Thursday, June 28, 2012

Trevor Bauer to make major league debut

Trevor Bauer

Former Bruins ace Trevor Bauer. (Don Liebig / UCLA / June 27, 2012)

Little more than a year after being selected with the third overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, 21-year-old right-hander Trevor Bauer is scheduled to make his big league debut Thursday night in Atlanta when he pitches for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Braves.

Everything about the former UCLA All-American is quirky, including his decision to skip his senior year at Newhall Hart High to play college baseball; his unorthodox training routines; and his YouTube channel, where he shows video in super slow motion of his delivery.

"He deserves everything he gets for being independent-minded and achieving at the level he's achieved," said Jim Ozella, Bauer's high school coach. "He's done it his way with his style. Have you seen any other Trevor Bauers in the baseball world?"

Eric Sondheimer

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Bauer throws a variety of pitches for strikes and uses a variety of contraptions in training and to help him warm up. He will be the first player from the 2011 draft to make his major league debut. In 2011 at UCLA, he had a 13-2 record with a 1.25 earned-run average.

"He's very competitive and very smart and knows what he's doing," UCLA Coach John Savage said. "He knows the setting. He's going to know how to act and how to handle things."

The Diamondbacks are calling up Bauer from triple-A Reno to replace the injured Joe Saunders and start Thursday against Jair Jurrjens (1-2, 6.75 ERA).

Bauer was a combined 11-1 with a 2.23 ERA with Reno and double-A Mobile (Ala.).

His former teammate at UCLA, right-hander Gerrit Cole, is not far behind.

Cole, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game. He was 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA for Class-A Bradenton (Fla.) before being promoted to double-A Altoona (Pa.). Since his promotion, Cole has pitched six innings, giving up 10 hits and five runs. He was also struck in the face by a batted ball in his last outing, Wednesday.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Trevor Bauer, Arizona Diamondbacks, Major League Baseball draft, Trevor Bauers, UCLA, UCLA All-American, Gerrit Cole, Dodgers, Baltimore Dodgers, Jim Ozella, Jair Jurrjens

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Mets come undone in sloppy loss to lowly Cubs

CHICAGO — Hiccup, hiccup, hiccup.

Last night, that was the sound of a sluggish team that may have inhaled too much chicken over the weekend. Mets manager Terry Collins even saw this coming, citing the “hoopla” and “adrenaline” of the Subway Series as a potential obstacle as his players prepared for the scuffling Cubs.

“We’re not going to let [Sunday’s] game or the chicken or anything else stand in the way of getting ready to play this series,” Collins said before a 6-1 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. “Because this is where you can have a real hiccup, and we’re going to try and avoid that.”

NOT SO WRIGHT: David Wright fails to make a catch on a routine pop fly during the seventh inning of the Mets’ 6-1 loss to the Cubs last night. The error was one of three in the inning.

Getty Images

NOT SO WRIGHT: David Wright fails to make a catch on a routine pop fly during the seventh inning of the Mets’ 6-1 loss to the Cubs last night. The error was one of three in the inning.

BOX SCORE

The chicken, of course, referred to Tim Byrdak’s team mascot — which has since been sent to an animal sanctuary — that arrived in the clubhouse after Frank Francisco called the Yankees “chickens” in The Post. Maybe now the Mets are facing the chicken’s revenge.

“The adrenaline can knock you out for a while — and the fact they only got five or six hours of sleep didn’t help either,” Collins said after the Mets lost their third straight.

Nothing suggested that more than a lethargic seventh inning in which David Wright misplayed a routine popup near home plate into a three-base error before Lucas Duda butchered a pop to right field moments later — for another three-base error — and Ronny Cedeno mishandled a grounder for the inning’s third error. It left the Cubs with four gift runs and a 6-0 cushion.

Collins said he addressed his team about not getting complacent following a 12-13 stretch against playoff-caliber teams. Then came last night’s flop against a last-place team.

“They’ve played their hearts out and gotten us where we are, but they can’t stop now,” Collins said. “We can’t just sit on the last 25 days and the fact we have played all these teams that are in playoff contention. We’ve got to take a deep breath, reach inside, grab some energy and finish the first half strong.”

Lefty Travis Wood (2-3) handled the Mets over seven shutout innings in which he allowed five hits and walked one. The Mets got their only run on Ike Davis’ homer in the ninth.

“You get emotionally charged for the Subway Series and you have to try and bring that same intensity before it and after it and we didn’t do that today,” Wright said.

Johan Santana (5-4) had a second straight solid start, allowing a two-run homer to Joe Mather over six innings. It followed six shutout innings by the lefty to beat the Orioles last week at Citi Field.

“It was a tough night,” Santana said. “It was a little windy, I tried to get a feeling for the ball, it was a little dry, but other than that just trying to battle and trying to keep the ball down. It came down to a couple of pitches that changed the whole ballgame for me.”

The Mets’ chances unraveled in the seventh, with Jon Rauch on the mound. The inning’s leadoff hitter, Adrian Cardenas, hit a pop-up near the plate that Wright got under and completely missed. The ball rolled toward the backstop and Cardenas raced to third. Then, with one out, Darwin Barney hit a pop to right that Duda mishandled, bringing in the run and sending Barney to third. With the infield drawn in, Starlin Castro hit a chopper off Cedeno’s glove for the inning’s third error and second run. Jeff Baker added an RBI single later in the inning and Geovany Soto’s RBI fielder’s choice made it 6-0.

Santana was cruising until the fourth, when Mather hit his blast that put the Mets in a 2-0 hole. It was the ninth homer of the year surrendered by Santana, but his first since allowing four at Yankee Stadium on June 8.

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Monday, June 25, 2012

Richards-Ross clocks Giant win

EUGENE, Ore. — Right before Sanya Richards-Ross got into the blocks for the U.S. Olympic Trials 400-meter final, her husband — former Giants cornerback Aaron Ross — looked her in the eye and offered one vital piece of advice: execute.

Then she went out and did just that, with a world-leading time of 49.28 seconds that stamped her ticket to London.

“There’s something so special about competing in Hayward Field. You really feel the importance of the moment. I stayed focused and tried to stay with the plan,’’ Richards-Ross said. “All I kept thinking about the last 40 [meters] was I was going to have a chance to go back to my third Olympics. I’ve been dreaming about it.“My husband really balances me out. I’m really high-strung, bouncing off the walls. He just looked me in the face and said, ‘Execute.’ I thought about that before I got in the blocks and just calmed down and ran my race.’’

Richards-Ross — who also has the world’s best time this season in the 200 and will run those heats on Thursday — put that speed to good use. She let Francena McCorory take the early lead, then with 120 meters to go pulled away from the field as Dee Dee Trotter ran second (50.02) and McCorory third (50.43).

“I’m fine as long as her mind is alright. If she gets her mental game right, her execution is the key thing,’’ said Ross, who won two Super Bowls with Big Blue and now is with the Jaguars. “If she goes on the racetrack and is executing all three points [in the race] and of course having her mind right, I’m never nervous as long as she believes she can win.’’

LaShawn Merritt won the men’s 400 in a world-leading 44.12 ahead of Tony McQuay (44.49) and Bryshon Nellum (44.80), who survived several gunshot wounds in 2008.

