Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

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December 18th, 2009
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Dean Arnold

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

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December 14, 2009
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Claire Noovak

Friday, December 11, 2009

Thursday, December 10, 2009

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December 10, 2009
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Bob Ehalt

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December 7, 2009
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Claire Novak

Thursday, December 3, 2009

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December 3, 2009
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Alex Waldrop

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December 3, 2009
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Bob Ehalt

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

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November 25, 2009
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Bib Ehalt

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November 22, 2009
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Claire Novak

Monday, November 16, 2009

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November 15, 2009
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Bob Ehalt

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November 13, 2009
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Alex Waldrop

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November 12, 2009
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Dean Arnold

Thursday, November 5, 2009

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November 5, 2009
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Alex Waldrop

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November 4, 2009
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Eric Wing

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November 4, 2009
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Claire Novak

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

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November 4, 2009
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Jennifer Decker

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November 4, 2009
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Steve Zorn

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November 4, 2009
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Greg Calabrese

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

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November 1, 2009
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Dean Arnold

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November 01, 2009
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Gina Rarick

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October 31, 2009
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Jennifer Decker

Friday, October 30, 2009

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Ocotber 29, 2009
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Lisa Grimm

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Ocotber 30, 2009
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Terry Flanagan

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Ocotber 30, 2009
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Bob Ehalt

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Breeders' Cup 360 - Lessons Learned: Once Is Never Enough

October 26, 2009
Breeders' Cup 360 - Lessons Learned: Once Is Never Enough
Jeremy Plonk

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October 29, 2009
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Steve Zorn

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October 28, 2009
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Gene Kershner

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October 28, 2009
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Brock Sheridan

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October 27, 2009
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Terry Flanagan

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

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October 27, 2009
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Alex Waldrop

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October 27, 2009
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Alan Heitner

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October 27, 2009
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Alan Heitner

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October 27, 2009
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Alan Mann

Classic-bound Zenyatta tops pre-entries - NTRA

October 28, 2009
Classic-bound Zenyatta tops pre-entries - NTRA
Jay Privman

Friday, October 23, 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

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October 20th, 2009
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Steve Zorn

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Ocotber 19th, 2009
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Steve Zorn

Monday, October 19, 2009

Breeders' Cup 360 - Some Trainers Prefer To Be in the Dark

October 19th, 2009
Breeders' Cup 360 - Some Trainers Prefer To Be in the Dark
Jeremy Plonk

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October 19th, 2009
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Brock Sheridan

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October 19th, 2009
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Karen Johnson

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Ocotber 19th, 2009
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Patrick Patten

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October 16th, 2009
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Bob Ehalt

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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Ocotber 13th, 2009
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Gina Rarick

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October 13th, 2009
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Brock Sheridan

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October 13th, 2009
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Alan Heitner

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October 11th, 2009
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Claire Novak

Saturday, October 10, 2009

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October 10th, 2009
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Terry Flanagan

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October 10th, 2009
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Greg Calabrese

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October 9th, 2009
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Claire Novak

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October 9th, 2009
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Ryan Patterson

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October 9th, 2009
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Patrick Patten

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October 8th, 2009
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Terry Flanagan

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October 8th, 2009
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Gene Kershner

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October 8th, 2009
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Dean Arnold

Zenyatta out to extend run to 13 - NTRA

October 8th, 2009
Zenyatta out to extend run to 13 - NTRA
Jay Privman

Goodwood: Many questions for Mine That Bird - NTRA

October 8th, 2009
Goodwood: Many questions for Mine That Bird - NTRA
Jay Privman

Monday, October 5, 2009

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October 4th, 2009
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Gina Rarick

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October 3rd, 2009
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Greg Calabrese

Thursday, October 1, 2009

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September 30th, 2009
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Lisa Grimm

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

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Friday, September 25, 2009

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September 25th, 2009
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Terry Flanagan

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September 25th ,2009
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Alan Heitner

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September 25th, 2009
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Ryan Patterson

