Lookin at Lucky to skip Belmont Stakes
Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/17/2010 @ 9:10 am)
Those hoping to parlay Lookin at Lucky’s win at the Preakness into a possible victory at the Belmont Stakes will have to look elsewhere. Because Bob Baffert says the colt won’t run on June 5 in New York.
From SI.com:
Baffert said Lookin At Lucky will also take a pass on the Belmont and return to Southern California to freshen up. His next start may be the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 1.
“I want to keep this horse around,” the Hall of Fame trainer said.
Their absences, combined with no Triple try in play, leaves the Belmont with little drama. Baffert will be there, though, saying he plans to saddle Game On Dude, partly owned by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre. First Dude finished second in the Preakness, and is likely a Belmont starter.
“It’ll be the Battle of the Dudes,” Baffert said.
It’s disappointing that neither Super Saver (the Kentucky Derby winner) nor Lookin at Lucky will run at the Belmont, but it’s understandable. The Derby this year was a grind, given that the conditions were poor and the traffic at the start was brutal. Super Saver looked beat at the Preakness and I’m sure Lookin at Lucky is gassed after winning.
First Dude might be installed as the favorite at the Belmont in two weeks. He was a 20/1 long shot entering the Preakness on Saturday, but surprised the field to finish second.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
2010 Preakness Stakes Predictions
Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/15/2010 @ 2:47 pm)
All right, so I was a tad off in my Kentucky Derby predictions two weeks ago. Sidney’s Candy (the colt I predicted to win) ran out of gas down the stretch and I’m pretty sure Line of David (my prediction to show) still hasn’t come out of the posts yet.
That said, my choice of Paddy O’prado to place was partly correct as he finished in the money, but third instead of my prediction of second. Had he not tired down the stretch, he would have held off Ice Box for second place, but I was happy that at least one of my predictions finished in the money. I also noted that Conveyance would probably jump out to a big lead at the front – which he did – but tire down the stretch (which he also did). But that prediction doesn’t really count for anything; I’m just trying to make myself feel a little better considering the picks didn’t pan out.
I’ll try to do better today with the Preakness, as the second leg of the Triple Crown takes place at 6:15PM ET.
Win: Lookin at Lucky (3/1)
Lookin at Lucky was the favorite heading into the Kentucky Derby, but he fought traffic out at the start and finished a disappointing sixth. That said, he spotted the field over 20 lengths, battled through traffic and still managed to finish sixth. The last horse to pull off a similar feat was Curlin in 2007, who lost to Street Sense at the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby and then won the Preakness two weeks later. Had Lucky not drawn the awful rail position for the Derby, we might have seen a different outcome. But now that he is coming out of the No. 7 post, he shouldn’t have to battle as much traffic at the start and he can run his race throughout. If he does that, he beats the field.
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Posted in: horse racing
Tags: 2010 preakness stakes, 2010 Preakness Stakes predictions, Anthony Stalter, Calvin Borel, Dublin, First Dude, Headlines, horse racing, Jackson Bend, Lookin at Lucky, Paddy O'prado, Preakness Stakes, preakness stakes 135, preakness stakes free picks, preakness stakes predictions, Super Saver
Couch Potato Alert: 6/5
Posted by Thomas Conroy (06/05/2009 @ 12:17 pm)
This could be a weekend of “firsts.” Calvin Borel could become the first jockey to record a Triple Crown on two separate horses. With “The King of Clay” Rafael Nadal out of the picture, Roger Federer could capture his first Grand Slam championship at the French Open. And Kobe Bryant could be halfway home to his first NBA title without Shaq.
All times ET…
NBA Finals
Sun, 8 PM: Orlando Magic @ Los Angeles Lakers (ABC)
Stanley Cup Finals
Sat, 8 PM: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Detroit Red Wings (NBC)
MLB
Sat, 4:10 PM: Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers (FOX)
Sun., 1:30 PM: Texas Rangers @ Boston Red Sox (TBS)
Sun., 8 PM: Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN)
French Open
Fri, 5 AM: Women’s Semifinals (Tennis Channel)
Fri, 10 AM: Men’s Semifinals (NBC)
Sat, 9 AM: Women’s Finals (NBC)
Sun, 9 AM: Men’s Finals (NBC)
Horse Racing
Sat, 5 PM: The Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park (ABC)
Posted in: Couch Potato Alert, MLB, NBA, NBA Finals, NHL, Television, Tennis
Tags: ABC, Belmont Park, Boston Red Sox, Calvin Borel, Detroit Red Wings, Fox, Grand Slam, horse racing, King of Clay, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, MLB, NBA, NBA Finals, NBC, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Penguins, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Shaq, Stanley Cup Finals, TBS, Tennis, Tennis Channel, Texas Rangers, The Belmont Stakes, The French Open, Triple Crown
Couch Potato Alert: 5/15
Posted by Thomas Conroy (05/15/2009 @ 11:48 am)
It has been over 30 years, but is this finally the year that we’ll have another Triple Crown winner? Mine That Bird carries the hopes of the entire horse racing community into the Preakness on Saturday, as this sport desperately needs a feel-good story.
Sunday going to be a special day for all couch potatoes. We have an original six matchup in the NHL Western Conference final and not one but two Game 7’s in the NBA playoffs. Enjoy!
