Melbourne Cup - The Locks

The Melbourne Cup is called "the race that stops a nation".  As it is on Tuesday afternoon where everyone else in the nation except for those in Melbourne.  A fact I read was that at least 80% of the adult population in Australia has some skin in the game.  The race is 3200m (2 mile) marathon with a total of $6.2mm of prize money being awarded.   Unlike fields in other top races where it is difficult to differentiate horses that haven't done too much wrong in their career, the Melbourne Cup field is somewhat like the historic origins of Australian people.... horses seeking some redemption.  Lets look at 3-1 favorite, Americain, who has run 6 times since winning this race last year.  In these 6 races, the 6yo has 2 wins, 1 third and 3 clunkers where last year had come into the race on a win streak.   So very difficult to back this horse heavily.   Lets look at a few others including 7-1 Jukebox Jury, 6-1 Dunaden and 16-1 Fox Hunt.  


Jukebox Jury is the 5yo winner of this year's Irish St. Leger and a won a 3000m graded race at Deauville in race before that one.  Also has another win and a 3rd in 2011.  Dunaden won the Geelong Cup, an important Melbourne Cup prep, threw in a clunker in the Deauville race that JJ won but otherwise hasn't been out of money in 2011.  Fox Hunt won the German St. Leger and has good form through 2011 albeit in races not as important as Tuesdays.  


The Locks are:


$15 win JJ
$ 8 win FH
$1 exacta JJ, FH, D, A
$1 trifecta JJ, FH, D, A


Good luck!!

The Locks Picks The World's Greatest Bars, Part 4

Today, we explore Tokyo on a bar crawl, er, stroll, down upscale Aoyama Dori, and also a throwback to late 20th century NYC.

Aoyama Dori 青山通り Bar Crawl  Stroll, 
Tokyo, Japan 


Based on the fact that I can speak some Japanese albeit clumsy and Borat-esque , I am not required to concentrate my choice of drinking spots to Roppongi (expat center).   The "foreigners" that descend on Roppongi is a mercurial mix of young servicemen on leave, animation loving nerds, flight crews on layovers, and Joe Middle-America business traveler in casual mode (this is the same guy I see in every airport in the world - balding, overweight, untrendy jeans purchased in 1998, company golf shirt, white sneakers).  Also I've seen one or two 'foreigners' thinking they are all hard core hip-hop, in fact, if they took that act to Brooklyn they'd be laughed at (or beaten) silly.  To be honest, I try to avoid Roppongi and its legion of gaijin knuckleheads like the plague. 


Tokyo has so many bars with a great variety beyond that small section of town.   To get a flavor of an upscale tranche of Tokyo's bars, I head down Aoyama Dori (one of the few roads in Tokyo that actually has a name) which is a stretch that goes from Shibuya 渋谷 to Omotesando 表参道 and has some very chill places to imbibe.   Starting at Shibuya heading towards Omotesando these are some of the bars that are notable when looking for an uptick in drinking experience compared to gaijin gorged Roppongi or the businessmen ビジネスマン  flooded izakayas that ring the train stations: 


Cozmo's 
When I first entered Cozmo's for the first time I felt I had just dropped in to a basement party from my high school days.    Plush couches and sofas, wood (faux wood?) paneling, cocktail table, a painting of Bob Marley, and a duo of DJs working on some turntables.  But I truly was in Tokyo in a bar with a tight-knit crowd.  To start, I couldn't figure who worked at the bar and who was a patron, and that I felt was a good thing as it seemed everyone in the bar even though had come in separately had mad some connection with each other.  Cozmo's does have DJs provide the crowd something interesting to listen to but entertainment isn't just limited to them.  In subsequent visits to the bar the entertainment has ranged from a blues duo supported by a DJs samples to a Bjork-esque shriek singer to a reggae show complete with a DJ, MCs and a dance hall style dancer - good stuff.   The entertainment and draft beers adds to what already would be a cool place.   


Quons       
Bar has a cool vibe to it that you see when you go up a flight of stairs and enter the bar.   Had the movie "Syd and Nancy" projected on the wall with chill lounge tunes being piped in.   The cocktail menu could hold its own at mixology bars in NY or London. Been able to get a version of a Dark & Stormy here.  But the real draw of Quons is the roofdeck terrace -- so its up another flight of stairs to an area that sometimes fills up early -- the terrace has a Singapore/South Pacific feel with its rattan furniture and tropical plants.   You are provided a 'buzzer' to summon a waiter from the bar level to take your order and then retreat back downstairs to have the ordered filled and then bring your drinks back up to you.   Although, the Japanese pride themselves on service, after the 2nd round I felt a bit like Mike Ditka in pre-season training camp during a stadium stairs drill.  So after ordering the next round I went down to pick up my own drink and ended up chumming it up with the friendly bartenders and wait-staff.    The roof deck is definitely a cool place to be in the spring and summer and even in the fall/winter the terrace is kept open as an awning and heaters are brought in. 


Bar Den Inmu 
Across the street from Quons and down in the basement is Bar Den Inmu.... "Den" is the operative word as the place looks like someone's den...but that 'someone' is likely Burt Reynolds' circa 1977.   Shag carpet, purple lights, disco ball, chandeliers....well crafted cocktails can be ordered at the bar but its obvious that the bartenders rarely have someone actually sit at the bar and strike up a conversation.  As most (all) people in the den are in variety of Den/lounge seating - earlier in the evening there are mostly hushed tones but as cocktails shed inhibitions a semi-sense of raucousness reigns.    I ended up in this place a few years ago after seeing a hip-hop band at Shibuya Ax and meeting some "hip-hop" dudes...not sure why this place was chosen but ended up being some fun especially after Jaegermeister shots were downed. 


Nos - Aoyama         
After leaving the Den, you'll head across the Aoyama Dori to Nos - Aoyama.   Getting across the avenue is not as simple as just walking across as you may do in many cities like NY where you can suspend traffic laws and cut across without need of a green light or a cross walk, in Tokyo, it will be a bit rude to do so... but Nos _ Aoyama is close enough even going a slightly circuitous route.   Nos is a 4 level bar that has a bar area as well as many sitting areas and closed off rooms.   I got in here one night and hadn't realized due to my clumsy Japanese that the bar was closing and mistakenly believed that I was asked to come in when I was being told the bar was closed.   Instead of ushering me out, the waiter showed me to the bar but did say that I could only have a single drink.   Again like at Quons and the Den...had a nice strong cocktail and by this time I did realize that the place was actually closing - I finished up my drink quickly and apologized and did return at an earlier hour at a different date.   Some bars in Tokyo like some pubs in the UK are owned by a beverage company this one I believe is the same.  As I ran into the same guy that let me in that night as the matre d' at restaurant/lounge in Ginza.   He remembered me and in fine tradition of strong customder service also what I drank to the surprise of my work colleagues - wondering how the hell I knew this guy.   


