But he saying he probably won’t play in the playoffs and will play in the olympics why not put someone that’s gonna be healthy and available not really fair
Steve Ballmer not gonna do anything. He should just be thankful that Kawhi is signed for the next 3 years and knowing that for the next 3 years, Clippers can compete for a title because you have Kawhi. Kawhi played 68 games this year with 2 repaired surgical knee, and hopefully he can stay healthy all throughout the playoffs. Stephen A, where is that energy when Joel Embiid keep getting hurt and not available. What has Joel Embiid done in the league? Kawhi is a 2 time champion, with 2 Finals MVPs. He has the credentials in the NBA, put some respect on his name. All these players you support and defend on tv have not done anything in the league (Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Ant Man, Luka) None of these players are champions let alone 2 time champions with 2 Finals MVP. If he wants to play for team USA let him be. Who are you to say no and complain? The disrespect you have for Kawhi to me is personal.
Lauding someone for playing 68 games when that should be a given each and every season is laughable. Kawhi's lack of availability has been a common issue for a number of years now. I understand injuries happen, but when you can't rely on your best player to show up in the playoffs after missing the latter part of the regular season, something ain't right. Popovich called him out in San Antonio, and Kawhi responded by leaving and winning a championship in Toronto. Good for him! The guy is obviously talented, but I feel like he doesn't put in the amount of effort he could unless he's got that chip on his shoulder. He's got two rings, and maybe that's all he wants, but he can't continue to game the system and command top dollar for his lack of availability.
Kawhi is a supplementary part? Do this NBA analysts even watch basketball? Only 3 players in this team USA Roster have the credentials of Kawhi Leonard and they are LeBron, Steph and KD. None of these other players can say they above Kawhi.
I mean credentials don’t make him better , I feel you healthy yeah I get what you saying but he ain’t better than a healthy AD to me or embid , cause credentials is cool but that means you would take ray allen over melo ? Allen got rings , melo don’t …..
Kawhi is the best player on the entire roster , he goin to prove in the playoffs too . Curry already on vacation, bron an kd goin home in the first round
Does Molly even listen to what these dudes say? This segment was a miss. Not knowing who is supposed to speak, where the heck is Minnesorter, Legler predicting West and Molly asking are we doing West?
It made my day when Kawhi got that 12th spot on team USA 🇺🇸 but the icing on top was knowing that SA would most definitely be crying about it😂 dude has it out for Kawhi for no reason! Let’s go Clippers🏆
Not that crazy, wolves have an amazing defense and Rudy is the key piece in that, wemby had a poor start to the season and the team defense sucks. Part of the award is team defense so it’s fine to give it to Rudy this year. I’m sure wemby will win 5 in the next decade with the way he’s playing anyway
@@akumicobain I see, they gotta push that narrative. I was just seeing what I was missing. Just unfortunate that team wins are factored into individual awards and the only reason not to give someone an award is because they’ll potentially win it too much
@@94Bmo yea plus it would be hard to keep wemby out of GOAT defensive player talks if he won this early. The stats prove it but stats and accolades threatens legacies lol
Can we just go a day without hearing about KD, LBJ, AD, the Suns, Clippers, and Lakers. How about talk what ANT has done for the Timberwolves, how the young core in OKC has gone from one of the worst teams in the NBA to securing the 1 seed in the west. How about giving Luka and Kyrie and the Mavs some air time they've been on a tear ever since the all star break we don't even hear about Boston and they've got the best record in the league 😂😂😂. These morning debate shows are getting horrible flooded with the same stories and similar topics everyday.
For real I might catched maybe once every couple weeks it's gotten so boring and repetitive as soon as lakers lose stephen a going on vacation he doesn't know ball like that
ngl stephen A is kinda right , if u dealin with an injury and dont know if u can even play in the playoffs i wouldnt go and commit to playin for team USA
Kawhi has normal inflammation from wear and tear from the season in those surgically repaired knees, a knee infection and some slow ramp ups as the swelling goes down is all they’re doing. Of course they wouldn’t rush him back and risk him having to play through pain, but he should be better by Sunday.
Stephen A acting like Kawhi is is playing in the Olympics and sitting down in the playoffs he does understand the Olympics is after the NBA Finals so the NBA would be over then if Kawhi wants to play for the gold let him do it the man played 68 games and had a great season!!
