Opinion

Summer has started. Miles is out of school. 

“I’m in the penalty box.”

That’s how a friend of mine describes when his stable goes in a slump.

The first time he said it, I said, “What?”

Here we go again. 

Two assistant coaches – Cubs hats, shirts, sunflower seeds sailing – leaned on the chain link fence, fingers clutched through the mesh as kid-pitch rookie league limped through the fifth inning, or the sixth, could have been the 20^th for all I know at Franklin Park Field #3 Thursday night.

While digging around my computer looking for notes, memories, nuggets about the Belmont Stakes – from Silver Charm, my first, to Smarty Jones, the worst, to American Pharoah, the best, I found my favorite quote about Mike Smith.

Where did spring go? The Kentucky Derby and Preakness are over. The Iroquois and Fair Hill have come and gone. The Belmont looms. Saratoga is around the corner and coming fast, the first Special of the season will be in your hands. Time flies.

Cloudy. Cloudy. Showers. Showers. Showers. Showers. Showers. Showers. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Light rain. Light rain. Light rain. Light rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain.

Good luck and safe trips to all 22 horses owned, purchased or managed by Riverdee Stable and Clancy Bloodstock this weekend. That’s right, 22. From Nashville to Louisville to Unionville.

Fog. Woke up at 5 in the morning and drove 45 minutes to Dulles Airport for a latte.