According to local weather reports, the wind gusts at Arl Sat reached 35mph, although at times it seemed even worse. Unless my eyes were playing tricks on me, Storybook Kid in the last race was actually knocked off stride by the wind when he started to make a move on the winner.

Although there was nothing in the DRF on Sun, virtually all of the jocks & trainers agreed that despite the listing, the turf was definitely not firm on Sat. Kent D. went so far as to say it would have been rated as ylding in SoCal, while most others said it was what most trks would rate as good. The give in the course was not due to the weather & I personally suspect it might have been to accomodate foreign horses, which might be worth keeping in mind for the BC.

The stats & the charts & the local sheets players also confirm that I was not jumping to conclusions based on too small a sample when I decided that the much preferred style at Arl is to race off the rail, even alone on the lead. I've seen more TG "Xs" at Arl than at any other track & at this pt I'm not sure there shouldn't be even more than are assigned.

I assume David Patent & the other "ass" men out there will be on hand for the match race between Black Ruby & Taz at Del Mar on 9/8. I'm one myself & would consider making the long trip if the race wasn't a mere 400 yds. Even moi can last longer than that after many more "races" & yrs than the so-called fastest ass in the West.