Monticello Results

WEATHER Clear TRACK Fast

FIRST-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 12:53 TIME: 1:56.2

4

Rich NFlashy(MForte)

3.90

3.10

2.40

6

Super Killean (G Merton)

4.80

3.30

3

Arts Mattjesty (J Primeau)

3.50

* Perfecta (4-6) $29.60 * Trifecta (4-6-3) $109.50 * Superfecta (4-6-3-1) $266.00

SECOND-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2000)

OFF: 1:13 TIME: 1:57.4

1

VlvtySmoth(WPrkrJr)

11.80

5.40

3.40

4

Bouncy Three (J Marohn)

6.30

3.60

3

Classy Ivory (J Taggart Jr)

2.20

* Perfecta (1-4) $67.50 * Trifecta (1-4-3) $137.00 * Daily double (4-1) $24.00 * Superfecta (1-4-3-2) $267.00

THIRD-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2300)

OFF: 1:31 TIME: 1:58.0

4

Kyrah Can(CStratton)

8.00

4.80

4.60

3

Ges Jody (M Merton)

9.30

6.60

2

We Shall See N (M Forte)

7.00

* Perfecta (4-3) $82.50 * Trifecta (4-3-2) $481.00 * Pick 3 (4-1-4) $149.50 * Superfecta (4-3-2-7) $1,447.00

FOURTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 1:49 TIME: 1:59.2

4

BlndSptHnvr(CStrttn)

3.60

2.50

2.20

5

Coracamm (J Taggart Jr)

10.40

4.80

2

Aunt Faith (M Forte)

2.20

* Perfecta (4-5) $32.80 * Trifecta (4-5-2) $60.00 * Pick 3 (1-4-4) $119.00 * Superfecta (4-5-2-1) $226.50

FIFTH-mile; pace; $4300; cond

OFF: 2:06 TIME: 1:55.0

3

OrrHnover(WPrkerJr)

4.00

2.80

2.10

1

Snap Out Of It (J TaggartJr)

7.20

3.10

2

Joans Bad Boy (J Marohn Jr)

2.40

* Perfecta (3-1) $23.20 * Trifecta (3-1-2) $57.00 * Pick 3 (4-4-3) $55.50 * Superfecta (3-1-2-6) $624.00

Winner picked by Little

SIXTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 2:26 TIME: 1:57.2

5

WstrnDncng(KSwtzrJr)

4.10

2.50

2.10

4

Urbani (M Forte)

3.10

2.60

3

Lightning Madison (T Finch)

4.40

* Perfecta (5-4) $11.00 * Trifecta (5-4-3) $51.50 * Daily double (3-5) $9.30 * Pick 3 (4-3-5) $29.00 * Superfecta (5-4-3-2) $275.00

SEVENTH-,mile; pace; $10000; cl($4000)

OFF: 2:46 TIME: 1:55.4

5

JezlThoryA(JMrohnJr)

3.90

2.70

2.30

8

Delco Tross (W Parker Jr)

10.60

7.90

2

Rare Display (G Annaloro)

5.70

* Perfecta (5-8) $55.00 * Trifecta (5-8-2) $355.00 * Pick 3 (3-5-5) $21.00 * Superfecta (5-8-2-1) $1,185.00

Winner picked by Little

EIGHTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:11 TIME: 1:56.2

5

Jadestone(KSwtzerJr)

3.90

2.40

2.10

6

FourStarTommy(GAnnloro)

12.80

7.40

4

C A Marauder (M Merton)

2.40

* Perfecta (5-6) $66.50 * Trifecta (5-6-1) $209.00 * Pick 3 (5-5-5) $15.80 * Superfecta (5-6-4-7) $1,678.00

Winner picked by Little

NINTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:30 TIME: 1:56.1

4

ThgsLftUnsd(JMrhnJr)

16.20

5.20

4.50

5

Act of Heaven (W ParkerJr)

3.40

3.60

7

Sixth Sense (M Forte)

5.30

* Perfecta (4-5) $73.50 * Trifecta (4-5-7) $462.50 * Daily double (5-4) $45.00 * Pick 3 (5-5-4) $61.50 * Superfecta (4-5-7-1) $3,032.00

TENTH-mile; trot; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:52 TIME: 1:59.1

4

HvnAndHll(JMrohnJr)

8.50

3.80

3.10

3

Majestics Joy (M Forte)

3.10

2.50

6

Swing And A Hit (S Bouchard)

6.00

* Perfecta (4-3) $29.80 * Trifecta (4-3-6) $190.00 * Pick 3 (5-4-4) $131.00 * Superfecta (4-3-6-5) $908.00

ELEVENTH-mile; pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 4:11 TIME: 1:55.4

1

WnsmthMlly(JTggrtJr)

7.10

3.40

2.30

2

CommuntySprt(JMarohnJr)

2.90

2.30

6

You Cant Fool Me (G Merton)

2.60

* Perfecta (1-2) $19.40 * Trifecta (1-2-6) $77.00 * Pick 3 (4-4-1) $161.00 * Superfecta (1-2-6-3) $323.50

TWELFTH-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2300)

OFF: 4:31 TIME: 1:56.2

3

Dntmkmlgh(JTggrtJr)

6.90

4.60

2.50

6

Im All Sporty (W Parker Jr)

5.00

5.00

1

B Major (M Forte)

4.30

* Perfecta (3-6) $39.80 * Trifecta (3-6-1) $172.50 * Pick 3 (4-1-3) $129.50 * Superfecta (3-6-1-8) $2,758.00

THIRTEENTH-mile; pace; $4000; cond

OFF: 4:54 TIME: 1:55.4

8

My Edward(GMerton)

41.40

13.80

11.20

4

LuckyAcquisiton(MMerton)

19.60

7.80

1

May Day Jojo (G Annaloro)

3.00

* Perfecta (8-4) $707.00 * Trifecta (8-4-1) $1,664.00 * Pick 3 (1-3-8) $1,006.00 * Superfecta (8-4-1-2) $42,071.00 *

ATTENDANCE N/A.

HANDLE $631,876.

Trifecta, M Merton ebook download, M Merton, M Forte, J Taggart Jr, Superfecta

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Feds rest vs. Rocket

WASHINGTON — It took 23 witnesses over 19 days of testimony for prosecutors to make their case against Roger Clemens, with three jurors and two minor pieces of the indictment dismissed by the time they were done. With the overlong-running trial now in its seventh week and Clemens’ lawyers starting to take their turn, the case remains centered on the credibility of one person — Brian McNamee.

The government rested yesterday in the perjury trial of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, wrapping up with a witness from Wall Street and two from the FBI. Two invoked the name of McNamee, the longtime Clemens strength coach who says he injected the ex-pitcher with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and with human growth hormone in 2000.

The defense is expected to take about two weeks to call its witnesses.

Clemens is charged with two counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction of Congress. All relate to his testimony at a hearing in February 2008 and his deposition that preceded it.

The heart of the case is the allegation Clemens lied when he said he had never used steroids or HGH, but the obstruction count included 15 statements, or “acts,” in which Clemens is alleged to have misled Congress on a variety of issues. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton dismissed two of those acts yesterday.

The first dismissed act dealt with Clemens’ claim that he had “no idea” former Sen. George Mitchell wanted to talk with him in preparation for the 2007 Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball. The government couldn’t prove otherwise because some of its evidence was ruled inadmissible due to rules over attorney-client privilege.

The second dismissed act deals with Clemens’ statement in his 2008 deposition that: “I couldn’t tell you the first thing about [HGH].” The judge said that statement could be misinterpreted because it was asked in the contest of whether Clemens had ever done any research into HGH.

Thirteen alleged misleading statements remain in the charges. The government only needs to prove one to gain a conviction for obstruction of Congress.

Bonds wants back in game

Five years removed from his playing days and 14 months from his felony obstruction conviction, Barry Bonds wouldn’t mind improving his public image.

The home-run king took in his first Giants game of the season Monday, and told reporters he’s interested in returning to the organization to help big-leaguers and minor-leaguers.

Bonds said he doesn’t worry about his chances for the Hall of Fame — he’ll be on the ballot for the first time later this year — but added, “It would be very sad if it didn’t happen.”

Roger Clemens, District Judge Reggie Walton, perjury trial, obstruction, government

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Federer matches Connors

PARIS — Third-seeded Roger Federer defeated Tobias Kamke of Germany 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round at the French Open yesterday in Paris to tie Jimmy Connors’ Open-era record of 233 Grand Slam match wins.

“They’re never easy, those first rounds, you know. Last thing you want is to go down a set or [get] in a tough situation, but I was able to stay ahead in the first set. Had bits of ups and downs on my serve,” Federer said. “But overall, I’m happy I’m through. Sometimes you have to come through when you’re not playing your very best.”

Novak Djokovic, the men’s top seed, coasted past Potito Starace of Italy 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-1.

Other seeded winners among the men included No. 7 Tomas Berdych, No. 10 John Isner, No. 11 Gilles Simon, No. 19 Milos Raonic, No. 20 Marcel Granollers, No. 22 Andreas Seppi, No. 24 Philipp Kohlschreiber and No. 25 Bernard Tomic.

Among the women, No. 1 Victoria Azarenka won 12 of the last 14 games to beat Alberta Brianti of Italy 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-2.

Other seeded winners were No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 7 Li Na, No. 8 Marion Bartoli, No. 15 Dominika Cibulkova, No. 18 Flavia Pennetta and No. 19 Jelena Jankovic.