Rochester’s Jennifer Suhr won the pole vault at 15-1. NYAC’s Reese Hoffa, Ryan Whiting and Christian Cantwell made the team in the shot put. Stephanie Brown Trafton, Aretha Thurmond and Suzy Powell-Roos qualified in the women’s discus.

brian.lewis@nypost.com

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Sanya Richards-Ross, Aaron Ross, U.S. Olympic Trials, Richards-Ross, EUGENE, Ore., Dee Dee Trotter, Jennifer Suhr, Christian Cantwell

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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Fourth BlackRock exit

Robert Capaldi, who served as senior client strategist for BlackRock Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Laurence Fink, has left the firm, a source familiar with the move said yesterday.

His departure on June 1 marks the fourth senior executive to leave BlackRock this month. With $3.7 trillion of assets under management, BlackRock is the world’s biggest fund manager.

Capaldi’s position in New York will not be filled, according to the source who declined to be identified.

Capaldi headed BlackRock’s US and Canadian institutional business until November 2010.

He joined BlackRock in 1997 from consulting firm RogersCasey, where he was director of fixed income research, according to a BlackRock biography.

A company spokeswoman declined to comment.

Capaldi is one of a number of executives to leave BlackRock during the past few weeks. Two weeks ago, the New York-based asset manager said Robert Doll, chief equity strategist at the firm, will retire at the end of the month.

On Wednesday, the firm said BlackRock founding partner Susan Wagner was retiring as vice chairman.

And on Thursday, Blackrock said portfolio manager Daniel Rice was leaving, citing the appearance of a potential conflict of interest involving his family business and holdings in the firm’s energy mutual funds, which he co-managed.

Reuters

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BlackRock, BlackRock Inc., Robert Capaldi, Robert Doll, Chairman and Chief Executive Laurence Fink, Susan Wagner

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Stage set for Lin, Novak return but NBA will appeal

The union won and so did the Knicks.

In a bonanza to their free-agent summer, Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak have been granted their “early-Bird rights” by an arbitrator, giving the Knicks more financial flexibility this summer, allowing them use of their mid-level exception on a free agent.

Arbitrator Kenneth Damm’s ruling in the case against the NBA means Lin will be able to re-sign with the Knicks with the Bird exception. Novak was also granted early-Bird rights, giving the Knicks the clear edge in re-signing him, too. Without a union victory, Novak was as good as gone.

RIGHT ON! While the NBA will appeal a ruling giving Jeremy Lin early-Bird rights, it looks like the Knicks will have a clear path to negotiate with the point guard.

Anthony J. Causi

RIGHT ON! While the NBA will appeal a ruling giving Jeremy Lin early-Bird rights, it looks like the Knicks will have a clear path to negotiate with the point guard.

Nevertheless, within an hour of yesterday’s ruling, the NBA issued a statement saying it will appeal. If that spills over past July 1 free agency, it could create a delay in the Novak/Lin negotiations.

Union attorney Ron Klempner said he believes the appeal will be resolved by then. Asked if Lin and Novak will have Bird rights by July 1, Klempner said: “Yes.’’

Novak wants to remain a Knick and attended the hearing 1 1/2 weeks ago.

“Can’t tell you how great it is to have my Bird rights preserved,’’ Novak tweeted. “A lot of hard work was put in to making it happen.’’

By not having to waste their $5 million mid-level exception on Lin, the Knicks can use it to lure a veteran point guard of stature. The Knicks, however, may decide to spend $3 million of the $5 million exception to keep them away from hitting the $74 million cap number, an important threshold to avoid.

Steve Nash leads the cast of point guard candidates but he’s a long shot, especially at $3 million. Nash said earlier this week he would listen to a Knicks offer, but a Nash confidant said he doubts he would consider the Knicks for less money because he feels they are not close enough to a championship and wasn’t happy with the team’s treatment of Mike D’Antoni, Nash’s former coach in Phoenix.

But there are point guards the Knicks may be in the market for even at $3 million — including Jason Kidd, Jameer Nelson, Andre Miller, Ramon Sessions, Raymond Felton, Louis Williams. Also, shooting guard Ray Allen is a free agent and has some interest.

Lin is a restricted free agent, so the Knicks can match any offer sheet for him. With the union win, Lin’s early-Bird rights contract with the Knicks can be longer and more lucrative. Lin now can sign a four-year Knicks deal at $24.5 million. The Bird-rights starting salary would be $5.5 million, according to a source, with 7.5 percent raises each season.

No other team can offer Lin more than the $5 million mid-level in the first two years under the Gilbert Arenas Rule. Nevertheless, there is a scenario where the Knicks could get “punked’’ by another club in a back-loaded deal that would be the third-year poison pill. A club under the cap could offer Lin a three-year deal with the third year at the maximum — $15 million. The Knicks still can match the offer, but they would put themselves in a luxury-tax nightmare.

Toronto and Phoenix are the two teams most likely to execute that sort of offer sheet. The Raptors also have interest.

The victory was not unexpected after arbitrator Damm heard the case 10 days ago. The Post reported a source saying the union had a “50-50’’ shot despite commissioner David Stern’s boasts.

“We only brought this proceeding because we felt this would be the right result,’’ Klempner told The Post. “We’re really pleased. This was the spirit of the rule.’’

The union argued players claimed on waivers should keep their Bird rights just as players who are traded. The battle hinged on the word “trade’’ in the 2005 CBA agreement. In the 1995 agreement, players claimed kept their Bird rights, but the 2005 language was fuzzier

The union’s winning argument, according to the decision, was if the NBA intended to have claimed players lose its Bird rights, it would have used language to specify it.

marc.berman@nypost.com

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Jeremy Lin, Knicks, Steve Novak, Bird rights, Bird rights, NBA

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Friday, June 22, 2012

Twitter blames global outage Thursday on 'cascading bug'

SAN FRANCISCO -- After nearly a year without any significant periods of downtime, using Twitter was almost nothing like the early days of being on the service. So when Twitter went down Thursday for a period of more than an hour, it was something of a shock to its regular users.

After nearly six months of site reliability above 99 percent, Twitter was unreachable across the web and mobile devices multiple times over the course of the day, with intermittent periods of uptime and downtime.

Twitter representatives offered little initial explanation for the outages until around 1:00pm PDT, and only in short, 140 character bursts of information via the company's official Twitter account. It was not until about 4:30pm PDT that Twitter offered a lengthier explanation of the day's events.

"It's imperative that we remain available around the world, and today [Thursday] we stumbled," Twitter Vice President of Engineering Mazen Rawashdeh wrote in a blog post Thursday explaining the outages. "Not how we wanted today to go."

The problem, Rawashdeh explained, had to do with what is called a "cascading bug" -- a term that quickly spawned its own parody Twitter account -- in one of the company's infrastructure components. That bug was not confined to an individual element of the company software, so it created a cascading effect, spreading to other parts of the software and affecting Twitter's 150 million-plus users.

Twitter's explanation came after a day of speculation that ran the gamut, ranging from purported DDoS attacks, to potential problems in Twitter's recent physical headquarters relocation, and even to the farfetched positing that a trend of animated GIF avatars could have caused the widespread outage.

Mundane as the cause may have been, it was an unwelcome reminder of the site's unreliable history. There was the "fail whale" of the early days, a cutesy cartoon that slowly grew as irksome as the "Blue Screen of Death" the more ubiquitous it became. Back then, site-wide outages were hardly newsworthy events, common enough that early adopters grew accustomed to them over time.

