I bet a Pick 3. I don't have my notebook with me so I can't remember who I used in the first two legs... several longshots... will be lucky to get there.

I used I'll Have Another (appeared to win the Derby with something left. He is my top pick to win this), Bodemeister (gets an easier pace scenario today), Went the Day Well (was closing fast in the Derby) and the newcomer longshot Teeth of the Dog (wanted a longshot on the ticket and he looks best of them; Michael Matz hunch play since Union Rags was well-regarded and well-beaten in the Derby).

In Lingerie was very brave winning the Black-Eyed Susan today despite grabbing a quarter at the break. HD is amazing -- I could actually see the blood on her foot. It is a minor injury.

And now, for two weeks off work.

Here is a rundown of the field and how they did and didn't do...

Daddy Long Legs. On the rail; steadied sharply while tiring although not apparently interfered with by another horse. Coolmore are a world force in horse racing but they repeatedly embarrass themselves in major U.S. races on the main track. Ought to rebound with a freshening and off the dirt.

Optimizer. Overmatched and should look for an allowance spot.

Take Charge Indy. He stopped badly, and you can see where he suddenly appears physically uncomfortable, at which point Borel wraps up on him. He chipped a fetlock and will be out a couple of months.

Union Rags. Shuffled back a couple strides out of the gate, he actually ran on a bit, but was no threat.

Dullahan. MY horse ran a fantastic race for third! For just a second I thought he was going to post a Zenyatta-like win, but he couldn't quite get there. Jockey Kent Desormeaux blamed the kickback for Dullahan being too far off the early pace. This big colt could find Belmont a perfect fit.

Bodemeister. Probably does need the lead, but apparently can get it under any circumstances. He ran an amazing race, and I thought he was going to run away like Secretariat coming into the stretch. While he did tire, he held gamely for second. I just wonder if he'll be too fried to go to Pimlico. I'd wait for Saratoga if he were mine.

Rousing Sermon. He did run on steadily, but without enough turn of foot to threaten. He should do well with a bit of class relief.

Creative Cause. Ran on very wide; didn't appear to hang or get lazy today and was a good fifth. We may have actually learned something about him: he doesn't like to hit the front too soon. It'll be interesting to see if he is taken back in subsequent starts.

Trinniberg. Didn't even make the lead and was totally overmatched. Back to sprinting, after a break.

Daddy Nose Best. As predicted, not good enough.

Alpha. Broke slowly, got buried in the crowd and didn't run on. Probably needs a freshening; I'd like to see him at Saratoga.

Prospective. Had some trouble during the race, but probably wasn't good enough anyway.

Went the Day Well. This horse ran on best of all to be fourth. He passed Dullahan and Bodemeister rapidly but did not quite get to I'll Have Another on the gallop-out. Can he make that kind of move again, when closer to the pace, or will he always have to launch from way out of it?

Hansen. This one was so washy he looked like a pinto. Really lost his composure. Despite that, stalked the pace and held on gamely till quite late, when he did tire. He ought to get back in form stepping back in distance and perhaps trying turf, for which he is eminently bred.

Gemologist. What the heck happened here? He looked perfectly placed, but he absolutely quit. Though nothing has been reported, I'm going to assume that something went wrong. Time will tell.

El Padrino seems off form and probably needs easier company.

Done Talking. Needs easier.

Sabercat. Needs easier.

I'll Have Another. The post was no issue because the pace was fast, allowing the field to string out and outside horses to drop in. I'll have to remember that for next year. Given a lucky trip, he capitalized with a powerful win and, since he is relatively fresh, seems like a strong contender for the Preakness. Creative Cause's decent performance strengthens his overall form, and it was great to see the Santa Anita Derby winner take down the big one -- I didn't realize this had not happened since Sunday Silence -- or in other words not since before I started following the races. Silver Charm and Real Quiet did not actually win the SA Derby. The strong performance of California horses this year makes me feel quite cheerful.

Liaison did improve his form but was no threat in the end.

As for the P-3, Groupie Doll, whom I ended up singling, won well, setting a track record, but the Turf Classic was bizarre, with Little Mike allowed to wire the field (Get Stormy was restrained, didn't like it, and sulked; the closers could not make up ground), so I only hit one of the three.

There is some sad news to report. At Hollywood the same day, Bobine, a filly I liked to win the GIII Senorita, suffered a fatal injury a fraction of a second before she got her head in front at the wire. She won the race, but was euthanized on the track. She probably ran the last few strides on a broken right foreleg (I saw her take a bad step several strides before she actually fell, but the jockey didn't notice the problem in time to pull her up, which admittedly might not have saved her in any case). She is a testimony to the courage of the Thoroughbred, but also a reminder that although Derby weekend at Churchill was blessedly accident-free (one horse clipped heels and lost the rider but was not injured), tragedies do still happen. I'm wondering if requiring x-rays of every horse before every race might prevent some breakdowns by catching tiny hairline fractures that have not yet caused lameness but could fail under stress.