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Roger Federer, Federer, Novak Djokovic, Tobias Kamke, Potito Starace, Victoria Azarenka, Tomas Berdych, Marcel Granollers, Dominika Cibulkova, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Andreas Seppi

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Phils’ ace exits with sore shoulder

Roy Halladay gave up a grand slam to Yadier Molina in an abbreviated two-inning start before leaving with shoulder soreness, and the Cardinals avoided a four-game sweep with an 8-3 win over the Phillies yesterday in St. Louis.

The Phillies, who begin a three-game set with the Mets starting today at Citi Field, were looking for their first four-game sweep in St. Louis in 99 years.

Halladay (4-5) departed with a 3.98 ERA after an outing that matched the second-shortest outing of his career. The team said the two-time Cy Young winner was taken out as a precautionary measure.

ROY HALLADAY
Examination tomorrow.

“Worried? Yeah, definitely, I’m concerned,” said manager Charlie Manuel, whose club already is without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. “Pitching is one of the big things on our club and when guys miss a turn, it concerns me.”

Halladay said the soreness comes from the back of the shoulder. He anticipates an examination tomorrow.

“I’m hoping it’s something we can just calm down quickly and get back out there,” the pitcher said. “It’s not to the point where I’m in agony throwing pitches.”

Nationals 7, Braves 2

In Atlanta, Bryce Harper hit his second homer in two days and Gio Gonzalez (7-1) gave up only one hit in seven innings as Washington (29-18) completed a three-game sweep.

Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 3

In Phoenix, Aaron Hill went 3 -for- 4 with a pair of doubles and Arizona rallied to beat Milwaukee

Giants 3, Marlins 2

In Miami, Melky Cabrera tied a career high with four hits, including a home run, and scored all three runs for San Francisco.

Reds 7, Rockies 5

In Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips hit a three-run homer to help the Reds outslug the Rockies in a game that set a record for Great American Ball Park with nine home runs.

Dodgers 5, Astros 1

In Los Angeles, Jerry Hairston Jr. got a career-high five hits, Chris Capuano (7-1) won again and the Dodgers beat the Astros.

Pirates 10, Cubs 4

In Pittsburgh, Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones homered, Erik Bedard pitched six shutout innings and the Pirates sent the Cubs to their 12th consecutive defeat.

Rays 4, Red Sox 3

In Boston, Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Boston closer Alfredo Aceves, and Tampa Bay rallied one day day after losing in the final inning.

Royals 4, Orioles 2

In Baltimore, Jeff Francoeur and Billy Butler hit home runs, and Alcides Escobar had two hits to lead Kansas City.

Tigers 4, Twins 3

In Minneapolis, Miguel Cabrera’s two-run, one-out homer in the ninth inning lifted Detroit.

White Sox 12, Indians 6

In Chicago, Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead three-run homer and the White Sox routed Cleveland to complete a three-game sweep.

Rangers 12, Blue Jays 6

In Arlington, Adrian Beltre homered in a seven-run second inning, Yu Darvish posted his seventh victory and the Rangers completed a three-game sweep.

Angels 4, Mariners 2

Kendrys Morales had three hits, including a home run, scored twice and drove in two runs to help the Angels complete their first four-game road sweep of the Mariners in 27 years.

Roy Halladay, Yadier Molina, Phillies, ninth inning, shoulder soreness, Chase Utley, Bryce Harper, Melky Cabrera, online

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Gee feels at home

Dillon Gee’s struggles had been so deep, he called his mechanics “out of whack’’ and labeled himself “lost.”

But last night, he turned in his best start of the year for his first home win of the season, pitching the Mets to a 6-1 win over San Diego.

The right-hander struck out a career-high nine batters in a season-high seven innings, winning back-to-back starts for the first time in almost a year, and even doubled and scored the go-ahead run.

Whatever Gee (4-3) had lost, he found after the first inning, slowing down his delivery and shutting down the Padres.

“My mechanics have been all out of whack,’’ said Gee, 26. “I’m not out there throwing 95, so I rely on my mechanics to get me through games. Lately I was up in [the] zone a lot, mechanically I just felt out of whack, out of sync.

“My right foot didn’t know what my left foot was doing. I just felt lost, really, to be honest. I’ve been searching for the past couple weeks. Sometimes the best medicine is to put everything down and say ‘Screw it’, go out there the next day.’’

Gee — thrust into the fourth starter role afterMike Pelfrey’s season-ending injury — was 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA through his first seven starts. But he bounced back with a win at Toronto, which was followed by last night’s gem.

He got a great catch against the wall that was turned into a double play by left fielder Mike Baxter in the first and, after the inning, pitching coach Dan Warthen told Gee to slow down his delivery. He proceeded to throw six straight scoreless innings.

After walking Chase Headley in the seventh and falling behind John Baker 1-0, catcher Rob Johnson went to the mound and reiterated the same advice, to stay back and not get so far out in front with his delivery. Gee proceeded to strike out the side.

“The mental side of that is you continue to fight, [think] I’m not throwing strikes, I’ve got to throw harder,” said Johnson. “The mental stuff is slow your body down, regain your thoughts and make your pitch.

“The natural thought is go harder, instead of going easier. Less is more. But I reminded him ... stay back over the rubber and come to me. And he made a beautiful adjustment.’’

brian.lewis@nypost.com

Dillon Gee, mechanics online

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Callahan a standout in tough Rangers loss

It was a performance exemplifying Ryan Callahan’s Ranger captaincy in all but one facet — his team lost.

Last night at the Garden, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Devils, Callahan was the best player on the ice just about every time his skates came over the boards. But he was only one man, and after a 5-3 loss, his team now stares elimination in the face for the third time in as many playoff series, down 3-2 in this Battle of the Hudson.

“We’ve just got to win one game,” Callahan said. “We’ve been in this situation in the Ottawa series. We’ve just got to win one road game.”

NHLI via Getty Images

CHECK YOURSELF: Ryan Callahan sends Marek Zidlicky into the boards during last night’s 5-3 Devils victory in Game 5 at the Garden.

That Ottawa series was the first time Callahan and his Blueshirts faced a summer of watching instead of playing, losing that Game 5 in a similar fashion before going on to win Games 6 and 7 for their only consecutive victories within a series this postseason. That was followed by a seven-game series against the Capitals during which wins were alternated and the Rangers prevailed by winning Game 7 at home.

Now, with tomorrow night’s Game 6 at the Prudential Center, they are again on the edge, teetering with a history that will paint their rugged style of play — exemplified by Callahan — as too draining to sustain throughout a long playoff run.

“We’ve been good on the road all year,” Callahan said, who finished with a game-high six hits. “We’ll go in there and try to win a game and bring it back here.”

In the first period, with his team having given up three goals in the first 10 minutes, it was Callahan’s new line with Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky that began to fight back. The small change in momentum resulted in a breakaway goal for Brandon Prust, who cut the lead to 3-1 as the first period ended.

STANLEY CUP SCHEDULE

“There wasn’t too much said in the room,” Callahan said about the first intermission. “We knew the situation we were in. We knew we had to try to claw our way back, and we did that.”

It started with Callahan, the 27-year-old from Rochester in his first season with the ‘C’ on his sweater, as he charged to the goal just 32 seconds into the second period and managed to redirect an Anisimov centering feed off his skate and past Martin Brodeur.

The play was reviewed to see if Callahan had kicked it in, but when the goal was upheld, the Devils’ lead was sliced to 3-2. As he has so many times this season, Callahan had the Garden fans standing and cheering in full voice.

“He played well,” coach John Tortorella said. “He found a way to score a goal.”

Three minutes later, while on the power play, Callahan muscled his way to a loose puck just left of the crease, Brodeur down on the ice after stopping a hard low shot from Brad Richards.

With the gaping net in front of him, just a flick of the wrist away from tying the game, Callahan corralled the puck on his backhand and lifted it high.

The ding from the crossbar was loud enough to hear near the Garden roof, and for the guy who hasn’t scored an even-strength goal with an opposing goalie in net since the first game of the playoffs, Lady Luck kept him that close from full-on hero status.

“He did all the things you need to do as a leader to try and get us a win, right to the bitter end,” Tortorella said. “He’ll do the same thing next game.”

bcyrgalis@nypost.com

Ryan Callahan online, Callahan, the Devils

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Liberty drop to 0-3 with loss to Lynx

Minnesota got off to a slow start over the first 15 minutes against the Liberty. Then the Lynx showed why they’re the defending champions.

Seimone Augustus scored 22 points and the Lynx cruised to a 80-62 victory over the Liberty on Tuesday night. Maya Moore had 15 points, Rebekkah Brunson scored 14 and Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

With the score tied at 29 midway through the second quarter, Minnesota (2-0) took control with a 17-4 run that lasted into the start of the third. The Liberty pulled within eight in the final minute of the period, but the Lynx took a double-digit lead into to fourth and New York got no closer than 10 again.

“We just had to pick it up,” Augustus said. “We felt really sloppy. We weren’t executing as good as we should have, we weren’t really dictating on the defensive end. ... They got a lot of easy baskets, got the ball where they wanted it to go. Most importantly, we want to get the easy shots.”

Even with the sluggish start, Minnesta shot 60 percent (18 for 30) from the field in the first half and finished at 52 percent (32 for 62).

“It felt good, I didn’t know it was that good,” Augustus said of the Lynx’s first-half shooting. “Being paitent on offense, making the extra pass. ... Their defense is so intense, they try to keep you on one side of the court.”

Cappie Pondexter scored 15 points on 6-for-23 shooting, including 1 for 7 on 3-pointers, to lead the Liberty (0-3) Essence Carson added 13 points and Kia Vaughn grabbed 11 rebounds. New York shot 34 percent (25 for 74), including 5 for 21 from beyond the arc.

