swiss sky

Las Vegas - Everyone is expecting LA LA vs. LA LA in the Western Conference Final, but first the Lakers have to get past the Rockets. Will they? Check out the regular season scores. They might help you.

The first game was back in January and the Lakers (+3.5) beat the Rockets in Houston 124-115. The Over/Under total was posted at 235.5 and it went Over. The next game was in Los Angeles, but the Rocks (+6) picked up a 121-111 win and the game went Under the posted total of 239.5. The final game was in the bubble, and the Rockets (-3.5) rocked the Lake Show, 113-97. The total was 228 and went Under. Just FYI, LeBron DID NOT PLAY!

How about a little delicious nugget that might SHOCK you. The Rockets won the first round on the strength of their defense. YUP. Houston has THE BEST defensive rating in the playoffs inside the bubble, allowing just 101.3 points per 100 possessions.

Still not 100% sure that Russell Westbrook is 100%, which could be a YUGE problem for the Rockets. Think that the Purple & Gold are gonna take the first game, but the six might be too much. So, back to Teaser City for a two team 6-pointer. Take the Lakers down from -6 to even, so all they have to do is win by one. Then attach the Bucks, and drop Milwaukee from -5 to +1 point against the Heat.

And how about some Friday ponies from my guy, Martin Calia. He's gonna take a look at the Kentucky Oaks, which is basically the Kentucky Derby for fillies. And the winner gets a garland of Lillies, which they call "Lillies for the Fillies."

Take it away Marty...

#1- Swiss Skydiver- She comes off a Grade 1 win in the Alabama at Saratoga at a distance of a mile and a half! So this is a cut back to a mile and a eighth and a handicapping angle for some bettors. She also finished second against the colts in the Bluegrass Stakes to Art Collector, who was probably the second choice in the Derby until he was injured. This filly earned a triple digit Beyer speed rating in her last race (102). But she will have her hands full against the Bob Baffert trained Gamine.

#5- Gamine- Ran a 108 Beyer in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga and 110 in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park. Those are two serious speed ratings. The only problem is that those two races were at 7 furlongs and a mile. Her only try at a two turn race she was all out to just hang on at a mile and a sixteenth against Speech.

#4- Speech- Have to add Speech into this conversation. She won the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland and earned a career best 104 Beyer speed rating. Although she was closing in on Gamine in the Oaklawn Park race she never past her. That race seems a light year away as it was run in May. But both have progressed into serious fillies.

So, how we gonna bet the Oaks???

It looks as if Gamine will take this field as far as she can go. We witnessed Serengeti Empress take them gate to wire last year from post 13, so speed will be good especially at Churchill Downs. But I think Gamine is vulnerable at the two turn mile and an eighth. I see Swiss Skydiver sitting right off her flank and going by in the stretch.

The bet is $100 win and place on number #1 Swiss Skydiver.

In the Oaks/Kentucky Derby daily double, got a full Benjamin on Swiss Miss and Tiz the Law in the Derby.

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