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September 24th, 2009
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Gina Rarick

Selene may decide Canadian filly title - NTRA

September 24th, 2009
Selene may decide Canadian filly title - NTRA
Ron Gierkink

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Looking to go out with a flourish - NTRA

September 23rd, 2009
Looking to go out with a flourish - NTRA
Dave Grening

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September 23rd, 2009
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Patrick Patten

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September 23rd, 2009
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Patrick Patten

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September 23rd, 2009
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Gene Kershner

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September 23rd, 2009
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Valerie Grash

Hold Me Back the standout for Turfway's Cup - NTRA

Septmeber 23rd, 2009
Hold Me Back the standout for Turfway's Cup - NTRA
Marty McGee

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Monday, September 7, 2009

Rachel Alexandra, the Great




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Rachel Alexandra, the Great
 
Yesterday, in what is likely to be the final bow of her three year-old campaign. Out of this world filly Rachel Alexandra took on older horses for the first time in her already stellar career. The results were stunning.
 
Not only did Rachel due away with an impressive field of older horses {Beating older horses is only really a factor in a horses three year old campaign, partly because two & three year-old horses spend the first two years of their racing careers competing against horse their own age.} that included (just to name a few) 08' Belmont Stakes winner D' Tara, 07' UAE Derby winner Asiatic Boy and $1,625,247 career earnings winner Macho Again but she may have shut this reporter up for good.
 
I've made no secret about my feeling regarding Rachel Alexandra. I simply don't believe she's as good as peopled have you believe. A quote this week from trainer Marty Wolfson pretty much summed up my feeling toward the reigning queen of the three year-old division.  
 
"I don't want to say she's great yet, I grew up around Affirmed and Alydar, horses like that. Those are great horses. I cannot tag her great yet. She's a top filly. I've seen a lot of top fillies, too. My stepmother had Affectionately and Priceless Gem and horses like that. They were top fillies, but they weren't great horses. I think she's a top filly"
 
Rachel beat Wolfson's charge It's a bird on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga to claim the fifty-fifth running of the Woodward Stakes. Rachel Alexandra was pressed on the lead from the outset of the 9 furlong race by D' Tara who never let Rachel relax on the lead. As Rachel made her way into the home stretch, her rivals on the front end gave way to a charge from the back of the pack. Asiatic Boy was strong but in the end it was Macho Again who came from the back of the pack to challenge Rachel.
 
Rachel's rider Calvin "Bo-Rail" knew he he had company headed home and asked his filly for a little more with a little left-handed encouragement. Rachel just kept on truckin and Macho Again continued to close the gap on her. Rachel did not appear to be slowing down, just unable to keep pace with Macho Again who was in full flight right in front of the Sartoga grandstand.
 
Robby Albarado aboard Macho Again had finally done it. He'd pinned down the super filly and was about to wipe the floor with her when Calvin Borel stepped in. Borel adjusted his encouragement from left to right and Rachel responded with another gear costing to the finish-line neck in neck with Macho Again who just couldn't get by owner Jess Jackson's pride and joy Rachel Alexandra, the great.
 
Rachel's Future
 
Rachel Alexandra defied fifty-four year of history becoming the first filly to win the Woodward Stakes. It's unclear what's next for the potential horse of the year candidate, however Jess Jackson has already made a couple of things clear.
 
First, he, Jess Jackson fully intends to run Rachel next year during her four year-old campaign.
 
Second, he, Jess Jackson does not believe in running horses over the synthetic poly-track at Santa Anita where this years Breeders' Cup will be held. This is unfortunate because the one obstacle I see in viewing Rachel as one of the greatest horses of all time is that she has not proven that she can win on  multiple surfaces.
 
Rachel Alexandra, better then great?
 
