Saturday, June 7, 2025
Saratoga Race Course
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to include a host of two-day special wagers
TwinSpires – Vince Hanson – Epsom Derby, Belmont Stakes Double a bet worth having
Bloodhorse – Belmont Highlights Busy Week of Racing on Radio, TV
NYRA – NYRA announces stakes schedule for the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
Phil’s reprising Sal:
Sal says that while Phil was able to read and post select writings from the NY Times – The Rail Blog all we’re left with today is the NY Times – Hoppert and Drape – Belmont 2017: Our Predictions to Win, Place and Show.
Sal doesn’t want to shatter your illusions that thoroughbred racing is prospering when the amount of landscape that thoroughbred racing retains in the major and minor newspapers’ sports sections couldn’t grow a handful of radishes.
Phil has an update:
Record Derby Success Could Influence Racings Future
TDN – T.D. Thornton – TDN Belmont Stakes Preview: Showdown at the Spa
Paulick Report – Joe Nevills – The Haiku Handicapper Presented By NYRA Bets: 2025 Belmont Stakes
Paulick Report – Ellis Starr – Equibase Analysis: Baeza Can Improve, Win Belmont Stakes
Racing Bettor – Epsom Derby Entries
OddsChecker – Epsom Derby 2025 Tips & Full Runners List at Confirmation Stage
Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Bob Ehalt – At a Glance Look at 2025 Belmont Stakes Field
Phil’s The Pennine Ridge Stake Exacta / Triactor Box – Off Turf
1. Zulu Kingdom / 3. States Rights / 10. Thirteen Colonies
Cities have sexes: London is a man, Paris a woman, and New York a well-adjusted transsexual.
Angela Carter
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – NYRA Postpones Jaipur, Manhattan Stakes to June 8
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Sloppy, Yielding Conditions to Begin Belmont Stakes Day
Paulick Report – Joe Nevills – The Haiku Handicapper Presented By NYRA Bets: 2025 Belmont Stakes
#1 – Hill Road
Unorthodox path
But always shows up on dirt
Could land anywhere
#2 – Sovereignty
Skipped Triple Crown bid
To push chips in on this hand
Pressure? What pressure?
#3 – Rodriguez
His feet betrayed him
Won’t face much on the front end
A threat to run off
#4 – Uncaged
If he pulls this off
The racing secretary
Deserves the trophy
#5 – Crudo
Thumped minor-leaguers
Needs to make dramatic strides
To survive the pace
#6 – Baeza
Massive shoes to fill
Impressed in his Derby try
One more rung to climb
#7 – Journalism
A bottomless tank
Faces “Graveyard of Chalk” curse
Which wolf do you feed?
#8 – Heart of Honor
Did weird Preakness trip
Prove he needed more distance
Or expose ceiling?
Prediction
Triple Crown near-miss
Journalism wins rematch
And then six, three, two
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – The Belmont: Sovereignty vs. Journalism and the Rest
Steve Haskin – What You Didn’t Know About Secretariat’s Belmont – Secretariat.com
Bloodhorse – Karen M. Johnson – Journalism’s Trainer Takes Trip Down Memory Lane
Bloodhorse – Jay Hovdey – The Baeza Brand Rings True at Belmont Time
TDN – Tim Wilkin – Belmont Stakes Notebook: Having The Derby Winner Makes For A Popular Barn
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
Charles Dickens
Bloodhorse – Racing Post – David Carr – O’Brien Sends Out Trio in Search of Epsom Oaks Upset
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Raging Torrent in the Flow for O’Neill in Met Mile
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – For Baeza, Home Is Where the Carrot ‘Smoothie’ Is
TDN – Tim Wilkin – Belmont Stakes Notebook: Everything Working Out Just Fine for Jockey Smith
Sports Business Journal – Legends to get Superdome, Smoothie King F&B
Phil has a question:
Can you get a carrot smoothie at Smoothie King.
Does Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit serve the same shit pizza as Little Caesar’s.
As all true gamblers know, the moods of luck, whether bad or good, are as changeable as the winds. One moment she might be with you, guiding you gently toward some distant paradise you never hoped to see; the next, she could be battering you to death against the rocks. A successful gambler therefore, the old man had said, is not one on whom luck never turns her back, but rather one who knows the moment to take their fate back from her into their own hands.
