Shelley Lee Riley's Blog: https://shelleyleeriley.com/my-thoughts/, page 8
February 22, 2014
Top Billing in Fountain of Youth
January 22, 2014
Dear Readers,
As promised, I am back to the horse races. Got to looking at this race a little late and before I get this posted on the blog, the horses may already be headed for the gate. But here you go, this is The Fountain of Youth, a GII race at Gulfstream Park.
I took a quick look at all the horses, and here is an equally quick comment section. I have bold typed the names of the horses I think will be most in contention in this race.
Commissioner – out ran Top Billing in Commissioner’s last race. This colt is lightly raced and impressive.
We Miss Artie – likes to stalk the speed, got in lots of trouble in the Breeders Cup. He definitely needed his last race and is always game in the lane. He’s a high headed runner, which is not my favorite running style. Gut wrenching photo finish in his last.
Medal Count – At first glance he seems to in over his head, but then again, you never know.
Wildcat Red – Speed, lots of speed, but can stalk the pace up close. Lost a photo to General A Rod. Another gut wrenching photo finish.
General A Rod – Running himself fit against tough company. Won the photo over Wildcat Red. Another gut wrenching photo finish.
Casiquapo – Beat a long way in Delta Downs Jackpot Stake.
C. Zee – Beat pretty handily by Wildcat Red in the Hutcheson.
Almost Famous – Is definitely going to be first or second in the early stages.
Best Plan Yet – Looked good running in restricted stakes. Last two outs tell a tale, however.
Our Caravan – Looks to need more seasoning against easier company than this.
Hesinfront – Not sure why this horse is in this race. It would be a surprise if he won.
Top Billing – Let’s see….hmmm. Okay he’s got a great trainer, one who is known to have a lot of depth in his stable. He’s got a pedigree to die for. On the down side, he hasn’t hooked up with top company yet. But then again, there is speed in this race and he should be coming at the end.
East Hall – Has the most experience in this race, he’s just not one I would choose to outrun the top flight horses he's up against in here.
So then, who do I pick?
In his last race, Top Billing looked to me like he didn’t like the dirt in his face, early on, especially when the field was bunched up in front of him. He looked amazing rounding the turn for home. He was very wide and looked like he could go off and win by ten or more lengths. Then coming down the lane he went to looking around, jumping up and down and still he won by almost three lengths.
Wildcat Red, We Miss Artie and General A Rod, I can’t separate them. Each is a very nice horse and also extremely game. They all have great futures in front of them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any one of the three finished on the board.
But if I was going to put my two dollars to work, I think I would go place it on Commissioner, lightly raced, and he outran the horse that will probably be the horse favored to win—Top Billing.
In conclusion, this race is so tough, I can’t give an opinion as to how they will stack up. I can’t give you a first, second and third order of finish. If one horse goes off and wins by many in this field, he will definitely be eyeing the road to the Kentucky Derby, and that I can say with certainty.
Take care,Shelley Riley, author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
As promised, I am back to the horse races. Got to looking at this race a little late and before I get this posted on the blog, the horses may already be headed for the gate. But here you go, this is The Fountain of Youth, a GII race at Gulfstream Park.
I took a quick look at all the horses, and here is an equally quick comment section. I have bold typed the names of the horses I think will be most in contention in this race.
Commissioner – out ran Top Billing in Commissioner’s last race. This colt is lightly raced and impressive.
We Miss Artie – likes to stalk the speed, got in lots of trouble in the Breeders Cup. He definitely needed his last race and is always game in the lane. He’s a high headed runner, which is not my favorite running style. Gut wrenching photo finish in his last.
Medal Count – At first glance he seems to in over his head, but then again, you never know.
Wildcat Red – Speed, lots of speed, but can stalk the pace up close. Lost a photo to General A Rod. Another gut wrenching photo finish.
General A Rod – Running himself fit against tough company. Won the photo over Wildcat Red. Another gut wrenching photo finish.
Casiquapo – Beat a long way in Delta Downs Jackpot Stake.
C. Zee – Beat pretty handily by Wildcat Red in the Hutcheson.
Almost Famous – Is definitely going to be first or second in the early stages.
Best Plan Yet – Looked good running in restricted stakes. Last two outs tell a tale, however.
Our Caravan – Looks to need more seasoning against easier company than this.
Hesinfront – Not sure why this horse is in this race. It would be a surprise if he won.
Top Billing – Let’s see….hmmm. Okay he’s got a great trainer, one who is known to have a lot of depth in his stable. He’s got a pedigree to die for. On the down side, he hasn’t hooked up with top company yet. But then again, there is speed in this race and he should be coming at the end.
East Hall – Has the most experience in this race, he’s just not one I would choose to outrun the top flight horses he's up against in here.
So then, who do I pick?
In his last race, Top Billing looked to me like he didn’t like the dirt in his face, early on, especially when the field was bunched up in front of him. He looked amazing rounding the turn for home. He was very wide and looked like he could go off and win by ten or more lengths. Then coming down the lane he went to looking around, jumping up and down and still he won by almost three lengths.
Wildcat Red, We Miss Artie and General A Rod, I can’t separate them. Each is a very nice horse and also extremely game. They all have great futures in front of them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any one of the three finished on the board.
But if I was going to put my two dollars to work, I think I would go place it on Commissioner, lightly raced, and he outran the horse that will probably be the horse favored to win—Top Billing.
In conclusion, this race is so tough, I can’t give an opinion as to how they will stack up. I can’t give you a first, second and third order of finish. If one horse goes off and wins by many in this field, he will definitely be eyeing the road to the Kentucky Derby, and that I can say with certainty.
Take care,Shelley Riley, author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
February 19, 2014
Beezle on Booktracks.com
February 19, 2014
Dear Readers,
So what have I been doing the last few weeks? Writing…lots of writing, just not for the blog. I’ve been working on short stories for inclusion in a compellation to be published in the next few months.
I’ve completed five so far, not all of which will be included in the first book. Since the common wisdom dictates you should write about what you know, the first book of short stories will be based on a horse/livestock theme.
On Saturday past, I attended a seminar where a new content creation platform for electronic books was presented. Reading accompanied by audio elements? I was not particularly impressed with the idea at the beginning of the presentation. But half-way through I was curious, and by the end I was inspired to try it out.