Sure some of the greatest dirt horses ever could not match their dominance on the grass and vice versus, turfers aren't always apt to run well on dirt. Synthetic surfaces have already been installed at major tracks across North-America. Synthetic surface are very new and were very costly to install, so their not going anywhere anytime soon. If Jess Jackson or Humbum Joe Gambler wants me to believe that Rachel is one of the greatest horses of all time she is going to have to win one on the Poly-Track. More specifically I want to see Rachel beat probable 09' Breeders' Cup Classic starter and fellow filly Zenyatta on a synthetic surface.
 
A bet for my NowPublic readers!!!
 
I'm so confident that Zenyatta can catch Rachel on the Poly-Track that I'll eat my own hat if it happens (I'll also make a video of this exercise {eating my hat} to be posted with a future article entitled Rachel Alexandra, the Greatest... ...Pass the salt)     
 
 
Zoltan Black    


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Friday, September 4, 2009

Turn $2.00 into $656K at New York's lovely Saratoga Race-Track




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This afternoon at 4:09 p.m. race four on today's Saratoga card will go to post with a little something extra on the line.
 
Thanks to a host of long-shots that paraded to the winners circle during the first four legs of the pick-six on Thursday afternoon the pick-six payout was going to be a huge one. When Thursday's card was finally in the books, nobody had claimed the massive pick-six pot that had been growing for two days and now toppled the $200,000 mark. 
 
The objective of the pick-six wager is a little obscene, the betting public is expected to correctly select the winner of 6 consecutive races. To make matters more difficult the 6 consecutive races are preselected by the racing authority, meaning the six race wager can often times feature races that are extremely tough to handicap in the first place.
 
Track-Mites like myself often use the "keying" technique when trying to capture elusive multi-race wagers like the pick-six or the win-four. This technique consists of selecting one "sure fire" winner in just one race, well pairing any number of possible winners in the other events. This type of wagering is even more obscene then the wager it self!! Often times these wager can also be very costly. A standard pick-six wager with one horse selected to win each leg cost just two dollars, however when you add multiple selections to your wager the cost significantly rises. It is not uncommon for one of my fellow Track-Mites to spend $40, $60 or even $100 on just one of these multi-race exotic wagers, but this is not sound advice.
 
With $656, 000 at stake today in Saratoga Springs, New York my advice to you would be to reach deep into your pocket....find the change from your morning coffee and pick-up a $2.00 pick-six ticket from your local O.T.B. (Off Track Betting --facility)
 
But I know next to nothing about horses?
 
If your not familiar with the sport all I have to say is ... ...haven't you heard of beginner luck? Us Track-Mite are race-track staples, however with all of our knowledge, racing forms and insider tips we were still unable to wrangle in Saratoga's pick-six two days in a row.
 
If your really nervous about making the wager just tell the teller at the O.T.B. that... ...you would like to make a $2.00 wager on the pick-six at Saratoga. If you have selected horse based on names, number or some other form of selection inform the teller on the horse number that corresponds with each race. As long as you have only selected one horse in each leg of your wager the cost will be just $2.00. If the idea of picking horse by name, number or some other form of selection is already giving you a headache I suggest you inform the teller that... ...you would like to make a $2.00  wager on the pick-six at Saratoga and that you would like this wager to be a quick-pick. Quick-pick if you are unfamiliar are random computer generated numbers and because no logic goes into the selection of these number the winning pay-outs on a quick-pick ticket can be enumerable.
 
What: A $656,000 pick-six carryover
Where: Saratoga Race Course
When: Friday (Races 4 thru 10)
Why: A chance at winning $656,000
How: Off-Track Betting of Saratoga Race-Track
 
Who: Zoltan Black 


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Friday, August 28, 2009

Poor Tyler Baze... ...Breeders' Cup Challenge 17 down & 46 to go




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Y2K (00') top apprentice jockey Tyler Baze who does his best ridding in Southern California would have been the center of attention at Del Mar Racetrack if it weren't for a pesky broken finger that will keep the twenty-six year old out of action this weekend. Baze sustained a broken finger last weekend and is scheduled to see a specialist on Tuesday, as reported by Steve Andersen of the Daily Racing Form.
 
