feature military insignia and patriotic symbols. from corse178's blog
As a full moon began to set over the Del Mar stables Thursday morning, a superhero in a horse suit was trying to ignore the golden Labrador nosing around his stall.Nike Air Max Womens Green .Jasper, knock that off or Chromell nail you, chided Alan Sherman, Jaspers owner.It wasnt exactly a scene from Town & Country, but it was business as usual in the Art and Alan Sherman shed row, where the sober routine of preparing the richest Thoroughbred in the history of North American racing for a return to competition is tempered by the grateful joy of being so close to such a remarkable creature for so long.Hes been good here, said Art Sherman, Alans dad, as he headed for the track to train another horse in the barn. Eating good, acting good. Handles the track fine. What could go wrong?At this, Sherman let fly one of his cackling laughs, knowing full well that things go wrong in racing all the time, and only a diligent attention to detail can at least reduce the chances. For all his accomplishments, California Chrome is still an equine athlete whose value, at least for now, is based upon running faster than the horses arrayed against him.To that end, his return Saturday in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap will provide a solid test of his status four months removed from his glorious victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup. The fact that California Chrome did it with his saddle slipping steadily back to his haunches as the race progressed was only one of the many remarkable stories from that memorable desert night.Ill tell you one thing, Sherman said, were not using that new English chamois we used over there again. I thought it wouldnt make any difference, and, boy, was I wrong.Its the little things that count, but it is a very big thing California Chrome will be facing Saturday when his main opposition in the San Diego comes from Dortmund, the towering winner of the 2015 Santa Anita Derby who is making his first start since winning the Native Diver Handicap at Del Mar eight months ago.I figure hell go to the lead like he does, Sherman said of Dortmund. After that, Im hoping he needs the race.The San Diego Handicap has been around forever, which in the case of Del Mar means since 1937, and for all but eight of its 73 runnings, it has been a 1-1/16-mile main-track event.Native Diver himself won the San Diego three straight years, 1963-65, and ended up in the Hall of Fame. Bates Motel won the San Diego on his way to an Eclipse Award. Skywalker took the race in 1986, then later added the Breeders Cup Classic.More recently, the San Diego has been won by Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed, Breeders Cup Dirt Mile winner Dakota Phone, Godolphin Mile winner Grey Memo, and Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.So much for history. What counts on Saturday is that California Chrome brings the same vibrant energy to the San Diego that he displayed in his Dubai campaign earlier this year. If the last few mornings at Del Mar are any indication, he should be a handful.Let him go, cried exercise rider Dihigi Gladney to the pony boy as California Chrome went up on his back legs and bounded out of a saddling stall in the Del Mar paddock.The muscles around Shermans heart tightened slightly as he watched Gladney slip free of Chromes gray pony and trot around the ring. The red stallion calmed to a walk and immediately dropped one of his trademark erections, which was enough to let his people know all was well.He doesnt do that back home at Los Alamitos, Sherman said. But here hes got new sights and sounds, a different kind of atmosphere. Gets him a little stirred up.Once on the track for his gallop, California Chrome was all class. He put in a smooth mile and a half and then walked easily to the training gate at the back of the seven-furlong chute.Thats just the way he is, Sherman said. I am a little concerned, though, what he might do running against that mare.That mare, of course, is Beholder, who looms on California Chromes horizon for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20. Her trainer, Richard Mandella, was in the paddock with his own horses Thursday morning when California Chrome put on his show. The idea of a robust female horse distracting a virile stallion from the focus it takes to win a million-dollar race is one of those jokes that has plenty of basis in experience.I was thinking about sending Beholder to the gate with him this morning, Mandella deadpanned. But theres not enough money on the line.Once the San Diego in the books and Beholder has dealt with the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on July 30, the excitement for their Pacific Classic showdown will begin to boil.The respective camps are already getting into the spirit. Owner B. Wayne Hughes, who normally keeps his cards close, let loose with a mischievous Chrome who? line when asked about the pending showdown with Beholder, the apple of his eye. Perry Martin, California Chromes majority owner, countered with a respectful nod to the three-time champion mare but then warned with a wink, When Chrome goes by her, shell go from Beholder to bewildered.Is this going to be a fun summer or what? Nike Air Max Womens Clearance . