The NBA playoffs get serious, baseball eases into May, the ?Run for the Roses? is on, there?s a pair of championship belts on the line, and we have some fun, head scratching trivia to boot?.Read on!
TRIVIA:
Name the only horse in Kentucky Derby history to have run a sub 2:00 minute Kentucky Derby?
A) Cigar
B) Man ?O? War
C) Smarty Jones
D) Secretariat
*ANSWER AT BOTTOM
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NBA:
* PROJECTED 2ND ROUND MATCH-UPS
PACERS
HEAT
The Heat breezed through the Nets just as they were supposed to and appear to be headed towards a match-up with the Indiana Pacers. Watch out for Reggie Miller in this series as this is Reggie?s farewell tour.
BULLS/WIZARDS
PISTONS
Will the clock strike twelve for Cinderella, or will the fairytale continue? Whether it?s the Bulls or Wizards they are young and should be banged up and tired. The Pistons are the defending World Champions and could be just hitting their stride.
MAVERICKS
SUNS
The Suns looked unstoppable in round one and in my mind there is only one way to beat the Suns?.Offense! Forget defense, you have to outscore them and IF the Mavericks can get past the Rockets they may just be the team who could pull it off.
SPURS
SONICS
Getting the Spurs in the second round has got to be intimidating for a young team like the Sonics who lack playoff experience. The Spurs IF they polish off the Nuggets will need to look sharper than they did early in their first round series, when they were neither jingling, nor jangling.
MLB:
WHITE SOX (19-7)
1:05PM
BLUE JAYS (16-12)
Two surprising teams square off here as the Blue Jays, currently in second place, ahead of both the Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East and led by their pitching staff of Roy Halladay (4-1, 3.40), Gustavo Chacin (4-1, 2.48) and Josh Towers (3-1, 3.57) take on the hottest team in baseball the White Sox. The White Sox also are loaded at pitcher with Jon Garland leading the way (5-0, 1.38).
DODGERS (17-9)
8:00PM ESPN
REDS (10-16)
Espn?s Sunday night ?Game of the Week? sees the Dodgers who are quieting critics who felt their off-season losses would drop them into the bottom of the NL West. Led by Milton Bradley (6HR, 17RBI, .330) and Jeff Kent (6HR, 21RBI, .319) they are currently in 1st place in the NL West. The Reds have all the power in the world but Ken Griffey Jr. (2HR, 10RBI, .250), and Sean Casey (1HR, 10RBI, .313) need to contribute and soon, in order to compete in the stacked NL Central.
HORSE RACING:
And then there were seven?
We?re just about ready for the 131st running of the world's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, which will be run on May 7, 2005 at Churchill Downs. The Derby prep races are over and it?s the first time in recent history that we don?t have a clear cut favorite due to the amount of truly talented 3-year-olds from a single year?s crop. Once again, there will most likely be a full field of 20 horses breaking from the starting gate, but regardless of how many 3-year-olds actually run in this years Run for the Roses, we can reduce the full field down to only 7 true contenders who have the pedigree, and ability, to find their way to the Winner's Circle on that first Saturday in May!
(Note: Contenders listed in alphabetical order below.)
1) Afleet Alex is the most consistent colt of the lot. He has now finished first or second in 8 or his 9 lifetime starts, with a lung infection causing his only poor effort, in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. While he is the most consistent, he has the least pedigree power (Northern Afleet, out of a Hawkster mare) of these seven contenders on his side, including his east coast trainer, Tim Ritchey, who is far less known then the rest in this group. Don?t give up on him just yet, Ritchey is a solid trainer and his colt will enter the Kentucky Derby off an 8-length win in the $1 million dollar Arkansas Derby and missed winning the Breeder?s Cup Juvenile last November by less than a length!
2) Bandini has shown the ability to relax and rate off the leaders, which is an essential quality when racing at the classic distance of 1 ? miles, in his past two races. The last was a sensational 6-length victory in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. That race was full of possible Derby contenders, including High Limit, Sun King and Consolidator and Bandini has now won 3 of 5 career starts. He has already won twice at 1 1/8 miles and this son of Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prosperctor), is out of a Dixieland Band mare and will have no questions about getting the distance. New York based trainer Todd Pletcher paid a hefty $500,000 for this colt and has a true contender in his barn.
