Gulfstream Wednesday

In the third, Wicked B. Havior (4-1) returns from a ten month layoff for Barclay Tagg. This barn is having a rough Gulfstream meeting, with just four winners from 53 starters. However, Tagg is a solid guy as we know, and these things tend to even out over time. And maybe those two close seconds on Saturday (including Nehantic Kat at 14-1 in The Very One) are an indicator of a turnaround? This seven-year old son of Unbridled's Song was in career best form coming off a two year layoff last year; and his best race was a narrow second to Discreet Treasure in a key race over the track at this mile distance with today's rider Joe Bravo aboard. (And Bravo also rode the horse to two impressive wins in 2006.) Tagg is just OK off the layoff - 12% over 180; and 1 for 15 over 270, though in the money nine times. But steady works and heavily flawed first and second ML choices make him the pick. Hold Me Back (6-5), second in last year's sloppy Travers with his 415 Tomlinson, is 0 for 1 on fast dirt tracks, and has never run in a one-turn race. Our Edge (3-1) has a lot to prove coming off three uncompetitive efforts, excuses in his last notwithstanding.

- Wow, did you guys see the TV ratings for the gold medal hockey game on Sunday? It was the third highest ranking Olympic broadcast, most of those in prime time. That compares favorably to this year's NFL wild card playoff games, according to the NY Times' sports media columnist Richard Sandomir.

And right underneath his column in the print edition of the Times is a story on horse racing - Joe Drape reporting on the animal cruelty trial of Ernie Paragallo. Our sad little sport is still playing defense while the NHL tries to capitalize on the exposure. Of course, we do have our big filly showdown coming up. On a Friday late afternoon.