Two Rooms        
We now have made our way up Aoyama Dori nearly to Omotesando and we find an elevator up to Two Rooms... you are impressed by the look and feel of the bar when you enter...rich woods on the tables and bar and paintings on the walls.    Most of the conversations that you will hear are in English whether spoken by a true Tokyoite (江戸っ子) or the expat bankers that come for a drink or 2.   The outdoor terrace is a real treat and has views over Omotesando towards Harajuku and Shinjuku.   Its also where you will find Eddie who runs the Two Rooms bar this being after he ran other popular banker night time destinations.  He strike up a conversation with you and make you feel welcome even if you are 7,000 miles from home.  Two Rooms does serve as a perfect spot for a nightcap on this loungy crawl or should I say stroll along Aoyama Dori. 

The Gaf, New York, NY
This bar no longer exists in the location I remember it and was replaced by the people who bought the old sawdusted floored Fitzpatricks and made both spaces into one large bar.  Bars are always changing name and location in NY.  For instance, the Gaf had took over the space that the old classic Pedro's sat on when that bar moved uptown..  The Gaf was as small as a NYbar will get a few spaces at the bar and small tables that ringed the bar. But did have enough space for my favorite bar game ever, what we called Sand Bowling and one the best jukeboxes in its day.   Since it was small it could go barely empty to crushingly crowded in a matter of minutes.  The bartenders were from the old country but they were all young and trying to make a few bucks so they can pay for future further travels.

Place served either as alaunching pad for the evening or last stop before limping home or late night eats at the Viand diner ("Hey Jerkucles where's my omlette?") On school nights it was air-conditioned an oasis away from the stifling walk-ups I lived in.  Crowd usually was limited to young idiot professionals like myself, a little bit older idiot professionals who used
to come to the bar when it was Pedros, and Park Avenue nannies...the nannies always had interesting stories of life on private jets, Hamptons weekends (Bridgehampton not Hampton Bays) and how their employers didn't pay attention to their kids. Whoever wrote that Nannies Diaries book certainly logged many hours at the Gaf.  I have great memories of this bar
including the sweater-switch-er-roo,  St Patricks Day where there were about 20 pipers packed in cranking out the Minstrel Boy, and finishing up our Mardi Gras apartment party there after we were threatened by neighbors to have the cops called on us.  Gaf, I will find you again.

Tenno Sho Autumn - The Locks

The Tenno Sho is the Emperor's Cup and there is one in the Spring and one in the Autumn.  The Spring version is a 2 mile marathon while the Autumn version is a classic 1 1/4m race run at Tokyo's main racecourse.   This year features a full field of 18 and each one has won at least one graded stakes with 6 horses winning at least 1 grade 1.   With the limited number of graded stakes each year in Japan, it speaks volumes of the quality of the field with every great horse running except for the 3yos that ran in the Japanese St. Leger recently and Victorie Pisa who is training up to the Japan Cup.


With the large field and knowing the penchant to the pool will bet heavy on the favorite, the other horses are going to go off at big odds.   The horse I like Tosen Jordan is right now at 150-1 odds!!!! This is a horse that has 8 wins in 15 tries including a recently winning a G2 going 1m 1/4.  TJ likes the Tokyo oval with 2 wins and 2nd in 3 races.   Dark Shadow 10-1 is 3 out of the last 4 races and 4 for 4 on the Tokyo race course.  Earnestly is the heavy favorite 1.7-1 and deserves the favoritism after coming off 2 big wins but can't past the fact of the low odds and the fact the horse is 0 for 3 on this course.  Buena Vista 7-1 won this race last year and has been on a string of place finishes so needs to be in the mix.  


◎ Tosen Jordanトーセンジョーダン
○ Dark Shadow ダークシャドウ
▲Earnestly アーネストリー
△Buena Vistaブエナビスタ


Also note you now can bet on the big JRA races on Twinspires.com so if you haven't opened an account here in more reason to do so. 


The Locks are:
$15 Win Tosen Jordan  
$5 Place Tosen Jordan
$8 Win Dark Shadow 
$1 Exacta Box TJ, DS, E, BV
$1 Trifecta Box TJ,DS, E,BV
$3 Quinella Place TJ, DS, E, BV
$2 Trio TJ, DS,E, BV


Total Bets = $15 + $5 + $8 + $12 + $24 + $18 + $6 = $88


１５００円　単勝　＃１２
５００円　　複勝　＃１２
８００円　単勝　＃７
１００円　馬単　＃１２，＃７，＃５、＃１８
１００円　3連単　＃１２、＃７、＃５、＃１８
３００円　ワイド　＃１２、＃７、＃５、＃１８
２００円　3連複　＃１２、＃７、＃５、＃１８


Epilogue


Smoked this race....had winner and runner up to give me the exacta.   Came 1/2 length away from a huge trifecta which would have made this my biggest payday on a single race but did ok anyways...not sure of the breakout but my twinspires account was up about $900 on $64 of bets...couldn't bet the Trio and the Quinella Place which are unique to JRA betting.  
If I bet via JRA I would have had won:  49,950 + 4,250 + 23,560 + 7,560 = 85,320 or about $1,150.  The trifecta if I scored that would have been another $1000+. 

Breeder's Cup Contenders - The Locks Early Line

Here are the Breeder's Cup pre-entries with trainer and early odds.

The Locks for each race will be published next week....Good Luck!!

