Sal’s Countdown to the
2017 Kentucky Derby
Sei
Bloodhorse – Haskin – Derby Dozen – March 28, 2017 – Presented by Shadwell Farm
TDN – WinStar TDN Derby Top 20 for Mar. 28
TwinSpires Blog – Scully’s Kentucky Derby Top 10 staying steady ahead of major preps
TwinSpires Blog – Malagacy, One Liner earn spots in Scully’s Kentucky Derby Top 10
Road to the 2017 Kentucky Derby
| Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | Apr 1, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | Apr 1, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Wood Memorial | Aqueduct | Apr 8, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Blue Grass | Keeneland | Apr 8, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | Apr 8, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | Apr 15, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Lexington | Keeneland | Apr 15, 2017 | 10-4-2-1 |
Road the the 2017 Kentucky Oaks
| Gulfstream Park Oaks | Gulfstream Park | Apr 1, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Fair Grounds Oaks | Fair Grounds | Apr 1, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Ashland | Keeneland | Apr 8, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Santa Anita Oaks | Santa Anita Park | Apr 8, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Gazelle | Aqueduct | Apr 8, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Fantasy | Oaklawn Park | Apr 14, 2017 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Beaumont | Keeneland | Apr 16, 2017 | 10-4-2-1 |
sabato aprile 1
Sal says that if you’re reading the sports section of your local newspaper while enjoying your bearclaw and double-double the headline about 5 Canadian teams making the NHL playoffs this year is not an April Fool’s prank as five Canadian NHL teams are on the cusp of making the NHL playoffs this year.
A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.
William Shakespeare
NY Times – Longman – Connecticut’s 111-Game Winning Streak Ends With Loss to Mississippi State
ESPN – Hayes – Mississippi State stands up to Connecticut in epic upset
NY Times – AP – South Carolina Defeats Stanford to Reach Its First Title Game
Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
Groucho Marx
TDN – Finley – Leading Harness Driver to Become Jockey
The truth is, I’ve never fooled anyone. I’ve let men sometimes fool themselves.
Marilyn Monroe
FiveThirtyEight – Paine – 14 Things You Should Know About Saturday’s Final Four
A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.
Baltasar Gracian
“You know what pressure is?” Martin asked. “Thirty-five students, 27 desks, 18 textbooks, and you’ve got to educate every single kid in that classroom for 180 days.”
NY Times – Crouse – Frank Martin’s Formula for Success: ‘You Figure It Out’
Horse Race Insider – Pricci – Handicapping Profile of xpressbet.com Florida Derby Runners
Lady and the Track – DaSilva – Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby Selections
Bloodhorse – Litfin: Handicapping South’s Big Oaks and Derby Preps
Bloodhorse – Johnson -Plenty of Options in Competitive Louisiana Derby
TwinSpires Blog – Scully: Trying to beat imposing favorites in Florida and Louisiana
TwinSpires Blog – DeRosa Kentucky Derby Prep Picks for the Florida and Louisiana Derbys
A wise man fights to win, but he is twice a fool who has no plan for possible defeat.
Louis L’Amour
Bloodhorse – Pletcher Ships Lightly Raced Duo for Louisiana Derby
Bloodhorse – Ransom – Louisiana Derby Draws Nine in Search of History
Sal’s reprising his comment from Friday about Sal reviewing the pps for Saturday’s Florida Derby and Louisiana Derby. Mike Smith may have been channelling his Zenyatta rides while piloting Arrogate to victory in last weeks Dubai World Cup, but for Monaco to have a chance Maragh will have to be channelling Mr. Monaco (Graham Hill not Mat), Lorenzo Bandini, Mario Andretti, Aryton Senna and Jaun Fangio and Monaco will have to be channelling Nearco, Enzo Ferrari and Federico Tesio.
Bloodhorse – Gunnevera: From Orphan to Classic Contender
TDN – DeBernardis – Dialed In Colt Enters FL Derby ‘Guns’ Blazing
Please, Sir, I want some more.
Oliver
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Five things to know for Florida Derby
Fooled Around and Fell in Love
Lady and the track – Tequilita Tries Two Turns in Gulfstream Park Oaks
FiveThirtyEight – Hickey and Boyle – Mars Madness: 68 Cool Things About Mars Go Head-To-Head
LA Times – Khan – How did Mars lose so much of its atmosphere? MAVEN has an answer
The experience reminds me that solitude among the buzz of a busy stadium is like a kind of meditation. Even when there are thousands of people around, it’s really just you, your thoughts, your favourite pitcher, and the nine men in your lineup.