The timing of the injury couldn't have been worse for Tyler who is currently second to only to Joel Rosario with 29 wins from 172 mounts at the current Del Mar meet. Rosario, Del Mar's leading rider has collected 39 wins from 189 starts, for a win average of 21% just four percentage point better then Baze's 17%
 
This weekend Baze was scheduled to be aboard the favourite in both of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" races being held at Del Mar this Saturday and Sunday.
 
Saturday
 
On Saturday David Flores will inherit likely race leader and sure fire favourite Monterey Jazz in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap. Flores is no stranger to the horse having guided Jazz to wins in both the Strub Stakes and the Texas Mile at the beginning of 08'
 
Craig Dollase has made an open challenge to the field... ..."I dare anyone to challenge us" said the abundantly confident trainer of Monterey Jazz. Don't let Dollase's comment fool you, the race is a $300,000 race, so nobody is showing up for this one intent on an expensive work-out or a "test" of the race-course. What Dollase meant is that he dares anyone to challenge Monterey Jazz on the lead. Dollase was also quick to point out that he doesn't mind Jazz "running off" (allow the horse to just run loose on the lead with no restraint) because of the races relatively short flat mile distance.
 
Sunday
 
On Sunday Rafael Bejarano will get his chance to inherit the favourite when he gets a leg up from Trainer Neil Drysdale aboard Obrigado in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap. Bejarano is scheduled to make his first start in over two months this Friday following a horrendous accident which occurred during the first week of the current Del Mar season. Rafael's face absorbed the majority of the impact which might explain his expedient return to the starting gate. 
 
Zoltan Black


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Coming to terms with Derek Jeter... ...A personal journey




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I despise Derek Jeter... ...but lately I've found myself coming to terms with the facts.
 
Jeter is the modern day Yankees equivalent to Babe Ruth, Lou Gerhig and Mickey Mantle. He possesses both the pizazz of Joe DiMaggio and the October dominance of Reggie Jackson.
 
The fact that I have so painfully come to terms with is...that...one day Derek Jeter will be a member of the famed Monument Park at the brand spanking new House that George Built at the corner of East 161st Street & River Avenue (New Yankee Stadium).
 
Monument Park is an outdoor museum that contains a collection of plaques and retired numbers, honoring the most prestigious member of baseballs most storied franchise, the New York Yankees.
 
Billy Martin, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and no-number honouree Miller Huggins are just a few of the 26 honoured in Monument Park.
 
So, why #2?
 
Derek Jeter hold countless all-time Yankee records. Most career singles, Most hits @ Ol' Yankee Stadium and Most career doubles just to name a few. Jeter is also second on the Yankees all-time hits list, fourth in games played and tenth overall in both the RBI and Home-run categories? From the short-stop position!! Absolutely incredible.
 
Jeter who grew up just down the Pike, in near by Pequannock, New Jersey has always been a fan favourite in the Bronx and with 10 all-star appearances, 4 World Series rings, 3 Golden Gloves and another 3 Silver Slugger Awards it's no wonder Jeet's is so popular in New York. It's that same ga-ga for Jeter popularity that has caused me to despise one of, if not the, greatest player of the modern era. Sure, at one time I thought Barry Bond was the marquee player of the steroid era, but as those waters continue to muddy it seem increasingly more likely that Derek Jeter name is not on "that list". And if it were? We'd probably never know it.
 
 
Zoltan Black
 
The "list" I referred to in the final sentence is a reference to a list of 104 players who tested positive for banned substances during a 03' amnesty type testing session that involved all Major League players. The testing was carried out on the condition that the number of positive tests had to register below 5% to avoid formal testing and penalties. Despite the promises of both Major League Baseball and the Players Association to keep the names of the positive testees anonymous, names from that list are slowly finding the light of day.
 
Extra Point to me for being able to use the term testee, in a totally appropriate fashion.
 
And congratulations to Derek Jeter. Your cheap smile and greasy hair have officially won you another fan, me.
 


