I have survived the Buckeye's getting out coached last week. I knew we were in trouble in the first quarter when USC scored on a fourth and one, 3000 miles from their home against over 100,000 red and gray shirts. And then five minutes later our coach takes us for a field goal at home with 100,000 fans behind us on a fourth and one. Playing this week in Toledo against the Toledo Rockets in Cleveland Stadium. We better redeem ourselves.

UK is  heavy favorite against UofL. Louisville coach's job is on the line as it is with every game this year.

Other big game is ND and Michigan State (talk about a coach's job on the line). ND's coach is hanging by a thin string, but they will owe him something like 4 million a year- so I don't feel to sorry for him.

The purses have been raised 10% at Hoosier Park, the second raise of the meet. The yearling market is down 1/3rd at Keeneland, so now is the time to get in. We have plenty of Indiana Bred yearlings and weanlings you can get in on. Be ahead of the game.

Well, my pick last week at Saratoga wasn't a bad pick as Macho lost by a head and it paid a $12.00 exacta with Rachel. I don't know if he would have gotten by her if they had run another lap. She ran a brilliant race. The horse of they year title is already settled by labor day, which she definitely deserves.

I did bet on her in the Pocahontas last fall at Churchill when she ran third, the last time she got beat. I did come back and bet her when she won the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs which began the winning streak.

I do think Hal Wiggins did a great job with her over the winter and spring. One of the nice guys of racing, that has worked mostly in the mid-west for years. Obviously Asmussen has done a great job with her too.

Back to the Lauer operation. Thru Labor day the stable has won 22 races, 20 seconds, 21 thirds, and 21 fourths out of 145 starts. Earnings at $547,000. I will have to have some good fortune and some new horses to make my goal of one million in earnings before years end.

On the breeding side, Penny and I have been honored as Indiana Breeder of the Year for 2008 by the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. We will represent Indiana at the annual TOBA dinner in Lexington that brings the leading breeders of each state together to be recognized. This is quite an honor that one of us"little guys" gets recognized. We will be attending two dinners this week, one at Keeneland on Thursday and then on Friday night one at Spendthrift Farms. Ralph and Karen Piercy will be able to attend the Friday night gala with us, something we are looking forward to. It is a good thing this dinner is Friday night because Saturday the game of the year this week between Ohio State and Southern California is being played in Columbus. If the party had been on Saturday, I don't think it would have been held at Spendthrift Farm as owner B. Wayne Hughes is a giant USC Alumni.

The Keeneland Yearling Sales start on Monday. Two weeks of non stop yearling sales. Help the economy and get into the game!

I meant to get this out earlier in the week, but we all know "the best laid plans" don't always come together. I do want to say that Macho Again has been training exceptionally well at Churchill the last couple of weeks and had a great work and came out of it great. I do think he will definitely be in the exacta if not win the whole thing.