SIM Series - Week 12 Episode 12

LAST WEEK ON SIM SERIES…

The voters have spoken. Katy Turner’s All For Fun and Chris Simpson’s Acting Up have unfortunately been eliminated. Best of luck to them and their horses! Meanwhile, the Series moves forward…

AND NOW…SIM Series Week 12 Episode 12

It’s been a harrowing last few weeks. My stable has been sorely neglected. I noticed the other day that I forgot to instruct my main jockey, Byron Cooper to add much needed equipment to a few young horses that are struggling. The result; they stunk it up again on the oval despite their perceived potential. Mary even left me a few notes to remind me but I forgot all about it.

I walk into my office. It’s only 7AM. I’ve spent the last few weeks moving into a new place. I never mentioned it because I was procrastinating. Three weeks seems so far away until you realize that three weeks have passed already! I finally got settled into my new place last Sunday at 2AM. During last week’s Elimination Episode, I scavenged through a bunch of neatly stacked boxes in various rooms just to find a pair of black socks! Wearing white socks with a suit is undoubtedly a fashion no-no.

I log into my sophisticated horse racing management software, also known as SIM 4.0. I have yet to see the final poll results for last week’s show. They look eerily similar now that I’m clicking around. The White Album, Time Delay, Make Me Clever, and The Proven One all received a similar amount of votes to make the cut. The owners were also able to select their own next races as the Elimination Episode took course. The voting will begin again soon.

The White Album ran her record to 4:3-0-1 by winning the Grade 2 Real Yellowwood Fillies Championship in Week 10 Friday. Her total earnings now total $188,750, making her the highest earning SIM Series horse so far! I also notice that Carolyn has nominated her to the Stewards Cup. Is a trip to Sunshine Park in the cards?

Conversely, Time Delay continues to perplex Hall of Fame trainer Ara Davies. She finished fourth in her last outing, a maiden mile at Fledging Park, flattening out in the stretch and ironically losing to a Katy Turner owned horse. Time Delay will continue on, but will it be over sprints or the mile?

The dirt sprinters continue to impress as well, even though Mike Eaton and Channi Ruzzo are at odds. The Proven One is poised to take on five other colts in the $75k Mountain Juvenile Stakes at Mountain Park in Week 11 Friday. He finished 2nd last time out in an NW2 and now totals $18,250 in earnings while going 3:1-1-0.

Meanwhile, Mike Eaton’s Make Me Clever has moved to Friday racing and will have at it in Week 11 at Futurity Park over a 6 Furlong allowance race. I’m not sure if it’s safe to have Mike and Channi on the same coast though! Make Me Clever finished 3rd in her last outing and now has total earnings of $29,000 and has yet to miss the board with a 3:1-1-1 record. It’s a safe assumption that Mike is prepping her for a possible Steward’s Cup run. Will the SIM vote the same way?

I click around SIM 4.0 again but this time in search of the Routers.

Jolene Danner’s Rockappella finished 3rd in her last race, the $75k Pop Idol Stakes, while losing to two regally bred turf milers that posted speed figures in the 70’s and have been already nominated to the Steward’s Cup. This now runs her record to 2:1-0-1 with total earnings of $20,000. I’m sure these horses will hook up again in Week 16, barring the SIM’s vote.

Janey Adams’s Freeburn struggled in her first race over a mile but will get a chance at redemption in Week 12 Monday when she runs in a 1 1/16 turf maiden event at Futurity Park. Currently, there are no changes in equipment. Janey is a veteran owner so I’m sure Freeburn will bounce back with a better performance.

Sinsation, Michael Edwards’ colt, ran himself into first place while posting a respectable 60 speed figure. His next race hasn’t been determined yet, but I heard through the Forum that Michael welcomed a new son into his family. Angus Edwards. I’m guessing that might take a little priority over the SIM! …I’m not sure WHY?! But…Congratulations to Michael and his family.

