• Best Belmont Stakes in History

    POSTED May 31, 2014 By Derek Simon
    With California Chrome standing on the precipice of equine greatness — a win in the Belmont Stakes would make him just the 12th Triple Crown winner in history — social media has been all atwitter (see what I did there?) about the Test of Champions.

    In recent days, I’ve seen videos of Secretariat’s 31-length romp in 1973 (never gets old), Risen Star’s runaway win in 1988 and photos of other past champs, including Citation (1948) and Man o’ War (1920).

    But it was when a friend of mine asked me about the pace figures of 2005 victor Afleet Alex that my curiosity was truly piqued.

    I wondered: What were the best performances of all time, from a pace perspective, in the Belmont Stakes?

    I say from a “pace perspective,” because pace is something I believe I can assess fairly accurately. The various speed figure services — Beyer, Brisnet, “The Sheets” and Thoro-Graph — were simply not around in days of yore, but fractional times have been available since 1921, at least for the Belmont. And my pace figures (speed rations) are relative measurements of energy disbursement and, thus, the perfect analytical tool for a challenge of this type.

    Hence, I scoured the result charts and looked for the best overall pace performances among Belmont champions. I did this by comparing each winner’s early speed ration (ESR) to its late speed ration (LSR). Simply put, I looked for the greatest Pace Profile, which describes this ESR/LSR relationship numerically. (The higher the Pace Profile, the better the overall performance; the lower the Pace Profile, the worse the overall performance.)


    The results were somewhat surprising:

     

    For more information on my speed rations, visit:

    * http://helloracefans.com/handicapping/pace/speed-rations/
    * http://youbetblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/derek-simons-speed-rations-explained/

  • The Harness Season Heats Up

    POSTED May 28, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    May bows to an extraordinary menu of harness racing features that takes us across the borders of states and countries. The older pacing hombres duke it out in Canada. State-breds battle in divisions in New York and they finalize champs in New Jersey. The glamour-boy pacers hold sway at Yonkers in the race no one expected would not include He’s Watching. More colt pacers battle in a trio of divisional stakes at Mohawk and there are more aged pacers in the Empire State on Sunday at Tioga, trotters, too.

    Soph-colt-and-filly trotter’ events for the week are the contents of our seasonal blog, the Hambletonian Trail. Follow our analysis of the races featuring the eligibles to this year’s August trotting classics at The Meadowlands. For this weekend’s events, go to the “Trail” blog and peruse our analysis. Check weekdays where there are not TwinSpires blogs for other events not covered within the blog deadlines.

    Also on weekdays, check out the TwinSpires-Hoosier team’s perks for harness players. Tuesdays, wager all you want and earn 10 TSC Elite Points per dollar bet. Click here for details. Every Thursday night, there is a 20-percent bonus on hitting the Pick 4 starting at Race 3. Click here for details. And the ongoing 10-percent Pick-4 bonus every racing night on Pick-4 hits continues through the meet. Click here for details.

    Follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get tips on Hoosier contenders you can use in your tickets during the promo program days. Other possibilities appear in exclusive horses-to-watch (H2W) list.

    Molson Lava

    The Molson Pace is a sizzling field of fiery and flashy pacers. A staple of the Western Fair season in Ontario is a visit from the continent’s top FFA male pacers for shares in the six-digit purse (this year it is $150,000 Canadian). This division, of course, allows for annual participation among the aged side-steppers. Defending champion State Treasurer is back, drawing the half-mile’s coveted rail position in this Friday, May 30 event.

    State Treasurer is amid a great start this season, winning his most recent three, including a 1:48.3 at Mohawk. Two-time event-winner Foiled Again drew post 7 in the eight-horse field. Dancin Yankee, who set a 1:47.2 world record recently at Pocono, drew post while Bettors Edge (post 2), Bandolito (post 3), Apprentice Hanover (post 4), P H Supercam (post 6) and Captive Audience (post 8) complete the cast.

    This race is all about position, speed and even endurance, since a strong early move to the outside could win it without a fierce duel. There is a case to be made for each of these, as the talent of the field goes deep, but you will have to pick a scenario for each to earn being first at the wire after four turns.

