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Funky Monkey Snacks are freeze-dried fruit - healthy snacks that are all-natural, and are also independently verified to be free of GMOs. They're hosting a Twitter chat Tuesday October 16th at 2 pm EST. The chat is going to be about Gluten Free Month and they will also have nutritionists co-hosting to give their expert opinions. The hashtag for the twitter chat is #funkychat.
I have a chance to giveaway these tasty, healthy treats. To enter, leave a comment with what you think your favorite Funky Monkey flavor would be. Deadline is October 16th.
13 Ekim 2012 Cumartesi
Giveaway: Recti-Care
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Did you know that August has the most births of any month? The most common birthday falls in September (on the 16th) which is another high month for birthdays. New babies are exciting and wonderful, but sometimes they come with pain. Hemorrhoids may develop from all the pushing that is required in labor and childbirth.
Women with hemorrhoids often suffer from burning, itching and pain. A topical local anesthetic such as RectiCare Cream ($29.95; available in drugstores nationwide) helps to quickly soothe discomfort with lidocaine (5%). Plus, RectiCare comes with finger cots to promote hygienic application (which is really nice considering where it needs to be put).
I've used lidocaine creme before, after giving birth to large babies with big heads, and it is very helpful!
I have the chance to give away one tube. To enter, leave a comment with what your best pain relief technique for post-baby pain was. Deadline is October 19th.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary tube as a thank-you for this post.
Women with hemorrhoids often suffer from burning, itching and pain. A topical local anesthetic such as RectiCare Cream ($29.95; available in drugstores nationwide) helps to quickly soothe discomfort with lidocaine (5%). Plus, RectiCare comes with finger cots to promote hygienic application (which is really nice considering where it needs to be put).
I've used lidocaine creme before, after giving birth to large babies with big heads, and it is very helpful!
I have the chance to give away one tube. To enter, leave a comment with what your best pain relief technique for post-baby pain was. Deadline is October 19th.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary tube as a thank-you for this post.
Caring Causes: Eat Wings, Raise Funds
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Eat Wings, Raise Funds! Stop byBuffalo Wild Wings atMall of America on Wednesday, October 17 and mention Eat, Wings, Raise Funds so that 10% of all pre-taxed food sales will be donated to MINNESOTA FIRE SERVICE FOUNDATION. Also - check out the Chicago Fire table to win prizes such as CHICAGO FIRE water bottles, posters and hats! Don't miss CHICAGO FIRE Wednesdays 9pm central on NBC!
Mealtime Magic: Avoiding Food Waste
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October 16th is World Food Day. Join the movement to end hunger, with a simple step that makes a big impact: eliminating food waste. In 2010, more than34 million tons of food waste was generated, more than any other material category but paper. Often simple changes in food purchasing, storage and preservation practices can yield significant reductions in food waste generation. Stop throwing your food – and your money – in the garbage every week. How many times have you thrown away rotten fruits and vegetables because you did not eat them in time? With products like anExcalibur Dehydrator and an Omega Juicer you can preserve food and make sure that no part of your food is wasted. Below are a few recipes fromOmega Juicers and Excalibur Dehydrators that make the most out of food - allowing you to throw away less food, save more money, and do your part to eliminate food waste. Carrot Apple Juice
Ingredients: 5 medium sized carrots2 medium apples Press through a juicer, stir to mix the flavors, serve, and enjoy! Don’t toss that “leftover” carrot and apple pulp; bake some yummy muffins instead! Carrot Apple Muffins
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking soda2 teaspoons cinnamon1/4 teaspoon salt1 1/4 cups sugar**5 medium shredded carrots 1/2 cup pecans1/2 cup raisins3 large eggs1 cup vegetable or canola oil2 teaspoons vanilla**2 Granny Smith apples peeled and shredded **For “shredded” ingredients, use the pulp from the juicer! Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and oil eighteen 1/2-cup muffin cups (or you can use paper muffin liners). Into a large bowl sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and whisk in sugar. Coarsely chop the pecans. Add carrots pulp and pecans to flour mixture with raisins and toss well. In a bowl whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir apple pulp into egg mixture and add to flour mixture, stirring until batter is just combined well. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling them three fourths full, and bake in middle of oven until puffed and a tester comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool muffins in cups on racks 5 minutes before turning out onto racks to cool completely. Muffins keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days. Dehydrated Tomatoes Dehydrating is a great way to preserve food before it goes bad to be eaten at a later date. It is also a great way to preserve fruits and veggies that are going out of season (like tomatoes from your garden at the end of the summer) to enjoy year-round. Slice tomatoes into ¼ inch thick rounds.Place the slices on the trays of the dehydrator evenly spaced. In a 5 tray Excalibur Dehydrator you can fit approximately 30-35 tomatoes at one time.Set the dehydrator to 110'F and dry for 15 hours.When done let them sit on a cookie sheet for a few hours.
Put in a glass jar and store in a dark dry place.
And when it’s time to eat these delicious dehydrated tomatoes, preparation is simple. Try this recipe for quick and easy tomato and basil sauce: Excalibur Dried Tomato and Basil Sauce ¼ Cup Dried Tomatoes, Crumbled2-3 Cloves Minced Garlic1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Dried Basil½ Cup Water Sauté garlic in olive oil – do not brown! Turn heat to low, add dried tomatoes and basil and stir to coat. Immediately add water and stir. Cover and steam 2-3 minutes.
October 16th is World Food Day. Join the movement to end hunger, with a simple step that makes a big impact: eliminating food waste. In 2010, more than34 million tons of food waste was generated, more than any other material category but paper. Often simple changes in food purchasing, storage and preservation practices can yield significant reductions in food waste generation. Stop throwing your food – and your money – in the garbage every week. How many times have you thrown away rotten fruits and vegetables because you did not eat them in time? With products like anExcalibur Dehydrator and an Omega Juicer you can preserve food and make sure that no part of your food is wasted. Below are a few recipes fromOmega Juicers and Excalibur Dehydrators that make the most out of food - allowing you to throw away less food, save more money, and do your part to eliminate food waste. Carrot Apple Juice
Ingredients: 5 medium sized carrots2 medium apples Press through a juicer, stir to mix the flavors, serve, and enjoy! Don’t toss that “leftover” carrot and apple pulp; bake some yummy muffins instead! Carrot Apple Muffins
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking soda2 teaspoons cinnamon1/4 teaspoon salt1 1/4 cups sugar**5 medium shredded carrots 1/2 cup pecans1/2 cup raisins3 large eggs1 cup vegetable or canola oil2 teaspoons vanilla**2 Granny Smith apples peeled and shredded **For “shredded” ingredients, use the pulp from the juicer! Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and oil eighteen 1/2-cup muffin cups (or you can use paper muffin liners). Into a large bowl sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and whisk in sugar. Coarsely chop the pecans. Add carrots pulp and pecans to flour mixture with raisins and toss well. In a bowl whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir apple pulp into egg mixture and add to flour mixture, stirring until batter is just combined well. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling them three fourths full, and bake in middle of oven until puffed and a tester comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool muffins in cups on racks 5 minutes before turning out onto racks to cool completely. Muffins keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days. Dehydrated Tomatoes Dehydrating is a great way to preserve food before it goes bad to be eaten at a later date. It is also a great way to preserve fruits and veggies that are going out of season (like tomatoes from your garden at the end of the summer) to enjoy year-round. Slice tomatoes into ¼ inch thick rounds.Place the slices on the trays of the dehydrator evenly spaced. In a 5 tray Excalibur Dehydrator you can fit approximately 30-35 tomatoes at one time.Set the dehydrator to 110'F and dry for 15 hours.When done let them sit on a cookie sheet for a few hours.Put in a glass jar and store in a dark dry place.
And when it’s time to eat these delicious dehydrated tomatoes, preparation is simple. Try this recipe for quick and easy tomato and basil sauce: Excalibur Dried Tomato and Basil Sauce ¼ Cup Dried Tomatoes, Crumbled2-3 Cloves Minced Garlic1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Dried Basil½ Cup Water Sauté garlic in olive oil – do not brown! Turn heat to low, add dried tomatoes and basil and stir to coat. Immediately add water and stir. Cover and steam 2-3 minutes. Gary Coleman's catchy call for cash campaign
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I was just checking out the Gary Coleman CashCall Advertisements. I have to say it is a very clever campaign. Notice when he says "No one would lend me money, not even my relatives". Brilliant line - having an audience relate to a person in an ad (not to mention a celebrity) is Marketing 101. Unfortunately with the down economy, many Americans are in the same situation. Call for Cash!
12 Ekim 2012 Cuma
Fun Freetime: Word Girl
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Word Girl is a fun show. My girls love it. They both enjoy learning new words, and I love that it's family friendly and the "bad guys" involve people who steal all the cheese - no real violence.
Just in time forHalloween, this Emmy Award-winning series from Scholastic Media premieres thenew episode “Scary with a Side of Butter/Talent Show Tobey” onMonday, October 29 on PBS KIDS (check your local listings for times).
In Scary with a Side of Butter, Bampy Botsford sparks a panic throughout the city aftertelling the tale of the giant evil artichoke, and Mr. Big uses the opportunityto become even richer and more powerful! Will the giant artichoke show up, orwill Mr. Big finally find a way to control the minds of citizens? Vocabulary words for the episode: Fable, Artichoke
In Talent Show Tobey, Tobey tricks WordGirl into performing his poetry at thetalent show, but Becky has already volunteered to be Scoops’ assistantfor his magic act. How will she appear on stage as both Becky AND WordGirl,while saving the city from Tobey’s latest robot? Vocabulary words introduced: Discombobulated, Essential
On October 26, they'll air the episode "Tobey's Tricks and Treats/Escape Wham" which introduce the words eerie, supernatural, potential, and boisterous.
For more information, visit Scholastic's Word Girl site.
Just in time forHalloween, this Emmy Award-winning series from Scholastic Media premieres thenew episode “Scary with a Side of Butter/Talent Show Tobey” onMonday, October 29 on PBS KIDS (check your local listings for times).
In Scary with a Side of Butter, Bampy Botsford sparks a panic throughout the city aftertelling the tale of the giant evil artichoke, and Mr. Big uses the opportunityto become even richer and more powerful! Will the giant artichoke show up, orwill Mr. Big finally find a way to control the minds of citizens? Vocabulary words for the episode: Fable, Artichoke
In Talent Show Tobey, Tobey tricks WordGirl into performing his poetry at thetalent show, but Becky has already volunteered to be Scoops’ assistantfor his magic act. How will she appear on stage as both Becky AND WordGirl,while saving the city from Tobey’s latest robot? Vocabulary words introduced: Discombobulated, Essential
On October 26, they'll air the episode "Tobey's Tricks and Treats/Escape Wham" which introduce the words eerie, supernatural, potential, and boisterous.
For more information, visit Scholastic's Word Girl site.
Contest: Baby Trend EuroRide
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Baby Trend is in the Halloween spirit and hosting a spooktacular giveaway for their newly launched stroller, EuroRide! You can enter the giveaway by submitting a photo of your Halloween decorated home. No need to feel obligated to promote through your blog, we just wanted to invite you to this wicked fun opportunity. Want to enter from your phone? Click here to do so and just upload a photo from your mobile. The giveaway runs until 11:59 pm ET on Monday, October 22. We’ll announce the winner on October 23 so they can receive their treat of a prize in time for trick or treating on Halloween.
Baby Trend is in the Halloween spirit and hosting a spooktacular giveaway for their newly launched stroller, EuroRide! You can enter the giveaway by submitting a photo of your Halloween decorated home. No need to feel obligated to promote through your blog, we just wanted to invite you to this wicked fun opportunity. Want to enter from your phone? Click here to do so and just upload a photo from your mobile. The giveaway runs until 11:59 pm ET on Monday, October 22. We’ll announce the winner on October 23 so they can receive their treat of a prize in time for trick or treating on Halloween.Thrifty Thinking: Beginning Investing
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Kiplinger magazine is running an article this month titled Simple Investing. The author, Kathy Kristof, contributing editor for Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, is also the author of Investing 101. I had a chance to ask her some questions about people who aren't investing now, and some tips she had for them.
1) How can people who have no idea how to invest get involved in creating a portfolio?
Investing is easy if you know what you want because investments pretty clearly "match up" with different goals. In this month's Kiplinger magazine, we liken it to a dating game, where you match the goal to the investment that compliments it. Emergency fund = bank savings account; retirement account (when you're young) = stocks, both foreign and domestic. Buying a car/financing college/buying a house in the next five years = fixed income investments, like medium-term bonds.
