Popestakes

(Rome) The derby is over and a 20 to 1 shot that was off the betting board beat the other priestly contenders to the red shoes and the papal prize. Archbishop Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was the Argentine prelate who finished in the chips in this large field of maiden claimers and won the big enchilada. He is going to go by the name of Francis, after the famous talking equine.

Arinze

Early handle favored the chalk, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, a 2 to 1 choice. The contender from Ghana pulled up at the quarter pole and finished out of the money. The home dog Tarcisio Bertone (Italy) was rising fast on the board at a price of 6 to 1. He was thought to have a problem with the early speed and dnf. Nigeria's Arinze was another dark horse finishing deep in the pack. Mahoney was a late scratch.

The new pontiff was part of an entry with another Argentine 20 to 1 shot, the better known Leonardo Sandri. You have to watch the South American talent. They thrive on turf and they can run all day. Bergoglio was soft in his recent works but did breeze a 59 sec. 6 furlongs recently at Bay Meadows that was best of the morning. Lasix, front wraps, blinkers, the gray colt looked very good to our railbirds and in the paddock.

It has been that kind of a week for long shots. Earlier a 135 -1 horse, I've struck a nerve breezed to victory at the $400,000, Grade II Risen Star Stakes in New Orleans. If you boxed the pope and the gelding, you my friend are a handicapper.