We are just past the midway point in the meet and I'm still well below the Mendoza line. After yesterdays Lejos Velazquez rant Laura couldn't find a date to go see her 2nd favorite band last night (she is a dead head from birth) so she dragged a grumpy Frank D. out reluctantly. Counting Crows and Rob Thomas put on a really good show, not my cup of tea but I do appreciate talent. So a little distraction from my unhealthy Spa tunnel vision followed by a dark Tuesday will have me raring to go back to REAL work tomorrow on my 58th birthday!

Still a mere one good bet away from the correct side of the ledger, the bad weather behind us after tonight and a little tomorrow morning rain its time to re group, re evaluate and focus on the turnaround. No more humidity, the weekend is looking 80ish, the nights will start to cool off and whomever enters tomorrow to face Song Bird in the 136th Alabama Stakes is strictly running for 2nd money.

Chad Brown and Kiaran McLaughlin are 50 % in the exacta for the meet with TG tops abound. Charlie Baker is over 50% in the exacta with Rudy Rod and DJ not only relevant but Michael Dubb and DJ are tied for 2nd leading owners. I'll leave the How's and Why's to others but I'll doubt you'll find in 148 years of history a trainer with more than 20 starts at this meet hitting 50% 1st or 2nd?

The week day cards are very weak, trying to fill 60 races a week is a daunting task this day in age. Races written for what stock is on the grounds has a lot of reflection on Aqueduct trainers winning a lot of races. You can count the
NW of 2X on one hand and when is the last time anyone has seen a NW of 3X in NY or anywhere?

Last weekend had a lot of would be visitors cancel their plans. Uncle Bill was not willing to give into the weatherman and called me Saturday morning trying to lure me up there with a trip to Perecca's Bakery after dropping a TG guest at the airport. Track John, Belmont 3, Top Cat are in this weekend, Richiebee and Fairmount next week.

We still only need a shovel to get out when it gets to needing a back hoe I'll ask for help!!!!

Good luck,

Frank D.