Latest news with #St.John'sRedStorm
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
St. John's donor Mike Repole and Rick Pitino horses strike out at Belmont Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mike Repole walked downstairs from his first-row clubhouse VIP box at Saratoga and conferred with jockey John Velazquez on the edge of the winner's circle after Saturday's eighth race at Saratoga. The billionaire entrepreneur and St. John's basketball benefactor did not step inside. It was not his time. His horse, Fierceness, the winner of the 2024 Travers Stakes, the signature summer event at this historic track, finished second by 2 ¹/₂ lengths to California invader Raging Torrent in the $1 million Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. While the 8-1 Raging Torrent earned an automatic bid to this fall's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher were left to pick up the pieces. 'If you told me he'd finish ahead of White Abarrio and Just a Touch, I'd [believe I'd] be taking my picture in the winner's circle,' Repole told The Post. 'You know, it happens. We knew [Raging Torrent] was going to go for the lead. He got brave. I thought at the 3/8ths pole we had him, the quarter pole we had him. And then I saw him open up and, you know, I don't know. 'It was a tough, tough race and a tough, tough loss,' Repole said, 'and there's absolutely no excuse.' Raging Torrent's jockey, Frankie Dettori, praised his horse's will to win. 'At the quarter pole, I was in the lap of gods,' the 54-year-old Italian rider said. 'He showed great determination to get to the line. 3 Raging Torrent races past Fierceness to the finish line to win the Metropolitan Handicap on Belmon Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course on June 7, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST 'He puts his head down, even when [Fierceness] pressured me [and he fought really hard.' Fierceness, the sub-even-money favorite, got into trouble immediately breaking out of the Wilson chute, which sends horses directly into the middle of the first turn. 'Johnny [Velazquez] said he broke so sharply he kind of hit the gate and came back with some blood on his mouth from hitting the gate at the start,' Pletcher said. 'The first 16th of a mile was pretty rough. They were bouncing around trying to get position. After that he got into the exact position we wanted to, he just couldn't get by the horse in the lead.' 3 St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino speaks with the media before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Bronx, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Repole said Fierceness likely will be targeted for the $1 million Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 2 at Saratoga. In the 10th race, A.P. Kid, ridden by Velazquez and trained by Pletcher, ran past the leader at the top of the stretch and pulled away by five widening lengths. Repole and his contingent of 80 family and friends later watched long shot Uncaged finish out of the money in the Belmont Stakes. 3 Mike Repole watches his horse, Fierceness, finish second in the Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes day. Jason Szenes / New York Post Repole wasn't the only owner with St. John's connections to enter a horse on Belmont Stakes Day. Coach Rick Pitino's RAP Racing took a fourth place in the fifth race with Aggelos the Great. Pitino was not in attendance but told The Post in a text: 'We're disappointed. We all thought he was ready to win. But, you know, [it's] horse racing.' Pitino said he was told by jockey Manny Franco the horse did not like the muddy conditions.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Announces Blockbuster Matchup Against Legendary Coach
The Alabama Crimson Tide are looking to build off a disappointing end to their 2024-25 college basketball campaign as they got overwhelmed in the Elite Eight against the Duke Blue Devils. Losing sharpshooters Mark Sears and Labaron Philon are pieces that need to be filled, and can expect head coach Nate Oats shape his roster to make another deep run next year. Advertisement They have announced a blockbuster matchup that is going to be scheduled for the 2026-27 season. At Madison Square Garden on November 8, Oats and the Crimson Tide will be taking on the St. John's Red Storm, led by legendary head coach Rick Pitino. St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Penner-Imagn Images Pitino most recently shared Coach of the Year honors with Auburn Tigers coach Bruce Pearl, and has turned around St. John's to be one of college basketball's top schools. The Red Storm had their magical run end early at the hands of John Calipari's ferocious Arkansas team, who eventually fell to Texas Tech in the Sweet 16. In the 26-27 season, Pitino and Oats will battle in one of the nation's top venues at MSG. Advertisement Oats and Pitino have faced off just twice with each coach winning a game. Oats started off 1-0 after his No. 2 seed Tide defeated Pitino's No. 15 seed Iona Gaels in the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament. Pitino got his revenge during an invitational that following November thanks to some magic from Walter Clayton Jr. off the bench, who later transferred to Florida and won a national championship. The meeting in 2026 will be the third meeting, and with two top programs in St. John's and Alabama, will make for an intense meeting that will prepare both teams for a title run later in the year. Related: Former Alabama Four-Star Transfers to SEC Rival
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rick Pitino, St. John's Receive Head-Turning 2025-26 Prediction