Bill Deitch’s Think Legendary has been busy on the track as well. After finishing second to a $12.5 million dollar Cadeauje (Don’t ask me how to pronounce that) Stewards Bred purchase named Lofty Goals, Think Legendary bounced back to win a maiden in Week 11 Monday at 1 1/16 while posting a 72 speed figure. His next race has yet to be determined, but it might be safe to add him to the list of Week 16 Friday contenders!

Chuck Whittinham’s “ghetto fabulous” filly Hey Girl finished 4th in her debut in Week 9 Monday in a Grade 3 $100k mile. I’m not sure where she’s racing next, but I do know that her trailer was upgraded again. It now has three 10” subwoofers for better bass, upgraded speakers, an Alpine Radio Tuner with CD player and iPod jack, and built in Internet service so that Hey Girl and Chuck can Twitter their latest happenings. Just recently Hey Girl tweeted this:

“Felt tired late in the stretch C-Dub! Gold Chains around my neck holding me down. I also would’ve answered Scott’s questions during SIM Series, but he sent wrong set of questions!!! First questions was, “How does this victory feel?” …Loser!”

Hmm….

Anyways…Leo Beagle’s filly Flyin’ Lion is also looking to bounce back after a poor outing in his debut. She’s moving to a longer 1 1/16 which might suit her more. She’s also getting Lasix, a Tongue Tie and Hind Bandages. Flyin’ Lion will resume her career on Week 12 Friday at Futurity Park.

I click around my office for a bit longer and check my entries, the Stud Book, and even a few races that might suit some of my older horses. I call Dr. Hacklu to get my daily health report for my horses. Apparently, it’s a great day for racing and his daughter wants to be a veterinarian just like him. Either way, most of my horses come back healthy. I also call Clark Hoss and set up a few appointments for my younger colts and fillies. They need his spiritual guidance to make sure they don’t jump off bridges when they see water!

I shut everything down. It’s already past 10AM. My stable will be in Mary’s hands this weekend as I get into my car to drive back to my new place. I have to pack for Diego…err San Diego that is. An old college friend is having his bachelor party this weekend. I’m sure the next three days will pass by like three minutes.

NEXT TIME ON SIM SERIES…

Voting continues as some of the SIM Series horses begin to prep to the Stewards Cup! The Sprinters return to action! Who will be at Sunshine Park, Week 16 Friday?

www.simhorseracing.com

SIM Series - Week 11 Episode 11

LAST WEEK ON SIM SERIES…

Chuck Whittingham’s stylish filly Hey Girl finished 4th in her debut in the $100k Gr. 3 Venezuelan Debutante while Leo Beagle’s Flyin’ Lion struggled to a 7th place finish respectively. The Routers are definitely in full effect…

AND NOW…SIM Series Week 11 Episode 11

I stand anxiously next to Mary backstage in the Coke Zero Red Room. She’s wearing a lavender colored, short-sleeved band bottom dress. She holds a microphone in her left hand tightly. I wriggle my gold colored side-striped tie one last time as I adjust the coat on my suit.

“Stop fidgeting,” Mary snips as she takes off her cap and goggles. “You’re making me nervous!”

“I’m not fidgeting!”

“Yes you are!” She replies as she grips the microphone even tighter while fixing her hair.

I look down at my trousers and black dress shoes. I’m wearing a navy blue suit over a baby blue dress shirt. I thought it matched the lavender well. We begin walking to the main stage as the PA announcer begins prepping the crowd for the upcoming show. It’s sold out tonight! As we arrive onto the main stage, the curtains are closed and it is rather dark. The live band is sitting together to our right. We can hear the sounds of the audience shuffling around.

Then suddenly, the theme music begins. The curtains part ways in opposite directions. The audience suddenly comes to life, clapping, cheering, and whistling! The stage lights dimly turn on. A spotlight suddenly shines on us as we walk forward, and instantly we are in front of over 3000 screaming teenagers, young adults, and adults, all mixed in together. Most are sitting in the upper sections, while a select bunch, mostly SIMsters and roughly 300 are in the pit area! They’re going wacko! “I love you Mary!” Somebody screams out loud! I think it was Eric Nalbone! Wait. What’s Eric doing in the pit!?

