Through The Binocs

Overnight thunderstorms kept the main track muddy and again all Belmont Park turf races were switched to the main track.

That was no problem for Risky Rachel, who took command on the far turn and drew off to an impressive 4 3/4- length victory in the $80,750 Put the Powder To It Stakes.

She was trained by Juan Coronel, who is now two for two in his training career, both victories coming with Risky Rachel.

Ridden to victory by Cornelio Velasquez, she ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in the mud in 1:17.10.

SEVENTH RACE: Race was switched to the main track and the field reduced to five.

What made this more difficult to handicap for bettors was the fact that four of the five runners in the race were first-time starters.

Bettors went with experience and made Beautiful one, the only horse with a start under her belt, the 3-2 favorite.

She did not break well and had to chase pacesetting Phantasticus. On the far turn, Resonating took over the lead and drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths while Beautiful One ended up third, 13 3/4 lengths back.

10TH RACE: It was the opinion of some the inside part of the track today was not good, and it was advisable that jockeys keep their mounts off the rail as much as possible. Unfortunately Black and White may have taken it to the extreme.

After breaking sharply out of the gate, Black and White was setting the pace while out in the ten path, like in an Ussery’s Alley move, while racing down the backstretch.

Turning for home Black and White still had the lead but traveling the extra distance started to take a toll on her.

She tired badly to be third, being passed by first-time starter as eventual winner Garnet Street and Double Berg.

PICK SIX

Winning numbers

6-11-8-8-8-7

2 winners

Paid $11,754

245 winners (5 of 6)

Paid $79

No carryover

Juan Coronel, Cornelio Velasquez, Belmont Park turf races, Black and White, Rachel

Nypost.com

Chivas USA burned in extra time by Fire

Chivas USA" border="0" width="580" height="336" />

Chicago's Austin Berry, top left, head the ball away from Chivas USA's Oswaldo Minda, far left, on a cornerkick during the first half of Chivas USA's 2-1 loss Friday. (Victor Decolongon / Getty Images / May 4, 2012)

Two weeks before the season started Chivas USA General Manager Jose Domene predicted his team would be back in the playoffs this fall. And nothing in Chivas' lackluster start has led him to change his mind.

"We're just a click away. We are built to be a playoff team," he said Friday before Chivas dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to the Chicago Fire on Marco Pappa's goal three minutes into stoppage time.

To be fair, Chivas has played well in spurts during its 3-6-1 start. But it's also been awful for spurts as well, which has increasingly made Coach Robin Fraser a target of the disgruntled among Chivas' small fan base.

Domene said he has Fraser's back, though.

"Look, Robin is our coach now," he said of Fraser, in his 16th month on the job. "We have a plan and we have a project. And everything else is just speculation. The fact of the matter is, in this league what's worked is consistency."

Against the Fire, Fraser's team made some progress, even scoring a goal – which might not sound like much but it was the first score for Chivas in five home games this season. Even then Chivas needed some help from the Fire since the goal came on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute.

The sequence started with defender Heath Pearce curling a nice pass toward forward Alejandro Moreno, who was charging into the area. Austin Berry, making his Major League Soccer debut for Chicago in place of the suspended Jalil Anibaba, had his back to the ball and was beaten cleanly on the play so he challenged Moreno from behind, making it an easy call for referee Baldomero Toledo.

On the ensuing penalty kick Fire keeper Sean Johnson guessed left and dove that way while Chivas' Juan Pablo Angel pushed the ball toward to the other corner, snapping Chivas' season-long scoring streak at 264 minutes and giving the team its first lead in three weeks.

It was the team's fifth goal of the season; four MLS players have scored more than that on their own.

The advantage lasted less than two minutes before a massive defensive breakdown by Chivas left Berry unmarked in front of the goal, from where he flicked home a pass from Sebastian Grazzini to tie the score. It also made him the first Fire rookie to score in his first game since 1998.

Chivas' keeper Dan Kennedy faced 20 shots and turned many of those away in spectacular fashion. But it was all for naught when, deep in stoppage time, Pappa and Frederico Puppo shredded the Chivas defense, running a long give-and-go play up the right side that ended with Pappa pulling up outside the box and burying a left-footed shot in the far corner.

It was the second time in five home matches that Chivas has given up a deciding goal in stoppage time.

kevin.baxter@latimes.com

Chivas USA, Austin Berry, Austin Berry, Marco Pappa, Coach Robin Fraser, Alejandro Moreno, Oswaldo Minda, Chivas, Chicago Fire, Victor Decolongon

Latimes.com

PSAL baseball roundup: Tottenville tops New Dorp, takes control in Staten Island A

Despite three early-season forfeits for the use of players not on the active roster, Tottenville is back in the driver’s seat in Staten Island A.