    The obvious plays include last year’s winner and the fan-favorite Foiled Again but there could be a decent price on P H Supercam. He is no stranger to the format or the four turns, having won the “Levy” final against some of these, including Foiled Again, who had dominated the legs of that long series. We don’t see speed as a main ingredient for a winner and we like post 6 for a strategic moving pacer like “PH.”

    On the wagering side for the evening at Western Fair, the Early Pick-4 will feature a $7,500 guaranteed pool with a $10,000 guarantee on the Late Pick-4. There’s a Super Hi-5 in Race 7, will also feature a $10,000 guaranteed pool.

    The ‘Art’ Of Pacing

    Standout state-bred All Bets Off drew post 4 in May 30’s $300,000 Art Rooney Pace Final at Yonkers Raceway. The absence of He’s Watching was not even predicted by this sharp blog, even though we had last week’s elim winner that soundly defeated him. He’s Watching was terrible and didn’t make the final. He is scheduled to go to Mohawk, as explained in the story on the Somebeachsomewhere elims (below). 

    All Bets Off, the other “Rooney” elim winner, is trained and co-owned by Ron Burke, and is a top choice in the final. Stevensville, our wire-to-wire winner against He’s Watching, goes for co-owner/trainer Ray Schnittker and should go off a lot less than he did when he won at 9-1.

    Thereisapaceforus was scratched after the draw (he got post 1). That moved Maxi Bon from the “also eligible” list into the race and inside his seven rivals. That also made Maxi Bon and Gold Rocks, both trained by Tony Alagna, a coupled entry. Alagna’s third horse, Bondi Hanover, is a separate wagering interest (having separate ownership than the other pair). The field in post order: 1-Maxi Bon, 2-Bondi Hanover, 3-Gold Rocks, 4-All Bets Off, 5-Some Playa, 6-Stevensville, 7-Unlocked and 8-Ideal Fashion. 

    There is truly no reason that Stevensville cannot repeat his performance last week but All Bets Off is not going to allow a pace-commanding performance. Last week we liked Maxi Bon in the second elim and he was off on a productive mile before breaking badly enough to finish fifth, which was last. He should have something important to say about the result of this race and would come as no surprise to us if he won at a decent price, even if he was the third choice. We like him in tandem with Stevensville to be at the wire ahead of All Bets Off.

    The $124,744 final of the Lismore, for glamour-gal fillies may offer value in the big beaten favorite that resulted in Rusty Bliss’s $62.50 place offering—we gave you that one as our second choice to Also Encouraging, the public choice that finished fourth after a wide trip trying to get the top cost her the final quarter).

    Also Encouraging and It Was Fascination should create the Lismore exacta at the wire, both making amends and creating a sound exotic by beating the obvious choice of the final, Southwind Silence.

    Canadian Glamour

    In major prep mode for the million-plus bucks in the North America Cup elims (June 7) at Mohawk, glamour-boy pacers battle in three divisions of the Somebeachsomewhere Stake. Each split has a price tag of $75,000.

    In round one, two top division colts, Jk Endofanera and Luck Be Withyou, leave from the outside posts and take with them the majority of win bets. All things being equal in their trips, we favor “Luck,” who seems to tower over the entire field. He may also be a huge favorite, so judge your own sense of value here because he could be value if “Jk” gets more than his share of the pool.

    Split two could wind up the better of the trio for the bettors, as local favorite Somewhere in L A could take much more money than deserved, leaving some chunky change for others, primarily Always B Miki. He was dynamic winning in New Jersey and trainer Joe Holloway always sends his top stock out prepared to give their all. If the win money is split between “L A” and Burke’s Somestarsomewhere, “Miki” could be a strong second or third choice.

    The last in the triptych is an essential test for He’s Watching. He has to produce here, else he loses more than the race; he will have to begin dismounting his pre-ordained throne as the divisions’ best. Certainly a trip to the “Cup” elims would seem moot if he races anywhere near how he did in the Rooney elim. Also missing here is National Debt, who has had his own troubles with miscues in his soph debut.

    This looks to us like a perfect field for Jet Airway to fool the bettors and the foes. He was very good as our 21-1 choice in a Simpson split at the Meadowlands where he finished second and is improving with every contest. The price will be right.

    Jersey Champs

    The New Jersey Sires Stakes championships for sophomores on both gaits is a feature on May 31 at the Meadowlands (see the trotting ranks at the Hambletonian Trail blog).

