My Monday blog

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Deny, deny, deny.

That's the common defense tactic employed by some of the biggest-named drug cheats in recent sports history.

The list of offenders is endless.

Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez and Marion Jones are among the disgraced headliners who pathetically turned sanctimonious denials into sobering admissions.

It's impossible to feel sympathy for any of the admitted cheaters.

Sports depends on a defined set of rules and regulations agreed upon by all competitors.

The rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs breaks the code of fairness, forcing those who play by the rules to compete against members of the doping fraternity.

It's an intractable problem in sports and one that needs a solution sooner rather than later.

Consider sport's latest rulebreaker, horse trainer Bob Baffert.

Immediately after the Kentucky Racing Commission announced a drug violation involving Derby winner Medina Spirit, the well-preserved 68-year-old trainer vehemently denied the allegations.

Baffert -- upon advice from his family, friends and most of all, longtime attorney W. Craig Robertson III -- changed his story 48 hours later by claiming Medina Spirit tested positive as a result of an ointment used to treat a skin disease.

Baffert has more excuses than a broke sports bettor on a Tuesday morning.

But his excuses don't carry any weight because of a catch-all rule in horse racing titled "Trainer Responsibility."

The rule basically states "the trainer shall be responsible for -- and be the absolute insurer of -- the condition of the horses he enters regardless of the acts of third parties."

Fair or unfair, the rules dictate the trainer is ultimately responsible for the horse's welfare.

Baffert's magnetic personality and clever one-liners are growing old amid a cloud of suspicion and recurring drug violations.

The man who saddled two Triple Crown winners over a four-year span (American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018) is now in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Baffert avoided media scrutiny by not attending last Saturday's Preakness Stakes in Baltimore where his Derby hero-turned-villain faded to finish third as the 2/1 favorite after setting a challenged pace.

Unfortunately, Medina Spirit, like his high-profile trainer, was not available for comment.

Expect Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun to be declared the official Derby winner within the next couple of weeks when a split sample of Medina Spirit's blood test confirms the earlier findings.

And you thought the 22-minute stewards' inquiry and ultimate disqualification of Maximum Security in the 2019 Kentucky Derby was bad for the sport?

Medina Spirit soon will join Dancer's Image (1968) as the only two horses disqualified for drug violations in the 147-year history of horse racing's biggest event.

The dirty sport just got dirtier.


GREETINGS FROM ST. LOUIS.....I plan to attend tomorrow night's Major League Baseball game between the Cardinals and Pirates, the first and last-place teams in the National League Central.

Interestingly, a wager on both teams in every game this season produces virtually the same result (+2 units or thereabouts), showing the betting marketplace has adjusted nicely to the better-than-expected results of both clubs.

JT Brubaker and John Gant will be the mound opponents.

A quick look at a book titled "The Cardinals Way" is required reading before a trip to Busch Stadium.

Did you know the first team-employed statistician in baseball was a staff member of the St. Louis Cardinals?

His name was Travis Hoke and he charted every game with "base-and-out efficiency" in mind.

The year was 1917.


TUESDAY'S BEST BET.....Before the night game at Busch Stadium, I'll watch the seven-race afternoon card at the old Fairmount Park, now named FanDuel Sports Betting and Horse Racing.

The management at William Stiritz's racetrack desperately needs a course in branding and marketing.

The new name is a mouthful and doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

l prefer FanDuel Park or better yet, FanDuel Downs, for alliteration purposes.

But credit the old Fairmount Park for teaming up with Flutter Entertainment to build an impressive FanDuel sports book inside the dilapidated property with handsome high-definition television sets and easy-to-use betting kiosks spread across a comfortable, well-appointed room.

The state-of-the-art televisions look and sound good in the new sports book and they stand in sharp contrast to the big-bodied, poorly-formatted television sets, circa 1995, in the grandstand and clubhouse.

Ugh.

Go to the fourth race on Tuesday and circle #4 W W Scout's Honor as the day's most likely winner.

Listed as the second choice at odds of 3/1 on the morning line, the Scott Becker-trained charge broke his maiden in impressive fashion on May 1 and should wheel back and win again.

