SHAKOPEE/ROCHESTER, MN – EDITOR’S NOTE: Ted Grevelis, one of our co-founders, manages Breakaway Stables, owner of Magic Castle, an entry in the Minnesota Sprint Championship.  We’ll take the opportunity this week to give some insight into going in a big race from the perspective of a small claiming partnership finding itself in an unfamiliar spot. This is part five of our series.

It’s game day!

Here in Rochester the day has dawned cool and wet.  The rain has been relatively steady all night and supposed to continue most of the day.  That’s great for the farmers looking to bring their crops across the finish line, but less than ideal for Festival Day.

I checked out what was happening in Shakopee.  Nothing.  Literally.  Nothing at all and nothing expected all day long.

One less worry, though Castle did win over a ‘good’ track last out, I don’t know how he’d do on a muddy or sloppy track, so at least that variable is out.  Besides, who wants a rainy Festival Day? This will work out for everyone.

Remarkably, I slept pretty well last night. Earlier this week, sleep was definitely at a premium but the last two nights I retreated into my grandmother’s remedy: chamomile tea.  I don’t know if it worked like a champ, if I was so overtired that I had no choice but to sleep or if it was psychosomatic – but whichever way it was, I feel better than I have in days, so that’s something.

There is nothing left to do today.  As our friend, the “Strib Guy”, Jay Lietzau, would say “The ball is out of our hands.”

That doesn’t mean that there isn’t excitement.  On the contrary, it’s building.

“I haven’t been this anxious for something to arrive since my wedding,” said partner Randy Dusich earlier in the week.

Apparently, we have come to the part in the process where we fantasize about how we win the race.

The real, unbiased, preview is here. The following is clearly a biased representation of what my mind is telling me so I’m not totally freaking out.

I don’t think we can win the race on the front end.  Castle is quick, but several in the race are also fast and that could lead to a logjam on the front end with fractions that would be unsustainable for the six furlongs.  Someone would either stagger home first or get passed in the lane.

But can Castle rate? In his first race off the claim, he found himself behind horses and he was less than thrilled with the experience. Was that just a one-time event or is he incapable of running anywhere but on a clear lead?

In my mind, Castle can rate behind the speed, maybe a little off the rail to lessen the kickback, and then he and Zeke can take off spinning out of the turn and they get up for the win.

I truly don’t know he can do that, or if even that’s the plan at all.  Karl may be concerned that I’ll spill the beans here (I wouldn’t – so does that mean I KNOW and I’m being coy? SPOILER: I do not and am not).

Maybe we win, maybe we lose.  There will only be one winner and seven losers and being objective about it, we’re more than likely to be one of the seven than the one, but I still think it was the right call, for all the reasons outlined in a previous entry. I know a lot of folks don’t think we can win, but neither did the folks who ignored Violin Maker – twice – at 28-1 and 9-1 (the second time with Zeke up, I may add). I think there are members of the team who are skeptical, but I feel good about it and as long as horse and rider can feel the confidence, then we are “in with a chance.” That’s really what we want.

Ultimately, there is no place I’d rather be tonight before race 9 than in that paddock with our team and that horse.

(TOMORROW: The final segment – The Aftermath)