To read more, go to AllThingsDigital

Engineering Mazen Rawashdeh, initial explanation, intermittent periods, explanation

Nypost.com

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Grand Street star Ratley commits to C.W. Post.

Quanisha Ratley didn’t care about the number next to the school.

“It doesn’t matter what division it is,” the Grand Street Campus star said. “As long as you fit there and get along with the coaching staff, why not?”

That’s exactly the type of environment the super athletic 5-foot-10 wing found at C.W. Post, which is why she committed to play women’s basketball at the Division II Long Island school on Tuesday. It was never about chasing a Division I dream for Ratley, who will receive a partial scholarship.

She never felt the urge to go to a junior college or prep school in order to further raise her stock after a big summer with the Baseline AAU program. She chose C.W. Post over Southern Connecticut State, Adephi and a host of Division III schools.

An Rong Xu

Grand Street Campus' Quanisha Ratley has committed to C.W. Post.

“You are there to get an education,” said Ratley, who wants to study business. “That’s the biggest goal.”

She visited the Pioneers in the early part of the spring and left with a positive vibe from the coaches. Head coach Deirdre Moore and her staff were friendly and Ratley believed they have her best interest in mind. C.W. Post’s up-tempo style appealed to the way Ratley like to play -- fast -- and it made her feel like it was the right match.

The Pioneers went 21-10 last season, 11-5 in the ECC, and lost in the first round of the Division II NCAA tournament. Post also has fellow New York City players Nijah LaCourt (Manhattan Center) and Nicole Marciniak (Archbishop Molloy).

“She fit their system,” Grand Street coach Corey McFarland said. “They needed a wing player.”

Ratley spent the summer expanding her game, particularly her jump shot, with Baseline. She was their best player at times, which translated into a strong senior season with a young Grand Street team. Ratley averaged 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds and her leadership role expanded.

“Schools in the city, they know what type of player she is,” McFarland said. “She’s put up some big numbers since she was a sophomore.”

Ratley is happy to be accomplishing this at Grand Street. McFarland, likewise, credited her with sticking with him and his staff, as she also did with Tomas Baez and Baseline. It led her to a school where she is comfortable, will get a sound degree and be in a system that could allow her to thrive.

“It’s the best feeling,” Ratley said. “I’ve been working so hard for four years. I achieved my goals.”

jstaszewski@nypost.com

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Quanisha Ratley, Grand Street, Ratley, Grand Street coach Corey McFarland, C.W. Post, Grand Street Campus star, Southern Connecticut State

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Yonkers Results

FIRST- mile; pace; $13,000; cond

7

GrndeSeelster(BSers)

8.40

5.60

3.20

8

Distinct Color (G Brennan)

17.40

6.20

5

Alloveramerica (B Holland)

2.90

* Exacta (7-8) $84.00 * Triple (7-8-5) $402.50

SECOND- mile; trot; $13,000; cond

5

Schalom G (C Manzi)

5.10

2.70

2.30

2

Winbak Dream(PLachance)

2.70

2.30

1

Cinderella Man (J Bartlett)

2.80

* Exacta (5-2) $12.80 * Triple (5-2-1) $32.40 * Daily double (7/5) $31.60

THIRD- mile; pace; $11,500; cond

3

WngAndAShr(JBrtltt)

3.90

2.30

2.10

2

KentuckyAllStr(MMcDonld)

3.10

2.60

6

Working Stiffs (M Forte)

4.30

* Exacta (3-2) $9.90 * Triple (3-2-6) $47.60 * Superfecta (3-2-6-8) $201.50

Exacta picked by Bill Smith

FOURTH- mile; trot; clm; $11,500

1

Photo Rules(JBartlett)

4.30

3.00

2.40

8

Get Packin (G Brennan)

8.40

5.30

4

Touchdown Franco (B Sears)

2.50

* Exacta (1-8) $42.20 * Triple (1-8-4) $79.00 * Pick 3 (5/3/1) $32.00Scr: Montanachampionne.

Winner picked by Bill Smith

FIFTH- mile; pace; $11,500; cond

1

HrtsNFlowrs(JGrgory)

17.80

5.80

3.00

2

African Queen (C Manzi)

6.80

3.30

4

Hepburn Blue Chip (J Bartlett)

2.10

* Exacta (1-2) $77.50 * Triple (1-2-4) $195.50 * Superfecta (1-2-4-3) $744.00

SIXTH- mile trot; $11,500; clm

5

S F Ciro (JPantaleano)

12.80

5.60

4.20

2

Windsun Bellagio (B Sears)

4.20

3.40

3

Credit Limit (J Bartlett)

3.70

* Exacta (5-2) $52.00 * Triple (5-2-3) $206.50 * Pick 4 (3/1/1/5) $326.50

SEVENTH- mile pace; clm; $11,500

7

NonCommtlA(BHllnd)

10.00

5.90

3.90

4

Cam Van Bussel (J Bartlett)

2.20

2.10

3

Beths Boy N (G Brennan)

3.00

* Exacta (7-4) $32.40 * Triple (7-4-3) $138.00 * Pick 3 (1/5/7) $619.00

EIGHTH- mile pace; $14,500; cond

2

QueensOrBttr(JBrtltt)

5.00

2.80

2.50

3

Cyst To Sister (J Stratton)

14.40

7.00

7

Midnight Mass (B Holland)

4.90

* Exacta (2-3) $57.50 * Triple (2-3-7) $391.50 * Superfecta (2-3-7-5) $670.00

NINTH- mile; pace; clm; $17,000

6

Mojo Hall (GBrennan)

4.90

3.10

2.50

1

Adventure Bound(JBartlett)

11.40

4.80

3

Mosee Terror (T Buter)

3.60

* Exacta (6-1) $61.00 * Triple (6-1-3) $214.00

TENTH- mile; pace; $19,000; cond

1

LeanOnYou(LStlbum)

5.00

2.40

2.20

5

Shortstacked (G Brennan)

2.50

2.10

3

China King (D Dube)

4.20

* Exacta (1-5) $10.20 * Triple (1-5-3) $40.80 * Superfecta (1-5-3-6) $160.00 * Pick 3 (2/6/1) $81.00 * Pick 4 (7/2/6/1) $1,363.00

Exacta picked by Bill Smith

ELEVENTH- mile; pace; clm; $14,500

5

RedMleRod(LStlbum)

4.60

3.30

2.70

7

Lily's Hi Ho (G Brennan)

5.20

2.90

6

Too Much Pepper (J Bartlett)

3.30

* Exacta (5-7) $42.80 * Triple (5-7-6) $126.00Scr: Won Nite In Vegas.

Winner picked by Bill Smith

TWELFTH- mile; pace; $14,500; cond

2

Carolsdeal(JDauplse)

8.70

4.50

2.20

6

Major Crush (J Bartlett)

5.00

3.10

7

Zellweger Bluechip (G Brennan)

2.20

* Exacta (2-6) $41.40 * Triple (2-6-7) $201.00 * Superfecta (2-6-7-1) $604.00 * Late double (5/2) $59.00

Total Handle-$835,936

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J Bartlett, J Bartlett, G Brennan, G Brennan, mile pace, B Holland, C Manzi, C Manzi, B Sears, Superfecta

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Sunday, June 17, 2012

Exchange of plunks no big deal for Mets' Wright

n what looked and smelled like archetypal baseball retaliation, the Mets plunked Cincinnati star Joey Votto with a pitch only to see their star, David Wright, get hit innings later. The Reds insist it wasn’t intentional, but the Mets — who aren’t buying that — said even if it was on purpose, it was done professionally.