3) Bellamy Road shocked some of the public when he romped by 17-lengths in the Wood Memorial on April 9, but he won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by 15-lengths in his previous start! In fact, he has now won 4 of 5 career starts, and has been a true stakes caliber animal since he began his career. After breaking his maiden in his debut while never being asked to run, he immediately won a stake in his next start. Sure, some may knock that performance since it was at River Downs in Ohio, but he defeated a quality field that day, including Scipion, a multiple stakes winner that has since won the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Distance won?t be a problem for this son of Concerto (Chief?s Crown) who?s female side hails from the Vice Regent line through his Dam?s father, Deputed Testamony. He?ll be the likely Derby favorite as he?ll head to Kentucky with a 120 Beyer speed figure under his belt and trainer Nick Zito in his corner.
4) Blues and Royals was purchased by the Godolphin racing stable for $400,000 at the Keeneland sale and immediately began his racing career in Great Britain, and then Dubai. That alone makes the Florida bred son of Honour and Glory (Relaunch) the least recognizable name to the public. Just like Bandini, he is also out of a Dixieland Band mare and bred to run all day. While I don?t agree with his connections only racing him once as a 3-year-old before running in the Kentucky Derby, his only race of 2005 was extremely impressive. Returning from a 6-month layoff, he added blinkers and raced on a dirt surface for the first time in his short four race career, only to defeat a 12 horse Grade-2 field by a stunning 12-lengths! His pedigree suggests that he?ll be better on the dirt then the turf, and that dirt debut may have proved it. While he may not be ready to win the Derby off of just one prep race, this colt will knock heads with the best of his generation.
5) Greeley?s Galaxy has now won four consecutive races after capturing the Illinois Derby by 9-lengths while earning a Beyer speed figure of 106. This son of Mr. Greeley (Gone West), out of an Ascot Knight mare might have the best endurance pedigree of this group, and is peaking at just the right time as he?s been prepping under the radar out at Santa Anita in California. He defeated solid fields while breaking his maiden and first allowance condition at Santa Anita. While the public may consider him a notch below the top Derby prospects, we really don?t know how good he is since no horse has been within 3 ? -lengths of him since his debut!
6) High Fly has done just about everything asked of him to this point, including winning 5 of his 6 career races, but is considered trainer Nick Zito?s ?other? horse! This Kentucky bred son of Atticus (Nureyev) has never left the confines of the Florida circuit, but made his mark there, taking names while capturing the Aventura Stakes, the Fountain of Youth, and the Florida Derby. While he doesn?t own some of those gaudy Beyer speed figures as some of his foes, he has also never earned less than a 94 Beyer speed figure in his six race career!
7) High Limit won his first three consecutive races in hand, but those victories came at lesser circuits such as Delaware Park. Before his third victory he was switched over to the barn of trainer Bobby Frankel and immediately went wire-to-wire while earning a 105 Beyer speed figure in route to capturing the Louisiana Derby. He lead every step of the way that day at the Fairgrounds, a track known for its extremely long stretch drive, which makes that performance even more interesting to industry insiders. He?ll enter the Kentucky Derby off his first loss, in the Blue Grass, but you can be sure that trainer Bobby Frankel knew that was just a prep, with the Churchill Downs? Winner?s Circle being the real target.
Kentucky Derby preview courtesy of Carlo Campanella,
BOXING:
WBC/WBO LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE MANDALAY BAY, LAS VEGAS, NV.
J. CASTILLO +120
D. CORALES -150
9 ? ROUNDS (OVER) -135
9 ? ROUNDS (UNDER) +115
CASTILLO BY DEC +255
CASTILLO BY KO +245
CORRALES BY DEC +255
CORRALES BY KO +200
DRAW +2100
Get in on the Action: www.betcom.com
TRIVIA ANSWER:
D) Secretariat
The fastest Derby ever was in 1973, by Secretariat, who broke the two-minute mark and blazed the mile and a quarter in 1:59.4. Remarkably, each quarter mile split was faster than the one preceding it. No other horse has broken the two minute barrier in the Derby.
