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Saturday, April 25, 2009

Saturday Morning Notes

Well, it's an absolutely gorgeous day here in the borough of Queens, a perfect day for racing at.....Aqueduct? I can't believe I actually complained a few weeks ago that Belmont was opening too early this year. As I'm sure you've noticed, I've been done with the Big A for some time now; ever since the main track opened, really. This horseplayer needs a clean break from time to time, and I'm looking forward to the opening of Belmont this week.

However, the relative handful of folks who depend on the Long Island Railroad to get to Belmont - just 100 hardcore fans per typical day according to the LIRR - will have to make other plans. Even before lawmakers in Albany give up on reaching agreement on a bailout plan for the MTA, it has terminated its service from Penn Station to the track. And objectively, who can really blame them? By cutting the service, the LIRR could save itself operating funds estimated to be $112,000 annually. [Franklin Square/Elmont/West Hempstead Herald]

NYRA will try to compensate by providing free bus shuttles from the nearby Queens Village station. And the MTA will run the trains on Belmont Stakes day. “Ridership can jump up to 20,000 to 30,000 people on that one day." Imagine what that $112,000 figure would be without that day.....which I'd guess is like imagining what NYRA's bottom line for the Belmont spring meeting would be without its signature race.

- Summer Bird gets the thumbs down from Mike Welsch in his workout report from Friday. But on the other end of the spectrum, the Form's clocker reports that I Want Revenge looks as good as any member of the field presently on the grounds.

- Rangers coach John Tortorella, who benched Sean Avery for his lack of discipline, faces possible disciplinary action from the NHL after throwing a water bottle at some unruly Caps fans in the third period of the Blueshirts' 4-0 loss last night. It's not clear whether his outburst was or was not prompted by getting doused by some beer. Tortorella also unleashed Colton Orr and Aaron Voros to run around with their sticks up high in the third period, and the Caps did a good job in remaining restrained. It's a weird series in what has been a strange season for the hometown heros, leading the series 3-2 despite being outscored 12-7 overall; seven goals in five games?!? They've been outshot by 170-119. But only by 21-20 last night. Call me nutty, but I thought they did some good things defensively on a night when Henrik Lundqvist surrendered four goals on only 14 shots (before being rested for the third), one a weak prayer from the side of the net that went through his pads. I anticipate him to bounce back with a strong effort, and, optimistically and with the hope that one or more of their top players will actually score a goal, for the Blueshirts to wrap this thing up tomorrow afternoon. They better....or else..

7 Comments:

Anonymous said...

yea reason why you need a clean break is because your handicapping is from hunger. Even your ATM card has bends in the card from so much horse betting usage. Learn how to stop betting every track. Take some good advice " you can't dance every dance"

DiscreetPicks said...

Aqueduct - Race 9

#4 Supreme Summit (5/2 ml)

Unbeaten West Coast invader for O'Neill comes in off a super-impressive performance in start #2, stepping up in class to face a very strong field while taking the worst of it from a pace standpoint after drawing the rail in a field loaded with speed. Just ran off and hid, and that race has already been flattered when 4th-place finisher Dream of Kaylee shipped to Keeneland and scored an impressive win. Loads of speed in this race as well, but now that Supreme Summit is drawn back into a reasonable post, he shouldn't have any trouble stalking the pace as he was able to do in his super debut win. Also worth mentioning that O'Neill has flown into New York to personally saddle this horse, and they mentioned a few weeks ago that Supreme Summit would be pointed at the Preakness with a win here today. Obviously they think an awful lot of this horse, and with good reason. Morning line is a bit short here on the step up to graded company, the stretchout in distance, the new surface, and the cross-country ship, but This One's For Phil will take a ton of money coming off his track-record win (via DQ) on the Florida Derby undercard for local favorite Richard Dutrow, and the highly-touted Mr. Fantasy (last seen going favored over probable Kentucky Derby favorite I Want Revenge in the Gotham) will take a lot of money as well. So i don't think price will be a problem here. Also note that jockey Eibar Coa has previously won aboard an O'Neill shipper, at 6/1 no less. Expecting a big run from this up-and-comer.

Anonymous said...

Classless move by Tortorella. Coach shows no discipline, and his team won't. He's scared they let the Caps back in the Series. Even if they get past the Caps, they eventually have to play Sid The Kid and the boys. No chance there.

Anonymous said...

Supreme Summit was rank from the outset, and ran like complete garbage.

jk said...

The shuttle bus schedule does not work, they should not waste our time.

There will be a 45 minute wait for the train back to NYC on Saturdays.

Today's last post was 5:29

Bus will leave at 5:45, arrive at Queens Village around 6:00.

The next train is 6:42pm. Have fun waiting in the heat or rain.

You would think with $2.5 billion in annual handle someone could scrape up a hundred grand to keep the service going, at least on weekends.

I doubt the LIRR only serves 100 people on a Saturday. That number does not pass the sniff test.

It is a shame NYRA is always a victim to events and can not stand up for its customers.

Anonymous said...

MTA spent hundreds of millions on a brand spanking new station for the Yankees benefit, but can not fund 100k annually for a sport that employees many many more folks around the state.

And I am sure NYRA pays plenty in Corporate MTA surcharge taxes to this bloated beauracratic nightmare.

Anonymous said...

Alan, I've been a hockey player, Coach, fan for over 30 yrs. Your Rangers are done. There's a reason Torotella got fired in Tampa Bay, you need to control your team.