“That’s the way you play the game. I know we didn’t hit Joey on purpose, but you take care of your guys. We would have done the same thing,’’ said Wright, who had been robbed of his chance to literally take one for the team when manager Terry Collins pulled him from an 8-0 loss May 15 after the Mets had hit Ryan Braun.

Friday night, Wright finally got his wish.

Mets starter Dillon Gee hit Votto in the third inning of the Mets' 7-3 loss and Reds reliever Sean Marshall grazed Wright in the eighth. But the pitch was low, around his midsection, and barely touched Wright’s shirt.

“It hit me in the stomach. It was done in the right way. That’s the way you play the game. I appreciate that, keeping the ball down,’’ said Wright. “Dillon didn’t mean to hit Joey, but obviously you protect your own hitters. That’s the way it goes.’’

BOX SCORE

Manager Terry Collins said he wasn’t surprised by Wright getting hit.

“Well, I watched the same thing you did the other day,’’ Collins said. “When their guy got hit, they answered, so I’m not surprised.’’

That would refer to a heated incident during the Reds’ sweep of the Indians, when Mat Latos buzzed Cleveland starter Derek Lowe and the latter hit Brandon Phillips. Reds manager Dusty Baker and Lowe waged a war of words, but last night Baker said he didn’t see any intent on either side.

“We didn’t think there was any intent,” Baker said. “ Every time somebody gets hit now people think there was intent. You can tell if there’s intent or not. We didn’t think that.”

When told it looked suspicious because of the Reds hitting the Mets star, Baker dismissed that.

“Well, you can perceive anything you want to,” the manager said. “That guy’s a heck of a player. He’s 4-for-6 off Marshall, so evidently nothing else has worked, so he’s trying to come inside with a fastball.’’

Votto agreed, saying he didn’t feel he was hit on purpose.

“No,’’ said Votto, who claimed he had no idea the Reds hit Wright. “We hit Wright? [Well], people can perceive whatever we want but I didn’t see anything.’’

brian.lewis@nypost.com

David Wright, Cincinnati star Joey Votto, Mets, the Mets, Terry Collins, Dusty Baker ebook download, Sean Marshall

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Sports Shorts

mls: Henry, Marquez to miss Red Bulls trip

Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez won’t fly with the Red Bulls on their two-game road trip. They will miss tomorrow’s game at Chicago and Wednesday’s match at Vancouver, though both are expected back for the June 24 home clash against rival D.C. United.

Henry missed the two U.S. Open Cup games to rest his hamstring, and now will miss the next two MLS contests with a calf injury, not shocking considering his disdain for artificial turf. Marquez sustained a leg injury while playing with the Mexican National Team. —Brian Lewis

NCAA: Rutgers secures top QB prospect

Chris Laviano verbally committed yesterday to attend Rutgers. The Holy Trinity star, who just completed his junior year, is the second-ranked prospect in New York State, and No. 10 overall for pocket passers, according to ESPN.com. —Joseph Staszewski

nfl: League turns over bounty evidence

The NFL turned over some evidence to the four players suspended for the Saints bounty program, but lawyers for the players said they are seeking more information.

Current Saints LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith, Green Bay DE Anthony Hargrove and Cleveland LB Scott Fujita will have their appeals heard Monday by commissioner Roger Goodell.

Bengals CB Adam “Pacman” Jones must pay $11 million in damages to two Las Vegas strip club employees injured in 2007 when a gunman claiming he was doing Jones’ bidding opened fire outside the club.

ETC.: Sun drop Liberty in historic blowout

Tina Charles scored 20 points and the Connecticut Sun had a record-setting first half en route to a 97-55 victory over the Liberty. Connecticut led 61-27 at halftime to set the league record for the largest lead at the intermission.

Manny Ramirez is a free agent again after he asked the Athletics to release him and the team granted his request. ... Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was hospitalized with an intestinal virus early yesterday morning and is expected to miss at least two games.

Rafa Marquez, Red Bulls, Mexican National Team, Marquez, Jonathan Vilma, Anthony Hargrove ebook download, Rutgers, Scott Fujita, Henry, CB Adam “Pacman” Jones, DE Will Smith

Nypost.com

Friday, June 15, 2012

Monmouth Analysis

Post Time: 12:45 p.m.

FIRST-1 mile; $18,000; clm($5,000); 3up

ALKAZABITO won as favorite this price two back. BOLD INTENTION won going longer in first off claim. EVEN FRISKY won going shorter at Parx.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 Dixie Band(L),119

KCrmc

5-3-1

5-1

2 Sea Gaze(L),119

C Orm

6-7-7

20-1

3 ChristmasPardL119

J Burke

5-9-7

30-1

4 Alkazabito(L),119

ASerpa

4-1-7

5-2

5 Funfaha(L),119

ETrujill

3-7-1

7-2

6 BeaudeBeauprL112

K Coa

7-5-1

9-2

7 Even Frisky(L),121

RMntnz

1-5-5

8-1

8 BoldIntention(L)121

CMrqzJ

1-4-3

3-1

SECOND-1 1/16mT; $20,000; cl($25,0); 3up

MAD DANCER stretches out after showing some closing ability. AMBIT drew rail for return to route and turf. BARNICUS BAY adds Lasix and drops in class for turf debut.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 Ambit(L),116

ETrujill

5-7-5

3-1

2 BoheminDncrM116

S Uske

7-x-x

15-1

3 Holy Smoke(L),122

CDeCrl

6-x-x

6-1

4 WaslchlnvlvdM116

F Ortiz

x-x-x

12-1

5 BarnicusBay(M)118

KCrmc

7-x-x

5-1

6 UltimateScore(L124

LGarcia

7-7-4

10-1

7 Breathaway(L),118

ASerpa

9-x-x

6-1

8 Mad Dancer ,116

RMntnz

7-7-6

4-1

9 Influence(L),117

OHrnn

5-4-3

5-1

10 SeriousAttitudL122

OCastll

9-5-6

8-1

11 St. Merlin(L),116

RCuratl

5-3-3

10-1

THIRD-1 mile; $13,000; clm($10,000); 3up

CRAFTY STAR stretches out after finishing second in last two starts. STRAY BELLES closed to finish second last out. HARIKEL adds blinkers for local debut for new barn.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 Pop's Dolly(L),124

S Uske

9-8-10

20-1

2 Crafty Star(L),124

PFrags

2-2-3

7-2

3 Stray Belles(L),124

VSantg

2-5-7

5-2

4 PeantbttrbrwnL124

LRivrJr

7-5-6

12-1

5 Labellelavita(L),114

AAyuso

6-8-4

15-1

6 Harikel(L),124

JRoccJr

4-5-7

8-5

7 ReceptionPointL118

SCmcJ

11-x-x

9-2

FOURTH-5 fur(T); $22,000; clm($20,0); 3up

FAN OUT won state-bred allowance at Parx. HARD TO STEAL makes turf debut after finishing fourth. BLACK AND WHITE won as favorite on dirt.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

