Jumble Spoiler – 06/08/12

Secretariat’s statue greets racing fans and jockeys in the paddock of Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  How many actors stay involved in the theater.

YANOG  =  AGONY,  RONUM  =  MOURN,  DISNAL  =  ISLAND,  CIKDEW  =  WICKED   —   Giving us:  AGNMNLADIE

Clue/Question:  The struggling actor became one when he got a part-time job as an usher.

Answer:  A LEADING MAN

(I liked it!  None of the clue words were new today, but I thought they were all jumbled very well.  It’s one of the few times where I thought that the five letter words were, at least, as challenging as the six letter words.  The answer letter layout was a thing of beauty!  No nitpicking today!  The answer made for a nice little play on words, too.  It looks like this couple has the entire theater to themselves.  Maybe Jeff just didn’t feel like drawing any backs of heads.  Okay, so I’m nitpicking just a bit.  Be well and do good, friends.)   —   YUR

PS.  Are we finally going to see a Triple Crown winner, in I’ll Have Another, tomorrow at The Belmont?  Could be.  No Bodemeister, no Creative Cause.  Dullahan was 3rd in the Derby and Union Rags was a disappointing 7th.  Neither horse ran in the Preakness, so they should be well-rested.  Those two are the other favorites, and in a sane field – 12 horses – they would figure to be the challengers. But, other than Paynter and Street Life the remaining 7 entries are all fairly questionable long shots.  On the surface, it looks like things are well aligned for I’ll Have Another, but at a mile and a half just about anything can happen.  I fondly remember the last three Triple Crown winners:  Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed.  I’m the furthest thing from a horse race expert, but I just don’t see I’ll Have Another as the 12th Triple Crown winner.  A very nice horse, just not a super-great horse.  I’ll root for him, though.  Thoroughbred racing could use the shot in the arm that a Triple Crown winner brings.  Just watch out for Unstoppable U!   —   YUR

PPS.  Never mind!  No Triple Crown for I’ll Have Another!  Sad!   —   YUR

Related articles

• I’ll Have Another — Scratched from Belmont Stakes, NO TRIPLE CROWN!!! (tmz.com)
• I’ll Have Another scratched from Belmont Stakes (nbcsports.msnbc.com)
• Triple Crown Favorite I’ll Have Another Withdraws from Belmont Stakes (theatlanticwire.com)