    The $100,000 affairs for colt pacers hosts a small field of five and offers a duel that may ensue through the season, with up-and-coming Doo Wop Hanover and posturing Western Vintage. The latter has been made an overwhelming favorite and that may be obvious now that He’s Watching had a less-than-brilliant debut as a sophomore. “Doo Wop” must prove, without “Vintage” making a gait mistake, that he is better going eye to eye. Either way, it is a race to watch for future performances of the other three, rather than bet against either of the top two.

    The fillies’ final brings up a possibility that has a few layers of support. Highland Rockstar is competitive, though not yet a winner among winners, that has had a number of excuses against the likes of this group. One huge and unfair negative that the bettors lay upon him is his driver, veteran Mike Lachance. Mike’s current win record at the Meadowlands is one for 81, so the bettors have put the classy veteran to pasture when they should be respecting his prowess based on his sterling experience, especially in high-pursed affairs. This makes for a terrific overlay in a field where no one filly has a distinct advantage, certainly not concerning a driver or breeding. It would be just like life to find Lachance in the winners’ circle with this enormously paying filly and a slew of so-called smart handicappers scratching their heads while you and I collect.

    Easy Rollin’

    The $160,000 Roll With Joe mile for FFA pacers is Sunday’s big event at Tioga. If they weren’t in the Molson Pace on Friday, chances are they are in New York for this 10-horse fiesta. Sweet Lou comes straight off of his Meadowlands jaunt last week in the Open; he has two wins in five starts this season and has only been off the board once. State-champ Heston Blue Chip is ready to challenge, himself two for five and in tune with this group that teeters on the 1:50 mile mark.

    With five wins in 14 starts this season, Dovuto Hanover may be potent here, certainly at a price. He had a lot of trouble at the Meadowlands, suffering major path problems, in an Open and then was battered from post 8 last week (at 55-1) against “Lou.” His pacing, however, is not a product of insipid speed; he is fast and in the right spot will fire. This could be the right spot.

    H2W Legend

    Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last time) because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered but on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

    H2W

    Buffalo
    5/31/14, +Release The Terror R1; +Rafferty Hanover R5; +Wolf Angus R10

    Hoosier
    5/29/14, +Ponda Premier R12

    Maywood
    5/29/14, +Badlands Lady R9 
    5/30/14, Baksidebar Nlounge R2; +Irish Raider R3; Dunside Art R4; Freshman Phenonom R8; +Fox Valley George R9; +Sealark Hanover-ae-R11

    Meadowlands
    5/30/14, +Upfrontsthegold R10
    5/31/14, +Hilarious Halo R10

    Meadows
    5/30/14, Bootswiththefur-ae-R2; +Incredible Dragon R7; Hep R10; Ismrbellatou R12; Petty Hanover R12; Bessie R13; Martini Twist R14

    Plainridge
    5/31/14, Nanettes Nordic R6; +Best Of Curragh R7; +Fedigan’s Glory R8; Scarab Begonia R8

    Pocono
    5/31/14, +St Lad’s He Man R5

    Rosecroft
    5/31/14, +Diamond Gambler R4; New Girlfriend R4

    Saratoga
    5/30/14, Mcattee R3; Swift Slide R12

    Scarborough
    5/30/14, Cranmeadow Express R1
    5/31/14, Cyclone Pass R2; Shoot First R3; +Ladyofcastlebrook-ae- R5; Wandasbettorchoice R6; +Jitterbug Hanover R7; Electric Mayhem R7

    Scioto
    5/30/14, +Action-broadway R3

    Tioga
    5/31/14, Wannabearockstar R8

    Yonkers
    5/29/14, +Olive Oyle R6
    5/30/14, +Mugshot Jess R2; Dragon Ridge R4; +Monkey On My Wheel R6; +Political Desire R11


    Ray Cotolo contributes to each edition.      

  • Cotolo’s Harness Review, News And Notes

    POSTED May 25, 2014 By Frank Cotolo
    We were back on track with across-the-board payoffs on the holiday weekend, striking at many North American tracks in stakes and overnights with profitable accuracy. Let’s review the week in chronological order, beginning with the pre-alert races from our Hambletonian Trail blog on Wednesday, May 21.