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Del Mar Mile: Monterey Jazz can cruise - NTRA

August 27th, 2009
Del Mar Mile: Monterey Jazz can cruise - NTRA
Steve Andersen

Opportunity knocks in Travers - NTRA

August 28th, 2009
Opportunity knocks in Travers - NTRA
David Grening

Blog

August 28th, 2009
Blog
Alex Waldrop

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Obama may need Hockey Style Face Shiled.. ..Mr. Hasawaywithwords




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Thanks to Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post for bringing to life an issue I had long thought lost its legs.
 
Former NCAA hoops superstar J.J. Reddick, the NCAA's career leader with 457 three-pointers and a 40.4% three point average has been strapped to the bench in Orlando, since being drafted by the Magic 11th overall in the 06' NBA Draft. Reddick has not only had to adjust to a lack of playing time, seniority and press coverage but recently J.J. has had to dodge cheap shots from Washington Redskins corner-back DeAngelo Hall.
 
Before detailing Hall's offense let me be the first to tell you that I've made no secret about the lack of respect I have for Mr. Hall.
 
As if a lack of playing time isn't enough to get under the skin of the twenty-five year old native of Cookeville, Tennessee, J.J. Reddick's request to receive either "more playing time" or a trade was flat-out denied by Orlando Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy at the tail-end of 08' season.

 
"Right now it would be very hard to fit him in. I know it's also hard to keep sitting him on the bench... Should we be playing him? Right now we're going good so we probably won't disrupt things"
 
Now big-mouth defensive-back DeAngelo Hall claims he once shutdown the the two time ACC Player of the Year in a State Championship Game, where DeAngleo held J.J. to "like" 12 points, well Mr. Hasawaywithwords dropped "like" 31. 
 
To make matter worse diminutive DeAngelo (5'10) claims he could still shut down the pint sized NBA shooting guard.
 
Pint sized in terms of an NBA shooting guard is about 6'4, nearly half a foot taller then Mr. Hall who stated that he would have pursued a basketball career if he hadn't stopped growing (not sure if this one's Mr. Stienberg or a direct quote from Mr. Hasawaywithwords)
 
The topic rolled around to J.J. but that's not where it started according to Mr. Stienberg of the Post who says that the conversation began with DeAngelo's dream to one day sharing the court with the President of the Unites States Barack Obama. (Remember Mr. President this guys has a history of spitting, so if your going to do it, and I think you likely will as you appear to be quite the gamer, perhaps hockey style face shields will be in order) 
 
Ok that's enough DeAngelo bashing for one day, but is it really bashing when your standing up for one of "your" guys?
 
To be honest I've never spoken to J.J. but the little bastard has cost me a boat load of money, so I think it's fair to say I know just what kind of baller J.J. really is. The young man is soft spoken and certainly not one to give DeAngelo the press coverage he so eagerly desires but on-court J.J. is a stone cold killer, a three-point dagger shooting assassin, lurking in the wings, hell bent on delivering the deathblow (killshot).
 
Again I'm getting a little carried away trying to defend J.J.
 
At the beginning I had intended this piece to be an offensive launched against the NBA powers that be, the power that have kept one of the College basketballs most deadly shooters strapped to the bench for three straight seasons. Instead I have wasted my space deflecting comments from an ungrateful, multi-millionaire, comments directed at a man that Mr. Hall knows full well will no reciprocate.
 
I have the utmost confidence that J.J.'s comments on this issue will amount to little more than a one liner in tomorrows paper (if he even give Mr. Hasawaywithwords that much)    
 
Unfortunately it has become abundantly clear that this reporter is unable to exhibit the same refrain.
 
 
Zoltan Black 
 
 
 
J.J. Reddick has averaged 38% from the three-point line over three NBA seasons despite averaging a minuscule 14.4 minutes per game.   


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Monday, August 10, 2009

Commentator Retired... ...Does this mean there's a job opening?




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Following a disappointing effort as on odds on favourite in this Saturdays Whitney Handicap at Saratoga, multiple Grade 1 winner Commentator has been retired from active competition.
 
