Opening Day in the Record Books

The 81st Arlington Park season opener is now in the books (if the books weren't blown away). It was great to be back at the race course and see so many familiar fans and employees alike. And if you are new to Arlington, don't ever hesitate to come up and say hello!

Rain...WIND...and a track record!

That was pretty much the theme for Friday at Arlington. I think I told at least a dozen people that in my prior eight seasons here, I don't remember the wind ever being that bad blowing directly in the announcer booth (my Smarty Jones poster was air mailed from my wall back to Pennsylvania I think)!

But there was a GREAT performance right off the bat as we kicked off on Friday with a new 2.30 post!

In the first race of the day, GAL racing stables Nereus, who was always well placed by Eddie Razo, Jr., held off a late charge by Live from Appollo, under five time Arlington champion Rene Douglas, to win the opener by a nose. But most notable was the final time on the all-weather of 1.08.78. Can you say track record?!

What a way to start the year! Two of our top riders in a photo and a Polytrack record for good measure!

Our racing analyst Jessica Pacheco called me a few moments later to say, "Wow, did Nereus just do that?"

Obviously the victory a testimony to the training (and broadcasting) prowess of Tom Amoss on any surface!

I have to sneak in a quick maiden to watch.

Did you happen to catch the antics of Jitterbug Blues prior to race 7?

She stepped on to the polytrack for her debut and promptly reared up to dislodge Lyndie Wade. They took Jitterbug back to the paddock (and the rest of the field also was brought off the track) for a shoe repair. When all was said and done, she came back on to the track to only act up again. Despite it all, Jitterbug Blues swept in front turning for home into the gusting wind, but couldn't hold off the late run of first timer Souper Miss, with Jesse Campbell, getting the win at 21-1 for Mickey Goldfine.

So keep all of the above in mind when "Jitterbug" is entered back. She obviously has the talent.

Despite the early in the day rains washing the Friday feature "The Double Delta" off the turf, Dreaming of Liz made every yard a winning one under Hall of Famer Earlie Fires. A nice way for perennial top owner Frank Calabrese and trainer Wayne Catalano to start off their season with us! And Earlie adding to his victory total as Arlington's all time winning jockey!

And from Blushing K.D. to Ashado to Summerly and now to Proud Spell....can the Fair Grounds Oaks do anything more to finally earn it's deserved Grade I status? On Friday at Churchill Downs, Proud Spell joined the list of fillies to complete Fair Ground Oaks/Kentucky Oaks double. Congratulations to her connections, including trainer Larry Jones and winning rider Gabriel Saez, who also spent the winter with us in New Orleans! Obviously those char-grilled oysters in NOLA did us all well (including my broadcast partner Jessica Pacheco, who seemed upbeat as always in her new role here). Although I will try to steal her Pyro pin today!

Speaking of fillies, I have to run now to watch Ginger Zee do the weather on NBC 5 Chicago. I'm hoping for a great day at the races and an exciting Kentucky Derby. We will have a 12 race card, so a busy but fun day ahead. So hope to see all of you here for the "World's Largest Kentucky Derby Party."