Gordon Waterstone

Lexington, KY — Another gorgeous morning in the Bluegrass, with a predicted high today of 81 degrees. It looks like it may be the last of the dog days of summer as rain is headed our way — beginning after midnight tonight — and which will stick around for the early part of next week.

Before we get to this morning, let’s take a look back at Friday’s card that kicked off the six days of major stakes racing. When I arrived at the track for the races, Bruce Brinkerhoff, now a colleague of mine at the U.S. Trotting Association, was also just getting there. We chatted for a few minutes and I saw to my left Jenn Bongiorno, so I left Bruce to head up to the track on his own while I chatted with Jenn.

We walked up together to her apron box seat and after a few minutes I went in and delivered a Little Brown Jug shirt and hat I picked up last week in Delaware for Jeremy Wilson, who runs the gift shop at The Red Mile. Jeremy had asked me if I could help him out with the souvenirs as he’s never had a chance to get up to the Jug. So I obliged. Jeremy’s got some great Red Mile stuff in his shop, which is located in the middle of the Red Mile grandstand. You can’t miss it.

When I went back onto the apron, a guy I didn’t know came over and said he reads Backstretch every day and he had a question for me. Sure, fire away! He said he drove to Kentucky from Indianapolis and was routed up Manchester Street and was wondering about the Distillery District and what was going on there. I told him the area has been around only a few years but it is thriving, with such places as Goodfella’s Pizzeria and Ethereal Brewing. Although he at first didn’t want to give me his name, he later gave me a couple of initials, but I still think he wants to remain anonymous so I’ll refrain.

The first race was the Schare Adams Memorial, honoring the owner of Saga Farm that recently passed away. I took part in the winner’s circle ceremonies and after the photo was taken by Amanda Stephens, Trish Hammond, who lives in Chicago, came over to say hello.

Trish and I continued our conversation back on the apron, and she introduced me to her father, Leonard, who I met for the first time although he did receive a Backstretch shoutout last year from me. A little bit later I was talking to the Hammonds again when they introduced me to Fred and Barb Kruszelnicki, the breeders of Catch The Fire, the 2020 Adios champ whose wins this year include the Dan Patch at Harrah’s Hoosier Park and a Sam McKee Memorial division at The Meadowlands. I also had a chance to say hello to Dr. Katie Flynn, who long ago worked at The Horseman And Fair World.

Trish also later pointed out the presence of Merrill Murray, who many consider the greatest Saddlebred trainer of all-time, with star horses such as Courageous Lord and Miss Meredith Gray. Trish said Merrill just recently retired. While I have never met Merrill, I remember that Jay Picciano’s daughter, Jenny, who I worked with at The Horseman for a while, knows Merrill, and we once tried to line me up — unsuccessfuly — for an interview with actor William Shatner, who also owned and drove Saddlebreds.

I saw Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi sitting in the boxes, and Austin Luttrell — a Thoroughbred owner who now dabbles in harness racing and recently picked up his first two wins as a trainer at The Red Mile — came over to say hello. Joe Koury was there as well. I think this was the first time I’ve seen Joe since I interrupted his speech for Foiled Again’s Bergstein-Proximity Award in February 2019 so that he and the entire gathering could be surprised when the award winner himself was brought in from behind the curtain stage by Devan Miller, who was working for trainer Ron Burke at the time.

I got a kick when Mark looked up at the press box and whistled, which got the attention of Gabe Prewitt, who waved down. At least I think that was a wave that Gabe gave.

Dinner last night was at Le Deauville with Moira Fanning, Dave Brower, Randy Manges, Kim Rinker and Bruce Brinkerhoff. The place was packed, and other harness people I saw there included Tristan Sjoberg, Robert Lindstrom, Ake and Sarah Svanstedt, Jimmy and Christina Takter, Myron and Stephanie Bell, Steve and Rick Head and Tony Alagna. I highly recommend the duck contif. When we were leaving we met a gentleman at the bar who said he was Cindy Solverson’s brother, I’ll have to check with Cindy later to see if that’s true.

I have to interrupt today’s Backstretch writings with a news bulletin I just received by text from trainer Nancy Takter. Nancy wants everybody to know that on Sunday night from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. she and trainer Julie Miller will be at McCarthy’s Pub on Upper Street doing some “bartending” and that all tips will go the Standardbred Transition Alliance.

“People can come out for a beer and support a good cause,” Nancy texted. “Hopefully we can raise some money.”