To that end I have uploaded and posted “Beezle” on Booktrack.com. The service is free, no charge to download and use Google Chrome, which you need to have in order to access the content. There is no charge at present for using the site, and all the reading material is currently free. Eventually they will have a premium channel, but for now, in its early stages, it’s FREE.
Oh how I love free, and it has been my observation so do other readers around the globe, which is why blogs are so popular.
So how does it work? Currently you use your PC to read and listen to the books, poems and short stories. Booktrack will be launching a new app, in the next couple of weeks, which will allow readers to use their smart phones and tablets.
These are not audio books; they are books with sound tracks. When I read the first one, I found it distracting. But very quickly it all came together for me and I really liked it. So there is, what I would call, a reading curve.
The reading speed is adjustable, so the sound effects should be heard in the right places for readers of any speed. So be sure to use the + and – symbols to adjust the reading speed, though the program is intuitive after you have completed the first few pages. It would be a bit of a distraction to have gun shots going off when you have immersed yourself in the next scene, which could be a romantic encounter, a wedding or even a birth.
Since I tend to read quite rapidly, I did find that the sound effects loading at the beginning of each page included a bit of a lag. I learned to pause or slow down as I turned each page. This is an issue that will be corrected when the new app is launched.
I spent hours sifting through all their sound effects, and music clips to come up with what I thought enhanced the reading experience. If you don’t like the sounds and just want to read the story, turn down the volume. Beezle has nine scenes and the action is quite compelling by the time you get into scene nine.
There are a lot of classics currently available and quite a few authors have included pieces in order to introduce readers to their work. I got a kick out of reading a couple offerings in the young adult section.
One in particular I felt compelled to add a comment to when I’d finished it. If you have time take a look at it; “Priscilla and the Wimps” and it is written by Cole Martin and Robby Brocoli . It is short and entertaining. I don’t know if these are the author’s real names, it has a kind of veggie feel to me, like they may be pulling my leg. But nonetheless, I liked the story, if not the ending.
So here’s the link to my short stories on Booktrack: Beezle is an adventure with lots of action. Token is a flight of fancy I wrote for my Fantasy critique group. I’m not sure the fantasy genre is in my wheelhouse. But I do love Lord of the Rings. I hope you enjoy reading and listening to Beezleand will want to read my book when it comes out. http://cdn.booktrack.com/studio/index.html#!/bookshelfOr you can type in Beezle or my last name in the search engine. You don’t even need to sign up to read. But if you choose to leave a comment, or rate it, you do.
So if you haven’t already seen Booktrack.com, I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to share it with you. Next blog I will be looking at the races.
Take care,Shelley Lee Riley author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
So what have I been doing the last few weeks? Writing…lots of writing, just not for the blog. I’ve been working on short stories for inclusion in a compellation to be published in the next few months.
I’ve completed five so far, not all of which will be included in the first book. Since the common wisdom dictates you should write about what you know, the first book of short stories will be based on a horse/livestock theme.
On Saturday past, I attended a seminar where a new content creation platform for electronic books was presented. Reading accompanied by audio elements? I was not particularly impressed with the idea at the beginning of the presentation. But half-way through I was curious, and by the end I was inspired to try it out.
To that end I have uploaded and posted “Beezle” on Booktrack.com. The service is free, no charge to download and use Google Chrome, which you need to have in order to access the content. There is no charge at present for using the site, and all the reading material is currently free. Eventually they will have a premium channel, but for now, in its early stages, it’s FREE.
Oh how I love free, and it has been my observation so do other readers around the globe, which is why blogs are so popular.
So how does it work? Currently you use your PC to read and listen to the books, poems and short stories. Booktrack will be launching a new app, in the next couple of weeks, which will allow readers to use their smart phones and tablets.
These are not audio books; they are books with sound tracks. When I read the first one, I found it distracting. But very quickly it all came together for me and I really liked it. So there is, what I would call, a reading curve.
The reading speed is adjustable, so the sound effects should be heard in the right places for readers of any speed. So be sure to use the + and – symbols to adjust the reading speed, though the program is intuitive after you have completed the first few pages. It would be a bit of a distraction to have gun shots going off when you have immersed yourself in the next scene, which could be a romantic encounter, a wedding or even a birth.
Since I tend to read quite rapidly, I did find that the sound effects loading at the beginning of each page included a bit of a lag. I learned to pause or slow down as I turned each page. This is an issue that will be corrected when the new app is launched.
I spent hours sifting through all their sound effects, and music clips to come up with what I thought enhanced the reading experience. If you don’t like the sounds and just want to read the story, turn down the volume. Beezle has nine scenes and the action is quite compelling by the time you get into scene nine.
There are a lot of classics currently available and quite a few authors have included pieces in order to introduce readers to their work. I got a kick out of reading a couple offerings in the young adult section.
One in particular I felt compelled to add a comment to when I’d finished it. If you have time take a look at it; “Priscilla and the Wimps” and it is written by Cole Martin and Robby Brocoli . It is short and entertaining. I don’t know if these are the author’s real names, it has a kind of veggie feel to me, like they may be pulling my leg. But nonetheless, I liked the story, if not the ending.
So here’s the link to my short stories on Booktrack: Beezle is an adventure with lots of action. Token is a flight of fancy I wrote for my Fantasy critique group. I’m not sure the fantasy genre is in my wheelhouse. But I do love Lord of the Rings. I hope you enjoy reading and listening to Beezleand will want to read my book when it comes out. http://cdn.booktrack.com/studio/index.html#!/bookshelfOr you can type in Beezle or my last name in the search engine. You don’t even need to sign up to read. But if you choose to leave a comment, or rate it, you do.
So if you haven’t already seen Booktrack.com, I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to share it with you. Next blog I will be looking at the races.
Take care,Shelley Lee Riley author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
January 27, 2014
Cairo Prince - "Oh Wow"
January 27, 2014
Dear Readers,
Well, Saturday’s Holy Bull was a rather ho hum affair, except for Cairo Prince’s “Oh Wow” performance. Despite a strong field, he made it look easy, and when a horse win’s off like that, they usually pull up terrific.
So ramp up the stress factor, his connections are going to have a lot of thrills going forward from this point on. I’m sure the first bright-eyed visage trainer Kiaran McLaughlin wants to see looking back at him when he steps into the shedrow in the morning, will be Cairo Prince’s.
