Contenders and Pretenders

With the Kentucky Derby only 10 days away, it looks like we'll have three runners that separate themselves from the other runners; Big Brown, Colonel John & Pyro. These look like the only three that may be under 10-1 at post time the first Saturday in May. So, what to make of the other entries pointed for the race? Which ones are contenders and which are pretenders? We'll take them in alphabetical order; Adriano (contender) - although his one dirt try wasn't that good, he's bred for dirt & the Derby distance. Big Truck (pretender) - upset winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, this N.Y. showed nothing in the Bluegrass Stakes last time out. Breeding wise... it's doubtful he can get the Derby distance. Bob Black Jack (pretender) - he showed a gutsy effort in the Santa Anita Derby on the polytrack, he's another that's suspect going a mile and a quarter. Cool Coal Man (pretender) - Like Big Truck, he was no factor in the Bluegrass at Keeneland. Wonder just how good are the Gulfstream Park prep winners. Court Vision (contender) - Everbody has been knocking his Wood Memorial effort, but showed a good work with blinkers added. Cowboy Cal (pretender) - just got beat at the wire in the Bluegrass, this three year old is bred for the grass and could be a "killer" if kept on that surface. Denis of Cork (pretender) - not the route his connections wanted to go to the Derby, lack of seasoning versus tougher may be his undoing. Gayego (contender) - had no problem with dirt in the Arkansas Derby, his speed may be a factor to run with Big Brown early. Monba (contender) - although a winner of polytrack in the Bluegrass, he may be cycling back to good form at a price. Recapturetheglory (pretender) - recent wire to wire of the Illinois Derby, he could be the pace setter for the race and sacrificial lamb. Smooth Air (contender) - if you like Big Brown...you have to like this runner. Chased the "big horse" around the Gulfstream oval in the Florida Derby. Tale of Ekati (contender) - just got up in time in the Wood Memorial in his second start of the year, his consistency as a two year puts him in the "upper" half of the field of 20. Visionaire (contender) - was one of the few that closed on the Keeneland strip in the Bluegrass Stakes, may be forgotten in the wagering. Z Fortune (contender) - this N.Y. bred had a sneaky good effort in the Arkansas Derby and good gallop out. Z Humor (pretender) - got enough earnings for his two year old season to make the race, been nowhere as a three year old.

Latest top 20.....with two weeks to go

1) Colonel John
2) Big Brown
3) Pyro
4) War Pass
5) Tale of Ekati
6) Gayego
7) Smooth Air
8) Monba
9) Z Fortune
10) Cowboy Cal
11) Bob Black Jack
12) Adriano
13) Court Vision

-----------------
14) Recapturetheglory
15) Visionaire
16) Cool Coal Man
17) Z Humor
18) Dennis of Cork
19) Big Truck
20) Proud Spell or Eight Belles
my top five (in no order)

Weekend preps continue to cloud Derby picture

One thing is for certain, Pyro is a better horse than he showed on Saturday in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. His effort today coming off two wins at the Fairgrounds isn't the way that you wanted to go into the Kentucky Derby with. No factor and never in the hunt, Pyro finished a rather dull 10th beaten over 11 lengths. The winner; Monba, which I tabbed on top rebounded from a dull effort last time out in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The second Pletcher runner in the field; Cowboy Cal set the pace and held second gamely coming out of grass races most recently. Kentucky Bear rallied late for third at huge odds, but was no factor for the top two. Also disappointing were the efforts of Cool Coal Man, Big Truck & Visionaire. Don't know what to make of this year's Bluegrass Stakes, but Pyro won't be the Kentucky Derby favorite now off that race.

On closing day at Oaklawn Park in the Arkansas Derby; California invader, Gayego nearly led wire to wire as the favorite to win a derby trail prep and punch his ticket to Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May. Running first time on "real" dirt, Gayego was much the best holding off the late charge of Z Fortune at the wire. The latter which is a N.Y. bred, got to the winner but would not pass him. Pace setter longshot; Tres Borrachos came back for the third spot. With Gayego's victory, looks like more pace will be added to the "run for the roses".