KY Derby Winner’s Last Prep Since 1996 - 1996: Arkansas Derby (1st) 1997: Santa Anita Derby (2nd) 1998: Santa Anita Derby (2nd) 1999: Lexington Stakes (1st) 2000: Wood Memorial (1st) 2001: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2002: Illinois Derby (1st) 2003: Wood Memorial (2nd) 2004: Arkansas Derby (1st) 2005: Santa Anita Derby (4th) 2006: Florida Derby (1st) 2007: Blue Grass Stakes (2nd) 2008: Florida Derby (1st) 2009: Sunland Derby (4th) 2010: Arkansas Derby (2nd) 2011: Spiral Stakes (1st) 2012: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2013: Florida Derby (1st) 2014: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2015: Arkansas Derby (1st) 2016: Florida Derby (1st) 2017: Florida Derby (1st) 2018: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2019: Florida Derby (1st) 2021: Santa Anita Derby (2nd) 2022: Jeff Ruby Steaks (4th) 2023: Florida Derby (2nd) Santa Anita Derby: 8 Florida Derby: 7 Arkansas Derby: 4 Wood Memorial: 2 Lexington: 1 Illinois Derby: 1 Blue Grass: 1 Sunland Derby: 1 Spiral: 1 Jeff Ruby: 1 Winners of their last prep: 17/27 = 63% Losers of their last prep: 10/27 = 37% 1st: 17 2nd: 7 3rd: 0 ITM in their last prep: 24/27 = 88.9% I’m aware Justify is no longer considered the winner of the 2018 SA Derby but I’m putting him here because he did finish 1st similar to why I’m using Maximum Security and Medina Spirit for 2019 and 2021. I’m using their final preps for this. I’m not going to use Bolt d’Oro, Country House, and Mandaloun’s final prep. I’m going to exclude 2020. That was a weird year seeing the Belmont first at 9F. I’m only going back to 1996 because that was the first year I got into horse racing. According to this history, Catching Freedom and Honor Marie would be tosses. Their last prep was the Louisiana Derby which hasn’t produced a winner if that happened to be their final prep. And this also doesn’t bode well for Sierra Leone either. Strike the Gold in 1991 was the last BG winner who won the roses. Street Sense nearly won it in 2007 but Dominican nosed him out. Keeneland had installed synthetic that season. The Santa Anita Derby has been the best final prep since 1996 but I’m not sure how to feel about Stronghold. I’m not feeling the horses who ran in SA. If Imagination was in the KY Derby, I wouldn’t be high on him either. Stronghold finished slow and his Beyer of 89 for his recent win is the lowest fig I’ve seen for a winner in a G1 final prep. I may have him in a few bets being a Ghostzapper fan. Florida Derby has been the most productive final prep with KY Derby winners having 4 of the last 7 since 2016. Three of those won both races. But here we go again like Forte last year. Forte won the BC Juvenile and Florida Derby and being trained by Pletcher. The BCJ winner is only 2 for 39 in the Derby. The 2YO champ is only 3 for 43 since 1980. And we know how Pletcher horses are on big days. Tapit Trice was the 2nd fav last year and didn’t hit the board. Fierceness has all the talent but he’s not a reliable horse to bet on just like his trainer. Sink or swim, feast or famine like War Emblem, Bayern, or a Pletcher horse. Bet Fierceness with plenty of caution. He’s burned a lot of money as the heavy chalk. I look at Sierra Leone similar to Epicenter/Zandon. He’s big and strong like Epicenter. If he doesn’t win it, I still see him hitting the board. Not the same case with Fierceness. He either wins it or he fades badly and won’t hit the board. 1st or 2nd in their final prep SA Derby: Stronghold FL Derby: Fierceness Wood: Resilience AR Derby: Just Steel Blue Grass: Sierra Leone, Just A Touch Lexington: Encino Jeff Ruby: Endlessly LA Derby: Catching Freedom, Honor Marie UAE Derby: Forever Young Updated Rankings 1. Sierra Leone (1st) 2. Fierceness (1st) 3. Resilience (1st) 4. Just Steel (2nd) 5. Stronghold (1st) 6. Endlessly (1st) Toss Forever Young Catching Freedom Honor Marie Just A Touch Epic Ride Dornoch Encino Domestic Product Track Phantom Mystik Dan Deterministic If it’s wet, more money on Fierceness. The two times Pletcher won was on a sloppy track. If it’s dry, more money on Sierra Leone. He’s bigger. He looks stronger. He’s the best closer since Street Sense. I think the 6 horses I listed have names of a Derby winner. Resilience, similar to Justify or Authentic, sounds right to me. But I don’t believe Resilience is particularly fast similar to Stronghold whom he lost to at Churchill in a maiden race. Endlessly is giving me Animal Kingdom vibes. AK looked like a turf/synthetic horse but was training beautifully leading up to the race and won at 25-1. I forgot he’s the son of Leroidesanimaux. I was a big fan of that horse back in ‘05. The Jeff Ruby has produced Rich Strike and Two Phil’s. Tapalo in the SA Derby did not flatter Endlessly’s El Camino win over him. I’m looking at Stronghold’s final times in Horse Racing Nation and I don’t understand why his speed figs are so low? He broke his maiden beating Resilience at 1:35 and change at Churchill. That’s pretty fast at CD and for a 2YO. Didn’t he break the track record in Sunland? He ran 1:42 