Hammond narrows it to 4 schools

WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE BRINGS:

-Rockcastle County star Sara Hammond narrows it to four.

-WE offer our spin on UK vs. UofL Footbal

-A comical horse race call

-Has she been forgotten?

Rockcastle County (KY) senior Sara Hammond has pared her list of colleges down to four institutes of higher learning. Making the cut are WKU, Vanderbilt, UConn and LOUISVILLE! We figured all along that the Lady Cards were standing strong with the probable Miss Kentucky Basketball for 2011 and viewing the list confirms the chatter we were hearing about Matthew Mitchell and Kentucky's late pitch falling on deaf ears. The 6'2" versatile player can take it to the hoop or punish you from outside. She has that certain "it"...the look of determination and focus when she is on the court. She has planned recruiting visits to and from Louisville and UConn...none yet for Vandy or WKU.

Let's be Captain Obvious here. Sure, it's great to get the nod and call from Geno and UConn. They are the elite program in women's college basketball and the Huskies don't pick up the phone and call just anyone. But, how many college bound lady hoopster from the Commonwealth have ended up in Storrs, Connecticut? Exactly. Nada, Goose egg, zilch and none. One has to wonder just how serious they are when they have access to about half of the 17U Team USA that won the European Championships?

WKU is a fine school and once used to be a certified power in the college WBB ranks. They might well return to that status but do you really want to spend four years going to non-descript Sun Belt schools? Louisville ex- Janae Howard transferred there to seek more playing time. Speaks volumes about the talent level in Bowling Green...definitely a step below the other three schools. Howard was a streaky shooter during her brief stay at the 'Ville and never could grasp the concepts of defense, rebounding or all over the court hustle.

Vanderbilt has intriguing possibilities. Melanie Baucom has had success with past Kentucky high school stars. Then, there is the other side of the coin. Ask Tia Gibbs about her year at Vandy. The Commodore home court...antiquated Memorial Coliseum reminds me of a medium sized high school gym. There's that weird configuration of benches beneath the basket, the raised floor and it really pales in comparison to the brand spanking new KFC YUM Downtown Arena.

There, Sara...we've laid it all out for you. Jeff Walz has a jersey waiting for you. The Louisville fans have many cheers and screams waiting for you. Enjoy your senior year...it is a magical, dizzying and way too fast time in one's life...and then head to Louisville and continue your education.

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It's everywhere in the air and the topic at water coolers, bars, instant oil change facilities and the internet. Who will win the UofL vs. UK football game on Sept 4th?

We deal primarily with UofL women's sports here. We won't spend a lot of time on the upcoming gridiron tussle...but we will offer five things that we'll be looking for when we're getting baked in the Crunch Zone dressed in red that Saturday.

1) Can UofL receiver Doug Beaumont find the end zone. The likable and talented senior has had a great career at UofL but has never caught a pass for a touchdown. Which leads to the old joke...How do you keep Doug Beaumont out of your front yard? Erect a goal post...Here's hoping he gets there on the 4th.

2) Will UofL fans obey Coach Strong? Charlie wants all Cardinal fans in their seats and raising cain prior to kickoff. We've been around Cardinal tailgaiting many a year and know full well that our fan base doesn't usually do that. WE'LL be looking around when the game starts to see if they're buying into the "Strong philosophy".

3) Can Froman throw the ball down the field? A lot to like about the senior quarterback but his long range passing is suspect. Can he toss one 30-35 yards to a Cardinal receiver accurately? Will they even try?

4) Where do you hide from Brandon Heath? The Cardinal linebacker is a fierce tackler and if UK runs his way...will EMS be needed to cart off the unlucky ball carrier? This guy would tackle his Aunt Ginny if she carried the pigskin...

5) Getting your kicks. The word is that Louisville placekicker Chris Philpott has been accurate and consistent in his field goal attempts during fall practice. Can he translate that success into points in a game that just might come down to a 2 or 3 point margin?

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Gotta share this entertaining call from track announcer Larry Collmus during the 7th. race at Monmouth Race Track on Sunday. (Never get the wives involved!) Click on the link below and enjoy!)

http://www.theneweditor.com/index.php?/archives/11737-Best-Exacta-Ever-7th-Race-at-Monmouth-Park.html

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She was a highly touted, talented freshman at Fern Creek High School for the Lady Tigers basketball team. Has the star on Teonia McCune faded as she prepares for her senior year? At 6'4' she poses a dangerous threat to those who unwisely try to take it to the hoop against her and she rebounds as well as anyone in Kentucky High School girls basketball...but are the major colleges still calling? We know that Louisville's Jeff Walz had a marked interest in her when Monique Reid and Teonia shared the court several years back...but a scan of the most promising 2011 class players doesn't reveal McCune as being one of the top standouts. She also participates in volleyball and track and field at the Creek.

We have to wonder if this will be her breakout year and if the Cards are still looking to fit her into and red and black jersey. Louisville is pursuing several talented and nationally recognized post and paint players in the 2011 class but we're not hearing much about McCune. Stay tuned this winter...we'll detail her final season on the court for the Tigers.