But you'll feel a lot more comfortable doing this if you know a little about how all these investments work. We've tried to explain that in our Simple Investing story; those who want more can check out our "Investing Basics" series at Kiplinger.com, or my book, which aims to explain investing basics in a detailed, but clear, concise way.
2) Why should people who aren't in the stock market get into it?
If you have a long time horizon, you need stocks because they're the only investment that consistently beats the rate of inflation over time. People are soured on stocks now because they've performed badly over the past decade or so, but you have to realize that's normal. Stocks go through long stretches when the market just keeps rising relentlessly; and they go through long stretches when they're down. But over long periods of time, domestic stocks have earned about 10% on average annually over the 80+ year period tracked by Ibbotson Associates, which beats the rate of inflation by 7 percentage points a year.
That boosts your buying power and makes it far more likely that you'll be able to afford your goals in the future. (Incidentally, we use more conservative return projections with the magazine, figuring that you'll only earn, say, 8% on average with stocks. We figure it's better to estimate on the low side than give people unrealistic expectations. But that's still the best long-term average return you're going to find.)
By contrast, bonds (which have done exceptionally well lately) have earned an average of about 5% over long stretches of time, beating the long-term inflation rate by just 2 percentage points. Does that mean you'll have twice as much if you invest in stocks over bonds?
No. Actually, the difference compounds over time. For example, if you figure that you invest $500 a month earning 5 %, you'll have about $418,000 saved at the end of 30 years (you can check this online at BankRate.com's Simple Savings calculator); if you earn 10% instead, the same amount of savings will grow to $1.14 million over the same period of time.
3) What are some different types of portfolios, and who are they designed for?
The best portfolios are the simplest -- a savings account and a mutual fund or two. If you're young and don't want to bother "allocating assets," you can simply have a savings account (for your emergency money and short-term goals) and put all of your retirement assets in a Target Retirement fund, which buys stocks and bonds and other investments in percentages that are appropriate for your age.
If you're older and have more goals -- maybe kids who need college funds -- you'll want to add in a 529 plan, two.
If you're older, richer and more sophisticated, you might want to mix in a good actively managed fund or a portfolio of individual stocks...or both. We've recommended several in the magazine that are part of the Kiplinger 25; my Practical Investing column talks about how to pick individual stocks and tracks the performance of my 19-stock (and one index fund) portfolio.
There's no one right answer. The right answer is the one that makes you comfortable and addresses your goals, now and later.
1) How can people who have no idea how to invest get involved in creating a portfolio?
Investing is easy if you know what you want because investments pretty clearly "match up" with different goals. In this month's Kiplinger magazine, we liken it to a dating game, where you match the goal to the investment that compliments it. Emergency fund = bank savings account; retirement account (when you're young) = stocks, both foreign and domestic. Buying a car/financing college/buying a house in the next five years = fixed income investments, like medium-term bonds.
But you'll feel a lot more comfortable doing this if you know a little about how all these investments work. We've tried to explain that in our Simple Investing story; those who want more can check out our "Investing Basics" series at Kiplinger.com, or my book, which aims to explain investing basics in a detailed, but clear, concise way.
2) Why should people who aren't in the stock market get into it?
If you have a long time horizon, you need stocks because they're the only investment that consistently beats the rate of inflation over time. People are soured on stocks now because they've performed badly over the past decade or so, but you have to realize that's normal. Stocks go through long stretches when the market just keeps rising relentlessly; and they go through long stretches when they're down. But over long periods of time, domestic stocks have earned about 10% on average annually over the 80+ year period tracked by Ibbotson Associates, which beats the rate of inflation by 7 percentage points a year.
That boosts your buying power and makes it far more likely that you'll be able to afford your goals in the future. (Incidentally, we use more conservative return projections with the magazine, figuring that you'll only earn, say, 8% on average with stocks. We figure it's better to estimate on the low side than give people unrealistic expectations. But that's still the best long-term average return you're going to find.)
By contrast, bonds (which have done exceptionally well lately) have earned an average of about 5% over long stretches of time, beating the long-term inflation rate by just 2 percentage points. Does that mean you'll have twice as much if you invest in stocks over bonds?
No. Actually, the difference compounds over time. For example, if you figure that you invest $500 a month earning 5 %, you'll have about $418,000 saved at the end of 30 years (you can check this online at BankRate.com's Simple Savings calculator); if you earn 10% instead, the same amount of savings will grow to $1.14 million over the same period of time.
3) What are some different types of portfolios, and who are they designed for?
The best portfolios are the simplest -- a savings account and a mutual fund or two. If you're young and don't want to bother "allocating assets," you can simply have a savings account (for your emergency money and short-term goals) and put all of your retirement assets in a Target Retirement fund, which buys stocks and bonds and other investments in percentages that are appropriate for your age.
If you're older and have more goals -- maybe kids who need college funds -- you'll want to add in a 529 plan, two.
If you're older, richer and more sophisticated, you might want to mix in a good actively managed fund or a portfolio of individual stocks...or both. We've recommended several in the magazine that are part of the Kiplinger 25; my Practical Investing column talks about how to pick individual stocks and tracks the performance of my 19-stock (and one index fund) portfolio.
There's no one right answer. The right answer is the one that makes you comfortable and addresses your goals, now and later.
Consumer Critique: Itti Bitti Cloth Diapers
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I love cloth diapers. I love that I'm not throwing away a ton of plastic, I love that it seems more comfortable and natural, and I love that my girls had less diaper rash when I was using them. I wish I had found out about diapers like Itti Bitti earlier.
Itti Bitti diapers are adorable, and while there are a lot of cute diapers out there, there are two huge advantages to this one. First of all, the bitti tutto is an all in one. That means no pins, no liners and pants, no really loud plastic pants. Secondly, it grows with the child. The same diaper can be used from 8-44 lbs. My five year old just hit 45 lbs, so most kids will be able to use this from just about right away (maybe a few weeks of other diapers needed for those 7 lbs and under) until they're done. It won a Parent Testing Parent Approved award from ptpamedia. Plus, you can use different soaker pads for the right level of absorbency for your child.
For parents that want something that's not an all in one, or something that comes in specific sizes, there's also the bitti d'lish, in three sizes (up to 37 lbs on the last one), or the bitti boo, an all in one in three sizes.
The company also makes breast pads, cot blankets, changing mats, wipes, and wet bags.
You can't really tell from the pictures, but the fabric is gorgeous! The diapers use soft, minkee fabric on the outside, and bamboo and organic cotton as liners.
For more information, Like Itti Bitti US on Facebook, Follow @ittibittiUS, or find Itti Bitti on Youtube.
Disclosure: I received complimentary samples of Itti Bitti diapers to facilitate this review.
Itti Bitti diapers are adorable, and while there are a lot of cute diapers out there, there are two huge advantages to this one. First of all, the bitti tutto is an all in one. That means no pins, no liners and pants, no really loud plastic pants. Secondly, it grows with the child. The same diaper can be used from 8-44 lbs. My five year old just hit 45 lbs, so most kids will be able to use this from just about right away (maybe a few weeks of other diapers needed for those 7 lbs and under) until they're done. It won a Parent Testing Parent Approved award from ptpamedia. Plus, you can use different soaker pads for the right level of absorbency for your child.For parents that want something that's not an all in one, or something that comes in specific sizes, there's also the bitti d'lish, in three sizes (up to 37 lbs on the last one), or the bitti boo, an all in one in three sizes.
The company also makes breast pads, cot blankets, changing mats, wipes, and wet bags.
You can't really tell from the pictures, but the fabric is gorgeous! The diapers use soft, minkee fabric on the outside, and bamboo and organic cotton as liners.
For more information, Like Itti Bitti US on Facebook, Follow @ittibittiUS, or find Itti Bitti on Youtube.
Disclosure: I received complimentary samples of Itti Bitti diapers to facilitate this review.
Shopping Savings: Coyuchi
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Coyuchi, the first company to bring 100% organic cotton bedding to the United States, prides itself on providingBaby Apparel that is not only stylish and comfortable - but offers parents the peace of mind their little one is wearing the highest quality clothing,free of harmful chemicals or pesticides.
Made from 100% organic cotton, Coyuchi’s organic baby clothes are naturally soft against baby's skin, and get softer still with every wash.RIGHT NOW, Coyuchi’s eco-luxe Baby Apparel is more affordable than ever. From October 12-27,ALL Coyuchi Baby Apparel will be 40% off! No restrictions; while supplies last. As with all of the company’s textiles, Coyuchi Baby items are made from all natural and organic materials, produced with natural fibersfree of the toxic dies, bleaches and finishes used in conventional textiles. View the complete Baby Apparel Collection online here:http://www.coyuchi.com/organic-baby/clothing.html.
Made from 100% organic cotton, Coyuchi’s organic baby clothes are naturally soft against baby's skin, and get softer still with every wash.RIGHT NOW, Coyuchi’s eco-luxe Baby Apparel is more affordable than ever. From October 12-27,ALL Coyuchi Baby Apparel will be 40% off! No restrictions; while supplies last. As with all of the company’s textiles, Coyuchi Baby items are made from all natural and organic materials, produced with natural fibersfree of the toxic dies, bleaches and finishes used in conventional textiles. View the complete Baby Apparel Collection online here:http://www.coyuchi.com/organic-baby/clothing.html.
11 Ekim 2012 Perşembe
Sweepstakes: Veria Voices
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Veria Living, a leading media company devoted to showcasing wellness programming and related lifestyle content across multiple platforms recently announced a new initiative: Veria Voices, a partnership program involving leading wellness bloggers and digerati. To celebrate, Veria Living is giving away some of the “Veria Voices” favorite products including a $100 giftcard to Whole Foods, a GoPro camera and a Lululemon gift certificate of $200. To enter, visit www.veria.com/VeriaVoices. Entries can be made every 24 hours on each profile for a total of 6 entries per 24 hour time period. Prizes were suggested by each the six Veria Voices and reflect products they use to support their personal health and wellbeing. The sweepstakes begins October 15, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. and ends November 30, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Prize packages are as follows: · The Bex Eat Fresh, Look Your Best Prize$100 giftcard to Whole Foods + $100 giftcard to Lady Foot Locker.Use these gift cards to stock up on your favorite organic produce, natural foods and dress like a fitness star. · The Balanced Bites Prize$200 Amazon gift certificateWhether you’re just getting started eating right, or need a little inspiration, use this Amazon gift card towards that blender, knife set or juicer you've been dreaming of. · The Eco-Chick Prize$200 gift certificate for eco fashion boutique www.Kaightshop.comLook and good and feel good from the outside in with one-of-a kind clothing that's both eco-friendly and ethically-produced. Available online or at their retail store in NYC. · The Expeditioner PrizeGoPro camera From capturing a fun outing with friends to shooting action video from your latest getaway, this camera is ready to become your new traveling companion. · The Fitness A Way Of Life PrizeLululemon gift certificate of $200Infuse your yoga routine with your choice of stylish workout gear and accessories from Lululemon Athletica. · The Living Maxwell Prize3-Day BluePrint Cleanse & book, The 3-Day Cleanse. Made with 100% organic, vegan and gluten-free ingredients, this cleanse is a favorite among celebs. Combined with book by BluePrint co-founders, you’ll have all the tools you need to feel like a new you. Please visit www.veria.com/VeriaVoices for a list of sweepstakes rules.
Healthy Habits: World Sight Day
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Did you know that children can receive an eye exam at as early as 3 months old? According to theWorld Health Organization, 80 percent of visual impairment is preventable ifdetected and treated early enough, but unfortunately consumers don’t take thebasic steps necessary to preserve eye sight. One of the main reasons is ageneral lack of awareness.
This Thursday, October 11, join Bausch + Lomb in celebrating World Sight Day,an annual day tofocus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation ofthe visually impaired. Not only will they be sharing facts and tips all day onTwitter, but starting at 9:00AM EST, they’ll also be rewarding randomparticipants on the :20s who tweet at @BauschLomb using the hashtag #MySight with the chanceto win one of eight Apple gift cards each worth $650.00!
For complete list of tweetstakes rules,please visit: http://bit.ly/BLWSDRules
This Thursday, October 11, join Bausch + Lomb in celebrating World Sight Day,an annual day tofocus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation ofthe visually impaired. Not only will they be sharing facts and tips all day onTwitter, but starting at 9:00AM EST, they’ll also be rewarding randomparticipants on the :20s who tweet at @BauschLomb using the hashtag #MySight with the chanceto win one of eight Apple gift cards each worth $650.00!