and change for that Derby. That’s fast. Maybe that’s a good thing? Beyer boys used to love Stronghold’s sire. Gave Ghostzapper a 128 for the Iselin. I saw the hoopla with Flightline but GZ defeated much better competition. I don’t get the low figs for Stronghold. These other preps go 1:50+ and they’re receiving higher figs. Stronghold goes 1:49+ and he gets an 89. D. Wayne Lukas is known to run his horses to the ground. Charismatic ran 7x as a 3YO before he won the Derby. Just Steel has run 4x as a 3YO and 11x overall. Almost twice as long as Justify and Flightline’s career. I don’t necessarily see JS winning it but he’s a good exotics play. He has finished behind the likes of Catching Freedom and Honor Marie. Resilience finished behind Stronghold once but ahead of Track Phantom in a maiden race. Then finished behind Sierra Leone, Track Phantom, and Catching Freedom in the Risen Star. I feel like Catching Freedom, Honor Marie, Stronghold, and Resilience are close to the same level with mid 90s BSFs. Marty Wygod died recently. Maybe Resilience wins the roses in honor of him? I’m favoring Stronghold and Resilience due to their last preps. When was the last time the Louisiana Derby produced the Kentucky Derby winner? Remember Lawyer Ron or Friesan Fire? The Turfway preps have greater success than Fair Grounds. Epicenter used the LA Derby race as his final prep and lost the Derby and Preakness as the chalk. And Epicenter looked more formidable to me than Catching Freedom and Honor Marie. It seems to me Sierra Leone is the best closer of the bunch but he isn’t far and away faster than any of them with a 98 BSF. But he is the most consistent and reliable. Think Zenyatta. A horse with a 19-1 record is pretty darn good and I don’t care if it’s mostly on synthetic. A closer is always at the mercy of the pace. Sierra Leone could be Zandon Part 2 but it would still be foolish to toss him in your tickets. Derby/NBA Parlays Any of my top 6 horses Celtics or Sixers wins East Nuggets or Lakers wins West
I don’t understand how Gobert winning these defensive player on the year I just don’t see it he’s not a better defender then AD and what big man has he locked down
I been defending Kawhi for years he was my favorite player for a while but I'm done I'm fed up, every year its the same thing , I can't believe the clippers resigned him for 152 million dollar deal they got robbed imo, after finishing this contract he would have gotten 360 million over 6 years to not be available when it matters, I'm sick of him
Typically Stephen A seeing the negative in a situation the Olympics are after the playoffs for one not to mention why not praise Kawhi for being prideful to play for his country and playing through injury
We’ll it’s 2 days away from game 1 and kawhi still hasn’t had a full contact practice yet and he’s still listed as questionable. Without kawhi there’s really no chance for the clippers to win the series. The mavs are a matchup nightmare for them.
dont be surprised if they do I’ll tell you that. We have all seem to have forgotten who the clippers really are come playoff time all of s sudden. Kawhi never available, harden flops in playoffs every year, PG and russ gone do they thing will it be enough tho? Idk. Let’s he realistic on who the clippers really are. Let’s also not forget how Luka took them to game 7 prior to this when he was younger with NO Kyrie
Legs 🦵you're right ✅... Steven A so so right ✅ about KD... %100 correct about Khawi... If I am Balmer, I am Fining Kawhi Lenard 1 Million per International Game .😂... Molly... Thank You 💯🏀
Kawhi when healthy is one of the best players in the world, but that Toronto championship he wasn't even 100%, but was the most healthy he has been since 2016 and that says a lot. Don't think anyone is expecting that he will play a full year or contend for another championship ever again at this point.
Stephen A, Kawhi ain’t worried about all that. He play to his ability. Nobody will be forcing this guy to do anything. When he’s healthy he’s a phenomenal player, everyone knows that.
Steven A don’t mention Kawhi all season. when he played 68 games. Carrying the team in the west. To a 4th seed Soon as he sit. It’s this. Come on Steve quit being emotional
*Certainly the Raptors' was the ONLY successful Kawhi Diva Load Management arrangement ever. Luckily the moon and stars sweetly aligned which brought them to the very top of the mountain.* Kawhi has yet to help produce a substantial playoff-end result for the Clippers, but hope they do better than the first round this time.
As Steven has said, Kawhi Leonard is the worst superstar in the entire NBA. People forget that Stephenwas a real baller in college and he knows what it takes to be the greatest.
Where is Minnesoter ? Stephen A. keep saying this place but I can't find it nowhere on the map 😂
😂😂
Luka Donchick vs Poh Jodge and Kawhi Lennid
😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂 that NY accent stay causing problems lol
😂😂😂😂 I’m cryinggggg
Bro, dude was legit dealing w swelling on his operated knee. He played 70 games.
