I did ok on that CIGAR run.

Thunder Gulch and Azeri...was on Azeri when she had her big wins, then was going against when she suffered some big upsets. Thunder Gulch was always there except for the time Oliver Twist nipped him for second in the Preakness.

Personal Ensign, my favorite horse of all time not just because of her ability but because she bailed me out twice when I really needed the cash.
Her debut was the one that meant a lot, I tapped out on her and i was in college. They broke and she didn't, I'm not saying she broke slow, I'm saying she was left 5-8 lengths behind the field. I was 17 and away at college and made a larger bet than a 17 year old kid should be making and wanted to hit myself when she got left. She made an astonishing move, then drew away by open lengths with no urging. Pride Of Darby(herself a future grade one winner) was 2nd and a ver happy college kid got back all the money he had gambled, ate, and drank away foolishly in his first 2 months of parental freedom at college. I took a month off from playing horses after that just happy to have "gotten even". YOu can look it up, Pride of darby was 2nd, trained by John Veitch, and this was in October of 1986.

You all probably know who I am going to say...Afleet Alex.

Ahh the good old college days. How long did it take you to lose back that after playing again? A day or a weekend? Viscious cycle, aint it? If it wasnt burning money at the OTB it was buying beer in Canada or bribing broads to play barbie with you. Oh how I miss those days!

Tim I said in the post I took a month off from horses after that and stuck with drinking. that was my freshmen year, you werent up there then and I was much tamer. It wasnt until my 2nd year that I turned into a full fledged nut. Then after I pledged the fraternity, forget it, lights were on but noone was home.

I'll tell you one horse that absolutely came through for me the two times I was really counting on him:

UNBRIDLED...

Thought he could win the Derby and then loved him in the BCC.. And he didn't disappoint either time...

Couple others?

Lure rarely let you down...

Here's a beauty... Itsallgreektome...!!! Backwheeled him in the '90 BC.

Tap the Admiral from my friend's barn and Del Carroll always ran his race for you...

and these days? Spooky Mulder, the greatest horse ever to look at the infield through a bridle...

Living in NY and being 48 years old i was fortunate to see Forego live many times.He was enormous and when i first saw him Heliodoro Gustines was riding him.The weight that was put on him,horses today couldn't handle.He lost to Wajima by only 2 lengths spotting him about 14 lbs.2 horses that were good to me were both greys.Shy Dawn and Ruritania.

All the love for Spooky Mulder lately on this board, I love it! I am a huge fan. Except when he beat Secret Run at Saratoga 2 summers ago and cost me a small fortune (Well at least by my standards). It was a very short field and him and Secret Run were like 8/5. Oh how I needed Secret Run for that late pick 4. It was the same day Lady Tak won the Ballerina in a very controversaial non-DQ. Then one of my favorite guys Boston Brahim broke down in the nightcap, had the horse who won on my pick 4 ticket but it did me little good cuz damn Spooky Mulder beat me in the 6th. Then I got out on the first race they simulcasted from Del Mar, some 5/1 shot with Kent D on the turf. Life was good again!

Wow, glad someone else remembers this one. I still have him on my watchlist for equibase. I was surprised to see his works start popping up again a couple months ago. Believe me, if I were at the track on Friday, I'd be betting him. He was great just a few years back.