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The Matt Millen era, 31-84 win-loss, has come to an ignominious end in Detroit. Millen’s broadcasting skills brought him to prominence and it would be fortuitous for fans if he quickly returned to the booth…Alex Pieterangelou notched two assists for the St Louis Blues in his first NHL effort a couple of nights back. It is very early but buzz has the kid proving to be a real find…benching Marc Bulger in St Louis is just ridiculous. The former all-pro QB was tortured throughout the 2007 season, suffering concussions and broken ribs. He can be effective only if afforded protection. The talent nucleus of Steven Jackson, Terry Holt and Bulger is quite acceptable but if the offensive line, even with all-world Orlando Pace, cannot provide protection, all is for nought. A move to the bumbling remains of Trent Green is insulting and counter productive… whispers indicate the Justin Pogge experiment in Toronto will not last much longer. The netminder is a bust, further underlining the egregious nature of the trade of Tuuka Rask, by far the better prospect, to the Bruins for Andrew Raycroft. And John Ferguson Jr just picked up a plumb position with the San Jose Sharks?…and who were the twits standing and applauding as A J Burnett readied himself for the trip to the Bronx?…

A bizarre night at the track on Wednesday featured a broken down ambulance and a flipped horse, ultimately delaying the seventh by over an hour.  The card was ripped by longshots and those bombs had some similar characteristics, namely a plunge in value. This tendency, risking the loss of an animal in an attempt to snag some winter cash, is a fall staple in the Big Smoke. A key appears to be a runner in the restricted categories sliding into the easiest conditions of their career. Countless longshots spring from this relatively straightforward angle.

 Today’s card is terrific. The FIRST could belong to FERNBROOK. The Silvera gelding drops a notch and adds blinkers after an encouraging beginning. A very swift group contests the SECOND. PROBATION READY has the look of a very sharp turf sprinter while Dozen Dancer looms as the one to beat. The THIRD looks to belong to KATOLAK COWBOY but Unusual Manner can be used underneath for some value. MALAKHOFF is on the upswing again and will be tough in the FOURTH. HONG KONG FURY gets the nod to pull an upset over Holy Dreamer in the FIFTH. MORO MOO lays over the field in the SIXTH. A soft group in the SEVENTH looks to be at the mercy of WHISPERING LOUDLY. In the EIGHTH DASH IT DARLING should relish the return to the lawn. Valeisha and Bent Attorney are sure to be close by. In the finale, the NINTH, we look for another outsider, BAG OF HAMMERS, to light up the tote. The gelding beat half the field at a higher classification August 29^th and now adds blinkers while descending the ladder.