Super Tuesday in Erie and I won't be on hand

[Calzone Lord]

Presque Isle Downs kicks off a new season with opening day this Tuesday.

83 horses entered over 8 races.

Including two different $100,000 stakes races --- and the 2012 return of Lisa's Booby Trap in the 5th race - a $53,000 allowance race.

Lisa's Booby Trap has won 9-of-13 lifetime -- including 3 straight late last year at FL -- two of which against males. Her kooky trainer Tim Snyder still has her.

Race #6 is the Inaugural Stakes. Gypsy Robin -- a 3 length winner of the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland last out -- takes on Dance To Bristol (a filly who was 2nd to undefeated Agave Kiss last out. She has run Beyers between 88 and 91 in each of her last 3 starts)

This race also features the stakes debut of Mike Matz trained Brilliant Katie (a filly who made my Youtube bet back video for her 49 Beyer debut and has since improved her fig by 30+ points in each of her next two starts...with only a win at 9/5 odds and a 2nd place finish to show for it)

Race #7 features an interesting renewal of the Tom Ridge Stakes. Yes, they really did name a stakes race after Tom Ridge...he's the former head of homeland security with the hearing aid who invented the color coded terror alert chart.

The Tom Ridge features good 3yo colts like Town Prize (94 Beyer in his 3yo debut in a big stakes win at Woodbine) Hogy (won the Hansel Stakes with a 92 Beyer) Johanesburbon (Set the pace in the Grade 3 Lexington and beaten less than 4 lengths in only career start #2) and Sum of the Parts (92 Beyer at Kee last out -- Leperoux named to ride -- cross entered in Sat stakes at CD)

However, the most crazy horse in the field is the longshot Mountaineer invader Lomax.



Lomax won his career debut at Mountaineer Park by 23.5 lengths going just six furlongs a few weeks ago. He earned a 96 Beyer ... an unheard of figure for a Mountaineer debuter. Note, Lomax is out of a Salt Lake mare. Salt Lake and Dehere are kingpins as sires and broodmare sires of debuters.

However, the only reason why any of this is remotely thread worthy ... is because I won't be in Erie on Tuesday and thus will miss this fine opening day card at the picturesque 'Track of the infield eyesores and very nearby landfill and trailer park'

Yes, I will be on a mini 4-day vacation with my girlfriend and miss this great racing card -- as well as the free T-shirt and $1 Smith Hot Dogs to all people who show up. Admission is free. The track is certain to be crawling with 20-something single mothers and the bastard little kids they bring to entertain whenever a t-shirt promo is on.