2 Smokin Gold(L),117

ASerpa

2-6-3

7-2

3 Fan Out(L),120

JGarcia

1-2-3

7-2

4 Salvar(L),115

AAyuso

2-1-7

8-1

5 Yankee Babe(L),122

CMrqzJ

8-1-7

15-1

1 aWorldPremierL117

ETrujill

4-2-6

10-1

1 aBlackandWhitL120

ETrujill

1-3-4

10-1

6 Hard toSteal(L),117

J Bravo

4-5-1

9-2

7 Cecilia'sSong(L)124

RMntnz

1-10-9

5-1

8 Scat Miss(L),120

KCrmc

3-1-2

3-1

FIFTH-6 fur; $21,000; clm($10,000); 3up

BLUES HEIR seeks third consecutive victory. AWEDACIOUS CAREN won this distance and level last out. FIDDLERS DIVA drops in class after winning first off claim.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Odds

1 Aquinnah(L),119

KCrmc

1-1-6

7-2

2 Blues Heir(L),116

AAyuso

1-1-4

2-1

3 AwedaciosCrnL112

K Coa

1-2-5

5-2

4 ReginaBeatriz(L110

ABwmn

3-2-8

12-1

5 Sammzilla(L),119

VSantg

8-2-5

5-1

6 Fiddlers Diva(L),121

SCmcJ

1-6-1

7-2

SIXTH-6 fur; $17,000; clm($7,500); 3up

Next >

1

2

Stray Belles, Horse, clm

Nypost.com

I was the luckiest man at the Open

headshotMark McCormick

US OPEN DIARY

Mark McCormick, the 49-year-old head pro at Suburban Golf Club in Union, N.J., who after failing in his previous 24 tries to qualify the U.S. Open, got in through last week’s sectional at Canoe Brook, is doing an exclusive diary for The Post this week. As told to Mark Cannizzaro.

I was 5-over par through 15 holes and I thought I was in great position to make the cut. I was thinking if I can make a birdie coming in and post a 74 or 75, I’ve got a good chance.

But I got tired and made a mess of 16 with a triple bogey, bogeyed 17 and tripled 18 to finish with an 82. I still had a great time, because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to play today after tweaking my back getting out of a hyperbaric chamber the other day. I’m thrilled I was able to play at all today.

I was up all night icing my back and at about 3 in the morning I sat on the edge of the bed thinking I’m not going to be able to play. I was thinking this dream I’ve been living is going to turn into a nightmare. It was horrible.

U.S. OPEN HOLE BY HOLE

U.S. OPEN LEADERBOARD

That’s why, as bad as that finish was, I am so excited that I played and I was here. I so much enjoyed the day.

The only birdie I made was on No. 12. I joked with my wife [Linda] before I started, “If I make birdie today I’m getting lucky tonight, right.’’ Then, I said to her on the 18th tee, after I’d made a debacle of 16 and 17, “You know I did make a birdie today.’’

The highlights for me came when I made a nice par putt on No. 8 and the crowd went nuts. That was pretty cool. As I was walking off the green, a guy yelled “Hey, Jersey!’’

I also made a really good par on No. 5 when I got up and down from the left bunker and knocked a putt in from 20 feet and the crowd went nuts. That was what I was looking for when I came here. I wanted to experience the crowd reacting to a shot that I hit and I got that today, so I was pretty happy.

As for making the cut today, after that finish I’ll just try to take it as a learning experience and see what I can learn from it.
Nypost.com

Polish courts convict 14 in Euro 2012 violence

WARSAW, Poland — Fourteen soccer hooligans have been convicted in fast-track trials for their role in violent clashes when Poland and Russia faced off in an emotionally charged European Championship match earlier this week, a court official said Thursday.

The trials in connection with Tuesday’s disturbances are meant to show that Poland is serious about its policy of zero tolerance for violence as it co-hosts Euro 2012.

Such fast-track trials, however, are not unique to Poland. They have become common practices at World Cups and other big international sporting events. In preparation for the tournament, Poland changed parts of its criminal code to make the quicker trials possible.

Seven Poles were convicted Wednesday and seven others Thursday, Warsaw district court spokesman Wojciech Malek said. They were found guilty of assaulting police officers and “taking part in illegal gatherings.” He explained that street gatherings are considered illegal when participants join them with an obvious intent to be violent.

Sentences range from 12 months to three years, but many of them are suspended sentences, said Mikolaj Piotrowski, a spokesman for Poland’s Euro 2012 organizers. Sports Minister Joanna Mucha said she believed the punishments should be harsher, but noted that the government has no influence over the justice system.

Courts plan further fast-track trials for dozens more in the coming days. Police detained 184 people for taking part in the clashes. Some broke out before the match when thousands of Russian soccer fans marched to the National Stadium waving national flags and chanting “Russia, Russia.” The mass expression of Russian patriotism in Warsaw’s capital was provocative to Poles, who still deeply resent Moscow’s imposition of communism here during the Cold War.

Many Poles felt authorities shouldn’t have allowed the Russians to march as a group in Warsaw given the historical wounds, and some of the fighting was sparked by Polish hooligans who attacked Russians.

Separately, a group of young Poles also attacked police during the match with bottles, prompting officers to respond with rubber bullets and tear gas. Three dozen people were injured in the violence — 19 civilians and 17 police officers.

Police detained 156 Poles, 25 Russians, a Spaniard, a Hungarian and an Algerian for the fighting around Tuesday’s emotionally charged game between Poland and Russia, which ended in a 1-1 tie. On Wednesday, Poland’s interior minister said the Russians would face trials aimed at expelling them from the country and lifting their European Union visas for five years.

There was no violence at the stadium or in the downtown fan zone.

Poland, Russia, Russia, WARSAW, Poland, Sports Minister Joanna Mucha, violent clashes, police officers, emotionally charged European Championship match, soccer hooligans, Wojciech Malek, Mikolaj Piotrowski

Nypost.com

Debbie Little at Monticello

Best Bet: Arts Day (13th)

FIRST: mile trot; $2700; cond

1 L Dees Betsy

(JTaggartJr)

8-3-4

5-2

2 MrDemolitionMan

(JGilmour)

4-5-6

3-1

6 Lady Is A Winner

(MarohnJr)

3-3-7

4-1

3 Foxy Trotter

(SGastelu)

4-3-6

7-2

4 Shainer Maidel

(RHarp)

7-7-x

12-1

5 Varsity Hall

(CStratton)

5-x-x

9-2

7 TuscaroraBlueroan

(JCloser)

8-6-8

10-1

SECOND: mile trot; $2700; cond

6 Toe Socks

(MForte)

2-3-2

5-2

3 Caviar Kid

(WParkerJr)

6-2-7

7-2

1 Tornado Alley

(CPoynton)

4-1-4

6-1

2 Passed Ya

(KDIBenedetto)

3-3-5

4-1

4 Contract Hit

(JTaggartJr)

8-5-5

3-1

5 EngamerBennsBest

(Gilmor)

3-4-4

8-1

7 S A Poster Boy

(RHarp)

7-3-9

9-2

8 Mister Lucky Vec

(MMerton)

8-6-9

12-1

THIRD: mile pace; $2800; cond

4 Quest

(RHarp)

1-1-4

5-2

7 Camwow

(GMerton)

1-6-8

7-2

6 Csardas

(MForte)

2-1-2

3-1

1 Lady Belle

(JTaggartJr)

8-1-8

9-2

2 Nutmegs Davey

(JMarohnJr)

6-7-1

4-1

3 Bettor NextTime

(Mcaleese)

3-5-5

10-1

5 Pacific Escape

(MMerton)