“We are figuring it all out,” Pondexter said. “I do not want to go into a game and shoot 23 times. That is not my game. ... I think going into Atlanta (on Friday) we have to pound the ball inside. We have a lot of key big players. We need to make an impact inside. That way we can get an open shot and not make it hard for the perimeter.”

After trailing 46-33 early in the third quarter, Nicole Powell’s 3 — attempting a pass for an alley-oop that swished in the basket instead — pulled the Liberty within eight with about 7 minutes remaining. However, the Lynx scored the next six points and took a 52-38 lead on Augustus’ free throw for a technical on Powell with 4:48 to go in the period.

The Liberty made a run and cut it to 58-50 on Pondexter’s 3 with 20 seconds left in the third. But the Lynx came back with four points in the final 2 seconds of the quarter. After McWilliams-Franklin made two free throws to give Minnesota a 10-point lead, Plenette Pierson overthrew Leilani Mitchell on a long inbounds pass that went out at the other end of the court without time running down.

On the Lynx’s ensuing inbounds under the Liberty basket, Brunson’s tip went off the backboard and Moore grabbed it and layed it up as the buzzer sounded.

“At times, I saw us play well defensively, but we are still struggling with maintaining a good cohesive movement,” New York coach John Whisenant said. “We had difficulty maintaining defensive intensity and stopping the break. We gave up way too many points that way.”

Minnesota scored six consecutive points to take a 68-52 lead on Augustus’ jumper with 5 1/2 minutes remaining. Her jumper with just under 2 minutes to go made it 76-56, the Lynx’s biggest lead of the game.

Despite the easy win, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve still found something she didn’t like in the stats — the Liberty got 14 offensive rebounds.

“We’re not where we want to be,” she said. “Fourteen offensive rebounds is not the trademark of our team. We certainly had some good moments, but we like to be talking about a win and saying we have to get better, rather than losing and saying we heave to get better. We still have a long way to go.”

Brunson got the Lynx started on their big run with a jumper to put the Lynx ahead with 4:51 to go in the second quarter, and her layup layup made it 37-29 just 2 minutes later.

Pondexter and Mitchell made baskets about a minute apart to pull New York within four.

However, Minnesota scored the next seven points to take a 44-33 lead at the break. Augustus gave the Lynx their double-digit lead with her layup on a pass from Moore under the basket on a 2-on-1 fastbreak with 22 seconds remaining in the half.

“Once we got the ball moving a little big ... started play off our defense, getting out and running and creating outnumbered situations, things got a little bit easier for us,” Reeve said.

Whalen’s layup extended the lead to 13 less than 30 seconds into the third quarter.

Lynx, the Liberty, the Liberty, the Liberty, New York, New York, Cappie Pondexter, Minnesota, Minnesota, Maya Moore, Liberty, Rebekkah Brunson

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Ike quiet on talk with Mets manager

PITTSBURGH — Ike Davis wasn’t about to get specific yesterday about his meeting with manager Terry Collins the previous day.

The struggling Mets first baseman was succinct when asked what was discussed.

“The same [bleep] I’ve been talking about for days,” Davis said before the Mets beat the Pirates 3-2 last night at PNC Park.

BOX SCORE

Davis returned to the starting lineup after getting benched against Pirates lefty Erik Bedard and finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, dropping his average to .156. That includes only two hits in his last 32 at-bats.

But Collins isn’t thinking in terms of batting average with Davis.

“Sunday we saw a guy actually go up there in Toronto and try to hit the ball to left field, and he hit two balls on the button,” Collins said.

“I told him [Monday] that was great, but if you think for one second we want you to become a singles hitter, you’re sadly mistaken.

“That is defeating the entire purpose of what his value is to this team, so now are we asking him to do something that’s going to keep him from being successful [with batting average]? That is the fine line we walk at times.”

* According to a team official, the Mets have no interest in Staten Island native Jason Marquis, who was designated for assignment by the Twins.

“We’ve been down that road a couple of times,” the official said, referring to discussions in recent years about signing the veteran right-hander, who had wanted a return to his New York roots.

Marquis was 2-4 with an 8.47 ERA in seven starts for the Twins this season.

* David Wright had a rare hitless game, finishing 0-for-4, and watched his average dip to .403. Wright has been above .400 since May 12.

* Tim Byrdak began last night’s action as the major league leader with 20 inherited runners stranded. He then entered in the eighth against the Pirates, behind Jon Rauch, and stranded another.

* Ruben Tejada [quadriceps] had four hits in an extended spring game yesterday. The Mets are hopeful the shortstop will return from the disabled list by the weekend.

manager Terry Collins, Ike Davis, the Pirates, the Pirates, Mets, the Mets, Pirates lefty Erik Bedard, Jason Marquis, David Wright

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Putin Reappoints Old Names

MOSCOW—The founder of a Kremlin youth group notorious for harassing Western diplomats and opposition figures announced Monday he is forming a "Party of Power" to shore up support for President Vladimir Putin, whose own political party dominates parliament but is deeply unpopular.

Critics of Mr. Putin dismissed the venture by Vasily Yakemenko, the acting head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, as window dressing for a political system that offers the trappings of a Western-style democracy without real competition.

The Kremlin disqualified all serious opposition candidates from the March presidential election that ushered Mr. Putin into a new six-year term, and since then he has rejected the democratic changes demanded by demonstrators in the largest street protests since the fall of the Soviet Union.

On Monday, Mr. Putin announced a cabinet comprised mostly of longtime protégés. He reappointed key ministers in defense, finance and foreign relations, and gave the interior minister portfolio to the Moscow police chief who cracked down on street protests of recent months. Vladislav Surkov, an architect of Russia's system of tight political controls that the Kremlin calls "sovereign democracy," will remain a deputy prime minister.

One new appointee to the ministry of culture is a high-level official from Mr. Putin's United Russia party, who has lately called for the government to play a greater role in producing patriotic films and literature. "Stalin knew a lot about ideology and brainwashing," the official,Vladimir Medinsky, told a regional newspaper in February. "Now everything is left to chance, and efficiency has of course gone through the floor."

While the Kremlin has contained street protests in recent months, it has fretted publicly about the foundering appeal of United Russia. In December, the party won only a thin majority in parliament, despite widespread reports of vote fraud that election observers said favored the government.

Outrage over that election touched off the protests that have been held periodically since then. Mr. Putin's concern about social unrest contributed to his decision stay at home during G-8 meeting in the U.S. over the weekend, some Kremlin-watchers say.

On Monday, Mr. Yakemenko, the youth affairs chief, said he didn't think that United Russia could prevail in the next parliamentary elections in 2016 and that other parties in parliament have "nothing to offer young people."

Mr. Yakemenko has founded two pro-Kremlin groups—"Walking Together," and Nashi, or "Our Guys"—since Mr. Putin came to power 12 years ago, and is seen as a confidante of the president. He said the new Party of Power will draw on voters disenchanted with United Russia, even those who have been attending anti-Putin protests in recent months.

He declined to say how much the project would be supported and financed by the Kremlin. But he said: "I agreed on this political decision with the Kremlin, and I met with support there."

The Kremlin has in recent years floated a number of political groups to mobilize the electorate and often discarded them as they have foundered or failed to gain much appeal. Last year, Mr. Putin created an "All-Russia People's Front" to bring new people and ideas into his United Russia party, but the group never became an party itself.

Tycoon and Nets basketball team owner Mikhail Prokhorov was viewed by many as a Kremlin puppet when he registered as a presidential candidate this year. After coming in a distant third in the March vote, he has disappointed many supporters by repeatedly delaying plans to form a political party. In April he said he may opt instead for an apolitical nongovernment organization.

Mr. Yakemenko has proved an effective and loyal organizer, said Gleb Pavlovsky, a one-time Kremlin adviser who now works as an independent analyst. But Mr. Yakemenko's skills as the leader of a political party are untested, he added.

"It is too early to say whether this will be effective on any level," said Mr. Pavlovsky. "Right now it seems he is the speaker of this project, and maybe not even the author of it."

Mr. Yakemenko's past work has been an irritant to relations between Russia and the West. Members of his youth groups have pelted the embassy of Estonia in Moscow with bottles of paint and have been accused of carrying out physical attacks on members of Russia's political opposition. Mr. Yakemenko denies the allegations.

Mt. Yakemenko has routinely accused the U.S. of trying to foment revolution in Russia, and his followers have trailed the Moscow-based ambassadors of the U.K. and, more recently, the U.S. as they went to meetings with civil-society officials and businessmen in the Russian capital.

At his press conference Monday, Mr. Yakemenko said the platform of his Party of Power will take shape in meetings in the coming months. But he said that the party will appeal to older Russians as well as the young, and that it will be a training ground for future leaders and public servants.

He declined to say whether the party would support Mr. Putin personally. But he said that former President Dmitry Medvedev, who stepped down to make way for Mr. Putin's return to the Kremlin earlier month, failed in his campaign to modernize Russia.

"During Dmitry Medvedev's presidency, modernization remained but a dream," he said. "It didn't reflect the interests of the majority."

Write to Alan Cullison at alan.cullison@wsj.com

A version of this article appeared May 22, 2012, on page A13 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Putin Reappoints Old Names As Kremlin Ally Starts Party.

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Parise back to old self

Zach Parise’s disappearing act following Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the Rangers was a rare occurrence for the Devils captain.

But Parise was back on speaking terms with the media yesterday and addressed his decision not to talk following Game 3, a loss that saw the Devils fall behind two games to one in this Battle of the Hudson.

“I probably would have said something that I’d regret,” Parise said. “I was upset about how the game went. I just wanted to get out of there . . . I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

Parise hasn’t been able to put his mark on the series so far. Ryan McDonagh broke up a breakaway opportunity in Game 1, and he has just one assist and is minus-4 in the first three games.