But he saying he probably won’t play in the playoffs and will play in the olympics why not put someone that’s gonna be healthy and available not really fair
Kawhi is a legend but it really feels like if all these injuries didn’t happen he’d be in the top ten convos, his generations t-Mac.
I doubt kawhi plays for team USA
If Kawhi last name was Embiid, SAS would be making excuses left n right on why people shouldn’t be so harsh on Kawhi.
@mattmmixes love tmac but he never carried a team to a championship like he did with the raptors
Stephen A has been Kawhis BIGGEST hater for years now. Said he should retire last year
But is he lying though? Kwahi hasn’t played a full post season since Toronto
@@KingDizzleLTDinc. Look how he played this year. You think a player like that should retire? its a dumb thing to say or suggest
How is that a bad take when his body can't hold up
@@Fanofstuff278 About to NOT finish 4 seasons in a row. Starting to think Steven A is right. As much as like Kawhi, he is crippling the Clippers.
Where’s the lie?
Stephen A did all this yelling and said absolute nothing. How tf you clowning someone for --- aghh nvm. Forget it. A waste of energy.
Too bad Stephen A. Kawhi is going to rep the USA DESPITE what you have to say.
I got my eyes on Luka (and the Mavs), KD (and the Suns) and the Clippers with Kawhi HEALTHY
If kawaii turned the offer down SAS would still be pissed.
Actually Joel embids best complimentary player was Jimmy Butler....
Facts 💯💪
they not ready to hear that
Well butler chose to leave because he didn’t wanna play with Harris or Brett brown. And I assume they didn’t offer what the heat did.
Complimentary meaning fit… Jimmy butler is not a better fit next to Embiid than a PG who can shoot and dribble.
Best complimentary to Joel embiid was Dario Šarić, but people keep forgeting that.
Kawhi Leonard should not play in the Olympics I agree with Stephen A Smith😢😢😢
Bam Son
Steve Ballmer not gonna do anything. He should just be thankful that Kawhi is signed for the next 3 years and knowing that for the next 3 years, Clippers can compete for a title because you have Kawhi.
Kawhi played 68 games this year with 2 repaired surgical knee, and hopefully he can stay healthy all throughout the playoffs.
Stephen A, where is that energy when Joel Embiid keep getting hurt and not available. What has Joel Embiid done in the league? Kawhi is a 2 time champion, with 2 Finals MVPs. He has the credentials in the NBA, put some respect on his name.
All these players you support and defend on tv have not done anything in the league (Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Ant Man, Luka) None of these players are champions let alone 2 time champions with 2 Finals MVP.
If he wants to play for team USA let him be. Who are you to say no and complain?
The disrespect you have for Kawhi to me is personal.
I just think Stephen a really loves Kawhi n deep down that’s who he roots for every year low key
Agreed
Lauding someone for playing 68 games when that should be a given each and every season is laughable. Kawhi's lack of availability has been a common issue for a number of years now. I understand injuries happen, but when you can't rely on your best player to show up in the playoffs after missing the latter part of the regular season, something ain't right. Popovich called him out in San Antonio, and Kawhi responded by leaving and winning a championship in Toronto. Good for him! The guy is obviously talented, but I feel like he doesn't put in the amount of effort he could unless he's got that chip on his shoulder. He's got two rings, and maybe that's all he wants, but he can't continue to game the system and command top dollar for his lack of availability.
He doesn't respect Luka so he never says anything good about him. He does talk about Tatum, Edwards, and embiid
Clippers can't compete for a title when Kawhi can't get onto the court for the playoffs.
Kawhi is a supplementary part? Do this NBA analysts even watch basketball? Only 3 players in this team USA Roster have the credentials of Kawhi Leonard and they are LeBron, Steph and KD. None of these other players can say they above Kawhi.
They can say they are healthier ✌️
Shutup
I mean credentials don’t make him better , I feel you healthy yeah I get what you saying but he ain’t better than a healthy AD to me or embid , cause credentials is cool but that means you would take ray allen over melo ? Allen got rings , melo don’t …..
Kawhi is the best player on the entire roster , he goin to prove in the playoffs too . Curry already on vacation, bron an kd goin home in the first round
@@Deron-f2i😂😂😂😂
Does Molly even listen to what these dudes say? This segment was a miss. Not knowing who is supposed to speak, where the heck is Minnesorter, Legler predicting West and Molly asking are we doing West?
Ong she was tweakin😭
It made my day when Kawhi got that 12th spot on team USA 🇺🇸 but the icing on top was knowing that SA would most definitely be crying about it😂 dude has it out for Kawhi for no reason! Let’s go Clippers🏆
I’m l😮ț😅😅
If Kawhi had the last name Embiid, SAS would go from biggest critic to biggest defender in a snap.
Don't worry he will be hurt by the time the Olympics start.
