First Post: Saturday, January 4, 2014

A Solemn Day of Remembrance for all the casualties of the fatal collision between Amtrak Train 94 and three Conrail freight locomotives at Chase, Md., on this date in 1987.

http://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/jan-1987-amtrak-train-collision-12499930

Twenty-six years on, still here, still wandering in this world.

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 4, 8, 9
Calder / Gulf Calder 2, 6, Gulf 2, 7, 8, 9, 11
Santa Anita 9

Pay-side: Today…

Fair Grounds 3, 5, 8, 9
Golden Gate 4, 5, 9
Laurel 1
Sunland 7, 9, 11
Tampa 7, 8, 9, 10
Turfway 3, 6, 8

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: Aqu 8 & GP 9 on the free page.

FG 9, Tam 9, TP 8 on the pay-side.

In Crc 8, favored #1 Flutterby looks like he deserves that billing.

Crazy-contentions in GP 10, so pick a number, any number. Not even #4 C. Zee or #8 Elusive Blueboy are out of it.

Looks like a two-horsey race in SA 3, the Midnight lUTE: #1 Moonshine Bay, #2 Midnight Transfer.

As well, a dynamite dyad for SA 8, the Grade II San Gabriel via #1 Slim Shadey and #5 Fire With Fire.

Prohibitive choice in Lrl 8, the Fire Plug: #8 Service for Ten.

Finally, in Delta 8, the BIG DRAMA (BIG DRAMA!) — cue the violins, roll the tympani! — how about the longshot #6 Strike for Gold?

Yesterday’s Activity: As always, Welcome to The Home of The Runner-Up Finish, this time led by the following outstanding horsey.

Over at the Golden Gate, in the opener, sole-touted Mon Mousse led almost throughout while beating five others in the seven-horse field.

Mon Mousse, 12-1 on the morning line and sent away at 20-1 in real life, was tied for the best LifeLiner Speed Column score among the experienced runners in the field.

Again, that was Mon Mousse, eventful frontrunning trip all the way around before coming back down to Earth in the late stages. Oh, well.

Later at the ’Gate, there was a winner. That was Shesacurlinmytoes, an $18.20 winner up top.

Shesacurlinmytoes, fourth-best on the V6 Betting Line at Fair Odds of 4½-1 in a contentious race, was the sole LifeLiner Speed Column contender in the seven-horse field. Her morning line was 15-1, and she took much action to finish at 8-1. She rallied to win by a lunging neck.

The day’s stunner came at the Tampa.

In the fourth there, four horseys were touted. Four! One of them won. Indeed, it was the fourth horse listed, the Third Bonkersmate, actually.

Her name: Okra Wind Free, neither an OWNer of a TV network nor the player of a supporting role in this one. Okra Wind Free, seventh on the V6 Betting Line in the wide-open nine-horse field, had a competitive LifeLiner Speed Column score of 91, second-rated among the runners. Okra Wind Free was 20-1 on the morning line and 32-1 on the toteboard.

The bell rang. As befit her complete LifeLiner array of 63-68-91, Okra Wind Free was content to let things unfold in front of her before asserting herself in the final furlong. She won by three parts of a length and paid $66.60 — the Devil, you say! — up top.

Another touted horsey, the First Bonkersmate Jones Zing, 8-1 on the morning line and 4½-1 in real life, completed the winning exacta, which paid $503.40.

WMF Report:

Early
Calder 1m
Chas. Town 7f
Los Alamitos 4½f
Sunland 1m
Tampa 6f
Turfway 6½f

Rally
Golden Gate 1m
Gulf 1m (T)

Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage, same as on this day in 1987.

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Later!