D'oh!!!

And yet again, our Triple Crown dreams have been dashed! Just like Funnycide and Smarty Jones before him, Big Brown didn't pull through, thus losing the Belmont Stakes and sending the Triple Crown trophy back under lock and key. It's been 30 years since Affirmed won all three races, and now we'll have to wait another year, and perhaps a lifetime, until another horse does.

Beat by the long-shot, Da' Tara, Big Brown just didn't seem like he was in the mood for racing...I'm sure his trainer and owners were thrilled about his lack of interest in getting it done on race day. Big Brown's jockey pulled him out toward the end of the race, since the horse wasn't responding. Considering Eight Belle's fall and death earlier this spring at the Kentucky Derby, I suppose it was wise to not push him too hard. Needless to say, we were a stunned audience, as the first Triple Crown hopeful in history finished last. As far as we've heard, there's been no explanation so far for his strange behavior on Saturday.

There have been 43 horses who won two out of the three Triple Crown races and only 20 who won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to fail in the Belmont Stakes. It's the longest of all three races and evidently is a challenge that seems unbeatable these days. Next year it will happen though. I can hope for a Triple Crown winner and a Cubs World Series Championship while I still live and breath......except this year, the Cubs will win for sure.

Big Brown to Win!

For the last few years, my friend Amy and I have taken a keen interest in horse racing, focusing mainly on certain hopefuls in their prospects for the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Hopes were dashed in recent years of course with Funny Cide's and Smarty Jones's losses at the Belmont Stakes, and who can forget the dreadful fall and subsequent demise of poor Barbaro in 2006?

Amy and I had been scheming a trip of our own to the Kentucky Derby this year, but as fate would have it the money tree we've been trying to grow still hasn't sprouted, so we opted to stay back and watch this year's race on TV. We coordinated a southern feast of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, biscuits, and green beans. We also made sure to make some lovely Mint Juleps, the official cocktail of the Derby.

TK dressed in his Derby best for the race and we had high hopes on some of our favorites (introduced to us about an hour before the race). Our 'bets' were on Big Brown (obviously), Colonel John, the lone filly Eight Belles, and our long shot Z Fortune. Big Brown became the second horse to win the Kentucky Derby from the 20 gate...amazing! Spirits were high and dreams came true as sweet Eight Belles came in second (in front of all the other boys) but the next thing we knew, she was down. Two broken ankles brought on by the race led to her being immediately euthanized on the track...a very depressing and confusing moment after we'd been so excited about the race for so long.

We'll be rooting for Big Brown to win the Triple Crown this year, even though his owner could eat a helping or two of humble pie. Despite the rather bittersweet conclusion of the Derby (a winner who was so proud, but a horse, now dead because of the race), we enjoyed our meal and have hopes of attending next year's event, big hats and all. After Eight Belles' fatal fall however, this year our Mint Juleps didn't taste so sweet.

Sabbatical

Pardon my absence, friends. Since graduation, I've been enjoying some down time...not reading, writing, or really doing much of anything, but I'll end my blogging sabbatical and come back to life here. Some highlights of the last few weeks include, but are not limited to the following:

TK and I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last week with the Daigles. It was exciting to see Docta Jones back in action (and with the wonderful Cate Blanchett no less)! I was completely satisfied with the acting, script, lack of special effects, and filming. I was not so enamored with the plot device, however, and wonder how other fans felt. I know it was the 50s and all, but (I don't want to give too much away) I really didn't care for the ending. I mean, come on. Even the Nazis melting and having their evil souls taken away from them in the Last Crusade was more believable than what we were forced to experience with numero cuatro.

It wasn't really even much of a nail-biter, but Big Brown easily won the Preakness...onto the Belmont Stakes for the Triple Crown on June 7th! Mark your calendars.

My cousin Beth got married over Memorial Day Weekend to a lovely gentleman named Mike. The wedding was followed by a picnic reception held at a park in Syracuse, NY. A cover band played throughout the reception until my Uncle Paul, Beth's dad, and his band "Johnny Baptist and the Total Immersions" (true story) took over. The newlyweds are back to New York City where they live and work.

My family spent the rest of the weekend in our fair hometown of Jamestown, NY playing and hanging out in my parents' beautiful yard together. There is nothing in life I really enjoy much more than being with my mom, dad, sisters, brothers, and my man, and this weekend spent together in Jamestown couldn't have been better.

It's beginning to look a lot like summer and I, for one, can't wait!

And They're Off!

Some of you know my amateur (and I mean very amateur) interest in horse-racing. Perhaps you followed the quest for the Triple Crown this year by Big Brown, only to have your dreams dashed in the Belmont Stakes. I've never been to the Kentucky Derby, but it remains a distant dream of mine to attend.

While I had heard tell that there was a horse-racing track just outside of Chicago, little did I know the thrills of actually attending. A hop, skip, and a jump out to Arlington Heights, IL stands a gem called Arlington Park.

For a the small price of $7 each, we spent all the live long day there, watching the races, enjoying one of these last summer days, and placing a few humble bets. For my first race, I put $2 on "Nine Patch" to place. Despite his odds of 30-1, I couldn't resist putting my hopes in a horse named after a quilting pattern. Needless to say, he lost. Throughout the day's eleven races, several in our party won big. I think I'll stick to $0.10 bets until I get the first clue about betting and reading the odds.

A Derby Alternative

I've said it before and I'll say it again...making meals or desserts from scratch is a worthwhile effort that pays off. If Mine that Bird was a good investment (he only cost $9500 and was a 50-1 long shot), so is using some elbow grease to whip together some homemade cupcakes...Mint Julep Cupcakes in honor of race day!

On mine and my friend Amy's part, a decent amount of expectation and hope went into Big Brown's quest for the Triple Crown last May/June, only to be let down big time at Belmont Stakes. We remain ever hopeful for an eventual three race victory.

Back to the subject at hand. Last year for the Kentucky Derby we made some Mint Juleps that...well...weren't great. As the Derby came around again this year though, a friend of mine sent me a link to a recipe for Mint Julep Cupcakes she thought we might like.

The ingredients contain the usual suspects of mint, whiskey and sugar... but they are all mixed in and disguised into a delicious cupcake form. Be still my heart. The icing is decedent, but I think it really makes them. Unless you are feeding an army of horse-racing fans dessert, you might consider halving the recipe (make the amount of icing that the recipe calls for though!), as it yields plenty of cupcakes. Here's the link...now onward ho to the Preakness Stakes!