    There were two Grand Circuit soph-colt trotting events at Pocono, highlighted by the return of Father Patrick. He won easily in round two ($2.10, $2.10, no show) but for TwinSpires harness blog readers he did not make it to the top of the headlines. For our wagering pleasure, we nailed the first round with our choice, Auspicious Hanover ($31.60, $4, $3).

    Friday, May 23 at Tioga, two New York Sires Stakes featuring Hambletonian Trail colts won a pair, each out choices. Flyhawk El Dorado ($4.10, $2.20, $2.50 ok) and Expressing Action ($5.50, $3.50, $3.40) were impressive winners in their miles if not in their prices.

    Friday at the Meadowlands in the first of two New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) divisions for colt trotters, we were second with Sumatra ($8, $4.80)—keep note of some delicious place prices on our choices in the stakes as well as below on the list for our horses to watch (H2W). In the soph-filly event, our top choice Heaven’s Door finished second but was disqualified and placed 10th. However, our second choice, Cee Bee Yes, won ($12.40, $6.20, $3). Then, we were second in the next colt affair with 23-1 Resolve ($7, $4), with the favorite on top for an exacta of $15.40.

    Saturday, May 24 actions, more wagering opportunities continued to deliver winners. The highlight of the night was our prediction at Yonkers that the industry-anointed soph-colt pacer, He’s Watching, would not win his “Rooney” elimination. We challenged him with Stevensville, who out-paced the 1-9 He’s Watching in a wire-to-wire sprint. Stevensville paid $21.60 (no place or show betting). He’s Watching put in a terrible performance, behooving his driver and trainer and he did not make next week’s Rooney final field. If something is wrong beyond our evaluation, which is predicated upon his talent and not a health malady, we have not heard the details.

    We finished second in the second Rooney elim with Some Plana ($3.90, no show betting) with the favorite on top for an exacta of $8.30. Our first choice broke and was eliminated.

    Two Lismore elims for the soph-filly pacers were highlighted at Yonkers by the second round, which rocked the toteboard when Also Encouraging faded to fourth at three-quarters after a strenuous start on the outside to get the lead. She was our first choice, turning into the huge favorite by the crowd. But, our second choice, Rusty’s Bliss, finished second and because Also Encouraging was off the board, Rusty’s Bliss paid an astounding $62.50 to place. There was no show betting.
    Across the river at the Meadowlands Saturday, we wound up with a boxed-exacta win in a NJSS for filly pacers with our choice, Blixtra ($7.60, $5) topped by our second choice, the public favorite Act Now ($2.80, $2.20, $2.20 ok), which paid $24.60.

    In the colt NJSS we were second with Dancin Hill ($2.40, $2.10). However, our second choice, Doo Wop Hanover won ($3.40, $2.20, $2.10) and our third choice was third (Rock Out $2.20), making for the trifecta ($16.80) elements.

    Neither of our colt-pacing Pocono Cup choices was on the board at Pocono that same evening.

    Sunday’s Maxie Lee Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia found us third to Market Share, the crowd choice, with DW’s NY Yank ($4.60). In the Betsy Ross that day, we were fourth with Monkey On My Wheel.

    Along the Hambletonian Trail (blog now active) in cooperation with TwinSpires, you can read the race stories and data on the history of the August classics at the Hambletonian Society archives.

    TwinSpires and Hoosier continue a three-pronged power-packed program for harness players. Tuesdays, wager all you want and earn 10 TSC Elite Points per dollar bet. Click here for details. Every Thursday night, there is a 20-percent bonus on hitting the Pick 4 starting at Race 3. Click here for details. And the ongoing 10-percent Pick-4 bonus every racing night on Pick-4 hits continues through the meet. Click here for details.

    In between published harness blogs, follow @FrankCotolo and @TwinSpires on Twitter to get tips on Hoosier contenders you can use in your tickets. Other possibilities appear in exclusive H2W list.

    Our H2W was active again, with some bright winners and healthy prices in place and show, with some exacta hits (using public choices in tandem with our picks) as overnight action continues to be the focus of the list for TwinSpires harness players.

    H2W RESULTS

    The H2W results list across-the-board prices. Also, exactas are included when a H2W horse finishing first or second completes the result with a race favorite or another H2W horse listed in the same race (an asterisk appears when both horses were listed to complete the exacta).

