Million Day 2006
 

Today was a picture perfect day here in Chicago. Absolutely beautiful.
Since I didn't have a lot of wagering funds I mainly hung out in the paddock and took some pictures. I made a few wagers and all were losers but one small late double. It was good that I didn't have more to wager with since my picks mostly failed.

I'm no photographer (I had to borrow a camera) and a neophyte as far as putting pictures on the net. But I setup this livejournal link below with pictures I took today if anyone is interested. Some of them are pretty weak, especially the ones of the race, but then again probably everyone saw the races already.

Let me know if this doesn't work and you can't see the pictures.


http://winbill.livejournal.com/

I tell you what it looked great on TV. Chicago really is a great sports town. Its so blistering hot here in San Antonio.

Man Gorella looks small on TV, but even smaller in your pictures. What a beautiful blue sky. Nice.

Thanks
 

for sharing. pictures turned out great and yes gorella does look pretty good

PSH

When you see her you are just taken, she really looks good. and runs well too!
She came into the paddock and just started snorting loudly over and over as to announce her arrival.

Rising Cross is tiny.
My god she looks like a pony.

Gorella is small but put together. Dont matter once they get on the track. English Channel... my wife says English Channel looks the best to her out of all your pictures. She has no idea how good these horses are, never heard of any of them. She has been around horses since she was a fetus.

Thanks for posting the pix, Jim! I especially love the ones of Gorella- she's so pretty!

I think she has become one of my favorites, sort of like EC is to GPK.
Her kick home looked phenomenal.

Thank you for posting the pics. Gorella really is tiny, but beautiful! I love this filly, have since last year. She is only getting better!

Yeah, me too. I don't know what I'm going to do if she and Ouija Board meet in the BC Filly & Mare Turf. (Other than box my exacta. :))

Gorella says "BRING HER ON".

ouija board is no lightweight. she'll be as easygoing about gorella passing her as she was the other day when alexander goldrun came up to her...and ouija has been competitive with some of the best males that europe has to offer. her win over the boys a couple months ago was something to see. and she'd have handed david junior all he could handle if her jock knew what they heck he was doing a few weeks ago!

if gorella knew the whole story, i don't know that she'd be as sure as some on here about the outcome! and believe me, i was impressed by what she did today. but ouija board is a tough nut to crack.

Not saying that it won't be a good race or that Gorella will win easily. Just in my opinion, Gorella is the best filly or mare out there right now.

Jim, sorry I didn't come down to see you, I was in no mood to be talking to anyone after the day I had and it completely slipped my mind, I only got to the paddock(not even the lower level, a level above the Bart/Henry statue) once and that was for Showing Up

she's the best filly or mare?? gorella?

sorry, i beg to differ. good performances are to be enjoyed, but best out there? c'mon...

gorella this year:
At 4:
Won Just a Game H.(USA-G2T), Beverly D. (USA-G1T

ouija board this year:

At 5: Prince of Wales's Stakes (GB-G1), Vodafone Nassau Stakes (GB-G1), 2nd Coronation Cup (GB-G1), 3rd Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1), 4th Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1)

gorella won her first grade one today, while ouija board has five. and that one is coming to the u.s. for her third bc f+m turf, with a win and a second under her belt the last two years.

If she stays healthy, Gorella will have Five grade 1s by this time next year.

lol

ouija boards win the other day was her first race against females since last october here in the states. she's over there carrying 130 or so pounds, seven straight races against males, and doing what you're speculating gorella can do, while shipping to the u.s., back, to dubia, and back. that's eight races for her this year doing all of that. remind me how many starts gorella has under her belt this year?

i enjoy all these performances we've been lucky enough to witness, but you won't catch me handing out unearned laurels. you have to beat the best to be the best. if gorella starts doing what ouija board has done, and continues to do, then i'll praise her to high heaven. but not before.

and as for five grade ones by this time next year, i'll be surprised if she has that many starts by this time next year.

I'm just glad the U.S. F&M Turf division finally has a bona fide superstar and we don't have to watch Film Maker and Angara take turns beating each other anymore..

