SI Vault Edited by Steve Wulf November 07, 1988 Decrease font
Decrease font Enlarge font Enlarge font November 07, 1988   View
CoverRead All Articles View This Issue 1 2 3  On Oct. 22, 37
years and 19 days after the Brooklyn Dodgers' Ralph Branca gave
up the Shot Heard 'Round the World to Bobby Thomson of the New
York Giants, a highly regarded 2-year-old pacer named Kassa
Branca broke stride in the first division of the New Jersey
Futurity at Freehold Raceway and finished seventh. Kassa Branca
is named for owner Douglas Kass and Branca, who is a friend of
his. The colt went off at 1-9 and greatly disappointed one
bettor, identified by track officials only as a man carrying a
leather gym bag, who placed a $150,000 show bet on Kassa Branca.
Had Kassa Branca finished in the money, he would have paid the
minimum $2.10 to show, which means the "bridgejumper," as such
bettors are known, stood to gain $7,500. He should have known
better, though, than to bet on a Branca in October.   Jockeys'
Wardrobes and, for that