Kawhi winning the 2019 title was one of the worst Ls the basketball media has ever taken. At the time he was being treated like Ben Simmons.
@@jamargraham6707 I sure hope not, would love to see him get a 🥇 for the USA🇺🇸
Stephen “Hate on Kawhi at every moment I can get” Smith🤡
Hating on a selfish player is no crime
Kawhi play 60 games this season, so why would he fake injury smh @@lixiang7349
@@lixiang7349 selfish? HE'S HURT IDIOT
We just gonna skip over how Rudy got his vote for DPOY over Wemby…cool
Dude I agree. Ridiculous
Rudy gonna win this last one before Wemby runs 3-4 straight voters didn’t wanna start it too early and justified it with wins which is fair.
Not that crazy, wolves have an amazing defense and Rudy is the key piece in that, wemby had a poor start to the season and the team defense sucks. Part of the award is team defense so it’s fine to give it to Rudy this year. I’m sure wemby will win 5 in the next decade with the way he’s playing anyway
@@akumicobain I see, they gotta push that narrative. I was just seeing what I was missing. Just unfortunate that team wins are factored into individual awards and the only reason not to give someone an award is because they’ll potentially win it too much
@@94Bmo yea plus it would be hard to keep wemby out of GOAT defensive player talks if he won this early. The stats prove it but stats and accolades threatens legacies lol
Can we just go a day without hearing about KD, LBJ, AD, the Suns, Clippers, and Lakers. How about talk what ANT has done for the Timberwolves, how the young core in OKC has gone from one of the worst teams in the NBA to securing the 1 seed in the west. How about giving Luka and Kyrie and the Mavs some air time they've been on a tear ever since the all star break we don't even hear about Boston and they've got the best record in the league 😂😂😂. These morning debate shows are getting horrible flooded with the same stories and similar topics everyday.
You said all of that to keep watching what they’re still going to talk about 😂
Then stop watching
You obviously don’t understand how business works.
Timberwolves are getting mollywhopped by the Suns. Nobody cares about that fraudulent team.
For real I might catched maybe once every couple weeks it's gotten so boring and repetitive as soon as lakers lose stephen a going on vacation he doesn't know ball like that
Molyy forgot Denver was in west lol at last second
She burnt out
How she's lasted on this show so long is mind boggling
Tim be spittin facts
I can actually see Kawhi’s knees hurting from the flight 😂
Good thing they in LA the first two games lol
@jhc2133 He talking about flying to France for Olympics
@@tornatic1983 ahhh I feel you,he should be good by then lol but it is kawhi
Love hearing legler talk ball
gotta love legs
Sas really asking kawhi to miss national duty for nba, wow😂
It's not a duty tho
MinnesotER
😂 Reminds me of when he used to say Serge IbakER and now he's doing it with Wemby, WembanyamER 😂
I love how it translates to Minnesota lmao. Anyway the Suns are a really bad matchup for the wolves it could end badly
@@marioruiz8303 Ime UdokER too 😂
“Kawhi LennID” 😭😭😭😭😭
@@jxw300 😭 Bro, we're going to have to make a list of all of the names he's butchered over the years.
I think legs needs to be a coach on somebody’s bench
It’s a maricle kawawi played 60 games I’m with Steven a he’s a superstar but he shouldn’t play for USA injured to much
minnesoter!
Minnesoter???🤔🤔🤔🤔
Poh Jodge and Kawhi Lennid
Stephen hates kawhi
easy target. kawhi doesnt talk back like durant.
You cant deny Kawhi misses alot of games ! At the top of his game , no question hes a great player!!
It's not his fault he misses games
He hates his postseason availability lol
Kawhi 🤕🤕🤕👎👎👎
The real headline should be why jrue holiday made team usa but kyrie didn't?
Defense
Probably defense
In the next episode of DragonBallZ!
KD got 2 games on Jokic last year while Lebron got ZERO…
KD wasnt even the best player on his team against denver
Just about to say that . Book got em 2
KD and Kyrie have to prove to themselves they can win a championship without LeBron or the Warriors....
Tyrese maxey finally getting recognized.. I love it
lol that Bobby Brown analogy was hilarious 😂😂😂
My ribs were hurting😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@jamesjefferson3809🙄🙄🙄
Dafuq is Minnesoter???!!
“Are we going west or are we done” I did west 😕
😂 bruh
Load management for Olympics. That's national spirit!
Harden is straight up ballin out. 🔥
He's washed up 👎👎👎
Yall realize Molly different when Unc on First take 👀
Leonard got 2 rings his resume be completed with Olympic gold
The difference in the way they talk abt Ad and kawhi being injury prone vs kd and embiid is insane😂
Steven A is still salty with KD after all these years😂
ESPN, This video is fantastic! I liked it a lot!
no
Molly doesnt even pay attention. Legler gave his west picks for 5-10s and she had to ask is he going west multiple times.
