by Ron Gurfein

What started out to be a perfectly beautiful Saturday morning on The Deck in south Florida at 7 a.m. quickly turned to clouds and a rather steady rainfall at 9:30 that quickly dispersed the crowd. But nothing suppressed the experience of devouring the French croissants delivered by Murray Brown at the request of Frank “The Elder” Antonacci.

There was a flock of new faces around this morning including my friend David Anderson, Brad Grant, Paul Simmonds, and Bruce Murray, to name a few.
 Tony Alagna changed up the schedule of his large contingent, which gave those of us that didn’t arrive at 6:15 am the chance to see some different colts and fillies.

In the first set from Alagna’s barn that I saw, Captain Ahab (my favorite) bested Captain McKee and Captain Trevor (Jerry Glantz’s favorite) in a 2:30 mile. Then US Captain continued to impress beating Riviera Seelster and Passion Struck. In the trotting division of that group, Pilot Discretion won over Archie Hill and Zeus PV all at a 2:30 clip.

In Team Zeron action, FortuneTellin Lindy f (Trixton—For A Dancer) defeated Ripley Muscles f (Muscle Mass—Fin De Maye) and Burberry c (Father Patrick—High Heels Kadabra).
 From Jan Johnson, Hot Springs Volo f (Explosive Matter—Silver Springs) got nailed on the wire by Higher Call, a homebred colt of Ebby and Caroline Gerry (who just happened to be in attendance). Higher Call is out of their good mare Bruschette.

From Lindy Farms the fabulous colt Kings County, who bested Throw Out the Tab in 2:35, both looking as good as can be. Also, they displayed Lindy the Great defeating Lindys Crazy Hall.

From Webster/Crogan, Booty Call f (Somebeachsomewhere—Love Canal), Pick Me Upper c (Trixton—Pick Me Up) and Wired Sweet f (Sweet Lou—Live Wire) all looked good as they hit the wire together.

From Team Zeron, Miss Willa f (Andover Hall—Miss Athens) and Sixteen c (Donato Hanover—Mets Inn) were upset by Tennessee Rain g (Father Patrick—Rustic Rosie).

From Paul Kelley, Tumult c (Father Patrick—Graceful Kelly) defeated Allswell Hanover f (Cantab Hall—Aunt Mel) and I’m Winnin Hanover f (Explosive Matter—I’m On Cloud Nine).

Fred Grant put on a show again with two of his precocious babies, but this time the verdict was different, the good Power Play Goal c (Muscle Mass—Finesse Hanover) was defeated by the smallest of noses by the Alan Leavitt bred Oxford Hall c (EL Titan—On With The Show), which was certainly not an upset as both colts have looked wonderful from day one.

Peter Wrenn Stable showed off some very talented 3-year-olds including the David McDuffee-owned Chin Chin Hall, Outloud and Swan Before All noses apart at the finish and way too close to call.

Odds On Vero Beach f (Bettors Delight—Odds On Jan) and R Hana Bluechip f (Roll With Joe—Frame Worthy) were impressive once again for Webster/ Crogan.
 In a family affair, Megan Scran’s Fool Who Rocks c (Artspeak—This Fool Rocks) bested Team Zeron’s Enid Hanover f (Muscle Hill—Emmylou Who).

From Paul Kelley, Mambo f (Yankee Glide—Dance to Market) and Cover Girl f (Muscle Hill—To Dream On were passed at the finish by Flying Glider f (Cantab Hall—Highland Glider).

The nice Captaintreacherous filly Standarer out of So Perfect got up to beat Recoil f (Rockin Image—Shot To Go Blue Chip) by a head for Webster/Crogan.

In other Alagna action, Reflect With Me f (Captaintreacherous—Remember When) won over Odds On Hollywood f (Captaintreacherous—Western Graduate) and Captain Kirk c (Captaintreacherous—Aria Hanover) who believe it or not had nowhere to go in a baby race. Libspeak f (Artspeak—Doctor Libby) came up the inside with Ms. Donna Lee to best Arts Attitude c (Artspeak—Has An Attitude) and Esai Hanover c (Artspeak—Easy Go Go).

Force And Fury (with Alagna) lasted over Ideal Perception c (American Ideal—Southwind Siren) and Chief Mate c (Captaintreacherous—Heaven Forbid). Captain Barbossa c (Captaintreacherous—Swinging Beauty) handled Captain Video c (Captaintreacherous—Eitherurinorout) and last, but not least, Karma’s Delight, a very nice pacing filly by Captaintreacherous from the great Darlins Delight was one of the highlights of the morning when she defeated Watchful Eye f (He’s Watching—Mrs American Pie).

Once again, I thank all of you for the kind words either in person or via email. I truly appreciate them. This morning was more than hectic with all the horses and people and rain it was unusually difficult. Therefore, if you find I have made an error please don’t be too critical as the purse money will remain the same. I have asked about the Zeron hearing and a date has not been posted as of this moment. I promise to stay on top of the situation. Have a wonderful week.