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What can you say, the Belmont Stakes yesterday was a shock, but that’s horse racing. Big Brown looked like a sure winner, but finished last.

I wonder if Big Brown’s handlers will ever find out what was wrong with him. There are a number of possibilities. Maybe the intense heat and humidity got to him, maybe it was the mile-and-a-half distance of the race, maybe the hoof problem he had was the cause. Maybe he bled internally, maybe he had a headache or a bellyache, maybe he did not like the surface of the race track. Maybe he just didn’t feel like running yesterday, maybe he just had a bad day like we all do.

My theory is it was a combination of two things. The first being that the grind of 3 races; the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes in a five week period got to him. The second being that because of the hoof problem he had, he could not train sufficiently for the Belmont.

I just hope we see him race again, maybe next in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York. But you never know. Being that he is much more valuable in breeding than in racing, maybe he will never race again. That would be unfortunate for all horse racing fans. We will see.

Andy Haspel

www.WinningInTheMargins.com Passkey: 108847

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I just watched the Preakness Stakes. The winner, Big Brown was very impressive. He really had no competition. He won easily. I hope he can win the Belmont Stakes three weeks from today, at Belmont Park Race Track in New York. If he does, he will be the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in !978.

I am also very happy that no horses were hurt or killed, as Eight Belles was two weeks ago at the Kentucky Derby.

Andy Haspel

www.WinningInTheMargins.com Paskey: 108847

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The Kentucky Derby was great today. It always is. The winner Big Brown was very impressive. I hope he wins the Preakness in two weeks. That would make the Belmont, three weeks after the Preakness so much better. Unfortunately, the horse that finished second in the race, Eight Belles who is a filly, broke both of her front legs after the race and had to be euthanized. Horse racing is a great sport, but it is very dangerous.

In 1987, I went to the Kentucky Derby with a couple of friends. Alysheba won that year. The horse I bet on, Cryptoclearance, is still running (LOL). We stayed in Covington Kentucky in a Holiday Inn. There was not much to do in Covington, but it’s right across the river from Cincinnati. Cincinnati was really nice. We wanted to stay in, Louisville, where the Derby is held, but could not get a room there.

I had a mint julep, which is the official drink of the derby, when I was there. I really didn’t care for it. It had a very strong and sugary taste to it. I’m not much of a drinker either, which is good. Looking forward to the Preakness in two weeks.

Andy Haspel

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The last two major Kentucky Derby Preps were held today. At Keeneland race track in Lexington Kentucky, Monba won the Blue Grass Stakes. Pyro, the heavy favorite finished tenth. However, the race track at Keeneland is artificial in nature, not real dirt. This can be a reason for Pyro running so poorly. It could also be why Monba won. Some horses prefer an artificial surface, and some prefer a natural surface. The Kentucky Derby is on a natural surface which I like much better, and the horse that wins will have to like it too.

In the other major prep race, the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn race track in Hot Springs Arkansas, Gayego was the winner. He looked impressive, but the horse that finished in second place, Z Fortune also looked impressive. The Arkansas Derby is one and one-eighth miles, while the Kentucky Derby is one and one-quarter miles. Based on his breeding, Z Fortune has the pedigree to better handle the Kentucky Derby distance than Gayego would. We shall see on May 3rd. A lot of weird things happen in horse racing, which is one thing I really like about it.

AndyHaspel

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I took my dog Journey to the vet yesterday. He has been scratching himself so much, and I wanted to get him checked out. The vet said that his itching is probably caused by allergies. She prescribed Prednisone over a short period and either Benadryl, Chlortrimeton, or Claritin. I chose Chlortimetron on the advice of my sister who has several dogs. I hope he doesn’t have any bad reactions to these medications, but I will keep you posted.

The NCAA basketball championship game was very good on Monday with Kansas beating Memphis 75-68 in overtime. I feel bad for Memphis. They missed several free throws late in the game. If they made some of them, they would have won. And speaking of the NCAA basketball championship, Tennessee repeated as the women’s winner last night. Pat Summitt, their coach is great.

In horse racing, Colonel John won the Santa Anita Derby in California, a major Kentucky Derby prep race. He looked very impressive, however the Santa Anita Derby is run on an artificial surface while the Kentucky Derby is on a natural surface. In the Wood Memorial race at Aqueduct in New York, another Kentucky Derby prep, Tale of Ekati was the winner. He did not look as impressive as Colonel John. His time was slow but the race track was drying out at the time of the race, which may account for the slow time. The last two major Kentucky Derby preps, the Blue Grass Stakes and the Arkansas Derby are this weekend.

