mac and Kenzie

Las Vegas - Heading over to Europe for some UEFA Nations League afternoon action, and the first stop is Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton where we'll buy England over Italy. The Three Lions have not won a game yet in their group, but should be able to run past a very young Azzurri team. Then we cross the North Sea to Amsterdam, and throw a handful of chips at the Netherlands over Poland. The Oranje have been BRILLIANT at home against the rest of Europe, winning six of the last seven, with a 1-1 draw against Germany. And the Dutch have outscored the opposition, 25-5 in those seven games, yea, TWENTY FIVE to FIVE!!!

Before we get to the ice and the MLB board, say hello to my friend Martin Calia and his take on the Belmont Stakes...talk to us Marty...
As I mentioned in my first two articles ( Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes ), the soap opera continues with the third jewel of the Triple Crown race, the Belmont Stakes. We have eight entries going a mile and a half over Big Sandy. And in typical soap opera fashion, we have the return of the prodigal son in Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike. Strike won the Derby at 80-1, then skipped the Preakness two weeks later to rest for the Belmont Stakes. I have to admit I struggled in my handicapping of this horse. So I decided to weigh the pros and cons. The pros are, he beat 19 other horses to win the Derby, he overcame the dreaded 20 post in doing so, and he is working pretty damn good since that May 7th win. The cons are, we will miss another big payoff on this horse as his morning line odds are 7/2. He has two wins and both were at Churchill Downs. He is a deep closer who came flying up the rail in a suicidal front end pace. He did earn a 101 Beyer speed figure in the Derby. Can he win ? Possibly. But every fiber in my being says to pass. So I'm passing on Rich Strike. I picked Creative Minister in the Preakness and he had a dream trip and only finished third. Therefore, I'm going with #6 Mo Donegal. He had the dreaded one post in the Derby and finished fifth closing. He was 10 wide into the stretch compared to Rich Strike coming thru on the inside. I can't see the jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr. having the same tough trip he had in Kentucky with only an eight horse field. Mo is also trained by Todd Pletcher, who has three Belmont Stakes wins to his credit.
So the bet is a Benjamin on #6 Mo Donegal to win and a $10 exacta, wheel 6 with all. Good luck!

On the Saturday night ice, after 60 minutes of hockey down in Tampa Bay, we should have the Stanley Cup matchup set between the Avalanche and the Lightning. As you know, I was born and raised in New York City, so I bleed cement, and, Ranger blue. Can NOT bring myself to bet on Tampa, but I promise not to tell anyone if you grab the Bolts.

And out in San Diego, we're gonna grab the Padres in the game that MacKenzie Gore pitches. If it's the second game of the doubleheader, and San Diego lost the first game, gimme a big PHAT pile of chips. If it's the second game and the Padres won the first, slice the bet in half. Also gonna tickle the Phillies with Zack Wheeler over Arizona.

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