The Globe and Mail – Fowles – Going to the ballpark alone: Seeking solitude in a social sport
venerdi marzo 31
TDN – Towers – Good Things Happen When Customers’ Bankrolls Grow
Bloodhorse – Baffert Could Send Three to Santa Anita Derby
US Racing – Sigmon – Gunnevera Seeks First Grade One Victory in Florida Derby
Bloodhorse – Balan – Knee Chip Knocks El Areeb Off Derby Trail
Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Interesting Malagacy has plenty of scope for improvement
Speaking of improvement Sal’s been reviewing the pps for Saturday’s Florida Derby and Louisiana Derby. Mike Smith may have been channelling his Zenyatta rides while piloting Arrogate to victory in last weeks Dubai World Cup, but for Monaco to have a chance Maragh will have to be channelling Mr. Monaco (Graham Hill not Mat), Aryton Senna and Jaun Fangio and Monaco will have to be channelling Nearco, Enzo Ferrari and Federico Tesio.
NY Times – Asimov – Your Next Lesson: Lambrusco
TwinSpires Blog – Mucciolo’s Sophomore Spotlight: Florida Derby & Louisiana Derby Previews
Horse Race Insider – Jicha – Gulfstream, Fair Grounds could produce a leader of 3YO pack
TDN – Massam – Girvin the One to Beat in LA Derby
Brisnet – Caldwell – Tequilita takes on Davona Dale trio in Gulfstream Park Oaks
TDN – Massam – Farrell Seeks Local Sweep in FG Oaks
Bloodhorse – Olorda Brings Back Class to Orchid Stakes
TDN – Massam – Pegasus Also-Rans Out to Make Amends in N.O. ‘Cap
US Racing – Simon – Is Bob Baffert Right About Arrogate?
Sal says how do you download a frozen French Fry to your smart phone or Ipod.
giovedi marzo 30
The Globe and Mail – Montreal baseball investors have met MLB’s conditions: source
ESPN – DRF – Privman – Asmussen shifts focus back to 3-year-olds
Brisnet – Scully – Gunnevera draws outside in Florida Derby
Bloodhorse – Novak – Sano’s Faith in Gunnevera Unwavering for Florida Derby
Paulick Report – Orphaned At Birth, Gunnevera ‘Probably Extra Spoiled’
Paulick Report – Musical Jockeys: New Pilots Planned For Several Top Derby Prospects
TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Kentucky Derby BRIS Speed Rating Report March 29: Hence gets big number
TwinSpires Blog – Mucciolo – The Dubai Conundrum
Brisnet – Caldwell – El Areeb posts penultimate work for Wood Memorial
TDN – Classic Empire Confirmed for Arkansas Derby
Bloodhorse – Tequilita Hopes to Go Distance in Gulfstream Oaks
TDN – Bianca – Vexatious No Trouble for Drysdale
Bloodhorse – Gantz – Average Spikes at Barretts March Sale
Bloodhorse – Balan – Dortmund Looks to Regain Form in Santana Mile
Garden and Gun – Hutchinson – Man o’ War’s Lasting Legacy
Bloodhorse – Kentucky Horse Park to Celebrate Man ‘o War
TwinSpires Blog – Powell – Handicapping Insights – Arrogate the best I’ve seen
venerdi – marzo 29
Bloodhorse – McCraken, Gunnevera Top Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Paulick Report – Pletcher’s Derby Troop: Battalion Runner Won’t Ship For Santa Anita Derby
TwinSpires Blog – Mucciolo’s Sophomore Spotlight Recap: Spiral & Sunland Derby
Horse Race Insider – Berner – Arrogate in Dubai, a True Global View
martedi marzo 28
NY Times – Powell – The N.F.L. and the Business of Ripping Out the Heart of Oakland
LA Times – Montero – Las Vegas beats the odds, and its own past, in landing the Raiders
NY Times – Gierasimczuk – How a Team in Seattle, of All Places, Changed Hockey Forever
Bloodhorse – Angst – Classic Empire to Arkansas Derby After Solid Work
Bloodhorse – Ron Mitchell – McCraken Stretches Out in Keeneland Work
Paulick Report – Wilkes ‘Very Pleased’ With McCracken’s Six-Furlong Work At Keeneland
Bloodhorse – Angst – Skychai Racing Purchases Interest in Fast and Accurate
Paulick Report – ‘Old Men And Their Dreams’: Skychai Buys Into Spiral Winner Fast And Accurate
Sal says that now Dr. Hansen has money to supplement this horse to the Derby.
