9/2 Odds

The entries came out today for Stumbling Block's race on Saturday in Chicago and we were assigned morning line odds of 9/2 (second favorite). A few months ago, I would have said there was a better chance of me re-growing my hair than there was us having one of the "horses to beat" in a stakes race worth $100k. The 5/2 favorite (Stonehouse) does look formidable on paper, but he'll have to spot us 8 lbs. Block is coming into the race in good form, drew a nice post (#2), got the services of the leading rider who has rode him a number of times (Thornton) and he likes the Hawthorne surface. So if the favorite doesn't run his race or gets caught in a fast pace, we have as good a shot as any other to pick up the pieces. The airfares to/from Chicago are still reasonable and it is an easy drive if anyone wants to join us in the Windy City for the day. As I write, Block is on his way to Chicago (after a detour to Erie, PA - Presque Isle Downs). Jamie is taking a load of horses up there (including Wild Adventure) to prepare for the start of the meet in a couple weeks.

Elsewhere on Saturday...if the races fill, we could have a couple runners at Tampa (Darby Lee and Straight Laced). After that, there won't be much left in Tampa. Block will go back to Presque Isle with Jamie where the majority of our racing action will take place this summer.