Sorry, I fell for this horse last year before the BC Mile after watching her prep. I honestly think this filly is only going to get better. (And honestly if Gary had given her a better ride in the Mile last year, more would have been on this horse's bandwagon before her last two wins.)

I love this horse like Kev loves EC. Not bashing O board, but I am always going to bet with my heart when it comes to Gorella. But in my mind thinking without my heart, I really think this filly is only going to get better. She has been improving this year. O board may be the only filly who may be able to keep up with her. I personally hope she does go to the F&M Turf just to see the race.

they need to put her where it would suit her best. i'm not so sure the mile wouldn't be the better bet for her.
and yeah, watching horses with her style of running is always entertaining, and can cause a few grey hairs. but she won today more easily than her last. her run was timed perfectly. but to be honest, i was thrilled by jara and angara in her last, he barely moved, never touched her...he knew exactly what was underneath him.

as for being on a bandwagon, that's not my style much of the time....i enjoy a good effort by most any horse, and try my best to give credit where it's due. i think the only horse lately that i didn't give much credit to was birdstone in the belmont! but i don't really throw around a lot of he's the best/she's the best based on any one performance. i think a lot of times i come across as a devils advocate type....matter of fact, i caught a lot of grief over refusing to grant superstar status to candy ride when he beat medaglia doro, and ghostzapper during his four year, three start per year career.....
lol so hopefull you understand where i'm coming from on gorella. i thought she looked great today. i just don't know if she's great.

These were wonderful..... stunned that you have so many of my boy and it means a lot. Thank you. :)

THANK YOU AJ.....YOU ARE THE MAN....I LOVE GORELLA TOO....GREAT PICS.

I would still give the edge to OB at this point. Gorella is really good - there can't be much doubt left about that at this point - but I think OB is one of those "once a decade" type runners. Her performances recently have been brilliant.

I would have liked to see Gorella and MY favorite Megahertz tangle at 9.5 furlongs, especially if Mega got her in Cali. I'm not sure who would win, but seeing the two of them together flying down the track (and blazing by the rest of the field) would have been exciting.

That's alright, I was trying to save some space in case you came by. I figured it probably got a little crazy. I can never get used to the amatuers, intently reading the form at the machine, trying to figure out their wager, then finding out that one of the horses they wanted to bet in the pick three was scratched, so they hit start over!

Another guy comes up and asks "So which race is the derby?"

I left and watched the Secretariot from home. I'd had enough. But what a nice day it was weather wise.

You're welcome Kev. I knew you'd want to see "The Man". He is a nice looker. I feel the post really hurt him. If you notice he was used more than a little to gain position out of the chute and into the straightaway.

The Tin Man was tough as nails though. Three years ago I bet him in the Million and he finished sixth I believe. This year I toss him and he dominates. Oh well, I was happy to see it actually.

I know you know I wasn't in the happiest of moods yesterday, but i just need to say that your pictures.....

You say you're not a photographer? They were pure and raw and had movement, gave you a sense of what it was like to be there. You are too a photographer, so there!:p

Thanks again. I'd tell you how many times I've looked at them but it would be embarrassing. :D

ArlJim, Great Pics, I was actually on the other side of the paddock.

Really! did you see yourself in any of them??

wasn't that pretty much the nicest day we've had?

thanks,

Great pics, AJ... I think that by far, English Channel has everyone beat in the looks department. :D

thanks cajun, i agree to a point. EC is nice but I was also really taken by Gorella. She is special and its like she seems to know it also!!

It was refreshing to just spend the day in the paddock as opposed to standing in front of an auto-tote machine.

ArlJim, No, I didn't see myself because you barely cut me out. Nice pics anyway. lol

It was definitely an awesome day, but it could of been a lot better if Soldier Hollow would've finished 1st. Hey, that's racing. I had an outstanding time and can't wait til next year's Million. I'll be out there one more time on closing day to check out the 2yr olds. I took a few snapshots of Gorella. I would love to see her in the BC F&M Turf vs Ouija Board, Film Maker, Angara, and a healthy Melhor Ainda.

Hey Bogey....feel free to email me some pics of Gorella....love that little girl.