tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post4442920283014193786..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Saratoga NotesAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-51105057572504140002009-08-29T08:26:25.211-04:002009-08-29T08:26:25.211-04:00At least our local politicos know enough to make t...At least our local politicos know enough to make their statements take credit for the show and leave here in the Bronx, spoke for less than five minutes at the most recent free show. <br /><br />Another great performance from Godfrey Townsend with some of the other members of the Alan Parsons Project (sans Alan) who had previously rocked the backyard at the Belmont Stakes. <br /><br />Mostly cover tunes, but they venture much deeper into the songbooks of Clapton, Beatles and Zep (as well as others) than most bands would dare and perform them better than any cover band I have ever seen.<br /><br />Their versions of Blind Faith's "Sea of Joy" and "Had To Cry Today" were awesome. The drummer nails Winwood and Plant's vocals, not easy to do while kicking ass on the drums.<br /><br />But enough of that, I will just say they are worth a look and listen if NYRA is wise enough to bring them back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-26758538869500757382009-08-28T13:14:13.545-04:002009-08-28T13:14:13.545-04:00Jim - Yeah, Marty gave a little speech at the Miss...Jim - Yeah, Marty gave a little speech at the Mission of Burma show at the East River park in Brooklyn.....but an hour and ten minutes?!?<br /><br />I see that they've added a new free show at the South Street Seaport next week - John Fogerty on Wed evening.Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-19895269224272748372009-08-28T13:01:45.691-04:002009-08-28T13:01:45.691-04:00OFF TOPIC Alan, but thanks for all the heads up th...OFF TOPIC Alan, but thanks for all the heads up this summer for the free concerts around the city. They did not go unnoticed. <br /><br />I am a sucker for the old pros, and The Four Seasons the other night and Donna Summer last night had folks of all ages and backgrounds swaying and singing in the streets with their terrific shows. <br /><br />The only down side at Coney Island was that publicity whore of a boro president who emceeyed the opening of the concerts. Last night, with the musical act late getting ready, this gasbag went on shamelessly promoting his political friends for - no exaggerating - one hour and ten minutes, which I believe is a record even for him. The restless crowd finally had enough and began 'one, two, one-two-three' hand-clapping, and Marty finally got the message and left the stage.<br /><br />I think if he ever tried to do this at one of the city's race tracks - holding up the races while grandstanding - the fans there would tie him up and gag him and leave him squirming on the infield grass.<br /><br />Cheers.jamesphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607923720458834783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-16644196867596040012009-08-28T11:14:55.408-04:002009-08-28T11:14:55.408-04:00Looked to me like the Pletcher horse Sure as Gold ...Looked to me like the Pletcher horse Sure as Gold was best in that maiden race. Totally blew the break, as she took a right-hand turn leaving the gate and was headed for the outer rail. Looking at the head-on replay, you can see that she was seperated from the rest of the field by literally about half the width of the racetrack. Ended up beaten just a length at the wire, despite a ton of lost ground and the expenditure of some valuable early energy after being rushed back into contention. Time of the race was a bit slow, but clearly there's more under the hood here than it will look like on paper. Incidentally, she had worked a furlong in 10.0 at the Keeneland sale back in April and figures to show far more speed with a clean break next time.DiscreetPicksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-87914915063418551622009-08-27T23:58:04.803-04:002009-08-27T23:58:04.803-04:00The Ass Man was a steal at that price in that race...The Ass Man was a steal at that price in that race.<br /><br />If Choice Play draws into the 2nd tomorrow, watch out. Added distance, wider turns, outside post will mean this one charging down center of track for win at a nice price.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com