Travelling weekend for soccer, field hockey

FRIDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Field Hockey travels to New England

-Soccer tags along to the East Coast

-Volleyball at Cardinal Arena this weekend

-Here come the Huskies

-That old Brass Hat

Welcome to the weekend! We're glad you made it! Kick off your dress shoes, have a beverage and put on some Skynyrd...we'll tell you all about what's happening with women's sports at UofL...and more! A great montage of some of Bustin's 'bust them up' stick swingers to the right.

Pam Bustin's Louisville TEAM CARDINAL Field Hockey squad is off to the northeastern part on the United States to face two foes. They'll grace the tiny state of Rhode Island Saturday to engage the Providence Friars in exciting college field hockey action. Then, it's off to New Hampshire for an out of conference affair versus the University of New Hampshire.

UofL is 11-5, 4-1 on the season and coming off a huge weekend where they took down Villanova and Iowa at the Trager. We fully expect Nicole Youman and crew to get the broom out and sweep the weekend games. We'll look forward to a blog entry from one of the girls after they return from the trip. Go, you Field Hockey Cardinals!

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Women's Soccer makes the East Coast swing as well this weekend. They'll close out the regular season in the Garden State with a 7 p.m. Friday night game at Seton Hall (6-9-1, 2-6-1) and then motor over to Piscataway for a match against the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University (6-8-1, 3-5-1).

These two are huge. The Cards are in fifth place currently in the National Division of the BIG EAST. The top five teams in each division advance to the BIG EAST tournament, so Karen Ferguson Dayes team controls its own fate. Win both and you're in, ladies.

Louisville defeated the Pirates last year in Cardinal Park in overtime and tied Rutgers. The BIG EAST tournament begins Oct. 28th., with first round and quarterfinal games to be played at various BIG EAST sites. The higher ranked get the home field advantage.

Kick it in the net, girls and bring two "W"'s back to the Ville.

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Volleyball isn't travelling this weekend. Instead, they'll host Georgetown and South Florida in Cardinal Arena. Friday night they'll destroya the Hoyas at 7 p.m. The team encourages you to bring canned goods to the contest for their food drive. Each attendee will also get a raffle ticket for each canned good they bring and the winners will receive a UofL athletics gift package. Georgetown (13-10, 3-4) lost their last time out to USF in five games.

Sunday features South Florida. No love lost between these two opponents. The event is deemed to be a "Red Out" and also it is Awareness of Domestic Violence Day and Muhammad Ali Center Day. This one will also be shown on WHAS TV and begins at 1 p.m. Terry Meiners will not be doing the halftime interviews with Leonid Yelin.

Louisville is on a six game win streak and tied for first place in the BIG EAST standings. The defense is looking better each time out with Gwen Rucker and Amanda Simmons playing huge above the net and Lola Arslanbeckova, Anastasia Artemeva and Emily Juhl providing the spikeability on offense. Look for the Cards to extend that win streak to eight when the lights are turned off in Cardinal Arena Sunday night.

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Football at PJCS this Saturday when Charlie Strong's 3-3 Cards host the Connecticut Huskies, also 3-3. UConn has suspended their starting quarterback for the rest of the season and plans on starting a redshirt freshman who has thrown five passes all year.

Louisville has not suspended Bilal Powell, Adam Froman or Josh Bellamy and the Cards will shoo the Huskies off the sportsgrass in PJCS and win this one comfortably Saturday afternoon.

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Calvin Borel guided 9 yr. old BRASS HAT to a win in the feature race at Keeneland yesterday.

We absolutely love "The Hat" who has come back from two threatening, potentially career ending injuries over the years to stay in the game. A typical BRASS HAT victory...dead last in the backstretch, picking them off one by one around the turn and then barrelling down the stretch under the sure handed guiding of Calvin. "Hats off " to owner Fred Bradley and trainer Buff Bradley for keeping this senior citizen fresh, well cared for and at his best. BRASS HAT absolutely, positively loves running at Keeneland and those who recognized that fact we're rewarded with an $11.60 payout to win on a $2 win wager.

Yeah, this guy had it...WHEEEEEE!!