The decision was mad just hours after the completion of Saratoga's Saturday feature following a meeting between owners Tracy & Carol Farmer and New York based uber trainer Nick Zito. The decision to end Commentator's racing career midway through his eight year old campaign seems on paper slightly perplexing.
 
Why retire an animal of Commentator's class if, as Nick Zito stated "Physically there's nothing wrong with him, other than age" 
 
Commentator is a gelding (castrated male) so he posses no breeding shed value. This explains why Commentator, a horse that won more then half of his twenty-four career starts, bankrolled over two million dollars and won the Whitney Handicap twice was still running races rather then passing down his genes.
 
What is does not explain is why after a third place effort behind longshot winner Bullsbay and classy vet Macho Again in this years edition of the Whitney Handicap the decision has been made to shut down Commentator for good?
 
New York Racing Association (NYRA) Executive Vice-President Hal Handel say he's in favour off a public sendoff at Saratoga sometime before the end of the current meet "Obviously, he's been a  star here, and I think he's a very sentimental favorite for a lot of people. It would be nice way too wrap up his career to have him honored here."
 
Zoltan Black
 
 
Commentator Career Record: 24 Races, 14 wins, 1 second and 4 thirds. Incredible. Commentator only missed the tote board (did not finish in the top three) five time in his entire career, no wonder he's a "sentimental" favourite


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Saturday, August 1, 2009

Breeders' favorites unproven on turf - NTRA

July 31st, 2009
Breeders' favorites unproven on turf - NTRA
Ron Gierkink

Well Armed goes for San Diego repeat - NTRA

July 31st, 2009
Well Armed goes for San Diego repeat - NTRA
Brad Free

The Breeders Stakes.. ..Final Leg of the Canadian Triple Crown




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Being Now Public's track-side pundit has it's advantages.
 
The biggest one being, that I can post my selections, cold hearted and braggadocios without the risk of losing even a dollar. This is great because my opinions cost me a minimum of $2.00 at the race-track and because I generally have a lot of opinions this could mean risking a whole whack of money.
 
With that being said tomorrow at Woodbine Racetrack thirteen hopefuls will go to post for the final leg of the Canadian Horse Racing Triple Crown the Breeders Stakes. Eye of the Leopard (Queen's Plate Winner) and Gallant (Prince of Wales Stakes) will headline Woodbine's eighth race on Sunday afternoon well newcomers like Hisaki, Perfect Shower and Full Throttle will look to steal both the spot light and the lions share of the $500, 000 purse.
 
Keino West, Flip for the Coin and Mr. Foricos Two U join Eye of the Leopard as the only horses in this years Breeders Stakes to have tested all three surfaces that the Canadian Triple has to offer. First it was the synthetic (poly) track at Woodbine for the Queens Plate in early July. After the Queen's Plate, Canadian Triple Crown hopefuls turned their attention to an old fashioned dirt race course at Fort Erie for the Prince of Wales.
 
Tomorrow afternoon at 4:37est the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Breeders Stakes will be run over the super classy E.P. Taylor turf course at Etobicoke's Woodbine Race Track.
 
Although the Canadain Triple Crown does not share the same rarefied air as the American version of the same competition, it's easy to see why Woodbine regular like myself and track handicapper Jim Bannon feel that the Canadian Triple Crown is just a difficult to master.

The last time a Candian Horse won the Triple Crown was 03' when Mike Keogh trainee Wando won all three races in the summer series. Before Wando their were three horses in the 90's that managed the feat Izvestia 90', Dance Smartly 91' and Peteski 93'. Compare that to the American version of the same series and the result are clear. No horse has claimed the American Triple Crown since Seattle Slew and Affirmed claimed back to back crown during the late seventies (77', 78')


 
It would appear, given the facts that the Canadian Triple Crown is much easier to win then it's American counter-part, however recent changes to the main track at Woodbine may put this facts on hold.
 