Get in on the Action: www.betcom.com
TRIVIA:
Name the only horse in Kentucky Derby history to have run a sub 2:00 minute Kentucky Derby?
A) Cigar
B) Man ?O? War
C) Smarty Jones
D) Secretariat
*ANSWER AT BOTTOM
Get in on the Action: www.betcom.com
NBA:
* PROJECTED 2ND ROUND MATCH-UPS
PACERS
HEAT
The Heat breezed through the Nets just as they were supposed to and appear to be headed towards a match-up with the Indiana Pacers. Watch out for Reggie Miller in this series as this is Reggie?s farewell tour.
BULLS/WIZARDS
PISTONS
Will the clock strike twelve for Cinderella, or will the fairytale continue? Whether it?s the Bulls or Wizards they are young and should be banged up and tired. The Pistons are the defending World Champions and could be just hitting their stride.
MAVERICKS
SUNS
The Suns looked unstoppable in round one and in my mind there is only one way to beat the Suns?.Offense! Forget defense, you have to outscore them and IF the Mavericks can get past the Rockets they may just be the team who could pull it off.
SPURS
SONICS
Getting the Spurs in the second round has got to be intimidating for a young team like the Sonics who lack playoff experience. The Spurs IF they polish off the Nuggets will need to look sharper than they did early in their first round series, when they were neither jingling, nor jangling.
MLB:
WHITE SOX (19-7)
1:05PM
BLUE JAYS (16-12)
Two surprising teams square off here as the Blue Jays, currently in second place, ahead of both the Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East and led by their pitching staff of Roy Halladay (4-1, 3.40), Gustavo Chacin (4-1, 2.48) and Josh Towers (3-1, 3.57) take on the hottest team in baseball the White Sox. The White Sox also are loaded at pitcher with Jon Garland leading the way (5-0, 1.38).
DODGERS (17-9)
8:00PM ESPN
REDS (10-16)
Espn?s Sunday night ?Game of the Week? sees the Dodgers who are quieting critics who felt their off-season losses would drop them into the bottom of the NL West. Led by Milton Bradley (6HR, 17RBI, .330) and Jeff Kent (6HR, 21RBI, .319) they are currently in 1st place in the NL West. The Reds have all the power in the world but Ken Griffey Jr. (2HR, 10RBI, .250), and Sean Casey (1HR, 10RBI, .313) need to contribute and soon, in order to compete in the stacked NL Central.
HORSE RACING:
And then there were seven?
We?re just about ready for the 131st running of the world's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, which will be run on May 7, 2005 at Churchill Downs. The Derby prep races are over and it?s the first time in recent history that we don?t have a clear cut favorite due to the amount of truly talented 3-year-olds from a single year?s crop. Once again, there will most likely be a full field of 20 horses breaking from the starting gate, but regardless of how many 3-year-olds actually run in this years Run for the Roses, we can reduce the full field down to only 7 true contenders who have the pedigree, and ability, to find their way to the Winner's Circle on that first Saturday in May!
(Note: Contenders listed in alphabetical order below.)
1) Afleet Alex is the most consistent colt of the lot. He has now finished first or second in 8 or his 9 lifetime starts, with a lung infection causing his only poor effort, in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. While he is the most consistent, he has the least pedigree power (Northern Afleet, out of a Hawkster mare) of these seven contenders on his side, including his east coast trainer, Tim Ritchey, who is far less known then the rest in this group. Don?t give up on him just yet, Ritchey is a solid trainer and his colt will enter the Kentucky Derby off an 8-length win in the $1 million dollar Arkansas Derby and missed winning the Breeder?s Cup Juvenile last November by less than a length!
2) Bandini has shown the ability to relax and rate off the leaders, which is an essential quality when racing at the classic distance of 1 ? miles, in his past two races. The last was a sensational 6-length victory in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. That race was full of possible Derby contenders, including High Limit, Sun King and Consolidator and Bandini has now won 3 of 5 career starts. He has already won twice at 1 1/8 miles and this son of Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prosperctor), is out of a Dixieland Band mare and will have no questions about getting the distance. New York based trainer Todd Pletcher paid a hefty $500,000 for this colt and has a true contender in his barn.