All times ET…
NBA Playoffs
Sun, 3:30 PM: Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers (ABC)
Sun, 8 PM: Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics (TNT)
NHL Playoffs
Sun, 3 PM: Chicago Blackhawks @ Detroit Red Wings (NBC)
MLB
Sat, 4:10 PM: New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants (Fox)
Sun., 1 PM: Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees (TBS)
Sun., 8 PM: New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants (ESPN)
Horse Racing
Sat, 4:30 PM: The Preakness Stakes (NBC)
Posted in: Couch Potato Alert, MLB, NBA, NHL, Television
Tags: ABC, Boston Celtics, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Fox, horse racing, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Mine That Bird, Minnesota Twins, MLB, NBA, NBC, New York Mets, New York Yankees, NHL, Orlando Magic, San Francisco Giants, TBS, The Preakness, The Preakness Stakes, TNT, Triple Crown, Western Conference
Couch Potato Alert: 5/1
Posted by Thomas Conroy (05/01/2009 @ 2:45 pm)
The NBA and NHL playoffs are heating up, as the Boston Celtics/Chicago Bulls series could go down as maybe the best first round series ever. The Detroit Red Wings will again battle the Anaheim Ducks, who have defeated them in consecutive playoff series. They defeated the Red Wings in the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals, it marked the first time since 1952 that a defending Stanley Cup champion was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
All times ET…
NBA Playoffs
Fri, 8 PM: Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat (ESPN)
Sat, 8 PM: Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics (TNT)
Sun, 1 PM: Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks* if necessary (ABC)
Sun, 3:30 PM: Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets (ABC)
NHL Playoffs
Fri, 7 PM: Anaheim Ducks @ Detroit Red Wings (Versus)
Sat, 1PM: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Washington Capitals (NBC)
Sat, 9 PM: Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks (Versus)
Sun, 2 PM: Anaheim Ducks @ Detroit Red Wings (NBC)
Sun, 7:30 PM: Carolina Hurricanes @ Boston Bruins (Versus)
MLB
Sat, 3:40 PM: New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies (Fox)
Sun., 1:30 PM: Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays (TBS)
Sun., 8 PM: Chicago White Sox @ Texas Rangers (ESPN)
Boxing
Sat, 9 PM: Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao for the world junior welterweight title from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena (HBO PPV)
Horse Racing
Sat, 4 PM: Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.(NBC)
Posted in: Boxing, Couch Potato Alert, MLB, NBA, NHL, Television
Tags: 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals, ABC, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boxing, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Churchill Downs, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Red Wings, ESPN, Fox, HBO PPV, horse racing, Junior Welterweight Title, Kentucky Derby, KY, Las Vegas, Louisville, Manny Pacquiao, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Miami Heat, MLB, NBA, NBC, New York Mets, NHL, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ricky Hatton, Stanley Cup, Tampa Bay Rays, TBS, Texas Rangers, TNT, Vancouver Canucks, Versus, Washington Capitals
From Triple Crown to no crown: Big Brown’s career finished
Posted by Anthony Stalter (10/14/2008 @ 9:44 am)
Big Brown, the thoroughbred that was one victory away from winning horse racing’s Triple Crown, has a broken foot and will not race at next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup. Or ever for that matter as his racing career is over.
 In a cruel twist of fate, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, whose connections were gung-ho for the Classic challenge, was injured in a workout at the Aqueduct track in New York and has been retired. Hours later at Santa Anita, reigning Horse of the Year Curlin went through an afternoon workout between races that was encouraging to connections that have been notably noncommittal regarding the richest race in North America.
Michael Iavarone, principal owner of Big Brown, and his family watched as the 3-year-old colt went through a workout on turf in company with stablemate and defending Breeders’ Cup Mile champion Kip Deville. Iavarone said, in a national teleconference yesterday, that to him the exercise appeared excellent.
“They looked like two F-16s in formation,” Iavarone said.
But the mood changed instantly when Iavarone went to the stable area to be met by his glum trainer, Rick Dutrow, who said there was a problem with Big Brown.
Sometime during the workout Big Brown had “grabbed a quarter” – meaning he made contact with his right hind hoof to an area in his rear lower right front hoof and leg – and gashed away 3-4 inches of flesh and hoof.
The injury is not considered life threatening, given the prevention of infection, and measures were being taken in that regard. But it will require several weeks to heal.
Well at least this isn’t a life threatening injury to the horse. Because lord knows if these animals suffer an eyelash injury everyone’s like, “Well she had a good run – let’s put her down.”
The Breeders’ Cup just lost its heavyweight fight. People have been waiting to see Big Brown vs. Curlin since the summer.
Congress to look into steroids in horse racing
Posted by Anthony Stalter (06/20/2008 @ 10:55 am)
Gary West of the Star-Telegram writes that a congressional subcommittee has conducted an inquiry into “Breeding, Drugs and Breakdowns” in the sport of horse racing.
In her opening comments, Illinois congresswoman Jan Schakowsky said, “It seems greed has trumped the health of horses, the safety of jockeys and the integrity of the sport.”
 Some might point out that not every segment of the industry was represented. Nobody was there Thursday, for example, representing the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association or the Association of Racing Commissioners International. Most of all, nobody was there to represent the typical horseman who spends so much of his time and resources caring for his horses as though they’re part of his family.
And some might wonder why the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the House of Representatives was spending its time on such things. But it would be a mistake not to answer the wake-up call.
“We want you to regulate yourself,” Rep. Stearns said, as if addressing everybody connected to the sport. And the implication was clear: If horse racing doesn’t address its problems, if it doesn’t regulate itself, then government will.
My initial reaction to seeing this was doesn’t congress have better things to worry about? But these horses aren’t making a conscious decision to use steroids and other drugs – humans are making those decisions for them. So maybe it is worth it for congress to step in and take a look at what’s going on in the underworld of horse racing, especially if these animals’ health is in danger.
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