5:57 p.m. The barrier draw for CBC-sho has already been released befor I knew it.

Had to search for the phone cable and power adapter, did some cleaning fighting this heat. Then had to order a couple of things on the Internet, though have forgotten how to make payment with my gift card since I haven't been using it too long, and finally managed to finish the shopping.

You see, haven't had much time to research on the race. If I'm buying betting tickets, I'd go for Kokura specialists like Leggiero, T M Spada, Tamamo Tea Time, Styx or First Force, rather than Anegohada.

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Caterpillar

8:37 p.m. We've worked on the kitchen today specifically, unpacking all the dishes, cutlery, and cooking items. Tried to make the bulk that took up almost all the kitchen and dining space smaller but in vain. Decided to go for another round or two of selecting the dishes to keep.

Same as yesterday, didn't have much time to gather the information I need to call CBC-sho, though Kokura turf seems quite firm and fast. Horses from behind didn't perform well today, at least in the four sprint races that was held.

Forgot to check the weather, but if Kokura turf stays dry tomorrow I'd probably put my bet on Leggiero, T M Spada, Lord Bay Leaf, Tamamo Tea Time, Styx, First Force. The horse to key? Hmmm, First Force perhaps?

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Caterpillar

8:40 p.m. Darn, I wasn't even close. The outmost barrier must have been too tough for First Force. Anyway, I need to do a good review considering the summer season ahead.

Still, I've put up a makeshift pc rack and it's much easier to type. Until yesterday, I had to sit on the floor legs crossed, while my computer monitor was also put on the same floor as well as my keyboard, so I had to crouch forward to look at the screen or type. Have been having backaches, you know.

If all goes well, the desk will arrive next week and hopefully I'll be released from my backache.

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Caterpillar

5:21 p.m. Okay, reviewing here. The reason for my loss was mainly because I lacked preparation. If I'd done my homeweork properly as I do before G1 races, I could have avoided the loss. I might have not been happy, though since the payout wasn't that big.

So this week's goal is to try to do as much preparation as I can. Not that it'll win me Tanabata-sho, which I've never won in my life. However, you can't win a race if you don't bet on it. Well, I try anyway.

Meanwhile, must open the box of telephone and robot vacuum just delivered this afternoon, set up another rack to start organizing my bedroom a bit while stupid Cow is pissed by the shipping fee charged by IKEA.

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Caterpillar

7:10 p.m. Well, the thing is Tanabata-sho actually doesn't seem to have any obvious trend. Not that I could find in the past 25 years.

There are horses like Meiner Lacrima or Crescendo Love that turned out to be unique Fukushima specialists, but apart from these two horses there hasn't been a repeater in this race. Also, female horses don't necessarily perform well as they do in other summer races.

And then, there's the handicap with the lighter weight carriers not always performing highly. Sigh.

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Caterpillar

9:24 p.m. Exhausted after a visit to probably the nearest IKEA. Had to go down to get a new rug because Cow was pissed with the shipping fee which costed about 70% of the rug price. Carrying the rug home using public transpportation and a small carrier consumed stamina, but thankful today wasn't as hot as last week.

Although quite tired, have realized horses carrying 57kg have been doing well in the past 10 years of Tanabata-sho. 8 horses have finished within the top 3, five of them winning the race.

Among the horses currently entered in Tanabata-sho, Shonan Bardi, Heat on Beat, and Mount Gold are carrying 57kg. Shonan Bardi has finished 3rd last year carrying 55. Don't think he'll perform better with heavier weight this year and Mount Gold is a 9-year-old. That leaves Heat on Beat.

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Caterpillar

5:55 p.m. The rug I've struggled to caarry home has fit in quite nicely. Satisfied. In the meantime, the entry for Tanabata-sho has been closed and yhis year the race will run with 16 horses.

Another thing I noticed besides the weight is that many high-performng horses have run Tanabata-sho with relaxed interval. Out of 30 horses that have finished within third place in the past 10 years, merely 5 horses had intervals shorter than 2 weeks after their previous races.

This also suggests horses running four, five or more races this spring and winning a grade race might have physical damage, especially when they've run long distance races.

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Caterpillar

9:35 p.m. The barriers have been drawn while former prime minister havs been shot to death. Can't believe such a thing has happened in this country. I pay my deepest condolensces. Terrified, trying to focus on my own little work to get way from the shock.