This is an awfully strong field. We're seeing a lot of young horses this year genuinely bred to go a route. I very much doubt that I will win. But I have to try, so here goes:

Daddy Long Legs. Aidan O'Brien's horse from Ireland is U.S.-bred and not really bred to route, though he has done so successfully. Grand-looking. 0-1 on a dirt surface. I'll let him beat me.

Optimizer. Lukas' latest longshot. Bred to route and ran on well two back, but seems overmatched.

Take Charge Indy. Live longshot with a great pedigree. If he can take back off the pace, look out. You know Borel will take him to the rail and come on late.

Union Rags. Favored, yet I did not like the lethargy of his last race (he had traffic, but nothing like what he will see today), and being by Dixie Union I think he will struggle with the mile and a quarter. It wouldn't shock me if he won, but I will be betting against him.

Dullahan. MY horse, half to Mine That Bird by young sire Even the Score, has courage and a good closing kick. He has run only three times on a dirt track, poorly twice as a youngster sprinting, and deceptively well in last year's sticky drying BC Juvenile here. The surface remains a question for him, but I have to have him on my ticket. I also have a futures bet on him.

Bodemeister. Co-favored or actual favorite at post time, but he gives up experience to others, may quite possibly need the lead, and may bounce off his fast Arkansas Derby win. I'll let him beat me.

Rousing Sermon. Doesn't seem to fit on paper, but is a sneaky longshot if the pace collapses. He just keeps running on... kind of like Giacomo... His sire was a sprinter, but his grandsires are Pulpit and Awesome Again, so I think he'll route.

Creative Cause. Absolutely beautiful grey has a shot, but I just didn't like his Santa Anita Derby. I thought he should have pulled away to win by several, yet he hung. Another one who will have to beat me.

Trinniberg. This year's Spanish Chestnut, a good sprinter who would really have to put up an incredible performance to wire this field.

Daddy Nose Best. I just don't see this one as a G1 horse. Plus, the name is stupid. Now he'll win for sure.

Alpha. My early Derby pick from last year, this beautiful mover was badly hampered in his last start and suffered a mild injury, but still, Gemologist decisively turned him back in the stretch. I'd like to have him on the ticket, but funds may run short; I do have a futures bet on him.

Prospective. 0-2 in G1 company; not sure why that changes today.

Went the Day Well. Great name! Similar pattern to Animal Kingdom, but not bred quite so well to route. Adds blinkers for the race, which strikes me as odd. Wouldn't totally shock me but needs to step up.

Hansen. Love this nearly pure white colt who is full of character. But he's going to need to relax. A front-runner, he is headstrong, and he probably will be too close to a hot pace to finish first today. I do have a futures bet on him.

Gemologist. This undefeated colt routes, handles a wet track, and looked Alpha in the eye last time and turned him away, just like his sire Tiznow did to Giant's Causeway (sire of Creative Cause and grandsire of El Padrino) and Sakhee in his two Breeders' Cup wins. I think this colt has more to give and I make him my top pick.

El Padrino ran poorly in his last, though apparently he did lose a shoe. Needs to step up.

Done Talking. Can't really see the Illinois Derby winner fitting with these.

Sabercat. Another live longshot, he hasn't succeeded at this level, but is another who just keeps coming late.

I'll Have Another. 0-1 on a wet track, he won the Santa Anita Derby with good late energy, but Creative Cause hung, and Blueskiesnrainbows (runs Friday), who finished 3rd, had broken his maiden for a pretty cheap tag. Plus, he's way out in the parking lot.

Liaison is off form, might like Churchill better, but again, the parking lot.

Also-eligible My Adonis would have to improve, and would be drawn to the far outside.

So: Gemologist, Dullahan, Alpha, and possibly Take Charge Indy, with an extra futures bet on Hansen. I wonder if I bet Liaison as well in Pool 1. I don't expect to find out.

I'm going to try and hit a P-3 using Groupie Doll, Switch and Sassy Image (in order; depends on funds) in the Humana Distaff and Turallure and Doubles Partner in the Turf Classic (Get Stormy, a favorite of mine, is also in here, but must contend with a lot of other speed). The Oaks-Derby Double, which I hit last year, will include On Fire Baby, Grace Hall, and Jemima's Pearl.

Earlier on the card, Souper Spectacular, Zenyatta's half brother, makes his return; others to watch for include comebacking Bridgetown, great sprinters Smiling Tiger and Amazombie versus Preakness winner Shackleford, and pretty grey Tapitsfly.

