Random notes: The Kentucky Derby prep trail heats up this weekend
Random notes:
▪ It’s a big weekend on the Kentucky Derby prep race trail with the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream, the Gotham at Aqueduct, the San Felipe at Santa Anita and the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway all running Saturday.
Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, Forte is the 7-5 favorite in the Fountain of Youth. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Forte will face nine challengers, including Blazing Sevens, who won the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes last year. Blazing Sevens is trained by Chad Brown.
A $3.5 million purchase last year, Hejazi is the 7-2 favorite for the San Felipe. Formerly trained by Bob Baffert, he’s now in Tim Yakteen’s barn. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Hejazi finally broke his maiden in his fourth try last time out. Zedan also owned Medina Spirit, who finished first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby only to be disqualified.
The Fountain of Youth, San Felipe and Gotham all award 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, with 20 for second, 15 for third, 10 for fourth and five for fifth. The Battaglia awards 20-8-6-4-2.
▪ The Cincinnati Reds’ season opener is March 30 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who will telecast Reds games is not that certain. Diamond Sports Group, which owns Bally Sports regional networks, is reportedly nearing bankruptcy. That could possibly throw the door open for MLB and/or streaming networks to assume or purchase broadcast rights for teams, including the Reds.
There is speculation that if Bally Sports does fail, Major League Baseball would take over the broadcasts. That could include lifting blackouts from MLB TV’s streaming package. As someone with YouTube TV, which does not carry Bally Sports, I’d be all for that.
In fact, MLB added to speculation by creating a Local Media Department to improve its capabilities in local media production, operations and distribution.
▪ Speaking of change, I’m anxious to see baseball’s new rules, including the pitch clock. I’m encouraged by reports of shorter games.
Wrote Rick Reilly in the Washington Post, “Do you know how much of my life has been wasted waiting for some guy while he steps out of the box, re-Velcros his gloves, readjusts his sweat bands, resettles his helmet and kicks imaginary dirt off his cleats after watching a ball go by? I lost a good year and a half to Nomar Garciaparra alone.”
▪ Louisville Coach Kenny Payne after his Cardinals lost 71-54 to Virginia Tech in their home finale Tuesday: “What would I say to the fan base? I feel like they feel. Except I have the obligation, the opportunity, to be with them every single day. I’m preaching similar, if not the same, that they’re frustrated over: a lack of energy, a lack of confidence, a lack of fight. I’m preaching that every day. I can sugarcoat it for you but it’s not acceptable.”
Now 4-26 overall and 2-17 in the ACC, Louisville finishes the regular season Saturday at No. 13-ranked Virginia. That’s a 2 p.m. start on ESPN2.
▪ Since beating Kentucky 75-68 in Athens on Jan. 11, Georgia has lost four of five games. All four losses have been by double digits — 49 to Alabama, 32 to Arkansas, 22 to Missouri and 11 to Florida.
▪ Not sure Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats could have handled the Brandon Miller situation worse. First came Oats “wrong time, wrong spot” comments after it was revealed his star player had allegedly delivered the gun used in a Tuscaloosa murder. Then in last Saturday’s game against Arkansas, Oats was unaware that teammates mimicked a “pat down” of Miller in pregame introductions.
▪ I have a feeling many Green Bay Packers fans had hoped Aaron Rodgers had remained in his “darkness retreat.”
▪ RIP Terry Holland, the former Virginia basketball coach who along with leading the Cavaliers to the Final Four recruited 7-foot-4 center Ralph Sampson away from UK in 1979. After retiring from coaching, Holland became an athletic director at Davidson, Virginia and East Carolina.