Conrad selelcted for USA Field Hockey squad

CONRAD MAKES NATIONAL TEAM. THE RETURN OF RACHEL. WHO WANTS $10?

University of Louisville sophomore goalkeeper Erin Conrad

has been selected for the USA Under 21 Field Hockey team. Conrad received an invitation to try out for the squad after her outstanding

goal keeping duties during the national championships with the USA Field Hockey High Performance Midwest team.

The USA team will compete in tournaments in Asia next year. For Conrad, it is just another jewel in the crown of success she has worn since her high school days.

Pam Bustin speaks very highly of her goalkeeper:

"I am so proud of her. She was persistent and diligent throughout her journey to make the squad. Not an easy journey for her...but she never gave up and achieved this great opportunity to train and play for the national program."

Conrad was the only player from UofL to be selected for the team, out of four Cardinals who received tryout invitations. She arrived on the UofL campus in 2008 and took a redshirt year.

In, 2009...she assumed the goalkeeping duties and will be a key component in the Cardinal's defense for 2010.

Field hockey is a family thing for the Wilkes-Barre, PA native. Her sister Lindsey played for Syracuse. She is one of three Cardinals to ever make the USA team...joining Janelle Avila (2006-07) and Jessica Javelet (2004-05).

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RACHEL ALEXANDRA returns to the track Saturday in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Last seen, she was romping the field in the Churchill Downs Fleur de Lis...winning impressively by 10 1/2 lengths.

She's been training well for Saturday's race and busted 4 furlongs in 49.60 in a Monday workout at Saratoga. She'll face 6 rivals in the 1 mile race...including FABULOUS BABE and STAGE TRICK. If she handles the field as expected, she could be headed to the 1 1/4 mile Personal Ensign or the Woodward Stakes...both at Saratoga later this summer. RACHEL was the first filly

to win the Woodard last year. Steve Asmussen trains and regular rider Calvin Borel invades the Jersey Shore to take the mount.

Look out for LE MI GEAUX as a prime contender for 2 yr old fillies. She romped thru the slop at Saratoga yesterday to win the Schuylerville Stakes by 2 lengths. She rallied from far back to win the 6 furlong race and looked like she could have gone another 4 furlongs quite easily. Apprentice jockey Freddie Lenclud rode for Richard Dutrow. She pleased a lot of backers, including me, by paying $20.20 for a 2 dollar win ticket. In case you're not up on your Cajun...it's pronounced "Lemme Go!"

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Who wants $10 bucks? You have today and tomorrow to tell us why you like PANERA. Best e-mail gets the gift cards. Send those brilliant essays to cardinalcouple@insightbb.com or just toss one in the comments section here. PANERAAAA....YUMMMMM!

We'll announce the winner Monday. Don't fret if you don't win the first week...you'll have the next 4 weeks to "git er done."

SONJA'S DERBY PICKS

Will Churchill Downs fan favorite Calvin Borel go back to back with Derby winners? He's on SUPER SAVER...who has won at Churchill and also won a sloppy track.

Let's face it, if all this wet weather comes in Saturday like the weathermen are predicting, it's going to be an absolute mess on Derby Day at the Downs. So, I'm going with a few "mudders" and scaling down what I'm normally invest in the race.

SUPER SAVER, DEVIL MAY CARE, DISCREETLY MINE, and BACKTALK have all won races on a off track. NOBLE'S PROMISE has the highest rating for wet track probability of winning. I'm going to use all five in an exacta box. After last year's MINE THAT BIRD upset...I don't think people will rush to make any of the twenty runners a overwhelming favorite, but I do expect LOOKIN AT LUCKY to be around 3-1. That'll make a nice win, place and show wager....just in case the mudders fail. I'm also going with NOBLE'S PROMISE across the board also. One more exacta box with LOOKIN AT LUCKY, NOBLE'S PROMISE, SUPER SAVER, DUBLIN and DEVIL MAY CARE and that will take care of the majority of my handicapping wagering. $52 total if you do a $1 exacta box and $2 across on the above selections.

