beat picking the winner by color and name!
Keeneland Bound for The Kentucky Derby
Posted by: Al in Blogging The Mundane Slog on May 3rd, 2012
It’s the first Saturday in May which means it is Mrs. Gray-Glo’s ChristmasSuperbowlWorldSeries otherwise known as The Kentucky Derby.
This year like last year we will at Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky. Derby tickets at Church Hill Downs were again out of reach.
Mr. Gray-Glo has been handicapping other the other major horse race aka the GOP Presidential Primary. Both involve a lot of money being bet on a huge victory.
But come Saturday there is only one place, win, exacta, trifecta, pick 4, and maybe pick 6 bet this guy is making.
I have not study the field as much as my wallet would seem to think is necessary–wow this is more like politics than you may first imagined as both will empty your kitty quickly. At least at the track you are watching for what comes out front and in politicians you a wary about what drops out from behind.
Here is the field and post positions:
Kentucky Derby
No Horse
1 Daddy Long Legs
2 Optimizer
3 Take Charge Indy
4 Union Rags
5 Dullahan
6 Bodemeister
7 Rousing Sermon
8 Creative Cause
9 Trinniberg
10 Daddy Nose Best
11 Alpha
12 Prospective
13 Went the Day Well
14 Hansen
15 Gemologist
16 El Padrino
17 Done Talking
18 Sabercat
19 I’ll Have Another
20 Liaison
AE My Adonis
There is money to be made as most of the odds for very good horses like third favorite Gemologist are relatively long at a morning line of 6-1.
Of course these will change as the betters begin laying out their dollars.
Mr. Gray-Glo still has not figured out his betting but has two favorite types of bets:
One I call the Up The Ladder Across the Board which means I bet win, place and show but each leg is doubled. For example: $5 to win, $10 to place, and $20 to show.
The next one is an exacta box where I group three or four horses and if either of them comes in first and second it is a winner.
I will either come home broke or with an IRS agent in tow. The IRS has a tax office at every track because, you know, the government always gets theirs first.
And I am off to see “And They’re Off…” for the Run for The Roses!
Occupy Supermax!
Posted by: Al in The Right Rant on May 2nd, 2012
Dateline Brecksville (posts always sound more important with that).
Mr. Gray-Glo is working nights and sleeping days and waking dazed lately. Think vampire without the youth appeal or sex appeal as well.
Yesterday, I set my alarm to wake me at 2:30 so I could get ready for my ‘date’ with The Kid; I was her Plus One for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ‘Roadie’ recognition dinner at The Hall. Being The Kid’s Plus One are the only dates Mr. G gets these days. More about this event later.
I awoke to Breaking News about a thwarted terrorist plot here in Brecksville and the sound of helicopters buzzing the house. News birds trying to get video for live feeds and B rolls. 19 Action News is Everywhere you may have seen.
Five terrorist who are fringe members associates drifters of the fringe Occupy Cleveland which would be fringe squared. These five wanted to make some big anti-government statement on behalf of the 99% by blowing up a bridge over the Cuyahoga River and Cuyahoga Valley National Park and murdering the other 99 percenters who may be driving on it or walking underneath it in the park.
Fortunately for the rest of us 99 percenters, the FBI found out about the plot and was able to set up a sting operation that led to their arrest and prevention of a real deadly bomb blast instead of the faux non-blast. They purchased ‘explosives’ from the FBI undercover agents, then set them at the base of the bridge, and attempted to ‘detonate’ them by sending a text code.
Imagine those numbskulls standing around with their fingers plugging their ears; their eyes squinted in anticipation of the blast as their compatriot futilely enters the codes. Nothing happens. They try again, and again. Because they were attempting to murder people this was definitely dark comedy. So, the occupier…I am serious…calls the undercover FBI agent to make sure he had the correct code!
Brilliant.
Yes, Mr. Gray-Glo is in the 99%; 99% of us are in the 99%. But I am not in their 99%. I am in the 99% who work and pay taxes to fund the occupy 99% who do not. In other words, they are the Democrat base.
The occupy percent seem more aligned with Islamist than not. If they don’t get their way, they resort to terrorism by rioting, deploying biological weapons by shitting on police cars and in bank lobbies, mailing envelopes filled with powder, and blowing up bridges with civilians on it. One of the suspects was even willing to wear a homicide bomber jacket to advance Occupy Jihad.
Now, these terrorist occupiers are no longer occupying Cleveland’s Public Square. They are under arrest and soon will occupy a Supermax prison where 99% of their ilk is summarily occupied.
Cure-A-Thon Update: $3 Million!
Posted by: Al in Blogging The Mundane Slog on April 16th, 2012
2012 Cure-A-Thon Raises Over $3 Million
Rush Limbaugh:
Yes, my friends, it was a record. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society radiothon, excess of $3 million on Friday. Because of that, we’ve left the donation links up at RushLimbaugh.com. Unbelievable. Thank you so much. I can’t begin to express our gratitude properly to all of you. In less than three hours, once a year, in 23 years, we’re up to $35 million or something like that. It’s just mind-boggling.
The donations link is still active, so if you haven’t yet, please click here to donate.
Thank all of you who have donated to help those with blood cancers.
Titanic, 100 Years of The Greatest Metaphor
Posted by: Al in Blogging The Mundane Slog on April 15th, 2012
Today is the 100th anniversary of the sinking the RMS Titanic.
Perhaps no other disaster holds onto our imagination like Titanic’s sinking. It has all the elements of pure drama only real-life can create: maiden voyage, juxtaposition of economic classes, hubris of man, bravery versus cowardice, life and death and so much more.