    Winners

    Case Dismissed, $76.40, $27.40, $6.60 (Exacta $211.40), Meadows
    Lukes Raoule, $25.40, $8.40, $4.40, Rosecroft
    A Fool For Mark, $17, $7.80, $8.40 ok, Scarborough
    Grix Gadoo, $6.60, $3.60, $3.40, Scarborough
    Areyouinorout, $4.60, $3.50, $3.80 ok, Buffalo
    Dew N Doughnuts, $4.60, $2.60, $2.20, Meadows

    Seconds

    Bettor’s Night, $10.20, $4, Scarborogh
    Jitterbug Hanover, $9, $2.80, Scarborough
    Shenandoah Tomcat, $7.40, $2.80, Rosecroft
    Noble Warrawee, $6.30, $3.80 (Exacta $12.20), Yonkers
    St Lads He Man, $6.20, $4, Pocono
    Time Stood Still, $5.90, $3.90 (Exacta $14.40), Tioga
    Ramblingamblinman, $4.80, $5.20 ok, Pompano
    Sealark Hanover, $4.80, $3.20 (Exacta $15.80), Maywood
    Rafferty Hanover, $4.30, $4, Buffalo
    Here’s Ethel, $4, $3.60, Meadows
    Bonos Lassie, $3.80, $3.20 (Exacta $14.40), Hoosier
     Mcgreat, $3.20 n/s, Pompano
    Political Desire, $3, $2.20
    Sometimes Said, $2.60, $2.40, Meadowlands
    Its Bush Time, $2.30, $2.60, Saratoga
    Gonna Rock N Roll, $2.10, $2.10, Pocono

    Thirds

    Fox Valley George, $13, Maywood
    Jaipur, $6.30, Tioga
    Another Beauty, $5.80, Maywood
    Racin For Gold, $5.80, Pompano
    Fedigan’s Glory, $3.60
    Best Of Curragh, $3, Plainridge
    Bagel Man, $2.20, Harrington

    News And Notes

    Captaintreacherous lost a qualifier to Foiled Again but only by a whisker. The two dueled at the Meadowlands as if it were a betting race, showing that they have the genes of champions.  

    Foiled Again was tuning up to travel north for another Molson Pace at Western Fair. The May 30 event will feature the two-time Molson champ in his sixth Molson appearance. Last year’s winner, State Treasurer will be back, along with PH Supercam, the “Levy” winner, Dancin Yankee and Apprentice Hanover, as well as Captive Audience, Bettors Edge and Bandolito. Watch for our analysis in the Thursday, May 29 blog.

    Kawartha Downs’ owner Skip Ambrose said that live harness racing will take place at the Ontario five-eighths mile track this summer due to an agreement reached with the Ontario Racing Commission. The tentative schedule calls for racing every Saturday night from June to October (race dates are to be announced within the next week pending approval of the track’s license. The full schedule for Kawartha Downs’ 2014 season, which will be the 42nd year of harness racing, will be released shortly.

    Mohawk Raceway is back in action, hosting its 51st season. The 102-day meet will kicked off last week; live racing will be held five nights a week on Mondays, Tuesdays (except May 27 and Oct. 7), Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Each race night will have a 7:25 p.m. first race post time. The most anticipated event on the stakes calendar is the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup, featuring the season’s three-year-old pacers to that point, Saturday, June 14. The evening will offer a special post time of 6:45 p.m. Watch the TwinSpires harness blog for complete coverage, beginning with eliminations on Belmont Stakes weekend.

    Other major stakes at Mohawk will be the Maple Leaf Trot (Saturday, July 19), the Metro Pace, Canadian Pacing Derby and Shes A Great Lady Stakes (Saturday, Aug. 30) and the Canadian Trotting Classic, Elegantimage Stakes, Peaceful Way Stakes and William Wellwood Memorial (Saturday, Sept. 13).
    There have been few disappointments in the pari-mutuel debuts of last year’s divisional heroes and heroines. As of this writing, Shake It Cerry, Western Vintage, Father Patrick, Shebestingin, Somwerovrarainbow, Maven and Market Share have all come back sharp and looking in fine fettle to take on the new season.