For complete list of tweetstakes rules,please visit: http://bit.ly/BLWSDRules
Thrifty Thinking: Using a Coupon on a Date
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As frugality becomes increasingly mainstream, more U.S. adults are embracing coupon use on dates. A new CouponCabin survey reveals that more than one-quarter of U.S. adults report they have used a coupon on a first date, up from 18 percent who said the same last year. In addition, more than one-quarter said that they would have a positive reaction to their date using a coupon to help pay for a first date. This survey was conducted online nationwide by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin.com from September 17th – 19th, 2012 among 2,346 U.S. adults aged 18 and older.
Thriftiness is not the turnoff that it might have been in the past. In fact, nearly three-in-four U.S. adults said that if their date used a coupon, they would stay on the date and go out with them again.
“The economic challenges of the past few years have made many people more comfortable with frugality, so much so that it’s part of the dating scene now,” said Jackie Warrick, President and Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com. “Not only does using a coupon benefit your budget, it also shows your date you are mindful of your finances and a savvy person overall, both of which are positives when you’re meeting someone for the first time.”
No matter what your dating situation, Warrick offers the following tips to help navigate the dating scene with a coupon in hand:
- Tip accordingly. Don’t take saving money so far that you hurt the livelihood of those providing a service to you. While it’s perfectly fine to use a coupon on a date to lower your total bill, be sure to tip appropriately on what the experience would have cost without the discount.
- Make plans based on your budget. If saving money is a top priority, make sure you set plans for a date that fit your budget. Think about planning a picnic instead of a fancy dinner at five-star restaurant or catching a matinee instead of a later movie, for example.
- Be honest. There’s no shame in using coupons in the dating game, so don’t pretend you aren’t using one. Be upfront and tell your date the truth to avoid any awkward moments.
About CouponCabin.com
CouponCabin.com is a leading online destination for coupons including online coupon codes, printables, grocery coupons and more. Shoppers have saved nearly $350 million since 2003 and with the largest selection of coupons guaranteed to work, CouponCabin is the best place to start searching for savings. The average user saves $19 in just 80 seconds on the site. With customized email newsletters, browser savings alerts, new coupon alerts and more, shoppers will never miss out on a great deal with CouponCabin. For more information, please visit http://www.CouponCabin.com, Like Coupon Cabin on Facebook, or follow @CouponCabin.
Thriftiness is not the turnoff that it might have been in the past. In fact, nearly three-in-four U.S. adults said that if their date used a coupon, they would stay on the date and go out with them again.
“The economic challenges of the past few years have made many people more comfortable with frugality, so much so that it’s part of the dating scene now,” said Jackie Warrick, President and Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com. “Not only does using a coupon benefit your budget, it also shows your date you are mindful of your finances and a savvy person overall, both of which are positives when you’re meeting someone for the first time.”
No matter what your dating situation, Warrick offers the following tips to help navigate the dating scene with a coupon in hand:
- Tip accordingly. Don’t take saving money so far that you hurt the livelihood of those providing a service to you. While it’s perfectly fine to use a coupon on a date to lower your total bill, be sure to tip appropriately on what the experience would have cost without the discount.
- Make plans based on your budget. If saving money is a top priority, make sure you set plans for a date that fit your budget. Think about planning a picnic instead of a fancy dinner at five-star restaurant or catching a matinee instead of a later movie, for example.
- Be honest. There’s no shame in using coupons in the dating game, so don’t pretend you aren’t using one. Be upfront and tell your date the truth to avoid any awkward moments.
About CouponCabin.com
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World Wisdom: Unused Medications
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Prescriptionand over the counter medication is needed to help resolve an array ofinfections, headaches, and other illnesses but what do you do oncethose medications are no longer needed or have expired? While someminor traces of medication are flushed into lakes and riversnaturally as it passes through our bodies, some consumers makematters worse by voluntarily flushing bottles of old medications downthe toilet. This is why antibiotics, hormones, and otherpharmaceuticals can be found in the water supply of more than 41million Americans, reportsshow. Medicationsthat are thrown in the trash can be equally as harmful since they canend up in landfills where animals can consume them or be exposed tosmall children or pharmaceutical abusers. These medications can alsopotentially harm natural plant life. Fortunatelythere are some eco-safe ways that you can dispose of your unwantedmedication properly so that you can reduce the number of negativeside effects.Participatein Take-Back ProgramsLikethe name suggest, medicine take-back programs require consumers totake back (i.e. return) their medications to participating locationsfor proper government-regulated disposal, usually via hightemperature incineration. Typically pharmacies and law enforcementfacilities will have active take-back programs all year long. Here,consumers can administer over-the-counter and prescription medicines(controlled substances may or may not be accepted) in designated dropboxes. You can also contact your city's Public Works department orrecycling center to see if they can direct you to a take-back programcloser to your community. Remember to strip off any identifyinginformation on prescription pill bottles for safety reasons beforeyou donate your expired medications. ContactLocal Hospitals, Urgent Care FacilitiesIfa take-back program does not exist in your community—which caneasily happen since funding for permanent or temporary take-backprograms is not always available—then you can try to contact yourlocal hospital and see if they'll properly dispose of your oldmedication. All hospitals and medical centers are required to havebio hazard containers specifically designed to store old medicationsand other hazardous supplies like needles that will later beincinerated. These places should gladly take them free of charge.Ifyour local hospital does not accept your expired medication, you cancontact your local trash service. It might have a separate wastefacility that will incinerate the medications for you. Do note thatmost trash facilities do charge a small fee for theirmedicine-disposing services.DilutePotency of MedicationsIfall of the options fall through and you have no choice but to throwyour medications in the trash, then at the very least you can try anddegrade the medication's potency before you dispose of it. Forexample, liquid medication should be mixed with sawdust or flour.Pills should be mixed with kitty litter or coffee grounds for thesame effect and to make it seems less appealing to animals. It mightalso be a good idea to put all contents—including medications andkitty litter for example—in an air tight bag so that it doesn’trisk spilling out during transport to the landfill.BrendaWatson is a freelance writer for healthinsurancequotes.org.She specializes in diet, nutrition, and medicine safety. She welcomesyour comments.
Prescriptionand over the counter medication is needed to help resolve an array ofinfections, headaches, and other illnesses but what do you do oncethose medications are no longer needed or have expired? While someminor traces of medication are flushed into lakes and riversnaturally as it passes through our bodies, some consumers makematters worse by voluntarily flushing bottles of old medications downthe toilet. This is why antibiotics, hormones, and otherpharmaceuticals can be found in the water supply of more than 41million Americans, reportsshow. Medicationsthat are thrown in the trash can be equally as harmful since they canend up in landfills where animals can consume them or be exposed tosmall children or pharmaceutical abusers. These medications can alsopotentially harm natural plant life. Fortunatelythere are some eco-safe ways that you can dispose of your unwantedmedication properly so that you can reduce the number of negativeside effects.Participatein Take-Back ProgramsLikethe name suggest, medicine take-back programs require consumers totake back (i.e. return) their medications to participating locationsfor proper government-regulated disposal, usually via hightemperature incineration. Typically pharmacies and law enforcementfacilities will have active take-back programs all year long. Here,consumers can administer over-the-counter and prescription medicines(controlled substances may or may not be accepted) in designated dropboxes. You can also contact your city's Public Works department orrecycling center to see if they can direct you to a take-back programcloser to your community. Remember to strip off any identifyinginformation on prescription pill bottles for safety reasons beforeyou donate your expired medications. ContactLocal Hospitals, Urgent Care FacilitiesIfa take-back program does not exist in your community—which caneasily happen since funding for permanent or temporary take-backprograms is not always available—then you can try to contact yourlocal hospital and see if they'll properly dispose of your oldmedication. All hospitals and medical centers are required to havebio hazard containers specifically designed to store old medicationsand other hazardous supplies like needles that will later beincinerated. These places should gladly take them free of charge.Ifyour local hospital does not accept your expired medication, you cancontact your local trash service. It might have a separate wastefacility that will incinerate the medications for you. Do note thatmost trash facilities do charge a small fee for theirmedicine-disposing services.DilutePotency of MedicationsIfall of the options fall through and you have no choice but to throwyour medications in the trash, then at the very least you can try anddegrade the medication's potency before you dispose of it. Forexample, liquid medication should be mixed with sawdust or flour.Pills should be mixed with kitty litter or coffee grounds for thesame effect and to make it seems less appealing to animals. It mightalso be a good idea to put all contents—including medications andkitty litter for example—in an air tight bag so that it doesn’trisk spilling out during transport to the landfill.BrendaWatson is a freelance writer for healthinsurancequotes.org.She specializes in diet, nutrition, and medicine safety. She welcomesyour comments.
Caring Causes: Catapult
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Crowdfunding is a great way to raise money for a cause. If a lot of people contribute a little bit of money, a lot of good can be done for a lot of people. Today, the first International Day of the Girl, is a great day to check out Catapult, a crowdfunding site that focuses on initiatives targeting women and girls. One great place to check out is Gary Darmstadt's team, with projects to raise family planning awareness in Aplaya, start food and nutrition groups in Cambodia, and make the birthing process easier and safer for women in Sierra Leone.
10 Ekim 2012 Çarşamba
Caring Causes: PCH Give Back
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It is that time of year again when brands start to launch their giving programs for the holiday season. Publishers Clearing House just launched their Give Back program for the holiday season and will be giving away more than $100,000. They are quadrupling the amount they gave last year and focusing on three key charities (ASPCA, Susan G. Komen and St. Jude). Fans get to vote on which charity wins which amount of cash. Since they also know how much their fans love to win they are sweetening the deal and giving away a $500 cash prize every time they hit 5,000 votes. So more votes means more prizes!
About the charities:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's lifesaving mission is to find cures for children battling cancer and other deadly diseases, and thanks to donations, no family ever pays St. Jude for anything. St. Jude founder Danny Thomas believed that "no child should die in the dawn of life."
Susan G. Komen works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world through ground-breaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 30 countries.
The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and works to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals. The ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services.
About The PCH Games Network
The PCH Network consists of nine online properties. PCH.com is the web destination for Publishers Clearing House, a leading multi-channel direct marketer of value-based consumer products and magazines. The company calls attention to its products by providing site visitors with a chance to win valuable sweepstakes prizes. For more information about the PCH Games Network, visit www.pchonline.com.
Note: PCH’s “The Give Back” promotion will run from October 9 through November 5, 2012. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the ASPCA will each receive a guaranteed minimum contribution of $25,000. The maximum contribution for the winning charity is $50,000.
About the charities:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's lifesaving mission is to find cures for children battling cancer and other deadly diseases, and thanks to donations, no family ever pays St. Jude for anything. St. Jude founder Danny Thomas believed that "no child should die in the dawn of life."
Susan G. Komen works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world through ground-breaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 30 countries.
The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and works to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals. The ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services.
About The PCH Games Network
The PCH Network consists of nine online properties. PCH.com is the web destination for Publishers Clearing House, a leading multi-channel direct marketer of value-based consumer products and magazines. The company calls attention to its products by providing site visitors with a chance to win valuable sweepstakes prizes. For more information about the PCH Games Network, visit www.pchonline.com.
Note: PCH’s “The Give Back” promotion will run from October 9 through November 5, 2012. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the ASPCA will each receive a guaranteed minimum contribution of $25,000. The maximum contribution for the winning charity is $50,000.
Healthy Habits: Fighting Urges to Binge
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If you feel like raiding the chocolate drawer at work, consider your trigger and see if you can't beat the craving some other way.
- If you're just stressed, consider taking some deep breaths, or doing things like yoga or meditation to lower your stress levels long term.
- If you're tired, eat a piece of fruit or vegetable. They contain natural sugars that will help raise your energy level, and it's a much healthier option.
- If you feel like you've "earned it" because you've been "good" all day, consider if it will really make you feel good to "blow it." Instead, come up with a plan in advance, for example by pre-portioning your snacks.
- If you're just stressed, consider taking some deep breaths, or doing things like yoga or meditation to lower your stress levels long term.
- If you're tired, eat a piece of fruit or vegetable. They contain natural sugars that will help raise your energy level, and it's a much healthier option.
- If you feel like you've "earned it" because you've been "good" all day, consider if it will really make you feel good to "blow it." Instead, come up with a plan in advance, for example by pre-portioning your snacks.