I’ve always said, “Horse’s stay up night’s to ruin our days.” There are so many things that can happen and which can end the dream. Besides a training injury, there’s a cough, colic, getting cast, just to name a few.
My best wishes and good luck goes out to the whole team. I’m so excited to watch this horse as he progresses towards the first Saturday in May.
Take care,Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
Well, Saturday’s Holy Bull was a rather ho hum affair, except for Cairo Prince’s “Oh Wow” performance. Despite a strong field, he made it look easy, and when a horse win’s off like that, they usually pull up terrific.
So ramp up the stress factor, his connections are going to have a lot of thrills going forward from this point on. I’m sure the first bright-eyed visage trainer Kiaran McLaughlin wants to see looking back at him when he steps into the shedrow in the morning, will be Cairo Prince’s. I’ve always said, “Horse’s stay up night’s to ruin our days.” There are so many things that can happen and which can end the dream. Besides a training injury, there’s a cough, colic, getting cast, just to name a few.
My best wishes and good luck goes out to the whole team. I’m so excited to watch this horse as he progresses towards the first Saturday in May.
Take care,Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
January 23, 2014
My Picks on the Holy Bull Stakes
January 23, 2014
Dear Readers,
Nothing I like better than handicapping a nice field of horses in a top rated race. This Saturdays Grade II Holy Bull Stakes falls into the top rated category on several levels. Used as a prep race for the Florida Derby, which is a stepping stone for the Kentucky Derby, the race annually attracts a strong field of contenders. Who doesn’t remember Barbaro who won this race in 2006 and went on to win the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby?
Is there a possible Kentucky Derby winner in this race? Could be. Let’s take a look at the entries.
Coup de Grace — This son of Tapit broke his maiden at first asking, going six furlongs, in November. He came back five weeks later to win an allowance race at a distance of one mile. This race seems an ambitious, though at the same time obvious, choice for his connections to choose for their speedy charge.
Financial Mogul — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he seems to show up ready to run every other race. Someday he may get it all together and be a really nice horse, but until he lines out and figures out what he’s supposed to do, I will be looking elsewhere for the winner of this race.
Best Plan Yet — A veteran of seven races in eight months, this horse has learned his lessons, running himself into being considered a nice colt and one with a bright future. Obviously his connections thought highly of him from the get go. His first two starts were in stakes races before they backed him down and gave him an opportunity to break his maiden, against easier company, in a maiden special weight. He got really good after that. But what happened in the last race where he finished way back? He broke good and then went nowhere. Maybe he didn’t like the Gulfstream Park surface and that wouldn’t bode well for Saturday.
Almost Famous — And if he wins this race he will definitely live up to his name. This son of Unbridled’s Song looks very talented and has also been rather good at getting himself in trouble. Lightly raced, he is one good race, against tougher company, away from being well regarded.
Our Caravan — With one race, and that going a distance of ground, you can’t ignore this colt. Though he seemed sluggish in the early and mid stages of that race against other maidens, nonetheless he won by a clear margin. Taking on this group in the Holy Bull, while it seems ambitious, his connections will look very savvy if he wins.
Mr Speaker — I should really like this son of Pulpit, but I’m a little suspect since he’s never run on the dirt. He’s blessed with a trainer who knows how to bring a young runner up to a big race and Mr Speaker looks like he knows the business of running when he pushed through on the rail to pull away in his last race. This talented turf runner can’t be overlooked by any means, and hopefully he’ll like the Gulfstream Park surface.
Cairo Prince — Okay, I see why everybody is getting so excited about this colt. The most impressive thing about him, for me, is when the running starts on the turn for home; Cairo Prince wants to be in front. Ears slick to his head, he digs in and gives it everything he’s got. The last race, where he was second by a nostril, was for all intents and purposes a draw, at least as far as I’m concerned. The pace in that race was astonishingly slow, my goodness these horses breeze faster than those fractions…much faster.
Wicked Strong — This colt didn’t benefit from the slow pace in the Remsen either , and he finished third behind Cairo Prince. He got himself in trouble coming out of the gate and ran with his tail tucked up under him, never seemed to relax enough to enjoy himself. With very little room to run throughout the race, when Wicked Strong did get clear, he ran green as grass down the lane, and yet he only got beat a half length. I like this colt. Someday, if he stays sound, and once he figures out what it’s all about, he'll be quite the runner.
Conquest Titan — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he has shown talent, but I hesitate to ignore him and yet I can’t back him. He would benefit from an easy lead, something he is unlikely to enjoy in this race.
Big Bazinga — Right off let’s get past how much I like the name of this horse. I’ve never watched the Big Bang Theory, which is where Bazinga was popularized and I must say it would be a big prank indeed, if this gelding beat this contentious group of runners. Big fun if he did, however.
Intense Holiday — This colt has all the right connections going for him, and boy-howdy he has been running against the best. Maybe Saturday will be the day he gets it all together.
So what do I think? Tough race and it should be very exciting. I won’t be betting and I’m not encouraging anybody to use my opinions to make their wagers, having said that; here are the horses I’ll be watching to make a statement. If they do, I’ll be back bragging about it on Sunday.
Wicked Strong — If he gets it all together on Saturday, he may be in a close photo with Cairo Prince.
Cairo Prince — I love this horse and his obvious will to win. But I do think he could be battling it out with Wicked Strong if the latter lines out and runs his best race.
Mr Speaker — Will definitely have a say in the outcome of this race.
Take care,Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
Nothing I like better than handicapping a nice field of horses in a top rated race. This Saturdays Grade II Holy Bull Stakes falls into the top rated category on several levels. Used as a prep race for the Florida Derby, which is a stepping stone for the Kentucky Derby, the race annually attracts a strong field of contenders. Who doesn’t remember Barbaro who won this race in 2006 and went on to win the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby?
Is there a possible Kentucky Derby winner in this race? Could be. Let’s take a look at the entries.
Coup de Grace — This son of Tapit broke his maiden at first asking, going six furlongs, in November. He came back five weeks later to win an allowance race at a distance of one mile. This race seems an ambitious, though at the same time obvious, choice for his connections to choose for their speedy charge.
Financial Mogul — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he seems to show up ready to run every other race. Someday he may get it all together and be a really nice horse, but until he lines out and figures out what he’s supposed to do, I will be looking elsewhere for the winner of this race.
