First Post: Friday, March 21, 2014

Belle Knox weeps!

DUKE OUT!

Duke is one of those ’murrikan universities that has had a sense of entitlement about it for a long time now. Univ. of So. Cal. here in La-La Land is another. Kids at these two institutions (and many more of their ilk) tend to behave above the law, like they are the Universe’s Gift to Humanity. Duke Lacrosse, Duke Porn, USC Football, USC O.J. You get the idea.

One of the prominent meet-book handicappers has behaved in this style. In his bio, he crows that while at Duke, he had a ‘minor in handicapping’.

This self-conceit (self-deceit?) never rang true. When Andrew Beyer used the line many years ago, it was authentic: You read about him taking The T out to Suffolk Downs and meeting all cast of characters. But in the depths of Durham, N.C., where can you possibly go to the racetrack via public transportation? Or via any non-aeronautic conveyance, for that matter? For frack’s sake, pari-mutuel wagering has never been legal in the Tarheel State! So much for that minor in handicapping!

UC Berkeley, Northwestern, even Tulane, you can say, yes, indeed, you got a ‘minor in handicapping’. Duke? No chance! Crazy Cameronsz!

So, please, please, please, take everything you hear from Duke guysz or USC (Left Coast USC) guysz with a giant boulder of salt. These guysz are not modest. Prefer a Va. Poly guy or an Emory or Carnegie-Mellon person — they will have the proper amount of restraint and humility. Tyvm.

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 7
Calder / Gulf Calder 5, 6, Gulf 9
Santa Anita 6

Pay-side: Today…

Fair Grounds 5
Golden Gate 2
Hawthorne 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
Laurel 3, 9
Oaklawn 6
Tampa 7, 9
Turfway 5, 8, 9, 10

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: None today, but half the teams in the U.S. Collegiate Basketball Playoffs will have been eliminated by this evening.

Yesterday’s Activity: Big runner-up longshot at Fair Grounds, in the finale, $41-and-change to place, first-timer. As always, Welcome to The Home of The Runer-Up Finish! Regretsz!

WMF Report:

Early
Calder 4½f, 6½f, 7f
Fair Grounds 6f
Fonner 6f
Gulf 6f, 7f
Los Alamitos 4½f
Laurel 6f
PennNat 1m
Turfway 6f

Rally
Golden Gate 1m
Gulf 1m (T)

Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage…

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Bye-bye for now.