The second and third-place finishers in W W Scout's Honor's maiden win came back to run first and second in a highly-rated race last Saturday night.

I'll look to key W W Scout's Honor on top in both vertical and horizontal wagers without forgetting a solid win bet and NO place or show support in the short seven-horse field.

Post time for Tuesday's fourth race is set for 2:27 p.m. CT.

Let's get the money.
 
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John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
VegasDave courtside with Birkin bags at Laker games and JK slumming it at Fairmount and a lowly Pirates game.

Gotta love it....


Hahaha.

He's in Grade I company and I'm toiling at the $3,500 claiming level.
 

Neveragain

EOG Dedicated
I'll watch the seven-race afternoon card at the old Fairmount Park, now named FanDuel Sports Betting and Horse Racing.
The management at William Stiritz's racetrack desperately needs a course in branding and marketing.
The new name is a mouthful and doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
l prefer FanDuel Park or better yet, FanDuel Downs, for alliteration purposes.
Most likely the branding, logo, and marketing functions belong to a team of highly paid
marketing wizards sitting in the FanDuel Corporate offices in Manhattan.

I’m also guessing Bill Stiritz was paid handsomely by FanDuel for the privilege of rebranding his track.
Have a safe trip JK.
 

Rockfish

EOG Addicted
Nice to see the Monday Blog back. JK you do a nice job with it. Always entertaining.

Fairmount Park, i have many fond memories of the track but it was a long ass drive from Chicago to get there. Real long ass drive home if you got roasted and lost a few photos.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Nice to see the Monday Blog back. JK you do a nice job with it. Always entertaining.

Fairmount Park, i have many fond memories of the track but it was a long ass drive from Chicago to get there. Real long ass drive home if you got roasted and lost a few photos.


So true.

It's tough to travel when gambling and losing.

And it's an absolute pleasure to travel the country when things are going your way.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Most likely the branding, logo, and marketing functions belong to a team of highly paid
marketing wizards sitting in the FanDuel Corporate offices in Manhattan.

I’m also guessing Bill Stiritz was paid handsomely by FanDuel for the privilege of rebranding his track.
Have a safe trip JK.


Sports betting saved the day for Fairmount Park.

A hotel and casino are in the works right now.

The low-level employees even sound upbeat.
 

FairWarning

Bells Beer Connoisseur
Nice to see the Monday Blog back. JK you do a nice job with it. Always entertaining.

Fairmount Park, i have many fond memories of the track but it was a long ass drive from Chicago to get there. Real long ass drive home if you got roasted and lost a few photos.
And boorrrrring.
 
Most likely the branding, logo, and marketing functions belong to a team of highly paid
marketing wizards sitting in the FanDuel Corporate offices in Manhattan.

I’m also guessing Bill Stiritz was paid handsomely by FanDuel for the privilege of rebranding his track.
Have a safe trip JK.

They bought the track and its casino rights. They had to in order to get around the big roadblock Neil Bluhm paid off the legislature with. If they didn't buy an operators license FanDuel and Draft Kings wouldn't be able to get into the game for 2+ years. That's why both are also keeping legacy names around at Fairmount and Casino Queen, they were concerned if they showcased the brands too directly they would see legal and regulatory challenges related to the time out provisions of the law.
 

Abundy

EOG Addicted
WOW. Welcome back JK. It has been far too long. You have such a talent for writing. I am sure many EOG followers have missed your blog
 
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Heim

EOG Master
Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez and Marion Jones


I'm amazed how Armstrong beat all the drug testing. He was probably
drug cycling/blood doping more than any athlete.

A very average cyclist that made leaps and bounds within a year.

Everyone knew but the labs they used.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez and Marion Jones


I'm amazed how Armstrong beat all the drug testing. He was probably
drug cycling/blood doping more than any athlete.

A very average cyclist that made leaps and bounds within a year.

Everyone knew but the labs they used.


I highlighted Marion Jones on the list of cheaters to promote inclusion and diversity.

:p
 
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John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez and Marion Jones


I'm amazed how Armstrong beat all the drug testing. He was probably
drug cycling/blood doping more than any athlete.

A very average cyclist that made leaps and bounds within a year.

