You've Got To Believe!

“Hallelujah, brothers and sisters. Hallelujah. We’re here to testify and to let you know you must have faith. You must believe. You have GOT to believe.

“Now if you need meat, we know you go to the butcher.

“If you need clothes, we know you go to the tailor.

“And, brothers and sisters, if you need that Kentucky Oaks winner, you’ve come to the right place. You’ve come to the Church of What’s Happenin’ Now and the Right Reverend Mac. And you shall see the way.

“So you say you once had it all figured out. You knew what was coming down for that nine-furlong stroll down the aisle the day before the day when the world would be dancin’ with Juleps and Roses. You’d seen your honey and you knew she’d get the money.

“Country Star, brothers and sisters. Country Star! That’s the one. And she was not only one of the ones, she was The One.

“A fast-runnin’ filly who broke her maiden in a Grade I. A Grade I! Tell me, good people, when is the last time you saw that come down. And yet another Grade I right after that. Like breaking sticks. And the jock gets off and says: ‘Kentucky Oaks? Hell, we might as well just go win the Kentucky Derby!’ Oh, brother. Oh, sister. Oh, goodgawdalmighty.

“But what’s that you say -- you say she’s gone and disappeared. You say her last race was way back on December 15 --- more than two months ago – and you say her last workout was clicked on the timer January 20 – more than five weeks back. Well now, brothers and sisters, that surely is cause for concern. Surely, surely.

“But fear not, my children, fear not. We here in the C of WHN come to bring you comfort. To wipe your brows. To bring soothing relief, and to chase doubt and the devil down the road. We are here to say it again to you, brothers and sisters, say it loud and clear: You’ve got to believe --- b-e-l-i-e-v-e.

“Know now that we held counsel this day with a righteous man --- Brother Robert Frankel. The good Brother was most forthcoming with the Right Reverend Mac. He spoke of things on high; he imparted his wisdom; he brought peace to the valley.

"Brother Robert said his fair filly had had a bit of a fever, but that things were better now. The good Brother no doubt did the laying on of hands. 'She’ll work in the next few days,' he stated, clear as a church bell. 'And yes, she’s still a candidate for the Kentucky Oaks.'

“Right on, brothers and sisters, right on. You have heard the preachings of a man of cosmic transcendence. You have heard the truth.

“But how, Brother Robert, you want to ask, how will you pursue the dream?

“The Brother parted his hands and speaketh again:

'She’ll run in the Ashland (April 7, Keeneland, Grade I, mile, sixteenth) next,' the good Brother advised. 'If she’s OK there, it’s on to the Oaks.'

“Oh, lordy, lordy and holy guacamole. What else is there brethern. No more, brothers and sisters, no more. You have heard the good word. Join hands then in joyous song. Let us sing the hosannas on high. It is right and just. And that heavenly choir shall join with us in paeans of sweet praise. Country Star it shall be.

“Hallelujah. Hallelujah, brothers and sisters. Hallelujah, indeed. And if you wouldn’t mind, on the way out you might leave a deuce in the collection plate.”