On August 30th 2006 Woodbine Racetrack changed it main track from traditional dirt to a synthetic surface know as poly. Poly is made of mostly rubber and is said to be a lot gentler on the equine athletes. This meant that the Queen's Plate which has been run since 1860' over a traditional dirt course would be run over a synthetic surface for the very first time in 2007. Because the Prince of Wales and Breeders Stakes are run over plain old dirt and beautiful flowing grass respectively the addition of a synthetic surface race mean the Canadian Triple Crown is run over three completely different surfaces.
 
Those unfamiliar with the day to day operation at any North American Racetrack may not understand the significance of running races over three different surfaces
 
Before Poly there was only dirt and turf, horse who performed well on the turf were no guaranteed to repeat on dirt and like wise for dirt winners. However modern horse racing has new runner, the synthetic run and there is really no guarantee that he/she will be able to repeat their performance on either of the other surfaces. Polytack racers have proven to be an even stronger niche group which tracksiders like myself have dubbed Poly Killers. These horses experience dramatic improvements when switched from dirt/turf course to a synthetic surface.
 
With that being said I would leave Eye of the Leopard off of my win tickets on Sunday afternoon as he is a clear example of one of those "Poly Killers" I had mentioned earlier. 
 
My Selection: Reservoir
 
I must admit this was an easy one. I've had my Breeders Stakes winner picked Eye of the Leopard was parading in the winners circle on Plate Day.
 
Julia Carey's charge Reservoir did not make the trip to Fort Erie after being the pace setter for this years Queens Plate but that was all by design. Julia has been aiming Reservoir towards the E.P. Taylor turf course, more specifically the Breeders Stakes and that is why Reservoir was given some time away from racing rather then making the trip to Fort Erie for the second leg of the triple crown.
 
Good Luck
 
Zoltan Black


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Monday, July 27, 2009

Summer Bird has final work for Haskell - NTRA

July 26th, 2009
Summer Bird has final work for Haskell - NTRA
Mike Farrell

Haskell purse raised to $1.25M - NTRA

July 26th, 2009
Haskell purse raised to $1.25M - NTRA
Mike Farrell

Duke of Mischief is Haskell bound - NTRA

July 25th, 2009
Duke of Mischief is Haskell bound - NTRA
Mike Farrell

Today Rickey Henderson is a very, very humble man




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When a professional reaches the pinnacle of his or her career cockiness often gives way to confidence and what was once seen as a negative become a positive, a tool utilized to help one achieve their ultimate goal. Nowhere has this been more clearly demonstrated then in the case of Major League Baseball's all-time stolen base leader Rickey Henderson, who today was inducted into Cooperstown (the baseball hall of fame)
 
Throughout Rickey Henderson's remarkable career the terms cocky, arrogant and flamboyant often over shadowed actions like home-run and stolen base but yesterday in Cooperstown, New York Rickey accomplishments finally caught up with him. 
 
Born in Chicago , Illinois on Christmas Day Rickey moved to Oakland, California at the age of two. Born with the surname Nelson which would be abandoned shortly after the family made it to the west coast. Rickey's mother Bobbie, who was in attendance for yesterday ceremony married Paul Henderson in Rickey  junior year in High School and why not Rickey Henderson sure does have a fine ring to it.
 
Rickey finished his career with more Stolen Bases (1406) and more lead-off home-runs (81) then any player in Major League history. Rickey also collected 10 all-star selections, 2 World Series rings and 2,295 runs scored well suiting up for 10 different Major League teams.
 
Sunday afternoon Rickey Henderson received the ultimate accolade for a man in his profession, a bust in Cooperstown. On this day nobody called Rickey cocky or arrogant those words were replaced by terms like confident, assertive and Hall of Famer.
 

Congratulation to Hall of Fame Class of 09' Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice and 42' AL MVP Joe Gordon
 
 
Zoltan Black


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Sunday, July 26, 2009

Why don't your write about the Toronto Blue Jays




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Since I started posting sports article on NowPublic almost two years ago I've had a couple of loyal NowPublic reader ask me why I don't write more about sports teams from the Toronto area, more specifically the Toronto Blue Jays. My response was usually a deflection of the questions. A question I really didn't want to answer.
 
