The strength of the field in this years Suburban Hdcp is reminiscent of days gone by or Pre-Breeders Cup. We haven't seen this kind of quality come together in this particular race for some time as it seems most of the top horses duck each other for good purses and preferable weight assignments, waiting for the Breeders Cup in the fall. Should be some kind of race.

I have to relay a story from a few years back, pre-cell phone pre-simulcast. The Suburban that year was "loaded" with Track Barron, Carr de Naskra and many other other good ones from New York. Charlie Whittingham was bringing in 'Big Cap' winner Lord at War.

A somewhat unknown Ky based trainer Shug McGuaghey was bringing in two horses with his primary shooter supposed to be Pine Circle. My race track buddy called me that July 4th while I was on the golf course and left a message on my answering machine.

"When you get in call ASAP, Shug scratched Pine Circle out of the Suburban and is going with only Vanlandingham who burned up the CD strip four days ago with a sensational work. There isn't a bookie in the south end of Louisville who will take even a nickle more of action on the horse because everyone in town has "bet out" on the horse".

I looked at the clock and saw it was 7:00PM and too late.

When I opened the paper the next day I read where Vanlandingham had wired the field, won by 10 LENGTHS and paid $20.00! True Story.