3) Bellamy Road shocked some of the public when he romped by 17-lengths in the Wood Memorial on April 9, but he won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by 15-lengths in his previous start! In fact, he has now won 4 of 5 career starts, and has been a true stakes caliber animal since he began his career. After breaking his maiden in his debut while never being asked to run, he immediately won a stake in his next start. Sure, some may knock that performance since it was at River Downs in Ohio, but he defeated a quality field that day, including Scipion, a multiple stakes winner that has since won the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Distance won?t be a problem for this son of Concerto (Chief?s Crown) who?s female side hails from the Vice Regent line through his Dam?s father, Deputed Testamony. He?ll be the likely Derby favorite as he?ll head to Kentucky with a 120 Beyer speed figure under his belt and trainer Nick Zito in his corner.
4) Blues and Royals was purchased by the Godolphin racing stable for $400,000 at the Keeneland sale and immediately began his racing career in Great Britain, and then Dubai. That alone makes the Florida bred son of Honour and Glory (Relaunch) the least recognizable name to the public. Just like Bandini, he is also out of a Dixieland Band mare and bred to run all day. While I don?t agree with his connections only racing him once as a 3-year-old before running in the Kentucky Derby, his only race of 2005 was extremely impressive. Returning from a 6-month layoff, he added blinkers and raced on a dirt surface for the first time in his short four race career, only to defeat a 12 horse Grade-2 field by a stunning 12-lengths! His pedigree suggests that he?ll be better on the dirt then the turf, and that dirt debut may have proved it. While he may not be ready to win the Derby off of just one prep race, this colt will knock heads with the best of his generation.
5) Greeley?s Galaxy has now won four consecutive races after capturing the Illinois Derby by 9-lengths while earning a Beyer speed figure of 106. This son of Mr. Greeley (Gone West), out of an Ascot Knight mare might have the best endurance pedigree of this group, and is peaking at just the right time as he?s been prepping under the radar out at Santa Anita in California. He defeated solid fields while breaking his maiden and first allowance condition at Santa Anita. While the public may consider him a notch below the top Derby prospects, we really don?t know how good he is since no horse has been within 3 ? -lengths of him since his debut!
6) High Fly has done just about everything asked of him to this point, including winning 5 of his 6 career races, but is considered trainer Nick Zito?s ?other? horse! This Kentucky bred son of Atticus (Nureyev) has never left the confines of the Florida circuit, but made his mark there, taking names while capturing the Aventura Stakes, the Fountain of Youth, and the Florida Derby. While he doesn?t own some of those gaudy Beyer speed figures as some of his foes, he has also never earned less than a 94 Beyer speed figure in his six race career!
7) High Limit won his first three consecutive races in hand, but those victories came at lesser circuits such as Delaware Park. Before his third victory he was switched over to the barn of trainer Bobby Frankel and immediately went wire-to-wire while earning a 105 Beyer speed figure in route to capturing the Louisiana Derby. He lead every step of the way that day at the Fairgrounds, a track known for its extremely long stretch drive, which makes that performance even more interesting to industry insiders. He?ll enter the Kentucky Derby off his first loss, in the Blue Grass, but you can be sure that trainer Bobby Frankel knew that was just a prep, with the Churchill Downs? Winner?s Circle being the real target.
Kentucky Derby preview courtesy of Carlo Campanella,
BOXING:
WBC/WBO LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE MANDALAY BAY, LAS VEGAS, NV.
J. CASTILLO +120
D. CORALES -150
9 ? ROUNDS (OVER) -135
9 ? ROUNDS (UNDER) +115
CASTILLO BY DEC +255
CASTILLO BY KO +245
CORRALES BY DEC +255
CORRALES BY KO +200
DRAW +2100
Get in on the Action: www.betcom.com
TRIVIA ANSWER:
D) Secretariat
The fastest Derby ever was in 1973, by Secretariat, who broke the two-minute mark and blazed the mile and a quarter in 1:59.4. Remarkably, each quarter mile split was faster than the one preceding it. No other horse has broken the two minute barrier in the Derby.
Get in on the Action: www.betcom.com