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Air Max Womens Rose . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. http://www.nikeairmaxwomens.com/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. OKLAHOMA CITY -- Even without another scoring outburst from Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder easily handled Miami.Westbrook had just 14 points -- 19 below his season average entering the game -- but the Thunder still beat the Heat 97-85 on Monday night.Enes Kanter had 24 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 10 of 12 in 21 minutes off the bench. Victor OIadipo scored 17 and rookie Domantas Sabonis had a season-high 15 points to go with 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City.Westbrook finished with 11 assists, and his control of the action helped the Thunder build a 22-point lead after three quarters. He didnt play in the fourth.Hes always looking for his teammates, Kanter said. Hes looking to score, but he knows that hes going to get double-teamed, triple-teamed. They cannot guard him. Theres no one guy in the league that can guard him 1-on-1. Hes making himself better, and hes making everybody else better on the team.Oklahoma City improved to 6-1, the best seven-game start for the franchise since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008.Miamis Hassan Whiteside, who entered averaging 20 points and 14.2 rebounds, finished with five points on 1-for-9 shooting and 12 rebounds.Westbrook said Thunder center Steven Adams played well against Whiteside.Steven did a good job of buckling down, using his size, using his ability to be able to use his body and his strength to match, Westbrook said.James Johnson led the Heat with 18 points. Miami shot just 36.9 percent from the field.You have to give them credit defensively, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Theyve shown this year theyre long, theyre athletic, they make multiple efforts.The Thunder led 55-47 at halftime, despite Westbrooks 2-for-10 shooting.The Heat chopped their deficit down to four before Westbrook went off. He converted a three-point play, a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointer to spark a 20-0 run that put the game out of reach.Hes a great player, so hes going to have his fingerprints on the game one way or another, Spoelstra said. Its a matter of time, and you have to find a way as competitors to overcome all of that, and we didnt.---TIP-IINSHeat: Former Thunder player Dion Waiters was cheered loudly during pregame introductions. Nike Air Max Womens Red. He scored two points on 1-for-9 shooting. ... Whiteside had no points or rebounds in the first quarter. ... Double technicals were called on Kanter and Miamis Josh Richardson in the third quarter after an altercation. Heat C Willie Reed was called for a flagrant foul on Kanter late in the third quarter.Thunder: Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said before the game that reserve point guard Cameron Payne is healing from his broken right foot, but there remains no timetable for his return. ... Adams banged his right thumb in the first quarter, but returned to play with it wrapped.HEAT UNIFORMSThe Heat wore patches bearing the names of deceased military members on the front of their uniforms for the first time, a tribute that will continue for four more games. The Home Strong uniforms -- which have been worn before, without the soldier-name patches -- feature military insignia and patriotic symbols. Heat President Pat Riley founded the program to honor returning soldiers in 2006, and the franchise has been active with several veterans programs since. Its just a very small part that we can play in this, to let them know that their lives did have significance, Spoelstra said.QUOTABLEWestbrook on Sabonis performance: I was very, very happy for Domas. He stayed aggressive all night long. He missed some shots early, but he stayed consistent.STAT LINESThe Thunder held Miami to 7-for-24 shooting in the third quarter to take an 83-61 lead at the end of the period.UP NEXTHeat: Miami hosts former teammate Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Wade won three NBA titles with Miami. That will be a special moment, Spoelstra said. It means a lot to all of us, including myself. We know how to compartmentalize.Thunder: Faces one of the best teams in the East on Wednesday night when they host the Toronto Raptors.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
The Wall