Why does SAS keep calling Min that 😂😂😂
Sas finally said kyrie should play over kwhai
ngl stephen A is kinda right , if u dealin with an injury and dont know if u can even play in the playoffs i wouldnt go and commit to playin for team USA
This is what I love about Stephen A he keeps it 100 he says what I can’t see
Kd is not the only one with pressure. D book and Beal are under pressure as well. Frank Vogel is under pressure.
they talking about clippers fans like they exist 😂😂😂
Kawhi has normal inflammation from wear and tear from the season in those surgically repaired knees, a knee infection and some slow ramp ups as the swelling goes down is all they’re doing. Of course they wouldn’t rush him back and risk him having to play through pain, but he should be better by Sunday.
Yet he’s still hurt fml being a clipper fan is just pain
Minnesoter are dangerous bro
Stephen A acting like Kawhi is is playing in the Olympics and sitting down in the playoffs he does understand the Olympics is after the NBA Finals so the NBA would be over then if Kawhi wants to play for the gold let him do it the man played 68 games and had a great season!!
They need to give bradley beal the ball more in phx
He dont play
Was Maxey not there last year??
Why are ppl surprised? Kawhi gets hurt every year! I don’t blame Stephen A.
KY Derby Winner’s Last Prep Since 1996 -
1996: Arkansas Derby (1st)
1997: Santa Anita Derby (2nd)
1998: Santa Anita Derby (2nd)
1999: Lexington Stakes (1st)
2000: Wood Memorial (1st)
2001: Santa Anita Derby (1st)
2002: Illinois Derby (1st)
2003: Wood Memorial (2nd)
2004: Arkansas Derby (1st)
2005: Santa Anita Derby (4th)
2006: Florida Derby (1st)
2007: Blue Grass Stakes (2nd)
2008: Florida Derby (1st)
2009: Sunland Derby (4th)
2010: Arkansas Derby (2nd)
2011: Spiral Stakes (1st)
2012: Santa Anita Derby (1st)
2013: Florida Derby (1st)
2014: Santa Anita Derby (1st)
2015: Arkansas Derby (1st)
2016: Florida Derby (1st)
2017: Florida Derby (1st)
2018: Santa Anita Derby (1st)
2019: Florida Derby (1st)
2021: Santa Anita Derby (2nd)
2022: Jeff Ruby Steaks (4th)
2023: Florida Derby (2nd)
Santa Anita Derby: 8
Florida Derby: 7
Arkansas Derby: 4
Wood Memorial: 2
Lexington: 1
Illinois Derby: 1
Blue Grass: 1
Sunland Derby: 1
Spiral: 1
Jeff Ruby: 1
Winners of their last prep: 17/27 = 63%
Losers of their last prep: 10/27 = 37%
1st: 17
2nd: 7
3rd: 0
ITM in their last prep: 24/27 = 88.9%
I’m aware Justify is no longer considered the winner of the 2018 SA Derby but I’m putting him here because he did finish 1st similar to why I’m using Maximum Security and Medina Spirit for 2019 and 2021. I’m using their final preps for this. I’m not going to use Bolt d’Oro, Country House, and Mandaloun’s final prep. I’m going to exclude 2020. That was a weird year seeing the Belmont first at 9F. I’m only going back to 1996 because that was the first year I got into horse racing.
According to this history, Catching Freedom and Honor Marie would be tosses. Their last prep was the Louisiana Derby which hasn’t produced a winner if that happened to be their final prep. And this also doesn’t bode well for Sierra Leone either. Strike the Gold in 1991 was the last BG winner who won the roses. Street Sense nearly won it in 2007 but Dominican nosed him out. Keeneland had installed synthetic that season.
The Santa Anita Derby has been the best final prep since 1996 but I’m not sure how to feel about Stronghold. I’m not feeling the horses who ran in SA. If Imagination was in the KY Derby, I wouldn’t be high on him either. Stronghold finished slow and his Beyer of 89 for his recent win is the lowest fig I’ve seen for a winner in a G1 final prep. I may have him in a few bets being a Ghostzapper fan.
Florida Derby has been the most productive final prep with KY Derby winners having 4 of the last 7 since 2016. Three of those won both races. But here we go again like Forte last year. Forte won the BC Juvenile and Florida Derby and being trained by Pletcher. The BCJ winner is only 2 for 39 in the Derby. The 2YO champ is only 3 for 43 since 1980. And we know how Pletcher horses are on big days. Tapit Trice was the 2nd fav last year and didn’t hit the board.
