(The flag that hangs proudly at my Lake House / Photo by Gene McLean)

It is Memorial Day.

Really?

What a strange feeling that we are already at May 25 of 2020. What a strange year. What a strange time.

Really.

Here’s hoping that you and your family and friends are staying safe and well.

Here’s hoping and praying for healing hands to those that have suffered loss during this awful pandemic.

Here’s hoping that — just for a second or two — we stop what we are doing and remember what this Holiday is for and the occasion that we celebrate and remember.

Here’s hoping that tomorrow is better for us all, and that tomorrow’s tomorrow is even better, yet.

Here’s hoping that we can all return to our jobs and to our world sooner rather than latter.

Here’s hoping that we all return. Period.

And, I am praying today that the gravel in our shoes turns to dust and our road together is smoother soon; that the speck in our eye is soon gone and we see our world clearer and better than ever; that the splinter in our finger soon departs and that we all feel and can feel better; that the thunder and lightning in our skies is soon replaced by baby blue and that the storms in our souls is calmed by a gentle breeze; that our doctors and scientists discover a cure and kick this virus’ ass — all the way to China and back. And, that we can all share a hug again. The old-fashioned kind. The way we do it down here in God’s Country. With meaning. With vigor. With love.

That is my prayer for today. And, if that prayer is answered soon? This will be another reason to remember Memorial Day.

Here’s a few thoughts about another great weekend of racing at Churchill Downs:

Four Stars:

(The Twin Spires stand majestically / Photo Courtesy of Churchill Downs)

Churchill Downs:

Great job. Again. Wonderful races. Full cards. And, record handles.

Handles that have never been seen or witnessed outside of days that feature the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks or the Breeders’ Cup.

Spectacular.

On Saturday, Churchill Downs hosted one of the best race days this year — filled to the brim with 5 Stakes races and some of the best racing talent in the free world. Races won by Owendale, Dunbar Road, Breeders’ Cup winner Sharing, and the next great thing, perhaps, Maxfield.

Spectacular.

On Sunday, Churchill Downs filled the card with fun and features.

Spectacular.

On Monday — today — there is more.

Chatted with some top officials with the Kentucky Racing Commission this weekend. According to all, the meet — which was finally allowed to open on May 16 — has gone smoothly; expertly; without incident; and with amazing precision.

To date, the meet has been in a word?

Spectacular.

Applause.

(Maxfield after winning the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

Maxfield:

Have to admit. I have never been truly sold on this one. Not until his “Amazing Race” in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes this weekend.

Oh, I saw his win in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity last October at Keeneland. Saw his raw ability. Saw his stride. Saw his potential.

But when he went to the sidelines after that race, I saw a lot of question marks pop, too.

Could he ever achieve the lofty expectations that some had put on his halter? Would he ever be able to fully reach those heights? Could he return better? Could he return, at all? Could he be as good and durable as it takes to win a single race in the Triple Crown series; much less them all?

Have to admit. I had my wonders.

Up until his win in the G3 Matt Winn on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Poof. Questions gone. Horse answered.

This son of Street Sense is an absolute freak, and on raw talent alone? May be one of the best we have seen in a long, long, long time.

Long time.

I don’t know the true caliber of the horses that he beat in the Matt Winn Stakes. Only time will tell. But that was not the thing that impressed me about Maxfield.

He was making only his 3rd career start.

He was making his 1st start since October.

At times, he was making jockey Jose Ortiz fight to stay on his back and stay in control. (Don’t know what Ortiz did in the late stretch, when he appeared to wave his left hand and stick in the face of jockey Paco Lopez and his horse Ny Traffic. But if anyone deserved it, I’m sure it was Lopez.)

At times, it seemed as if Maxfield was making like a teenager on his or her first date — acting like he truly didn’t know what to do or how to do it.

At times, he was rank. At times, he was immature. At times, he seemed to bolt.

But, at the right times, he ran.

Like an absolute champ.

And, he proved to the world — and the stubborn, like me — that talent is truly a wonderful gift. Even if you have not figured out how to use it all just yet.