Best Plan Yet — A veteran of seven races in eight months, this horse has learned his lessons, running himself into being considered a nice colt and one with a bright future. Obviously his connections thought highly of him from the get go. His first two starts were in stakes races before they backed him down and gave him an opportunity to break his maiden, against easier company, in a maiden special weight. He got really good after that. But what happened in the last race where he finished way back? He broke good and then went nowhere. Maybe he didn’t like the Gulfstream Park surface and that wouldn’t bode well for Saturday.
Almost Famous — And if he wins this race he will definitely live up to his name. This son of Unbridled’s Song looks very talented and has also been rather good at getting himself in trouble. Lightly raced, he is one good race, against tougher company, away from being well regarded.
Our Caravan — With one race, and that going a distance of ground, you can’t ignore this colt. Though he seemed sluggish in the early and mid stages of that race against other maidens, nonetheless he won by a clear margin. Taking on this group in the Holy Bull, while it seems ambitious, his connections will look very savvy if he wins.
Mr Speaker — I should really like this son of Pulpit, but I’m a little suspect since he’s never run on the dirt. He’s blessed with a trainer who knows how to bring a young runner up to a big race and Mr Speaker looks like he knows the business of running when he pushed through on the rail to pull away in his last race. This talented turf runner can’t be overlooked by any means, and hopefully he’ll like the Gulfstream Park surface.
Cairo Prince — Okay, I see why everybody is getting so excited about this colt. The most impressive thing about him, for me, is when the running starts on the turn for home; Cairo Prince wants to be in front. Ears slick to his head, he digs in and gives it everything he’s got. The last race, where he was second by a nostril, was for all intents and purposes a draw, at least as far as I’m concerned. The pace in that race was astonishingly slow, my goodness these horses breeze faster than those fractions…much faster.
Wicked Strong — This colt didn’t benefit from the slow pace in the Remsen either , and he finished third behind Cairo Prince. He got himself in trouble coming out of the gate and ran with his tail tucked up under him, never seemed to relax enough to enjoy himself. With very little room to run throughout the race, when Wicked Strong did get clear, he ran green as grass down the lane, and yet he only got beat a half length. I like this colt. Someday, if he stays sound, and once he figures out what it’s all about, he'll be quite the runner.
Conquest Titan — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he has shown talent, but I hesitate to ignore him and yet I can’t back him. He would benefit from an easy lead, something he is unlikely to enjoy in this race.
Big Bazinga — Right off let’s get past how much I like the name of this horse. I’ve never watched the Big Bang Theory, which is where Bazinga was popularized and I must say it would be a big prank indeed, if this gelding beat this contentious group of runners. Big fun if he did, however.
Intense Holiday — This colt has all the right connections going for him, and boy-howdy he has been running against the best. Maybe Saturday will be the day he gets it all together.
So what do I think? Tough race and it should be very exciting. I won’t be betting and I’m not encouraging anybody to use my opinions to make their wagers, having said that; here are the horses I’ll be watching to make a statement. If they do, I’ll be back bragging about it on Sunday.
Wicked Strong — If he gets it all together on Saturday, he may be in a close photo with Cairo Prince.
Cairo Prince — I love this horse and his obvious will to win. But I do think he could be battling it out with Wicked Strong if the latter lines out and runs his best race.
Mr Speaker — Will definitely have a say in the outcome of this race.
Take care,Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
Comments on the Holy Bull Stakes
January 23, 2014
Dear Readers,
Nothing I like better than handicapping a nice field of horses in a top rated race. This Saturdays Grade II Holy Bull Stakes falls into the top rated category on several levels. Used as a prep race for the Florida Derby, which is a stepping stone for the Kentucky Derby, the race annually attracts a strong field of contenders. Who doesn’t remember Barbaro who won this race in 2006 and went on to win the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby?
Is there a possible Kentucky Derby winner in this race? Could be. Let’s take a look at the entries.
Coup de Grace — This son of Tapit broke his maiden at first asking, going six furlongs, in November. He came back five weeks later to win an allowance race at a distance of one mile. This race seems an ambitious, though at the same time obvious, choice for his connections to choose for their speedy charge.
Financial Mogul — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he seems to show up ready to run every other race. Someday he may get it all together and be a really nice horse, but until he lines out and figures out what he’s supposed to do, I will be looking elsewhere for the winner of this race.
Best Plan Yet — A veteran of seven races in eight months, this horse has learned his lessons, running himself into being considered a nice colt and one with a bright future. Obviously his connections thought highly of him from the get go. His first two starts were in stakes races before they backed him down and gave him an opportunity to break his maiden, against easier company, in a maiden special weight. He got really good after that. But what happened in the last race where he finished way back? He broke good and then went nowhere. Maybe he didn’t like the Gulfstream Park surface and that wouldn’t bode well for Saturday.
Almost Famous — And if he wins this race he will definitely live up to his name. This son of Unbridled’s Song looks very talented and has also been rather good at getting himself in trouble. Lightly raced, he is one good race, against tougher company, away from being well regarded.
Our Caravan — With one race, and that going a distance of ground, you can’t ignore this colt. Though he seemed sluggish in the early and mid stages of that race against other maidens, nonetheless he won by a clear margin. Taking on this group in the Holy Bull, while it seems ambitious, his connections will look very savvy if he wins.
Mr Speaker — I should really like this son of Pulpit, but I’m a little suspect since he’s never run on the dirt. He’s blessed with a trainer who knows how to bring a young runner up to a big race and Mr Speaker looks like he knows the business of running when he pushed through on the rail to pull away in his last race. This talented turf runner can’t be overlooked by any means, and hopefully he’ll like the Gulfstream Park surface.
Cairo Prince — Okay, I see why everybody is getting so excited about this colt. The most impressive thing about him, for me, is when the running starts on the turn for home; Cairo Prince wants to be in front. Ears slick to his head, he digs in and gives it everything he’s got. The last race, where he was second by a nostril, was for all intents and purposes a draw, at least as far as I’m concerned. The pace in that race was astonishingly slow, my goodness these horses breeze faster than those fractions…much faster.
