I have to interrupt our daily discussion of the Giants today to recognize that history could be made in a different sport today.
Big Brown goes to the post this afternoon at the Belmont Stakes, aiming to become horse racing's first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
My good buddy Rick Snider, a long time turf writer, has agreed to give us his pick for today. Here it is.
Big Brown is a big lukewarm pick to become a Triple Crown champion on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes. I've covered racing for 25 years and personally watched the last eight crown-seekers lose and a lot of them were better than Big Brown.
Unlike many of the other failed champions, Big Brown has no major competition. Casino Drive and Macho Again are the top contenders, and value wise I would take Macho Again in the exacta and Casino Drive in the triple. If you're game, put Macho Again on top for $2 and you might cash for a lot of money. Bad things happen on the racetrack all the time. Dumb rides, injuries, poor luck -- anything can happen. There's even a chance of rain. But, Big Brown has talent and a great jockey in Kent Desormeaux so put a deuce on the UPS namesake and worry more about the exacta and triple. And for you long shot players, take Ichabad Crane after finishing third in the Preakness.
Rick Snider is the sports columnist at the Washington Examiner and a long-time turf writer. You can read him at dcexaminer.com.
Consider this an open thread for weekend. Talk about Big Brown. Talk some Celtics-Lakers. Talk Yankees or, if you must, Mets. You can even talk some Giants if you want.