On this date in 1973, Triple Crown Winner Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by an amazing 31 lengths.  This isn’t a baseball specific post, but since baseball has a Triple Crown and this was such an historic achievement, I’m leading with it.

This is one account of his 1 1/2 trip around the track:

Secretariat emerged from an inside post position in a field of only 5 runners. The break was clean and My Gallant got out the quickest with Sham up on the outside, and Secretariat at the rail. Seeing no one to block his path and interfere with him, Secretariat went right for the lead. He assumed command almost immediately after the start, and Sham went right up with him to pressure him. The two raced together around the first turn, then Secretariat drew away, and continued drawing away. By the mid-backstretch his lead was 10 lengths. By the far turn it was 12 lengths. Secretariat turned into the homestretch at least 20 lengths ahead of the others.Chick Anderson, who called the race that day, spoke the now immortal words “…but Secretariat is moving like a tremendous machine… he’s a sixteenth of a mile ahead of the other horses!” And he continued to widen the margin. 22 lengths. 25 lengths. 28 lengths. At the wire, the official margin was an unbelieveable 31 lengths. Twice a Prince was far, far back in second place. There was no doubt about this finishing time – 2:24 flat – a new world record. 

  

 

 This picture shows how far back the other horses were!

 

 This picture shows jockey Ron Turcotte glancing back at the rest of field, 

This picture shows clearly why his nickname was Big Red.

Are there any possible Triple Crown winners in

 

the Minyan?  Maybe Ryan Braun, but it’s too

 

early to tell.

 

 

Brad Ausmus, C – Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers had the day off yesterday. 

 

Ryan Braun, OF, 3B – Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers had the day off yesterday.

                     

Craig Breslow, P – Oakland A’s

Craig earned his 6th hold of the year by working 1/3 of a

scoreless inning in the A’s win over the Twins.  Craig

lowered his ERA to 4.70.  

 

Craig earned a Chai 5 for getting another hold.

 

 

Scott Feldman, P – Texas Rangers

Scott, who had won his previous three outings (5-1) lost for the first

time in nine starts

and allowed four runs

on seven hits (including

2 home runs) and two

walks in six innings of

work against the Blue

Jays. He also struck out

2 batters and saw his

ERA rise to 4.01.

  

“I didn’t feel like it was one of my better games.”

Feldman said, stating the obvious. “I tried to

hang in there as long as I could.”

 

John Grabow, P, Pittsburgh Pirates

John pitched a scoreless 8th inning, striking out one, in the

Pirates extra-inning loss to the Braves.  He lowered his ERA

to 3.96.

 

Gabe Kapler, OF – Tampa Bay Rays

Gabe must have borrowed “Wonderboy”

 

for yesterday’s Rays loss to the Yankees because Gabe

actually hit a home run!!!! The homer, a 2-run shot off Andy

Pettitte, was Gabe’s first home run of the year and his first

since last Sept. 7, when he was playing for Milwaukee.  He

finished the game 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs to bring his total for the

year to just 7 RBIs. 

He actually raised his, below the Mendoza Line, average

to .173.

 

 

Gabe earned himself a pastrami sandwich at

Katz’s Deli for actually showing life with his

bat!!  Dig in bubula!!!

 

 

 

Ian Kinsler, 2B – Texas Rangers

Ian went 1-for-4, with a walk in the Rangers win loss to the Blue Jays.  His average remained at .274.

 

 

Jason Marquis, P – Colorado Rockies

Jason (8-4) became the first NL pitcher with 8 victories when

he got the win by allowing two runs on 6 hits and a walk in 6

2/3 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out 4 batters

along the way and lowered his ERA to 3.98. He also leads

the league with five road victories, and has won four of his

last five starts overall.

 

Jason pitched for the Cardinals from 2004 to 2006, when he

won 42 games for them.

 

Here are some quotes about and from Jason, courtesy of the

AP and the Denver Post:

“I am proud of my record,” Marquis said. “My job is to

compete and give the team a chance to win. But I have had a

lot of help.”

 

“This is my fourth team so I’ve been through it enough to

control the emotions. But it still feels like I’m at home because

I played here for so long (St. Louis) and had good success.”

 

“He’s been brilliant. But I have seen this from him before,”

Rockies Manager Jim Tracy said.

 

Jason not only pitched well, he supported his cause by

singling and scoring in the 5th inning.  Below, he is

congratulated by Troy Tulowitski after scoring:

 

 

Scott Schoeneweis, P – Arizona Diamondbacks

Scott is currently dealing with the unexpected loss of  his

wife.  My prayers are with him. 

              

Kevin Youkilis, 1B, 3B – Boston Red Sox

The Sawx had the day off yesterday.

 

Macher (Big Shot) of the Day  –  Jason Marquis