Classic
Purse: $5 million, 1 1/4 miles

So You Think A. O'Brien 10-1
Havre de Grace L. Jones 4-1
Flat Out C. Dickey
Uncle Mo T. Pletcher 3-1
To Honor and Serve W. Mott 12-1
Stay Thirsty T. Pletcher 8-1
Game On Dude B. Baffert 15-1
Await the Dawn A. O'Brien 15-1
Ruler On Ice K. Breen 20-1
Gio Ponti C. Clement 12-1
Rattlesnake Bridge K. McLaughlin 20-1
Drosselmeyer W. Mott 20-1
Prayer for Relief B. Baffert 20-1
Headache M. Maker 30-1

Also Eligible (In Order Of Preference):
Ice Box N. Zito 50-1

Mile
Purse: $2 million, 1 mile, turf

Byword A. Fabre 15-1
Goldikova F. Head 5-2
Gio Ponti C. Clement 5-1
Strong Suit R. Hannon 10-1
Courageous Cat W. Mott 6-1
Turallure C. Lopresti 8-1
Mr. Commons J. Shirreffs 12-1
Jeranimo M. Pender 20-1
Get Stormy T. Bush 15-1
Sidney's Candy T. Pletcher 15-1
Zoffany A. O'Brien 5-1
Compliance Officer B. Brown 20-1
Court Vision D. Romans 20-1

Juvenile
Purse: $2 million, 1 1/16 miles

Union Rags M. Matz 3-1
Creative Cause M. Harrington 5-1
Drill B. Baffert 6-1
Dullahan D. Romans 8-1
Hansen M. Maker 12-1
Daddy Long Legs A. O'Brien 12-1
Crusade A. O'Brien 15-1
Majestic City P. Miller 10-1
Optimizer D. W. Lukas 20-1
Alpha K. McLaughlin 20-1
Take Charge Indy P. Byrne 15-1
Right to Vote E. Harty 30-1
Fort Loudon S. Gold 20-1
Prospective M. Casse 20-1

Also Eligible (In Order Of Preference):
Sabercat S. Asmussen 30-1
Speightscity G. Contessa 30-1

Turf
Purse: $3 million, 1 1/2 miles, turf

Sea Moon M. Stoute 6-1
Midday H. Cecil 9-2
Sarafina A. de Royer-Dupre 3-1
St Nicholas Abbey A. O'Brien 6-1
Await the Dawn A. O'Brien 5-1
Dean's Kitten M. Maker 8-1
Winchester C. Clement 10-1
Teaks North J. Sallusto 20-1
Brilliant Speed T. Albertrani 30-1
Stately Victor M. Maker 30-1

Dirt Mile
Purse: $1 million, 1 mile

Uncle Mo T. Pletcher 9-5
Jackson Bend N. Zito 5-1
Trappe Shot K. McLaughlin 10-1
To Honor and Serve W. Mott 10-1
Wilburn S. Asmussen 12-1
The Factor B. Baffert 6-1
Caleb's Posse D. Von Hemel 20-1
Rule T. Pletcher 20-1
Shackleford D. Romans 20-1
Prayer for Relief B. Baffert 30-1
Sidney's Candy T. Pletcher 20-1
Aikenite T. Pletcher 20-1
Jersey Town B. Tagg 30-1
Tres Borrachos M. Jones 30-1

Also Eligible (In Order Of Preference):
Tapizar S. Asmussen 20-1
Irrefutable B. Baffert 30-1

Turf Sprint
Purse: $1 million, 5 furlongs, turf

Caracortado M. Machowsky 7-2
Havelock D. Miller 5-1
Chamberlain Bridge W. B. Calhoun 8-1
Camp Victory M. Mitchell 10-1
Regally Ready S. Asmussen 6-1
Broken Dreams T. Proctor 15-1
Perfect Officer M. Pino 10-1
California Flag B. Koriner 10-1
Country Day S. Margolis 20-1
Great Attack W. Ward 20-1
Hoofit H. G. Motion 15-1
Grand Adventure M. Frostad 20-1
Holiday for Kitten W. Ward 30-1
Rapport R. Werner 20-1

Sprint
Purse: $1.5 million, 6 furlongs

Amazombie W. Spawr 8-1
Apriority D. Fawkes 20-1
Jackson Bend N. Zito 9-2
Big Drama D. Fawkes 7-2
Trappe Shot K. McLaughlin 10-1
The Factor B. Baffert 5-1
Euroears B. Baffert 6-1
Caleb's Posse D. Von Hemel 12-1
Force Freeze P. Walder 12-1
Giant Ryan B. Parboo 12-1
Aikenite T. Pletcher 20-1
Hamazing Destiny D. W. Lukas 20-1

Juvenile Turf
Purse: $1 million, 1 mile, turf

Daddy Long Legs A. O'Brien 6-1
State of Play H. G. Motion 6-1
Farraaj R. Varian 10-1
Dullahan D. Romans 8-1
Caspar Netscher A. McCabe 10-1
Finale T. Pletcher 5-1
Wrote A. O'Brien 15-1
Animal Spirits A. Stall Jr. 12-1
Lucky Chappy H. G. Motion 12-1
Majestic City P. Miller 8-1
Learn A. O'Brien 20-1
Shkspeare Shaliyah D. Shivmangal 15-1
Coalport W. Catalano 20-1
Fantastic Song C. Brown 30-1

Also Eligible (In Order Of Preference):
Excaper I. Black 20-1
Daddy Nose Best S. Asmussen 30-1
Gung Ho M. Maker 30-1
Tequila Factor I. Mason 30-1
Liquidity Trap C. Brown 30-1
Two Months Rent J. Toner 30-1

Marathon
Purse: $500,000, 1 3/4 miles

Cease A. Stall Jr. 5-1
A. U. Miner C. Hanna 7-2
Pleasant Prince W. Ward 8-1
Brigantin A. Fabre 10-1
Birdrun W. Mott 6-1
Giant Oak C. Block 6-1
Eldaafer D. Alvarado 12-1
Stately Victor M. Maker 12-1
Harrison's Cave A. O'Brien 20-1
Meeznah D. Lanigan 15-1
Baryshnikov M. Maker 15-1
Afleet Again R. Reid Jr. 30-1
Tutti Buona Gente M. Lovell 30-1


Friday, November 4, 2011


Ladies' Classic
Purse: $2,000,000, 1 1/8 miles

Havre de Grace L. Jones 8-5
Plum Pretty B. Baffert 2-1
Royal Delta W. Mott 7-2
It's Tricky K. McLaughlin 5-1
Aruna G. Motion 10-1
Pachattack G. Butler 10-1
Miss Match N. Drysdale 12-1
Ultra Blend A. Sherman 12-1
Switch J. Sadler 12-1
Ask the Moon M. Wolfson 20-1
Great Hot A. Avila 20-1
Super Espresso T. Pletcher 20-1
Champagne d'Oro E. Guillot 30-1
Satans Quick Chick J. Odintz 30-1
Medaglia d'Amour B. Cecil 30-1