Maybe United flight 93 on September 11, 2001 and the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon are close.
But Titanic created metaphors and clichés still relevant today without having to search their origin.
Ford’s Edsel as metaphor for business failure? It has faded and even fails as a time-period set piece joke.
Jimmy Carter as the symbol of failed inept presidential leadership? He is at risk of being replaced as that by President Obama.
But not Titanic.
Take for example our ego, our self-importance; we all are so full of ourselves as masters of our universe…”Not even God can sink this ship”…
And then we hit the iceberg.
Titanic is the metaphor for that conceit and reminds us that everything we may do, plan, build is not fail-safe. Our failures at best can be comedy and at worse is tragedy.
Part that keeps us going as a species is how we pick up after a disaster and begin again. It isn’t that we forget–well, we selectively forget–we just know we can do better.
In the sequel to Jurassic Park, The Lost World there is this exchange between John Hammond and Ian Malcolm:
HAMMOND: “Don’t worry, we aren’t making the same mistakes again”
IAN: “No, you’re making all new ones”
But the initial mistake we never learn from is hubris.
In the late ’90s during the technology, Internet, and dot-com boom those who should have known better were saying that this new economy has repealed the business cycle. Even as late as 2000 the Council of Economic Advisers said this expansion could go on indefinitely.
And then we hit the iceberg.
It isn’t coincidence that James Cameron’s Titanic was released during the era of our greatest economic hubris since the 1920’s. We just didn’t realize it.
So, whenever you hear someone say we have removed failure, make sure you have a clear path to the life boat.
Rocketile Dysfunction: North Korea Can’t Keep Its Dong 2 Up
Posted by: Al in The Right Rant on April 13th, 2012
Anticipation was building.
This was to be Kim Jong Eun’s moment. He dreamt and fantasized what it would finally feel like when this day—on the centennial anniversary of the founder’s birth, no less—finally came.
The mood was set.
Maybe the build-up in his mind was too much because when he finally launched his rocket, it prematurely exploded after only 90 seconds. And fell into the sea.
Was that it?
It was over before he realized it started.
Maybe it wasn’t good for him but for the rest of the world it was a great release.
UPDATE: Limbaugh’s Cure-A-Thon
Posted by: Al in Blogging The Mundane Slog on April 13th, 2012
The Radiothon is on but you don’t need to listen to Rush. And you are not limited to donating only during his radio show; the Cure-A-Thon phone and links are active all weekend.
El Rushbo Kicks Off Our 22nd Annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Cure-A-Thon with a $400,000 Donation
The donation number today that we’re using is 1-877-379-8888. 877-379-8888, or you can make a donation at RushLimbaugh.com. That has been a favored way that people have contributed to the Cure-A-Thon in recent years. So 877-379-8888 or RushLimbaugh.com. And we’re gonna be using Twitter today. We’ve got a hashtag @RushLimbaugh or @Limbaugh that we want you to retweet. It’s explanatory there, and it will take our message above and beyond the radio program audience. We’ve done this now for 22 years, or this is our 22nd year, and we don’t go wall-to-wall with this. We do the Cure-A-Thon and we do the radio program all combined into one bundle.
Please call 877-379-8888 or click here to donate online.
Rush Limbaugh’s Radiothon To Cure Blood Cancer
Posted by: Al in Blogging The Mundane Slog on April 12th, 2012
Cure-A-Thon Starts Friday
Rush Limbaugh is no Jerry Lewis and doesn’t even pretend. But once a year while doing his normal Open Lines Friday talk show he devotes the three hours to raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fight blood cancers.
Rush Limbaugh:
We do this in conjunction with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America. We’ve been at this, I guess, since 1989. And we have since then — total combined donations — raised $30 million or more. And we’ve never had a down year. Every year, no matter what the economic circumstances are, we’ve always had up years. It’s blown us all away here during this particular recession. We continue to beat previous years’ expectations.
Please listen to Rush tomorrow and call to make a donation or visit www.rushlimbaugh.com and click on the Cure-A-Thon donate link.
This is where Mr. Gray-Glo gets his fine collection of Rush T-shirts and baseball caps.
The number to call and the link were not posted at the time of this posting.
Rush has added Twitter to the Cure-A-Thon:
Now, what we’re gonna do is we’re going to add Twitter for the first time this year in our Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Cure-A-Thon. We’re gonna put out a hashtag. We’re gonna use a hashtag. The hashtag is #RushLLSradiothon. That’s the hashtag: #RushLLSradiothon. And when you retweet that you are helping to build awareness that will lead to more donations. It’ll alert people not listening to the radio program as to what’s going on here and bring them here and help them understand what we’re doing.
Please visit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org to learn more about the work they do supporting those with blood cancers and their families. You can also donate there.
Bitter Irony
My favorite punk band was–is–The Ramones.
Joey Ramone died on April 15, 2001 after a seven year battle with Lymphoma. It was during the first Cure-A-Thon in which I made a donation and collected my first Limbaugh T-shirt.
During that same weekend, my wife found what she thought was an abscessed tooth. It turned out to be Follicular Non-Hodgins Lymphoma. It was caught in time and she was treated at what used to be called The Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospital but is now Seidman Cancer Center. If you wish you can click here to make a gift donation.
She is now in remission and dare I say almost declared cured.
The segue between those two sentences from discovery of her cancer to her being ‘cured’ does not do justice to all she went through to make it.
It is a long 11 year journey.
We are blessed to have University Hospital and the Seidman Cancer Center here.
And we are also blessed to live in such a country filled with so many generous and charitable folks who open their minds and hearts and wallets to help cure blood cancers.
Survival is increasing.
Thank you for your time.