Not Awesome

- Move over Brother Derek; how about Oh So Awesome for the biggest money burner around? I know this is a form of redboarding, but really man, how could this horse possibly be 4-5 in the 4th at the Gulf on Wednesday? (And I'd have written the same thing even if he'd won by five.) Purchased from France by Team Valor specifically for last year's Belmont, this son of Awesome Again has been no better than a no-shot third in his US debut. Dropping to allowance races for three of his last four tries, he has two 4ths, a fifth, and yesterday's dismal 6th; all at odds of 4-1, 2-1, 5-2, and 4-5.

On the other hand, the fans did not fall for Zito's Great Point, who has been burning money himself ever since his fluky second in the slop of last year's Holy Bull. He was 9-5 in his last race, despite losing his prior three by a total of 34 lengths. The oddsmaker listed him as 4-1 on Wednesday despite the fact that he lost that last try by another 23; but the bettors ignored that and dismissed him at 10-1. So what does he do? He rallied from last (into a slow last quarter) to get the place. Add in the fact that Fernando Jara lost his whip, and you're probably looking at 9-5 again next time. I'll be looking forward to that occasion.