Theme: "AND THEY'RE OFF!" - heard at the races and about the Marx Brothers.
20A. Keep tabs on a shipment : TRACK ONE'S ORDER
25A. Some briefs : JOCKEY SHORTS
44A. Shrewd bargaining : HORSE TRADING
50A. 1937 Marx Brothers film ... and, based on words that begin 20-, 25- and 44-Across, this puzzle's title : "A DAY AT THE RACES"
Argyle here. My Derby pick came in third but I didn't bet so it doesn't matter. This puzzle shows itself a winner as it takes its place at the start of the week. The three entries are unique words, meaning they have never been in a NY Times puzzle.
Across:
1. See 16-Across : JULEP. 16A. With 1-Across, Kentucky Derby drink : MINT. Not your style? How about 28D. Beer barrel : KEG. No? Then 30D. Part of BYOB : OWN, Bring Your Own Booze. (or bottle)
6. Haunted house sound : MOAN. The sound of those that bet against Nyquist.
10. Females : SHEs, Like 23A. Coop group female : HEN and 32A. Crimp-haired critters : EWES
14. Soul singer Baker : ANITA. Missed the boat; not clueing this as Santa Anita, home track for Derby winner, Nyquist. Plus, on Mother’s Day, the best female horse in America, Beholder, won the $100,000 Adoration Stakes.
15. Convention center event : EXPO
17. Humongous : GIANT
18. "__ we forget" : LEST
19. Hold 'em fee : ANTE. Pay to play.
24. Favorable rise : UPTURN. Spectators rise up when the field turns for home.
31. Except if : UNLESS
33. Elbow poke : JAB
36. Party lacking ladies : STAG
37. Roadside retreat : INN
38. "Out of the way!" : "MOVE!". What the come-from-behind jockeys are saying.
39. Help for one stuck in a rut, perhaps : TOW
40. Mortgage change, briefly : REFI. (refinance)
42. Bach's "Mass in __" : B MINOR. Johann Sebastian Bach
46. Snap out of it : COME TO
49. DVR button : REC. (record)
56. Golf standout McIlroy : RORY. Currently ranked third in the world.
57. Furniture chain that sells Swedish meatballs : IKEA
58. Like a gift of chocolates : BOXED
60. Small jazz group : TRIO
61. What one often wears out? : COAT Misdirection on a Monday!
62. Went berserk : RAGED
63. Isaac's older son : ESAU
64. Once-sacred snakes : ASPs
65. Live and breathe : EXIST
Down:
1. Car with a cat logo, briefly : JAG
2. Self-storage compartment : UNIT
3. "Tell me the truth!" : "LIAR!". I get a kick out of these things.
4. Sicilian volcano : ETNA
5. Quilting squares : PATCHES
6. Fruit stand buys : MELONS
7. Yoked team : OXEN
8. Vaulted church recess : APSE
9. On the fence : NOT SURE
10. Brainpower : SMARTS
11. Many a Mumbai man : HINDU
12. Step into : ENTER
13. Back of the boat : STERN
21. Lock inserts : KEYS
22. Drops (out) : OPTS
25. Barely : JUST
26. Not fooled by : ON TO
27. Tiger's gripper : CLAW
29. '20s-'30s skating gold medalist Sonja : HENIE
33. "Both Sides Now" singer Mitchell : JONI
34. Door-to-door cosmetics seller : AVON
35. Arctic hazard : BERG
37. Things up in the air : IFs
38. Prefix with term or town : MID
40. Membership list : ROTA
41. Steamy writing : EROTICA
42. Fictional fox's title : BR'ER
43. Ghoulish : MACABRE
44. "Psst!" : "HEY, YOU!"
45. Springs for lunch : TREATS
46. À la __ : CARTE
47. Clean-out-the-fridge warnings : ODORS
48. "West Side Story" love song : MARIA
51. Boxer's stats : TKOs. (technical knockout)
52. Sloppy stack : HEAP
53. Persuade gently : COAX
54. Former soldier, briefly : EX-GI
55. Lays eyes on : SEES
59. Outlawed pesticide : DDT
One last song.
Argyle