Gulfstream Park's Wide Open Spectacular Bid Stakes May See Price Repeat
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The $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park has never produced a Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands winner but Groovy still ranks third on the list of all-time fastest quarter and half-mile fractions in the Run for the Roses. After winning the inaugural Spectacular Bid Stakes in 1986, the Texas-bred Groovy lead for just about six furlongs before faltering and finishing last in that Derby.
The last Spectacular Bid Stakes starter to make it to Kentucky was Discreetly Mine, a fourth-place finisher behind A Little Warm in the Spectacular Bid two years ago and 13th in the subsequent Kentucky Derby.
So don’t look for the winter future book favorite to come out of Saturday’s featured Spectacular Bid Stakes for opening day at Gulfstream Park. The Specatular Bid, named for the 1979 Kentucky Derby (photo right) winner and 1980 Horse of the Year, the Spectacular Bid has traditionally been the first 3-year-old stake of the prestigious Gulfstream Park meeting. This year, the seven furlong Spectacular Bid will be run for 2-year-olds for the first time due to the early opening day for Gulfstream Park. At first glance, no Kentucky Derby winner jumps out of the Daily Racing Form, but it appears there are some colts with potential.
Morning line favorite Luke of York makes his first start on dirt after narrowly winning his first two races on Polytrack. The humbly-bred son of Put It Back broke his maiden by a nose at Arlington Park in late September then came back to win the $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary Stakes Oct. 15, again by a nose. Rajiv Marach rides Luke of York for trainer James P DiVito and is 5-to-2 in the morning line.
Vexor, the second choice among the field of eight at 3-to-1 morning line odds, backs down in class after finishing ninth behind Secret Circle in the $454,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. Vexor is the only Bid runner with graded stakes experience adding a grade 2 victory in the Nashua Stakes at Belmont October 2 to his past performances. Also of budgetary friendly bloodlines as a son of Wildcat Heir, Vexor was eighth in the grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, some 42 lengths behind winner Currency Swap. A close look at the John Kimmel trainee before the race may indicate which Vexor will be breaking from the starting gate in Saturday’s Spectacular Bid. He runs as if he has handicapped the race running well against grade 1 or less, but flopping when in the grade 1 Hopeful or on the national stage of the Juvey Sprint.
Town Prize, 8-1 in the morning line, and Ancient Rome, (4-1), have a little more blue running in their blood being by Speightstown and Roman Ruler respectively. Ancient Rome moves out of maiden company for the first time in the Spectacular Bid after winning his second start by more than seven lengths. Town Prize has won two of three races including a maiden and an allowance, but finished third in the $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine in July. Town Prize is another making his natural dirt debut after all of his previous starts were on Polytrack.
Town Prize, Ancient Rome and Vexor are the only three starters to have a wire-to-wire victory under their belts and should provide an honest pace. Vexor will have a slight advantage, breaking from post three while Ancient Rome is number seven and Town Prize eight. Most of the other Spectacular Bid entrants are true stalkers with a fondness to run within two-to-four lengths off the leaders early. Longshot Rex’s Last Tour is the only Bid foe with a win coming from as far back as five lengths. Number one Jordon’s Image (8-to-1 morning line), rallied from ten lengths back four starts back, but only managed a third and it was against maiden claimers.
For Oby may be the choice for some as he is the only starter to have won at seven furlongs, having done so in his last out in the J. Price Juvenile over fellow Spectacular Bid runner Jordon’s Image. At 6-to-1, For Oby is at an attractive price and gets Alan Gacia in the saddle for trainer Pedro Maestre.
Selections
7 - Ancient Rome
2- Rex's Last Tour
3 - Vexor
The last Spectacular Bid Stakes starter to make it to Kentucky was Discreetly Mine, a fourth-place finisher behind A Little Warm in the Spectacular Bid two years ago and 13th in the subsequent Kentucky Derby.
So don’t look for the winter future book favorite to come out of Saturday’s featured Spectacular Bid Stakes for opening day at Gulfstream Park. The Specatular Bid, named for the 1979 Kentucky Derby (photo right) winner and 1980 Horse of the Year, the Spectacular Bid has traditionally been the first 3-year-old stake of the prestigious Gulfstream Park meeting. This year, the seven furlong Spectacular Bid will be run for 2-year-olds for the first time due to the early opening day for Gulfstream Park. At first glance, no Kentucky Derby winner jumps out of the Daily Racing Form, but it appears there are some colts with potential. Morning line favorite Luke of York makes his first start on dirt after narrowly winning his first two races on Polytrack. The humbly-bred son of Put It Back broke his maiden by a nose at Arlington Park in late September then came back to win the $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary Stakes Oct. 15, again by a nose. Rajiv Marach rides Luke of York for trainer James P DiVito and is 5-to-2 in the morning line.
Vexor, the second choice among the field of eight at 3-to-1 morning line odds, backs down in class after finishing ninth behind Secret Circle in the $454,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. Vexor is the only Bid runner with graded stakes experience adding a grade 2 victory in the Nashua Stakes at Belmont October 2 to his past performances. Also of budgetary friendly bloodlines as a son of Wildcat Heir, Vexor was eighth in the grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, some 42 lengths behind winner Currency Swap. A close look at the John Kimmel trainee before the race may indicate which Vexor will be breaking from the starting gate in Saturday’s Spectacular Bid. He runs as if he has handicapped the race running well against grade 1 or less, but flopping when in the grade 1 Hopeful or on the national stage of the Juvey Sprint.
Town Prize, 8-1 in the morning line, and Ancient Rome, (4-1), have a little more blue running in their blood being by Speightstown and Roman Ruler respectively. Ancient Rome moves out of maiden company for the first time in the Spectacular Bid after winning his second start by more than seven lengths. Town Prize has won two of three races including a maiden and an allowance, but finished third in the $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine in July. Town Prize is another making his natural dirt debut after all of his previous starts were on Polytrack.
Town Prize, Ancient Rome and Vexor are the only three starters to have a wire-to-wire victory under their belts and should provide an honest pace. Vexor will have a slight advantage, breaking from post three while Ancient Rome is number seven and Town Prize eight. Most of the other Spectacular Bid entrants are true stalkers with a fondness to run within two-to-four lengths off the leaders early. Longshot Rex’s Last Tour is the only Bid foe with a win coming from as far back as five lengths. Number one Jordon’s Image (8-to-1 morning line), rallied from ten lengths back four starts back, but only managed a third and it was against maiden claimers.
For Oby may be the choice for some as he is the only starter to have won at seven furlongs, having done so in his last out in the J. Price Juvenile over fellow Spectacular Bid runner Jordon’s Image. At 6-to-1, For Oby is at an attractive price and gets Alan Gacia in the saddle for trainer Pedro Maestre.
Selections
7 - Ancient Rome
2- Rex's Last Tour
3 - Vexor
CashCall Stars Can Emerge From Long Shadows Cast by Breeders' Cup Juvenile
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Our last look into the 2011 chrystal ball that is next year’s road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands presents itself Saturday in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. Run in the shadow of the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the CashCall Futurity has neither the $1 million purse nor history of producing divisional champions like the more prestigious Juvenile, but they are both grade 1 and their winners have donned an equal number of rose blankets – one each. Street Sense is the only horse to win both Juvenile (2006) and Kentucky Derby (’07) while Real Quiet won the 1997 CashCall and the Derby the following year.
Both races are also run at distance of 1-1/16 miles.
Championship voters don’t seem to emphasized the similarities between the two races however, and have given the Juvenile significantly more weight in determining their selections. For disclosure, I agree the Juvenile should have greater importance than other grade 1 races in determining the year-end champion. If the industry is going to call the Breeders’ Cup a World Championship, they (we) need to treat it like one. The Eclipse Award voters have that well since the Breedeer Cup first ran some 27 years ago.
Since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was first won by Chief’s Crown in 1984, 20 winners have been named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding for that year. Since Roving Boy won the CashCall (then Hollywood Futurity) in 1982 and the corresponding divisional championship, only CashCall winners Declan’s Moon and Looking at Lucky have been honored with Eclipse Awards. The four others named divisional champions during that 27-year span without winning either the CashCall nor the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were Forty Niner (1987), Easy Goer (1988), Dehere (1993) and Maria’s Mon (1995). All four were named 2-year-old male champions after winning their respective Champagne Stakes in New York but losing or not running in the Juvenile.
Forty Niner, Maria Mon’s and Declan’s Moon were champions that did not start in the Breeders’ Cup while Looking at Lucky, Dehere and Easy Goer won the divisional honor after losing in the Breeders’ Cup. Looking at Lucky and Easy Goer were second to long shot Vale of York and Is It True in 1988 and 2009 Juveniles respectively. Dehere was eighth as the odds-on favorite in the 1987 Juvenile won by Success Express before winning his 2-year-old male championship.
What makes the CashCall of more interest is the annual participation and sometimes domination by three-time Derby winning trainer and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Baffert has won two of the last three CashCall Futurities and a record five total. Known as the other silver-haired fox from
Arizona (former University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olsen being the first white-haired legend from the Grand Canyon State), Baffert has won the CashCall with Real Quiet, Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000) (photo left), Poineerof the Nile (‘08) and Looking at Lucky.
Also adding to the uniqueness of the CashCall is the artificial Cushion Track material that makes up the main track at Hollywood Park. Last year, Comma to the Top made the CashCall his fifth-straight win, but all were on artificial main tracks or grass. In his first race on natural dirt, Comma to the Top came back to run second in the Santa Anita Derby and then last in the Kentucky Derby, also on dirt. Looking at Lucky would eventually win the Preakness and then repeat as the division champion and show he could run on natural dir and Pioneerof the Nile was second on natural dirt in the Kentucky Derby.
Now, Santa Anita will have their natural dirt for the second time for their winter prep races leading up to the Derby, so any natural dirt-challenged winner of the CashCall will now likely be exposed sooner or prepare the Kentucky Derby over the PolyTrack surfaces at Turfway Park and/ or Keeneland. (see 2010 Derby winner Animal Kingdom.) Any plans to take the Southern California, New York, Arkansas, Florida or Louisiana roads to Kentucky, mean running on natural dirt.
According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Baffert will again be loaded for the CashCall with three 2-year-olds set for the 1-1/16-mile race. Del Mar Futurity winner Drill will try to return to the winners’ circle after graded stakes loses in the Norfolk, Juvenile and Delta Jackpot. Maiden winner Sky Kingdom and Real Quiet Stakes winner Liason will also be saddled by Baffert in this CashCall Futurity.
Not sure other CashCall contenders Basmati and Longview Drive, the place and show horses in the Delta Jackpot in their last start, don’t appear to have enough credentials for the championship, even with a big performance in the CashCall.
No matter, the CashCall winner is sure to move up near the top of many Kentucky Derby 2012 lists of contenders. Winter Future Books will be adjusted and for some, rosy dreams will begin to bloom for others. Regardless of who gets honored with the 2-year-old male title, it will be the Derby that holds all the glamour and history and the CashCall Futurity is more than a month closer than its Breeders’ Cup brother-race. The CashCall Futurity now crawls from beneath the long shadow cast by the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and at least one shining star will emerge and walk into the Hollywood Park winners’ circle Saturday.
Then on to the road that may lead to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
Our last look into the 2011 chrystal ball that is next year’s road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands presents itself Saturday in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. Run in the shadow of the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the CashCall Futurity has neither the $1 million purse nor history of producing divisional champions like the more prestigious Juvenile, but they are both grade 1 and their winners have donned an equal number of rose blankets – one each. Street Sense is the only horse to win both Juvenile (2006) and Kentucky Derby (’07) while Real Quiet won the 1997 CashCall and the Derby the following year.Both races are also run at distance of 1-1/16 miles.
Championship voters don’t seem to emphasized the similarities between the two races however, and have given the Juvenile significantly more weight in determining their selections. For disclosure, I agree the Juvenile should have greater importance than other grade 1 races in determining the year-end champion. If the industry is going to call the Breeders’ Cup a World Championship, they (we) need to treat it like one. The Eclipse Award voters have that well since the Breedeer Cup first ran some 27 years ago.
Since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was first won by Chief’s Crown in 1984, 20 winners have been named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding for that year. Since Roving Boy won the CashCall (then Hollywood Futurity) in 1982 and the corresponding divisional championship, only CashCall winners Declan’s Moon and Looking at Lucky have been honored with Eclipse Awards. The four others named divisional champions during that 27-year span without winning either the CashCall nor the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were Forty Niner (1987), Easy Goer (1988), Dehere (1993) and Maria’s Mon (1995). All four were named 2-year-old male champions after winning their respective Champagne Stakes in New York but losing or not running in the Juvenile.
