This is 'stable' leadership ?

The 'brain trust' of Quest d'Or Stables got together again for breakfast at Stella's  and discussion of Northern Cotton's next race and all around future. I use the term 'brain trust' rather loosely given the following :

• Dean went to the wrong Stella's
• Bill went to the right Stella's but couldn't find the door
• Michel and I went into Stella's, couldn't find Bill , left Stella's, called Bill's cell, Bill told us he was in Stella's, Michel and I  went back in, found Bill
• I lost my reading glasses

Only Larry seems to have done everything right

The stigma of finishing last

When your horse finishes last, nobody really cares to know why . Even though there are valid reasons, even though under the circumstances it was better than forcing her into 6th or 7th...nooooobody cares. Here's a typical conversation :

What you say ( with anticipation): How did Northern Cotton do ?

What I say (quietly) : She finished last

What you say (hesitatingly) : Oh

What I say (with a bit of confidence) : Well she did finish last but she started well then got mud in her face. She didn't like that so she lifted her head and slowed up and  given that she hadn't raced for a long time the jockey held her up and just let her run out the race...that's why she came in last.

What you hear : Well she did finish last but... la, la, la, do, dee , do dee doooo, zuuuppa, zuuuuppa, boom chackalakalaka,  boom chakalakalaka,...that's why she came in last.

I will never look at a last place horse the same way again

Couple of pics from Monmouth Park

Is she giving the photographer the evil eye ?

Before the race at Monmouth Park in New Jersey

Last is not a four letter word...or is it ?

Northern Cotton raced last Friday and "last" Friday says it all...yes she finished  last,  trailing the field, back of the pack, thanks for showing up, looking at horse butt, see ya next race, in the basement...get the idea ?

It's not as bad as it  seems, she had some issues on the track, pulled her head back and slowed up. Given that is was her first race in 3 months the jockey wisely did not force her and just let her finish the race. Both her  trainer and jockey feel that NC can run and be competitive . The jockey , surprisingly enough rode both her mother ( My Golden Quest) and her father ( High Cotton) . It's a matter of being smart and picking a race that  suits her. Yeah, she's finicky, fussy and a bit of a princess but we know what she can do.

You know....if it were easy...everyone would own a racehorse.

Cotton's running Friday Aug 3

Here's the race entry

http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH080312USA-EQB.html#RACE9

Post time is approx 3:30 CT

If you don't have access to the racing channel you can try this feed

http://stream.robertsstream.com/llnw_awopen.php?stream=monmouth_mbr&referer=Monmouth&t=1343967752&h=55acf7b5e6f54dc742cc3db1a790264e&s=300