Women's Soccer gets national attention

The Thursday Edition of Cardinal Couple features:

- UofL women's soccer on Fox Soccer Channel

-Key matchup in the Alabama at Saratoga

-Things we are hearing

-Did you ever wonder why...

The Fox Soccer Channel will televise live the UofL vs. UK soccer match at Cardinal Park Thursday, Sept 9th. at 7 p.m. The annual "Battle of the Bluegrass" should prove to be an interesting match up this year. UofL coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes has recruited well and promises a much improved season over last year's disappointing sub .500 record. Plus, it is UofL vs. UK...a matchup that always draws significant attention...whether it be in football, field hockey or fan rivalry.

Last check we did, we didn't have the soccer channel on our lineup of programs...but we did discover that local carrier Insight Communications has some pretty attractive packages available that include the channel for those who cannot make it to the game. CARDINAL COUPLE will be there live to watch, observe and report the event for you.

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Saratoga (NY) Race Course has brought two of the best 3 yr. old fillies together for an exciting race this Saturday in the $500,000 Grade I Alabama Stakes. BLIND LUCK and DEVIL MAY CARE will be two of the entrants in the 1 - 1/4 mile race on the dirt. It'll be an important matchup for determining who will be named 3 yr. old filly of year as well. Both horses are also expected to run in the Ladies Classic on Nov. 5th in the Breeders Cup at Churchill Downs.

BLIND LUCK has been phenomenal for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer this year, winning the Kentucky Oaks and also races at Oaklawn and Delaware.

DEVIL MAY CARE may have run a disappointing 1oth against the boys in the Kentucky Derby but has slaughtered the competition in the Grade I Mother Goose at Belmont and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

The race will also draw some other top flight fillies, including Black-Eyed Susan winner ACTING HAPPY, Mother Goose runner up CONNIE AND MICHAEL and TIZAHIT.

Now...if we could only get ZENYATTA and RACHEL ALEXANDRA on the same track...

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CARDINAL COUPLE is sorry to report that potential 2011 UofL women's basketball candidate Bria Smith has verballed to Virginia but several very good candidates remain out there for Coach Jeff Walz. Rockcastle County (KY) standout Sara Hammond still lists Louisville at the top of her potential list and her game is exactly the style of basketball that will fit in great with Walz's style of hoops. With plenty of guards on the current roster and only one of them a senior, one might surmise that Walz is looking for additions to the Cardinal front line and he has two that will be awesome there next year in Quaneisha McCurty and UNC transer Cierra Warren. Good basketball players are always desired and needed...and CARDINAL COUPLE has received word that a very talented post player has Louisville in her top 3 and...well, that's all we can report to you at this time.

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We still have 3 weeks of the PANERA CARD giveaway left and...quite honestly...your responses have been rather slow this week. Still some good ones in but...if you think you have what it takes to nail down the $10 prize...shoot us and e-mail or leave a message in the comments section on why you like to go to PANERA. E-mail your reason(s) to:

cardinalcouple@insightbb.com

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(Some muddled thoughts to leave you with on a foggy Thursday morning in Louisville)

Did you ever wonder why...

-High school and professional basketball is played by the quarter and college basketball is played by the half?

-The WNBA has a jump ball for "tied up" dual possessions and college and high school goes by which way the possession arrow is pointing?

-The shot clock has different times in high school, college and the pros?

-The halftime break is 15 minutes in college and 1 minute in AAU ball?

-College women's basketball coaches use major baseball and football events to host potential recruits but men's basketball coaches never use major field hockey and volleyball events to bring in the guys?

Belmont preview

As we are known for doing occasionally here at CARDINAL COUPLE...horse racing prognostication and bold predictions below for the Belmont. Today's offerings come from our senior columnist and guy who has been setting Churchill Downs on fire with his Spring Meet success so far. Take it away, Paul!

The horse pictured here is FIRST DUDE. He ran a strong second in the Preakness to LOOKIN AT LUCKY. Since LUCKY isn't entered in the Belmont, logic would dictate that FIRST DUDE just might go off as one of the favorites and win this thing.

I ask you, though...when did logic have anything to do with horse racing?

Trainer Nick Zito prepares his horses well for the Belmont and he offers two of them for the starting gate Saturday in the third leg of the Triple Crown. ICE BOX and FLY DOWN cannot be ignored and should be included in any "gimmick" wagering you attempt.

I also like STATELY VICTOR for this race. Can't exactly put my finger on it...but I think he'll show up big.

I'm putiing FIRST DUDE, ICE BOX, FLY DOWN, STATELY VICTOR and STAY PUT in an exacta box. I'll also work them into a trifecta..with ICEBOX and FIRST DUDE on top, the rest wheeled down in second with them and add a couple more to the bottom part of the wheel.

FIRST DUDE treated me very well on Preakness Day...so I'll put a small across the board wager down on him, too.

You want a live longshot? Consider DROSSELMEYER. Don't go crazy on him..though. MAKE MUSIC FOR ME, the talented filly, tries the boys Saturday also. She could shock at a nice price.