We walk together, microphones in hand and the cheering continues.

“Thank you,” I say into the microphone. “Thank you. Stop it. Stop. Please.” I say humbly.

“Thank you,” I say again as the raucous crowd calms a little. “And welcome to the SIM Series Idol Elimination Episode!”

The audience breaks into wild cheering again!

“We are live at the Kodak Theatre tonight!” I say loudly into the microphone. “This is my co-host. A very familiar lady that you’ve all seen in your stables many times, riding your pretty little VB Script horses! Mary Weather everybody!”

The crowd breaks out again into a feverish roar.

“Thank you Scott,” Mary says. “Tonight is a special episode. I am soooooo excited to be out of the jockey suit! Because tonight, we’ll reveal the bottom two! One dirt sprinter. One turf sprinter!”

More cheering. Wildness.

“But, first, let’s say hi to our judges!” Mary says as she points to a small elevated stage to the left of us. “As always, the incomparable Ali Labdulke.”

Wildness ensuing again.

“I took a day off from the track,” Ali says as she sips something out of her Coke Zero mug. “And I love Same Old Plot. He’s such a great little horsey horse!”

“Goodness!” AR Roberts suddenly blurts out. Oddly, he speaks in a British accent. “SOP! For God’s sake Paula. I mean Ali. I don’t know about that. I mean I sold him already!”

“OK,” I butt in awkwardly. “Ladies and gentlemen, our second judge and full time SIM player, Mr. AR Roberts.”

There’s half cheering and half booing.

“And finally,” I continue. “Our last judge and originator of the SIM. The reason why SIM Series Idol is even possible. Some compare her to the Creator from the Matrix. Some have debated whether she actually sits in her office with hundreds of TVs in a lone chair in a white room while programming horses and races and horses and races with just a universal remote control. Some have debated if she even really exists, or is it all just a dream like the finale of Dallas. While some--”

“Scott!” Mary yells.

“Sorry. The Steward! Ladies and Gentlemen. The Steward!”

The crowd breaks into pandemonium as they begin chanting “Steward! Steward! Steward!”

“Thank you guys,” The Steward says. “Thank you unequivocally, ergo, I am very pleased to be here. Where’s the Hawrse Pound at!”

“Alright guys,” Mary interrupts. “We’ll come back to you guys later, but now, we must bring out our six finalist who have been competing all season long!”

“Yes,” I say. “That’s right Mary. And, we’re going to start it off with the two. Yes the TWO! TOP! VOTE GETTERS SO FAR! In each category! Remember now, these two are currently sitting atop the polls. Neither one have ever been in the bottom two all season, a new SIM Series Idol record.”

“So,” Mary continues. “Without further delay. Our first top vote getter with over 35 million votes is…Carolyn Eaton and her turf sprinting filly The White Album!”

They walk onto the stage, with Carolyn leading TWA out.

“Come stand next to me,” I say to Carolyn. “She’s a beauty!”

“I said she was awesome! Didn’t I?” Carolyn responds as the crowd breaks into craziness again.

“Now,” I say as I begin petting TWA. “Why should you two continue onwards on the show?”

“Well, she’s won a Grade 2 and put out a hot HOT speed figure. I’m pretty sure she’s headed to the Steward’s Cup Filly Dash!” Carolyn says confidently.

“Wha-What!” The Steward jumps in. “WHOOMP! WHOOMP! WHOOMP! Ergo, where the Hawrse Pound tonight!”

“I hope everyone continues to support TWA!” Carolyn says.

“We will,” Ali says. “We love you and TWA!”

“Ali,” AR Roberts says annoyingly in his odd British accent. “We finally agree on something. Amazing.”

“Everybody!” I break in again. “Carolyn Eaton and TWA!”