But the 27-year-old, who will be a free agent this summer, still likes his team’s chances over the remainder of the series.

“We didn’t give them anything, really,” Parise said. “I’d much rather be getting chances and not scoring than not getting chances ... we have to take advantage.”

Parise’s teammates are still behind him, as well.

“He’s a grown man,” said Ilya Kovalchuk. “That’s his decision. He’s a great captain, and he’s our leader . . . I’m pretty sure you guys know him as a great human being and great leader and sportsman.

“He chose to do that, and we support him 100 percent.”

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Banks spend big to prop up Facebook shares on first day of trading

It was another Wall Street bailout — but this time the banks had to cough up the cash.

Facebook’s underwriters propped up the social-network’s trading debut yesterday, as the shares threatened to crash through the initial public offering price of $38.

The banks working on the massive $16 billion IPO, including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, did their duty by buying up large blocks of Facebook stock toward the end of the day to support the price.

Facebook shares opened up 11 percent at $42.05, and traded as high as $45, before running out of steam, disappointing investors hoping for a big first-day pop. The shares closed up just 0.6 percent at $38.23.

Without the bank bailout, Facebook’s IPO would have been a loser on the day, Wall Street insiders said.

The heavy buying, however, cut into the banks’ already meager fees on the deal. The underwriters agreed to accept a smaller cut — just 1.1 percent of the $16 billion Facebook raised in the IPO — in order to land the high-profile assignment.

After splitting $176 million in fees, the firms likely spent more than they made in fees by buying the swooning stock. Sam Hamadeh, CEO of research firm Privco, believes the banks spent around $380 million on Facebook stock.

“On the heels of JPMorgan’s $2 billion ‘hedging’ trading loss, tThe underwriters have used up all the fees they made on the Facebook deal just to buy and prop up the stock to prevent a busted IPO,” said Hamadeh.

Another source said that the banks took a substantial hit yesterday, which started strong despite glitches that delayed Nasdaq trading in Facebook shares by 30 minutes past their 11 a.m. scheduled debut.

While there was plenty of finger-pointing yesterday, many blamed the bankers for setting the price too high to allow for upside. The IPO share priced at the high end of the $34 to $38 range, which had been raised from an initial range of $28 to $35.

The bankers were wary of pricing the shares too low, leaving money on the table and leading to an outrageous first-day pop. They were shooting for a modest first-day gain in the range of 5 percent to 10 percent.

Still, some observers heaped scorn on Facebook insiders who dumped their shares, saying it was a red flag that weighed on the stock.

Facebook had increased the number of shares being sold in the IPO by 25 percent, to 425 million, with most of the additional float coming from early investors looking to cash out.

The company’s sky-high valuation also made some investors queasy. At $38 a share, Facebook is valued at $104 billion — even though it only made $3.7 billion last year.

Facebook’s big day was a drag on other tech stocks. Trading in shares of Zynga was halted yesterday after a sharp drop, and the stock closed down 13.4 percent at $7.16. China’s social network RenRen was also down more than 20 percent, to $4.93.

gsloane@nypost.com

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The Post Line

NBA Playoffs

Favorite

Line

Underdog

76ERS

2

Celtics

LAKERS

2 1/2

Thunder

NHL Playoffs

Tomorrow

Favorite

Line

Underdog

DEVILS

$110-130

Rangers

Soccer
UEFA Champions League Final
Tomorrow

Favorite

Line

Underdog

BAYERN MUNICH

$175-225

Chelsea

Home team in CAPS

Champions League FinalTomorrowFavoriteLineUnderdogBAYERN, NBA

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CHSAA baseball roundup: Moore overtakes Sea for first place on Island

Staten Island has a new first-place team.

Shea Spitzbarth gave up two earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts to lead Moore Catholic to a 5-3 win over St. Joseph by the Sea in CHSAA Staten Island ‘AA’ baseball Monday in Huguenot.

Joe Todaro and Chris Goetz each had two RBIs and John Baggs clocked a home run for Moore (11-1), which takes over first place heading into a game with Monsignor Farrell on Tuesday and a rematch with St. Joseph by the Sea on Wednesday. The Mavericks control their own destiny and with two victories they’ll win the division title.

Joe Santigate and Mike Leone each had RBIs for Sea (11-2), which has now lost two of its last three games. Liam Vogt started and gave up five runs on 10 hits in seven innings.

Iona Prep 7, Archbishop Stepinac 6: Christian Berg had two RBIs and Cody Polchinski, Vinny DeMaria, Mike Briganti and Dan Fischer all had two hits apiece for Iona (11-5). Vinny Martin got the win with two scoreless innings of relief and Tim McCarthy gave up one run on three hits with six strikeouts in four innings. James Decker had two RBIs for Stepinac (7-9).

Cardinal Spellman 15, Mount St. Michael 2: Jason Polgano had two hits and an RBI and only gave up two runs on five hits pitching in his first game up from the JV for Spellman (8-8). John Russo had a bases-clearing double and Steve Rodriguez added a big RBI hit. Mount is 1-13.

St. Francis Prep 2, St. Edmund Prep 1 (8 innings): Justin Teitelbaum gave up just one run on two hits with five strikeouts in eight innings to lead SFP (10-4). Steve Pelan had two hits and scored the winning run on Bobby Perretti’s walk-off single. St. Edmund is 2-13.

Archbishop Molloy 2, Holy Cross 1: Mike Rogers drove in the tying run in the sixth and Jamal Waire plated the winning run in the top of the seventh for Molloy (9-6). Donovan Armas gave up just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and John Sideris and Jonathan Ramon, making his season debut, each had a hit. Cross is 7-7.

Monsignor Farrell 7, St. Peter’s 0: Peter Kennedy and Nick Festa had two RBIs apiece to lead Farrell (6-8), which clinched a playoff spot with the victory. Kevin Garzone gave up no runs on four hits and four walks and struck out six in six innings. St. Peter’s finishes its season 4-9 and will miss the playoffs.

Bishop Ford 5, Christ the King 4: Matt Chavez went 3-for-4 and drove in Will Garces for the game-winning run with a triple for Ford (10-6). Helbert Estevez gave up no runs on one hit with six strikeouts in four innings of relief to pick up the victory. Danny Arroyo and Garces both tripled and scored in a three-run fifth. CK is 2-14.

Regis 4, Xavier 3: Aidan Hone gave up no earned runs on two hits in 4-1/3 innings in his first varsity start to pick up the win at MCU Park for Regis (4-10), which swept the season series against its rival. Mike Comiskey allowed no runs and just a walk with three strikeouts in 2-2/3 innings for the save and John Roque had a two-RBI single to break up a 2-all tie in the third. J.P. Ramirez started for Xavier (7-8).

CHSAA CLASS A

LaSalle 13, Sacred Heart 1: Jason Negron gave up one unearned run on two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in five innings to lead LaSalle (5-3). Victor Rosario went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base and Josh Smith went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a walk, two RBIs and a stolen base. Eric Hernandez was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Danny Colon went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Sacred Heart is 4-4.

OTHER SCORES

Fordham Prep 13, Salesian 1

Cardinal Hayes 5, All Hallows 4

mraimondi@nypost.com

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Yankees must outslug foes to have chance

Kevin Kernan
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BALTIMORE — There have been too many excuses and not enough wins for the Yankees.

It’s time to make a move and there is only one way that will happen, the Yankees must out-slug their opponents. There are too many pitching injuries. Ivan Nova had to leave last night with ankle woes and David Robertson has pain in his left rib cage, meaning Rafael Soriano is the back-to-the-future closer.

The offense has to come through like it did last night for the Yankees to excel.

For that to happen, the Yankees need Mark Teixeira to produce like he did last night, blasting a two-run home run in the seventh off reliever Luis Ayala deep into the right-field seats to snap a 5-5 tie to lead the Yankees to an 8-5 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.

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TAKE A DEEP BREATH: Mark Teixeira, who has been struggling with breathing problems this season, watches his two-run home run during the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 8-5 victory over the Orioles last night.

As Teixeira rounded the bases, up in Section 32, about 30 rows from the field, Teixeira’s mom and dad and other family members celebrated in the quietest of ways. There were smiles of satisfaction, but no cheers, no high fives.

The parents, John and Margy, just like the son, know that baseball is too humbling of a game to ever get too excited. John is a former Navy pilot. He knows how to keep his cool.

“I love playing here,’’ Teixeira told The Post. “My first three home run game was here when I was with the Rangers and I had a bunch of family here. It was a very special night. I’ve had some great games here. It’s a good place to be when you are back home.’’

Teixeira played baseball, basketball and soccer at Mt. St. Joseph’s High School here, graduating in 1998. The Orioles fans always let him have it when he plays here.

“My dad is a quiet, huge fan,’’ said Teixeira, who has had a trying start to the season because of inflamed bronchial airways that just won’t clear up. “He’s my No. 1 fan. I call him after every game. No matter what, he is always positive. We enjoy talking baseball after games.’’

Teixeira then smiled and said: “More after we win.’’

As Teixeira rounded the bases with his fifth home run of the season, he said there was only one thought in his mind: “7-5, against a first-place team. That’s always a good feeling.’’

The Yankees need to make a move in the AL East. They are 20-15, 1 1/2 games back of the Orioles and Rays, who are both 22-14, in the tightest of divisions.

Manager Joe Girardi knows what the Yankees have to do to have success.

“We’re a club that hits the ball out of the ballpark,’’ Girardi explained. “You look at two through seven, you can even include eight, you have guys who are 20-plus home run guys and we’re not built like the St. Louis Cardinals in the ’80s. We have to hit.’’