The Pirates scored five first-inning runs and beat New Dorp, 8-2, for the second time this week to take over first place on their own. Ray Smith, Mike Sullivan and Anthony Capo each drove in two runs, Frank Sanacore and Stephen Notaro scored two runs apiece and Vin Aiello went 4-2/3 innings, struck out five and scattered six hits for the win for the Tots (9-3), who are looking for their 28th straight division crown.

Tyler Warshefskie and Gary Andersen each had RBIs for New Dorp (9-5).

Midwood 4, Telecommunications 2: Danny Kaye struck out six over six innings for his third win, he also had two hits, an RBI and scored once, Christian Lopez had an RBI and scored a run and Brandon Eng added two hits for Midwood (7-4) in Brooklyn A East. Telecom is now 8-2, a game behind Brooklyn A West leader Fort Hamilton.

James Madison 2, FDR 1: Matt Zalon struck out eight in a complete-game, five-hitter and drove in a run, Raymond Draxdorf homered and Alyasa Seales scored a run for Madison (8-1) in Brooklyn A East. FDR is 4-6 in Brooklyn A West.

Walton 12, John F. Kennedy 4: Bruce Valentin homered twice, scored three runs and drove in three more, Greg Perdomo also scored three runs, Robert Velasquez had two hits, two RBIs and scored once and Valentin went the distance on the mound and struck out eight for Walton (9-2) in Bronx A East. Kennedy (9-2) is in Bronx A West.

George Washington 16, Graphic Communications 2: Kevin Torres hit a three-run homerun, Wesley Rodriguez had three hits, two RBIs and scored twice, Steven Segarra tripled, doubled, had two RBIs and scored twice and Eduardo Tejeda and Henry Rodriguez each scored twice for GW (10-1) in Manhattan A East. Graphic Communications is 3-8 in Manhattan A West.

Bushwick Campus 10, Lincoln 0: Kevin Garrastazu had three RBIs, Dashaun Rozier had two hits and two RBIs, Carlos Almonte Garcia, Daniel Rodriguez and Eury Villalona each scored twice and Villalona struck out seven in five innings for Bushwick (3-8) in Brooklyn A East. Lincoln is 1-10 in Brooklyn A West.

McKee/Staten Island Tech 10, Petrides 1: James Sinodinos had two RBIs and scored twice, Michael Ahr added two hits and scored two runs, Steven Ippolito struck out five in five innings of work and Nick Manisero and David Cruz each drove in two runs for MSIT (7-5) in Staten Island A. Petrides is 3-11.

OTHER SCORES

Grand Street Campus 8, New Utrecht 4

Bayard Rustin 2, East Harlem Pride 1

zbraziller@nypost.com

New Dorp, Brooklyn, John F. Kennedy, Staten Island, Frank Sanacore, Bruce Valentin, Stephen Notaro, Christian Lopez, Mike Sullivan, Daniel Rodriguez, Carlos Almonte Garcia, Anthony Capo, Eduardo Tejeda

Nypost.com

Xaverian ace, 2011 postseason hero Scerbo bound for Seton Hall

Blaise Scerbo thinks about his jog across Jack Kaiser Field often. The Xaverian right-hander, overlooked as one of the team’s best pitchers at the start of the season, had a chance to close out the CHSAA Class AA championship game.

“Coming in from bullpen through right field was real nice,” Scerbo said. “It was a really good feeling.”

The big, 6-foot-4 hurler pitched a scoreless 2-1/3 innings of relief to seal a 7-1 win for the Clippers. That game and his total body of work in the postseason was Scerbo’s coming out party. Now, he is Xaverian’s ace and Wednesday he committed to pitch at Seton Hall of the Big East.

Lauren Marsh

Xaverian pitcher (22) Blaise Scerbo committed Wednesday to Seton Hall.

“Blaise has been very dependable,” Clippers coach Lou Piccola said. “He’s the one that you rely on – every time he goes out there, you’re gonna be in the game. He throws strikes. He’s got tremendous control. He doesn’t hurt himself.”

Scerbo faced a setback this season: a bout with sore arm. He made his return last week – back in his old relief role – and will start his first game of the season next week. The control specialist wasn’t worried. He had the same issue his sophomore year and he blamed the preseason cold weather for causing it. Then, Scerbo rested it for a few weeks and he was fine.