Paulick Report – Gunnevera Heads Florida Derby Probables; Practical Joke Still On The Fence
What? Is Practical Joke going to be too busy pulling April Fool’s Day pranks to be ready for the Florida Derby.
TDN – Caulfield – Pedigree Insights – Pedigree Insights: Thunder Snow
Paulick Report – Unique Bella Sidelined Indefinitely Due To Shin Injury
Paulick Report – Full Sister To Destin, Creative Cause Steps Up In Fair Grounds Oaks
Brisnet – Hanson – Farrell seeks fourth in a row in TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Arrogate provides fitting climax to Dubai World Cup night drama
DRF – Hovdey: Assessing greatness requires history’s lessons
Brisnet – Hanson – Arrogate’s rise to greatness historically unconventional, but true
Brisnet – Hanson – Noble Bird, Better Lucky look to rebound in New Orleans
lunedi marzo 27
NY Times – Tracy – A Final Four That Illustrates the Sport’s Constant: Unpredictability
NY Times – Cacciola – North Carolina Vindicates Roy Williams’s Trust With Last-Second Win
NY Times – Schonbrun – Resilient South Carolina Ascends Into the Basketball Ether
Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Smith – Four absolute certainties about Arrogate … or are they?
Horse Race Insider – Pricci – Arrogreatest of All Time?
Paulick Report – Hansen Will Put Up $200,000 Late Nomination Fee For Spiral Winner Fast And Accurate
Bloodhorse – Balan – Hence Springs Upset in Sunland Derby
TDN – Hence Shows ‘Em Who’s ‘Boss’
Brisnet – Caldwell – Hence powers to Sunland Derby victory
Bloodhorse – Shea – Undefeated Ghalia Takes Sunland Park Oaks
TDN – Ghalia Stays Perfect in Sunland Oaks
Brisnet – Caldwell – Ghalia remains unbeaten with Sunland Park Oaks triumph
Bloodhorse – Balan – Girvin Heads Louisiana Derby Field
Bloodhorse – Shea – Farrell Poised for Next Test in Fair Grounds Oaks
Bloodhorse – Dortmund Back to Dirt in Next Start
TDN – I. Ortiz, Rodriguez and Jacobson Take Big A Inner Titles
domenica marzo 26
The Globe and Mail – John Doyle: What Would Sal Do? Be crude, dumb and very funny
Sal says that Sal’s sick and tired of those micro breweries that brew trendy concoctions that taste nothing like beer. Sal says to let the oenophiles sniff their wine and pretend they know what they’re talking about when all they’re doing is regurgitating some other wine snob’s opinion. Sal wants beer with a back beat that you can’t lose.
Sal says the truest quote he ever heard about the aroma of liquor came from Brian Panowich’s Bull-Mountain:
Smells like oak, vanilla and bad decisions.
Sal was rather pleased to find a microbrewery that actually makes beer that tastes like beer, but better than the pee water we get from Labatt’s and Molson’s and all the faux Yankee concoctions.
Sal says he heard that they grow the grain just outside of the megalopolis of Wanham.
Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.
Albert Einstein
National Post – Fast food week: How to embrace pizza as the cornerstone of your life
I grew up with six brothers. That’s how I learned to dance – waiting for the bathroom.
Bob Hope
Golf is a game in which you yell ‘fore,’ shoot six, and write down five.
Paul Harvey
NY Times – Tracy – Oregon Topples Kansas for First Final Four Appearance Since 1939
NY Times – Shpigel – Gonzaga Marches Into Its First Final Four by Routing Xavier
Bloodhorse – Six Late Nominations to Triple Crown
Bloodhorse – Fields Set for Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds Oaks
Bloodhorse – Haskin – Classic Empire, Meet Tiznow, Broad Brush, and Fu Peg
Bloodhorse – El Areeb Works at Laurel Toward Wood Memorial
Bloodhorse – Novak – Irish War Cry Works With Wood Memorial Bid Likely
Bloodhorse – Gunnevera Leads Busy Sophomore Work Slate
TDN – Florida Derby Hopefuls Tune Up
Bloodhorse – Angst – Fast and Accurate Scores Spiral Upset
ESPN – DRF – McGee – Fast and Accurate pulls surprise to win Spiral Stakes
TDN – Hansen Colt Delivers in the Spiral
Paulick Report – Santa Anita – Golden – O’Neill Has Four Under Consideration For Santa Anita Derby
DRF – Hersh – Thunder Snow narrowly beats Epicharis in fast UAE Derby
TDN – UAE Derby Goes To Helmet’s Thunder Snow
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Thunder Snow Gets Up in UAE Derby
Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are those who are least able to utter them.
