First Post: Monday, August 8, 2016

Continuing with the recent theme of Russians composing music involving mythical feathered creatures, here’s some Stravinsky remixed with that classic 1970s Philadelphia-soul sound.

Ah, you never know where grace will bestow itself upon yourself, but even the most optimistic guessers would have trouble foreseeing it happening at that Temple to Consumerism, The Grove, at one of its Gaudiest Altars, Nike. Hoo-boy. Yet when a song such as this comes pumping through the house speakers, you know there is a blessed angel of mercy trying to make your Sacrifice to Modern Consumption a little less painful. The athleisure wear will be disposed of and forgotten sooner than later, but at least part of the transaction is that you get an earworm you can play over and over for the rest of your life. Between the woodblock, cowbell and bongos, this song compels your legs to motion. You might as well dance.

Free ones: Rundown…

Saratoga Race Course 5, 8, 9

Pay-side (Weekday/Weekend): Today…

Delpark 6, 8

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: One today at Saratoga Race Course; no advisories. Regrets! Or, maybe, congratulations!

Yesterday’s Activity:

Track (Win Mutuels $20+/Gettable)

Albuquerque (0/0) — Thousands without power after lightning strikes transfer station.

Arlington (1/0) — Cubs win at Oaktown, 3-1; Kris Bryant went 2-for-3 with a solo HR, his 27th HR of the season, for Chicagoland.

Arapahoe (0/0) — Host Rockies lose to Miami, 10-7; Nolan Arenado homered twice and had 5 RBIs for Colorado.

Belterra (0/0) — Reds win at Pgh., 7-3; Brandon Phillips went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs in the win.

Canterbury (1/0) — Twins double-up host Tampa Bay, 6-3; Miguel Sano homered twice and drove-in 4.

Columbus (0/0) — SUV crashes into business, 1 person taken to hospital.

Del Mar (1/0) — Padres edged by visitor Philalala, 6-5; homeruns for Alex Dickerson and Ryan Schimpf in the loss.

Ellis Park (1/0) — U-Haul truck catches fire on Southbound Bridge.

Emerald (0/0) — Host Mariners beat Anaheim, 3-1; Mike Freeman went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the win.

Fort Erie (1/0) — Officer dragged by car during traffic stop.

Gulf (1/0) — See Arapahoe commentary; plus, ’grats to Ichiro Suzuki on MLB hit No. 3,000 for his career.

Hastings (0/0) — Coquihalla crash hospitalizes 7, driver under investigation.

Los Alamitos (1/1) — Race 2 was contentious amongst the experienceds, and Dual Qualifier Skye Nova (98, 98) went mane-to-wire to win by a clean half-length at $34.40. Good work.

Laurel (1/0) — Orioles crush host White Sox, 10-2; Manny Machado hit 3 HR and had 7 RBIs.

Mountain (0/0) — Churches give and receive aid in Follansbee after flooding.

Monmouth (0/0) — Rep. Pallone tackles Brownfields cleanup.

Keystone (0/0) — See Del Mar commentary; plus, Fightin’ Phils turn 5-4-3 triple play.

Presque (2/0) — 2 shot near Lake Erie Speedway.

Prairie (3/3) — Race 4 was not contentious, but High-Octane Chancers could not unsee the field-best 96 on the LifeLiner Speed Column analysis on Emerald Point; she rallied like the champion he should have been, winning by 1¼ at $20.40. Race 8 was the same as Race 4, and this time the High-Octane Chancers had a fine 85 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis on Just Fred to consider; he went gate-to-wire to win by a clean half-length at $41-even. Race 9 was the same as Races 4 & 8, but closer to Race 8 since the High-Octane Chancers again had to take a good 86 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis into account on Edge of Ackworth; he raced tail-to-wire to win by 1¼ at $28.60. Good work.

Ruidoso (0/0) — Clovis schools vandalized, stolen items show up on social media.

Saratoga (1/0) — Battle of Saratoga featured in symphonic work for first time.

Santa Rosa (0/0) — Giants blanked by host Wash., D.C., 1-nil; MadBum was your hard-luck loser, pitching 8 inns. of 2-hit baseball for San Francisco.

Suffolk (3/2) — Race 2 had publicly touted Dual Qualifier Lefty Comming (84, 80) in a contentious field rallying like the champion he’s on his way to becoming, winning by a clean nose at $63.60. In Race 6, publicly touted Jeb barely qualified via her 80 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis in a contentious field; she was a stalking-horse throughout before grinding-down the leader in the straight, winning by 3 parts of a length at $36-even. Good work.

Woodbine (2/0) — Blue Jays whipped by host K.C., 7-1; Darwin Barney scored Toronto’s only run.

WMF Report:

Early
Finger 5½f
Mountain 1m
Thistle 6f, 1m

Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage…

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Later!