Yes, they do. The Yankees are 20-8 when hitting at least one home run and 0-7 in games they have failed to hit a home run. It’s home run or bust right now. Curtis Granderson also homered in the fifth.

The Yankees need to go on a roll, Girardi said.

“I think it’s important we start putting streaks together where we win seven out of nine or eight out of nine,’’ the manager noted.

The Orioles lead the majors with 56 home runs; the Rangers are second with 54 and the Yankees are third with 53 home runs.

The bottom line for the Yankees is that the big guns have to produce. Teixeira also doubled in the ninth and scored three runs.

Many big-money teams are struggling. Of the top five teams in payroll, the Yankees are the only one with a winning record. There is work to do and it is time to get on a roll. No excuses.

“I know I’m capable of a lot more,’’ Teixeira said.

These Yankees will need all that he can give.

Mark Teixeira, The Yankees, the Yankees, the Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, Teixeira

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Pettitte Testimony to Remain in Case

WASHINGTON—A federal judge on Monday said the shaky testimony of baseball pitcher Andy Pettitte against former teammate Roger Clemens could remain in the case when jurors decide whether Mr. Clemens lied to Congress about performance-enhancing drugs.

Mr. Pettitte, a close friend of Mr. Clemens who played with him on the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, had told investigators that in 1999 or 2000 Mr. Clemens admitted taking human growth hormone. On the witness stand last month, however, Mr. Pettitte backed off that claim, saying there was a 50-50 chance he misunderstood Mr. Clemens.

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Andy Pettitte leaves court after testifying in the Roger Clemens trial earlier this month.

The defense team sought to strike Mr. Pettitte's testimony about that conversation, saying Mr. Pettitte's account of the conversation was so uncertain it shouldn't be part of the case. Under the law, the standard for such evidence is whether it is at least 51% more likely true than not. Prosecutors argued the jurors should be allowed to consider the testimony and decide for themselves.

At a hearing on the issue Monday, the judge agreed with the government.

"It is for the jury to assess which version of the testimony Mr. Pettitte gave is an accurate representation of what Mr. Clemens said to him," Judge Reggie Walton ruled.

The decision means that Mr. Pettitte's testimony—once considered a pillar of the prosecution—will be used by both sides. Much of the rest of Mr. Pettitte's answers consist of him denying he saw or suspected Mr. Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs.

With Mr. Pettitte's account weighed down by uncertainty, the government's case now rests largely on the credibility of Mr. Clemens's former strength trainer, Brian McNamee. A former New York City police officer and admitted supplier of performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, Mr. McNamee is expected to take the stand later Monday.

Mr. Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, is charged with lying when he told Congress in 2008 he never used human growth hormone or steroids.

Prosecutors say they can prove those denials were lies, in part because Mr. McNamee saved items he says he used while injecting Mr. Clemens with performance-enhancing drugs. According to prosecutors, some of the materials tested positive for the drugs as well as Mr. Clemens's DNA.

Mr. Clemens's lawyers are expected to hammer away at Mr. McNamee's credibility. They have referred to the saved medical items as "a mixed-up hodgepodge of garbage'' and said the materials were contaminated by Mr. McNamee.

Mr. Clemens says Mr. McNamee injected him with vitamin B12 and the anesthetic lidocaine.

Write to Devlin Barrett at devlin.barrett@wsj.com

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NBA: League flips over coach’s flop comment

Pacers coach Frank Vogel will have to pay a $15,000 fine for comments he made Thursday about the Heat.

NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson issued the decision yesterday.

Vogel called Miami the “biggest flopping team in the NBA” and told reporters that it would be “interesting” to see how much flopping the officials reward. Vogel also accused Heat players of sliding over and falling down before contact is made.

The best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series between the teams begins today in Miami.

The league also has fined Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. $35,000 for publicly criticizing NBA officiating and making negative comments about an opposing player.

The NBA also announced Hawks rookie Ivan Johnson was fined $25,000 for directing an obscene gesture toward fans.

Gearon was quoted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as calling Celtics forward Kevin Garnett “the dirtiest guy in the league” on Wednesday. Gearon also criticized officiating in the series, won by the Celtics in six games.

In Chicago, Derrick Rose had surgery on a torn knee ligament, and the Bulls said they will give an update early next week on the recovery of their star point guard. The team said in a statement the operation was “successful” but gave no timetable for his return.

Rose tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late during a playoff-opening win over Philadelphia on April 28.

Due to a conflict with Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference final at Prudential Center, the Liberty will now play their home opener against the Connecticut Sun at 4 p.m. Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

AUTOS: Johnson wins Southern 500

In Darlington, S.C., Jimmie Johnson broke free on a restart three laps from the end in the Southern 500 and held on to give Hendrick Motorsports its 200th Sprint Cup victory.

Johnson seemed short on fuel and tires and looked vulnerable with Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch right behind and ready to pounce after Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman spun out with six laps left at Darlington Raceway.

But Stewart had trouble once the green flag dropped and Johnson flew into the lead and cruised to his first victory since last October, breaking a 16-race winless drought for the five-time NASCAR champion and the Hendrick team.

Denny Hamlin was second, followed by Stewart and Kyle Busch.

mlb: A’s center fielder Cespedes to DL

Yoenis Cespedes has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hand that has bothered the Athletics center fielder all week. Cespedes complained of discomfort in his hand after taking batting practice yesterday and was scratched from the lineup shortly before the A’s faced the Tigers.

Reds third baseman Scott Rolen returned to the 15-day disabled list because of more soreness in his left shoulder.

The 37-year-old infielder had shoulder surgery last August, but hasn’t fully recovered his swing. He called the team yesterday and suggested something had to be done.

GOLF: Del Moral sets putt mark en route to lead

In Santo de Serra, Portugal, Carlos Del Moral set a European Tour record of just 20 putts in a 9-under 63 for a three-shot lead after the third round of the Madeira Islands Open.

Swedish rookie Joakim Lagergren (70) birdied the last to move to 14 under, a shot clear of a four-way tie for third.

hockey: Canada wins to reach quarterfinals

In Helsinki, Dion Phaneuf scored twice and Devan Dubnyk stopped 24 shots to help Canada crush Kazakhstan 8-0 and reach the quarterfinals of hockey’s world championships. The Islanders’ John Tavares also scored.

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Sophomore, St. Francis Prep hand Xaverian first league loss

St. Francis Prep players have spent more time wielding rakes and shovels in the last two weeks than bats and gloves. With all the rain, attempting to play games at the Terriers’ grass field at Cunningham Park has been dicey. Three games this week alone were postponed.

“The kids get tired of fixing the field,” Bro. Robert Kent said. “They want to play.”

It certainly seemed like that Friday.

Dylan Lawrence pitched a complete-game two-hitter to lead St. Francis Prep to its biggest win of the season, 2-1 over previously undefeated Xaverian in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens ‘AA’ baseball in Fresh Meadows. Somehow, despite all the rain, SFP (9-3) has now strung seven straight wins together after starting the league season 2-3.

Robert Cole

St. Francis players celebrate their victory.

Photos: St. Francis Prep-Xaverian

Robert Cole

St. Francis Prep's Dylan Lawrence tossed a two-hitter against Xaverian.

Photos: St. Francis Prep-Xaverian

“It’s difficult to keep your rhythm, momentum,” Kent said. “We were playing good last week and this week we couldn’t even play.”

Until Friday, that is. Bobby Perretti went 2-for-3 with two triples and an RBI and John Mendez scored the winning run after a wild pickoff attempt to second.

Lawrence, though, was the story. Just a sophomore, the right-hander almost pitched this year on the JV with all his friends, but Kent brought him yp because the longtime coach felt he could help the big team. That decision is paying dividends.

“If I bring you up, you’re gonna pitch,” Kent said. “I don’t believe in moving guys up and not pitching him.”

Lawrence got his feet wet in a win against Monsignor McClancy and then beat Christ the King. Kent had enough confidence in the 10th grader to throw him into the fire against defending CHSAA Class AA intersectional champion Xaverian (12-1). Lawrence rewarded him with a brilliant outing, even picking off two batters off first.

“We found another pitcher today,” Kent said with a laugh. “That’s what happens with these rainouts.”

Indeed, with ace Taso Stathopoulos, steady Nick LoPrinzi and now Lawrence, St. Francis Prep has a staff that will be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason.

The Terriers will be right back in action Saturday morning against Archbishop Molloy and then play four games in four days next week. This victory against Xaverian doesn’t clinch second place in Brooklyn/Queens, but it puts SFP in the driver’s seat.

“It’s tremendous,” Kent said of the victory. “We’re trying to get second place, get a good spot in the playoffs.”

And perhaps the best part about the playoffs is that they’re mostly at college fields. The Terriers can leave the rakes and shovels at home.

mraimondi@nypost.com

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‘Another’ problem for trainer

Doug O’Neill is having the time of his life since saddling I’ll Have Another to win Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, but all isn’t sweetness and light.

With that victory thrusting O’Neill into the spotlight as he prepares his colt for the May 19 Preakness, the California-based trainer is being questioned about three TC02 (Total Carbon Dioxide) violations he was penalized for since 2007, and another that is pending.

In June 2007 and October 2008, O’Neill was fined by the California Horse Racing Board when his horses tested for excess levels of TCO2 in their blood. TCO2 tests are conducted to see if a horse was “milkshaked” — that is, given sodium bicarbonate — which is supposed to fight fatigue by slowing the buildup of lactic acid. In June 2010, O’Neill served a 15-day suspension for a TCO2 violation in Illinois.