Forty Niner, Maria Mon’s and Declan’s Moon were champions that did not start in the Breeders’ Cup while Looking at Lucky, Dehere and Easy Goer won the divisional honor after losing in the Breeders’ Cup. Looking at Lucky and Easy Goer were second to long shot Vale of York and Is It True in 1988 and 2009 Juveniles respectively. Dehere was eighth as the odds-on favorite in the 1987 Juvenile won by Success Express before winning his 2-year-old male championship.
What makes the CashCall of more interest is the annual participation and sometimes domination by three-time Derby winning trainer and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Baffert has won two of the last three CashCall Futurities and a record five total. Known as the other silver-haired fox from
Arizona (former University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olsen being the first white-haired legend from the Grand Canyon State), Baffert has won the CashCall with Real Quiet, Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000) (photo left), Poineerof the Nile (‘08) and Looking at Lucky.Also adding to the uniqueness of the CashCall is the artificial Cushion Track material that makes up the main track at Hollywood Park. Last year, Comma to the Top made the CashCall his fifth-straight win, but all were on artificial main tracks or grass. In his first race on natural dirt, Comma to the Top came back to run second in the Santa Anita Derby and then last in the Kentucky Derby, also on dirt. Looking at Lucky would eventually win the Preakness and then repeat as the division champion and show he could run on natural dir and Pioneerof the Nile was second on natural dirt in the Kentucky Derby.
Now, Santa Anita will have their natural dirt for the second time for their winter prep races leading up to the Derby, so any natural dirt-challenged winner of the CashCall will now likely be exposed sooner or prepare the Kentucky Derby over the PolyTrack surfaces at Turfway Park and/ or Keeneland. (see 2010 Derby winner Animal Kingdom.) Any plans to take the Southern California, New York, Arkansas, Florida or Louisiana roads to Kentucky, mean running on natural dirt.
According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Baffert will again be loaded for the CashCall with three 2-year-olds set for the 1-1/16-mile race. Del Mar Futurity winner Drill will try to return to the winners’ circle after graded stakes loses in the Norfolk, Juvenile and Delta Jackpot. Maiden winner Sky Kingdom and Real Quiet Stakes winner Liason will also be saddled by Baffert in this CashCall Futurity.
Not sure other CashCall contenders Basmati and Longview Drive, the place and show horses in the Delta Jackpot in their last start, don’t appear to have enough credentials for the championship, even with a big performance in the CashCall.
No matter, the CashCall winner is sure to move up near the top of many Kentucky Derby 2012 lists of contenders. Winter Future Books will be adjusted and for some, rosy dreams will begin to bloom for others. Regardless of who gets honored with the 2-year-old male title, it will be the Derby that holds all the glamour and history and the CashCall Futurity is more than a month closer than its Breeders’ Cup brother-race. The CashCall Futurity now crawls from beneath the long shadow cast by the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and at least one shining star will emerge and walk into the Hollywood Park winners’ circle Saturday.
Then on to the road that may lead to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
'Twas The Night Before Racing
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‘Twas the night before Christmas
Inside the barn area fence
Not a creature was stirring
Not track maintenance.
The hay nets were hung
From the stall doors with care
Hoping the guy with the sweet feed
Soon would be there.
The horses were all standing
Asleep in their bedding
While the grooms played the tunes
Of the Spanish Helen Redding
(Soy mujer, me oigo rugir!)
With mama closing the tack room
And I shutting light
We took a look down the shed row
Before calling it a night
When suddenly we heard
A bang and clang
It sounded as if
The starting gate rang
But the race track was closed
And the gate crew was drinking
So I turned to mama while wonderin’
What she was thinking?
Then a sudden red light
And with little alarm
I saw something land
Atop the test barn
It was the thoroughbred season!
There were no sulkies around!
So certainly this was
A sleigh that we found
I recognized the harness
And the reins were no mystery
But those were sure reindeer
“Track security is history!”
Then out from the sleigh
Jumped the driver dressed in red
He looks at me smiling
And says “Can you watch my sled?”
“I have peppermints here
Maidens and Claimers by name
Then suddenly he vanished
And I’m holding Rudolph’s reins
In less than a second
He was back and set to go
“How fast is this sleigh?”
He said, “You’ll never know!
“I use Christmas Spirit
To power this thing
For this team of reindeer
The world’s a bullring
“This is a very fast group
And this is a magical little bag
But don’t get ideas
They don’t run for a tag!”
Then a little toy trumpet
He brought to his lips
And he played Boots and Saddles
With his hands on his hips
I laughed then looked up
And he was gone in a sec
Then I looked down
And saw the win pic
As I looked at it closer
What a wonderful sight
It was Santa on the left
And me on the right
Donner was center
The rest were in back
And I don’t know who they were
But there were elves in the sack
He sprang to his sleigh
to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew
to Los Al then to Thistle.
But then I heard him say
with a laugh and a roar,
"Happy Christmas to all
And hit a pick-four!”
‘Twas the night before ChristmasInside the barn area fence
Not a creature was stirring
Not track maintenance.
The hay nets were hung
From the stall doors with care
Hoping the guy with the sweet feed
Soon would be there.
The horses were all standing
Asleep in their bedding
While the grooms played the tunes
Of the Spanish Helen Redding
(Soy mujer, me oigo rugir!)
With mama closing the tack room
And I shutting light
We took a look down the shed row
Before calling it a night
When suddenly we heard
A bang and clang
It sounded as if
The starting gate rang
But the race track was closed
And the gate crew was drinking
So I turned to mama while wonderin’
What she was thinking?
Then a sudden red light
And with little alarm
I saw something land
Atop the test barn
It was the thoroughbred season!
There were no sulkies around!
So certainly this was
A sleigh that we found
I recognized the harness
And the reins were no mystery
But those were sure reindeer
“Track security is history!”
Then out from the sleigh
Jumped the driver dressed in red
He looks at me smiling
And says “Can you watch my sled?”
“I have peppermints here
Maidens and Claimers by name
Then suddenly he vanished
And I’m holding Rudolph’s reins
In less than a second
He was back and set to go
“How fast is this sleigh?”
He said, “You’ll never know!
“I use Christmas Spirit
To power this thing
For this team of reindeer
The world’s a bullring
“This is a very fast group
And this is a magical little bag
But don’t get ideas
They don’t run for a tag!”
Then a little toy trumpet
He brought to his lips
And he played Boots and Saddles
With his hands on his hips
I laughed then looked up
And he was gone in a sec
Then I looked down
And saw the win pic
As I looked at it closer
What a wonderful sight
It was Santa on the left
And me on the right
Donner was center
The rest were in back
And I don’t know who they were
But there were elves in the sack
He sprang to his sleigh
to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew
to Los Al then to Thistle.
But then I heard him say
with a laugh and a roar,
"Happy Christmas to all
And hit a pick-four!”
9 Ekim 2012 Salı
Adobe apparently employing the Irish to spread misinformation.
To contact us Click HERE
Yesterday, I made this post about free software for windows in which I recommended Foxit Reader over the craptastic Adobe Reader.
A while later, at around 02:20am east coast time "anonymous" made this reply:
"Regarding the Adobe Reader, It's large, but buggy? C'mon, that's rubbish! Foxit is small and neat but i've had problems with it."
I say "anonymous" in quotes because my statcounter recorded this tidbit of information:
If you can't read that, it says "vpn-dublin-ext.adobe.com"
Why hello there, Dublin-based Adobe employee. You don't think your negative opinion about Foxit reader could be biased do you? The use of the word "rubbish" made me laugh out loud.
I use Foxit reader every single day. I've never had a single problem with it, even opening very large PDF files. Acrobat, on the other hand, takes forever to load, crashes my computer and occasionally prints page after pages of random characters.
A while later, at around 02:20am east coast time "anonymous" made this reply:
"Regarding the Adobe Reader, It's large, but buggy? C'mon, that's rubbish! Foxit is small and neat but i've had problems with it."
I say "anonymous" in quotes because my statcounter recorded this tidbit of information:
If you can't read that, it says "vpn-dublin-ext.adobe.com"
Why hello there, Dublin-based Adobe employee. You don't think your negative opinion about Foxit reader could be biased do you? The use of the word "rubbish" made me laugh out loud.
I use Foxit reader every single day. I've never had a single problem with it, even opening very large PDF files. Acrobat, on the other hand, takes forever to load, crashes my computer and occasionally prints page after pages of random characters.
Gulfstream Park's Wide Open Spectacular Bid Stakes May See Price Repeat
To contact us Click HERE
The $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park has never produced a Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands winner but Groovy still ranks third on the list of all-time fastest quarter and half-mile fractions in the Run for the Roses. After winning the inaugural Spectacular Bid Stakes in 1986, the Texas-bred Groovy lead for just about six furlongs before faltering and finishing last in that Derby.
The last Spectacular Bid Stakes starter to make it to Kentucky was Discreetly Mine, a fourth-place finisher behind A Little Warm in the Spectacular Bid two years ago and 13th in the subsequent Kentucky Derby.
So don’t look for the winter future book favorite to come out of Saturday’s featured Spectacular Bid Stakes for opening day at Gulfstream Park. The Specatular Bid, named for the 1979 Kentucky Derby (photo right) winner and 1980 Horse of the Year, the Spectacular Bid has traditionally been the first 3-year-old stake of the prestigious Gulfstream Park meeting. This year, the seven furlong Spectacular Bid will be run for 2-year-olds for the first time due to the early opening day for Gulfstream Park. At first glance, no Kentucky Derby winner jumps out of the Daily Racing Form, but it appears there are some colts with potential.
Morning line favorite Luke of York makes his first start on dirt after narrowly winning his first two races on Polytrack. The humbly-bred son of Put It Back broke his maiden by a nose at Arlington Park in late September then came back to win the $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary Stakes Oct. 15, again by a nose. Rajiv Marach rides Luke of York for trainer James P DiVito and is 5-to-2 in the morning line.
Vexor, the second choice among the field of eight at 3-to-1 morning line odds, backs down in class after finishing ninth behind Secret Circle in the $454,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. Vexor is the only Bid runner with graded stakes experience adding a grade 2 victory in the Nashua Stakes at Belmont October 2 to his past performances. Also of budgetary friendly bloodlines as a son of Wildcat Heir, Vexor was eighth in the grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, some 42 lengths behind winner Currency Swap. A close look at the John Kimmel trainee before the race may indicate which Vexor will be breaking from the starting gate in Saturday’s Spectacular Bid. He runs as if he has handicapped the race running well against grade 1 or less, but flopping when in the grade 1 Hopeful or on the national stage of the Juvey Sprint.
Town Prize, 8-1 in the morning line, and Ancient Rome, (4-1), have a little more blue running in their blood being by Speightstown and Roman Ruler respectively. Ancient Rome moves out of maiden company for the first time in the Spectacular Bid after winning his second start by more than seven lengths. Town Prize has won two of three races including a maiden and an allowance, but finished third in the $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine in July. Town Prize is another making his natural dirt debut after all of his previous starts were on Polytrack.
Town Prize, Ancient Rome and Vexor are the only three starters to have a wire-to-wire victory under their belts and should provide an honest pace. Vexor will have a slight advantage, breaking from post three while Ancient Rome is number seven and Town Prize eight. Most of the other Spectacular Bid entrants are true stalkers with a fondness to run within two-to-four lengths off the leaders early. Longshot Rex’s Last Tour is the only Bid foe with a win coming from as far back as five lengths. Number one Jordon’s Image (8-to-1 morning line), rallied from ten lengths back four starts back, but only managed a third and it was against maiden claimers.
For Oby may be the choice for some as he is the only starter to have won at seven furlongs, having done so in his last out in the J. Price Juvenile over fellow Spectacular Bid runner Jordon’s Image. At 6-to-1, For Oby is at an attractive price and gets Alan Gacia in the saddle for trainer Pedro Maestre.
Selections
7 - Ancient Rome
2- Rex's Last Tour
3 - Vexor
The last Spectacular Bid Stakes starter to make it to Kentucky was Discreetly Mine, a fourth-place finisher behind A Little Warm in the Spectacular Bid two years ago and 13th in the subsequent Kentucky Derby.