Wicked Strong — This colt didn’t benefit from the slow pace in the Remsen either , and he finished third behind Cairo Prince. He got himself in trouble coming out of the gate and ran with his tail tucked up under him, never seemed to relax enough to enjoy himself. With very little room to run throughout the race, when Wicked Strong did get clear, he ran green as grass down the lane, and yet he only got beat a half length. I like this colt. Someday, if he stays sound, and once he figures out what it’s all about, he'll be quite the runner.
Conquest Titan — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he has shown talent, but I hesitate to ignore him and yet I can’t back him. He would benefit from an easy lead, something he is unlikely to enjoy in this race.
Big Bazinga — Right off let’s get past how much I like the name of this horse. I’ve never watched the Big Bang Theory, which is where Bazinga was popularized and I must say it would be a big prank indeed, if this gelding beat this contentious group of runners. Big fun if he did, however.
Intense Holiday — This colt has all the right connections going for him, and boy-howdy he has been running against the best. Maybe Saturday will be the day he gets it all together.
So what do I think? Tough race and it should be very exciting. I won’t be betting and I’m not encouraging anybody to use my opinions to make their wagers, having said that; here are the horses I’ll be watching to make a statement. If they do, I’ll be back bragging about it on Sunday.
Wicked Strong — If he gets it all together on Saturday, he may be in a close photo with Cairo Prince.
Cairo Prince — I love this horse and his obvious will to win. But I do think he could be battling it out with Wicked Strong if the latter lines out and runs his best race.
Mr Speaker — Will definitely have a say in the outcome of this race.
Take care,Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
Nothing I like better than handicapping a nice field of horses in a top rated race. This Saturdays Grade II Holy Bull Stakes falls into the top rated category on several levels. Used as a prep race for the Florida Derby, which is a stepping stone for the Kentucky Derby, the race annually attracts a strong field of contenders. Who doesn’t remember Barbaro who won this race in 2006 and went on to win the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby?
Is there a possible Kentucky Derby winner in this race? Could be. Let’s take a look at the entries.
Coup de Grace — This son of Tapit broke his maiden at first asking, going six furlongs, in November. He came back five weeks later to win an allowance race at a distance of one mile. This race seems an ambitious, though at the same time obvious, choice for his connections to choose for their speedy charge.
Financial Mogul — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he seems to show up ready to run every other race. Someday he may get it all together and be a really nice horse, but until he lines out and figures out what he’s supposed to do, I will be looking elsewhere for the winner of this race.
Best Plan Yet — A veteran of seven races in eight months, this horse has learned his lessons, running himself into being considered a nice colt and one with a bright future. Obviously his connections thought highly of him from the get go. His first two starts were in stakes races before they backed him down and gave him an opportunity to break his maiden, against easier company, in a maiden special weight. He got really good after that. But what happened in the last race where he finished way back? He broke good and then went nowhere. Maybe he didn’t like the Gulfstream Park surface and that wouldn’t bode well for Saturday.
Almost Famous — And if he wins this race he will definitely live up to his name. This son of Unbridled’s Song looks very talented and has also been rather good at getting himself in trouble. Lightly raced, he is one good race, against tougher company, away from being well regarded.
Our Caravan — With one race, and that going a distance of ground, you can’t ignore this colt. Though he seemed sluggish in the early and mid stages of that race against other maidens, nonetheless he won by a clear margin. Taking on this group in the Holy Bull, while it seems ambitious, his connections will look very savvy if he wins.
Mr Speaker — I should really like this son of Pulpit, but I’m a little suspect since he’s never run on the dirt. He’s blessed with a trainer who knows how to bring a young runner up to a big race and Mr Speaker looks like he knows the business of running when he pushed through on the rail to pull away in his last race. This talented turf runner can’t be overlooked by any means, and hopefully he’ll like the Gulfstream Park surface.
Cairo Prince — Okay, I see why everybody is getting so excited about this colt. The most impressive thing about him, for me, is when the running starts on the turn for home; Cairo Prince wants to be in front. Ears slick to his head, he digs in and gives it everything he’s got. The last race, where he was second by a nostril, was for all intents and purposes a draw, at least as far as I’m concerned. The pace in that race was astonishingly slow, my goodness these horses breeze faster than those fractions…much faster.
Wicked Strong — This colt didn’t benefit from the slow pace in the Remsen either , and he finished third behind Cairo Prince. He got himself in trouble coming out of the gate and ran with his tail tucked up under him, never seemed to relax enough to enjoy himself. With very little room to run throughout the race, when Wicked Strong did get clear, he ran green as grass down the lane, and yet he only got beat a half length. I like this colt. Someday, if he stays sound, and once he figures out what it’s all about, he'll be quite the runner.
Conquest Titan — I don’t know what to say about this horse, he has shown talent, but I hesitate to ignore him and yet I can’t back him. He would benefit from an easy lead, something he is unlikely to enjoy in this race.
Big Bazinga — Right off let’s get past how much I like the name of this horse. I’ve never watched the Big Bang Theory, which is where Bazinga was popularized and I must say it would be a big prank indeed, if this gelding beat this contentious group of runners. Big fun if he did, however.
Intense Holiday — This colt has all the right connections going for him, and boy-howdy he has been running against the best. Maybe Saturday will be the day he gets it all together.
So what do I think? Tough race and it should be very exciting. I won’t be betting and I’m not encouraging anybody to use my opinions to make their wagers, having said that; here are the horses I’ll be watching to make a statement. If they do, I’ll be back bragging about it on Sunday.
Wicked Strong — If he gets it all together on Saturday, he may be in a close photo with Cairo Prince.
Cairo Prince — I love this horse and his obvious will to win. But I do think he could be battling it out with Wicked Strong if the latter lines out and runs his best race.
Mr Speaker — Will definitely have a say in the outcome of this race.
Take care,Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
January 22, 2014
Tanzanite Cat and Walt in the Smarty Jones Stakes
January 22, 2014
Dear Readers,
Today I pulled up the race video on Tanzanite Cat winning the one mile Smarty Jones Stakes which was run at Oaklawn Park on January 20th. A big good looking horse, the son of Graeme Hall was well placed throughout the race. When Waltmade an early move on the backside and scooted past him on the rail, Tanzanite Cat stayed relaxed and up in the bit. When the running started down the lane, he looked professional and got the job done.
I couldn’t help myself when I saw Walt floundering around; I had to take a closer look at the replay. I’m not sure why he made that big move on the backside, I can surmise, after the way he ran in his last race; that perhaps his connections thought he would run better on the front end. For whatever reason he made that move, once Walt was on the lead, he seemed to be controllable and was moving along well in hand.
