8/11 - Kevin "Brooklyn Cowboy" Cox Saratoga Selections - Happy Birthday Bijou ( Day One ! )

As Walter J. "Bijou" Cox's birthday lands on a dark day this year. y'all get TWO viewings of his yearly tribute.

Enjoy.

 

It would all start with a list.

A few days before we'd leave, it would be on my father's dresser. "Q Tips, Listerine, pens, socks, underwear...", and on and on it went. One would think he was Jimmy Hoffa going away for a stretch, but in reality, it was how he would prepare for our two night excursion to Saratoga year after year. Obviously, normative society doesn't feel compelled to itemize the most trivial minutia for a 48 hour pass to nirvana, but this wasn't just any Saratoga fan. This was the uuber fan. The greatest Saratoga fan outside of that one in your family...or your co workers' family...or maybe your neighbor... You get the idea. 

We'd shove off at 5:15 in the morning. A time that didn't work for me then, and works even less for me now. He, on the other hand, was as bright eyed and bushy tailed as whatever bushy tailed is supposed to mean. We'd roll into town too early to check in, but that was okay, because we'd go right to the Spa City diner for breakfast. Traditions, you know. After breakfast, while I'd be playing a video game or two in the now abandoned entranceway, he'd be at the table performing origami with his brand new Racing Form. Ripping out the tracks not needed, ( Simulcast ? What's that?? ) then re-folding it so it fit perfectly into the back pants of his shorts pocket. ( Which of course were accessorized with matching hush puppies, because isn't that what fathers do ? )

We'd then check into the best kept secret in town -- the Brentwood motel. Located a horseshoe's throw from the seven furlong chute, and across the street from some breakfast joint which is now the hot spot to go after the races---assuming of course, that you don't want to hear what someone six inches away from you is saying. He would take me to watch the horses enter the starting gate in the morning. It wasn't our place to venture farther than that, you know, but that was okay, because that was the world to an 8 year old.

We'd head over to the races, and go right upstairs to make sure that the plastic owls hanging from the rafters hadn't flown off over the winter. Of course they hadn't, but tradition, you know. We'd meander over to the Big Red Spring for a funny tasting water, but you didn't mind it because they'd give you these nifty red and white souvenir cups. ( A tradition that has since gone the way of periodontists' mouth rinsing dixie cups, but waddya gonna do? )

We'd watch 'em get saddled before the race, then he'd watch me try to get an autograph from a rider who was just beaten by 30. We'd go and sit by the same area in the paddock under the tree, which was a nice little tradition, until someone needed a condo built there. On rainy days we'd scoot to a bench under the old scratch board inside from where the bandshell is. Yes, men would walk out on a catwalk and write all of the changes & results on a giant board, then go back through a door that was as mysterious to me as how that quarter kept ending up under my pillow through the years.

"Can you taste the twin lobsters, Pat?", he would gleefully say throughout the day to my mother ( and the months leading up to that day ) as tradition dictated that we dine at the long gone Weathervane restaurant. $9.95 they were, with a coupon from The Pink Sheet. He never bought a Pink Sheet, but he always ended up with the coupon somehow. He made sure that he had the last bite of the last lobster on the table. Not because he was pacing himself, mind you, but because tradition said that he had to torture my mother over it.

We'd play a round of mini golf afterwards at Murphy's right next door. It's still there these days, but you'd need to use your imagination to remember playing the "Starting Gate" hole, or even the long straightaway of "The Yaddo". Think hard enough, and you can even remember the sounds of your old man holing one out on the "Skee Ball" hole.

Maybe it wasn't a successful day at the track ( for the $10 you bet ), or maybe you got snubbed on a few autographs, but you didn't care, because you were in receipt of something much more valuable at the time. Something passed on that you can never lose, or forget, or put a price tag on.

Those days are long gone, and my father is as well. When he moved on, I asked Bill Nader of NYRA if we could do a race dedication for him and have a plaque put where my parents sat. "Gee Kevin, that may be hard" he glumly said in his office, "if we did that then everyone would want one. When was his birthday?" he asked. "August 13", I told him. After an odd stare and a substantial pause, he said "That was MY father's birthday. Where do you want the plaque?"

Something about fathers and sons.

The plaque was unveiled, the race was run, and who was the winner? "The Daddy", of course. Why wouldn't it be?

Every year afterwards, my mother would sit there during her summer sojourns. Getting as close to him as possible. A catharsis, of sorts.

On the night of her passing a few years ago, just before she left ( during the Saratoga meet, no less ), I said "Mom, just give me any sign that you're with him, and that all is well. That you're both happy." Two hours later I entered her house only to find it burglarized. Only it wasn't burglarized at all. A picture had fallen off the wall and landed unbroken on the floor...It was the winners' circle photo of "The Daddy"---with my mother in it. They were together again, in his favorite place---and a list wasn't needed to ensure a good time.

So today I'll give the plaque a bit of a shine, and sit there and sip a beer with Bijou, just as I have done every year.