There was another alleged TCO2 violation in August 2010 in California, which calls for a “minimum 90-day suspension absent mitigating circumstances” or a maximum suspension of 180 days for a third offense. O’Neill appealed the case, which is still pending, and he has sued the CHRB alleging their TCO2 testing procedure is flawed.

The answers to those questions will have to wait.

“Right now, I owe it to the owner [Paul Reddam], to the fans and to the horse to just focus in on I’ll Have Another,” O’Neill said yesterday when asked about the violations on a national media teleconference. “He went through every medication exam, every physical exam, blood, urine, every exam you can think of in all three races this year.

“They’ve done everything but pick him up by the hooves and shake his ears.

“I’ve spent a lot of money on legal fees to fight [the most recent charge]. I know for a fact I won’t get suspended before the end of the Triple Crown. There’s zero chance of that happening.

“Hopefully, we can kick some butt in the Preakness and kick some butt in the Belmont, and then after everything has calmed down, I would love to sit down and address all that. I think everything’s going to be fine in the end.”

Media scrutiny, O’Neill acknowledged, comes with the territory of being a Kentucky Derby-winning trainer.

“All of those guys, the Bafferts, the Zitos, the Lukases, they’ve all battled the press,” he said. “I know they’ve all experienced the negative side of being on the national stage. You win the big one, and people want to go after you.”

ed.fountaine@nypost.com

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Coach mum about plans for rook

How quickly things can change. Then change again, and again, to where the Rangers’ seemingly long-ago playoff darling who had the Garden fans chanting his name has morphed into Chris Kreider being seen by his coach as a liability.

After his meteoric rise into the spotlight, Kreider has begun to see his minutes cut and his responsibilities diminish, treated like a 21-year-old with 11 career NHL games under his belt.

Whether his dip is a product of coach John Tortorella playing him less, or he has played less because of the dip is a chicken-and-egg scenario that will continue to play out under the bright lights of the Garden as the Rangers play host to their second do-or-die Game 7 in as many series, this one against the Capitals tomorrow night.

“[Kreider’s] a young man trying to learn the game, I’ll give you that,” Tortorella said yesterday on a conference call as his team got the day to rest. “I think he’s improving and we’ll see where it goes.”

Tortorella has been adamant about not commenting on individual players, but all that’s needed to know about his faith in Kreider comes in the 6:06 of total ice time the rookie received during Wednesday’s 2-1 loss in Game 6 in Washington. With three shifts in each period — only the first two coming closer than four minutes apart — Kreider never was able to get into the flow of the game and, at times, looked lost in his own zone, confused with his defensive responsibilities.

Playing the majority of the game with straight-ahead linemates John Mitchell and Mike Rupp, Kreider’s offensive ability went for naught. The former Boston College star has two goals and an assist since joining the club for Game 3 of the first round against the Senators on April 16. But he has zero points and a combined minus-4 rating in the five games since he scored the game-winner in a 3-1 win in Game 1 against the Caps.

The reason Tortorella has to play him at this point is because both Brandon Dubinsky (right foot) and Mats Zuccarello (left wrist) still have no definitive timetable for possible returns. Zuccarello has lightly practiced with the team, but is still wearing a soft cast on his wrist, while Dubinsky is still on crutches with his foot in a walking boot.

When Tortorella was asked if he thought the Game 6 loss was a matter of his team not showing up or the Capitals just being more desperate, he said, “The onus is on us.”

In that light, looking forward to Game 7, Tortorella said, “I have a ton of optimism in our club. Our club has gone through a lot of different things [and] I have nothing but optimism in our club.”

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Andre the Giant: Former Forest Hills star signs with Coppin State

Andre Armstrong's journey to a Division I scholarship featured as many stops and starts as the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway.

After four solid years at Forest Hills, it included one year of prep school at Notre Dame Prep, two junior college years at Monroe Community College and a verbal commitment to Maine. The talented shooting guard’s plan was to attend Maine after one year at Monroe, but the NCAA red-flagged his transcript, forcing Armstrong to do a second year at the JUCO.

Armstrong’s Division I goal was finally realized on Tuesday as the 6-foot-2 Flushing, Queens native signed with Coppin State of the MEAC conference.

Monroe Community College Athletics

Former Forest Hills standout Andre Armstrong of Monroe Community College signed with Coppin State on Tuesday.

“I was relieved, finally after everything,” he said. “I’m very excited. I went through a lot to go to where I’m at. A lot of people doubted me, said I couldn’t play at this level. A lot of people were trying to force me to go Division II. I felt I deserved a chance to play Division I.”

Armstrong will get that chance at Coppin State.

He chose the Eagles over Hofstra and Norfolk State. After graduating seven seniors, including leading scorers Akeem Elis and Tony Gallo, Armstrong will be given an opportunity to make an immediate impact at Coppin State, which went 14-16 last year.

“I’ve been the underdog before – at Forest Hills I was the underdog,” he said. “I’ll continue that there.”

He was drawn to Coppin State by 26th-year head coach Ron Mitchell. Armstrong liked the way Mitchell uses his guards, the freedom they have in the Eagles' up-tempo system.

“It’s a shooter’s offense, he uses his shooters very well,” Armstrong said. “I watched film highlights when I was there and I liked the way they play with their guards. I like their overall style of play. He rewards hard work, that’s another thing I liked about him. That’s where I fit in."

Armstrong enjoyed a solid two-year career at Monroe after a standout four seasons at Forest Hills, which he led to a Queens borough title as a senior. He also shined at Monroe, averaging 11 points per game this winter.

“He’s a kid you give the ball to and he really can score the basketball,” Monroe coach Jerry Burns said. “He did everything we asked of him. His career was just as a JUCO career should be: two years, you get a Division I scholarship.”

Armstrong was all set to go to Maine after one year at Monroe, thinking he was fully qualified. The NCAA red-flagged him because his SAT score increased at a large rate.

“I was disappointed, but it was out of my hands, there was nothing I could do about it,” he recalled. “It was a setback, but it wasn’t a major setback. I was still able to do what I set out to do to begin with.”

Armstrong isn’t content to merely be on his way to Division I. He’s proven his doubters wrong by gaining the scholarship, but he plans to make an impact.

“Now I’m there,” he said, “It’s time to prove I can play.”

zbraziller@nypost.com

Monroe Community College, Monroe, Coppin State, Forest Hills, Andre Armstrong, Flushing, Queens native ebook download, Notre Dame Prep, Community College, Maine

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Flyers star Giroux banned for Game 5

PHILADELPHIA — The victim accepted the perp’s punishment — grudgingly.

“I kind of see it, but it’s exactly what the league is trying to eliminate,” the Devils’ Dainius Zubrus told The Post last night after the playoffs’ leading scorer, Claude Giroux, was suspended for his Flyers’ do-or-die Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs tonight.

The NHL suspended Giroux one game yesterday for slamming Zubrus in the side of the head with his shoulder in Game 4 in Newark on Sunday.

“I understand why the decision was made. In the last series, [the Penguins’ James] Neal hit Giroux, who wasn’t hurt and was able to continue. I think this was the same idea,” Zubrus said, referring to Neal’s one-game ban.

The suspension adds suspense for Game 5 of the series the Devils can finish tonight. The Flyers lost their main man, but they gained a rallying cause as they try to avert elimination.

“A suspension like that always rallies a team,” Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said.

But Giroux isn’t some cannon fodder sitting out. He leads the playoffs with eight goals and nine assists, but is only 2-1-3 in the four games against New Jersey, though he had a goal and an assist in Game 4.

League disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan noted Giroux had a clean record and Zubrus returned to action in limiting the suspension to one game.

* Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov was on-ice for nine of the first 10 Florida goals in the first three games of the playoffs. He stood minus-2 then, and has gone plus-7 since.

* Feisty Flyer Scott Hartnell stands minus-6 in the last three games. That takes some doing. ... Devils center Ryan Carter is expected to return after missing Game 4 because of an illness.

mark.everson@nypost.com

Claude Giroux, Dainius Zubrus, the Devils, Eastern Conference playoffs, The Flyers, Zubrus, Anton Volchenkov, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Brodeur, Flyers

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Bibby hits big shot for Knicks

As Mike Bibby spoke to the media in the Knicks locker room, the game ball was under his left arm.

“They gave it to me,” Bibby said. “So I’ve got to take it.”

Bibby did exactly that in yesterday’s pulsating 89-87 Game 4 win over the Heat. The veteran point guard — the third-string point guard, really — took one of the season’s biggest shots, and in the brightest moment of his Knicks career, he drained it.

Bibby was playing late in the fourth quarter after starter Baron Davis — playing because Jeremy Lin remains out following knee surgery — suffered a dislocated right patella.

EPA

FILLING THE VOID: Mike Bibby elevates for a huge 3-pointer over Dwyane Wade in the final two minutes after entering the game when Baron Davis dislocated his right knee cap in the third quarter.

EPA

Baron Davis lies on the court after dislocating his right kneecap in the third quarter.

With 1:23 left and the game tied at 81, a double-teamed Carmelo Anthony kicked the ball to J.R. Smith behind the 3-point arc. Smith zipped a swing pass to Bibby in the corner, and he proceeded to sink an enormous 3 to give the Knicks the lead.

“When everything else leaves me,” said Bibby, who turns 34 on Sunday, “I’ll be able to shoot still.”

Bibby now becomes the likely starter at point guard for Game 5. Davis went down on a gruesome play with 5:15 to play in the third quarter. His knee buckled on a transition drive, and he was taken away on a stretcher.

“I almost shed a tear on the court to be honest with you,” Amar’e Stoudemire said. “It was something I didn’t want to see again.”