It’s going to be a big Sunday for Nancy and Julie as remember they are participating in the Dash For Cash for charity during the race card. I promised Nancy that I would make an appearance at McCarthy’s to give some support.

OK, that brings us back to Saturday morning at The Red Mile. I took a different route to the track that led me past Commonwealth Stadium/Kroger Field where there is a 6 p.m. kickoff tonight with Kentucky playing Florida, who is a 7.5 point favorite. Yes, at 8 a.m. there were already people tailgating, and I am pretty sure I saw one of my best local friends, Larry Dusak, setting up his area. Gabe Prewitt was successful in finding tickets on Stubhub, but I know that Howard Okusko was still looking as of this morning so if anybody has any extra ducats, let Howard know. I did see one guy on the side of the road with tickets in hand that he was trying to sell, and I’m sure there’ll be others out there later as well. UK is 4-0 and the city is buzzing, and watch out if they upset Florida to go 5-0 with LSU coming to town next Saturday. Game time for that is still TBA.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a breakfast table set up because I was hungry and not expecting to see food since it was a race day. Manning the table on behalf of the Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association was Matt Stephens, whose wife Amanda, who is the track photographer at The Red Mile, is also the KHHA’s executive director. I thanked Matt for feeding me, and he said any food left over will head to the paddock during the races.

I checked the Deck of Dreams and only Sam Bowie and Nick Salvi were there. Sam thanked me for yesterday’s column and the use of the photo of he and myself. I told Sam next time I am absolutely standing on a crate so I could at least be up to his neck and not his waist.

Dewayne Minor’s dog, Blainca, was having playtime with Minor’s 3-year-old colt trotter Wishing Barefoot. Gordon Waterstone photo.

Chris Ryder came off the track so I shouted over birthday wishes as Chris turns 66 today, according to his wife Nicola. I then headed into the barn area, where I came upon a commotion at Dewayne Minor’s barn. As you see in the photo, Dewayne’s dog, Blainca, was having playtime with Minor’s 3-year-old colt trotter Wishing Barefoot. Dewayne said the dog and horse are always messing around with each other.

Travis Alexander’s barn is in the same shedrow so I walked over to see Travis and his wife, Alaina. They came to Lexington with hopes of supplementing Messenger winner American Courage to next weekend’s Tattersalls Pace, but after the sophomore pacer finished third in yesterday’s star-studded qualifier behind Captain Barbossa and Hot Mess Express, Travis said it’s not going to happen. American Courage led in the qualifier but then drifted right down the stretch with driver Scott Zeron, which let the one-two finishers move through on the inside. Travis said he is now going to have American Courage checked out by Dr. John Cummins before he returns east. Too bad as I was looking forward to seeing American Courage in the Tattersalls.

I walked back up to the track for one final look and Greg Wright Jr. was coming off the track after training Jujubee. Greg was very happy with the training mile. I am looking forward to seeing Jujubee in the Kentucky Futurity next weekend, a race he is being supplemented to at a cost of $75,000.

As I started to head to my car, the Midwest Harness Report’s Tim Konkle came up to say hello, telling me he had just arrived in town and made a beeline for The Red Mile.

Racing today and Sunday at 1 p.m., with today’s first race being the Anne Doolin Memorial, where I will also participate in ceremonies honoring the longtime publicist/writer.

Monday night is the Round Barn fundraiser party, with tickets available at Fennells, which is adjacent to The Red Mile and the famed Round Barn, also known as The Stable of Memories. The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale gets underway Tuesday night at Fasig-Tipton (post time 7 p.m. with cocktail reception starting at 5 p.m.), with the Wednesday session getting started at 3 p.m. following a cocktail hour in the Kentucky Room at 2 p.m. Thursday’s sale also starts at 3 p.m., with Friday and Saturday back to a nighttime post of 7 p.m.

It was 64 degrees when I arrived at the track today and it will be a terrific afternoon. Rain chances are good from tomorrow through Thursday — according to the weather app on my phone — but clearing by Friday. With temperatures in the low 50s in the morning and highs of 70 degrees, it will have a bit of a fall feel next week.

Finally, I went by about five gas stations this morning and didn’t see a duplicate price, with prices ranging from $2.80 to $3.03. However, I received a text last night from my good friend Chris Tully telling me that he found a station at the corner of New Circle Road and Broadway (north of The Red Mile headed out of town toward Fasig-Tipton) that was at the bargain-basement price of $2.77 a gallon.