IT Time

- Inner track time at the Big A, and check out the conditions of the second race. It's a starters allowance, for two-year old fillies who broke their maiden for 50K or less, AND have never won a race other than maiden or claiming. Pretty cool - don't know if I remember seeing any starters allowances for two-year olds. With a $42,000 purse, it drew an interesting and competitive field; this being one of those starters allowances I mentioned that offer relatively cheap horses a chance to run for significant prize money. I'd surmise that some if not most of these will soon prove to be worth far less than the $25,200 first place share they're running for here.

Flame Throwin Suzi (4-1) is a particularly intriguing case. This daughter of Flame Thrower (Saint Ballado) was purchased privately by Contessa for Winning Move Stable after winning her first two at Delaware Park - an 11 length rout against unspeakably cheap 16K maidens, followed by a win in a restricted 45K claimer. In that race, she tracked the lead and gamely wore down Graceful Ginger, a legitimate looking horse who has since run competitively in allowance company. (The third place finisher won her next, albeit against cheaper in a slow race.) Eibar Coa jumps aboard. Flame Throwin Suzi is coupled with Sister Kathleen, cutting back to a sprint after seeming to find a niche around two turns.

She's My Fortune (5-1) also graduated at Del Park, and did so in 50K company in her only start. Daughter of Best of the Rest, a Skip Trial stallion standing in Florida for $2500, seemed an unlikely winner as they turned for home, but rallied well and drew off by three. Trainer Anthony Dutrow had an uncharacteristically slow fall meeting at the Big A, just three for 22. Over the last two years at the track, he has a win percentage of 24%; and last fall, he had six wins and five seconds from just 16 starts. What does this mean? First of all, that I have Formulator and a bit of time on my hands. And secondly, probably that he's due for some wins. Hopefully, not here.

Five Grand Girl (5-2) looms the horse to beat for John Kimmel, having won here for 50K in her debut. She did have a perfect trip, riding the rail as a pair dueled up front, and swinging out to rally by the tiring horses. Faithful One, who hung on for sloppy seconds, came back to win in the same company.

- There does seem to be some whispers around about the latest delay in getting the Big A racino underway being due to Delaware North losing their financing for the $370 million down payment; at least based upon some of the comments and emails I've gotten. I haven't found out anything, and would have to label that as pure speculation. But it did stand out to me that Governor Paterson had no retort to Senator Skelos' barb about not sending the MOU. And there's really no logical reason on earth, or even in Albany, for the governor to not be moving as quickly as he can. At this point, Paterson is likely becoming consumed with selecting a replacement for Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton in the US Senate. (I say it's Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand).

One thing I can tell you with reasonable certainty is that the state will not be lending any money to get this thing started!

Michael Gormley reports for the AP this evening that a state Senator from Sullivan County will introduce a bill to allow electronic table games at the upcoming Special Skelos Session on December 15. Senator John J Bonacic (R) said his proposal would bring $175 million in revenue to the state and could include any game of chance in an electronic or computer form.