Longshots? Yeah, I will give you a couple that could surprise at a price. JACKSON BEND has spent the last two races chasing ESKENDEREYA across the wire in second place. Since the "E" is scratched...veteran jockey Mike Smith could score with JACKSON BEND. Worth an across the board wager at least. ESKENDEREYA, in my humble opinion, would have beat this Derby field by at least 6 lengths, if he could have gone...

STATELY VICTOR won at huge odds at Keenland in his last outing. He's also run second on a wet track. Alan Garcia returns for the ride and could pay nicely if he shows the stretch kick that he did in the Bluegrass.

So, I'll be prepared to give $64 to the teller for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby. To recap:

$1 exacta box on SUPER SAVER, DEVIL MAY CARE, DISCREETLY MINE, BACKTALK and NOBLE'S PROMISE ($20)
$1 exacta box on LOOKIN AT LUCKY, SUPER SAVER, NOBLE'S PROMISE, DUBLIN and DEVIL MAY CARE ($20)
$2 across the board on LOOKIN AT LUCKY ($6)
$2 across the board on NOBLE'S PROMISE ($6)
$2 across the board on JACKSON BEND ($6)
$2 across the board on STATELY VICTOR ($6)

Good luck, enjoy the fastest 2 minutes in sports...stay dry if you are headed out there and remember...SONJA'S SELECTIONS are for entertainment purposes only. You know the drill...HAPPY DERBY TO ALL!

(I should probably have let Paul do the picks this year...he's been slaying them out there since the track opened last week...but his Derby picks are a more closely guarded secret than the Bush Beans recipie or The Colonel's chicken seasoning)

We'll return to women's sports on Friday...thank you for your kind indulgence...we tend to go a little crazy here in Louisville during Derby week. Lacrosse, softball and much more await our women athletes in the next couple of days and we'll tell you all about it.

Now, where did I set that Mint Julep I had?

Written by Sonja
4/29/10

Ky Oaks draw and predictions

We don't normally offer two posts in the same day, but I wanted to get my Kentucky Oaks predictions up here since they've done the post position draw and the race will be run Friday. (Note: SONJA'S SELECTIONS are for entertainment purposes only and changes might occur if there are scratches or she gets late breaking news on one or more of the runners)

It looks like BLIND LUCK will be the post time favorite and got a very good starting gate draw, coming out of the 6 slot. The Jerry Hollendorfer filly will have Rafael Bejarano on board and her closing kick will be greatly aided in the long Churchill Downs homestretch. Do I think she is unbeatable? No, but that might be the way to wager if she goes off at 6-5 or higher. Doubling your money isn't such a bad thing, after all. I may plunk a few on her to win and place, but we'll see how the day is going financially Friday before I decide on that.

I will do a few exactas and trifectas, just in case she fails. Two horses I am very high on are TIDAL POOL and CRISP. CRISP gets Cailfornia leading rider Joel Rosario on her back and no one knows the horse better. She beat BLIND LUCK back on March 6th in the Santa Anita Oaks and hasn't run since. Her trainer, John Sadler, also trains ZENYATTA (who won't be at Churchill but is the best filly in the world) and Sadler knows how to get them ready. He saddled ZARDANA to a win over RACHEL ALEXANDRA in the Fair Grounds Oaks. If I get 6-1 or better on this one...it could be a side bet.

Also in my exacta will be TIDAL POOL and BEAUTICIAN. TIDAL POOL is D. Wayne Lukas and Calvin Borel. Borel at Churchill Downs, a very lethal combination. TIDAL POOL ran second to BLIND LUCK last time out but trainer Lukas had reservations about how the horse took to the track that day and TIDAL POOL is working very well at Churchill. BEAUTICIAN beat BLIND LUCK last fall in the Breeder's Cup juvenile fillies and throw out the 8th place finish in the Ashland Stakes at Keenland for BEAUTICIAN, the horse didn't like the polytrack. Alex Solis gets the mount.

We'll box TIDAL POOL, CRISP, BEAUTICIAN, BLIND LUCK and AMEN HALLELUJAH for a dollar. Total cost: $20. We'll also do an $1 exacta wheel/box with BLIND LUCK and these other four. Total cost: $8. I include AMEN HALLELUJAH because of rider Julian Leparoux and the the fact she ran second to Derby bound filly DEVIL MAY CARE in the Bonnie Miss.