Everyone knew but the labs they used.


Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven straight years from 1999 to 2005.

Ridiculous.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
4th FP Tuesday

4-5-2-6


Thanks for sharing, Luca.

Here's a longshot to consider in the Fairmount finale: Race 7 #3 BUDDY BUD at odds of 20/1 on the morning line.

The replay of the horse's last race shows a decent gallop out past the wire.

Here's my late Pick 4 ticket starting in the fourth race that I will press multiple times: 4/14/12/39.

Interesting to note: Bigger pools on Tuesday afternoons than Saturday nights at the old Fairmount Park.
 
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skinny

EOG Addicted
VegasDave courtside with Birkin bags at Laker games and JK slumming it at Fairmount and a lowly Pirates game.

Gotta love it....
A double header of horse racing and baseball, life is good.
JK has got it figured out.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
The weather did not cooperate.

A rainy day Tuesday at the track.

My selection in the fourth race (#4 W W Scout's Honor) opened 1/9 with 22 minutes to post.

ComptrBob would be proud.

;)
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Thanks for sharing, Luca.

Here's a longshot to consider in the Fairmount finale: Race 7 #3 BUDDY BUD at odds of 20/1 on the morning line.

The replay of the horse's last race shows a decent gallop out past the wire.

Here's my late Pick 4 ticket starting in the fourth race that I will press multiple times: 4/14/12/39.

Interesting to note: Bigger pools on Tuesday afternoons than Saturday nights at the old Fairmount Park.

Amended P4 ticket due to scratches: 4/1,4,5/1,6/3,7.
 

blueline

EOG Master
8/24 FP
race 1 4 horse field winner $2.40
race 2 3 horse field winner 2.60

Double pays $4.20
better than a hand of blackjack
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
8/24 FP
race 1 4 horse field winner $2.40
race 2 3 horse field winner 2.60

Double pays $4.20
better than a hand of blackjack


Four races, four favorites on the Tuesday card at FanDuel.

Jockey Victor Santiago won the first three races of the day.

Santiago just finished second in the fourth race on the card.
 

blueline

EOG Master
Parx 8/24 race 12.

#11 wins easily on 4/7 but is DQed from purse money ( dont know what the drug was)...horse was claimed.
Horse's last start about a month ago the horse is claimed back by the trainer who won with the horse / drug violation.
Wins easily today......anything to see here?
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Parx 8/24 race 12.

#11 wins easily on 4/7 but is DQed from purse money ( dont know what the drug was)...horse was claimed.
Horse's last start about a month ago the horse is claimed back by the trainer who won with the horse / drug violation.
Wins easily today......anything to see here?


Interesting.

Checking the replay now, BLUE.

Here's a race yesterday that looked fishy to me: INDIANA GRAND's sixth race on Monday, August 23.

I watched a Tom Amoss horse in yesterday's sixth race at Indiana Grand get pressed every step of the way and finish fourth at odds of 7/10.

Winner of the race (Daaher Street) was the beneficiary of the race shape and was well-meant at odds of 5/1 from a morning-line price of 12/1.

Crushed in the win, exacta and daily double pools SECONDS BEFORE they sprung the latch.

How do I know?

The exacta probables and daily double probables featuring the winner were displayed on the simulcast feed just before the start of the race.

I was able to compare the probable prices to the eventual payouts, confirming the late money was the smart money.

And it was significant money.
 
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John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Parx 8/24 race 12.

#11 wins easily on 4/7 but is DQed from purse money ( dont know what the drug was)...horse was claimed.
Horse's last start about a month ago the horse is claimed back by the trainer who won with the horse / drug violation.
Wins easily today......anything to see here?


Winner dropped from 8/1 to 5/1 on the last flash, same as the Indiana Grand winner.

I know, significant odds changes happen all the time.

But the horse BLUE mentioned then won by three-and-a-half lengths.

The horse at Indiana Grand yesterday drew away to win by five easy lengths.

Hmmm...
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
The exacta combination of 6-7 in yesterday's sixth race at Indiana Grand was paying $62 with 30 seconds to post.

The exacta combination of 6-7 returned $42.40.

Exacta pool was more than $50,000.
 
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