Right now, he says he feels great and Xaverian has been playing excellent, too. The Clippers didn’t miss a beat without him on the mound. Frank Kaplan, John Pena, Brian Rosa and Tommy Anselmo have held down the fort nicely. Scerbo, who plays travel ball with the New York Grays, is excited about the postseason.

“We’re undefeated,” he said. “We want to keep it that way.”

Scerbo didn’t pitch much as a freshman or sophomore. But he got the opportunity last year and ran with it, especially in the postseason where he became a star.

“Last year was really nice that I got into the rotation and the coaches trusted me more for the playoffs and championship game,” he said.

Scerbo is bigger and stronger than ever with his fastball hitting 86 mph to go along with his nasty breaking stuff and pinpoint control. He’s excited about going to Seton Hall, which he chose over Fairleigh Dickinson, but first there’s the business of trying to repeat.

Piccola fully expects him to be the go-to guy on the mound once again come playoff time – just like he was in 2011.

“He just finished everything,” the coach said of last year, “especially in the final game.”

mraimondi@nypost.com

Blaise Scerbo, Seton Hall, Seton Hall, Clippers, CHSAA Class AA championship, Xaverian, Xaverian, Scerbo, Frank Kaplan, The Clippers, Lou Piccola

Nypost.com

Cano can’t find his groove

Kevin Kernan
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Four hours before last night’s 5-0 loss to the Orioles, Robinson Cano was on the field taking early batting practice. He was doing one of his favorite hitting drills, the home-run drill, with hitting coach Kevin Long.

When Cano is locked in during this drill, he hits home run after home run into the right-field seats and bleachers. Long stands halfway between the mound and home plate, rifling underhand pitches to Cano with a screen set across the middle of the plate to keep Cano’s swing compact.

That was not the case yesterday. There was the occasional home run, but those were mixed in with balls Cano pulled foul into the seats as a result of swinging too quickly or soft fly balls to right center as a result of being late on his swing.

Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

ROUGH NIGHT: Robinson Cano ends another frustrating game for himself and his team by grounding out to end the Yankees 5-0 loss to the Orioles last night at Yankee Stadium.

His timing is off, and the Yankees are paying the price.

Cano’s struggles are one of the many disturbing issues plaguing the Yankees as they were embarrassed by the Orioles at Yankee Stadium, losing the series and scoring all of three runs against Buck Showalter’s club in the three games and being shut out the final 17 innings.

No, it’s not just the struggling young pitchers that are a problem for the Yankees on a night Ivan Nova finally lost, gave up five runs and saw his ERA rise to an ugly 5.58.

Cano’s numbers are startling. The No. 4 hitter has four RBIs this season; That’s the fewest RBIs he has ever had in one month. That’s four RBIs over 24 games. Ex-Met Carlos Beltran had seven RBIs last night alone.

Cano’s slugging percentage is down to .367, 166 points lower than his slugging percentage in 2011. He is batting .255 and his on-base percentage is .308. His lifetime batting average coming into the season was .308. His lifetime on-base percentage was .347. He went 1-for-4 last night and made the final out of the game.

Today marks the seventh anniversary of Cano’s Yankees debut, playing his first game on May 3, 2005. He has compiled 1,266 hits, 291 doubles and 612 RBIs as a second baseman. Each category is the most by a second baseman over that span, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Perhaps, Cano, who can become a free agent after the 2013 season and has high-powered agent Scott Boras representing him, is thinking too much about his contract future, putting added pressure on himself. Perhaps, he is just in an early-season, cold-weather slump.

Facing the rotten Royals beginning tonight in Kansas City might get his swing back together.

Cano did not make himself available to the media before or after last night’s game. Joe Girardi said he has confidence Cano will come around, even making a joke to Cano when he visited the mound during Tuesday night’s 7-1 loss after Cano, in his previous at-bat, had lined out to center field.

“‘Look, Robbie, look at all the green out there,’’ Girardi said to Cano. “‘You happened to hit it right to where the guy was standing. How do you do that?’

“I tried to make light of it because it is frustrating when you hit the ball hard and you make outs,” Girardi said last night. “That will change. I guarantee you. I just think that he is missing his pitch. He’s just a tick off.’’

Cano could be paying the price for the hitters around him. No. 3 hitter Alex Rodriguez has shown little power and No. 5 Mark Teixeira is batting a horrid .226 and has been bothered by a bronchial infection all season.

Pitchers are pitching Cano that much more carefully, knowing he is the Yankee that must be stopped.

