It's this Saturday. I'm considering going, because I've never been to Arlington.

They're having a big barbecue. Maybe Da Coach will show up incognito with his beard?

Do they let you look at the horses close-up before the races? Or is everything cordoned off?

You can see them in the show paddock/walking ring prior to the race. You'll be pretty close. Close enough to examine them physically like Philly Joe Takach.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Who's he, the "Jimmy the Greek" of horse race handicapping?

He is a handicapper that puts a lot of faith into what he saw in the paddock and would pick up on 'nuances'.

The only nuance I pick up on at Arlington is if I have put too little tonic in my gin and tonic.

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"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

I wasn't going to try to pick up anything, since I know very little about horses from their appearance.

Going by size doesn't mean much. Wasn't Secretariat kind of dinky? And look what he did.

I asked because I have never seen a thorough-breed up close. Maybe I'm looking for that twinkle in the eye, like Richard Dreyfus.

BTW, since I brought up Jimmy the Greek, I was curious about what ever happened to him. If you haven't seen it, there's an excellent documentary about him on Youtube that can be found here. He was one of my favorite sports personalities from back in the day, when I was too young to know or care anything about sports gambling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaNMhBx3Pe4

Last month marked twenty years since he's been dead. What a shame and injustice that CBS fired and everyone piled on him. The guy spoke from the heart. That's all he ever did and even with his comments about blacks, he was being honest. I think what people took offense too was what he said about blacks being bred, but that's what happened pre Civil War. It's history, but I guess not the kind of history people could accept.

Here's the line-up and odds for the 7th race on Sat. according to the program.

1. Two Step Time 8-1
2. Itsnotezbeinbreezy 30-1
3. Candy My Boy 5-1
4. Surgical Strike 5-2
5. Felt in Pocket 15-1
6. Cocked and Loaded 15-1
7. Uncle Jerry 30-1
8. Call the Colonel 30-1
9. Yo Carm 30-1
10. One Mean Man 6-1
11. Swagger Jagger 10-1
12. Tequila Joe 9-2

Surgical Strike looks like the cream of the class for this distance. Placed 3rd in a G2 race on turf back on May 7. Nice closing speed down the stretch.

Going today just to enjoy summer break...

_________________
An unjust law is no law at all--St. Augustine of Hippo

Cause tried and true
I see the light in you
Oh, can you dig in my soul?
Could you smell my whole...
life?--Gener and Deaner

Cock and Loaded here's the class

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Man, that's a nice field for Arlington.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

The Matron field is a good one too

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Here's a preview I found of the two main races tomorrow at Arlington.

http://www.chicagonow.com/picks-ponderi ... c-preview/

Walt mentioned Cocked and Loaded, which I think is a good pick along with Surgical Strike.

Call the Colonel is getting good odds at 30-1 after winning his last time out on May 16 in a Churchhill allowance race at 1 1/16 mi with a speed rating of 94. Back in February he beat Creator, believe it or not. Draws a decent post at 8. Despite the fact this will be his first attempt on grass, the trainer Jon Cowan has won with two of his last six runners on grass.

Program is calling for probable favorites of 4-12-3-10.

Surgical Strike comes through, but Tequila Joe was slow out of the gate, giving him only 4th.

Had the 1 horse, Two Step Time, in my exacta, which came close, leading after the far turn. But somewhere at the finish the 10 and 11 snuck up and stole 2nd and 3rd.

Enjoyable experience. Next time I'll stay for more races.

I'm listening to Howard Sudberry handicapping advice from now on. He correctly picked the 10-1 shot Flipcup in the 6th race to win as his pick of the day.

Here's a replay of the race.

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_ ... c-blinkers

10-1 he paid $10 go with Sudberry...Eddie O......until you go with your own picks .....you are not a player!

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Not to mention, Sudberry is a dope.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

And I know this could be blasphemy to some, but Eddie also is often wrong.

_________________
"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

Well, it's a tough game, but Eddie is a respectable handicapper.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

It was a joke! I just thought it was pretty good for him to get his pick right at 10-1 against the heavy favorite.