With the Super Bowl weather expected to hold out, and turf being our preference, today’s finale is really interesting, a pace-dependent rider’s race in which half the field comes into it with a chance. One of those had virtually no chance in her last start down south, the other gets major class relief.
Shawdyshawdyshawdy (7-2) had little chance in her last two outings and the start two races back, in which he was a game-rally fourth in the G2 Pilgrim while moving into the strongest part of the pace, coming after the winner was drawing out after setting slowing fractions.
And all that winner his next run was to repeat that score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; Fire at Will is a very talented colt.
We’d love you to check out that run for yourself on your ADW of choice as our access is technically restricted. Instead, see the Tampa Bay Today video from GULFSTREAM PARK, JAN 30, RACE 10 and compare ‘Shawdy”s race to Queen of the Green (9-2).
The ‘Queen’ had little chance herself, bumping the rail into the lower first turn then was compromised by moderate fractions in Gufstream’s G3 Sweetest Chant. In her previous start, she broke maiden on this course at today’s trip, earning the fastest performance figure in this group.
But we’ll bank on the class relief ‘Shawdy’ gets today and the subtle fact that this will be a return to two turns, as her three stakes starts came over the quirky Kentucky Downs course followed by two chute events at Belmont. Previously, she broke maiden on debut at the Spa, a two-turn affair.
Taking Shawdyshawdyshawdy to win at 3-1 or greater and key-boxing exactas with Queen of the Green and the fast, well meant optional claimer Trade Deal (5-2) for Team Ward/Gallardo.
5 Responses
ShawdyShawdyShawdy has me thinking back to “Lordy, Lordy, Lordy” and Smokin’ Joe Frazier and Mohamed Ali’s classic battle in the “Thrilla in Manila”. In Round 12, Ali dug deep, found his second wind and started battering Frazier. By Round 14, Smokin’ Joe could no longer see through badly swollen eyes. Concerned trainer Eddie Futch threw in the towel. Proud, fierce Joe Frazier could not answer the Round 15 bell. Ali had won by TKO. Afterwards, Frazier said, “Lordy, Lordy,” he had hit Ali with shots that could have “shaken the walls of a city” yet could not beat him. Frazier vs Ali equated to Alydar vs Affirmed. Champions All. How blessed we were to witness it all?
Riders Up Stage Door Johnnie. You once again have captured my interest. My dollars will be added, Win, KB EX, and maybe a TRI or two. Still working on that preferred favorite Pinot of your’s Broadway.
I’m not sure anyone could have put on three brawls the way Ali and Frazier did, not even seeing was believing. Think I saw Ali-Frazier II in a CC movie theater??
Nice call on the KB John. First and Ten. Moving The Chains. At 2-1 on Shawdy we got a break finishing second.
As busy as I am, I pre-bet. Made some money but no win bet or exacta press.
The sound you hear is me turning the page…
I saw one of the fights on the big screen at the Nassau Coliseum. Roberto Duran fought Edwin Viruet live in the preliminary fight. Viruet out boxed Duran that night, but the saying is to beat a Champion, you really need to really BEAT him. All in all, most of the crowd had Viruet as the winner. A lot of booing on the decision.
Any hoot, I am in a classroom with two brothers in an accelerated adult night program at New Tork Tech when all three of us get up and head for the exit at the same moment. The class had an additional half hour to go but we truthfully just said that we had tickets for Ali Frazier fight and had to leave. The instructor probably wished we had another ticket.
Early in the Viruet fight we had to jump up from our seats to let the other Broadway guy and his crew to step into the aisle. They had seats adjacent to ours. Joe Willie’s fur collar coat and all. I had a friend around the same time, mid to late seventies, who years back was hospitalized in the next room to Broadway Joe at the N.Y. Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. He said Joe was something else. Super nice guy.. Always had one of his teammates drive his wife back to the Island at night. He said Joe even had a small bar set up in his room for his guests.
He really carried the name Broadway well. Sad to seeing him now pitching health care adds for the boomers. Just feels wrong. “Say it ain’t so Joe”, once more is all. Guess we all gotta make a living and cover the tab.
P.S. What a heart Joe Frazier had. Both as a fighter, and as a human. He did not have to resurrect Ali’s career by giving him another shot. Don’t know if Ali would have done the same. Smokin’ Joe was to boxing what Yogi B. was to baseball. Class Act is all.
More on Viruet vs Duran: Understand if you delete to prevent site hacking. John Just thought I might share in case any other LI readers might have been there as well. We saw some great stuff in our day. Just playing stick ball is now historic. Imagine trying to pitch a Spaldeen’ today?
https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/edwin-viruet-i-beat-the-st-out-of-duran-twice-i-played-with-him-like-he-was-my-cupcake/121833