Had a great time sitting in the Stretch Run Grill seats. It felt at least 30 degrees cooler than it did on the other side of the grandstand where the sun was shining.

My friend who invited me to the BC is good friends with the Coolmore folks, he was sitting with them both days so I didn't see him much. He called me to meet him by the paddock before the 3rd race. We say our hellos and he hands me 2 Paddock passes for Race 11. I said didn't the Coolmore horse scratch?? He said yes, but go down there anyways and hang out. After the horses head to the track, just follow the people holding the "Host" signs.

So after we hang out in the Paddock, We are led to a viewing area, which was maybe 100 yards before the finish. Its railed off like box seats without the seats. My buddy and I find a section and there are 2 young girls there. A few minutes later their mom comes and we all watch the race together.

I was live to the 2-5-7-8-9 in leg 3 of the P4. Exciting finish and the 8 is closing fast, and we are all rooting like crazy for him to get up. He wins and she starts high fiving her girls, then turns around and we do a big High 5. I had no idea who she was, I figured an owner or something

She immediately goes down the stairs and we follow. Nick Luck greets her and she goes thru the gate to the winners enclosure. If I was thinking quicker I would have followed, the guy looked at me wondering if I was joining her. After a few moments they figured out we weren't with her.

Yeah, it was Cherie Devaux. I'm embarrassed as a racing fan that I didn't recognize her.

It was still pretty cool to be in the same area with her and root wildly for the same horse. She was pretty cool to celebrate with us. Congrats to her on her first BC win. I'm taking partial credit for the win.

P-Dub