The St. John's Red Storm and head coach Rick Pitino made waves during the 2024-25 college basketball season. Looking ahead to the future, St. John's appears to be a team to watch as a potential national championship contender. Last season, Pitino led the Red Storm to an impressive 31-5 record. He took them on a run to the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement As a No. 2 seed in the tournament, St. John's started off with a first round win over Omaha. Following the big win, Pitino and company came up short against John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks. That loss ended their season. Looking ahead to the 2025-26 college basketball season, the Red Storm are receiving a lot of hype. A new ranking has been released that shows the hype clearly. In a column on FanDuel, Jon Rothstein reveled his early rankings. He has Pitino's team coming in at No. 3 on the list. Pitino did have some key losses throughout the offseason. RJ Luis was the biggest loss, while other players left as well. Those other players are Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith, Aaron Scott, and Simeon Wilcher. Advertisement To replace the talent that left the program, St. John's brought in players as well. Joson Sanon, Bryce Hopkins, Oziyah Sellers, Ian Jackson, Dillon Mitchell, Imran Suljanovic, Dylan Darling, Handje Tamba, and Kelvin Odih have all joined the team and will look to take the Red Storm to the next level. St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick PitinoEric Canha-Imagn Images With Pitino leading the way, St. John's will always have a chance. He is a living legend in the college basketball world. Throughout his career leading up to this point, Pitino has compiled a 761-308 record. Despite going through some major issues off the court, Pitino has landed on his feet and is building something very special. Related: Rick Pitino's Son Makes Head-Turning Admission About Father's Legendary Coaching Career Related: NBA Exec Turns Heads With Major Prediction for Duke's Kon Knueppel
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rick Pitino's Son Makes Head-Turning Admission About Father's Legendary Coaching Career
Rick Pitino and the St. John's Red Storm put together an impressive all-around 2024-25 college basketball season. However, it did not end how they had hoped. Throughout the course of the year, St. John's compiled a 31-5 record. In the NCAA Tournament, they earned a No. 2 seed and knocked off Omaha in the first round by a final score of 83-53. Advertisement After that win, a matchup with John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks awaited, which the Red Storm lost 75-66. That loss ended the St. John's season. Despite the loss, Pitino has the Red Storm on the right track. He is one of the best head coaches of all-time and will give St. John's a chance to win at a high level as long as he's in town. St. John's Red Storm head basketball coach Rick Pitino.© Brad Penner-Imagn Images Recently, Richard Pitino, the son of the coaching legend, spoke out about his father. He opened up about the success that Pitino has had throughout his career and the coaching tree that he has created. 'He puts the effort into molding us,' Richard said. 'Some coaches just hire assistant coaches and say, 'Hey, get me players. You're not a coach, you're a recruiter.' My dad is not that way. Anybody that works for my dad and his program, you are gonna be driven to succeed just as much as the best player. He's gonna be invested in you as a future leader.' Among coaches who have come from Pitino's coaching tree are Billy Donovan, Tubby Smith, Mick Cronin, and Kevin Keatts. Advertisement To this point in his career, Pitino has amassed a 761-308 record. That is good enough for a 71.2% win rate. During the upcoming 2025-26 college basketball season, the two Pitino's will likely face each other. St. John's and Xavier are both in the Big East. Richard Pitino became the head coach of the Musketeers this offseason. Related: Duke's Kon Knueppel Receives Major Prediction Before NBA Draft Related: Dan Hurley's Latest Recruiting Move Has UConn Fans Buzzing
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
St. John's Sends Strong Rick Pitino Message After Historic Season
The St. John's Red Storm are fresh off a historic season with head coach Rick Pitino at the helm. Pitino led St. John's to the NCAA Tournament, ranked as a No. 2 seed. The Red Storm began March Madness with a victory over Omaha in the first round and followed that with a second-round loss. Advertisement St. John's fell to John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks, ending a memorable year for the program. Despite the brief run in the tournament, Pitino was highlighted as one of the best head coaches in college basketball. The legendary coach won the Naismith National Coach of the Year and was a co-winner of the Associated Press Coach of the Year award, alongside Auburn's Bruce Pearl. After the season, St. John's recapped an incredible year by Pitino and his team. "A year to remember with our Coach," the official social media account of the St. John's Red Storm posted. The 2024-25 college basketball season will certainly be marked in the record books for Rick Pitino and the St. John's Red Storm. Advertisement St. John's undefeated 12-0 record at Madison Square Garden was a program first since 1931-32. The Johnnies also won the Big East Tournament title for the first time since 2000. St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Canha-Imagn Images Last season, St. John's was led by Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr., who had the best season of his three-year college basketball career, posting 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. The Red Storm may have suffered an early loss in the NCAA Tournament, but they've certainly turned the corner in their pursuit to become one of the best college basketball programs in the country. Related: Big John Calipari Announcement Made on Friday Related: Dawn Staley Announces Exciting Personal News on Thursday