Filly & Mare Turf
Purse: $2,000,000, 1 3/8 miles, turf

Midday H. Cecil 2-1
Sarafina A. Royer-Dupre 5-2
Stacelita C. Brown 5-1
Nahrain R. Varian 6-1
Dubawi Heights S. Callaghan 8-1
Announce A. Fabre 12-1
Misty For Me A. O'Brien 12-1
Cozi Rosie J. Sadler 12-1
Harmonious J. Shirreffs 20-1
Aruna G. Motion 30-1
Shared Account G. Motion 30-1
Distorted Legacy A. Penna 30-1
Fantasia J. Sheppard 30-1
Cambina J. Bonde 30-1

Also Eligible (In Order Of Preference):
Dynaslew S. Benzel 20-1
Perfect Shirl R. Attfield 30-1
Medaglia d'Amour B. Cecil 30-1

Juvenile Fillies
Purse: $2,000,000, 1 1/16 miles

Grace Hall A. Dutrow 3-1
My Miss Aurelia S. Asmussen 5-2
Candrea B. Baffert 5-1
Weemissfrankie P. Eurton 5-1
Miss Netta K. McLaughlin 10-1
Say a Novena E. Plesa 15-1
Rocket Twentyone W. Howard 15-1
Putthebabiesdown K. McPeek 20-1
Questing J. Gosden 20-1
Homecoming Queen A. O'Brien 30-1
Northern Passion M. Casse 30-1
Self Preservation B. Cecil 30-1
Stopshoppingmaria T. Pletcher 10-1
Stephanie's Kitten W. Catalano 20-1

Also Eligible (In Order Of Preference):
Awesome Belle S. Gold 12-1
Frolic's Revenge M. Wolfson 30-1
Sky High Lady M. Casse 30-1
Up A. O'Brien 30-1

Filly & Mare Sprint
Purse: $1,000,000, 7 furlongs

Turbulent Descent M. Puype 8-5
Switch J. Sadler 4-1
Pomeroys Pistol A. Tarrant 5-1
Tanda M. Mitchell 15-1
Irish Gypsy B. Baffert 20-1
Musical Romance W. Kaplan 20-1
Great Hot A. Avila 20-1
Golden Mystery J. Guerrero 20-1
Shotgun Gulch C. Trout 20-1
Her Smile T. Pletcher 30-1
Tamarind Hall J. Englehart 30-1
Tar Heel Mom S. Hough 30-1
Champagne d'Oro E. Guillot 30-1

Juvenile Fillies Turf
Purse: $1,000,000, 1 mile

Elusive Kate J. Gosden 2-1
Somali Lemonade M. Matz 5-1
Sweet Cat T. Pletcher 6-1
Stopshoppingmaria T. Pletcher 6-1
Stephanie's Kitten W. Catalano 8-1
Pure Gossip P. Serpe 10-1
Dayatthespa C. Brown 10-1
Hard Not to Like G. Cox 20-1
Dear Lavinia J. Rouget 30-1
Questing J. Gosden 10-1
Homecoming Queen A. O'Brien 10-1
Self Preservation B. Cecil 20-1
Northern Passion M. Casse 20-1
Rocket Twentyone W. Howard 20-1

Also Eligible (In Order Of Preference):
My Gi Gi B. Koriner 30-1
Customer Base T. Proctor 15-1
Spirited Miss M. Casse 30-1
Up A. O'Brien 30-1
Ann of the Dance J. DiVito 20-1
Royal Bonnie G. Weaver 15-1
Bourbonstreetgirl G. Contessa 30-1
Karlovy Vary G. Arnold 30-1


Juvenile Sprint
Purse: $500,000, 6 furlongs

Secret Circle B. Baffert 6-5
Hansen M. Maker 6-1
Seeker S. Asmussen 8-1
Vexor J. Kimmel 8-1
Holdin Bullets W. Ward 10-1
Hunt Crossing T. Pletcher 10-1
Blacky the Bull J. Bonde 12-1
Trinniberg B. Parbhoo 12-1
Sum of the Parts T. Amoss 12-1
Shumoos Meehan 20-1
Jake Mo A. Milligan 20-1
Caspar Netscher A. McCabe 30-1

The Locks Picks The World's Greatest Bars - Part 3

The Locks visits Sydney, Washington DC for some of The World's Greatest Bars.  Today we also visit some the world's worst.



Glenmore Hotel Sydney, Australia 

It was the Epsom Derby.  There I was loudly urging on Treasure Beach who looked like was certain to win at 25-1 and likely earn me my biggest pay day ever in horse racing.   In the last stride of the race, Pour Moi, caught Treasure Beach at the line and I dropped to my knees in defeated agony.  The French horse was named victor after the stewards analyzed the photo finish.   I was 10,000 miles and 10 time zones away from where the race was being run but despite the distance I was able to wager on the race.   In many pubs in Australia, to my delight, there is a little area carved out that has several TVs showing races and tote-boards of several tracks throughout the day and night.   You then can go to the side of the bar and via a TAB Sportsbet machine you can wager on the race.   


The bar at the Glenmore Hotel is like many of the pubs that exist in Sydney as it is in a small hotels with the idea being that Australia is such a vast country that those coming to a pub for a drink will have come from a far distance and would need some slumber after drinking before heading back home.   The Glenmore ended up being my regular during my visit to Sydney as it was only rugby fields distance from my hotel in the Rocks.   The Glenmore's street level bar is a typical pub set up with middys (half-pints) of Cascade lager and pub food.  Enough TVs to get your fill of US sports during the early afternoon and then at night it switches over to rugby of both types...rugby union (real rugby) and rugby league (NFL version of rugby).   I got a tutorial on the differences by the friendly fresh faced bartenders.    Between the rugby on the TV, the friendly bartenders, and betting on horses, I spent most of my time in the downstairs bar but I did not miss what many people come to the Glenmore for which is its roofdeck bar.  The roofdeck is reached up several flights of stairs and can actually see some of the hotel rooms that I don't think were actually for guests but once up top the view is awesome.   The Glenmore overlooks and has a great view of the Sydney Opera House.  Upstairs you can also get food and they have a satellite bar for quick access to your schooner of Cascade.  After enjoying the night air and the great view it was time to get back downstairs as there was a horse race about to start somewhere in the world.