Andy Haspel 

www.gobookwise.com/andyhaspel

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The New York Yankees home opener was today. Unfortunately it was rained out. It was postponed until tomorrow night. It’s hard to believe, but it will be the last opening day game for Yankee Stadium. Next year the Yankees move to a new stadium, which is right next to Yankee Stadium. Opening day of the baseball season is always great. I think the Yankees will do well this year, but it always comes down to pitching and avoiding major injuries.

History was set in the men’s NCAA basketball championship over the weekend. For the first time; all four number one seeds; Memphis, UCLA, Kansas, and North Carolina made it to the final four. It should be great seeing those teams competing next Saturday and the following Monday.

I am also looking forward to seeing the Rutgers women’s basketball team play tomorrow night. They play Connecticut in their regional final game. I think Connecticut will win, but I hope not.

Big Brown won the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park race track on Saturday. The Florida Derby is a major prep race for the Kentucky Derby. He looked very impressive. He won easily. But it’s a long way to go until the Derby, and there are several major prep races still to be run.

I was in the Panera in Gilette, New Jersey and I believe I saw Bob Franks there. Bob Franks is a congressman from New Jersey. I have never met him, but I have seen pictures of him, and I am sure it was him. I heard he is a nice guy, but he is a politician, so I did not get too excited.

Andy Haspel 

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The NCAA basketball championship has been good. As always there has been upsets. I can’t believe Duke almost got beat by Belmont. But this years’ Duke team isn’t that great. I’m glad Villanova upset Clemson, as I root for all of the Big East teams. But on the other hand, I have Clemson in the pool, and I had them going to the championship game against UCLA. Such is life. I’m really surprised San Diego beat Connecticut.

Adriano won the Lane’s End Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep race, at Turfway Park in Kentucky. Edgar Prado, who rode Barbaro, rode him. Adriano looked good, but it’s a long way to the Kentucky Derby.

I watched a television special today on Yankee Stadium. It was great. This is the last year for Yankee Stadium, so I have to make sure I go see the Yankees this season. On the tv special, there was something about how the Giants football team played a game at Yankee Stadium, two days after President Kennedy was shot. My father brought me to that game. I don’t remember who won. I think the Giants played the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn’t like a normal Giants game, which is understandable. The crowd was very mellow, not really into the game like it usually is. There was another story on the tv special about when Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium. At the time, I was working at Warrenbrook Country Club in Warren, New Jersey. There was a member at Warrenbrook named Joe Podnos, a Jewish guy from Brooklyn. There was a very controversial decision in the fight. Ali was awarded the decision. I asked Joe Podnos about the fight, and he told me that Ken Norton schlommed Ali all over the ring. I think that means that Ken Norton beat the crap out of Ali. LOL. Also, at the time of the fight, there was little law enforcement at Yankee Stadium. This was due to a job action, slowdown, strike, something like that by the Police Department. Joe Podnos told me that it was terrible that night, people getting mugged, pickpockets all over the place, prostitutes all over the place. It must have been some night.

I hope all of you have a Happy Easter. Talk to you soon.

Andy Haspel 

www.gobookwise.com/andyhaspel

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I live in New Providence, New Jersey. It’s a nice town of mostly middle class people. I live with my dog Journey, a white German Shepherd. I walk Journey two or three times a day. On a street where I often walk him, there is a lot of litter. I sent an email to the town about the litter. I hope they do something about it. It really makes the town look bad too. I cannot understand how anyone can litter. I think it is a really low class thing to do. Littering is a real pet peeve of mine. I also do not understand how when someone sees litter on their property, they don’t get rid of it. Maybe they think that they didn’t put it there, so why should they get rid of it.

Unfortunately, I think in this day, so many people just don’t care about other people. They are so narcissistic, they think the world revolves around them, and that’s all they care about.

I am looking forward to the NCAA selection show tonight. Unfortunately, Rutgers and Seton Hall, who I root for, had bad years and won’t be in the tournament. But I am still looking forward to the tournament. There is always a lot of good games and upsets. I hope the Big East teams do well.

I’m surprised that War Pass, the Kentucky Derby favorite, ran last in the Tampa Bay Derby yesterday. He went off at odds of 1-20. A lot of money was lost on that race. It will be interesting to see what happens with him. Maybe he had a valid excuse. Maybe he was ill. We’ll see.

Andy Haspel 

www.gobookwise.com/andyhaspel

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