Because tradition dictates it, you know...

This homage has been published for several years, and continues to be been brought back by popular demand. Additionally, if this annual piece about Bijou resonated a certain way, you'll be happy to know that I was asked to do a reading for "Our American Stories" (1.7 million weekly listeners), and while the verbiage is pretty much the same, there are some subtle differences, including background music. Here it is...   My Parents Are Gone, But Their Traditions Aren't  )

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Today's Beatable Favorite(s): None

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I'd like to leave this bit of info here for y'all. When we're using the DRF Formulator platform while writing our columns, if we say "Sprints", for the most part we mean any one turn race, and when we say "Routes", we mean any TWO turn race. ( For example, we consider a 1 1/8th mile race at Belmont an elongated sprint, and a 6 1/2 furlong race at a Charles Town a route. ) We feel this way, because in our eyes, it's the number of turns that necessitate more energy than being relaxed on a straightaway. Sometimes the sample size for our study can be too large to manually break down, so there may be a few from one category in another, but usually the end result is pretty much the same. Additionally, when it comes to layoffs, we consider more than 50 days in a dirt to dirt scenario a layoff, more than 58 days in D to T or T to D a layoff, and more than 67 days in a turf to turf deal a L/O. Furthermore, if we amend our selections for a wet track, and the track becomes fast, our original selections are in play.

These three and no more for all our rolling action. #3 PALMETTO FURY has been beset by back to back L/O lines, but went all the way the only time she returned off an absence, and the adjusted figure from that score will suit her pretty well here. Four returnees from that affair have accumulated two wins and a placing since then, with an average buyer improvement of 22.2 points per. Jockey/Trainer combo do better together than apart, and we like what we see. #1 OH MY MIA was a going away winner when facing maiden claimers for the first time, and sometimes when the light bulb comes on, it can stay on for a while. Legit shot. #4 SHE'S ALWAYS ROSIE ( cross entered yesterday, so check the changes ) fell short by only a length in her lone third of the layoff deal, and is a deserving favorite given the figures earned in her last pair. Should be no worse than second for all you show grinders out there.

#2 PROPRIETARY TRADE has the white flag run up after finishing last in the stakes down at the Shore, but on the whole, this fella has a decent body of work, and is a threat to go all the way versus these. #1 APOLLO CODE is 3 of 3 when first to load, and what the hell is wrong with that ? #5 ETENDRE is another with a "For Sale" sticker attached to his butt for the first time, and contrary to our secondary selection, this one was extremely sharp the only time he loaded last. Like our top choice, chance to rebound off the last place finish.

#4 IT TAKES HEART is aggressively moved up the ladder after being snagged back on the 20th of July, and that's okay by us, as this one has gotten the job done in both starts over this oval. Mild choice in a race that's difficult to hug. #5 WILLOW BEND owns a win and a placing from as many starts when made available for purchase, and has done okay at this distance of ground. #6 STARSHIP DEFIANT rounds out the top three.

#5 BAM BAM ( You should hear our Barney Rubble impersonation ! ) finished in the back half of the pack when starting things out at the Big A on 6/28, and at first glance, we think she's being given up on pretty quickly. But then we got to thinking, that perhaps they knew she didn't have too much talent, and gave her that turf start to give her a little bit of bottom for today. The fact that Manny sticks around also has us feeling that may be the case. Expecting a rebound. #7 NEGRA GATA has been a part of the superfecta in six of seven starts to date, and finds herself at her lowest level yet. #6 COQUITO is another one who slides down the ladder, and cuts back in two turns to one for the first time.

#8 CATTANI is a bit of a fragile sort who hasn't been seen since last October, but outran his odds in a big way when closing out the exacta @ 36 to 1 that day. From a trainer stat point of view, 15% outfit nearly triples that rate with maiden claiming sod starters off breaks of 58 days or more, as they are three of seven with that sort, and the winners came back $6, $7, and $8. #5 WAFLR and #7 TONY O ( uncoupled barnmates ) have some decently adjusted turf running lines if you go back a bit, and low percentage outfit got off the snide with two winners on Thursday.  OFF TURF: 12(AE)-1-6-2-16(MTO)

#6 QUICKICK has had just that in the mornings, as there are a couple of crisp workouts on display for today's lidlifter, with one of them coming right here. $30,000 bred animal went for more than 18 times that amount at Keeneland last year, and Amoss doubles as normative 20% batting average with those fitting all of this exact criteria, as he's 3 for 7 with that type, and the winners came back a healthy $19, $16, and $7. There are multiple stakes winners in this one's family, so be sure to pay attention to the board. #5 TABLE FLIRT is extremely well bred, and Mott is a solid two of seven with those fitting all of these conditions to a "Tee". #2 LA CARA was quite disappointing and her local debut, but we'll give her another shot because of the penultimate placing.