Lin’s status becomes incredibly intriguing now that the series has been extended. Lin, who has been out since March 24 and had surgery April 2, has been scrimmaging, but interim coach Mike Woodson is unsure if Game 5 is feasible.

“I hope so,” Landry Fields said. “Obviously it’s up to the doctors and him.”

Added the Heat’s Chris Bosh, “We’re going to challenge [Lin] because he hasn’t played in a while. It’s tough to come back in the playoffs. If he does come back, we’ll have our gameplan.”

Even if Lin returns, it is unlikely he will be physically able to play major minutes, so the Knicks will need Bibby to produce. The 14-year veteran had a miserable regular season, averaging just 2.6 points and shooting 28.2 percent from the field. But yesterday he exacted revenge on his former Heat teammates.

“He’s not as quick and crafty as he used to be, but he’s capable,” Woodson said. “He didn’t run from the challenge.”

mark.hale@nypost.com

Mike Bibby, Baron Davis, Knicks, Knicks, Jeremy Lin, the Heat, Carmelo Anthony, Mike Woodson, J.R. Smith

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Glass all empty

On one of the hallway walls outside the Knicks’ locker room at Madison Square Garden, there’s a small door with a sign on it that reads, “FIRE DEPARTMENT VALVE.” For Amar’e Stoudemire (pictured), that may have to suffice. Stoudemire may play this afternoon in Game 4 against the Heat at the Garden, which would constitute his first game action since punching the glass case of a fire extinguisher after the Knicks’ Game 2 loss at Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena. Stoudemire lacerated his left hand and had to sit for Game 3.

Now back at The World’s Most Famous Arena, there are several fire extinguishers in the vicinity of the court that could be targets. There’s a silver one (inset) on one of the walls behind the court, and there’s a red one in the hallway between the locker rooms and the press room. Hopefully Stoudemire steers clear of both this afternoon.

Madison Square Garden, Stoudemire, fire extinguisher ebook download, fire extinguishers, Hopefully Stoudemire, Knicks, AmericanAirlines Arena, FIRE DEPARTMENT, the Heat

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Sabathia puts an end to Yanks’ losing streak

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — They had lost three straight for the second time this season and watched Mariano Rivera exit for the season due to a serious knee injury on Thursday.

So, last night’s game against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium provided the Yankees with something more than a routine early May game.

“It always feel good to win a game,’’ CC Sabathia said after hurling the Yankees to a 6-2 victory in front of 24,153. “Especially [with] what we have been through the past day.’’

Before the victory, Rivera, who will need surgery to repair tears to his ACL and meniscus, announced he was going to attempt a comeback next year and he didn’t want to end his career with an injury.

After giving back a 2-0 lead Mark Teixeira gave him with a first-inning homer off Bruce Chen in the Royals’ half of the frame, Sabathia (4-0) cruised across the next seven innings. In eight frames, he allowed two runs, seven hits, didn’t issue a walk and struck out five.

“It was very important,’’ said Teixeira, who has been battling bronchitis since the second week in April and has been unable to completely shake it. “I was glad CC pitched tonight. It’s always good to have that ace.’’

Despite having a four-run lead in the ninth and not being in a save situation, manager Joe Girardi brought in David Robertson after getting Rafael Soriano up in the eighth when the Royals threatened.

“I wanted to get him experience in a sense and he hadn’t thrown in three or four days,’’ Girardi said of Robertson, who fanned the side in the ninth and has struck out the last eight batters he has faced.

The bottom of Girardi’s order contributed to the win. Eduardo Nunez, the eighth hitter, had an RBI triple. Catcher Chris Stewart, who has caught all four of Sabathia’s wins, added an RBI single from the ninth slot.

Derek Jeter went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in the seventh and is batting .404 (46-for-114).

“CC steps up when we need him the most,’’ said Jeter, who singled in the first and scored on Teixeira’s homer off Chen (0-4). “We played well and CC deserves a lot of the credit.’’

Robertson didn’t focus on not having Rivera as the safety net. Instead, he praised Sabathia.

“It’s a really good win. CC did what we expect him to do,’’ Robertson said. “He gave us eight innings and was amazing.’’

As for working the ninth with a four-run lead, Robertson said the only thing different was not having Rivera waiting.

“I have been in that situation before, 6-2, and come in and walk a guy and Mo comes in,’’ Robertson said.

Now there is no Mo. But last night there was enough of Sabathia that it didn’t make a difference.

Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, David Robertson, Joe Girardi, the Royals, KANSAS CITY, Mo., Bruce Chen, Eduardo Nunez, Rafael Soriano

Nypost.com

Kentucky Derby Bettor's Guide

Ed Fountaine

Post horse racing writer Ed Fountaine provides an in-depth preview of the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field. The race will be run Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Post time is 6:24 p.m.

Ed Fountaine, Kentucky Derby field, horse racing

Nypost.com

Yankees lose Chavez with whiplash

Add Eric Chavez to the list of Yankees’ injuries.

Chavez left last night’s game against the Orioles during an at-bat in the fifth inning with whiplash and concussion symptoms suffered diving for J.J. Hardy’s double down the third-base line in the top of the inning. He underwent tests after the game.

It’s not what the Yankees needed. Brett Gardner, who was eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list tonight, felt pain in the bone bruise in his right arm and now won’t do anything until tomorrow at the earliest. And Nick Swisher will be out likely until early next week with a left hamstring strain.

“That hurts,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s kind of hard with 10 guys healthy. It limits what you can do and you’re asking guys to play a lot that aren’t used to playing a lot. At some point, we’re going to have to make a move.”

YANKEES BOX SCORE

Last night, with Andruw Jones in left field and Raul Ibanez in right, Eduardo Nunez replaced Chavez at third base.

Girardi added Chavez was not going to travel with the Yankees to Kansas City and he was unsure who would replace him.

Gardner said he wouldn’t hit today and wasn’t sure how many minor league games he would need before returning.

“The doctors want me to be 100 percent before I go on the field and air it out and I’m not there yet,” Gardner said.

* Freddy Garcia, yanked from the rotation after consecutive dismal starts, pitched two scoreless innings in relief last night.

“It didn’t take me too long to warm up and get ready,” said Garcia, who had made only two relief appearances in his career before last night. “I had a rough start Saturday and to come out and pitch two good innings feels good. I’ve just got to figure it out and do the best I can.”

* The Yanks signed Cuban defector Adonis Garcia yesterday to a $400,000 deal. The 26-year-old left fielder/third baseman became a free agent in February and had drawn interest from several teams. He’s listed at only 5-foot-7, 180 pounds and is thought to be at least a level below major-league ready. The Yankees have not determined yet where he will be assigned.

* Manny Banuelos made his first start for Triple-A Scranton since coming off the DL (back). He pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings against Rochester, striking out five before being removed after 60 pitches.

Eric Chavez, Brett Gardner, the Yankees, Yankees, Freddy Garcia, Nick Swisher, Joe Girardi, Eduardo Nunez, concussion symptoms, Raul Ibanez, Andruw Jones online, Adonis Garcia

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Murdoch backed by board

The 15-member News Corp. board of directors yesterday announced its “full confidence in Rupert Murdoch’s fitness and support for his continuing to lead News Corp. into the future as its chairman and CEO.”

The board action came one day after the British Parliament special committee investigating the phone-hacking scandal at the now-shuttered News Corp. tabloid News of the World said that Murdoch was “not a fit person” to head a major international company because he had “turned a blind eye and exhibited wilful blindness” to widespread wrongdoing at the tabloid.

The board, meeting in a special session, said it based its vote of confidence on “Murdoch’s vision and leadership in building News Corp., his ongoing performance as chairman and CEO and his demonstrated resolve to address the mistakes of the company identified in the select committee’s report.”

News Corp. owns The Post.

In London, British Sky Broadcasting, which is 39 percent owned by News Corp., also defended itself against what is expected to be a new round of questions on whether it should continue to hold a British broadcasting license.

BSkyB said it “continues to believe that it remains a fit and proper license holder, as demonstrated by its positive contribution to UK audiences, employment and the broader economy, as well as its strong record of regulatory compliance and high standards of governance.”

kkelly@nypost.com

News Corp., Rupert Murdoch, British Sky Broadcasting, British Parliament, News of the World, international company, chairman and CEO

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Tomorrow’s Belmont Park Entries

All horses appear in post position order

FIRST-1m; $46,000; cl($30,000); 3up

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Iscar(L),122

A Smith

4-7-7

McLaghln

6-1

2 Star Dance M D(L),122

I Ortiz, Jr

2-6-3

Terraccin

8-1

3 Moonhanger(L),122

J Bravo

7-8-4

Alexnde

15-1

4 Eltheeb(L),120

J Alvarado

6-6-5

Jacobson

5-1

5 MostHappyFell(L),122

C Lopez

6-5-2

Quick

15-1

6 Sastre(L),113

W Garcia

6-8-6

Persaud

30-1

7 Crown theChief(L),117

SCamchJr

4-3-5

Contessa

3-1

8 Prince Majestic(L),122

RNaprvnk

1-3-3

Pletcher

4-1

9 SunDanceMoon(L),122

RDomingz

7-4-6

J Imperio

7-2

SECOND-1m; $31,000; cl($14,000); 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 RomanRenegad(L),116

OHernndz

3-2-6

Persaud

3-1

2 Cat Can Do(L),121

R Maragh

3-1-1

B Brown

2-1

3 DecoratedCourt(L),114

W Garcia

4-5-5

Jones

10-1

4 AwedaciousCrn(L),121

M Studart

5-5-2

Serey

8-1

5 Chalk Player(L),116

SCamchJr

8-5-5

Persaud

20-1

6 Ready to Party(L),121

RDomingz

3-3-6

Galluscio

4-1

7 Jardenia(L),121

RNaprvnk

4-2-3

Maker

5-1

THIRD-6f; $30,000; cl($14,000); 3YO; (f)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