Tune Inn Washington, D.C. 


The Tune Inn is where I chose to spend the night going into my 21st birthday and the stroke of midnight I was then allowed to legally purchase liquor and I promptly ordered up a shot of Wild Turkey.   I slugged that back while we concocted new lyrics to Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire that was blaring out of the Tune Inn jukebox.   The lyrics started like this "Love is a bourbon thing, it makes a boy want to sing..." and the refrain was "to Bob, Bob, Bob, Wild Turkey shot to Bob" or something like that.   The jukebox was no end to source of entertainment as pitcher after pitcher was consumed at this Capitol Hill establishment.   The jukebox had music that was quite foreign to my Long Island born ears but that I quickly learned to love...Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, David Allan Coe, Patsy Cline.   We played and sang Patsy Cline's "Your Cheating Heart" so much that for years after unsuspecting patrons putting that song on the jukebox would be chastised by the long-time, bar-life hardened waitresses.   Our usual waitress, Judy, shared a love-hate relationship with us...she would curse us for spilled beer, broken plates and glasses, playing Patsy Cline 10x in a row and being a general nusience to her and other patrons but she knew we'd be back soon and compared to some of the uptight Capitol Hill interns and staffers we were good to her when the night ended.  We also knew Judy loved us as she usually would hasten the exit of patrons that occupied our usual prime "all-star booth" location for us to take up to enjoy the tasty burgers and drink literally dozens of pitchers of beer.   


The bar's decor was borrowed out of taxidermist shop including two deer butts located over the bathroom doors.   Another decoration was a picture of one of our buddies that sat for years among the menagerie of other odd stuffed animals.   Actually a fight broke out one night when some other drunken patron tried to steal the picture not knowing our attachment to it.  The men's room graffitti still after years references to an old G-town lax coach including this little ditty.... 


Roses are Red, 
Violets are Blue 
Bill Gorrow is Fat. 
1977 Triple Crown winner was Seattle Slew. 


Right now unfortunately the Tune Inn is temporarily closed due to a fire at the bar over the summer.   But in fine Tune Inn style I've heard that if you walk by the bar and the doors are open for the repair workers you can at pour yourself a glass of draft and gulp it down gratis before making your way back to your Capitol Hill endeavour. 




We've been looking at the World's Greatest Bar but there are some that don't actually live up to expectations or are just plain awful and here are some of those that are part of World's Most Disappointing Bars:

Cloud 9 Bar @ the Grand Hyatt - Pudong Shanghai, PRC
This bar is listed as not only  highest bar in the world as it is on the 87th floor but also Shanghai's chicest.   I was staying at the Grand Hyatt and ventured to the bar after an epic Shanghai meal in Pudong.  The bar is not so easy to find...you need to go through a labyrinth of dining rooms and corridors to get to the bar and the first impression you have "is this the bar??".   If you sit actually at the bar you don't have any view of the city you can see bottles and your bartender thats about it as the bar is not a vantage point for the skyline that litters Shanghai place but also because the place is very dimly lit.    Only other patron in the bar the night I was there was some Aussie guy who gave me some sob story about losing his corporate card and if I could buy him a drink - it wasn't a Midnight Cowboy situation but I felt creeped out enough to pull up stakes and venture across the river to some of the bars on the Bund. 


Big Al's Peoria Illinois 
We were on a baseball road trip.  We ended up in this go-go bar entirely because we loved the name.   I think there was a girl that we had nicknamed Big Al in college due to her white blonde hair and translucent skin and thought it some form of fate that a familiar named go-go was sitting in front of us on Main Street in this backwater little city.  We went in and up to the bar and ordered bottles of Miller High Life, like what else would you order?  The entertainment half heartedly smiled at us and after a few minutes one of our party let out a big yawn at this point the tassled staffer said "I know, this place is pretty lame, here's your dollar back"....we quickly downed our Millers and hastily exited....back in the car we had realized that no one had tipped our hostess so we were giddy that we were up $1 on the night. 


Goodfellas  Dubai, UAE 
I was in Dubai midweek in a November and Arsenal was playing in Champion's League match so I ventured to the proclaimed Arsenal Supporters Dubai HQ at the Regal Plaza Hotel at a bar called Goodfellas.    The place did have a good share of TVs to watch the match but thats where the good started and stopped.    The beer served was warm and seemed as if the taps hadn't been cleaned in .....ever!  In this pirate ship, if the beer stunk, the patrons were stinkier... the hot weather, weak A/C and a bunch of beer drinking English expats created a smell only found in high school locker rooms.   The bartender suggested that I may try the club on the floor above of Goodfellas...I thought it can't be worse than this place and went up.   The place was a club with loud strange techno and like Goodfellas it was a decidedly male crowd (maybe a 80%/20% split) - even though I had paid a hefty cover - most people were drinking what looked like vodka drinks in small plastic cups...like the plastic cups Rev. Jim Jones served his infamous cool-aid out of  so I made like Jimmy Two Times and --- going to get the papers,  get the papers.

The Locks Picks the World's Greatest Bars, Part 2 of ??

Lets look at a few more of the Greatest Bars in the World....


The Sevens Boston, MA
Was introduced to the Sevens when my brother Bill was living on Beacon Hill in Boston.   The Sevens is right on Charles Street (77 Charles St - thus the "Sevens") near some of the oldest real estate in Boston.  Either at the bar or being crammed together with friends at the small tables, the Sevens has the ability to draw you in and can be there for hours until you realized you haven't left.  Dart board in the back could get dangerous after a few beers.  Good pub grub if you need bolstering.  The Sevens can be your whole evening or you can make your way up Charles Street to the more down market/younger crowd at Beacon Hill Pub then to the Harvard Gardens then you can go to the lobby of the former jailhouse turned hotel, Liberty...although its open lobby bar has lost some panache it still is a good experience.

