my trip to the CC

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

had a helluva time up there in shakopee MN this past weekend. first off the race didnt go so well as luga hopped at the break. im very high on jesse campbell as a jockey but he made a huge mistake that race in my opinion. after the horse hopped he didnt try and rush him up at all and just stayed content on him and let him be in the back early on. luga is a speed horse and can rip off some vicious fractions, he also can close from the back tho, his versatility is a rarity. yes there was a ton of early speed in the race but saturday@canterbury was not the day to be in the back early, all the winners prior to the express went wire to wire. luga was running best of all at the end down the lane and closed to finish 6th only beaten about 3 for all of it. i truly believe he was the best horse in the race, but of course as we all know the best horse doesnt always win! atleast the owners did getta 3rd in the race as they also own the hard knockin old man cicero grimes with a different trainer. i told my trainer after the race he led the best horse over and was just unfortunate with the bad break early on and the ride!


now as for the rest of the weekend......it was nice to take a flight that was only 50 something odd minutes long each way as opposed to making the 7hr drive that i made twice last year from chitown to canterbury. the weather was scorching hot, even hotter than down here in chicago this past weekend..i felt sorry for the horses, and of course matt carrothers and ken rudolph who were out in it all day broad casting for tvg. when we were going back to the airport saturday night the car said the outside temp was 96 degrees at 9pm!


canterbury park were excellent hosts to all the claiming crown people! friday night they had a very nice dinner for all involved. we were seated right next to scott lake which was pretty cool. scott won 2 CC races and is the all time leader in the CC and is well on pace to break asmussens record for wins this year. scott and his entourage also watched and rooted on their sinister g on the tvg who trounced a field fri night@charles town. said hello to him and shook his hand and wished him the best of luck on breaking the record. what else does scott lake need? hes got horses, fame, money, and the retired and very attractive retired ex jock jennifer stisted by his side.


after the races friday night i was ata local bar which many from the track attend after the races,(those who are familiar with cby know where im talking bout) alotta people locally and from outta town in for the weekend were there. locally over the weekend i got to see chicago based trainers richie scherer and jimmie mcmullen(his uncle i believe trained volponi), tommy tomillo was said to have been there but i didnt see him.


saturday i was up early, lol my trainer never lets me sleep in when i travel with him to run a horse. i helped him take care of luga. this horse is tough folks, i had a hard time holding him while he was recieving a bath friday evening and saturday morning........luckily steve hired a groom for the race cuz i didnt wanna have to hold him after a race with all that adrenaline flowin through him. the horse and i get along really well but if luga wants to do something or go somewhere lol youll have a hard time stoppin him. after the barn in the morning went back to the hotel and napped for a bit and then got up and got ready to head back to the track to feed luga lunch and for my trainer and the owners to get licensed. after that i was in the track the rest of the day and did quite well wagering, but in the end broke even cuz i put all my winnings on luga, id gladly bet the horse at the off odds he went off at and if the race was run again would cash but it just wasnt meant to be that day. one horse who i bet on running back here in chicago louisiana joe endured a horrific trip but still finished 3rd, bet him next time out.


after the race went back to the barn to watch the horse cool out and then got my stuff together at the hotel and headed back to the airport. when we arrived back in chicago we got bent over by ohaire airport here and hada pay them 52 dollars for parking the car for a day and half there! all in all despite a couple of things i hada great time! the CC was in jeapordy of not being run after last year, hopefully this year the numbers were better and the event continues on because its a great thing for the sport!

[Downthestretch55]

Sounds like you had a good time, Playa. Thanks for sharing.
Wayne