As Rose Amour and Taurus Gemini both want to take the lead if possible, I'm setting the pace tight. Building my thoughts on a tight pace, I'm thinking horses that could sweep up the field would be the key of this race. Gradually taking shape here.

Think I'll focus on such horses that have high aptitude on Fukushima turf, can sweep up the field, not too fatigued and carrying 55 to 57kg weight give or take a few.

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Caterpillar

8:12 p.m. Not sure if I'm on the right track but have done the best I could fighting backache from typing in a crouched position. Hang on just a wee bit longer till next Tuesday when the desk and chair arrive.

The track condition of Fukushima today suggests a power-consuming condition, enabling front runners to perform well despite my guess. Still, I decided to believe in trainer Kunieda.

Will key Anticipate on a wheel of Rose Amour, Humidor, Heat on Beat, Volkommen, and Mozu Nagareboshi.

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Caterpillar

7:43 p.m. Just back from shopping and voting, pretty tired as I had to carry a gallon worth of softner together with other things. How come I'm always tired, though?

The pace of Tanabata-sho didn't become as tight as I wished it'd be. Consequently, horses from the back had a hard time. Echt was a blind spot. I'd missed him because he'd drawn the outmost post. Didn't know he was aso favored either.

Well, this is the closest I got to winning with Tanabata-sho.

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Caterpillar

9:38 p.m. Don't have much time today as I'm in a rush.

I know Hakodate Kinen will run this weekend, but think will start checking out hopefully tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow the desk for our computers will be arriving as well as the chairs (thank God!) so after that.

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Caterpillar

7:30 p.m. Finally, finally typing on a desk, sitting in a work chair. Undescribably comfortable compared to the cramped position I was in only a day ago.

Have briefly checked out the past results of Hakodate Kinen. The winning time varies in a range of almost one second, though I think this depends largely on the condition of the turf. The front runners have been doing pretty well annually, but this year perhaps the sweepers might have a chance if the inner track is as damaged as I think.

Will have to wait and see about the track condition until Saturday, though to be sure.

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Caterpillar

7:21 p.m. More information on Hakodate Kinen.

It looks like the inner post starters are doing better than those starting from outer posts. Horses starting from posts inner than post number 8 are doing well every year, except for 2017 when the track was soft.

By the way, rain is expected in Sapporo for the weekend. Must check out the forecast for Hakodate too as the outer post starters might be blessed with soft track.

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Caterpillar

6:47 p.m. The forecast for Hakodate this weekend is howing umbrella marks on all four days from Friday through Sunday. Saturday's forecast shows an umbrella with vertical blue lines hanigin over it with a thankful text of "heavy rain" underneath.

There's no way to tell how much rainfall that might bring on Saturday however, it's not hard to imagine the turf won't be dried completely by Sunday afternoon when Hakodate Kinen would be run. Shall also take in account the aptitude for soft tracks.

Have already crossed out Admire Justa. Don't think a horse that's been away from even the bulletin for as long as 2 years would be able to do well. Generale Uno also, for the same sort of reason. Hayayakko, too.

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Caterpillar

6:37 p.m. The barrier draw has been released. Have taken a look but most of the horses seem to handle soft track well.

The pace won't drop to a slow presumably, I'd set it either average or tight. Given that the front runners would probably have the advantage depending on how soft the track condition becomes.

If the inner track gets damaged by Sunday, perhaps the outer post starters might do well as they did in 2017. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any outer-post starters that could sweep up to take a good position (within third place from the leading horse) at the last corner, so horses from the back could be limited to 4 or 5.

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Caterpillar

7:19 p.m. Have been having headaches perhaps from the low pressure and lingering rain. Calling a complicated race like Hakodate Kinen while fighting the headache wasn't easy as you can imagine, but have done the best I could.

I'm keying Ice Bubble on the 3rd place of trifectas. On the wheel would be Meiner Virtus, Sanrei Pocket, and Gibeon. Am also betting on exactas keying Ice Bubble on the 2nd place in combination with Meiner Virtus, Sanrei Pocket and Gibeon. Not because I have confidence but because these were the only horses left.

Wouldn't have to win a race this autumn if I win this one. Crossing fingers!

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Caterpillar

7:57 p.m. One of the thee horses I'd crossed out in the earliest stage in calling Hakodate Kinen has won the race. No wonder I lost big.

The track was soft, the pace was tight. My prediction was right at this point. I must have got too caught up in choosing horses that could go up front since Saturday's race results suggested front runners. But I was thinking earlier in the week, horses that could sweep up from the outside would have the advantage, if the pace became tight, wasn't I?