Houser's Ocean Beach, NY
No cars are in Ocean Beach as such no designated driver as such everyone is free to drink (unless they are getting back on their Grady White to head to the mainland) as such its a boozy bar.   Sits right on the Great South Bay but to be honest I don't think I've ever noted the water while in the bar. One of the few places now-a-days that you can get pitchers of beer but always ended up drinking some kind of vodka drink by nights end.   Clash's London Calling is on the jukebox or they may have a live band playing similar.   The pool table always seems to have been kind to my suspect skill but they cover up the pool table as the night moves on as  during the summer this place gets packed after midnight.  After it finally closes, late at night, it was time to find a summer rental or a space in the dunes to crash before the first ferry....now can afford the luxury of a water taxi but be aware of being on one on a choppy night sitting next to someone who was over-served.

The Post Bar, Singapore
The Fullerton Hotel now looks like a relic as it now sits in the shadow of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel but that's a good thing in my book.   The Fullerton occupies a space that was once an old beautifully built post-office, a remnant from Singapore's British past.   The Post Bar sits off the open lobby of the Fullerton.  You can choose to sit at the island bar, at high tables or on couches on side rooms and a patio that are off of the bar room.  The cocktails are well crafted....although not in the barkeeps repertoire can put together a Dark & Stormy for you but I've had a variety of other rum and vodka based drinks.  I have come into the bar for an early night-cap after coming in from an evening flight from HK.  But really the bar is at its best when having a few drinks after work, and to set up for a night that you can head on to the Ku De Ta bar atop the MBS with a super-cool view or my preference is to head to Clarke Quay and its many many bars...there is an outdoor lounge bar that is always packed with people that is open late into the night.  One place I may suggest you bypass is the Long Bar at Raffles...yeah it is another bar listed as the "best bar in the world" but the one time I went there it seemed as if the tour bus just dropped off a fresh batch of grannies.  I didn't even stay for a drink as the place or the clientele smelled like moth balls.

The Shakespeare's Head London, England
I am sure this one doesn't rank high among pubs in London but I find this place having a neat location and good mix of people.   Location is atop Carnaby Street and it is settled into the boutique shops and restaurants that are on this closed to traffic road.  As there is no car traffic, the after-work or after-shopping crowd can bleed into the street.  When the pub isn't packed, the outdoor seating provides a place to enjoy some pints and watch the mix of locals and tourists descend on Caranaby Street especially around the holidays.  Inside you will get your one or two tables of tourists but I don't mind since when I am in London I am a visitor myself.   Last year they hoisted a Santa Claus in a moon suit high above the street for Christmas decorations but after a few pints Santa looked more like a space-age Jerry Garcia.   Spaceman Jerry actually was up well past Christmas in 2011 but was always a welcome sight from the heated outdoor tables.  I look forward to seeing him and the Shakespeare's Head soon.

Liquid Bar Luxembourg-Grund, Luxembourg
Luxembourg is really a tale of two cities or better described as an Upstairs Downstairs (like from the old Alistair Cooke Masterpiece Theater days). Upstairs in Luxembourg city is where you have the Duchy's government buildings and also where the cities banking and investment fund industry lies.   It also has quite a number of fine restaurants some on or just off the city squares.  On a summer night you may find a small orchestra playing pops playing in the Place d' Armes' bandstand.   Downstairs you find the Grund (eng. ground) which is a place of less genteel fun.    There are great restaurants down here but you also find some great lively bars.   When in Lux recently, the Foals were playing a live show in a courtyard of government buildings and the bars on the road in the Grund leading to the show site were packed with many people on the street drinking Bofferding lagers or DieKirch pilsners.  I made my way into one bar, Liquid, that was something of entering a dark cave on a still bright summer late evening. Finding a spot at the bar wasn't easy but the coming and goings of the crowded bar allowed me to find some space.   But then I heard a live jazz band playing in the back room so I moved to a couch near the band.  The band wasn't really playing on a dedicated stage it seemed as if they were just hanging out and playing some instruments.  The band was playing jazz but if you listened closely you could tell they were covering hip hop songs Kanye, Enimem, Jay-Z...funny stuff...but the guys would get half way through a song and seemed as they had a enough and would grab some couch space and continue their conversation and their beers.  Could have spent alot more time in this place but had late dinner reservations but I certainly will return.


We will continue to explore more of the greatest drinking spots later.   Cheers!

The Locks Picks The World's Greatest Bars - Part 1 of ??

It had to be the smallest pool table in the world, if you don't take into account ones made for kids.   The small size exaggerated actual skill as you didn't have much green to cover and sometimes unlikely shots dropped as the billiard balls had nowhere else to go.    Next to the pool table that sat right-smack-dab in the middle of the bar was the jukebox which I invariably would have a few quarters pumped in to get "When the Levee Breaks" from Zepplin IV in the rotation.  The jukebox also featured the greatest bargain to be found, "Mountain Jam" from Eat a Peach for 25 cents you get 30+minutes of the Allman's jamming also ire from those that were waiting for their tunes.  Another feature of the bar which went largely untapped was the hot dog rotisserie.   The franks on that endless merry-go-round seemed to have their own carbon half-life.   I never knew of anyone to try them - no one would even mention them in a drunken dare as it would seem entirely too cruel to have someone eat something so unappetizing.    The bar served pints and bottles of standard American that you could equally enjoy with the bartender at the bar or at a small table with 2 or 3 of your buddies.   One item of men's room graffitti stood for years "She's Fat. I'm Drunk." -- fortunately no epilogue was written.  The bar is officially called the The Southside Hotel but I know it as Artie Schiller's.  It has gone through total renovation over the years so the things I loved of the place...the pool table, the jukebox and even the untried hot dog rotisserie are long gone.  But this is where I choose to start my journey around the world on what I consider some of the greatest drinking establishments I've visited.   

Boteco Ferraz, Sao Paulo, Brazil
This is a great corner boteco/botequim just off of Avenida Faria Lima in an upscale section of Sao Paulo.  The bar is full of small tables that can be cobbled together for large groups enjoying caipirinhas or chopps (draft beers).   As the night heaves on, the bars tables all fill and many others head to a loft space above the main bar floor or find some other space to stand.  There is futbol on the 4 or 5 TVs and a live band in the corner playing tunes that included Pearl Jam's "Black" that iced the deal for me that despite a great city to explore I wasn't going anywhere soon.  Loved the idea of the personal "drink card" that waiters mark up when they bring another drink to you either on demand or most times they will have your next chopp ready for you just as you are finishing one without asking.   I took the grid on a drink card as a challenge to mark up all boxes until I realized there were about 60 in the grid.  As mentioned in an earlier edition, Gisele would look quite ordinary compared to the women you may see in SP and that would be no different from those that come to Ferraz..quite extraordinary for those not accustomed to the beautiful sights of Brazil.   I know I've only scratched the surface with respect to Sao Paulo nightlife for instance, locals and expats told me that missing Skye Bar at the Hotel Unique was unthinkable, so I will be back to SP and roam that city but I know I will return to Ferraz.  Mais uma Chopp.  Saude.  




