First Post: Thursday, January 23, 2014

Luis Ávalos, R.I.P.

In some households, PBS viewing starts early — and no, that does not mean Downtown Abbie. Thank goodness stuff like ‘The Electric Company’ & ‘Sesame Street’ were the only options for viewing back then, way before the Disneys and Nickelodeons came and took over and mushed-up the youngsters’ brains.

Anyway, Luis was a neighbor to us here at the Home Office in the Hills overlooking the Studio City. On his morning walks through the local streets, he was always smiling and laughing — never saw him even have the hint of a scowl or a sneer. You’d bump into him at the grocery and he’d joke about the produce or some such. Just a happy-go-lucky fellow.

We remember our first encounter here with him in the neighborhood. He kind of looked familiar, even though by this time he was grey-headed and sporting a goatee. We approached him carefully and asked him the all-important question: ‘Were you Luis from The Electric Company’?

He smiled and said yes, and we were always on good terms from then on. We would drive by him as he walked and always extend the Brown/Black Power salute out the driver-side window — and he would respond in kind.

Thank you for your life, Sr. Luis Ávalos. Lots of other people might have been better choices to go ahead of you, but thank you for your time here.

http://www.latintimes.com/luis-avalos-dies-electric-company-cuban-actor-dead-67-146777

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 6, 9

Pay-side: Today…

Fair Grounds 2, 7, 10
Laurel 3, 5, 8
Oaklawn 9

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: None today, but stay up late tonight for the Australian Professional Lawn Tennis Competition men’s semifinal between Rafa ‘The Mallorcan Bull’ Nadal and Rogerr Federr, Sissie. By now, we hope you realize for whom we root. Vamos!

Yesterday’s Activity: Lots of wintry weather back East, huh? Limited number of offerings, and we came close only once, in Tampa 5, courtesy of top-touted Majestic Man.

Majestic Man, 12-1 on the morning line and with no assigned Fair Odds on the conventional V6 Betting Line, nonetheless received contender status via his qualifying 80-plus (84, exactly) number in the LifeLiner Speed Column.

Majestic Man went off at 15½-1 in real life and actually led with a furlong to go. Too bad he could not last, succumbing to the 7-5 fave by 2¼ lengths.

However, that winner was also OK on LifeLiner Speed Column, and the saver exacta, 7-5 fave over 15½-1 in a 10-horse field, paid $43.20. Ehh, a little stingy there. It happens. The 2-1 public second-choice completed the trizacta, OK on LifeLiner Speed Column, at $151.20.

WMF Report:

Early
Laurel 6f

Rally
Santa Anita 6½f (T) (WMF 18)

Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage…

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Drive safely.