She's in Sportz! Your RIGHT. On Monday she is going from the 10 hole in the 1 1/16 mile Ballston Spa Breeder's Cup for $200,000. A full field of F+M's are in this MellonTurf Course fixture. The inner turf at Saratoga is perenially known as a closers or stalkers paradise even though the turns are very tight. It is shaped like a long, skinny oval but usually plays to come from behind types but lately it has been very speed favoring much to my chagrin as that is my main focus of the Saratoga meet but now I focus on inside speed on the inner. THe Mellon (outer) Turf COurse is usually a closers haven and is still mostly playing that way although it is possible to win on the lead. The outside post positions on either turf course can be quite hard to overcome unless you are a dead closer. How does Alinghi usually run? It could be tough from the 10 hole but she isn't in against the top notch females over here at all. I might have to back her for me mates in OZ!!!! Who's her sire (Encosta?)??? She has been training like wildfire since coming to the Bucolic setting of Saratoga. THe one problem she might have is the detention barn. New this year, all stakes horses have to spend the 6 hours pre-race in a very small confining faux-barn that has really been washing some horses out. Any good ones on tap tonight at Rosehil or Caulfield?

She's definitely a 'come from behind' type. She has an explosive finish, and although she doesn't have to race that way, that's been her pattern in a lot of previous starts.

Sorry guys. I just realised that I didn't post any tips for today. For some reason, I just forgot. Don't know what happened there. And I've had a VERY good day with my tips too, but that doesn't help you guys. Sorry.

I like to hear that about Alinghi. I hope the turf course can get a little rain before Monday so it will have a little give to tire the front runners. I don't have the form on the race and it won't be available until Sunday so I'll let you know how it looks to set up. Frankel always has Brazilian horses running first time here. They don't always fire first here so maybe people will stay off Alinghi. Great sign that leading rider Edgar Prado takes the mount but he will draw support. I think a lot depends on how Frankel does Sat and Sun at Saratoga. he has a Brazilian 4yo Colt named Misto Quento by Royal Academy who has 6 starts in the US with 3 seconds and 1 third, He's due to crack the top spot here. I fhe flounders maybe people will think the same of "that foreign horse" Alinghi. How did Maykbe Diva pay so much????? Regal Roller burns everybody's money again. Who trained Alinghi in Australia Sportz?

Lee Freedman. Here was her record in Australia: 16 starts, 10 wins, 3 2nds, 2 3rds. Prizemoney: $3,421,325


Prior to today, Makybe Diva had had 6 previous runs first up from a spell and never run a place. She'd also had 5 previous runs at this distance and never run a place. That's obviously what the punters and tipsters were going on. Personally, I thought if Regal Roller was off his game, then she would probably have too much class for the rest of them on a wet track which she loves.

I kind of got the indication that Maykbe usually needs a race or two but didn't realize the distance ? but still for a champion to pay like that is a gift. Alinghi is dead game. What a record! Thanks for the info. Do you know why this whole ALinghi in America thing came about? Did they sell her?

Was wondering what had happened to you Sportz. You must be getting old!! (Had to use the exclamation marks --- never have found out how to us the smilies in the text of the posting.) Could have done with a little help too! Should have followed Tarbs. Did you see his results!!??

I'm kicking myself for not gettng down on on Honest Politition last night. I even drove the 30 miles to the Philadelphia Turf Club because they always stay oopen later. I opened up a phone bet acct but they had already closed when I looked at the race. I get to the OTB and the doors are open, I walk up stairs, 10 minutes to post on the TV, Honest is 7-1, but there are now windows open. I watch the race, Hunter Hermitage looks to have an easy lead, uncontested with the 12 stalking, I'm sort of happy that I didn't get down, when the televisions all shut off.! At least these idiots at the Turf Clubs should have let me watch the end of the race. Get home and check the results, Voila-Honest Polititon $19 and change to win. I can't remember a string of shut outs like this, and pretty much all my own doings. Oh well. at least it's Travers Day at Saratoga!!!!!!!

No, I didn't see them. I'll have to have a look.

Anyway, sorry about that. I had a real good day today with my tips, but not much good claiming that now when I forgot to post them.


As for the smilies, you simply use a : followed immediately by other characters. For example:

: followed by ) gives you

: followed by ( gives you

: followed by D gives you

: followed by o gives you

They'll do for starters.

ALINGHI has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the grade 3 Ballston Spa BC on Monday(US). Her main competition comes from Que Puntualt trained by Angel Penna,Jr. who has quitely been enjoying a solid turf meet at the Spa. Que Puntualt breaks outside of Alinghi from post 11 (or 12?). Interesting race.