The problem comes when the rider asked him as they’d turned for home and he gave the colt a tap or two with the whip. Each tap resulted in the rider having to check the colt. Walt was lugging in and away from the whip. So the jockey switched to a left handed whip, which didn’t fix the problem. Where the real problem came to the fore was when he switched back to the right handed whip. The colt ducked for the rail, switched leads violently and started climbing. Ken Tohill, the jockey and a veteran rider I know well, wisely put the whip away and hand rode Walt to the wire, saving second for his connections. Hopefully Walt didn’t hurt himself switching leads in the manner in which he did it, or that an injury didn’t cause him to do it in the first place, rather than the whip being the causal factor.
Clearly Walt is a speedy little devil, still green and he’ll surely improve with racing. Now what about that whip? One hates to take the whip off, and it was clear Ken wasn’t pounding on this colt, but it’s also clear that the whip and Walt’s reaction to it, took away any chance he had of winning the race.
Barring injury, they might try working Walt with blinkers to find out if the whip, in his peripheral vision, is what’s troubling him. Some horses just won’t tolerate a whip. But a whip is an important tool in horseracing and not just to encourage the horse, but to help control him. For example a horse lugging, either in or out, can often be corrected with a good tap of the whip on a shoulder or neck. The problem is, if the jockey is carrying a whip, the racing officials expect him to use it. Any jockey can make it look like he’s hitting the horse, when in fact he is just waving it around. But if Walt is concerned enough about being hit, he’s going react to any movement.
All in all, I hope both horse’s came out of the race in good shape. I’ll be looking forward to seeing both of them on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Take care,Shelley Riley Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
Today I pulled up the race video on Tanzanite Cat winning the one mile Smarty Jones Stakes which was run at Oaklawn Park on January 20th. A big good looking horse, the son of Graeme Hall was well placed throughout the race. When Waltmade an early move on the backside and scooted past him on the rail, Tanzanite Cat stayed relaxed and up in the bit. When the running started down the lane, he looked professional and got the job done.
I couldn’t help myself when I saw Walt floundering around; I had to take a closer look at the replay. I’m not sure why he made that big move on the backside, I can surmise, after the way he ran in his last race; that perhaps his connections thought he would run better on the front end. For whatever reason he made that move, once Walt was on the lead, he seemed to be controllable and was moving along well in hand.
The problem comes when the rider asked him as they’d turned for home and he gave the colt a tap or two with the whip. Each tap resulted in the rider having to check the colt. Walt was lugging in and away from the whip. So the jockey switched to a left handed whip, which didn’t fix the problem. Where the real problem came to the fore was when he switched back to the right handed whip. The colt ducked for the rail, switched leads violently and started climbing. Ken Tohill, the jockey and a veteran rider I know well, wisely put the whip away and hand rode Walt to the wire, saving second for his connections. Hopefully Walt didn’t hurt himself switching leads in the manner in which he did it, or that an injury didn’t cause him to do it in the first place, rather than the whip being the causal factor.
Clearly Walt is a speedy little devil, still green and he’ll surely improve with racing. Now what about that whip? One hates to take the whip off, and it was clear Ken wasn’t pounding on this colt, but it’s also clear that the whip and Walt’s reaction to it, took away any chance he had of winning the race.
Barring injury, they might try working Walt with blinkers to find out if the whip, in his peripheral vision, is what’s troubling him. Some horses just won’t tolerate a whip. But a whip is an important tool in horseracing and not just to encourage the horse, but to help control him. For example a horse lugging, either in or out, can often be corrected with a good tap of the whip on a shoulder or neck. The problem is, if the jockey is carrying a whip, the racing officials expect him to use it. Any jockey can make it look like he’s hitting the horse, when in fact he is just waving it around. But if Walt is concerned enough about being hit, he’s going react to any movement.All in all, I hope both horse’s came out of the race in good shape. I’ll be looking forward to seeing both of them on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Take care,Shelley Riley Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
www.shelleyriley.com
January 18, 2014
Midnight Hawk in the Sham & Capetown Noir in L'Ormarins Queens Plate
January 18, 2014
Dear Reader’s,
It’s been a very busy time for me. I finished up a short story for my next book, and I was thrilled to be invited to speak to the members of three different organizations so far this month. Today I was catching up on two races that were run on January 11th, both of which are considered stepping-stone races. The Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Race course in California, which is good for Ten Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner. The other was the L’Ormarins Queens Plate a Gr. I race that takes place at Kenilworth Race Course in Capetown South Africa. The L’Ormarins is the first in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup “Win and Your In” Challenge Cup Series. The winner of this race becomes an instant qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile in October at Santa Anita. First off the Sham, only four horses went to post in this prestigious race. A four horse field, yuck, never good for the punter. Unless one horse is much the best, pick the speed and place your bets. And that is exactly how this race unfolded. Two horses on the front end, and two other’s getting a workout behind them. Midnight Hawk, who broke his maiden impressively in December, and comes back in the Sham to win by a length and half, and he has to be respected. Kristo the runner up to Midnight Hawk, also lightly raced, looked good, but on the day was clearly second best.
I’m not ready to jump on a Midnight Hawk bandwagon as yet. He is a heavy headed runner, which is not my favorite type, and once he got in front of Kristo, he may have lost focus or maybe that was all there was. He just doesn’t, at this point, look like a horse I would want to place a futures bet on in Las Vegas to win the Kentucky Derby. Nonetheless, congratulations to his connections, which must be really excited and well they should be. Now on to the 153rdrunning of the L’Ormarins Queens Plate a one mile Gr. I contest run over the turf course at Kenilworth. A strong field of fourteen horses broke beautifully from two gates and the stampede was on in the first eighth of a mile, everyone jockeying for good position. At which point the first of several jam-ups began to unfold.
The eventual winner, Capetown Noir (SAF) in tight quarters down on the rail, was helpless to do anything but wait and see how it all unwound, and pray someone didn’t go down and take him with them.
I’m not sure if I’m more impressed by the horse or his jockey. Karl Neisius, courageous and clever, and I would say this was a masterful ride. Not only did he keep his horse safe in a very dangerous section of the race, once clear he timed his mounts move so beautifully, he made it clear a very talented field was running for second and third.