2 Mayreau(L),113

W Garcia

1-x-x

Baker

8-1

3 Caps Lady(L),118

RNaprvnk

3-3-6

Schettin

10-1

4 TheSilverMchn(L),113

OHernndz

4-6-8

Sciacca

20-1

5 ShezaClssyLdy(L),118

R Maragh

7-3-3

Galluscio

6-1

1 a-Lnchwthgdzll(L),118

CVelasquz

3-2-1

Schettino

7-2

6 Ashcraft Silver(L),120

J Alvarado

7-1-3

Arroyo

15-1

1A a-Cathlcschlgrl(L),111

J Ortiz

2-9-6

Rodrigez

7-2

7 Proud Siren(L),118

I Ortiz, Jr

7-6-6

Arroyo

20-1

8 Hook It Up(L),120

C Lopez

1-7-7

Contessa

5-1

9 PrincessReyana(L),113

SCamchJr

4-6-4

Contessa

8-1

10 MillBranchMilli(L),120

RDomingz

1-8-3

Friedman

3-1

FOURTH-1 1/16m(T); $60,000; str alw; 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 MoonshineMgc(L),121

R Maragh

4-1-3

Orseno

5-1

2 Miner's Tune(L),121

J Bravo

5-7-1

Hills

8-1

3 Casa Tua(L),121

RDomingz

2-4-1

Tagg

3-1

4 Yes She Rules(L),121

J Lezcano

1-4-x

C Brown

5-1

5 Granby Girl(L),111

OHernndz

2-5-1

P Ortiz

30-1

6 RockStarRoylty(L),116

SCamchJr

3-1-2

B Brown

15-1

7 Ten K Cat(L),116

CVelasquz

3-1-5

Englehart

6-1

8 TakeHerTothTp(L),121

A Garcia

6-1-2

Gldberg

12-1

9 D'oro Princess(L),121

E Prado

1-5-2

Nicks

4-1

10 Alluring Power(L),121

E Trujillo

8-10-1

Hills

10-1

11 LemonstoLmnd(L),121

RNaprvnk

1-4-4

Maker

4-1

12 Hard Life(L),121

RDomingz

2-1-2

R Dutrow

3-1

13 Bid a Moon(L),121

CVelasquz

2-5-5

Schsberg

5-2

FIFTH-7f(T); $74,000; alw opt clm; 3up; (f&m)

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

3 Revenue(L),123

J Bravo

1-5-1

Mott

5-2

4 Button Girl(L),121

R Maragh

2-4-7

Nicks

3-1

5 Lindz Winz(L),121

RNaprvnk

7-1-2

RDutrow

12-1

1 a-High Quality(L),121

J Alvarado

3-1-6

A Dutrow

5-1

2 b-FindngNvrlnd(L),121

J Lezcano

5-9-3

Clement

7-2

2B b-Celtic Chant(L),121

CVelasquz

1-3-3

Englehart

7-2

6 Frivolous Buck(L),121

E Castro

4-2-3

Weaver

12-1

7 Rogue's Jewel(L),121

A Solis

2-4-3

C Martin

5-1

1A a-Suroof(L),121

RDomingz

1-3-4

A Dutrow

5-1

8 Media Starlett(L),121

NoRider

1-1-2

A Dutrow

5-2

9 Smart Stride(L),121

RDomingz

1-3-2

R Dutrow

2-1

Next >

1

2

PN Horse, 3upPN Horse, Prince Majestic

Nypost.com

Path of Rangers rookie Kreider no straight line

Chris Kreider has become the darling for the Rangers in this playoff run, and a lot of his success has to do with his ability to adjust.

In seven career games, Kreider has played on four distinctly different lines, finding at least a modicum of success on each.

“I think it might be a little strange if I had done it in college or the high-school level,” Kreider said yesterday as his team prepared for tonight’s Game 3 of their conference semifinal playoff series against the Capitals in Washington. “All these guys are such good players, it’s kind of easy to play with every single one of them.”

Kreider, who turned 21 on Monday, made his NHL debut in Game 3 of the opening round against the Senators, immediately playing on the top line with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik. He was somewhat tentative in that role, so for the next game coach John Tortorella played him just 3:29 on the fourth line with John Mitchell and Mike Rupp.

After two solid performances with them, he was moved up to play with Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan, where he was until the third period of Monday’s 3-2 loss to Capitals, which tied the series 1-1.

Then, Tortorella switched him and Gaborik, so Kreider played on the left side for the first time as a pro with Richards and Carl Hagelin.

* A lot was made about the 13:36 of ice time that Capitals star Alex Ovechkin got in Game 2, the least amount of time he ever has gotten in his career for a game during which he was not injured or ejected.

Dan Girardi, the Rangers defenseman who almost always is matched up against the opposing team’s top talent, in turn got a playoff-low 20:35.

“I think that’s a good explanation,” Girardi said. “He didn’t play a lot, but I think that’s the matchup we’re trying to get, and that’s the way it worked out.”

* Tortorella got snappy with the media when asked about the reason behind his abrupt and contentious press conferences this postseason.

“Are you being a wise [guy]?” Tortorella asked the inquiring reporter. “I’m not going to give you much information. Some of you guys sit there and tell me I’m curt or whatever. I’m not going to have a staring contest. If you’re not going to ask me questions, I’ll just leave. That’s the way it is. I’m sorry I’m not a guy who wants to converse during the playoffs. I’m not.”

Chris Kreider, John Tortorella, Tortorella, Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards, Capitals, Derek Stepan, Rangers, Alex Ovechkin, Ryan Callahan, playoff series, John Mitchell, Kreider

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Attorney has Roger’s back

Ken Davidoff
Follow Ken on Twitter
Blog: Baseball Insider

WASHINGTON — If Rusty Hardin were a baseball manager, he’d be Bobby Cox.

Roger Clemens’ attorney possesses a seemingly boundless reserve of energy, protects his client at all times, annoys the hell out of the opposition and makes the umpire — District Judge Reggie Walton, in this instance — work very hard.

Yet you needn’t vigorously examine Hardin to see he also has in him a little bit of Cox’s nemesis, Bobby Valentine. Hardin appears to find comfort in chaos, and he holds no qualms about throwing a cherry bomb, figuratively speaking, into a crowded area.

Yesterday, as USA v. Clemens kicked off its third week in plodding fashion, Hardin went hard on an always-emotional and explosive notion. One that will be critical to his defense:

Congress-hating.

Noting Clemens was just “one out of the 89 people” identified by the infamous 2007 Mitchell Report as a user of illegal performance-enhancing drugs, Hardin said the government wanted to “punish the man who had the temerity to continue to publicly deny he committed a crime” by publicly humiliating him with a “show trial” and setting him up for the current trial, in which Clemens faces 15 counts of obstructing Congress, perjury and making a false statement.

The memorable Feb. 13, 2008 hearing by the House Oversight Committee, pitting Clemens against his accuser, Brian McNamee, was held only for public-relations purposes, Hardin said, as he cross-examined the trial’s first witness, Phil Barnett — who was that committee’s chief of staff at the time.

It was a tense, busy afternoon in the courtroom. The U.S. Attorney’s office constantly objected to Hardin’s line of questioning, and Barnett had his own attorney, William Pittard, who bore a striking resemblance to Kramer’s intern from “Seinfeld” and offered a fair number of objections himself.

Barnett, who still has another half-day to go, looked exhausted by day’s end.

In one awkward exchange, Hardin picked on the fact the Committee asked Clemens, in a Feb. 5, 2008 deposition, whether he discussed HGH usage with McNamee.

“What legitimate legislative purpose” could be behind such a question? Hardin asked. Barnett said it tied into whether Mitchell’s report was accurate, and it was the House Committee had first strongly suggested to Baseball commissioner Bud Selig that he needed to conduct an internal, independent investigation.

The government attorneys argued if Hardin were going to challenge every question asked of Clemens, then it had the right to show a bigger picture, bringing in other players (like former Yankees Chuck Knoblauch and Mike Stanton) to talk about their illegal PED usage.

So this was a strategic risk by Hardin. He doesn’t seem scared, though. He was having too much fun getting in everyone’s grill. Planting the seeds, he surely hopes, that the jury sees the Clemens matter as a case of Congress poking its nose where it doesn’t belong.

Other stuff you should know:

* In response to a government filing last week concerning McNamee’s uneven past, Clemens’ attorneys filed a memo alleging McNamee has a past that “contains more dirt than a pitcher’s mound,” and that such “prior bad acts” should be in play in their attempt to discredit McNamee.

* Clemens’ attorneys argued the jury should hear audio of Clemens’ 2008 deposition, rather than have someone else read it, yet that seemed to backfire yesterday. The prosecution played snippets of the deposition in which Clemens backtracked and jumped all over the place in discussing the injections he received from McNamee — Clemens says they were B12 and lidocaine, McNamee says they were steroids and HGH — and the incident in which McNamee injected Clemens’ wife, Debbie, with HGH. Clemens sounded profoundly unconvincing.

* Once Barnett wraps up today, the next government witness will be Major League Baseball Players Association special counsel Steve Fehr, the brother of former union executive director Don Fehr. Steve Fehr will testify the union alerted Clemens’ representatives that Mitchell wanted to speak with him; Clemens has repeatedly asserted that he had no idea of Mitchell’s interest in a meeting.

kdavidoff@nypost.com

Rusty Hardin, Hardin, Phil Barnett, Brian McNamee, District Judge Reggie Walton, Congress

Nypost.com