Fierceness has all the talent but he’s not a reliable horse to bet on just like his trainer. Sink or swim, feast or famine like War Emblem, Bayern, or a Pletcher horse. Bet Fierceness with plenty of caution. He’s burned a lot of money as the heavy chalk. I look at Sierra Leone similar to Epicenter/Zandon. He’s big and strong like Epicenter. If he doesn’t win it, I still see him hitting the board. Not the same case with Fierceness. He either wins it or he fades badly and won’t hit the board.
1st or 2nd in their final prep
SA Derby: Stronghold
FL Derby: Fierceness
Wood: Resilience
AR Derby: Just Steel
Blue Grass: Sierra Leone, Just A Touch
Lexington: Encino
Jeff Ruby: Endlessly
LA Derby: Catching Freedom, Honor Marie
UAE Derby: Forever Young
Updated Rankings
1. Sierra Leone (1st)
2. Fierceness (1st)
3. Resilience (1st)
4. Just Steel (2nd)
5. Stronghold (1st)
6. Endlessly (1st)
Toss
Forever Young
Catching Freedom
Honor Marie
Just A Touch
Epic Ride
Dornoch
Encino
Domestic Product
Track Phantom
Mystik Dan
Deterministic
If it’s wet, more money on Fierceness. The two times Pletcher won was on a sloppy track. If it’s dry, more money on Sierra Leone. He’s bigger. He looks stronger. He’s the best closer since Street Sense.
I think the 6 horses I listed have names of a Derby winner. Resilience, similar to Justify or Authentic, sounds right to me. But I don’t believe Resilience is particularly fast similar to Stronghold whom he lost to at Churchill in a maiden race.
Endlessly is giving me Animal Kingdom vibes. AK looked like a turf/synthetic horse but was training beautifully leading up to the race and won at 25-1. I forgot he’s the son of Leroidesanimaux. I was a big fan of that horse back in ‘05. The Jeff Ruby has produced Rich Strike and Two Phil’s. Tapalo in the SA Derby did not flatter Endlessly’s El Camino win over him.
I’m looking at Stronghold’s final times in Horse Racing Nation and I don’t understand why his speed figs are so low? He broke his maiden beating Resilience at 1:35 and change at Churchill. That’s pretty fast at CD and for a 2YO. Didn’t he break the track record in Sunland? He ran 1:42 and change for that Derby. That’s fast.
Maybe that’s a good thing? Beyer boys used to love Stronghold’s sire. Gave Ghostzapper a 128 for the Iselin. I saw the hoopla with Flightline but GZ defeated much better competition. I don’t get the low figs for Stronghold. These other preps go 1:50+ and they’re receiving higher figs. Stronghold goes 1:49+ and he gets an 89.
D. Wayne Lukas is known to run his horses to the ground. Charismatic ran 7x as a 3YO before he won the Derby. Just Steel has run 4x as a 3YO and 11x overall. Almost twice as long as Justify and Flightline’s career. I don’t necessarily see JS winning it but he’s a good exotics play. He has finished behind the likes of Catching Freedom and Honor Marie.
Resilience finished behind Stronghold once but ahead of Track Phantom in a maiden race. Then finished behind Sierra Leone, Track Phantom, and Catching Freedom in the Risen Star. I feel like Catching Freedom, Honor Marie, Stronghold, and Resilience are close to the same level with mid 90s BSFs. Marty Wygod died recently. Maybe Resilience wins the roses in honor of him?
I’m favoring Stronghold and Resilience due to their last preps. When was the last time the Louisiana Derby produced the Kentucky Derby winner? Remember Lawyer Ron or Friesan Fire? The Turfway preps have greater success than Fair Grounds. Epicenter used the LA Derby race as his final prep and lost the Derby and Preakness as the chalk. And Epicenter looked more formidable to me than Catching Freedom and Honor Marie.
It seems to me Sierra Leone is the best closer of the bunch but he isn’t far and away faster than any of them with a 98 BSF. But he is the most consistent and reliable. Think Zenyatta. A horse with a 19-1 record is pretty darn good and I don’t care if it’s mostly on synthetic. A closer is always at the mercy of the pace. Sierra Leone could be Zandon Part 2 but it would still be foolish to toss him in your tickets.
Derby/NBA Parlays
Any of my top 6 horses
Celtics or Sixers wins East
Nuggets or Lakers wins West
stupid
Molly you and the boys always make my day… 😅
TIM-LEGLER & RJ Are the most normal people on ESPN When it comes to Basketball.
Always Spot On.
This dude SAS has to be the funniest person on the planet man. I honestly only watch ESPN because of this dude man
Team USA with Kiwi Lemon would be crazy
Didn’t he say he should retire?
Minnesoter
Stephen A destroyed Kawhi with that Bobby Brown comparison.
"He missed the concert,
but he showed up to the after party"😂😂😂
Yet Kawhi is having inflammation but Yet yall calling out Stephen A Smith 😂😂.