So don’t look for the winter future book favorite to come out of Saturday’s featured Spectacular Bid Stakes for opening day at Gulfstream Park. The Specatular Bid, named for the 1979 Kentucky Derby (photo right) winner and 1980 Horse of the Year, the Spectacular Bid has traditionally been the first 3-year-old stake of the prestigious Gulfstream Park meeting. This year, the seven furlong Spectacular Bid will be run for 2-year-olds for the first time due to the early opening day for Gulfstream Park. At first glance, no Kentucky Derby winner jumps out of the Daily Racing Form, but it appears there are some colts with potential. Morning line favorite Luke of York makes his first start on dirt after narrowly winning his first two races on Polytrack. The humbly-bred son of Put It Back broke his maiden by a nose at Arlington Park in late September then came back to win the $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary Stakes Oct. 15, again by a nose. Rajiv Marach rides Luke of York for trainer James P DiVito and is 5-to-2 in the morning line.
Vexor, the second choice among the field of eight at 3-to-1 morning line odds, backs down in class after finishing ninth behind Secret Circle in the $454,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. Vexor is the only Bid runner with graded stakes experience adding a grade 2 victory in the Nashua Stakes at Belmont October 2 to his past performances. Also of budgetary friendly bloodlines as a son of Wildcat Heir, Vexor was eighth in the grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, some 42 lengths behind winner Currency Swap. A close look at the John Kimmel trainee before the race may indicate which Vexor will be breaking from the starting gate in Saturday’s Spectacular Bid. He runs as if he has handicapped the race running well against grade 1 or less, but flopping when in the grade 1 Hopeful or on the national stage of the Juvey Sprint.
Town Prize, 8-1 in the morning line, and Ancient Rome, (4-1), have a little more blue running in their blood being by Speightstown and Roman Ruler respectively. Ancient Rome moves out of maiden company for the first time in the Spectacular Bid after winning his second start by more than seven lengths. Town Prize has won two of three races including a maiden and an allowance, but finished third in the $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine in July. Town Prize is another making his natural dirt debut after all of his previous starts were on Polytrack.
Town Prize, Ancient Rome and Vexor are the only three starters to have a wire-to-wire victory under their belts and should provide an honest pace. Vexor will have a slight advantage, breaking from post three while Ancient Rome is number seven and Town Prize eight. Most of the other Spectacular Bid entrants are true stalkers with a fondness to run within two-to-four lengths off the leaders early. Longshot Rex’s Last Tour is the only Bid foe with a win coming from as far back as five lengths. Number one Jordon’s Image (8-to-1 morning line), rallied from ten lengths back four starts back, but only managed a third and it was against maiden claimers.
For Oby may be the choice for some as he is the only starter to have won at seven furlongs, having done so in his last out in the J. Price Juvenile over fellow Spectacular Bid runner Jordon’s Image. At 6-to-1, For Oby is at an attractive price and gets Alan Gacia in the saddle for trainer Pedro Maestre.
Selections
7 - Ancient Rome
2- Rex's Last Tour
3 - Vexor
CashCall Stars Can Emerge From Long Shadows Cast by Breeders' Cup Juvenile
To contact us Click HERE
Our last look into the 2011 chrystal ball that is next year’s road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands presents itself Saturday in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. Run in the shadow of the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the CashCall Futurity has neither the $1 million purse nor history of producing divisional champions like the more prestigious Juvenile, but they are both grade 1 and their winners have donned an equal number of rose blankets – one each. Street Sense is the only horse to win both Juvenile (2006) and Kentucky Derby (’07) while Real Quiet won the 1997 CashCall and the Derby the following year.
Both races are also run at distance of 1-1/16 miles.
Championship voters don’t seem to emphasized the similarities between the two races however, and have given the Juvenile significantly more weight in determining their selections. For disclosure, I agree the Juvenile should have greater importance than other grade 1 races in determining the year-end champion. If the industry is going to call the Breeders’ Cup a World Championship, they (we) need to treat it like one. The Eclipse Award voters have that well since the Breedeer Cup first ran some 27 years ago.
Since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was first won by Chief’s Crown in 1984, 20 winners have been named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding for that year. Since Roving Boy won the CashCall (then Hollywood Futurity) in 1982 and the corresponding divisional championship, only CashCall winners Declan’s Moon and Looking at Lucky have been honored with Eclipse Awards. The four others named divisional champions during that 27-year span without winning either the CashCall nor the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were Forty Niner (1987), Easy Goer (1988), Dehere (1993) and Maria’s Mon (1995). All four were named 2-year-old male champions after winning their respective Champagne Stakes in New York but losing or not running in the Juvenile.
Forty Niner, Maria Mon’s and Declan’s Moon were champions that did not start in the Breeders’ Cup while Looking at Lucky, Dehere and Easy Goer won the divisional honor after losing in the Breeders’ Cup. Looking at Lucky and Easy Goer were second to long shot Vale of York and Is It True in 1988 and 2009 Juveniles respectively. Dehere was eighth as the odds-on favorite in the 1987 Juvenile won by Success Express before winning his 2-year-old male championship.
What makes the CashCall of more interest is the annual participation and sometimes domination by three-time Derby winning trainer and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Baffert has won two of the last three CashCall Futurities and a record five total. Known as the other silver-haired fox fromArizona (former University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olsen being the first white-haired legend from the Grand Canyon State), Baffert has won the CashCall with Real Quiet, Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000) (photo left), Poineerof the Nile (‘08) and Looking at Lucky.
Also adding to the uniqueness of the CashCall is the artificial Cushion Track material that makes up the main track at Hollywood Park. Last year, Comma to the Top made the CashCall his fifth-straight win, but all were on artificial main tracks or grass. In his first race on natural dirt, Comma to the Top came back to run second in the Santa Anita Derby and then last in the Kentucky Derby, also on dirt. Looking at Lucky would eventually win the Preakness and then repeat as the division champion and show he could run on natural dir and Pioneerof the Nile was second on natural dirt in the Kentucky Derby.
Now, Santa Anita will have their natural dirt for the second time for their winter prep races leading up to the Derby, so any natural dirt-challenged winner of the CashCall will now likely be exposed sooner or prepare the Kentucky Derby over the PolyTrack surfaces at Turfway Park and/ or Keeneland. (see 2010 Derby winner Animal Kingdom.) Any plans to take the Southern California, New York, Arkansas, Florida or Louisiana roads to Kentucky, mean running on natural dirt.
According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Baffert will again be loaded for the CashCall with three 2-year-olds set for the 1-1/16-mile race. Del Mar Futurity winner Drill will try to return to the winners’ circle after graded stakes loses in the Norfolk, Juvenile and Delta Jackpot. Maiden winner Sky Kingdom and Real Quiet Stakes winner Liason will also be saddled by Baffert in this CashCall Futurity.
Not sure other CashCall contenders Basmati and Longview Drive, the place and show horses in the Delta Jackpot in their last start, don’t appear to have enough credentials for the championship, even with a big performance in the CashCall.
No matter, the CashCall winner is sure to move up near the top of many Kentucky Derby 2012 lists of contenders. Winter Future Books will be adjusted and for some, rosy dreams will begin to bloom for others. Regardless of who gets honored with the 2-year-old male title, it will be the Derby that holds all the glamour and history and the CashCall Futurity is more than a month closer than its Breeders’ Cup brother-race. The CashCall Futurity now crawls from beneath the long shadow cast by the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and at least one shining star will emerge and walk into the Hollywood Park winners’ circle Saturday.
Then on to the road that may lead to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
Our last look into the 2011 chrystal ball that is next year’s road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands presents itself Saturday in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. Run in the shadow of the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the CashCall Futurity has neither the $1 million purse nor history of producing divisional champions like the more prestigious Juvenile, but they are both grade 1 and their winners have donned an equal number of rose blankets – one each. Street Sense is the only horse to win both Juvenile (2006) and Kentucky Derby (’07) while Real Quiet won the 1997 CashCall and the Derby the following year.Both races are also run at distance of 1-1/16 miles.
Championship voters don’t seem to emphasized the similarities between the two races however, and have given the Juvenile significantly more weight in determining their selections. For disclosure, I agree the Juvenile should have greater importance than other grade 1 races in determining the year-end champion. If the industry is going to call the Breeders’ Cup a World Championship, they (we) need to treat it like one. The Eclipse Award voters have that well since the Breedeer Cup first ran some 27 years ago.
Since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was first won by Chief’s Crown in 1984, 20 winners have been named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding for that year. Since Roving Boy won the CashCall (then Hollywood Futurity) in 1982 and the corresponding divisional championship, only CashCall winners Declan’s Moon and Looking at Lucky have been honored with Eclipse Awards. The four others named divisional champions during that 27-year span without winning either the CashCall nor the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were Forty Niner (1987), Easy Goer (1988), Dehere (1993) and Maria’s Mon (1995). All four were named 2-year-old male champions after winning their respective Champagne Stakes in New York but losing or not running in the Juvenile.
Forty Niner, Maria Mon’s and Declan’s Moon were champions that did not start in the Breeders’ Cup while Looking at Lucky, Dehere and Easy Goer won the divisional honor after losing in the Breeders’ Cup. Looking at Lucky and Easy Goer were second to long shot Vale of York and Is It True in 1988 and 2009 Juveniles respectively. Dehere was eighth as the odds-on favorite in the 1987 Juvenile won by Success Express before winning his 2-year-old male championship.
What makes the CashCall of more interest is the annual participation and sometimes domination by three-time Derby winning trainer and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Baffert has won two of the last three CashCall Futurities and a record five total. Known as the other silver-haired fox from
Arizona (former University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olsen being the first white-haired legend from the Grand Canyon State), Baffert has won the CashCall with Real Quiet, Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000) (photo left), Poineerof the Nile (‘08) and Looking at Lucky.Also adding to the uniqueness of the CashCall is the artificial Cushion Track material that makes up the main track at Hollywood Park. Last year, Comma to the Top made the CashCall his fifth-straight win, but all were on artificial main tracks or grass. In his first race on natural dirt, Comma to the Top came back to run second in the Santa Anita Derby and then last in the Kentucky Derby, also on dirt. Looking at Lucky would eventually win the Preakness and then repeat as the division champion and show he could run on natural dir and Pioneerof the Nile was second on natural dirt in the Kentucky Derby.
Now, Santa Anita will have their natural dirt for the second time for their winter prep races leading up to the Derby, so any natural dirt-challenged winner of the CashCall will now likely be exposed sooner or prepare the Kentucky Derby over the PolyTrack surfaces at Turfway Park and/ or Keeneland. (see 2010 Derby winner Animal Kingdom.) Any plans to take the Southern California, New York, Arkansas, Florida or Louisiana roads to Kentucky, mean running on natural dirt.
According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Baffert will again be loaded for the CashCall with three 2-year-olds set for the 1-1/16-mile race. Del Mar Futurity winner Drill will try to return to the winners’ circle after graded stakes loses in the Norfolk, Juvenile and Delta Jackpot. Maiden winner Sky Kingdom and Real Quiet Stakes winner Liason will also be saddled by Baffert in this CashCall Futurity.
Not sure other CashCall contenders Basmati and Longview Drive, the place and show horses in the Delta Jackpot in their last start, don’t appear to have enough credentials for the championship, even with a big performance in the CashCall.
No matter, the CashCall winner is sure to move up near the top of many Kentucky Derby 2012 lists of contenders. Winter Future Books will be adjusted and for some, rosy dreams will begin to bloom for others. Regardless of who gets honored with the 2-year-old male title, it will be the Derby that holds all the glamour and history and the CashCall Futurity is more than a month closer than its Breeders’ Cup brother-race. The CashCall Futurity now crawls from beneath the long shadow cast by the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and at least one shining star will emerge and walk into the Hollywood Park winners’ circle Saturday.
Then on to the road that may lead to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
'Twas The Night Before Racing
To contact us Click HERE
‘Twas the night before Christmas
Inside the barn area fence
Not a creature was stirring
Not track maintenance.
The hay nets were hung
From the stall doors with care
Hoping the guy with the sweet feed
Soon would be there.
The horses were all standing
Asleep in their bedding
While the grooms played the tunes
Of the Spanish Helen Redding
(Soy mujer, me oigo rugir!)
With mama closing the tack room
And I shutting light
We took a look down the shed row
Before calling it a night
When suddenly we heard
A bang and clang
It sounded as if
The starting gate rang
But the race track was closed
And the gate crew was drinking
So I turned to mama while wonderin’
What she was thinking?