    Went to the Salton Sea on Saturday. Saw a juvenile Zone-Tailed Hawk. We'd been alerted to it by two other birders, so when a vulture-looking thing popped up over the trees at Ramer Lake, I got it in my binoculars. "It's a Turkey Vulture", said our leader, who shall go unnamed for purposes of this blog.
    The bird tilted toward us and came closer, and white flashed off the bottom of the tail, and I said, "It's not a Turkey Vulture... It's not... IT'S NOT A TURKEY VULTURE" as it soared over like a bomber plane with its checkered white underwings and black hawk head.
      Saw lots of other good birds, including two Franklin's Gulls, a nice warbler flock, and probably the same Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher who nearly attacked me last year, who was cooperative again. Missed Red Knot, Yellow-Footed Gull, Gull-Billed Tern.

  Solstice, other than being a little anxious still when I leave the house, and very eager to let me know how anxious he was when I come home, seems to be doing fine so far. 

  And here are my Kentucky Oaks picks. This is a nice field and it's too bad the Oaks gets so overshadowed by the Derby...

On Fire Baby is an adorable grey filly. She is 2 for 2 at Churchill. She breaks from the rail, and she possibly can't get the mile and an eighth, but she is one of the faster horses in the field, so I will bet on her anyway.
Grace Hall seems like the most likely winner based on running style and form. I will bet on her too.
Summer Applause has not competed at this level.
Eden's Moon will take money, but she was a total surrender-monkey in her last start, when she didn't get the lead; probably either won't get the lead or will have to go very fast here; pass.
Hard Not to Like is trying a route and dirt for the first time.
Broadway's Alibi is the speedy thorn in Eden's Moon's side, but I don't think she will stay the distance either.
Sacristy has never gone farther than 7 furlongs (this race is 1 1/8th miles).
Jemima's Pearl is stepping up in class, but I saw footage of her working with highly touted Bodemeister (will be, if not favored, 2nd or 3rd choice in the Derby), and she didn't want to let him by. Based on that, she is the non-surrender-monkey in the Baffert barn, and she comes from off the pace. On my ticket.
Believe You Can has a chance but ran poorly here in one start.
And Why Not is in spotty form.
Karlovy Vary is very iffy to handle a dirt track.
Colonial Empress is stepping up in class.
Amie's Dini is not without a shot but is way outside.
Yara is also way outside and I don't know that she can route.

Also note "my" Haylie Brae and Wine Princess (out of Azeri) in R1, Maristar in R6, the La Troienne (in tough, but has been running against males and having rough trips).

She was only with me for a few months but she was very much loved.

Saw a Painted Redstart and Swamp Sparrow in the Mojave Preserve area over the weekend.

I wanted to add a link to information on the evil disease Circe suffered from. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fip.html
It is rare, but more common among shelter cats. I would still recommend that people save cats by adopting from shelters, but be aware of this risk, which I was not. I think younger kittens would be less likely to have been exposed. There is also a slight chance that Solstice may get it. Obviously, fingers crossed.

Went on a short hike at Devil's Punchbowl. This little preserve adjoining the Angeles National Forest out of Pearblossom has some nice rocks (resembling the Vasquez Rocks off Hwy 14 or the Mormon Rocks off Cajon Pass) and some well-marked trails. I did the shorter ones, but plan on going back for more -- you can hike all the way to the Angeles crest. There is a stream that flows down through the sculpted conglomerate and can be explored by several side trails. There weren't many birds except common chaparral species, but more may come as spring progresses.

The restrooms are nasty. Try and stop beforehand if you can.

Circe has a mystery anemia. I've now spent a couple thousand dollars on her, with a bit added in for Solstice and his also mysterious digestive issue. He is unlikely to die, however. Circe may have FIP, and if she has that, it is fatal. As far as defining what she does have, our vet is as frustrated as I am.

We're now trying prednisone in hopes of improvement and that her reaction to it will confirm or deny FIP. She's not actively suffering, just a bit off, and every bit able to curse Solstice out when he jumps on her head (or to scratch the vet bloody during a test of her abdominal fluids. Yep... needle in the stomach. I don't blame her one bit). Her love for goat cheese, which I discovered accidentally last week ("You don't like people food. See? Stinky goat cheese. You don't.... Oh. Oops."), remains undiminished.

She is not even a year old yet.

We'll just have to see.

http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_pioneertown.html

I think there's a nearby Pioneertown that has old Western buildings where filming was done, or possibly did before the big fire? That is a different location. I explored part of this Wildlands Conservancy preserve Saturday.

