Oh Sister

Dance Tale, part of a three-horse entry for McLaughlin (8-5) in Sunday's 2nd at the Big A, is a three-year old filly by Tale of the Cat, out of Rap and Dance (Pleasant Tap). That makes her a full sister to Rap Tale. Another cool thing about owning fillies is that they can appreciate in value, and drastically so, based on the exploits of a sibling. Dance Tale debuts off a long steady string of works going back at least to September (and on the Saratoga training track through mid-November). Like As was the case with Rap Tale, she's owned and bred by Edward P. Evans.

Just suppose for a moment that Dance Tale turns out to be a good horse. And that she wins, just sayin', oh, let's see, the Kentucky Oaks, the CCA Oaks, the Alabama, the Gazelle, and the Distaff and comes back at four to be the greatest filly of all time....Then Rap Tale would be worth a lot of money. More then even if she ever gets that black type.

She'll get another shot in the Affectionately next Sunday.

In Sunday's 9th, Indymine (10-1) drops in class for trainer Bernardo Callejas; a similar move to what the trainer employed with Counting House, who I correctly selected as the winner of the 9th on Wedensday. Unlike Counting House, this four-year old son of Mineshaft does not have any sharp back form to reference. But he's shown improved speed of late and, like Counting House, encounters a slow field without much early zip whatsoever. Out of a Blushing John mare who's a half-sister to Preakness runner-up Midway Road, he might be able to outlast this bunch if he can open up a lead. [UPDATE: Better yet, Indymine finished 5th in his last race!]