7-2-3

8-1

8 Prince Radiant

(WParkerJr)

7-6-3

12-1

FOURTH: mile pace; $2000; cond

2 Mon Ami Hall

(WParkerJr)

8-1-7

5-2

6 Song oftheSouth

(JMarohnJr)

1-3-4

3-1

1 Five Somewhere

(JMarohn)

7-5-3

9-2

3 Gallant Guy N

(CStratton)

2-5-7

4-1

4 Safe Sex

(MForte)

6-4-4

8-1

5 Indys Z Tam

(DdMiller)

6-4-2

7-2

7 Terrific Seven

(ASchwartz)

8-6-6

12-1

8 SouthernFriedchic

(JTggrtJr)

6-7-7

10-1

FIFTH: mile trot; $2700; cond

6 CostnerBlueChip

(JTaggart)

2-1-7

4-1

7 Halls A Sizzlin

(WParkerJr)

1-2-2

5-2

1 Holdemannie

(SMcaleese)

7-5-5

9-2

2 Strong Arm

(MForte)

6-4-5

8-1

3 Frescos Candy

(MMerton)

4-8-8

10-1

4 SecretEnergy

(CWashington)

1-5-5

7-2

5 Ciao Bela

(JGilmour)

4-3-2

3-1

SIXTH: mile pace; $2700

Catskill Amateur Driving

4 Big John B

(DYarock)

8-2-1

5-2

2 Smarty Merit

(DGlasser)

2-4-7

5-1

6 Quiet Hero

(GFielding)

7-4-3

4-1

1 Littlebettor

(PMoore)

8-8-3

6-1

3 Fox Valley Sosa

(SSbarra)

7-6-1

9-2

5 Jjs Foxyexpress

(KHeins)

8-7-7

8-1

7 Sun MoonLake

(Zuccarello)

7-4-1

10-1

8 LadyOnTheAttck

(GCmpbell)

1-2-5

3-1

SEVENTH: mile pace; $3400; cond

5 Backwoods Boy

(CStratton)

3-4-7

3-1

7 Sams Fortune

(JMarohnJr)

4-2-2

5-2

1 Little Carmen

(WParkerJr)

6-5-2

9-2

2 Mach Made Her

(EAvenatti)

3-6-2

8-1

3 Dianas Jewel

(RVinci)

6-7-7

10-1

4 Diablo

(MMerton)

3-5-5

7-2

6 My Mellow American

(Harp)

3-8-8

12-1

8 Wright Road

(KDIBenedetto)

3-6-3

4-1

EIGHTH: mile trot; $3400; cond

1 Batu Khan

(WParkerJr)

6-2-6

4-1

4 Freds Dream

(WBailey)

2-8-5

5-2

3 Edom Up Blue Boy

(RVinci)

2-1-dnf

3-1

2 QuantumBushman

(JMrhnJr)

8-7-3

8-1

5 Bet I Win It

(MMerton)

1-8-5

7-2

6 TalbotcreekExcel

(JTaggrtJr)

7-5-1

5-1

7 Order By Corleone

(JMarohn)

7-7-8

10-1

8 Reconnected

(SGastelu)

4-5-7

12-1

NINTH: mile pace; $2000; cond

1 Savvy Hawk

(MForte)

2-8-4

5-2

3 Presidents Seal

(ASchwartz)

7-3-7

4-1

7 Matts Boy

(JCarrubba)

3-4-4

3-1

2 Basil Hanover

(MMerton)

7-5-5

9-2

4 JD S Tycoon

(CStratton)

7-5-5

8-1

5 Bull Rush

(RaIngrassia)

5-7-7

10-1

6 Big Len

(RVinci)

8-8-6

5-1

8 FourStarzMay

(Mcdonough)

8-6-6

12-1

TENTH: mile trot; $2000; cond

1 Pine Ranger

(JMarohnJr)

3-3-6

5-2

5 Highmaker

(KDIBenedetto)

4-6-3

3-1

6 Speedy Big Ras

(WParkerJr)

7-7-4

9-2

2 StrikingMystery

(CWshngtn)

8-7-8

12-1

3 B Muffler

(SMcaleese)

7-3-4

10-1

4 Captain Cr Kris

(RVinci)

7-4-7

8-1

7 Victory Sir

(JPrimeau)

4-6-7

7-2

8 Uncle Billy

(JTaggartJr)

4-6-7

4-1

ELEVENTH: mile pace; $2700; cond

4 Basso Hanover

(JTaggartJr)

5-1-5

3-1

3 Now Thats Art

(WParkerJr)

7-6-6

5-2

7 Best of Times

(MForte)

7-5-7

10-1

1 Tyrant Hanover

(NSurick)

8-7-8

6-1

2 True Magic

(RVinci)

5-6-1

9-2

5 Ehi Guaglione

(WBailey)

5-2-8

5-1

6 Style Guy

(JCarrubba)

6-3-6

4-1

8 Shotgun Wedding

(KTorro)

7-6-7

12-1

TWELFTH: mile pace; $2000; cond

3 Premier Camelot

(JMarohn)

6-dnf-8

3-1

1 Tree Light

(KDIBenedetto)

2-6-6

4-1

2 Hals Legacy

(WParkerJr)

8-6-7

9-2

4 Hunter Hylight

(MForte)

3-7-6

8-1

5 Loyal Vale N

(SMcaleese)

5-6-8

10-1

6 FlanaganStorm

(Mcdonogh)

3-5-8

5-2

7 Betting Molin

(DdMiller)

6-6-4

7-2

THIRTEENTH: mile pace; $2700; cond

3 Arts Day

(GMerton)

2-2-1

5-2

4 Bay Street

(MMerton)

2-3-1

3-1

1 Huntoon

(MForte)

4-4-7

6-1

2 Tross The Way

(CStratton)

8-8-6

4-1

5 JumpinJackFlash

(JMarohn)

7-6-8

7-2

6 Always Right

(ASchwartz)

2-4-3

10-1

7 ComeHomeHoney

(WPrkerr)

8-4-5

9-2

8 Pull The Tab

(KDIBenedetto)

9-6-6

12-1

mile pace, Foxy Trotter, Arts Day, Dees Betsy

Nypost.com

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

A viewer's guide to Dimon's hearing

When JPMorgan Chase Chief Jamie Dimon testifies before the Senate Banking Committee today, following the money should be easy.

Senators who sit on the panel have received $7.9 million in campaign contributions from Dimon’s bank since 2008, according to campaign finance records from Opensecrets.org.

Wall Street and the rest of the financial services industry have lavished members of Congress with a total of $1.12 billion in contributions since 2008 — the biggest spender of all sectors.

On the committee, the biggest recipient of the financial industry’s largesse was Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who has received $5.6 million in campaign contributions. Schumer voted for sweeping financial reform, known as the Dodd-Frank Act, which Dimon has criticized.

The industry’s overall lobbying tab in the recession hit $2 billion for their perks and services, filings show.

Dimon, who will answer questions about the bank’s $2 billion-and-climbing trading blunder, plans to say that the firm’s Chief Investment Office made huge, complicated bets that were supposed to hedge against risk but instead soured.

In prepared remarks released last night in advance of his grilling, Dimon called the fiasco an “isolated event” that should be “put in perspective.”

“We will lose some of our shareholders’ money — and for that, we feel terrible — but no client, customer or taxpayer money was impacted by this incident,” he said.

