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New Year of Hope For Delazquez (AP) Ponca, NE - The summer of 2011 has passed, Christmas
of 2011 has passed, and now dawns a new year. A new year full of hope in the Stroker's Wild Handicapping Bonanza
for veteran handicapper Scott Delazquez. Last year was a close one for Delazquez and his counterparts but Andrew
Dangle was able to snag his third SWHB title in four years. Delazquez has different plans for this year.
He was quoted last week stating "yes I know Dangle has been unreal the last few years but it's a new year and I'm ready for
it. I plan on winning this year. Dangle didn't do anything last year that I'm not capable of doing but he
got things to go his way and that's gambling and racing, and sometimes luck. This year I plan on putting the trophy
in my bedroom so I can look at it every day" Regardless of what Delazquez has to say, Andrew Dangle, undoubtedly
will have bragging rights for at least another 730 days but this year will be the most exciting of all in the SWHB as there
is now an entry fee and trophy at stake. No timetable of when entry fees are due or what kind of trophy will be purchased
has been set in stone yet. The morning lines were released by the MGM Grand in Las Vegas yesterday morning and the oddsmakers
have listed Andrew Dangle as the 2-1 favorite, followed by Scott Delazquez at 5-1, Adam Delsormeaux at 7-1, and
Michael McLovin Minter at 50-1 (if he plays). Aside from the entry fee and trophy being introduced this year, there
has been a lot of talk about bringing in Michael "McLovin" Minter into the SWHB but it appears as though Adam Delsormeaux
does not want to be the one that introduces him to the league. There has also been speculation of Adam Delsormeaux possibly
retiring from the SWHB and training McLovin' Minter to be his predecessor in the near future since most feel that he is past
his prime, but there has been no confirmation of that to date. Either way, Vegas has enlisted odds for him incase he
is able to handicap in this year's SWHB. On a site note, McLovin' Minter is most known in the horse racing industry
as the guy who left a winninf $20 place ticket on Musket Man at HP three years ago. With the possibility of adding
Minter, a lot of other things have changed since the last season of the SWHB so this year may be wide open.
Dangle accepted a new chef position with Hy-Vee but will that play into his handicapping availability? Delsormeaux's
son is now almost 15 months so the days of no sleep are past him so this should allow more time to handicap. Delazquez's
second child will be born any day now and along with a 14 month old, will he have any time to handicap races and it's also
worth noting that Delazquez no longer has HRTV. Early Tuesday morning, Delazquez stated "I'm looking
forward to a big year! This is the year that I blow the door off of the SWHB and break a lot of records.
I have a lot of respect for Andrew Dangle but little to none for Adam Delsormeaux because he shows no respect to
me regarding my handicapping abilities". Only time will tell who takes home the 2012 SWHB title. Will
Andrew Dangle win his fourth title in five years and possibly end the SWHB due to lack of competitiveness? Will
Scott Delazquez finally get over the hump and put together a string of solid weeks? Or will Adam Delsormeaux silence
his critics and prove that he's back and take home his first title since the inaugural year in 2007? Oh boy, oh boy,
it'll be a great season either way! - - Rico Suave, AP Writer
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