In the trifecta, I'll do a wheel that has BLIND LUCK on top and those four underneaath. $16 for a $1 wager. I also may consider a $1 tri box with BLIND LUCK, CRISP, BEAUTICIAN and TIDAL POOL. $24 for that one.

$68 total to offer the racing Gods. Let's hope for a nice return on investment. Paul is just betting Borel on TIDAL POOL. He's got a man crush on Calvin...

As always, Sonja's picks are for entertainment purposes only. Be prepared to lose, nothing is a sure bet or guarantee at the race track except the delicious burgoo and corned beef sandwiches at Keeneland and the vegetable soup over at Wagner's Pharmacy near Churchill. Don't try to bet and win every race and don't bet over your head.

We'll look at the Derby Thursday.

Written by Sonja
4/28/10

Cards blank St.John 8-0

The rains eventually came to Ulmer Stadium Saturday but not before Chelsea Bemis slugged three home runs against the Johnnies in the first of two scheduled games. Game two was postponed until 10:30 Sunday morning when the teams will pick up action in the second inning and they'll play the final game of the series after that.

Louisville put five Spaldings over the fence in the contest and jumped on St. John early with a three run first inning. Melissa Roth led off with a deep centerfield blast over the fence and after a Jennifer Esteban walk, Bemis connected with a base clearer. The Cards went on to load the bases after that with no outs but St. John's got out of the inning without allowing any more runs.

Louisville (30-15, 9-5) struck again in the bottom of the third. Jordan Trimble reached first on a error and scored when Alicia Wolny doubled. Wolny found the plate when Kristin Austin tripled and the Cards led 5-0.

Bemis went to work again in the bottom of the fourth with a solo blast and Trimble connected for a tater in the alley also in the inning to put Louisville up 7-0. Bemis got her third of the game in the 7th for the final run in the 8-0 win. Tori Collins went the distance for Louisville on the mound, scattering three hits and getting her first complete game of the year.

The last Louisville player to hit three home runs in a game was Melissa Roth, back in 2009.

The Cards started the second game is fine fashion, jumping out to a 3-0 lead on St. John before the rains came.

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While softball is playing at Ulmer, the Louisville lacrosse team finds itself needing a couple of wins to close out the season and make the Big East Tournament. #11 Syracuse visits today and the Cards go to Rutgers Friday and Villanova on Sunday.. A win over the Orange would help their chances to sweep the final three and end the season with five wins in a row.

Th Big East lacrosse tournament will be held at Rutgers beginning May 6th. Louisville is 9-5 on the season and 2-3 in the Big East.

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We told you about Bob Baffert's HURRICANE IKE yesterday being a horse to watch in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs and Calvin Borel got the job done, winning easily on a sloppy track and paying $13.80.

Cool Cal won five races yesterday on opening day for Churchill. He took the Derby Trial in typical Borel fashion, stalking the pace and zipping up the rail in the stretch to storm by the competition. AIKENITE, another one we loved, ran second...about three lengths back...making for a very nice exacta payout in the feature race. Neither AIKENITE or HURRICANE IKE will head on to the Kentucky Derby but trainer John Sadler says a run in the Preakness is a definite possibility for HURRICANE IKE.

Congratulations also to regular guy and trainer superb Paul McGee who saddled FOREST WARFARE to a very convincing win earlier on the card. In a driving rainstorm, FOREST WARFARE contested the early pace, drew clear and won for fun, skipping down the spashy Churchill stretch 10 lengths in front of the nearest competitor.


A great afternoon at the track despite the wet weather. Prowling the bricks by the paddock and meeting the fans were such notables as Chip Wooley, trainer of last year's Derby winner MINE THAT BIRD and TVG expert anaylist Frank Lyons.

Lyons genuinely seemed to relish the fan appreciation and held court in front of one of the Churchill concession stands...grinning broadly, posing for photos and offering his unique and colorful advice on racing and handicapping.
Written by Paul 4/25/10