“When Robbie struggles, we’re all a little bit shocked,’’ Girardi admitted, comparing Cano’s consistency to Mariano Rivera’s. “We’re all looking for reasons and sometimes I think we all want to take the human element out of it.’’

Cano is human. He is the heart of the Yankees lineup. Until he gets right, the Yankees will struggle.

Robinson Cano usually makes the game look so easy, but nothing is coming easy to Cano or the Yankees these days.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com

Robinson Cano, Kevin Long.When Cano, the Orioles, Joe Girardi

Nypost.com

Business briefs

Facebook

The roadshow for Facebook’s initial public offering is scheduled to start Monday, meaning the company’s shares should begin trading on May 18, a source familiar with the process told Reuters yesterday.

Verizon

Regulators added 21 days to an informal time limit for considering Verizon Wireless’s proposed $3.6 billion airwaves purchase from cable providers led by Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

Madoff

Judge Jed Rakoff ruled that trustee Irving Picard may try to claw back fictitious profits only from the last two years before the epic Madoff fraud was disclosed in December 2008.

No see CEO

Macy’s has refused to make CEO Terry Lundgren available for a deposition in its lawsuit against Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, according to a court filing.

Play ball!

The Los Angeles Dodgers completed their $2 billion sale to a group including Guggenheim Partners and ex-basketball player Magic Johnson, allowing the team to exit bankruptcy.

Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. Click For Restrictions

Irving Picard, initial public offering, Verizon, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Comcast, Jed Rakoff, Los Angeles Dodgers, Terry Lundgren, Facebook ebook download, Guggenheim Partners

Nypost.com

Miami star Wade plays leading role in win over Knicks

MIAMI — It really was a case where the cause didn’t matter as much as the effect.

The Knicks went into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round series against the Heat last night without their superb, athletic rookie defender, Iman Shumpert. Now everyone figured Dwyane Wade, whom Shumpert would have drawn as a defensive assignment, would have been ultra-aggressive at the outset.

Wade was. But he chuckled at the notion he did so because he didn’t see Shumpert aligned against him. He did so, Wade explained, because he figured the guys in orange and blue would be trying to figure a way to snuff LeBron James, who was a one-man demolition team Saturday.

the Heat’s 104-94 win last night in Game 2 of their NBA playoff series." title="POINT TAKEN: Dwyane Wade celebrates during his 25-point effort in the Heat’s 104-94 win last night in Game 2 of their NBA playoff series." width="300" height="300" src="/rw/nypost/2012/05/01/sports/web_photos/01.2s061.WadeC--300x300.jpg" />

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

POINT TAKEN: Dwyane Wade celebrates during his 25-point effort in the Heat’s 104-94 win last night in Game 2 of their NBA playoff series.

“It’s all about the game. They were going to key on LeBron,” Wade said. “He had a very good game so I just tried to be aggressive early. The biggest thing was, I was getting touches in my sweet spot. My teammates were doing a great job of getting touches for me and passing me the ball where I could make easy shots. It was more about being aggressive.”

And yeah, it helped that Shumpert wasn’t there. But Wade went about his business early, scoring 11 of his team-high 25 points in the first quarter alone. Wade had help up and down the lineup as the Big Three played like the Big Three and the supporting cast gave tons of support. Add it all up and it more than negated the 30 points Carmelo Anthony managed for the Knicks as the Heat took a commanding 2-0 series lead with a 104-94 victory.

But it really seemed to start with Wade, and everybody followed. “He’s an aggressive player,” James (19 points) said of Wade. “D-Wade is a great player. He saw I had it going in Game 1. He kind of let me do that. Same thing tonight. I saw D-Wade had it going, so I made adjustments throughout the game and I was able to focus on getting guys involved getting D-Wade involved, and let him carry the offensive load. It’s great to have that, when you have a one-two-three punch out there.’’

The three, of course, is Chris Bosh (21 points), but the Heat last night had a one, two, three, four, five, six, seven punch. But No. 1 was Wade.

“Dwyane was aggressive from the beginning. They knew it was going to put a lot of onus on LeBron tonight,” said Mike Miller. “Shumpert obviously is a great player, but D-Wade has faced great defensive players his whole career and done pretty well. He was aggressive from the start. That’s what D-Wade does.”

No matter who was guarding him. Or trying to.

fred.kerber@nypost.com

Dwyane Wade, Iman Shumpert online, Shumpert, LeBron James, Knicks, the Heat, Heat, Carmelo Anthony

Nypost.com