The last part of Pioneertown Road (ignore the weird mapquest directions to "Contour Drive" or whatever; just go to the end of Pioneertown, from 62) is dirt, and some of it is narrow, but none of it is any problem for a regular car except in the rain. In the rain, stay off this road as there is an obvious flash flood gully. It's free, but you are supposed to sign in. I'm not clear on whether you really have to arrive at/after 8, the posted opening time, or whether it's OK to start hiking earlier.

There are two trails, one long and one moderate, but if you just go partway up the long one you get to some ruins. The trail is easy to follow and follows a creek throughout -- there was lots of water even in this dry year. And there were lots and lots of birds -- no spring migrants yet, but I'm sure they will be there in force a bit later in the year, when I plan to go back. There were Ruby-Crowned Kinglets apparently in hundreds and they were singing, which is weird, because I'm pretty sure they don't breed in desert riparian habitat -- they go up to the mountains. But the whole canyon was full of kinglet song. There were also Orange-Crowned Warblers, among other expected species in great numbers, and I really think that there were Mountain Quail based on the calls, but could never get a good look, which is another indicator of Mountain rather than Gambel's. There were two mule deer at the ruins and I'm sure there are mountain lions and other mammals. A roadrunner was singing on the hillside up above the visitor's center. My foot reacted pretty well to the 4-mile, mostly flat, hike.

Driving home, I saw an Osprey flying over Hwy 62. He was going to have to go quite a ways for lunch. I've also seen one flying over Joshua Tree in the Queen Mountain area, and I wonder if sometimes they migrate from the Salton Sea or the Lake Perris area toward the coast using a route over the desert.

It's the last day of spring break and I have accomplished...

I have now hiked all of the short hikes at Joshua Tree National Park. Ones I would recommend: the Panorama Trail at Black Rock Canyon (this is the best area of the park for birds and wildlife in general), Ryan Mountain, Mastodon Peak (includes summit scramble), Lost Palms Oasis (from Cottonwood), Fortynine Palms Oasis (good for birds), Contact Mine for rocks and mine shafts, Desert Queen Mine for mine infrastructure. Hidden Valley is probably the best nature trail. I still have a few more long routes to do.

Finished my retaining wall (but it's been too windy to pick up the leaves so I can finish spreading the small rocks).

Got my toe checked and found that it is doing OK and the bone fragments are now attached to each other (but had to pull up during my second set on the elliptical machine today. I think the problem was just a cramp in my forefoot, but it was disheartening).

Bought wind chimes, and put them up during a high wind warning.

Couple of year birds: Northern Rough-Winged Swallows at Santa Anita, Costa's and Rufous Hummingbirds on my feeder, Vermilion Flycatchers at Covington Park. Got chastised for the early Yellow-Breasted Chat I am really pretty sure I saw at Morongo -- I think I'm done reporting bird sightings, whether via ebird or the local listserv, because anything even slightly unusual is questioned so much that it just makes me feel that others think I'm stupid, and I don't need that.

Cats seem to be doing well, but are exiled from the bedroom after two incidents of peeing on the bed. This makes everyone sad, but helps with my allergies, and they seem to be OK if they get plenty of snuggling during the day. No health issues found in connection with the pee so far, so I'll just have to watch and wait. Both are affectionate and energetic.

Saturday I went to Santa Anita. My fantasy stable fillies won first out (My Selection) and ran second in the turf stakes (Vionnet). The boys didn't do so well, as neither Groovin' Solo nor Empire Way had any impact on the San Felipe. The winner, Creative Cause, looks like a legitimate Derby hopeful, and the place horse, Bodemeister, may be as well if he learns to rate. Midnight Transfer ran pretty well in third but would have to move forward to be a Derby horse. I didn't win much, but it was a good day.

Today, I hiked to Contact Mine. I'd given up on this before because the trail goes into a wash, but it really isn't hard. You just follow the main line of footprints, keeping to the right, occasionally taking advantage of ducks and lines of rocks that block off or indicate certain routes. Then you cross into hills, still using good ducks (i.e. cairns), and get onto a clear trail. It goes uphill but the round trip is only 3.6 miles, and there are shafts to look down into, and many beautiful rocks which cannot be taken. I need to find somewhere with beautiful rocks that I can have! Not many birds out there, just a slew of Rock Wrens, Black-Throated Sparrows and a gnatcatcher in the wash.

One, or both, of the cats has a health issue, hopefully minor. They also have tons of energy and athletic ability. Combining these things means their slogan for the day is like the book title: "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

A short hike to Ryan Ranch at Joshua Tree. Easy and mostly flat. Fun if you like ruins -- these are a nice terra-cotta color that would be good for photographing people in creative/period clothing.

Some birds at Morongo including Yellow-Breasted Chats already singing, a pair of Vermilion Flycatchers, etc..

My foot still hurts... in different ways and different places... after I do anything. Not sure if I'm going to try and see a specialist or not.