The Burwood Tap Chicago, IL
My apartment in Chicago was somewhat like living in a flop house.  The elevators were the ones you pulled a cross a gate to get in and out.  The water pressure was so bad coming out of the shower that I gave up on the shower head and my showers for almost 2 years was filling pint glasses from the bath faucet and rinsing out that way.  I slept (passed out) on a futon that was lumpier than bad mashed potatoes. There were unnatural smells that permeated the building.  But the best part of the apartment was its location.  Depending on who I talked to, my apartment was either across the street from St. Clements church or around the corner from the Burwood Tap. The Burwood Tap, named for its location on the corner of BURling and WrightWOOD,  had some of the aspects that I loved of my home town fav, Artie Schiller's, it had a pool table, the great jukebox and a unique food feature, Burwood's being the popcorn machine.  The popcorn, which during my lean days of being a graduate student, was sometimes my only nourishment that I'd have besides a Pop-Tart breakfast.   I enjoyed some great moments in the Burwood Tap...including watching the Hoyas gloriously beat the Illini to the violent displeasure of the Chicago crowd.  Also at the Burwood Tap I was subject to one of the biggest robberies in the history of bro-dom...where one of my best buddies brokered a date-switch-er-roo during the 2 minutes I spent in the Gents where I certainly ended up on the short-end of the deal.   Also remembered spending a whole afternoon "studying" for the CPA exam at the back bar slowly finishing off a pitcher or two of beer while most of my buddies were making the most of a Cubs rain out on the pool table.   I mostly came to the Tap on "school nights" and was lucky as the bar closed at 2am that I was right around the corner from the apartment I escaped from.

The Boarding House,Nantucket, MA
The Boarding House, is like the rest of Nantucket, best when the crowds are gone.  Nantucket has a lot of great bars, Back Bar at 21 Federal, LoLa 41 (Mark Dailey could be one of the best bartenders you can find anywhere), the Westender (think its called Millies now but still makes Madaket Mysteries), the Summer House pool bar, Straight Wharf, and can't forget the Chicken Box, but the Boarding House is a preferred spot.  Inside the bar if you can get a seat its a great place to stomach watching the Sox with a beer or a Dark & Stormy.  The outside patio also is great place to be even in the coldness of late autumn.  Crowd is always an interesting mix and has been a launching ground for after-hours fun since the Massachusetts closing time is way too early on some nights.  

Harry's Bar Paris, France
Yeah, yeah, I know this one isn't original and is on everyone's "Best Bars' list but when you walk in and you see a G-town pennant prominently displayed OVER the Harry's Bar sign then you know you've come home.   Really the "Greatness" to me is beyond the history of a place where great drinkers such as Hemingway and Bogart saddled up or where great drinks such as the Bloody Mary was born, it has the elements of a place you can lose your self in - entering the bar early but ending up somehow leaving late   There is a level of enjoyment in drinking beers served by surly jacketed servers in a bar filled with great chatter in multiple tongues.   Don't get caught up that you are in Paris and should be in a cafe sipping espressos rather than in a "New York Bar" swilling lager - just enjoy yourself here as much as everyone else is.  


Again, we will continue our journey of the best of the gin joints in all the towns in all the world.  Also would love to hear of everyone's Greatest Bars....Cheers!

Mainichi Okan - The Locks

The Mainichi Okan is a Grade 2 race going 1800m (1 1/8m)....the math is this 200m = 1 furlong, 8 furlongs = 1 mile.
Favorite in this race is Dark Shadowダークシャドウ at 2.5-1.   This horse has won 4 times in a 8 race career.  Last race was G3 going same distance at same track but that race was back in June.  So lets look at a couple of others, Axion, 20-1, came in a well beaten 10th in the June G3 race but has a 2nd and 3rd in last 2 races both graded stakes.  Fact that this veteran horse has racing recently may put the horse possibly in better form than the favorite.  Also over career has tallied a win at track at same distance.   Mikki Dream ミッキードリーム10-1 as 5 wins in 12 tries including winning its last 3 including 2 at 1800m.  


The Locks are:


$10 Win on Axion
$2 Qunella Place (which the call a "Wide") on DS, Axion and MD
$1 Trio DS, Axion, MD
$1 Exacta Box DS, Axion, MD.


Good Luck!!

Ginxele....Paying Homage in Sao Paulo

I am in Sao Paulo....great town..just have to watch out for the caipirinhas - strong!!   But I am down here on business of the NY Jets....I am here to pay homage to the one person that was most important factor in the Jets making it to the AFC Championship game last year.   I am here for Gisele Bundchen.   


I was welcomed to Brasil (they spell it this way here so why'd we go and change the "s" to a "z"!!!) by Gisele....there are numerous 5 story sized billboards of a scantily clad Gisele that you will see on your way into town from the airport - so I knew I have come to the right place.   Gisele has been important to the Jets organization because of the amazing negative effect she has on husband Tom Brady.   I was almost convinced while watching Tom Brady throw 4 interceptions last week in Buffalo that Gisele was at the game....then I realized that the game was in Buffalo and there is no way in hell that Gisele would be caught seen in Buffalo.  Going back to 2008 I wrote the following....predicting a Patriots collapse in the Super Bowl against the Giants ruining the Pats perfect season:

I think we all have seen enough of the video of Tom Brady walking into his girlfriend's Greenwich Village apartment wearing the "Boot". Brady will play no problem next Sunday - Pats fans shouldn't worry about that.  They should worry however of the presence of Brady's super-model girlfriend Gisele Bundchen. By the way Brady appears to be a bit cheap check out the flowers he was bringing to Gisele. I remember buying a girl in my 8th Grade class a more impressive bunch of carnations. Jeez, Tom - your girlfriend made 30 million USD (eh...make that 20mm euro)last year - bring her some roses. Also Tommy-kid start looking like a football player - in this video he looks like he was just outfitted by Justin Timberlake's stylist.

