Permit me to take a few minutes to stop weeping about Andy Pettitte to extol my virtues as your favorite racing/sports
columnist.
Yes, boys and girls, in the course of the last week, yours truly
a) went 11-2 over a two-day span with sports pix, and hit seven straight best bets. For more information,
call 1-888-612-2283 extension 80; or log on here.
b) tabbed Mr. Jester in this space to win the Delta Jackpot at 14-1, and
c) suggested to my readers to bet the ranch on Richard Migliore Wednesday afternoon at Aqueduct. The Mig merely w
ent 4-2-0 from six mounts.
That said, I’m going to handicap six Saturday stakes, but first I have to get some things off my chest:
---Where are our priorities? The New Jersey Nets are paying Jason Kidd $120 million to play basketball, but the New
Jersey Sports And Exposition Authority, the Nets’ landlord, is shutting down the First Aid Room at Monmouth Park for
budgetary reasons.
---Don’t you just love homer announcers? The other night, the Knicks were down 19 points to the Utah Jazz with 1:50
left when the Knicks’ announcer said: “it looks like the Knicks will go winless on this trip.”
That’s right…it looks like.
---Last weekend, in the Daily Racing Form, lead columnist Jay Hovdey made a baseball reference in his lead, referring to
the memorable 1975 World Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox!
Speaking of the Yankees, I have two things to say about Andy Pettite:
a) This really is not the end of the free world as we know it. Life will go on.
b) Pettite does deserve credit for leaving $8 million on the table, or is it $20 million? When was the last time a pro athlete
did that?
Back to racing:
Vegas has opened its 2004 Kentucky Derby futures, and makes Norfolk Stakes winner Ruler’s Court
the 12-1 favorite. At 15-1 are Eurosilver, Lion Heart, The Cliffs Edge, and Tapit. Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile winner Action This Day is 20-1, followed by Birdstone (worth a play) at 22-1, Tiger Hunt
at 25-1, and filly champ Halfbridled, Minister Eric and Silver Wagon at 30-1. We’ll learn more
about Silver Wagon Saturday at Calder.
That said, here’s looking at a football-free Saturday:
GARLAND OF ROSES (Aqueduct)
The last time that Wilzada saw the inner track, she won the Interborough by five with a 105 Beyer
number. She’s 3-for-3 over the track, 9-for-14 overall, and she has the right Laurel-based
connections, Tony Dutrow and Mario Pino. I look for Wilzada to duel Literary Light into defeat, and
hold off the cavalry.
PIESEN’S PICKS: 1) Wilzada 2) Gazillion 3) Travelator
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QUEENS COUNTY (Aqueduct)
Evening Attire returns home after being victimized by some home cookin’ at Churchill. He’ll be
odds-on, but it’s never a good idea to back a one-run horse giving gobs of weight over the IDT.
In his first start for Richard Dutrow, Thunder Blitz raced wide every step under an over-confident
ride by Prado, and missed by a neck.
Yes, I know the son of Holy Bull is three-for-life, but he’s sitting on a big race here.
PIESEN’S PICKS: 1) Thunder Blitz 2) Unforgettable Max 3) Seattle Fitz
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Down at Calder Race Course, they are running the annual Grand Slam – a quartet of $100,000
races – and, naturally, good buddy Jerry Bailey will be there. And, naturally, he’ll be riding three
odds-on favorites, while sitting out one race.
THE WHAT A PLEASURE
Silver Wagon has been unsighted since waxing the Hopeful at Saratoga at 12-1, but a big win
here can thrust him into the championship picture. The gray has been working well over the
track, he has Bailey and the one-hole, but he’s going two-turns for the first time. At 3-5, he
looks unbeatable.
But I’m going to try to beat Silver Wagon with a $7,500 colt named Second of June. He’s the horse
for the course, and he’s proven at
two-turns. Maybe an exacta box is the way to go.
PIESEN’S PICKS: 1) Second of June 2) Silver Wagon 3) Society Sam
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CHAPOSA SPRINGS HANDICAP
Chispiski will take some catching from the one-hole, but look for Holy Bubbette, a Holy Bull
filly with Bailey up, to run her down with the help of a 10-pound pull. Trainer Amoss rarely
ships to Florida, and rarely does he use Bailey. At 4-1, Holy Bubbette has a puncher’s chance
to run down the formidable Chispiski.
PIESEN’S PICKS: 1) Holy Bubbette 2) Chispiski 3) Belle Artiste
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KENNY NOE JR. HANDICAP
Kenny did a good job avoiding an indictment in the NYRA tax-fraud scandal, and I’m sure he’ll be
in the winner’s circle to present the trophy to the winner’s connections.
This one is wide-open, but look for Canadian star Wake At Noon to get the money,. The son of
Cure the Blues, with $1.5 million in the bank, has the tactical speed to sit outside the cheap
speed, and make the winning move on the turn. Sing Me Back Home, Formal Attire and
Tour of the Cat -- among others – appear formidable.
PIESEN’S PICKS: 1) Wake At Noon 2) Tour of the Cat 3) Sing Me Back Home
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THE THREE RING
After sitting out the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap. jockey Bailey gets the call on Chatter Chatter, who
may be the best 2-year-old filly this side of Halfbridled.Chatter Chatter, a winner of her last three
starts by a combined 45 lengths, has banked $380,000. By comparison, nothing else in the race
is in triple-digits.
PIESEN’S PICKS: 1) Chatter Chatter 2) Ender’s Sister 3) Steph’s Meadowlake