Remember, all comments here and selections are for entertainment porpoises only (certainly!) and CARDINAL COUPLE does not make any claims of supernatural powers, psychic revelations or a decent crossover and 15 foot jumper.

Good luck, enjoy the Belmont and God Save the Queen.

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

Zenyatta romps in the Apple Blossom

The mare proved why she is the simply the best female in horse racing with an easy 4 1/2 length romp in Oaklawn's Apple Blossom Handicap. Jockey Mike Smith still believes he hasn't seen her best race yet.

One couldn't blame Zenyatta owner Jerry Moss if he was walking around the Oaklawn winner's circle humming the song from the movie Space Jam "I Believe I Can Fly" yesterday. Moss owns A&M Records and he's got a chart topper also in Zenyatta. His 4 year old filly seemed to have wings as she flew from last to first in the short Oaklawn stretch yesterday and blew by the competition in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Stakes at the Arkansas race track.


Maybe it's good Rachel Alexandra didn't show up to test the Street Cry mare yesterday in Hot Springs, AR. Zenyatta is running on all eight cylinders right now and it just doesn't matter if the racing surface is dirt, polytrack or even lime Jello...she confidently stalks the other horses in a race, knows when to make her move without any urging from jockey Mike Smith and then goes to work.

Sixteen wins in a row now for the horse named after a recording by The Police. Maybe she'll top the UConn women's basketball team's winning streak before she's through. No word on her next outing from trainer John Shireffs...but wouldn't it be great to have her at Churchill to maybe meet up with Rachel Alexandra on her favorite track?

Hoping for big things today in the Arkansas Derby from NOBLE'S PROMISE. Local trainer Kenny McPeek sends the hard luck 3 year old out as the probable favorite Saturday. NOBLE has had the misfortune of running against LOOKIN AT LUCKY the last several times out and narrowly going down to defeat. No LUCKY today in the Oaklawn field...but he'll face plenty of competition from DUBLIN, SUPER SAVER and NORTHERN GIANT in the 1 1/8 mile race that attracted 9 runners. Quite a rags to riches story here for the owners of NOBLE'S PROMISE...10 partners invested $1,000 each to buy the horse as a yearling. NOBLE has banked over $700,000 in earnings for the investors.

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Tough loss for Louisville lacrosse Friday to #13 Loyola at the Louisville lacrosse stadium. The Cards go down 17-10 after being tied with the Greyhounds 5-5 at the half. The Cards jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against the visitors but could not sustain the momentum and were outscored 12-5 in the second half.

Bergan Folly led Louisville with five goals but the deciding factor in the match was Louisville's inability to stop Loyola from scoring late in this one.

The Cards return to action Sunday hosting Big East foe Georgetown.

Written by Paul (who will be wearing his NOBLE'S PROMISE hat today) Happy Birthday Park!
4/10/10

Road Cards best ODU 12-8 in lacrosse

Liz Lovejoy tossed 4 goals in the net helding the Cards win over ODU on the road.

Thge Cards started out on fire early in the contest and took a 7-1 lead over the Monarchs. Lianne Bobal accounted for three of the points and it looked like Louisvile was on the way to a romp on the road.

ODU wasn't folding, though and Louisville got great goalie play from Danielle Pawliw with 16 saves (a school record) to hold off a late ODU charge and win the game.

The Monarchs actually attempted more shots that the Cards (33-32).

"A win is a win in the record books" UofL head lacrosse Kellie Young commented after the contest. "This team seems to enjoy stressful situations."

Louisville (6-3) ends a 8 game road trip Monday in Farmville, Virginia against Longwood.

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Keeneland opened yesterday before a record crowd for opening day of 24,734. Yeah, it was real crowded up there. SPEEDY MON, ridden by Corey Lanerie, finished last in the field of 11 in the third race. Breaking from the gate at the rail, SPEEDY MON started slowly, encountered a little bumping at the break and ran wide with no real response thruout the race. Oh,well...back to the drawing board for SPEEDY and trainer Paul McGee.

The horse racing heats up today with several major stakes races for Ky. Derby and Ky. Oaks hopefuls. Nine opponents take after LOOKIN AT LUCKY today in the Santa Anita Derby. CARACORTADO could run big at a decent price for underrated jockey Paul Atkinson.

Six Derby contenders try to make a case for the first Saturday in May in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. This one is wide open despite morning line odds of 4-5 for ESKENDERYA and Julian Leparoux.

Same for the Illinois Derby, which draws 8 contenders at a 1 1/8 mile run at Hawthorne. I absolutely love DAVE IN DIXIE here. BACKTALK will probably be the post time favorite.

SHE BE WILD is the favorite in the eight horse Ky. Oaks hopefuls field that will contest the Ashland Stakes for 3 yr. old fillies at Keeneland. NEGLIGEE, BEAUTICIAN, APPLE CHARLOTTE and EVENING JEWEL won't let her have it easy in her first race in two months. NEGLIGEE did defeat SHE BE WILD last October at Kenneland in the Alcibiades Stakes.

Written by Sonja
4/3/10