Well... on to Bundchen who has proven to be distracting to her boy Brady - look at last year's AFC Championship game where Brady was outplayed by Peyton Manning in the presence of Gisele. Bundchen proved disasterous to her old boyfriend, Leo DiCaprio's career too -- coming out with movies where he was miscast (the Aviator) or was in some popcorn fluff (Catch Me If You Can) --- when he loses Gisele - he is up for 2 Oscars -- go figure. By the way given that she is from Brazil with a German last name - do you think she asks grandpa what he was doing in the '40s ??? - just asking.

Well I am sorry Tom --- back to Earth - your perfect streak is over -- great season and as a Jet fan I appreciate how your coach flattered our team by needing to cheat to beat us at the beginning of the season.

In what I wrote I implied that Gisele aka Ginxele is a curse to all and I could have thrown in Josh Harnett who she also dated and he hasn't really shown up on the big screen since.  But in my research I have found an exception to the rule.   Gisele dated 10 time champion surfer, Kelly Slater in between 2005 and 2006....Slater won 2 championships that season.   I am going to chalk this anomaly to Slater being in the water during his competitions.  Ginxele's negative energy is impervious to water sports stars.....Given that Tom Brady better start sailing or kayaking or scuba diving if he wants to win another championship....or he can give up on Gisele....as I've witnessed here this week there are 100s(1000s) of women that could make TB forget about Ginxele!

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - The Locks

Its October....get your beret because its Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe time in Paris.   This arguably is the best race on the calendar and this year's edition is not short on stars in the field.  This also is a great race to bet as there is a competitive field of 16 horses and you won't get odds less than 4-1 on any horse.


Lets take a quick look at the field:




Workforce 9-1....Winner of this race last year.  Actually coming to race in maybe better form than last year.  It would be Juddmonte's year to win the l'Arc with a horse thats not even its best.


St. Nicholoas Abbey 33-1....hasn't raced out of money this year.  Has a G1 win and a race over the course in 2011 as well.


Silver Pond 150-1....Has raced in top company but just not winning but does have a 2011 G2 victory.


Hiruno D'Amour 14-1....Despite the kinda French name is a horse from Japan.  Its a good year for racing for Japanese keiba (horseracing)....Japanese horses went 1-2 in the Dubai World Cup in March which also is considered the most prestigious race of the year.  H D'A won  the Tenno Sho Haru which is the top Spring race for older horses in Japan and then came to Longchamp and almost upset favorite Sarafina in a prep for this race.


Nakayama Festa 33-1....If you can get last year's runner up in this race for 33-1 you know its a competitive race.  After last years race..has only raced twice, a real clunker in the Japan Cup and a 4th in the same prep that Sarafina, St Nich Abbey and Hiruno D'Amour ran in.


So You Think 11-2...After being the beaten favorite in Australia's top race, the Melbourne Cup was shipped to the Ireland/UK, where the New Zealand bred colt has become a top handicap horse.  Has 4 wins and a 2nd in 5 tries all with last 4 in G1 company.  But horses best distance may be at 10f rather than the 12f that this race is.  Actually has never raced at 12f.


Sarafina 5-1...after coming in 3rd in this race last year behind Workforce and Nakayama Festa is now considered France's best handicap horse with 3 wins in 4 tries this year all in group stakes company.  Has never raced out of the money in its 9 race career. Won key prep for this race.


Snow Fairy 14-1...Amazing to think Godolphin won't field a horse in this race as such Frankie Dettori is free to ride this 4yo filly.  Has raced in top company this year although without a victory since its G1 wins last fall in Kyoto and Hong Kong for this horse that is normally UK based.


Treasure Beach 33-1...Winner of the G1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington also won the Irish Derby..This 3yo just missed winning the Epsom Derby...and still going off at 33-1.  Odds maybe long because at only race at Longchamp came in 4th behind other l'Arc contenders Meandre and Reliable Man.


Meandre 12-1...Battling with Reliable Man for France's top 3yo.  Has 3 wins and 3 seconds in 6 starts this year including 3 races on same course going same distance.


Masked Marvel 14-1...Coming off a win in the St. Leger.  This 3yo colt may actually want the race longer than 12f....only race at 12f was the Epsom Derby that MM was well beaten.


Reliable Man 12-1...Won the French Derby..only blemish on this 3yo colt's 5 race career was loss to Meandre at Longchamp on Bastille Day.


Shareta 80-1....Also a winner on same course going same distance that was on Bastille Day but it was only a listed stakes going up against other 3yo fillies.


Testosterone 66-1....despite the name is a 3yo filly. Never out of the money in 6 starts including 4 races at Longchamp.  In a prep for this race in September...beat Shareta but was well beaten by Galikova.


Danedream 20-1...another 3yo filly...Danedream is German bred...just won an open G1 in Germany in September. Raced last year on l'Arc day at Longchamp and was well beaten 6th in a 2yo stakes...horse that was 5th in that race was Galikova.


Galikova 8-1...Goldikova's little sister is a 3yo filly who since its clunker in the last years Longchamp race has won 4 out 5 including a victory on the course at same distance last month.  Although seems a bit short-priced compared to other horses.


Other facts on the field...
* 12 of the 16 have already won a Grade/Group 1 race - only Nakayama Festa, Silver Pond, Testosterone, Shareta have not.  
* Workforce, Sarafina, Galikova, Shareta, Meandre, Reliable Man have all won at Longchamp going 12f.
* 3yos have won 7 out of the last 8 l'Arc...14 out of the last 17.
* Only twice in last 12 years has the race been won by an owner other than an Arab royal or Michael Tabor.  Workforce, St Nicholas Abbey, So You Think, Sarafina, Treasure Beach, Shareta all are owned by royals or Michael Tabor. 
* Only once in last 17 years has a filly/mare won the race.


The Locks....
This week while in London put 2 win bets in on Hiruno D'Amour and Treasure Beach.  Still like those horses but in putting my money down now would go.


$15 Win Meandre
$15 Win Reliable Man
$1 exacta Meandre, Reliable Man, Treasure Beach, Hiruno D'Amour.


Merde!!!  Good Luck!!