I don’t know if Maxfield will be as polished as the “Baffert Bunch” of Authentic, Charlatan, Nadal, Thousand Words and others by the time the Kentucky Derby rolls around on the First Saturday in September.

I don’t know if Maxfield will be able to handle that onslaught of talent, brawn, speed and endurance from all sides of the Baffert barn.

But I do know — now — that Maxfield has the ability to outrun them. Outrun them all.

Now, my friends, we have a horse race.

(Keeneland and Ellis Park / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

Keeneland & Ellis Park:

Apparently, and according to several sources, there has now been a deal struck that will allow Keeneland to run 5 days of live racing in July.

On May 22, Keeneland officials submitted a request to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that would allow the historic and scenic track to race from Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12.

These dates would help off-set the loss of dates and races that would have been held during Keeneland’s traditional April meet, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

And, it would allow Keeneland to host several key and important Stakes events that have been traditionally held and are prominent preps for both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. Such as the G2 Blue Grass Stakes and the G1 Ashland Stakes.

The Commission is slated to take up the issue this Wednesday, and vote on the application.

According to our sources, some of the members of the Commission wanted to see an agreement between Keeneland and Ellis Park — which had been granted to race those dates last year.

And, we were told, that some of the members of the Commission wanted to hear support for the idea from the horsemen who will be running their horses at both locations.

We are now told that both of those questions have been answered, and that the industry will be in agreement when Wednesday comes. We are told that Ellis Park will be rewarded financially for voluntarily giving up the dates. And, we are told that purse money will be accumulated to help off-set the loss of races at Ellis Park, too.

Here’s to Ellis Park and all the horsemen for working collaboratively to achieve this agreement.

Here’s a special “Thank You” to Keeneland’s Vice President for Sales & Racing, Bob Elliston, who worked tirelessly to achieve this goal.

Here’s to Keeneland — for trying something new.

Here’s to Ellis — for allowing something new.

Here’s to the Kentucky Racing Commission — for encouraging something new that should benefit all.

Here’s to Kentucky Racing. The best place on Earth to run. Period. And, that’s nothing new.

We — the racing fans — are the beneficiary. And, we thank you all.

(Luis Saez aboard Maximum Security following the 2019 Kentucky Derby / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

(Former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who is now agent for rider Luis Saez / Photo Courtesy of Keeneland)

Jockey Agent (that’s hard to write) Kiaran McLaughlin and Jockey Luis Saez:

Have to admit something else in this space, before we close up shop and head to the water’s edge of the spectacular Kentucky Lake. I have been no fan of jockey Luis Saez.

I have written long and hard about Saez. How he has stacked up riding violations in New York, Kentucky and Florida about as fast as he has piled up wins.

I have written much about this reckless behavior and how it may soon cause harm to both human and horse.

I have written often about his resistance to change; his constant snub of both Stewards and rulings by filing appeal after appeal that have allowed him to continue to ride on — untamed and unchanged.

But I am glad that Saez has finally dropped his appeal of the suspension handed down by Kentucky Stewards and officials for his part in the 2019 Kentucky Derby that led to the disqualification of Maximum Security and is finally serving his mandatory “days off.”

I don’t know what caused Saez to finally do the right thing.

I am hoping that the talented rider finally saw the “light,” and had his Damascus Road experience.

I am hoping that the jockey will do the same with the appeals that he has stockpiled in New York, as well. Pull the appeals. Serve his time. Do right.

I am hoping that he can amend is reckless behavior on the track, too. Before it is too late. Before someone or some thing is hurt. This is serious business. Calls for serious actions.

Time will only tell.

And, I hope that Kiaran McLaughlin — one of the best and most honorable men to ever train horses and who is now serving as Saez’ agent — has had some influence over the young rider, too.

Kiaran McLaughlin knows this game. He knows the right way to win, and the right way to lose. He knows the right way to act. And, he knows the right way to teach and learn.

I can think of no better mentor to Saez, who certainly is as talented in the saddle as anybody to come along in years.

Kiran McLaughlin is a class act. If Luis Saez can learn to borrow some of that skill set? The sky is the limit.

Here’s hoping for that, too.