LOUISVILLE, Ky. - I don't know which happens with more regularity, an NBA player remarking on a well-officiated basketball game, or a horseplayer complimenting the stewards on a decision.
Neither takes place often. It is the nature of being an official, hearing people complain and knowing they tend to remember decisions that hindered them more than those that helped them.
LAS VEGAS - The racing world shifts gear to the older runners this weekend, with the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs and the Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park, both at 1 1/8 miles. Along with Delaware Park's Leonard Richards for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, the races make up a national pick three.
BOSTON - The Beyer Speed Figures dominated this year's Triple Crown. Unfortunately, as with too many key insights in handicapping, I didn't fully appreciate the obvious until a few hours after it was all over.
In terms of the Beyer Figures, this year's Derby preps produced three horses who stood out from the crowd. Empire Maker earned Beyers of 108 and 111 before the Derby. Ten Most Wanted ran a figure of 110 in the Illinois Derby. Funny Cide also earned a 110 in the Wood Memorial.
PHOENIX - Many of the best handicap horses in the country run next weekend. Trouble is, they won't all be facing each other because the action comes in three different races.
Next Saturday's Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont, and Grade 2 Californian at Hollywood give a glimpse of some of game's top males, and may even offer a few wagering opportunities.
Stephen Foster
LAS VEGAS - The Belmont Stakes has long been known as "the test of the champion" because of its 1 1/2-mile distance, a grueling route horses will never face again. Winning the Triple Crown has always been racing's most arduous task, and because American breeders chose speed over stamina, the Thoroughbred is a more fragile animal than it was 30 years ago. Winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes in a period of five weeks has become even more difficult for the weakened breed.
That's what makes Funny Cide's mission so remarkable.
PHILADELPHIA - I attended my first Kentucky Derby 25 years ago. Two weeks later, I attended my third Preakness. I considered going to the Belmont Stakes to see Affirmed try for the 1978 Triple Crown. I chose not to go.
It was obvious there would be another Triple Crown in a year or two. How hard could it be when it was about to be won for the third time in five years? I would see one in person soon enough.
Like everybody else, I am still waiting.
I saw Spectacular Bid and Pleasant Colony win the Preakness.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The inside post in main-track sprints is desirable at some tracks and undesirable at others. At Woodbine, drawing the rail is considered to be a negative.
Through Sunday, horses breaking from post 1 in Woodbine dirt sprints had won 27 of 272 races, or 10 percent. By comparison, posts 2 through 4 each won at a 15 percent rate, and post 5 won at a 13 percent clip. Post 6 hit at 14 percent, and post 7 at 12 percent. There was a predicable drop-off beyond post 7, although post 10 has fared reasonably well at 12 percent.
PHOENIX - Who are the best horses in the country? Surely on almost anyone's list are Medaglia d'Oro, Mineshaft, and Azeri - as well as perhaps Congaree and Funny Cide.
But just last week, an 8-year-old gelding showed why he might belong on that list, too. Redattore, who won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood, has now rattled off three straight one-mile turf wins for trainer Richard Mandella.