Curtis Paynter --- regarded by many in the Baffert camp to be as good as Bodemeister only a few weeks ago --- draws off to a big win in 1:42.98 for 8.5 furlongs.

This is going to be a fun day today -- two races and probably one variant split already. The track remains to look fair ... and the overall speed of it appears a lot closer to par than it did an hour ago. Would like to know how much work was done to it between the second and fourth.

Dixie will be shown on NBC's alternate video stream - no audio.

FU NBC. That is all.

Wow. Thought Bodemeister was home free at the top of the stretch. It looked like a huge margin back to third.

No excuses there. Track, as Baffert said about 13 times, was playing a little slower than usual today, but Bodemeister got to run his race and still couldn't hold off I'll Have Another.

It was around 10 lengths back to Creative Cause, who ran pretty much the same race he always runs.

It's should be a big figure.

P.S. - still don't get the Went the Day Well love.

So it begins...

Ya, California based horses suck

I love Larry Culmus, but how great would Tom Durkin been in that call???

I knew he was done when I saw how close he was to the pace.

He's an Ice Box type if you want to be a little kind and a Make Music For Me type if you want to be a jerk about it.

Larry Callmiss is so plain vanilla and he was screeching at the end of the call. Tom Durkin is and always will be the king of the triple crown callers

I completely agree about Larry, it's just that Tom Durkin has the ability to give you chills by his call alone. The Ferdinand/Alysheba call gives me goosebumps to this day.

That race didn't need an announcer to make it exciting. Larry is a cool customer who rarely screams. I thought the call was pro and the drama was provided by the race itself.

Durkin would've called the winner Itsagoodtendollars. And wished he had ten dollars on him.

I saw nothing wrong with Larry's call. Nothing.

For the record, I thought Larry was great!!! Nothing wrong with his call, just kind of miss the emotion of Tom. No knock on anyone. Actually says a lot that Larry did sort of lost his voice in the stretch call, the race was just that good.

I agree.

You just (completely) agreed with a poster that referred to him as Larry Callmiss and said he is plain vanilla n was screechy. Not that i care one iota, but you cant have it both ways.

Actually, I can. This is a race caller who is normally plain and vanilla, but became screechy and emotional during a race. That's how exciting the race was. This happens, regardless of how we spell his name.

Who claimed California horses suck? Sounds like you have an inferiority complex.

You sure love you some Larry Callmiss, as the record states.

To infer that Callmiss is better than Tom Durkin is probably the president of his fan club

Still not sure what your stance is. I like one caller, but think another may have been a little better, how is that a problem? Just an opinion, I may be wrong. Not trying to blow anyone's skirts up.

No right or wrong answer, as it's your preference. I was just caught up on the fact that you said you love Larry but agreed with heli calling him Callmiss is all. No biggie. If Durkin was currently in the same ZIP CODE as him, heli's "argument" would hold weight. However, it doesnt. Pat Summerall was an excellent voice for Fox, but Aikman is light years better than him. Ten yrs ago, id agree that the old guys are better, but where we stand TODAY, it's not even close.

Fan club?? I laughed. Says the guy who greases Durkin's weasel before races.

To be honest, I didn't even notice that he had misspelled his name (blame the public school system!!!) If it was a shot at Larry, I didn't notice. I just think that some of the greatest calls that I have witnessed are from Tom. No more, no less. Really looking forward to the Belmont, I have cashed on IHA on every race since the Lewis.

Fair enough. I, too, think Durkin was as good as they get. Summerall too.

And congrats on cashing! I made scruples today, took a bath on 5/5, and its safe to say tht if he wins the TC, my Belmont results will be even worse. Good for you for sticking with him, it paid off. That horse got no respect, imo, and earned alot of it back today with his stretch drive. Sure makes for an interesting day in Elmont!!

Preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 109

Paul

I appreciate it. I am the epitome of the fan becoming a horseplayer and, after about 5 years of just watching races and never betting, I finally started putting my money on the races last year. This forum is invaluable for information. I appreciate everyone's opinion on here, good or bad. The last thing I want to do is have misunderstandings with people who know more than I do.

All I want to do is become good enough at handicapping that I can quit working..........what????

The point, I would imagine, is that there was never a better caller in big and dramatic races than Tom Durkin. Perhaps some would argue that he had more opportunities, but the guy never came short of capturing the big moments while maintaining his composure and delivering something that would make watching the replay years later even more exciting.

Whether the person who brought it up meant what I just said, that's my view on the whole thing.

:tro:

This is as good as it gets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydT4S...eature=related
Made me realize this was the best sport out there.

That race was amazing. I was 11-years-old and remember my parents were furious with me because I couldn't sleep in the hotel the night before.

The weather was a total bummer, but lots of awesome horses ran that day including Cara Rafaela, before she dropped Bernardini, Unbridled's Song, Inside Information, My Flag etc.