Don Chavez

I’ll give Hank credit with his Bernadini call, although he renegged on it. For a split second while watching this clip, I was waiting for Hank to say “the only way Barbaro can lose is if he breaks a leg”.

On a side note, todays Barbaro status is YELLOW

(edit: youtube took down the video because of copyright infringement. The video below is the closest resemblance to Hank I could find)

I decided to play the Belmont Stakes card from home today.  I figured there was no need to deal with the “know-it-alls”, plus it’s been raining all day.  I was pretty happy when I realized that I could watch the races in HD on ESPN instead of the simulcast feed via TVG.

That was until I realized that it was a 7 1/2 hour Barbaro special.  In case you haven’t been caught up yet, Barbaro shattered his leg, they did surgery, he’s in a cast, and it will be months before we know if he is okay.  The country has reached out to him with cards, letters, and emails.  People love him.  His jockey, trainer, and owners are upset and want to save his life.  Okay, now take that and stretch it out into 15 minute segments throughout the entire afternoon.  It’s boring.

So to compound my frustation, I see Hammerin’ Hank Goldberg on the screen.  “I’ve picked to in a row. So here’s my exacta”… Two races later the pick 6 started, and I have four tickets going.  Two of them singled Tiger in the first leg.  What do I see as I flip from TVG to ESPN.  “Hank-Tiger”.  I knew those tickets were throwouts.  I can only hope that he doesn’t like the 3/5 odds on Gorella, and looks for a price in this four horse field.

The Hammer supplies us with today’s quote of the day.  He gives us a hint for his Belmont Stakes pick. 

Click here for a hint at the Hammer’s Belmont pick

Hank Goldberg Expert Handicrapper

After scaring most of his Kentucky Derby competition, Barbaro should actually have a tougher race this Saturday in the Preakness.  With a field of nine going to the post, Barbaro is sure to be the heavy favorite, with counterparts Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint going off at single digit odds.

Like Now’s connections have made it clear that he will try to wire the field. If the Big 3 get clean trips and Barbaro wins the Preakness, the doubts will be buried.  There will be no more excuses, and we will know if Barbaro is the best horse.  Hopefully nobody tosses a shoe, as this excuse has become the “my dog ate my homework” excuse of horse racing.

With such a small field and the talent of the Big 3 in this race, almost eveyone and their Mother will have a trifecta box going on them.  If Barbaro wins ahead of Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint, that trifecta box might payoff as low as 4-1.

The more savy money will try to get some of the new shooters mixed in with the Big 3, but I still don’t think the payout warrants the play.  However, if I felt that Barbaro will bounce in this race, I’d be diving in head first.

So rather than get frustrated with a small payout in the Preakness, I’ll be jumping on the Pick 4 train that starts with race 9.  Last year I cashed in on this wager for just over $2400 mainly because Artie Schiller got beat by a nose. 

The first 3 legs of this year’s Pick 4 look wide open, and Artie Schiller and Better Talk Now will be vunerable favorites in the Dixie.  Rather than going with a hefty win bet on your choice of the Big 3, I think it offers a better risk versus reward scenario by singling your choice in the Preakness Stakes.

Even with Artie Schiller or Better Talk Now and Barbaro or Brother Derek winning their races, you could cash in for a couple grand with some decent prices in the 9th and 11th races.

Don’t get me wrong though, I’ll be watching the tote board very closely tomorrow.  The trackside buzz may help to bring Barbaro to up to 6/5, especially when Hammerin’ Hank proclaims “I like Barbaro, but not at these odds”.  That’s right, tomorrow we could see something incredible in the Preakness…the Hank Goldberg double hex.  Let’s just hope that second horse is one of the bombers.

Bloodhorse.com has reported that NBC has admitted to a case of Kaavya-itis.  NBC has come clean and admitted that a producer of the Kentucky Derby telecast got a little confused with the backstory on trainers Dan Hendricks and Michael Matz, and scenes from “The West Wing”.

I hope that the ABC producers become more creative and plagarise from “Cheers” during next years road to the Kentucky Derby.  Here’s a perfect example to get them started…

WOODY: What are you up to Mr. Peterson?
NORM: My ideal weight…if I were 11 feet tall.

Now here would be the ABC version…

Jerry Bailey:  What are you up to Hank?

Hank Goldberg:  My ideal weight…if I were 11 feet tall.   

One of the few things that I was right about on Kentucky Derby day was that Hank Goldberg would NOT pick the winner.  In true form to his picks in the prep races, he put up another doughnut. 

Now Hank, we could have a Triple Crown on our hands, and you need to realize what your role is.  Do not pick Barbaro to win the Preakness!  The public can prevent this by making Barbaro 2/1 or less at the windows and Hank won’t touch him.

Hammerin’ Hank’s Road to the Derby