An interesting side note on the L’Ormarins Queens Plate spectator dress code, everybody has to wear blue and white. It makes for a really striking picture on this day at the races in South Africa.
Take care,Shelley Riley - Author of; Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Reader’s,
It’s been a very busy time for me. I finished up a short story for my next book, and I was thrilled to be invited to speak to the members of three different organizations so far this month. Today I was catching up on two races that were run on January 11th, both of which are considered stepping-stone races. The Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Race course in California, which is good for Ten Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner. The other was the L’Ormarins Queens Plate a Gr. I race that takes place at Kenilworth Race Course in Capetown South Africa. The L’Ormarins is the first in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup “Win and Your In” Challenge Cup Series. The winner of this race becomes an instant qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile in October at Santa Anita. First off the Sham, only four horses went to post in this prestigious race. A four horse field, yuck, never good for the punter. Unless one horse is much the best, pick the speed and place your bets. And that is exactly how this race unfolded. Two horses on the front end, and two other’s getting a workout behind them. Midnight Hawk, who broke his maiden impressively in December, and comes back in the Sham to win by a length and half, and he has to be respected. Kristo the runner up to Midnight Hawk, also lightly raced, looked good, but on the day was clearly second best.
I’m not ready to jump on a Midnight Hawk bandwagon as yet. He is a heavy headed runner, which is not my favorite type, and once he got in front of Kristo, he may have lost focus or maybe that was all there was. He just doesn’t, at this point, look like a horse I would want to place a futures bet on in Las Vegas to win the Kentucky Derby. Nonetheless, congratulations to his connections, which must be really excited and well they should be. Now on to the 153rdrunning of the L’Ormarins Queens Plate a one mile Gr. I contest run over the turf course at Kenilworth. A strong field of fourteen horses broke beautifully from two gates and the stampede was on in the first eighth of a mile, everyone jockeying for good position. At which point the first of several jam-ups began to unfold. The eventual winner, Capetown Noir (SAF) in tight quarters down on the rail, was helpless to do anything but wait and see how it all unwound, and pray someone didn’t go down and take him with them.
I’m not sure if I’m more impressed by the horse or his jockey. Karl Neisius, courageous and clever, and I would say this was a masterful ride. Not only did he keep his horse safe in a very dangerous section of the race, once clear he timed his mounts move so beautifully, he made it clear a very talented field was running for second and third. An interesting side note on the L’Ormarins Queens Plate spectator dress code, everybody has to wear blue and white. It makes for a really striking picture on this day at the races in South Africa.
Take care,Shelley Riley - Author of; Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure www.shelleyriley.com
December 30, 2013
Black Caviar's Half Brother Jimmy Euthanized
December 30, 2013
Dear Readers,
I promised to keep you updated on Black Caviar’s half brother Jimmy, the five million dollar Australian sale yearling. The news over the wires is that he was euthanized on Sunday morning for humane reasons.
The story doesn’t end with his death, and unfortunately some very alarming allegations are being postulated by various entities on the internet. I’m not inclined to comment on any of these rumors and for those of you interested in the details, there is plenty of fodder out there for the fires to keep burning.
Conspiracy and intrigue aside, and though I didn’t know Jimmy, by all accounts he was a particularly charismatic colt. I, like so many others, was ready to embrace the promise his family tree guaranteed. I feel the loss, not as if he was my own, but as a lover of horses.
There is a sadness I can’t deny with the news that this particularly bright light was snuffed out so soon. But even worse, that he had to suffer from a very painful condition.
I hope with all my might that the worst of these rumors is untrue. To think otherwise is incomprehensible.
Take care,Shelley Lee RileyAuthor of: Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventurewww.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
I promised to keep you updated on Black Caviar’s half brother Jimmy, the five million dollar Australian sale yearling. The news over the wires is that he was euthanized on Sunday morning for humane reasons.
The story doesn’t end with his death, and unfortunately some very alarming allegations are being postulated by various entities on the internet. I’m not inclined to comment on any of these rumors and for those of you interested in the details, there is plenty of fodder out there for the fires to keep burning. Conspiracy and intrigue aside, and though I didn’t know Jimmy, by all accounts he was a particularly charismatic colt. I, like so many others, was ready to embrace the promise his family tree guaranteed. I feel the loss, not as if he was my own, but as a lover of horses.
There is a sadness I can’t deny with the news that this particularly bright light was snuffed out so soon. But even worse, that he had to suffer from a very painful condition.
I hope with all my might that the worst of these rumors is untrue. To think otherwise is incomprehensible.
Take care,Shelley Lee RileyAuthor of: Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventurewww.shelleyriley.com
December 29, 2013
The Road to the Kentucky Derby
December 29, 2013
Dear Readers, It's past time for me to be getting caught up on the big races that lead up to the Kentucky Derby. Though in my opinion it’s still to early to be picking a favorite, but I do love to window shop. Since uncertainty is a mainstay when plotting a course nearly six months in advance, I say, where’s the harm in spending $600.00 for an early bird nomination to the Triple Crown? At best the horses that have already proved themselves solid contenders may not be around come the first Saturday in May. At worst it might be your horse munching grass in a layup pasture, nursing a quarter crack, bone chip or bucked shins.
None-the-less let us dream, after all what’s $600.00 in the overall scheme of things. There are people who spend more on a wallet. Like this Mont Blanc Men’s Wallet I’ve seen advertised for $676.00 on line. If you don’t want to sabotage your dream by nominating to a race that seems unattainable, and fear the thought of being ridiculed, take a page out of my book. Peel the sticky notes off your forehead labeling you stupid and do it anyway. It’s not about the money, it’s about the opportunity to live the dream, and the only person who can make that impossible is you. The early bird nominations will close towards the end of January for the 2014 Triple Crown season. After that there is a late nomination near the end of March that requires an expenditure of $6,000 dollars. And finally there is the ultimate cost for those owners of talented juvenile racehorses, and who waited for a somewhat higher ranking on the certainty scale. Supplemental nominations and they can get pretty costly.
