Join us » eeded any extra motivation for its matchup again

Got to hand it to the New York Racing Association: Its spending it while its still got it. Half a million bucks for a Grade 3 race. A million for fillies on the grass. An extra $200,000 in couch change just to get a certain someone in the gate.Oh, to be tapped into casino cash.How long it lasts is anybodys guess. The state has turned its greedy eyes to the casino bounty, thereby threatening the recent purse boom that makes possible a day like Saturdays Stars and Stripes extravaganza, with its $1.25 million Belmont Derby and $1 million Belmont Oaks, along with four main-track stakes worth $1.55 million in total.How flush is New York racing? Flush enough to promise the connections of reigning filly queen Songbird a purse of $500,000 if she runs in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 24. Without her, the race goes for $300,000. This is old-fashioned pay to play made possible by the cutthroat competition for marquee horses among casino tracks who answer only to themselves.Songbird had been leaning heavily toward the CCA Oaks anyway, which means the 13 fillies lining up for the Belmont Oaks were always safe from one of her casual drubbings. Catch a Glimpse, on a run of seven straight, will be the deserving favorite. But in the end, their toughest opponent will be the 1-1/4 miles.Many of the pedigrees scream for the distance. Noble Beauty is by Kittens Joy out of a Minecraft mare. Last Waltz mixes Danehill Dancer with the blood of Arc winner Trempolino. Time and Motion brings Pulpit and Kris S. to the party. And what do you do with the Coolmore fillies trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan OBrien? One is called Coolmore, the other Ballydoyle, which is kind of like naming your daughters Beyonce and Adele.Into this tall grass wades Keith Desormeaux with Decked Out, the winner of the Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita in April and a close fourth last time out in the Grade 2 Honeymoon. She most recently was seen in New York tackling the likes of Off the Tracks and Just Wicked in the Schuylerville and Adirondack stakes last summer at Saratoga.To ship across the country for a race like this, you have to be ultra-confident, Desormeaux said. I guess on the surface of her last couple of races, finishing fourth in both, you might want to say, What is he doing? But those races were exceptional. They were all closing so strong. Shes been training with such vigor, and she is so sound, that youve got to take the opportunity to run for a million dollars at the distance.Until this year, a filly like Decked Out probably would have stayed home in California to run in the American Oaks, a quality race that was double-teamed out of existence by the closure of Hollywood Park and the creation of the Belmont Oaks. The idea of a late-December running of the American Oaks has been floated by Santa Anita officials, but really, what would be the point for fillies about to turn 4?Decked Out is a chestnut by Street Boss, which gets her about seven furlongs, out of a mare by Met Mile winner You and I. It does not necessarily follow that in a career of 12 starts, Decked Outs two best races have come at 1-1/8 miles, the difference apparently supplied by a Desormeaux training style that puts a premium on a big finish. (See: Texas Red, Breeders Cup Juvenile; or Exaggerator, Santa Anita Derby and Preakness.)Pedigree is not the end all, Desormeaux said. I believe theres more mile-and-a-quarter horses out there than youd think, if they have the conformation and can adapt to the training. But with, what, 60 to 70 percent of our races being sprints, why would you apply yourself as a trainer to getting a mile and a quarter?Decked Out comes from last, which is where Kent Desormeaux, the trainers brother, will have the filly early in the Belmont Oaks. Her backers have learned not to panic but still be prepared to take the worst of any traffic that might come her way. She was beaten just a half-length in the Honeymoon with a brief check on the far turn and an altered course in mid-stretch.Kents had a lot of input on the decision of how she runs, Keith Desormeaux said, and he does not think a mile and a quarter will be a problem. So, here we go.Compared to their monopoly of the pre-Belmont media scene, the Desormeaux brothers will be just part of the crowd on Saturday. Theyll warm up earlier on the card in the $500,000 Dwyer Stakes with Swipe, the Birdstone colt best known for finishing second in four straight stakes to Nyquist before handing the baton to stablemate Exaggerator. Swipes 3-year-old season has gone in fits and starts, but with a solid six-furlong sprint under his girth at Belmont, the one mile of the Dwyer seems right up his alley.As for Exaggerator, whose flop in the Belmont still resonates, Keith Desormeaux has lost no faith.Trainers are not one to dwell on the past, I dont think, Desormeaux said. Exaggerators doing great. Hes recovered, and hes wanting to do more. Hell have his first breeze back on Saturday morning in preparation for the Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Adidas Ultra Boost Clearance Sale . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Balenciaga Speed Trainer Cheap . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/wholesale-nike-air-vapormax-china/vapormax-97-clearance-sale.html . PETERSBURG, Fla. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Fake For Sale . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Discount Air Force Ones . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. If Louisville?needed any extra motivation for its matchup against No. 2 Florida State, the No. 10?Cardinals?need just look at the man the school is honoring Saturday.The university announced Thursday it will honor the legacy of late boxing icon and Louisville native Muhammad Ali on Saturday, when ESPNs College GameDay visits the city.With Alis widow Lonnie and son Asaad expected to be in attendance, the school will have a 30-foot painting of a butterfly, a nod to Alis signature quotation, and will feature words from The Greatest in the northwest corner of the end zone. Additionally, Louisville players will wear helmet stickers with the same butterfly marks, while Asaad will present a commemorative coin to both teams during the pregame coin toss.More than 3,000 T-shirts honoring Ali will be distributed to the student section as well.The Ali Family has been tremendous supporters of our program, athletic director Tom Jurich ssaid in a release.dddddddddddd Muhammad Alis presence and generosity to our department will never be forgotten and the support Lonnie and her family have given in all aspects have meant a lot to me during the course of my career at the University of Louisville.They are treasured in our community and we wanted to properly thank them for everything theyve meant to the city and the university.A legendary boxer, activist and philanthropist, Ali died June 3 at the age of 74 after a 32-year battle with Parkinsons disease.There will be an on-field presentation in the first quarter honoring Lonnie for her work with the Ali in All of Us initiative, which encourages people to give 75 hours of service in honor of Alis lifetime efforts.Video tributes of Ali will be played in the stadium throughout the game. ' ' '