But after watching today's game between the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium I decided that I was finally going to speak up. No more keeping my trap shut.
 
The reason I don't write about the Toronto Blue Jays, despite being a regular attendee at the Rogers Center during the summer months is that I really don't have anything good to say and producing a regular column full of sour grapes would be sure to give both me and my readers a vicious case of heartburn. 
 
With that being said allow be to lay down some sour grapes.
 
Now I love Cito Gaston as much as the next guy. He helped bring two world championships to Toronto, robbing the United States of their most important crown two years running. He also played a major part in guaranteeing my support for the club even through its darkest days. Although attendance at the Roger Center is poultry to say the very least, a large percentage of any Jays crowd is made up of my peers, young-men and women who watched droopy eyed as the Jays claim the 92' World Series and the again very attentively as the Jays claimed their second titles in 93'. However nostalgia is no reason to saddle a franchise desperately in need of re-building with a coach that knows little if any thing about the re-building process. Gaston first took over for Jays bench boss Jimy Williams back in 89' three year before the Jays bought their first World Series adding pitcher Jack Morris and outfielders Rickey "I just got inducted into Cooperstown" Henderson, Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield to an already stacked line-up (Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar and John Olerud). The team that won the 92' World Series was bought for the city of Toronto in Stienbrenner like fashion, not built from the ground up like the Rays or Marlins franchises. 
 
I understand nostalgia sell tickets...and throw-back jerseys too.
 
The reason today's Rangers, Royals game had me wanting to make wine was Royals Bench Coach and former Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons. A no nonsense product of Great Falls, Montana, Gibbons is as close to being Gastons polar opposite as could be possible. Cito is calm, quite and often times appears to be taking a snooze in the dug-out. Gibbons on the other hand is boisterous, in your face and not afraid to put a big-headed player in his place with a right, left combo straight out of Raging Bull (something I would not be afraid to have happen to this years editions of Alex Rios and Vernon Wells)
 
Gibbons finished his tenure with the Jays winning as many games as he lost, 305 over almost four complete season during a time when the Jays still thought they might buy their way into the post-season (See B.J. Ryan, Frank Thomas and David Eckstien) Now, thanks to division mates Tampa Bay, Toronto has relized that the key to re-building a franchise is keeping it in the family.
 
Gibbons isn't the only former Jays coach that the franchise could hire for reasons of nostalgia. Carlos Tosca the current Bench Boss of the Florida Marlins must have learned something about re-building from his brief tenure with the fish? And lets not forget the Head Coach of the Atlantic Leagues Bridgeport Bluefish Willie Upshaw, ten years coaching at the Atlantic League level would probably give a guy some real insight into working with young player, the kind of young player you need to depend on if you hope to re-build your franchise.
 
Or perhaps you're one of those who believe that Carlos Tosca 04' and John Gibbons 08' don't cut the nostalgic mustard.
 
Well if that's the case then the Jays could always opt for Atlanta Braves Head Coach Bobby Cox, who despite having a coaching career that predates my own birth isn't afraid to get up out of his dug-out to give an umpires a little hell. Cox managed the Jay between 82' and 85' before moving on to his current role as Braves Head Coach. No stranger to being tossed the fiery 68 year-old Cox is the Major League Ejections Leader (having been tossed out of more Major League games then any other player/coach)
 
If aged meat is not a problem for the Jays front office when selecting a Head Coach (which it is not, see Cito Gaston) allow me to put forth the nomination of Jimy Williams. Williams managed the Jays over twenty years ago from 86' until 89' but still has plenty of gas left in the tank as evidence by his World Series win as Head Coach of the Philadelphia Phillies this past season.  
     
 
Now I'm out of breath and out off gas, witness why I choose not to right about the Toronto Blue Jays.
 
Zoltan Black


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