Wood Day

- Herald Square took the second, coming from off the pace, the second such result thus far. Too early of course to make any conclusions about the track, especially given the speed duel in the first; and the fact that the front runner here, Call Me the Breeze, quit at six furlongs in his last. The winner woke up nicely in his last race, when he opened up a lead. Change of tactics here, at a square price of 5-1.

- The McLaughlin entry is 6-5; I'm sure they're betting the first-timer. No opinion here, plenty of time still.

- This second race is the 'Thoroughbred Racing in New York "Facebook"' race. It's actually Ernie Munick, who organized a group on that website to come up with 300 bucks to have a race named after them, and their mugs in the winner's circle.

So THAT's how you get to do that! Seems like fun, and a nice way to contribute to NYRA's coffers.

- The second race is off the turf, so in draws the MTO Fwhyeye, from the McLaughlin barn. Not only does the trainer train this one, but he owns him too, and I don't think I've ever seen that. He's by Unbridled's Song, 13% with first-timers, out of a mare by the champion Bates Motel. He's a half brother to the graded winner Rare Gift. His stablemate Call Me the Breeze stretches out after fading in a Philly Park sprint. The entry is the 9-5 favorite. Due to Get Even is the early favorite for Contessa. This son of Stephen Got Even was 2-1 in his debut, when he was carried seriously wide on the first turn; you can throw that race right out. Hepcat is 7-2, but I don't really care for this one; he's proven to be poor value in the past. One note about Call of the Sea, who was scratched when the race came off the grass. He's a four-year old by Giant's Causeway who's yet to make his first start after selling for 400K as a yearling. He has tons of grass pedigree; his second dam is a half to Groom Dancer, and this is the distaff family of many grass runners, including Epsom Derby winner Authorized. So I'm putting him

By the way, I'm, obviously, updating the posts from the top.

- Perfect trip for Irish Blast, the winner as the 9-5 second choice. Hard to make any conclusions about how much the wetness may have contributed to it. What a Tale got dueled into submission by Megapixel, who continued on well moving up in class for Carlos Martin.

- I'm here in the pressbox of the Big A, and with a front row seat; which apparently is not the choice location, with all the regulars in the second row. I supposed I could find out why, and I'll be keeping an eye on the roof above me for leaks. The track is harrowed, and is labeled muddy. The sun is out and there's a stiff breeze, so there's no doubt that we'll be fast by midday or so.

The track conditions play a big part in this first race, as second choice Irish Blast, currently 2-1 with 13 MTP, has both his wins on an off track, with nice Beyers too. It's not like he's been awful on a fast track either, which makes it a tough call. What a Tale is even money in his first race since June, when he faded to fifth as the even money favorite in a state-bred race. I liked Fahrenheit Wild a bit, but he's scratched. So I'll pass here, and go get something to drink.