After you’ve paid a whopping $200,000 supplement to enter just the Kentucky Derby, you’d have to pass on this Louis Vuitton Urban Satchel. A mere $150,000 accessory that all well heeled green environmental missionaries would covet. If your horse does well in Kentucky you might find yourself plunking down another $100,000 each, in order to supplement him or her to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. I’m just saying, sometimes it’s cheaper to dream than wait for uncertainty to clarify into a calculated risk. Win or lose, there is nothing like taking part in the stampede down The Road to the Kentucky Derby. And I know, because I’ve been down that road, sticky notes and all. I’ll spend some time on contenders next time. In the meantime, Happy New Year and get those nominations submitted. Take care,Shelley Lee RileyAuthor of: Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure www.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers, It's past time for me to be getting caught up on the big races that lead up to the Kentucky Derby. Though in my opinion it’s still to early to be picking a favorite, but I do love to window shop. Since uncertainty is a mainstay when plotting a course nearly six months in advance, I say, where’s the harm in spending $600.00 for an early bird nomination to the Triple Crown? At best the horses that have already proved themselves solid contenders may not be around come the first Saturday in May. At worst it might be your horse munching grass in a layup pasture, nursing a quarter crack, bone chip or bucked shins.
None-the-less let us dream, after all what’s $600.00 in the overall scheme of things. There are people who spend more on a wallet. Like this Mont Blanc Men’s Wallet I’ve seen advertised for $676.00 on line. If you don’t want to sabotage your dream by nominating to a race that seems unattainable, and fear the thought of being ridiculed, take a page out of my book. Peel the sticky notes off your forehead labeling you stupid and do it anyway. It’s not about the money, it’s about the opportunity to live the dream, and the only person who can make that impossible is you. The early bird nominations will close towards the end of January for the 2014 Triple Crown season. After that there is a late nomination near the end of March that requires an expenditure of $6,000 dollars. And finally there is the ultimate cost for those owners of talented juvenile racehorses, and who waited for a somewhat higher ranking on the certainty scale. Supplemental nominations and they can get pretty costly.
After you’ve paid a whopping $200,000 supplement to enter just the Kentucky Derby, you’d have to pass on this Louis Vuitton Urban Satchel. A mere $150,000 accessory that all well heeled green environmental missionaries would covet. If your horse does well in Kentucky you might find yourself plunking down another $100,000 each, in order to supplement him or her to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. I’m just saying, sometimes it’s cheaper to dream than wait for uncertainty to clarify into a calculated risk. Win or lose, there is nothing like taking part in the stampede down The Road to the Kentucky Derby. And I know, because I’ve been down that road, sticky notes and all. I’ll spend some time on contenders next time. In the meantime, Happy New Year and get those nominations submitted. Take care,Shelley Lee RileyAuthor of: Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure www.shelleyriley.com
December 28, 2013
And Then You Die-Iris Johansen
December 28, 2013
Dear Readers,
I’ve been immersed in writing short stories of late and I've neglected the blog. So today I will add a book review on one of the books I've read in the last month, Iris Johansen’s “And Then You Die.”
Let’s start off with my opinion of Iris Johansen’s body of work. Though I haven’t read everything she's written, I have read a lot of the early Eve Duncan novels. Very engaging and I was quick to pick up the next book in the series after each one I finished. I did get sidetracked along the way, and I must admit I haven’t finished all the books about Eve and Quinn.
With this prior experience of Iris Johansen's writing, I was sure when I picked up “And Then You Die” I would like it. I was wrong. I could go down a long list of what I didn’t like about the plot and character development in this book, but that would be just as boring as the book. So I’ll voice my biggest complaint and what I disliked the most with this story and leave it at that—the main character.
What I did like was the prologue and it set me up to turn the pages. I settled in to go along for the ride as Bess Grady, photo journalist, exposes to the world an atrocity that she has captured on film. I was sure that Bess would partner up with some gorgeous hunk that would keep Bess safe, as together they uncover the duplicity of various entities and governments in this crime against humanity. Once again I was wrong.
What I got was probably the most unlikable protagonist I have ever seen in any book. At some point in the story the hero or heroine has to become either likable or do something to gain our respect and admiration, to engage us so we can root for them to succeed. It didn’t happen. Bess was obnoxious and belligerent to the point I almost hoped she would get what she deserved, which in my opinion was to be cut lose to make it, or not, on her own.
I will gladly pick up another Iris Johansen book; one unfortunate mishap won’t poison me against her writing. She’s written plenty of first rate stories that I have enjoyed immensely. Just not this one, save your money, or better yet, spend your precious reading time on something else she’s written.
In closing I want to thank all of you who have bought Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure for holiday giving.
Take care,
Shelley Lee Rileywww.shelleyriley.com
Dear Readers,
I’ve been immersed in writing short stories of late and I've neglected the blog. So today I will add a book review on one of the books I've read in the last month, Iris Johansen’s “And Then You Die.”
Let’s start off with my opinion of Iris Johansen’s body of work. Though I haven’t read everything she's written, I have read a lot of the early Eve Duncan novels. Very engaging and I was quick to pick up the next book in the series after each one I finished. I did get sidetracked along the way, and I must admit I haven’t finished all the books about Eve and Quinn.
With this prior experience of Iris Johansen's writing, I was sure when I picked up “And Then You Die” I would like it. I was wrong. I could go down a long list of what I didn’t like about the plot and character development in this book, but that would be just as boring as the book. So I’ll voice my biggest complaint and what I disliked the most with this story and leave it at that—the main character.
What I did like was the prologue and it set me up to turn the pages. I settled in to go along for the ride as Bess Grady, photo journalist, exposes to the world an atrocity that she has captured on film. I was sure that Bess would partner up with some gorgeous hunk that would keep Bess safe, as together they uncover the duplicity of various entities and governments in this crime against humanity. Once again I was wrong.
What I got was probably the most unlikable protagonist I have ever seen in any book. At some point in the story the hero or heroine has to become either likable or do something to gain our respect and admiration, to engage us so we can root for them to succeed. It didn’t happen. Bess was obnoxious and belligerent to the point I almost hoped she would get what she deserved, which in my opinion was to be cut lose to make it, or not, on her own.
I will gladly pick up another Iris Johansen book; one unfortunate mishap won’t poison me against her writing. She’s written plenty of first rate stories that I have enjoyed immensely. Just not this one, save your money, or better yet, spend your precious reading time on something else she’s written.
In closing I want to thank all of you who have bought Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure for holiday giving.
Take care,
Shelley Lee Rileywww.shelleyriley.com
