77 hour whirlwind trip couldn't have went any better. 2:52 am wake up on Thursday morning and home by 8:02 am Sunday morning and used up every moment I could to really escape the winter blues of the Midwest this year.

Flew into Miami and had an Uber driver going 85 to get me to the hotel across the street from Gulfstream. A room was ready and I got in a jog to the beach and back (about 4 miles plus total) and still made it in time for Race 1 on Thursday. I took up a spot in the paddock area that was mostly shady all day. And I sat there for 3 straight days. I've had zero Ultra's, zero Bud Light's, and zero alcohol this year and nearly none since Breeders Cup weekend. It is mostly to keep the daily exercise as strong as possible as I age. If you saw me, I was the guy in the paddock with a pen and paper to write down all the fractions and winning styles each race along with my ipad to really dial in everything I could.

No TG members on days 1 or 2. Time and age catches up with all of us ...well except those of us that drink of the Fountain of Youth days as best we can. Day 1 had some good handicapping but no solid scores. Day 2 was a losing day and so so handicapping with Tapeta taking a toll on me. Day 3 I really started to zero in on a few angles and capitalized. On Day 2, I met CJ Johnson who sat behind me near the end of the card. Of course I struck up a conversation and he advertised that he had a horse he LOVED at FairGrounds on Saturday. I specifically asked him if I could share it with my friends and he said No Problem. I was in a hot streak leading up to that point on Saturday, esp on Beach Bomb on the front end. My belief was the zero rail setting had a speed bias and the outter setting turf races did Not. Saez sent the horse and Boom. Then I hit the double thereafter pretty good also. And then the FG race arrived and that horse rolled on the turf and paid 12 bucks. Foutain of Youth I watched with a Fairmount friend of 20 plus years at the finish line along with his gf. They now live on the west side of Florida and we had no idea we would see each other that afternoon but it all worked out. Sovereingty was impressive as I noted in a post about him last year after his CD score.

Very lucky to have Gulfstream's own Johnny M there to visit a race or two Saturday. Then after the FOY I spent the last race with him in the tent area past the finish line with his pals. Of course I touted the speed on the zero rail setting on turf. And I was sure Maker would send one of his two and played with enthusiasm riding high on the day. And the TAP with speed wired 'em at 16-1 and the TAP that ran 2nd is a big upgrade next time. Right angle, wrong horse and should have spread a touch more at those prices to take advantage in that last race. Had dinner with Johnny and his buddies and caught the Journalism race on tv from SA with outstanding conversations about all things racing including the future of Gulfstream.

Spent Fri and Sat mornings jogging to the beach. Got in the ocean for a bit each morning before jogging back. Got in the pool 3 or 4 times and did some cardio laps at the hotel. Sat morning on the way jogging back from the beach something told me to stop in and watch the workouts. Near the 1/8th pole in the parking lot area is a viewing stand of sorts. Somehow I was lucky enough to meet Jose Pinchin who spent 30 to 45 minutes entertaining me with stories of his 50 plus years training horses in Jamaica and Florida. He was a wealth of information and just a real treat to spend time with that morning. He shared stories and tidbits I will never ever forget. Wish I had room to share more on that here.

The trip was a real treat to spend some time mostly alone carefree about my phone, very, very focused on handicapping, enjoying the sun, the horses, the buildup to FOY and watching the big race.

All 3 evenings after dinner, I went and sat in the paddock area just watching the fountain continue to spurt water beautifully with the Palacial background Frank Stronach envisioned. No one else was there generally speaking. Just me taking it all in. Music from the Karoke club above the paddock playing in the background, the beautiful night time lights shining on the fountain water. It was bittersweet. I can't imagine the place not there. But adapting to life's ever changing landscape is probably one of the most important skills to embrace. I'm not good at it. I would prefer to see Gulfstream's waters still shooting up in the paddock for decades to come.
Hope springs eternal and drinking up the Fountain of Youth weekend allowed me to reflect on all that I love about the game, about the horses, handicapping, and believing there are times that we should embrace these moments not worrying about what the future holds.  

Ponce de Leon would be proud of my weekend I think. . .