Somich Makes 7th Out Of Nothing At All
Someone decided to pump music into the NHC at Bally’s this year. It was noticed, and at times not unwelcome.
I know just how to whisper
And I know just how to cry
I know just where to find the answers
And I know just how to lie
I know just how to fake it
And I know just how to scheme
I know just when to face the truth
And then I know just when to dream
Me: I love this song. Who is this?
Susie Dew: It’s Air Supply.
Me: What? No it isn’t. This is a girl.
Susie Dew: It’s Air Supply.
Me: Isn’t Air Supply dudes?
Steve DeCaspers: Yes. This is Air Supply.
Me: I think this is the girl who sings Total Eclipse of the Heart.
Susie Dew: Ok.
Steve DeCaspers: It’s Air Supply. The song is called Making Love out of Nothing at All.
Me: But I hate Air Supply.
The music continued…
Every time I see you all the rays of the sun are
Streaming through the waves in your hair
And every star in the sky is taking aim at
Your eyes like a spotlight
The beating of my heart is a drum, and it’s lost
And it’s looking for a rhythm like you
You can take the darkness at the pit of the night
And turn into a beacon burning endlessly bright
I’ve gotta follow it ’cause everything I know
Well, it’s nothing ’til I give it to you
Regardless of the identity of the artist responsible for the music coming out of the speakers between races, one thing is for certain: The identity of the NHC participant who was responsible for what has to be the most impressive comeback in NHC history is Mike Somich.
Mike, who played two entries, began Day 2 with $0 on the entry in question after a disastrous Day 1. By the end of Day 2, he had amassed a score of $169.80 on his way to a Final Table appearance and a 7th place finish worth $65,000. Add that to the BCBC seat he took down for being the Day 2 high score, and it was quite a coup for the man who quit his job nine months ago to become a professional horseplayer. I’d say his career is off to a hell of a start.
The first time I met Mike Somich was at Gulfstream Park for the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge in 2020. He won a lot of money that day in multiple contests. I asked him what handicapping products he was using, and he said “Just the Daily Racing Form.” I have no idea if that was true or not. It seemed believable at the time I guess.
Later that year, I texted him to say that a horse we had both witnessed receive an abysmal ride from Corey Lanerie at Keeneland on the Breeders’ Cup undercard was racing at Santa Anita on opening day. He informed me that he was already well aware and was making the horse his play of the day. I doubled my bet. The horse won.
The 2022 NHC was an unmitigated disaster for me. My wife, in her own words, “got extremely lucky, because we both know I have no idea what I’m doing”. She made it to Day 3 in 48th place en route to a 62nd place showing and a $10,100 prize. People will say I made her picks, and that’s fine. Anyone sitting near Team LoneSpeed at Bally’s knows the truth. She won her seat on her own, and she played the NHC on her own, no matter what Horse Racing Twitter would have you believe. And while she didn’t end up with $65,000 like my buddy Mike Somich, she battled the weekend like a trooper and I am very proud of her. In a way, both her and Mike made something out of nothing.
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
Out of nothing at all, out of nothing at all
