racingmeridian.com

The Meridian wrote earlier this week that we were fading I Want Revenge because the attention paid to the animal during Derby week would preclude trainer Jeff Mullins from applying his “magic” to the animal. We wrote that trainer Bob Baffert would watch Mullins like a hawk, keenly aware of his propensity to use “magic” to create “magical” performances in races. And we damn well were proven correct when Jeff Mullins stunned the horse racing world by scratching the favourite from the Derby this morning. I don’t know how good the colt is if forced to compete on a level playing field with the other three year olds. But Jeff Mullins does. And unable to spend quality time with the colt, away from prying eyes, it is Mullins who opts to pull the horse from the race. It is Derby day, folks, a time for rejoicing and celebration. And now we discover the loathsome Wicked Witch won’t be taking part. I may only be a munchkin, but I sleep better at night than Mullins, and I’m in an exuberant mood right now. Have a great day, Jeff, if I never see or here from you again that would be wonderful…Churchill track vet Larry Bramlage said the horse did not look injured. An x-ray did not uncover any damage. Wow. Why would Mullins syringe, oops, I mean scratch him?…I have PioneeroftheNile backed at 12-1, Desert Party at 17-1, and intend to work Dunkirk into my wagers today. Also, my hankering for a longshot play draws me to the man who nearly pulled monumental upsets years back with longshots Invisible Ink and Bluegrass Cat, the inimitable Todd Pletcher. I’ll wheel Pletcher’s runners up and down with Pioneer and Desert, and also take a swing-for-the-fences box of Pletcher’s runners…Ryan Getzlaf logged an unprecedented 27 minutes ice time Friday night with his Ducks of Anaheim playing the Detroit Red Wings. The forward logged more time than any defenseman, including the Wings Niklas Lidstrom. This bears watching as the series progresses - are the Ducks going to wear out their offensive star?…Chicago Blackhawk goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is winless in his last twelve games against the Vancouver Canucks. A loss today and I would expect to see Cristobal Huet make an appearance as the series moves back to the mid west…how come every time you say Mark Sanchez I hear Ryan Leaf?…and the early word on Matthew Stafford’s first workout with the Detroit Lions was uniformly negative. “Wild and high” reports the Detroit News…on the Seconds Out website a poll of their columnists has 13 favouring Hatton and 11 picking Pacquiao…Manny Steward calls tonight’s brawl a pick ‘em affair. I think we will get a great fight. After agonizing over the bout for weeks, my play is Pacquiao by knockout (at 13-8), also tapping the under 9.5…a gorgeous day only gets better with the announcement that Floyd Mayweather Jr returns July 18^th to face Juan Manuel Marquez. No sane fan could begrudge Marquez his moment in the spotlight. We’ll see if he can develop a strategy to upend Pretty Boy. He faces challenges, clearly, in the size and speed department, but the tenacity and class he demonstrated against Juan Diaz marks him as a fighter for the ages, one who is capable of pulling a monumental upset over a somewhat rusty foe…the ridicule of the blogosphere is being cited as one reason the Bernard Hopkins - Felix Trinidad fight has been shelved. Trinidad has disgraced himself in recent performances and, if he is serious about fighting again, needs to start over and prove himself against fringe contenders. As for Hopkins, he has his sights on Carl Froch, recent winner over Jermaine Taylor with a savagely thrilling last round knockout…bit off putting to see Shane Mosley canvassing the media this week hoping to pump demand for a fight between himself and tonight’s victor. Mosley only wants the big fights but a proposed rematch with Miguel Cotto, provided he can defeat the ultra tough Joshua Clotty this summer, is a more appealing prospect. Pacquiao will certainly turn his attention to the winner of the Mayweather - Marquez fight if he wins tonight…at Woodbine Vegas Venture catches a soft group in the SECOND. In the EIGHTH Special Moment can make amends for a sloppy outing in her seasonal debut. Husbands takes over now. In the TENTH Aurora Lights makes her debut. She has been legged up at Payson and fits.