    Extraordinary Extras

    Indulge in many standardbred topics at my Hoof Beats blog titled Vast Performances.

    Ray Cotolo contributed to this blog

    Cartoons by Thom Pye

  • Is ‘Chrome’ Durable Enough to Wear the Crown?

    POSTED May 23, 2014 By Derek Simon
    Pud Galvin
    On Aug. 3, 1918, a son of leading North American sire Star Shoot made the third start of his fledging career in the United States Hotel Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for two-year-olds that, until 1955, was run annually at Saratoga Race Course.

    Sir Barton was a badly-beaten ninth that day after also finishing ninth in his previous start — just two days prior. In fact, J. K. L. Ross’ charge wouldn’t get his first win until nearly a year later when, in his first try as a three-year-old, he won the Kentucky Derby. (Interestingly, Sir Barton was only in the Derby field to soften up the favorite, Eternal, and thus pave the way for Ross’ other entrant, Billy Kelly, to win the roses.)

    Four days — that’s right boys and girls, four days — after he triumphed in Louisville, Sir Barton buried ‘em in Baltimore, capturing the Preakness Stakes by daylight. He then won the Withers at Belmont Park ten days later, starting what would become a trend among Triple Crown champions: winning multiple times on short rest as a sophomore.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

    Granted, the Triple Crown (comprised of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes) was not recognized until a decade after Sir Barton’s racing career was over. Still, even before it was counted on to “save racing” every year, the Triple Crown presented a daunting challenge — one that continues to require talent and durability in near-equal measure.

    Every single Triple Crown champion from Sir Barton to Affirmed, has won more than once on two weeks rest or less during their three-year-old campaigns. Citation won an incredible 14 times; Whirlaway was victorious ten times.

    What’s more, all the previous Triple Crown champs had won on short rest (14 days or less) prior to capturing the Preakness Stakes… which doesn’t bode well for California Chrome.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

    Yeah, I know, times are different now… but, given that there hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner since 1978 when, supposedly, horses were more resilient and robust, it does give one pause.

    After all, Art Sherman, the old-school trainer of the 31st horse seeking racing immortality (and the 12th since Affirmed achieved it in 1978), has been decidedly “new school” when it comes to the five-week gap between the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

    “I think they should change that rule and make it to where it’s about a nine-week program,” Sherman told reporters. “I think you’d have a lot more shooters in that race (the Preakness). You’d have a lot more Derby horses that would try it. Now you only get two or three Derby horses that go.”

    Sherman went even further, saying that he doesn’t think it's fair for horses that didn’t compete in both the Derby and Preakness to enter the Belmont at all.

    “To me, if you’re going to the Triple Crown, go for the Triple Crown. Don’t pick your spots,” he said.  “Let everybody be in the same situation and do it.  The Triple Crown is the Triple Crown. If you’re good enough horse to do it, let’s go. Make it fair where you don’t have to pick and choose your spots. I think that shows what kind of horse you’ve got.”

    Sure. I would be hyped by a match race between California Chrome and Ride On Curlin — the only two horses to compete in the first two jewels of the Triple Crown — in the “Test of Champions.” And, hey, while we’re at it, let’s make Major League Baseball games six innings instead of nine… because pitchers today just aren’t as durable as they were 100 years ago.

    Of the 50 hurlers with the most career complete games, only five were born after 1900 — Warren Spahn (1921), Red Ruffing (1905), Robin Roberts (1926), Gaylord Perry (1938) and Early Wynn (1920).
    Heck, the player with the second-most complete games in MLB history (Cy Young holds the record with 749) is a guy named Pud Galvin.

    Pud Galvin? For heaven’s sake, that sounds like the name of a mechanic in Hazard County. Yet, Pud, a 5’8” 190-pound right-hander from St. Louis, Missouri, won 46 games in back-to-back seasons for the Buffalo Bisons in 1883 and 1884 — which was very helpful given that the team had only four regular starting pitchers during that time.

    My point is: things change, we all know this, but that is no reason to alter traditions or standards of greatness. If California Chrome wins the Belmont Stakes on June 7 and becomes the first Triple Crown champion in 36 years, he will be even more revered for bucking recent trends emphasizing less racing and more “freshening.”

    He might even make folks forget about the great Pud Galvin.