Dimon also plans to apologize for the mistake, saying, “We have let a lot of people down, and we are sorry for it.”

JPMorgan Chase Chief Jamie Dimon, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Banking Committee, campaign contributions

Nypost.com

GAMETRACKER: Mets at Rays

Follow live as the Mets try and get back on track with Chris Young on the mound in Tampa against the Rays' Alex Cobb.

The Mets are coming off a Subway Series sweep by the Yankees.

Chris Young, Mets, the Rays

Nypost.com

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Monticello Results

WEATHER Clear TRACK Fast

FIRST-mile pace; $2000; claiming

OFF: 12:53 TIME: 1:56.1

4

SndrHnovr(JMrohnJr)

3.00

2.40

2.10

6

Model Magnate (MMerton)

4.00

2.70

2

We Shall See N (M Forte)

2.10

Scr: Venaissance.

* Perfecta (4-6) $12.60 * Trifecta (4-6-2) $34.20

SECOND-mile trot; $2700; cond

OFF: 1:14 TIME: 2:01.0

4

FredsDrem(GMerton)

28.40

14.40

3.70

2

WonderfulRace(GAnnloro)

13.40

4.00

3

Allie Jae (J Taggart Jr)

2.10

Scr: Hey Nugget.

* Perfecta (4-2) $201.00 * Trifecta (4-2-3) $551.00 * Double (4-4) $39.60

THIRD-mile pace; $2300; claiming

OFF: 1:32 TIME: 1:56.0

6

Dntmkmlgh(KDIBndtt)

3.20

2.10

2.10

3

Early Morning (M Merton)

3.10

2.50

5

Stirling Beauty (W Harmon)

9.60

* Perfecta (6-3) $7.90 * Trifecta (6-3-5) $70.00

Winner picked by Little

FOURTH-mile pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 1:50 TIME: 1:58.0

4

My Fanny(GAnnaloro)

4.80

3.30

2.60

3

Windy City Paige (M Forte)

3.20

2.40

8

Isnt She Lovely (C Stratton)

6.40

Scr: Anything But Plain.

* Perfecta (4-3) $9.70 * Trifecta (4-3-8) $142.00

Winner picked by Little

FIFTH-mile pace; $4000; cond

OFF: 2:08 TIME: 1:54.2

2

PrkAvenue(GMerton)

2.60

2.10

2.10

5

ThngsLeftUnsad(JMrohnJr)

2.60

2.40

6

Allikait Fighter (J Taggart Jr)

2.30

* Perfecta (2-5) $6.20 * Trifecta (2-5-6) $24.40

SIXTH-mile pace; $2300; cond

OFF: 2:23 TIME: 1:56.4

4

Minx (J Marohn Jr)

9.80

5.80

3.50

1

B Major (M Forte)

7.70

4.50

3

Kyrah Can (C Stratton)

2.40

* Perfecta (4-1) $69.50 * Trifecta (4-1-3) $219.50 * Double (2-4) $14.40

SEVENTH-mile pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 2:42 TIME: 1:58.1

1

YouCntFoolM(GMrtn)

2.90

2.10

2.10

5

Bet On Lindy (J Marohn Jr)

2.40

2.30

6

Cardine Hanover (M Forte)

5.10

* Perfecta (1-5) $4.70 * Trifecta (1-5-6) $51.00

Winner picked by Little

EIGHTH-mile trot; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:00 TIME: 2:01.0

1

FourStrzRnsm(MSpn)

38.60

11.80

5.50

5

Valcyon Days (J Marohn Jr)

7.90

5.60

2

Strongbow (J Taggart Jr)

2.70

* Perfecta (1-5) $269.00 * Trifecta (1-5-2) $809.00 * Pick 3 (4-1-1) $141.00 * Superfecta (1-5-2-7) $10,673.00

NINTH-mile pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 3:17 TIME: 1:59.2

2

AshleyCrusr(JMrohn)

4.40

5.10

3.60

7

EastCostGrl(JTggrtJr)

6.70

6.80

4.20

6

Kz Bezz (C Poynton)

3.10

* Perfecta (2-7) $25.00; Perfecta: 7-2 $37.20 * Trifecta (2-7-6) $222.50; Trifecta: 7-2-6 $218.50 * Daily double (1-2) $121.50; Daily Double: 1-7 $267.50 * Pick 3 (1-1-2) $104.00; Pick 3: 1-1-7 $179.00 * Superfecta (2-7-6-1) $352.00; Superfecta: 7-2-6-1 $692.00

TENTH-mile pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:38 TIME: 1:55.0

1

NutmgsDsr(JMrohnJr)

12.40

4.30

3.80

2

Heather K (M Forte)

2.40

2.10

7

Sixth Sense (K DI Benedetto)

2.80

* Perfecta (1-2) $33.00 * Trifecta (1-2-7) $123.50 * Pick 3 (1-7-1) $536.00; Pick 3: 1-2-1 $272.00 * Superfecta (1-2-7-4) $941.00

ELEVENTH-mile pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 3:54 TIME: 1:59.1

5

Aunt Faith (M Forte)

16.80

6.80

4.70

6

Mcdonna (G Annaloro)

2.50

2.10

4

Stormin Jordan (G Merton)

2.60

* Perfecta (5-6) $68.00 * Trifecta (5-6-4) $116.50 * Pick 3 (2-1-5) $321.00; Pick 3: 7-1-5 $1,867.00 * Superfecta (5-6-4-7) $905.00

TWELFTH-mile pace; $2300; claiming

OFF: 4:13 TIME: 1:58.2

3

RomMystc(JMrohnJr)

3.40

2.60

2.10

4

Badlands Power (GMerton)

4.20

2.20

2

Edies Desire (J Devaux)

2.10

Scr: Im All Sporty.

* Perfecta (3-4) $10.80 * Trifecta (3-4-2) $30.60 * Pick 3 (1-5-3) $808.00 * Superfecta (3-4-2-1) $70.50

THIRTEENTH-mile pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 4:30 TIME: 1:58.1

5

Bttorthnccrm(GMrtn)

9.90

4.40

3.20

2

IvanaBMeHanover(MForte)

7.50

3.70

6

Admirals Chance (M Merton)

5.60

Scr: Jennys Tune; Tags To Riches.

* Perfecta (5-2) $46.60 * Trifecta (5-2-6) $199.00 * Pick 3 (5-3-5) $469.50 *

Winner picked by Little

HANDLE $481,887.

J Taggart Jr, Trifecta, J Marohn Jr, M Forte, M Merton

Nypost.com

Monday, June 11, 2012

Clicks of the trade

Frivolous Web surfing may be a workplace faux pas, but there are cases where blog trolling isn’t a distraction from one’s job, but a part of it. After all, it’s important to know what’s happening in your industry, and in many city job sectors, there are blogs and other sites devoted to telling you what’s trending, tracking who’s up and who’s down and otherwise staying on top of the latest news and gossip.

If you’re a recent grad looking to break into one of those industries, whether it’s finance or fashion, publishing or p.r., it’s key to know what those must-read sites are — same for those on the bottom rungs looking to climb. Knowing the news, trends and even gossip driving your industry of choice can give you a significant leg up. And that’s not even to mention sites with industry-specific job boards.

With that in mind, we offer a rundown of must-read sites in eight of the city’s major industries. They’re read by those already at the top of their professions, and if you’re looking to get ahead, it may be time to follow suit.