Then a sudden red light
And with little alarm
I saw something land
Atop the test barn
It was the thoroughbred season!
There were no sulkies around!
So certainly this was
A sleigh that we found
I recognized the harness
And the reins were no mystery
But those were sure reindeer
“Track security is history!”
Then out from the sleigh
Jumped the driver dressed in red
He looks at me smiling
And says “Can you watch my sled?”
“I have peppermints here
Maidens and Claimers by name
Then suddenly he vanished
And I’m holding Rudolph’s reins
In less than a second
He was back and set to go
“How fast is this sleigh?”
He said, “You’ll never know!
“I use Christmas Spirit
To power this thing
For this team of reindeer
The world’s a bullring
“This is a very fast group
And this is a magical little bag
But don’t get ideas
They don’t run for a tag!”
Then a little toy trumpet
He brought to his lips
And he played Boots and Saddles
With his hands on his hips
I laughed then looked up
And he was gone in a sec
Then I looked down
And saw the win pic
As I looked at it closer
What a wonderful sight
It was Santa on the left
And me on the right
Donner was center
The rest were in back
And I don’t know who they were
But there were elves in the sack
He sprang to his sleigh
to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew
to Los Al then to Thistle.
But then I heard him say
with a laugh and a roar,
"Happy Christmas to all
And hit a pick-four!”
‘Twas the night before ChristmasInside the barn area fence
Not a creature was stirring
Not track maintenance.
The hay nets were hung
From the stall doors with care
Hoping the guy with the sweet feed
Soon would be there.
The horses were all standing
Asleep in their bedding
While the grooms played the tunes
Of the Spanish Helen Redding
(Soy mujer, me oigo rugir!)
With mama closing the tack room
And I shutting light
We took a look down the shed row
Before calling it a night
When suddenly we heard
A bang and clang
It sounded as if
The starting gate rang
But the race track was closed
And the gate crew was drinking
So I turned to mama while wonderin’
What she was thinking?
Then a sudden red light
And with little alarm
I saw something land
Atop the test barn
It was the thoroughbred season!
There were no sulkies around!
So certainly this was
A sleigh that we found
I recognized the harness
And the reins were no mystery
But those were sure reindeer
“Track security is history!”
Then out from the sleigh
Jumped the driver dressed in red
He looks at me smiling
And says “Can you watch my sled?”
“I have peppermints here
Maidens and Claimers by name
Then suddenly he vanished
And I’m holding Rudolph’s reins
In less than a second
He was back and set to go
“How fast is this sleigh?”
He said, “You’ll never know!
“I use Christmas Spirit
To power this thing
For this team of reindeer
The world’s a bullring
“This is a very fast group
And this is a magical little bag
But don’t get ideas
They don’t run for a tag!”
Then a little toy trumpet
He brought to his lips
And he played Boots and Saddles
With his hands on his hips
I laughed then looked up
And he was gone in a sec
Then I looked down
And saw the win pic
As I looked at it closer
What a wonderful sight
It was Santa on the left
And me on the right
Donner was center
The rest were in back
And I don’t know who they were
But there were elves in the sack
He sprang to his sleigh
to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew
to Los Al then to Thistle.
But then I heard him say
with a laugh and a roar,
"Happy Christmas to all
And hit a pick-four!”
Gary Coleman's catchy call for cash campaign
To contact us Click HERE
I was just checking out the Gary Coleman CashCall Advertisements. I have to say it is a very clever campaign. Notice when he says "No one would lend me money, not even my relatives". Brilliant line - having an audience relate to a person in an ad (not to mention a celebrity) is Marketing 101. Unfortunately with the down economy, many Americans are in the same situation. Call for Cash!
8 Ekim 2012 Pazartesi
Mealtime Magic: America's Favorite Food Cookbook
To contact us Click HERE
I had the chance recently to review a very unique cookbook - one that can act as either a completely standalone traditional cookbook, or as a connected version, bringing the power and information of the Internet into your kitchen in ways that are relevant to you, when you need it.
I was able to interview the editor about its most notable feature - the use of QR codes that are embedded subtly into the images.
1) Why was the watermarked image feature chosen over QR codes?
By omitting QR codes and using the Scan-It/Cook-It feature, we were able to keep the pages clear of clutter so the focus would be on the incredible food photography and additional tips, tricks, serving ideas, reviews and/or notes for each recipe. We love being able to bring the pages to life by linking to the additional assets on MyRecipes.com and allowing the reader to customize their experience with the cookbook.
2) What types of information will readers find when they scan the images?
The maroon “Scan this Photo” label and orange “Scan this Box” label includes information about where the scan will take them on MyRecipes.com. When readers scan a box or an image, they’ll be taken to one of the following:
· How-to videos that walk you step-by-step through a recipe. These usually point to my Dinner Tonight videos.
· Technique videos that show you how to do a specific procedure like chop an onion or poach an egg.
· Recipe collections or slideshows that point to similar types of recipes as the one scanned. For example, if you scan the photo of Guinness Beer Stew, it will take you to 7 more recipes that use beer.
· Weeknight meal planners with a menu and a combined shopping list for five weeknight recipes, including the one you just scanned.
· Our Ask the Expert articles that feature the answers to common cooking questions. You also will be able to submit your own questions here.
· A customizable online version of all of the recipes in the book.
3) Is there additional content for every recipe?
All 200 recipes in "America’s Favorite Food," coming from popular magazines such asCooking Light, Real Simple and Southern Living, have a professional, full-color image and at least one piece of extra information about the recipe. This includes topics such as a quick tip, user suggestions from our online recipe reviewers, and/or a label indicating that the recipe is 5 ingredients or less, 30 minutes or less, gluten-free, kid-friendly, low-calorie, make-ahead, or cooked on a grill or in a slow cooker. Readers may also find the answer to an “Ask the Expert” question about an ingredient or technique used in the recipes and/or a reader review quote.
4) What about non-smartphone users - why should they check out this cookbook?
This cookbook can certainly stand on its own for non-smartphone users since it is a beautiful book with over 200 top-rated recipes that have received the most reviews from our online users. The color photographs, helpful tips, substitution suggestions, side dish recommendations and more give the book a very complete look and feel. An eBook version is also available for eReaders and tablets that offers the same features without needing a smartphone.
The is a broad variety of recipes in this book, and they all look delicious. They are clear and easy to read, have beautiful pictures, and are really enhanced by some of the additional features linked to on the website. This book would be a perfect gift for just about any cook looking to increase their repertoire and cooking techniques, but I think it's especially appropriate for the newer or less-experienced cook, because it makes it so easy to find tips about the recipe being used right at that moment.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate this review.
I was able to interview the editor about its most notable feature - the use of QR codes that are embedded subtly into the images.
1) Why was the watermarked image feature chosen over QR codes?
By omitting QR codes and using the Scan-It/Cook-It feature, we were able to keep the pages clear of clutter so the focus would be on the incredible food photography and additional tips, tricks, serving ideas, reviews and/or notes for each recipe. We love being able to bring the pages to life by linking to the additional assets on MyRecipes.com and allowing the reader to customize their experience with the cookbook.
2) What types of information will readers find when they scan the images?
The maroon “Scan this Photo” label and orange “Scan this Box” label includes information about where the scan will take them on MyRecipes.com. When readers scan a box or an image, they’ll be taken to one of the following:
· How-to videos that walk you step-by-step through a recipe. These usually point to my Dinner Tonight videos.
· Technique videos that show you how to do a specific procedure like chop an onion or poach an egg.
· Recipe collections or slideshows that point to similar types of recipes as the one scanned. For example, if you scan the photo of Guinness Beer Stew, it will take you to 7 more recipes that use beer.
· Weeknight meal planners with a menu and a combined shopping list for five weeknight recipes, including the one you just scanned.
· Our Ask the Expert articles that feature the answers to common cooking questions. You also will be able to submit your own questions here.
· A customizable online version of all of the recipes in the book.
3) Is there additional content for every recipe?
All 200 recipes in "America’s Favorite Food," coming from popular magazines such asCooking Light, Real Simple and Southern Living, have a professional, full-color image and at least one piece of extra information about the recipe. This includes topics such as a quick tip, user suggestions from our online recipe reviewers, and/or a label indicating that the recipe is 5 ingredients or less, 30 minutes or less, gluten-free, kid-friendly, low-calorie, make-ahead, or cooked on a grill or in a slow cooker. Readers may also find the answer to an “Ask the Expert” question about an ingredient or technique used in the recipes and/or a reader review quote.
4) What about non-smartphone users - why should they check out this cookbook?
This cookbook can certainly stand on its own for non-smartphone users since it is a beautiful book with over 200 top-rated recipes that have received the most reviews from our online users. The color photographs, helpful tips, substitution suggestions, side dish recommendations and more give the book a very complete look and feel. An eBook version is also available for eReaders and tablets that offers the same features without needing a smartphone.
The is a broad variety of recipes in this book, and they all look delicious. They are clear and easy to read, have beautiful pictures, and are really enhanced by some of the additional features linked to on the website. This book would be a perfect gift for just about any cook looking to increase their repertoire and cooking techniques, but I think it's especially appropriate for the newer or less-experienced cook, because it makes it so easy to find tips about the recipe being used right at that moment.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate this review.
Gulfstream Park's Wide Open Spectacular Bid Stakes May See Price Repeat
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The $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park has never produced a Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands winner but Groovy still ranks third on the list of all-time fastest quarter and half-mile fractions in the Run for the Roses. After winning the inaugural Spectacular Bid Stakes in 1986, the Texas-bred Groovy lead for just about six furlongs before faltering and finishing last in that Derby.
The last Spectacular Bid Stakes starter to make it to Kentucky was Discreetly Mine, a fourth-place finisher behind A Little Warm in the Spectacular Bid two years ago and 13th in the subsequent Kentucky Derby.
So don’t look for the winter future book favorite to come out of Saturday’s featured Spectacular Bid Stakes for opening day at Gulfstream Park. The Specatular Bid, named for the 1979 Kentucky Derby (photo right) winner and 1980 Horse of the Year, the Spectacular Bid has traditionally been the first 3-year-old stake of the prestigious Gulfstream Park meeting. This year, the seven furlong Spectacular Bid will be run for 2-year-olds for the first time due to the early opening day for Gulfstream Park. At first glance, no Kentucky Derby winner jumps out of the Daily Racing Form, but it appears there are some colts with potential.
Morning line favorite Luke of York makes his first start on dirt after narrowly winning his first two races on Polytrack. The humbly-bred son of Put It Back broke his maiden by a nose at Arlington Park in late September then came back to win the $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary Stakes Oct. 15, again by a nose. Rajiv Marach rides Luke of York for trainer James P DiVito and is 5-to-2 in the morning line.
Vexor, the second choice among the field of eight at 3-to-1 morning line odds, backs down in class after finishing ninth behind Secret Circle in the $454,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. Vexor is the only Bid runner with graded stakes experience adding a grade 2 victory in the Nashua Stakes at Belmont October 2 to his past performances. Also of budgetary friendly bloodlines as a son of Wildcat Heir, Vexor was eighth in the grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, some 42 lengths behind winner Currency Swap. A close look at the John Kimmel trainee before the race may indicate which Vexor will be breaking from the starting gate in Saturday’s Spectacular Bid. He runs as if he has handicapped the race running well against grade 1 or less, but flopping when in the grade 1 Hopeful or on the national stage of the Juvey Sprint.
Town Prize, 8-1 in the morning line, and Ancient Rome, (4-1), have a little more blue running in their blood being by Speightstown and Roman Ruler respectively. Ancient Rome moves out of maiden company for the first time in the Spectacular Bid after winning his second start by more than seven lengths. Town Prize has won two of three races including a maiden and an allowance, but finished third in the $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine in July. Town Prize is another making his natural dirt debut after all of his previous starts were on Polytrack.
Town Prize, Ancient Rome and Vexor are the only three starters to have a wire-to-wire victory under their belts and should provide an honest pace. Vexor will have a slight advantage, breaking from post three while Ancient Rome is number seven and Town Prize eight. Most of the other Spectacular Bid entrants are true stalkers with a fondness to run within two-to-four lengths off the leaders early. Longshot Rex’s Last Tour is the only Bid foe with a win coming from as far back as five lengths. Number one Jordon’s Image (8-to-1 morning line), rallied from ten lengths back four starts back, but only managed a third and it was against maiden claimers.