Mr I hit 17 straight 3s always sounding off on someone
The battle of la never came
I don’t understand how Gobert winning these defensive player on the year I just don’t see it he’s not a better defender then AD and what big man has he locked down
Ikr. Just because u get blocks off ya teammates getting blown by doesn't make you the best defender. Just a good help defender
They should ask Melo (Anthony), before asking Kawhi so he could be one of the Team USA greats.
We lowkey need to give respect to the espn production team for these incredible beats 🫡🫡
I see Tyrese Maxey as a Jamal Murray type player borderline superstar
they’ll never be another Stephen A. 😂 🙏
Windhorst knows so much more about ball than stephen A
I been defending Kawhi for years he was my favorite player for a while but I'm done I'm fed up, every year its the same thing , I can't believe the clippers resigned him for 152 million dollar deal they got robbed imo, after finishing this contract he would have gotten 360 million over 6 years to not be available when it matters, I'm sick of him
Typically Stephen A seeing the negative in a situation the Olympics are after the playoffs for one not to mention why not praise Kawhi for being prideful to play for his country and playing through injury
As a clippers fan kawhi will return in something in the 1st round for sure
Mavs in 5
@@JesusMarquez-y8din yo dreams 😂😂
@@JesusMarquez-y8dclippers in 6
@@JesusMarquez-y8d i like the Mavs . But you never know!
Same thing you guys were saying last year
You got blame the clippers they knew his medical history but still invested in him
@2:19 if you got good headphones, you can hear the Molly ablibs trying to interrupt Legs to give her boo extra screen time
You just keep downplaying the Olympics and then get upset when Noah Lyles has issues with your World Champion claims smh
Ngl I like Tim being on here with SAS & Unc
molly must be partaking in 4/20 early or something lol she seems lost today
Kawai Load-Management is selfish
Brian “ the most in nba history “ Windhorst.
They really think the mavericks are gonna win😂😂😂
🤡
obv
We’ll it’s 2 days away from game 1 and kawhi still hasn’t had a full contact practice yet and he’s still listed as questionable. Without kawhi there’s really no chance for the clippers to win the series. The mavs are a matchup nightmare for them.
@@Salmonpaper26363 not really cause they made almost made it too the finals without kawhi , I can’t wait until this spoils like milk😂😂😂
dont be surprised if they do I’ll tell you that. We have all seem to have forgotten who the clippers really are come playoff time all of s sudden. Kawhi never available, harden flops in playoffs every year, PG and russ gone do they thing will it be enough tho? Idk. Let’s he realistic on who the clippers really are. Let’s also not forget how Luka took them to game 7 prior to this when he was younger with NO Kyrie
Replace Kawhi with D Rose!
Joel and kawhi needs to sit down for the Olympics
In kawhi defense ain’t too many clippers fans out there to begin with lol
Legs 🦵you're right ✅... Steven A so so right ✅ about KD... %100 correct about Khawi... If I am Balmer, I am Fining Kawhi Lenard 1 Million per International Game .😂... Molly... Thank You 💯🏀
How is Wemby not in consideration for DPOY
The Spurs have a terrible defense right now.
@@vulcanraven9701but what does that have to do with Wemby stopping or making it harder for his matchup and getting blocks?
@@Squadplaya dpoy is mostly given based on team defense. Blocks and rebounds are weighed, but usually defender on the more winning team gets award.
Kawhi when healthy is one of the best players in the world, but that Toronto championship he wasn't even 100%, but was the most healthy he has been since 2016 and that says a lot. Don't think anyone is expecting that he will play a full year or contend for another championship ever again at this point.
Stephen A, Kawhi ain’t worried about all that. He play to his ability. Nobody will be forcing this guy to do anything. When he’s healthy he’s a phenomenal player, everyone knows that.
I'm hoping he has a good series.
Steven A don’t mention Kawhi all season. when he played 68 games. Carrying the team in the west. To a 4th seed Soon as he sit. It’s this. Come on Steve quit being emotional
*Certainly the Raptors' was the ONLY successful Kawhi Diva Load Management arrangement ever. Luckily the moon and stars sweetly aligned which brought them to the very top of the mountain.* Kawhi has yet to help produce a substantial playoff-end result for the Clippers, but hope they do better than the first round this time.
No matter what Stephen A says many NBA owners would still hire Kawhi in spite of the criticism. Fact. Business.
Only series that will go 7 is Lakers/Denver
Who's better Barnes or Edwards?
I can’t believe I’m debating with myself if id rather get rid of Stephen A than Molly from this show…🤔
The fact Stephen A has a vote is comical
honestly, it’s not that big of a deal.. Windy is right, he must feel confident to not rule himself out
As Steven has said, Kawhi Leonard is the worst superstar in the entire NBA. People forget that Stephenwas a real baller in college and he knows what it takes to be the greatest.
Stephen A doesn’t know Basketball like he claims he does.