So that's where I went wrong.

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Caterpillar

6:02 p.m. Fighting headache again. Somehow I seem to be hit by a headache every afternoon since about a week ago. The weird thing is that it hits me around this time of day.

Anyway, Chukyo Kinen will beheld this weekend although it would be run at Kokura. How confusing! As you know, Kokura kinen will be held around mid-August and anyone could get mixed up with it.

Perhaps I'd rather take it as pre-Kokura Kinen and stick to the horses with high aptitude for Kokura tracks. After all, Chukyo Kinen (or in other words pre-Kokura Kinen) is only a furlong shorter than the original Kokura Kinen, meaning that it would be slightly more monotonous than the original.

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Caterpillar

2:34 p.m. Well as a matter of fact, Chukyo Kinen was held at Kokura last year, too. Have just checked that to make sure. Must search and see if I have any notes from last year.

Let's take a look at last year's results. It may not be much of a rederence as it was a small-field race of 12 horses. The track seemed to be firm and fast judging from the clock, and it became an instantaneous speed contest (no surprise there as it was a small-field race in a slow pace). However, the winning horse was a front runner taking its position 2nd from the leader at the last corner, while horses from the 8th or 10th position couldn't catch the winner.

18 horses are entered this year as of today, so things might be a bit different from last year. The track seems to be fast as last week's results show but news of heavy rain in Kyushu has been delivered, do might as well be on the watch.

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Caterpillar

1:40 p.m. After the rain the heat is back again but I need to go out in such heat. I'd love to stay in an air conditioned room, sip beer while listening to my favorite music or reading the books that have piled up. Yet situation urges me to go the rough way. Hell.

6:11 p.m. Got back from the nearest Nitori, a trip to get a piece of furniture in 35℃ heat. It turns out that they didn't have any in store at the moment, so I placed an order though the earliest they could get it ready was a month ahead. Not to mention, will have to go down to the store once again to pick it up in order to avoid the shipping fee just like the IKEA case. Great.

Haven't found much on Chukyo Kinen, just that Heart's Cry and King Kamehameha family descendants were performing well on Kokura turf last week.

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Caterpillar

4:45 p.m. The entry for Chukyo Kinen has been closed and this year the race will be run with 16 horses. Last year's result might not be of much reference, after all.

The most favored in expected win odds for now is Falconia, though I don't think he'd do well extending the distance from a mile as is often the case with Deep Impact descendants. The second favored is Miss New York,last year's 4th place winner. Extending the distance would be good for this horse especially if the track gets soft however, she seem to have a problem in her own condition.

The third favored Kaiser Minoru has won a racein Kokura before, although that was 2 years back in time. The horse could handle frim, fast track but has a weakpoint when stuck in the field. Well, well. All this could sum up to givng Seina Imamura a chance to win her second grade race./p>

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Caterpillar

5:08 p.m. The barrier draw has ben announced and the way the horses are lined up suggests a tight pace. However, Kokura 1800m is a course that doesn't easily become a tight pace because there's an uphill with its peak at the 2nd corner. I'd set the pace average to tight for now.

The course layout advantages inner post starters though I'm not sure how things would turn out in case when the pace gets tight. Hope tomorrow's race results could give me some clues.

Taking all that in account, Falconia seems risky as mentioned yesterday.

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Caterpillar

9:09 p.m. I'm sorry, have been busy and haven't had the time to do enough preparation.

Currently I'm down to half of the horses specifically, nine horses. From today's results, I'm thinking that front runners starting from inner posts would be the most advantaged, because the pace could possibly settle to average.

Horses that attempt to take over from behind will need outstanding instantaneous speed. They also need to get a good position along the rail unless the pace gets tight. That's why I can't quite cross out Catedral or Cadenas, grrrrr.

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Caterpillar

4:10 p.m. I read the pace to be average, so keyed Double Sharp in hope that he would go up front. He didn't. And sank in a miserable 14th place.

Belenus and Falconia were both on my wheel, but since Double Sharp screwed up no wins again.

Today, my guess for the pace turned out bad and it dropped to a slow however, I think the problem lies somewhere else. The horses I thought would go up front don't while the horses I thought would stay behind somehow goes up front. I wish someone would tell me whether they'd really go or not.

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Caterpillar

2:49 p.m. Leaving the past behind, have started collecting information on Queen Stakes. Will do what I can while I can.

