Super Tuesday in Erie and I won't be on hand
 

Presque Isle Downs kicks off a new season with opening day this Tuesday.

83 horses entered over 8 races.

Including two different $100,000 stakes races --- and the 2012 return of Lisa's Booby Trap in the 5th race - a $53,000 allowance race.

Lisa's Booby Trap has won 9-of-13 lifetime -- including 3 straight late last year at FL -- two of which against males. Her kooky trainer Tim Snyder still has her.

Race #6 is the Inaugural Stakes. Gypsy Robin -- a 3 length winner of the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland last out -- takes on Dance To Bristol (a filly who was 2nd to undefeated Agave Kiss last out. She has run Beyers between 88 and 91 in each of her last 3 starts)

This race also features the stakes debut of Mike Matz trained Brilliant Katie (a filly who made my Youtube bet back video for her 49 Beyer debut and has since improved her fig by 30+ points in each of her next two starts...with only a win at 9/5 odds and a 2nd place finish to show for it)

Race #7 features an interesting renewal of the Tom Ridge Stakes. Yes, they really did name a stakes race after Tom Ridge...he's the former head of homeland security with the hearing aid who invented the color coded terror alert chart.

The Tom Ridge features good 3yo colts like Town Prize (94 Beyer in his 3yo debut in a big stakes win at Woodbine) Hogy (won the Hansel Stakes with a 92 Beyer) Johanesburbon (Set the pace in the Grade 3 Lexington and beaten less than 4 lengths in only career start #2) and Sum of the Parts (92 Beyer at Kee last out -- Leperoux named to ride -- cross entered in Sat stakes at CD)

However, the most crazy horse in the field is the longshot Mountaineer invader Lomax.



Lomax won his career debut at Mountaineer Park by 23.5 lengths going just six furlongs a few weeks ago. He earned a 96 Beyer ... an unheard of figure for a Mountaineer debuter. Note, Lomax is out of a Salt Lake mare. Salt Lake and Dehere are kingpins as sires and broodmare sires of debuters.

However, the only reason why any of this is remotely thread worthy ... is because I won't be in Erie on Tuesday and thus will miss this fine opening day card at the picturesque 'Track of the infield eyesores and very nearby landfill and trailer park'

Yes, I will be on a mini 4-day vacation with my girlfriend and miss this great racing card -- as well as the free T-shirt and $1 Smith Hot Dogs to all people who show up. Admission is free. The track is certain to be crawling with 20-something single mothers and the bastard little kids they bring to entertain whenever a t-shirt promo is on.

Tom Ridge has a Stakes race named after him at Presque Isle and you don't? I find that absolutely appaling.

Where are you and the little lady going?

Is the Lomax race is a mile? If so, you always preach about speed holding at PI, is there a chance that Lomax gets absolutely dismissed at the windows and goes wire to wire?

Nothing to add except I'm impressed with a 23.5 length win at pretty much any level.

ETA - having checked out the race replay, it was visually impressive as well.

I'm guessing some place really exotic, like Ohio. Cincy or Cleveland?

i laughed

-bt-

The Lomax race is a sprint.

I narrowed down the vacation options to anywhere she wanted to drive...because I sure am not driving outside of the city limits.

Her gay roommate is encouraging her to choose New York City...so it probably will be there.

I was initially thinking Cleveland or Baltimore would be perfect.

Cleveland is perfect because they have the worlds best amusement park in Cedar Point near-by and because my dopey Air traffic controller brother lives there. But Cedar Point doesn't open until two weeks from now.

She can't get off of work on Friday or Saturday -- or Baltimore would have been the choice. Inner Harbor + Preakness.

Anything that doesn't involve roller coasters or horse tracks -- I'd personally have no interest in seeing. I'm probably the most boring person in the world...but that remains her problem.

scioto downs?

-bt-

Damn, I was soooo close!

I think you should take her to West Virginia. Some of the benefits?

1. Mountaineer Park.
2. Homeland of Randy Moss.
3. You'll be with your own kind.
4. It's a very scenic state, for the most part.
5. You can go visit that famous fat kid who didn't know that french fries and potato chips come from potatoes. Or something like that. I think he wasn't even able to recognize a whole potato in it's raw form. You would look like a genius in comparison!

If I go to West Virgina I will take her to the dog track at least once...and we will probably end up adopting a greyhound.

Wherever we go -- I'm bringing my laptop and phone.

You've never been to a dog track before, have you? You really haven't lived until you have.

If you both have passports try Toronto with one night in Niagara Falls. Toronto is only about 4 hours from Erie.

You guys are sleeping on Buffalo.

How bout this?

Six Flags Great Adventure
http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/index.aspx



only about 33 miles away from Monmouth Park.

Only downside Doug, there are no Subway's in the area.

Oh yeah and it's only 12 miles away from beautiful Freehold Raceway..............:o

If you go try this.

http://www.whirlpooljet.com/page/home

don't listen to that guy, he's a shill for jersey.com

stay classy and take her here :rolleyes:

http://www.800poconos.com/


-bt-

Nope. Never been.

I have been to Los Al though. Does that qualify?

Joisey might be a good idea.

I can alert Pippy.

Here's the video of the race for anyone who hasn't watched it and wants to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzRhU...ature=youtu.be

You might want to mute it. I spliced it and hit upload so fast that the call is pretty messed up.

:tro:

I realize we're talking about a horse winning its debut by a zillion lengths at MNR, but the jock never asked the horse to run even once. It will be interesting to see if there's anything more to the horse.