For Oby may be the choice for some as he is the only starter to have won at seven furlongs, having done so in his last out in the J. Price Juvenile over fellow Spectacular Bid runner Jordon’s Image. At 6-to-1, For Oby is at an attractive price and gets Alan Gacia in the saddle for trainer Pedro Maestre.
Selections
7 - Ancient Rome
2- Rex's Last Tour
3 - Vexor
The last Spectacular Bid Stakes starter to make it to Kentucky was Discreetly Mine, a fourth-place finisher behind A Little Warm in the Spectacular Bid two years ago and 13th in the subsequent Kentucky Derby.
So don’t look for the winter future book favorite to come out of Saturday’s featured Spectacular Bid Stakes for opening day at Gulfstream Park. The Specatular Bid, named for the 1979 Kentucky Derby (photo right) winner and 1980 Horse of the Year, the Spectacular Bid has traditionally been the first 3-year-old stake of the prestigious Gulfstream Park meeting. This year, the seven furlong Spectacular Bid will be run for 2-year-olds for the first time due to the early opening day for Gulfstream Park. At first glance, no Kentucky Derby winner jumps out of the Daily Racing Form, but it appears there are some colts with potential. Morning line favorite Luke of York makes his first start on dirt after narrowly winning his first two races on Polytrack. The humbly-bred son of Put It Back broke his maiden by a nose at Arlington Park in late September then came back to win the $125,000 Keeneland 75th Anniversary Stakes Oct. 15, again by a nose. Rajiv Marach rides Luke of York for trainer James P DiVito and is 5-to-2 in the morning line.
Vexor, the second choice among the field of eight at 3-to-1 morning line odds, backs down in class after finishing ninth behind Secret Circle in the $454,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. Vexor is the only Bid runner with graded stakes experience adding a grade 2 victory in the Nashua Stakes at Belmont October 2 to his past performances. Also of budgetary friendly bloodlines as a son of Wildcat Heir, Vexor was eighth in the grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, some 42 lengths behind winner Currency Swap. A close look at the John Kimmel trainee before the race may indicate which Vexor will be breaking from the starting gate in Saturday’s Spectacular Bid. He runs as if he has handicapped the race running well against grade 1 or less, but flopping when in the grade 1 Hopeful or on the national stage of the Juvey Sprint.
Town Prize, 8-1 in the morning line, and Ancient Rome, (4-1), have a little more blue running in their blood being by Speightstown and Roman Ruler respectively. Ancient Rome moves out of maiden company for the first time in the Spectacular Bid after winning his second start by more than seven lengths. Town Prize has won two of three races including a maiden and an allowance, but finished third in the $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine in July. Town Prize is another making his natural dirt debut after all of his previous starts were on Polytrack.
Town Prize, Ancient Rome and Vexor are the only three starters to have a wire-to-wire victory under their belts and should provide an honest pace. Vexor will have a slight advantage, breaking from post three while Ancient Rome is number seven and Town Prize eight. Most of the other Spectacular Bid entrants are true stalkers with a fondness to run within two-to-four lengths off the leaders early. Longshot Rex’s Last Tour is the only Bid foe with a win coming from as far back as five lengths. Number one Jordon’s Image (8-to-1 morning line), rallied from ten lengths back four starts back, but only managed a third and it was against maiden claimers.
For Oby may be the choice for some as he is the only starter to have won at seven furlongs, having done so in his last out in the J. Price Juvenile over fellow Spectacular Bid runner Jordon’s Image. At 6-to-1, For Oby is at an attractive price and gets Alan Gacia in the saddle for trainer Pedro Maestre.
Selections
7 - Ancient Rome
2- Rex's Last Tour
3 - Vexor
CashCall Stars Can Emerge From Long Shadows Cast by Breeders' Cup Juvenile
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Our last look into the 2011 chrystal ball that is next year’s road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands presents itself Saturday in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. Run in the shadow of the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the CashCall Futurity has neither the $1 million purse nor history of producing divisional champions like the more prestigious Juvenile, but they are both grade 1 and their winners have donned an equal number of rose blankets – one each. Street Sense is the only horse to win both Juvenile (2006) and Kentucky Derby (’07) while Real Quiet won the 1997 CashCall and the Derby the following year.
Both races are also run at distance of 1-1/16 miles.
Championship voters don’t seem to emphasized the similarities between the two races however, and have given the Juvenile significantly more weight in determining their selections. For disclosure, I agree the Juvenile should have greater importance than other grade 1 races in determining the year-end champion. If the industry is going to call the Breeders’ Cup a World Championship, they (we) need to treat it like one. The Eclipse Award voters have that well since the Breedeer Cup first ran some 27 years ago.
Since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was first won by Chief’s Crown in 1984, 20 winners have been named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding for that year. Since Roving Boy won the CashCall (then Hollywood Futurity) in 1982 and the corresponding divisional championship, only CashCall winners Declan’s Moon and Looking at Lucky have been honored with Eclipse Awards. The four others named divisional champions during that 27-year span without winning either the CashCall nor the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were Forty Niner (1987), Easy Goer (1988), Dehere (1993) and Maria’s Mon (1995). All four were named 2-year-old male champions after winning their respective Champagne Stakes in New York but losing or not running in the Juvenile.
Forty Niner, Maria Mon’s and Declan’s Moon were champions that did not start in the Breeders’ Cup while Looking at Lucky, Dehere and Easy Goer won the divisional honor after losing in the Breeders’ Cup. Looking at Lucky and Easy Goer were second to long shot Vale of York and Is It True in 1988 and 2009 Juveniles respectively. Dehere was eighth as the odds-on favorite in the 1987 Juvenile won by Success Express before winning his 2-year-old male championship.
What makes the CashCall of more interest is the annual participation and sometimes domination by three-time Derby winning trainer and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Baffert has won two of the last three CashCall Futurities and a record five total. Known as the other silver-haired fox fromArizona (former University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olsen being the first white-haired legend from the Grand Canyon State), Baffert has won the CashCall with Real Quiet, Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000) (photo left), Poineerof the Nile (‘08) and Looking at Lucky.
Also adding to the uniqueness of the CashCall is the artificial Cushion Track material that makes up the main track at Hollywood Park. Last year, Comma to the Top made the CashCall his fifth-straight win, but all were on artificial main tracks or grass. In his first race on natural dirt, Comma to the Top came back to run second in the Santa Anita Derby and then last in the Kentucky Derby, also on dirt. Looking at Lucky would eventually win the Preakness and then repeat as the division champion and show he could run on natural dir and Pioneerof the Nile was second on natural dirt in the Kentucky Derby.
Now, Santa Anita will have their natural dirt for the second time for their winter prep races leading up to the Derby, so any natural dirt-challenged winner of the CashCall will now likely be exposed sooner or prepare the Kentucky Derby over the PolyTrack surfaces at Turfway Park and/ or Keeneland. (see 2010 Derby winner Animal Kingdom.) Any plans to take the Southern California, New York, Arkansas, Florida or Louisiana roads to Kentucky, mean running on natural dirt.
According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Baffert will again be loaded for the CashCall with three 2-year-olds set for the 1-1/16-mile race. Del Mar Futurity winner Drill will try to return to the winners’ circle after graded stakes loses in the Norfolk, Juvenile and Delta Jackpot. Maiden winner Sky Kingdom and Real Quiet Stakes winner Liason will also be saddled by Baffert in this CashCall Futurity.
Not sure other CashCall contenders Basmati and Longview Drive, the place and show horses in the Delta Jackpot in their last start, don’t appear to have enough credentials for the championship, even with a big performance in the CashCall.
No matter, the CashCall winner is sure to move up near the top of many Kentucky Derby 2012 lists of contenders. Winter Future Books will be adjusted and for some, rosy dreams will begin to bloom for others. Regardless of who gets honored with the 2-year-old male title, it will be the Derby that holds all the glamour and history and the CashCall Futurity is more than a month closer than its Breeders’ Cup brother-race. The CashCall Futurity now crawls from beneath the long shadow cast by the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and at least one shining star will emerge and walk into the Hollywood Park winners’ circle Saturday.
Then on to the road that may lead to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
Our last look into the 2011 chrystal ball that is next year’s road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands presents itself Saturday in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park. Run in the shadow of the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the CashCall Futurity has neither the $1 million purse nor history of producing divisional champions like the more prestigious Juvenile, but they are both grade 1 and their winners have donned an equal number of rose blankets – one each. Street Sense is the only horse to win both Juvenile (2006) and Kentucky Derby (’07) while Real Quiet won the 1997 CashCall and the Derby the following year.Both races are also run at distance of 1-1/16 miles.
Championship voters don’t seem to emphasized the similarities between the two races however, and have given the Juvenile significantly more weight in determining their selections. For disclosure, I agree the Juvenile should have greater importance than other grade 1 races in determining the year-end champion. If the industry is going to call the Breeders’ Cup a World Championship, they (we) need to treat it like one. The Eclipse Award voters have that well since the Breedeer Cup first ran some 27 years ago.
Since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was first won by Chief’s Crown in 1984, 20 winners have been named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding for that year. Since Roving Boy won the CashCall (then Hollywood Futurity) in 1982 and the corresponding divisional championship, only CashCall winners Declan’s Moon and Looking at Lucky have been honored with Eclipse Awards. The four others named divisional champions during that 27-year span without winning either the CashCall nor the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were Forty Niner (1987), Easy Goer (1988), Dehere (1993) and Maria’s Mon (1995). All four were named 2-year-old male champions after winning their respective Champagne Stakes in New York but losing or not running in the Juvenile.
Forty Niner, Maria Mon’s and Declan’s Moon were champions that did not start in the Breeders’ Cup while Looking at Lucky, Dehere and Easy Goer won the divisional honor after losing in the Breeders’ Cup. Looking at Lucky and Easy Goer were second to long shot Vale of York and Is It True in 1988 and 2009 Juveniles respectively. Dehere was eighth as the odds-on favorite in the 1987 Juvenile won by Success Express before winning his 2-year-old male championship.
What makes the CashCall of more interest is the annual participation and sometimes domination by three-time Derby winning trainer and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Baffert has won two of the last three CashCall Futurities and a record five total. Known as the other silver-haired fox from
Arizona (former University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olsen being the first white-haired legend from the Grand Canyon State), Baffert has won the CashCall with Real Quiet, Captain Steve (1999), Point Given (2000) (photo left), Poineerof the Nile (‘08) and Looking at Lucky.Also adding to the uniqueness of the CashCall is the artificial Cushion Track material that makes up the main track at Hollywood Park. Last year, Comma to the Top made the CashCall his fifth-straight win, but all were on artificial main tracks or grass. In his first race on natural dirt, Comma to the Top came back to run second in the Santa Anita Derby and then last in the Kentucky Derby, also on dirt. Looking at Lucky would eventually win the Preakness and then repeat as the division champion and show he could run on natural dir and Pioneerof the Nile was second on natural dirt in the Kentucky Derby.
Now, Santa Anita will have their natural dirt for the second time for their winter prep races leading up to the Derby, so any natural dirt-challenged winner of the CashCall will now likely be exposed sooner or prepare the Kentucky Derby over the PolyTrack surfaces at Turfway Park and/ or Keeneland. (see 2010 Derby winner Animal Kingdom.) Any plans to take the Southern California, New York, Arkansas, Florida or Louisiana roads to Kentucky, mean running on natural dirt.
According to Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen, Baffert will again be loaded for the CashCall with three 2-year-olds set for the 1-1/16-mile race. Del Mar Futurity winner Drill will try to return to the winners’ circle after graded stakes loses in the Norfolk, Juvenile and Delta Jackpot. Maiden winner Sky Kingdom and Real Quiet Stakes winner Liason will also be saddled by Baffert in this CashCall Futurity.
Not sure other CashCall contenders Basmati and Longview Drive, the place and show horses in the Delta Jackpot in their last start, don’t appear to have enough credentials for the championship, even with a big performance in the CashCall.
No matter, the CashCall winner is sure to move up near the top of many Kentucky Derby 2012 lists of contenders. Winter Future Books will be adjusted and for some, rosy dreams will begin to bloom for others. Regardless of who gets honored with the 2-year-old male title, it will be the Derby that holds all the glamour and history and the CashCall Futurity is more than a month closer than its Breeders’ Cup brother-race. The CashCall Futurity now crawls from beneath the long shadow cast by the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and at least one shining star will emerge and walk into the Hollywood Park winners’ circle Saturday.
Then on to the road that may lead to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
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