Although Sapporo (race course) is flat, the corners aren't that tight. Perhaps it's because of such reason that front runners aren't doing so well as I expected them to be in Queen Stakes. It's also said many races run on Sapporo turf tend to be run in leisurely pace. However, the pace could become tight when certain conditions are met just like Queen Stakes held in 2014 or 2020.

Currently, there doesn't seem o be as many front runners entered this year compared to 2014 or 2020. So the pace could settle for an average or even a slow, depending on how the horses are lined up.

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Caterpillar

4:08 p.m. There are 16 horses entered for this year's Queen Stakes for now, including two 3-year-olds.

I've taken a look at how 3-year-olds were doing in the past 10 years to learn there were actually 11 of them, bravely challenged the summer G3 among older female horses. Out of these 11, 3 of them have finished within 3rd place with 2 of them winning. What these high-performers shared in common was that the've either finished witin 3rd place in a G1 or have won a G2. So they need high potential backed up by recent achievement.

Turning our eyes to this year's 3-year-old entrees Water Navillera and Win Eclair, Water Navillera meets the condition but Win Eclair drops out no matter how much I want her to perform well.

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Caterpillar

4:27 p.m. Water Navillera who cleared the requirements of high-performing 3-year-olds in Queen Stakes is now the most favored in expected win odds. As you can easily imagine, she's quite favored under the expected win odds of 1.6.

However, there's one thing I'm concerned about although it sounds like making a fuss over details. Water Navillera has lost too big in her previous race that it makes me suspicious. The two 3-year-olds that have won Queen Stakes Aerolite and I'm Yours both hadn't lost below 6th place before Queen Stakes. Shortening the distance from Oaks surely would be a plus for Water Navillera, but I'm not sure if she could win.

Nevertheless, her previous race being a G1 could be another strong point, since horses running in a G1 as their previous races are doing well whether it's a 3-year-old classics, Victoria Mile Cup, or Dubai Turf.

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Caterpillar

4:32 p.m. The entry for Queen Stakes has been closed and it turns out there are only 14 horses running. It got closer to the annual Queen Stakes, I see. Fortunately or unfortunately, my little Win Eclair seems to have ben scratched off. Hope she's doing okay.

Although the turf course of two Hokkaido race tracks Hakodate and Sapporo are both covered by cool season grass, they seem to be different in type. Hakodate turf tends to consume power and powerful front running horses tend to perform well while Sapporo turf is quite firm and fast wehn the weather is fine, resulting in fast winning time sometimes even record-breaking finish time.

Last week's race results however, shows finishing time different from the annual trend. I'm not sure if that was because of the rain or simply because the level of the horses running weren't that high, but need to keep an eye on the turf condition. It's hard to think the turf has been damaged just because it was hit by rain once as Sapporo races have just begun last Saturday. Need to stay on the alert, anyhow.

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Caterpillar

7:38 p.m. The barrier draw for Queen Stakes has been released.

Resultingly, there weren't many front runners this year. Four as a matter of fact, even when Love You Live and Satono Cecil were included. And from the way they're lined up, my guess is that the pace wouldn't be so tight average at best, possibly slow.

Was surprised to see Rosa Noir pushed up to the 3rd favored in expected win odds, but no wonder if the pace won't be that tight. However, whether she'd win or not would be another different story.

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Caterpillar

7:50 p.m. Had a good walking exercise in a while. Feeling good at least for now.

Since I'm feeling good, am trusting the rate for the most favored to finsh within 3rd place which is about 90% to key Water Navillera. A bit concerned about her position, but well, if she could get over the first half smoothly she'd be able to use her boost and shall be able to reach 3rd place or a higher place on the podium.

On he wheel would be Rosa Noir, Ho O Peaceful, Satono Cecil, Magic Castle, and Meisho Mimosa. Inner post starters and front runners were doing well today, so will follow the trend.

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Caterpillar

5:40 p.m. Who said Water Navillera was trust-worthy? Oh yeah, me.

The pace was slower than I'd guessed, too slow. I can understand Meisho Mimosa stopping after the last corner, but Navillera... Perhaps the pace was too slow as it seemed she stopped racing when she was covered by other horses, though it could have been the distance. Her only weak point if there was any today, was that the distance could be too long. Nah, I'd rather think it was the pace.

Terzetto has won two years in a row although Queen Stakes had been held at Hakodate last year. Thought repeaters were rare cases concerning this race. Maybe she was an exception. And drawing pos number one must have been a blessing.

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Caterpillar