Advertising

The industry’s leading trade publications, AdWeek and AdAge, keep Madison Avenue types in the loop through their Web offshoots. The former’s AdFreak blog casts a critical eye on the latest campaigns, lauding the good and burying the bad. Commercials, billboards, trailers and logos are all subject to editor Tim Nudd’s irreverent scrutiny.

On AdAge.com, readers can browse 15 blogs and online columns, each focused on a specific segment of the industry. They include the Big Tent, which homes in on diversity issues, and the Campaign Trail, which analyzes political ads. A mention on the site’s Creativity Pick of the Day section earns an agency 24 hours of bragging rights, says Owen Dougherty, chief communications officer at Grey Group.

“The creatives in the industry are constantly going there to see if their work has been posted,” he says. “Everyone wants their work seen there.”

Also on Dougherty’s reading list is AgencySpy, a blog under the Mediabistro umbrella that’s chock-full of industry scoops.

“It’s a bit more cheeky and irreverent than the traditional publications,” Dougherty says, adding that the site is quick to break news about company shake-ups and hirings and firings.

Fashion

Widely known as the most authoritative title in fashion, Women’s Wear Daily leaves no bit of industry news untouched on WWD.com. The site is often the first to break stories on notable hirings, firings, lawsuits and bankruptcies, also reporting heavily on industry parties, retail news and the financial side of the business. It posts job openings on its careers page (though positions in the notoriously tough-to-crack industry are still largely snagged through word-of-mouth referrals).

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Owen Dougherty, city job, major industries

Nypost.com

Vic Cangialosi’s Churchill Downs Grade

FIRST-7 fur; $15,400; clm($10,000); 3up

3-Savannah'sGlry

2-1

5-Our Bella Girl

10-1

1-The Cat

15-1

6-Be Quiet Lady

5-2

2-OhSweetMysey

6-1

7-Sister Genevra

5-2

4-Miss J Askin

20-1

SECOND-1 mile; $34,400 clm($75,000); 3up

4-Cold Facts

5-2

5-Gallant Grey

4-1

1-Chief Gaga

9-2

6-Cheyenne Pass

3-1

2-Ol Army

15-1

7-Macho Libre

10-1

3-Double Rah Rah

4-1

THIRD-7 fur; $29,000; clm($40,000); 3up

2-Lemon Juice

2-1

4-Voodoo Doctor

8-1

1-Enclosure

4-1

5-SchoeneFranzel

5-2

3-ConservatveVle

8-1

6-Jersey Devil

4-1

FOURTH-5 1/2 fur; $17,600; clm($8,0); 3up

4-MahoganyStrm

6-5

5-Yuckon Dance

4-1

1-Run for Love

3-1

6-PagngPenelpy

15-1

2-Kutloose

20-1

7-C U Baby

9-2

3-La Grenouille

15-1

FIFTH-1 1/8 miles(T); $59,800; alw; 3YO

2-Animal Spirits

7-2

5-FinnegansWake

3-1

1-In theMidnight

20-1

6-Key to Fame

12-1

3-Class President

6-1

7-Godard

4-1

4-At the Pulpit

6-1

8-Explain

4-1

SIXTH-1 1/16m; $20,000; clm($15,000); 3up

1-Danger Storm

2-1

5-Dover Beach

4-1

2-Where'stheBee

4-1

6-Nacona

12-1

3-Golden Husker

6-1

7-Gold'n Holiday

12-1

4-Savage Vow

7-2

SEVENTH-1 1/16m; $17,600; clm($5,0); 4up

3-Scariff Island

4-1

6-StrngCmtment

20-1

1-Rip and Roll

6-1

7-Steve'sRevene

10-1

2-Mr. Watt

15-1

8-CauseCaseCse

30-1

4-Red Wine

4-1

9-Saviano

9-2

5-Sooner Humor

2-1

EIGHTH-1 mile(T); $57,300; mdn; 3up

7-Oak Harbor

3-1

9-Biederman

6-1

1-Recurrent

8-1

10-Spill

4-1

2-Pernicious

15-1

11-Barrio Baby

20-1

3-Empire On Fire

8-1

12-WhyNtSpring

12-1

4-Our Frank

20-1

13-CharlieinChrge

5-1

5-Lea

5-1

14-WashingtnDsh

4-1

6-CourtromDrm

20-1

15-DreamsCtShrt

3-1

8-Hypothetical

12-1

16-Act of War

8-1

NINTH-1 1/16 miles; $62,500; alw; 3up

4-Pleasant Run

8-1

6-Afford

7-2

1-Haptown

5-1

7-Chef Eric

20-1

2-FortyNineWatts

6-1

8-SlickPrdnedMe

8-1

3-Chilled

3-1

9-Point Taken

6-1

5-BrushedbyaStr

8-1

TENTH-5 fur(T); $59,800; alw; 3up(f)

9-Fixin the Books

4-1

7-Fontanne

9-2

1-Sid's Kid

6-1

8-Limerick Lady

12-1

2-Dos Gardenias

20-1

10-BarbadsBeaty

4-1

3-PointtotheWld

20-1

11-WestsdSnger

20-1

4-PlatinumFtres

12-1

12-Specia Dancer

8-1

5-Ribbon Taffy

12-1

13-Sympathy Act

6-1

6-Snow Kissed

6-1

14-ThisOnsforJd

15-1
Nypost.com

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Italian Leader Sees Support Slide

ROME—Support for Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and his parliamentary majority are slipping, a new poll showed Friday, highlighting growing public disappointment at collapsing growth in the euro zone's third-largest economy and indecision in Europe about how to tackle the financial crisis.

[MONTI]

Only 50.5% of Italians back the parties that form Mr. Monti's parliamentary majority, according to a poll by Italian polling agency SWG for a television show. That is down from 63.4% two months ago, according to SWG, and two percentage points lower this week. The surveys have a margin of error of three percentage points.

Mr. Monti's bipartisan majority includes all of Italy's main political parties, meaning that almost half of the nation's citizens are looking elsewhere, notably to small left-leaning movements, the SWG poll data showed.

Some 34% of those surveyed said they were confident in the prime minister, down from 71% when Mr. Monti took the helm of an emergency government last November.

Mr. Monti has pushed through tax increases and austerity programs in a bid to stem the rise in Italian sovereign borrowing costs. That worked in his first months in power, but no longer. Italian sovereign-bond yields rose again Friday, led by a sharp jump in the two-year bond to 3.87% from 3.68% on Thursday.

Italy's economy is contracting more than the government anticipated, with the jobless rate rising to a record 10.2% in April. That month, industrial production fell 1.9%, four times more than expected, official data showed Friday.

Mr. Monti on Thursday acknowledged he no longer had the support of the nation's largest newspapers, which are owned by the nation's main business lobby and its powerful corporate interests. That comment came after the economic spokesman of the center-left Democratic Party a few days ago claimed that the government had lost momentum and that the country should vote in national elections this autumn.

Pierluigi Bersani, the Democratic Party's leader, on Friday struck a more conciliatory note, saying he hoped Mr. Monti's government would last until the legislature ends in the spring of 2013.

Write to Christopher Emsden at chris.emsden@dowjones.com

A version of this article appeared June 9, 2012, on page A9 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Italian Premier Sees Slide In Support.

Mario Monti, SWG online, parliamentary majority

Online.wsj.com