His Complete Mastery in Derby Makes Colt This Critic’s Choice

If you are still wondering which horse to bet in today’s Preakness, let Andrew Beyer, horse racing writer for the Washington Post, assist you in your selection.

Beyer makes the case for Derby winner Unbridled in a race he says will go to the swiftest:

“Summer Squall couldn’t possibly have found himself in a better tactical position than he had in the early stages of the Derby. Five (front-runners) were battling for the lead, and he was sitting sixth, in perfect striking position. When he was ready to make his move, he had clear sailing. Yet Unbridled blew past him on the turn with a show of complete authority.

“So what could happen differently in the Preakness that would enable Summer Squall to turn the tables on his conqueror? The question was put to Summer Squall’s trainer, Neil Howard, and he had the only answer: ‘Unbridled don’t run.’ ”

Mr. Ed--The race: The names given American stakes races are usually those of great horses, or of men and women who have been associated with the turf scene in the United States.

The English, however, wax poetic from time to time in naming races. Events were named last year for the poets Keats and Shelley. The English writer Charles Dickens was remembered in the Nicholas Nickleby Handicap and the Great Expectations Hurdle event.

Suggestion for the next American (High) Stakes race: the title from the Horace McCoy novel, “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”

Trivia time: Name the former Angel slugger whose birthday today will make his age match his old uniform number.

The only moment in U.S. World Cup history: The 1-0 victory over England in 1950 was selected as the greatest moment in United States World Cup history by a panel of sports journalists.

That victory, at Belo Horizontal, Brazil, is considered one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. The United States won on an improbable header that the English goalkeeper never saw. The game drew the votes of 85% of the journalists polled.

Fashion victim: Since when did bowling get on a high clotheshorse about proper attire at the lanes?

Professional bowler Brian Voss bowled in and won a tournament in Seattle recently, wearing a blue NFL shirt, embroidered with his name on the back and the Seahawk logo on the sleeve. That seemed acceptable, if a little unorthodox.

But then this week, when Voss’ usual bowling shirt did not arrive on time and the one he wore did not have his name on the back, outraged bowling officials fined Voss $60.

Severe?

Not at all. The sport has its reputation to consider.

Baseball strike, redux: On this day in 1912, the Detroit Tiger players struck in protest of teammate Ty Cobb’s suspension. To avoid a forfeit and fine, Manager Hugh Jennings recruited college players and others who played and lost to the Philadelphia A’s, 24-2. Joe Travers gave up all 24 runs.

Trivia answer: Reggie Jackson, No. 44.

Quotebook: New York Jet backup tackle Mike Withycombe about the Jets’ 4-12 season: “Last year, we had the spiral into hell. It got so bad a lot of the guys couldn’t wait until the season was over--and that was with four or five games left.”