They walk to the side staging area as a few teenage boys and girls scream wildly for them, trying desperately to touch one of them.

“And now,” Mary says. “Our current top vote getters from the Dirt Sprinting category! It’s so close right now we’re going to bring both of them out! Mike Eaton and Make Me Clever and Channi Ruzzo and Plato!”

“OK,” I say. “You guys were supposed to come in together, not from opposite ends of the stage.”

Channi rolls her eyes. “Yeah,” she says.

I walk over to Mike as Mary walks over to Channi just as we had rehearsed a few days ago.

“Alright Mike,” I say. “Give us the scoop.”

“She’s obviously a major player,” he says.

“You mean Channi or Make Me Clever?” I ask jokingly. As always, nobody laughs at my jokes.

“She’s not even at her best yet.” Mike continues. “She’s a stakes filly and a consistent one. People! The fun is just beginning with her!”

Mary speaks up. “Channi, any thoughts?”

“Oh, my horse is fun too,” Channi says. “I don’t think Plato or The Proven One has fulfilled his namesake either. And if that’s not good enough, then pretty please with cherries on top drizzled with chocolate and drowned with whip cream! YEAH!”

The crowd erupts as most of the guys, including Dave Shields nearly faint. John Xett, who’s been with the SIM for a decade has to hold him up while fanning him.

The two walk towards Carolyn as their horses follow. They each stand on opposite sides of her.

Together, Mary and I bring out Hall of Fame Trainer Ara Davies and her turf filly Time Delay.

“She’s developing,” Ara says. “It’s going to be interesting to find her niche. There’s still plenty of work that can be done with her.”

“You wanted to say something else, right?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Ara says. “I’d really like to see more input from everyone than just voting. I’d like to see more participation from the SIM Community.”

“I know. There’s like three people total watching,” I respond. “We’re like a sitcom, we have to pay the audience to show up. That’s how we got 3000 screaming fans in here!”

“Well. I hope everybody continues to support Time Delay regardless!” Ara says as she walks to the staging area with the other participants.

“Before we reveal the bottom two,” I say. “Just a quick programming note. Michael Edward’s Sinsation, debuted on Week 10 Monday and finished impressively first. His full profile will be shown next week. Also, Rockappella will race Week 10 Friday in the Pop Idol Stakes at Adolescent Acres. Her complete interview will also be show next week.”

“And now,” Mary says. “The Bottom Two. Unfortunately, by total coincidence, it’s the pairing of Katy Turner’s All For Fun and Chris Simpson’s Acting Up.

The two walk out together. They look excited, yet nervous. Their horses are not with them as they are racing in Week 10. As they approach Mary and I, they huddle together as the other participants come over and give them hugs. We finally separate them from the group.

“I’m sorry All For Fun hasn’t lived up to expectations,” Katy says.

“Don’t be sorry,” I say. “You’ve done a great job so far!”

“Thank you,” Katy responds. “It’s certainly has brought a large portion of the community together and that’s been every enjoyable. I’ve had a lot of fun and I can only hope that it continues!”

“And Chris?” Mary asks. “Any comments.”

He remains quiet as they continue embracing. Eventually, the rest of the group comes over again. They embrace; humans and horses standing there together and dressed in formal wear. It’s an awkward looking scene. For the most part, they’ve been engaged in friendly competition and now unfortunately, two of them will have to go. They gather around as Mary and I announce that they’re going to sing “No Boundaries” together. I didn’t know they could sing!

Mary and I walk off the stage together as the music cues up and crowd breaks out into a frenzy again. I look over at the judges and see them chatting. The episode has gone longer than anticipated as the uncertainty of who’s being eliminated continues to grow. There’s one thing for sure though, nobody really wants to get eliminated.


NEXT WEEK ON SIM SERIES…

The results will be finalized once the poll closes this Saturday. Also, updates are coming for the Routers. Who will NOT make the cut?

www.simhorseracing.com