Another race where our listed triad will suffice. #2 JOKING WAY has always been a fairly steady sort, but after a flat last couple of races, is now dropped to an all time low. Low percentage jockey and low percenatge trainer fare well together, as they're two fo' three with those returning off absences of less than 48 days, at 19-1 or less. The mutuals came back $30 and $21, and there may be some value here. #4 RIDER'S SPECIAL is halved in price off the claim from three starts back, and connections barely break even should a win & another purchase ensue. Must use, but caveat temperature. #1 NOTABLE BOB (CHI) may perk up with blinkers added for the first time.  NOTE: AS OF 10:24, DUE TO A KEY LATE SCRATCH, OUR AMENDED SELECTIONS WILL BE 2-3-5.

#9 REEF RUNNER has been a part of the Exacta in five of six turf and synthetic attempts, but it really appears that his forte' is the green stuff, as the speed figures are far superior to anything else. Fella loves this distance, and we've been landing on T-Gaff a lot this meet, so have no problems at all with him taking over. #1 FANDOM (GB) has done some decent work in the United States thus far, with two wins and a showing, & now has a hood added for the first time after getting roughed up a bit in the Quick Call. We're not digging the draw here, but hopefully that gives him a little bit more earlier speed which he showed in the maiden breaker. #2 HOWARD WOLOWITZ went pillar to post when being switched over to the carpet fibers in late June, and you know we believe that translates nicely to the green stuff, so we'll definitely utilize at double digit odds.  OFF TURF: 1-3-5-7-9

After two wins, and two fourth place finishes from as many heats, #10 THAT'S MONEY can be all yours for a quarter this afternoon, and as he still has state bred conditions left, we think there will be plenty of suitors. From a trainer stat point of view, TP rolls right along with dirt runners made available for purchase for the first time after absences of 56 to 63 days, at 7/2 or less. He's a near perfect four of five with that type, and the return on investment is $4.70. #1 J J'S JOKER is 2 for 2 when eligible to be bought, and one of those victories came when going two turns to one. #2 STREET SWAGG gave a solid account of himself when placing at 11-1 during opening week, and hit the board the only time he cut back in this manner. We don't think you'll be getting 8-1 here, but must incorporate.

Big race of the day is upon us now -- the Fourstardave !!  For some history on this Saratoga legend, enjoy this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeJYAjf6sWY&t=7s !!  As for the race itself, these three should suffice. #6 OTTOMAN FLEET (GB) is but a neck shy of coming in today trying to get one for the thumb, and though he's winless in both grade one events, it's hard to ignore the solid body of work. One of two runners here who should definitely hit the board. #4 CARL SPACKLER is the other one we're confident in, given the four for five streak, as well as the three for four mark on the Inner. It's a compact, but fund race ! #5 MONEY SUPPLY has hit the board in both second off the bench jammies, and came from the back of the pack to get up in time and his first try on the grandma.

We're not really feeling the heat in the super competitive rendition of the Saratoga Derby, so tread lightly. #1 LEGEND OF TIME (GB) didn't have the best of journeys in the Belmont Derby, but got up in time just before that, and deserves a shot to make amends. #4 CARSON'S RUN was visually impressive when winning a listed stakes down in Jersey at the end of June, and is reunited with a pilot under whom he has partaken in the Exacta in three or five events. #8 TRIKARI has hit the board in his last sextet, and who are we to rock that boat ? OFF TURF: 1-2-4-6-5  NOTE: AS OF 10:28, DUE TO A LATE SCRATCH, THE #6 WILL BE OUR 3RD SELECTION.

Saratoga Summer ( Current ):   40-221  ( $489.20 ) Beatable Favorites: 2-12  ( 16.7% ) Favorite's Win %:  77-221 ( 34.8% )( As of Sunday morning )

Aqueduct Spring/Summer ( Final ): 66-292 ( $454.70 )Beatable Favorites: 4-10 ( 40% )    Favorite's Win %: 118-292 ( 40.4% )

Saratoga Spring  ( Final ):                7-47      ( $31.20 )  Beatable Favorites: N/A                 Favorite's Win %: 19-47   ( 40.4% )

Aqueduct  Spring( Final ):                28-136 ( $278.70 ) Beatable Favorites: 1-10 ( 10% )    Favorite's Win %: 57-136 ( 41.9% ) 

Aqueduct Winter ( Final ):                85-377 ( $616.70 ) Beatable Favorites: 5-16 ( 31.3% ) Favorite's Win % 139-377 ( 36.9% )

All Triple Crown, Breeders' Cup, Selected Grade 1's and Travers full days ( These are also counted in the "Dirt Tracks" category ): (2013-2023 Final ) 83-496 ( $779.60 )

Dirt Tracks 2013-24 (All Final):4241-20632 ($34,946.80) +/-: -15.3% against a 16.1% takeout . Polytracks 2013-16 (All Final): 85-568 ( $819.20 ) 

Beatable Favorites : 474-1772( 26.8% ) Favorite's Win %: 7945-21369( 37.2% )

Cumulative Stats (All Final): 4261-21247 ( $35,897.30 ) +/-: -15.5% against a 16.6% takeout