T.M Cicinski
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – An Outpouring of Emotions for Clement’s First Win
We have these weapons of mass destruction on every street corner, and they’re called donuts, cheeseburgers, French fries, potato chips, junk food. Our kids are living on a junk food diet.
Joel Fuhrman
“So, whoever comes in has got so much pressure on them to take this team to the next level, ’cause that’s why they’re doing it, obviously, in their minds.”
ESPN – Rick Pitino ‘absolutely not’ interested in coaching Knicks again
Phil has a question:
Were you thinking of three words with the last being way.
Phil has a question:
Why do you hear about coaches being outcoached, but not general managers being out managed or owners being out owned.
Why would any of the coaches who are qualified for the Knicks job want to take it when the is a douche-bag asshole.
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Pletcher’s Bid for 5th Belmont Win Rests With Longshots
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – Belmont a Spacing Race for Journalism, Sovereignty
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Homestead Gardener – Khaja Moin – How to Use Epsom Salt for Tomato Plant?
Huff Post – Kristen Aiken – This Salting Technique Will Make Your Tomatoes Taste Way Better
The Ringer – Julianna Ross – ‘Pavements’ Doesn’t Just Break the Biopic Mold—It Shrugs at the Pieces
Practically everybody in New York has half a mind to write a book — and does.
Groucho Marx
One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.
Tom Wolfe
Paulick Report – Mike Davey – Will The Belmont Stakes Return To Saratoga In 2026?
The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.
John Updike
Paulick Report – Joe Nevills – Puca, Baeza Going For The History Books In Belmont Stakes
Derek Carr knew he was in a predicament regarding his shoulder injury and NFL future but said he ultimately decided to retire because he didn’t want to “just take” money from the New Orleans Saints.
ESPN – Derek Carr: ‘Right thing’ for me, Saints to choose retirement
Phil has a question:
How long did it take you to pick yourself up off the floor after reading that.
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
William Shakespeare
Alberta 2025 UFO/UAP Symposium
Phil has a question:
If the cost is $125.00CDN for earthlings what is it for aliens.
It’s more likely, though, with the benefit of hindsight, that this move will be remembered as malpractice. Sometimes you move on from a head coach and watch their replacement implement a new system that infuses life into the same group. And sometimes you’re smacked with regret after failing to realize how good things really were until you shoved one of the biggest reasons for your success right out the door.
The Ringer – Michael Pina – The Knicks Ran Out of Gas—So They Lit the Car on Fire
You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
Daily Hive – Charlie Hart – Tim Hortons is launching a brand-new stacked sandwich across Canada
I’ve been to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s a tower, and it’s leaning. You look at it, but nothing happens, so then you look for someplace to get a sandwich.
Danny DeVito
TDN – Steve Sherack – Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Kicks Off With New York Showcase Day
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Belmont-at-Saratoga Win Now a Possible Dream for Brown
Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?
Attributed to Groucho Marx
The Ringer – Elizabeth Nelson – The Pop Culture Golfer Matrix
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Baeza Win Would Make History for Puca
NYRA – Michael Adolphson – Zulu Kingdom looks to rule G3 Pennine Ridge
If you ignore the dragon, it will eat you. If you try to confront the dragon it will overpower you. If you ride the dragon, you will take advantage of its might and power.
Chinese Proverb
ESPN – Shams Charania – Knicks fire Tom Thibodeau as coach after five seasons
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Champion Citizen Bull Cuts Back in Woody Stephens
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Five KY Derby Runners Return to Churchill for Matt Winn
Phil has a question:
How does the Preakness at Pimlico stand a chance.
Bloodhorse – Far Bridge Looks to Continue Strong Run in Manhattan
Bloodhorse – Unbeaten Kentucky Oaks Winner Good Cheer Aims for Acorn
Phil has a question:
Will the state be levying a similar tax on every crypto transaction.
Ventura started going to the track at a young age with his father and his uncles and says he’s immediately fell in love with the sport. It didn’t hurt that one of the first bets he ever made, a $2 win wager, returned $104.
“I said to my dad, mommy is going to be so excited,” Ventura said. “He said, no Jimmy, we are going to tell her that we broke even.”
TDN – Bill Finley – ‘I’m In This Forever’: Crudo Rewards Jimmy Ventura’s Commitment
Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Patrick Reed – Meet the Jockeys of the 2025 Belmont Stakes
TDN – Tim Wilkin – Belmont Draws Eight; Journalism, Sovereignty to Renew Rivalry
TDN – Baeza Works Ahead of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes
Phil has a question:
Did they get their tip from Dawn Lupul.
Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Mendelssohn Making Steady Climb Among Sires
Violin Concerto In E Minor op. 64
Phil has a question:
When will a Mendelssohn filly be named Here Comes the Bride.
There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.
Isaac Asimov
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Journalism Favored From Post 7 for the Belmont Stakes
TSN – CP – London claims third Memorial Cup title with dominant victory over Medicine Hat
TSN – Maple Leafs prospect Cowan wins MVP at Memorial Cup
Phil has a question:
Does Jeff Skinner’s having to learn that there is no ski tow on the ice when he joined the Oilers speak volumes about the problems in Buffalo.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Miles Kington
Paulick Report – Mary Eddy – Speedy Colloquial Will Get Talent Test At Top Level In Woody Stephens
BBC – Arthur Bovino – An expert’s guide to the best pizza in NYC
Nothing feels quite so good as pouring salt in an open wound.
Tammy Blackwell
TDN – ‘He Looked Smooth’: Sovereignty Tunes Up for Belmont
The Ringer – Michael Pina – 2025 NBA Finals Primer: The Thunder-Pacers Track Meet
It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Bloodhorse – Croix du Nord Tops Japan 3-Year-Olds After Derby Win
The Ultimate Coney Island Hot Dogs
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Journalism To Enter Belmont After June 1 Breeze
TDN – Tim Wilkin – Journalism A Go For Belmont Stakes After Saratoga Work
Paulick Report – Belmont Contender Heart Of Honor Stretches Legs At Saratoga
Paulick Report – Todd Pletcher Enters Crudo, Uncaged In Belmont
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Rodriguez Back on Track After Missing Derby
Front Office Sports – Pacers-Thunder Is Lowest-Payroll NBA Finals in Years
I am getting old, but it works in this job. I’m so slow now that I can’t get out of the way of the puck.
Jacques Plante
TSN – Medicine Hat battles London in Memorial Cup Final for major junior supremacy
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
Isaac Asimov
TDN – Baeza Ships In, Fierceness Works Ahead Of Belmont Stakes Weekend
How would you like a job where when you made a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
Jacques Plante
SportsNet – Stars’ Oettinger, DeBoer dismiss concerns about working relationship
What is forgotten in the media flap over squat is that hockey coaches have been pulling goalies for years as a wake up call to the 18 skaters who aren’t doing their job and making their goalie look bad. In most instances the pulled goalie is returned to the net a couple of whistles later having served the purpose of the wake up call, but the Oilers spoiled DeBoer’s coaching strategy bu immediately scoring on the replacement.
I found the bench to be the greatest ally when I had to make individuals comply with what was best for the team.
John Wooden
All gamblers lose regularly, but they rarely discuss it in public. Losing is bad for the image, dude. Nobody buys Hot Tips from Losers. Remember that.
Hunter S. Thompson
TDN – Derby Winner Mystik Dan Back To His Best In the Blame
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Baeza Could Upend 3-Year-Old Picture in Belmont
TDN – Baeza Ships In, Fierceness Works Ahead Of Belmont Stakes Weekend
Bloodhorse – Aiello to Announce at Santa Anita With Mirahmadi Away
Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – Belmont Stakes History, by the Numbers
This will never be a civilized country until we spend more money for books than we do for chewing gum.
Elbert Hubbard
Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – Five Weeks’ Rest is Best for Belmont but Three Can Work
DRF – David Grening – No added pressure for Mott, Sovereignty after skipping Preakness
Whether a tomato or a rumour, consider the source.
Chris Bianco
Paulick Report – New York-Breds Take Center Stage On Opening Day Of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.
Sun Tzu
So, before you get started, it’s important to be honest with yourself about how much you’re willing to commit to your garden and which crops you will actually use. If your family won’t eat the food you grow, you’re not saving yourself any money.
Southern Living – Megan Overdeep – 7 Vegetables Gardening Experts Say Are Cheaper To Grow Than Buy
Phil has a question:
Does anyone want the behemoth zucchini that you grow.
Do the recipe authors use the word courgette to try and trick you.
How To Make Roasted Zucchini Seeds
TSN – Maurice, Brind’Amour skip player handshakes after Eastern Conference Final
Paulick Report – Frank Mitchell – Bloodlines Presented By Walmac Farm: A Guinea For Your Thoughts?
Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Breeders’ Cup to Return to Belmont Park in 2027
Never make predictions, especially about the future.
Casey Stengel
Paulick Report – New York Showcase Day Set For Wednesday Before Belmont Stakes
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Mystik Dan Back at Churchill Downs for Blame Stakes
Phil has a question:
Do horses understand English, Spanish, Mexican, French and Italian.
Bloodhorse – Tracy Gantz – Veteran Skippylongstocking Adds Gold Cup to Resume
TDN – Christina Bossinakis – Skippylongstocking Back on Top in the Hollywood Gold Cup
Bloodhorse – BH Monday: Is It Baeza’s Time to Shine in the Belmont?
Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Komorebino Omoide Overcomes Poor Start, Slop in Sexton
Paulick Report – Komorebino Omoide Makes The Grade In Steve Sexton Mile At Lone Star Park
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Classic-Winning Trainer Clement Dies at 59
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.
2018 Belmont Derby Invitational
Paulick Report – ‘I Liked What I Saw’: Peter Pan Winner Hill Road Tunes Up For Belmont
Bloodhorse – ‘Stronger’ Sovereignty Leads Belmont Workers
Bloodhorse – Racing Post – Conor Fennelly – Field of Gold Explosive in Irish 2,000 Guineas Victory
Bloodhorse – Molly Rollins – Rodriguez ‘Ready for a Trip to Saratoga’
BBC – Ali Abbas Ahmadi – Sum 41 music agent among those killed in San Diego plane crash
Bloodhorse – Byron King – Sovereignty, Journalism Clash Isn’t a Rivalry Just Yet
Bloodhorse – Tracy Gantz – Skippylongstocking Heads West for Hollywood Gold Cup
The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it.
Lou Holtz
TDN – Report: Gosger To Skip Belmont In Favor Of Future Targets
TDN – Steve Sherack – Off Triple Crown Trail With Ankle Chip, Magnitude Aiming for Summer Return
Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Mike Curry – ABR: An Early Look at the Belmont Stakes
March to the beat of your own drummer.
Henry David Thoreau
There is no music unless the drum and the drummer are one.
e. e. cummings
A band director was having a lot of trouble with one of his drummers. He talked and talked and talked with the drummer, but his performance didn’t improve.
Finally, in front of the whole orchestra, he said: “When a musician just can’t handle his instrument and doesn’t improve when given help, they take away the instrument, give him two sticks, and make him a drummer”.
A whisper was heard from the percussion section: “And if he can’t handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor”.
ESPN – Joe Lunardi – Men’s Bracketology: 2026 NCAA Tournament
Garden and Gun – Zac Jones-Gomez – How the Kentucky Chef Sam Fore is Finding New Purpose
Phil has a question:
Would Bugs Bunny approve.
2 tablespoons Tuk Tuk Fried Chicken Spice* (Or sub 1½ tablespoons Madras curry powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon salt)
Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Journalism Departs for Saratoga, Next Race Undetermined
The Ringer – Howard Beck – Welcome to the NBA’s Age of Chaos
Horse Racing Nation – Belmont Stakes 2025: NYRA says 8 horses are in current mix
Bloodhorse – Beb Ehalt – Journalism a Belmont Possibility After Preakness Win
TDN – Sovereignty Back To Work At The Spa While White Abarrio Drills For Met Mile
Phil has a question:
Does demented Don the Con have any clue in that shit pea-brain that the wealthy Arab Oil Sheikhs play by their own set of rules.
I am glad that I paid so little attention to good advice; had I abided by it I might have been saved from some of my most valuable mistakes.
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Bloodhorse – Alan Porter – Hill Road’s Deep Family Suits the Belmont Stakes
Bloodhorse – Coal Battle Breezes, Pointed to Matt Winn
TDN – ‘Rising Star’ Hill Road Runs Down Dutrow Duo in Peter Pan
Bloodhorse – Beb Ehalt – Hill Road Punches Ticket to Belmont in Peter Pan
Bloodhorse – Sovereignty Arrives at Saratoga ‘Like a Tiger’
Bloodhorse – Full Sister to Dam of Sovereignty in F-T May Digital
Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Sovereignty Returns to Track Following KY Derby Victory
Paulick Report – Christian Abdo – Captain Cook Top Contender For Peter Pan
Phil M. Stockmen
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