Edgar Allan Poe
Garden and Gun – Portman – Garden & Gun’s Fried Chicken Bucket List
Paulick Report – Non-Derby Wagering Record Set On Rebel Day; Oaklawn Handled $10.7 Million
TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Stretching back out can help one contender in Sunland Derby
TDN – Evenly Matched Bunch for Sunland Derby
ESPN – DRF – Hovdey – For Stevens, most everything old is new again
With A Little Help From My Friends
TDN – Bluegrass Cat Filly Salutes in Cicada
TDN – Author Laura Hillenbrand is This Week’s Podcast Guest
ESPN – DRF – King – Purely a Dream the best in Boubonette Oaks
Bloodhorse – Novak – Purely a Dream Leads Bourbonette Exacta for McPeek
TDN – Purely a Dream Scores in Bourbonette
The Globe and Mail – Brown – In searching for the real Godot, a time out from Trump
“I can’t have her running the No. 1 piston of economic growth in Canada into the ground,” O’Leary told his Newfoundland audience. “The transfer payments out of Alberta in the last 35 years funded practically every province. And it’s broken.”
So is that how a leading candidate for the federal Conservatives sees Alberta? As a cash cow, whose role it is to underwrite the rest of the country, without murmur — while he can threaten to cut off transfer payments here, if he doesn’t happen to agree with a provincial environmental or economic policy? Does he imagine the prime minister as the feudal overlord of Canada, and the provinces as vassal states, meekly tithing to Ottawa?
Sal says Phil would pose a question:
Why doesn’t Kevin O’Leary or any other politico ever pick on Quebec.
Bloodhorse – Haskin – I Thought I had Seen it All
Sal says so did he. Until driving home the other evening and I notice the female person in the vehicle next to me with her hands on the steering wheel in textbook position with a cellphone in each hand talking on one and using her thumb to scroll and text on the other.
TDN – Riley – ‘A’ Is For Absolute Superstar Arrogate
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Arrogate Last to First in Dubai World Cup
TDN – Arrogate Awesome In World Cup Win
US Racing – Ransom – Arrogate Rolls to Become Richest Racehorse in Dubai World Cup
Every job is good if you do your best and work hard. A man who works hard stinks only to the ones that have nothing to do but smell.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
TDN – BIll Finley – Arrogate v. Pharoah? It’s Arrogate
Bloodhorse – Wincze– Hughes – Second Summer catches Sharp Azteca in Godolphin Mile
TDN – Second Summer Hands Watson Another Mile
TDN – Manduro’s Vazirabad Defends Gold Cup Title
TDN – Lope De Vega’s The Right Man Takes The Al Quoz
TDN – Mind Your Biscuits Supreme in the Golden Shaheen
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Mind Your Biscuits Rises to Occasion in Golden Shaheen
Sal says the pun was punny first time Sal saw it not in reprise.
Paulick Report – Mind Your Biscuits Dominates Dubai Golden Shaheen, Gives Summers First Victory
TDN – Magic Man Conjures Turf Win For Japan
TDN – Jack Hobbs Too Good in the Sheema Classic
NY Times – Kantor and Einhorn – Canadians Adopted Refugee Families for a Year. Then Came ‘Month 13.’
When America’s early pioneers first turned their eyes toward the West, they did not demand that somebody take care of them if they got ill or got old. They did not demand maximum pay for minimum work, and even pay for no work at all.
Paul Harvey
ESPN – Joakim Noah gets 20-game suspension for banned supplement
Bloodhorse – National Treasure – By Evan Hammonds
DRF – LIvingston – Chasing Man o’ War’s ghost
NY Times – Asimov – 12 Wine Grapes Worth Discovering
Paulick Report – Itsinthepost Scores Black Type In San Luis Rey
TDN – Bill Finley – OTTB Makes Girl’s Dream Come True
TDN – Tattersalls To Disperse Bulk of Ballymacoll Stock
Bitter Southerner – Martin – The New Orleans Sazerac
Political discourse has become so rotten that it’s no longer possible to tell the stench of one presidential candidate from the stink of another.
P. J. O’Rourke
Hawthorne Sal
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