The final Florida prep was at Gulfstream on Saturday, the Holy Bull Stakes which had been moved to later in the meet and distanced change to a mile & three sixteenths. Heavily favored; Hey Bryn took a very non descripted field to victory at even money. Even though he got graded stake earnings, it still may not be enough to make the field of 20 runners with such a wide open group this year.

Bluegrass, Arkansas Derby & Holy Bull Stakes selections

Bluegrass Stakes @ Keeneland
Monba
Visionaire
Pyro
Cool Coal Man

Arkansas Derby @ Oaklawn
King's Silver Son
Gayego
Z Fortune
Blackberry Road

Holy Bull Stakes @ Gulfstream
Hey Byrn
Web Gem
Famous Patriot
Dream Maestro

In memory of my dad - Bill Hoffman

The day I started this blog was also the day my father Bill Hoffman past away, he was my hero...a great husband, father and friend. He'll be missed by all, especially me. I wrote this column about him only hours after his death. It was a tribute to a great man taught me the love of thoroughbred racing and enjoyed it as much as I do. I'll missed you dad, but your with mom now and everything is ok.

This could be the toughest column that I’ve ever written in the almost ten years of doing AT THE POST. I lost a man that I admired the most, looked up to and was everything a father should be; my dad Bill Hoffman. The last nine months were tough one for him, but recently things were looking up and the cancer that he had was in remission. So, it was a shock to me when all of a sudden he was gone. He was always good to my mother; Marie and brother; Marty and well as everyone he knew and met. Bill Hoffman was a "class" act.
A hard workingman, he lived his entire life here in the Mohawk Valley. A big fan of the cinema; it was a hobby he had since high school. Making home movies with his friends in the 50’s on regular “8” film, his true wish was to be a motion picture filmmaker someday. But; in the early 60’s he got married and settled down to raise a family, other things were more important. In his mid thirties, he went back to school and learned to be a printer and worked 25 years at Montgomery County. It was sad when my mother passed away only two months before he was to retire in 1999. But, dad had a lot to live for with his family. My nephew Sam was only five years old at the time, kept dad busy for the next nine years after mom was gone. Sam said to his mother; “mom, I lost my best friend” when he learn that dad died. Your right Sam, I lost my best friend too.
Dad loved horse racing just as much as I do. Saratoga was his favorite spot and the last 21 years, we went there quite a bit. Every Breeder’s Cup event at Belmont Park, dad went with me. When the Triple Crown races were going, dad was wagering at OTB. When I got into my racing partnership with Dee Tee Stable, dad was the biggest supporter. I think dad was proudest with my interest in thoroughbred racing and where it lead to.
Which brings us to this column; dad never became that cinema moviemaker he wanted to be, but he was so happy for me when I got the opportunity to write this column for the Amsterdam Recorder. I never went to college; it wasn’t the thing for me. I bounce from job to job a few years after I graduated from high school in 1982. Finally, when I got my first “real” job in 1986, it was for Montgomery County the same placed dad worked. We worked together for 13 years until he retired. I was really sad the day he left work and even more sad that he couldn’t enjoy his retirement with my mother because she was gone. But, the family kept him going for nine more years, enjoying all the things he liked and I’ll be ever gratefully for that.
Bill Hoffman had a good life, enjoyed the things he did. He was a good father and grandfather always looking out for his family. I’ll always remember those days at the track with dad, whether it was at Saratoga, Belmont Park for the Breeder’s Cup or just hanging out at the local OTB. Horse racing was a bond that brought us together, it made me love the sport more. It won’t be the same anymore when I go to the track. But, I’ll remember all the good times when dad and I were there. Most of all, I’ll miss you dad. Thanks for everything, you were my hero.

Getting started....early one morning

Thought it was time to start something new and this blog is it! Will add more items in time, but.....gotta go to my "real" job! More later and the days to come. This is a new..... so bear with me.