Gulfstream Analysis

Post Time: 1:05 p.m.

All horses appear in post position order

1. 1 mile; $19,400; clm($12,500); 3up

PHOEBE MOON goes turf to dirt and drops in class after tiring last out. CHEER N SHOUT finished fourth as the favorite this distance and level. MONEY MONEY drops in class for first start since September.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Swim(L),116

D Bernardini

3-3-4

Cesare

6-1

2 Cheer N Shout(L),116

L Saez

4-6-3

Dibona

4-1

3 Sisterbelle ,116

C Soto

9-10-6

Roberts

30-1

4 Wiki Wiki(L),116

F Jara

6-10-x

Braddy

20-1

5 Money Money(L),123

J Leyva

4-x-x

Iadisernia

6-1

6 Phoebe Moon(L),109

M Lopez

12-8-7

Bates

8-1

7 Bostonian Cat(L),116

J Bravo

3-8-2

Sano

7-2

8 Pinafra(L),123

D Gomez

2-5-9

Cascallares

5-1

9 Carolina Lizard(L),116

P Monterrey, Jr

3-3-4

Posada

10-1

10 Conquering Roma(L),116

E Dominguez

7-8-x

Chavez

12-1

11 Precedent(L),116

J Rocco, Jr

7-5-2

Vitali

15-1

2. 6 fur; $20,500; clm($6,250); 4up

HUFF N HUGHES closed to finish second as favorite this level and was claimed. WILD EXPECTATIONS ran evenly this level and was claimed. IN SPEIGHT OF IT drops in class after showing some closing ability.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Will's Afleet(L),119

M Madrid

5-8-5

Vazquez

8-1

2 Duke of Hazard(L),109

J Gonzales

8-3-6

Duco

12-1

3 Wild Expectations(L),119

E Nunez

7-3-4

Quiroz

4-1

4 Suave Jazz(L),119

J Rocco, Jr

5-2-4

Walder

6-1

5 Mommy's Image(L),109

K Coa

4-5-1

Schell

5-1

6 Huff 'n Hughes(L),112

A Battula

2-9-2

Cartagena

5-2

7 Face Card(L),121

E Trujillo

4-1-5

Coletti

6-1

8 Wonder Way ,109

Y Ortiz

6-8-9

Nichols

20-1

9 In Speight of It(L),119

P Monterrey, Jr

6-4-4

Warren

8-1

3. 1 mile; $19,400; clm($10,000); 3up

PRINCESS BEAU K drops in class after being a beaten favorite in last two starts. SALTY WONDER GIRL cuts back in distance after tiring in return to dirt. A.J.S HOT MAMBO chased the pace and tired in the slop.

PN Horse, Wt.

Jockey

Last 3

Trainer

Odds

1 Valentine's Angel(L),121

L Panici

8-7-4

Combest

20-1

2 Rachel's Girl(L),121

P Monterrey, Jr

7-6-9

Cuito

30-1

3 A. J.'s Hot Mambo(L),121

A Fuller

5-6-9

Toledo

15-1

4 Lucky and Sweet(L),111

H Sanchez

2-5-1

Negrete

5-1

5 Faithful Prayer(L),121

F Jara

5-3-2

Demeritte

12-1

6 Salty Wonder Girl(L),115

L Jurado

5-8-1

O'Connell

4-1

7 Our Plum Putting(L),121

J Calderon

2-3-3

Tortora

8-1

8 Princess Beau K(L),121

E Trujillo

4-3-9

Dibona

5-2

9 Sin Freno(L),121

J Alvarez

11-6-9

Campos

12-1

10 Ericafromamerica(L),115

J Rios

4-6-9

Rose

20-1

11 Exchange Chic(L),121

J Leyva

3-2-6

Negrete

6-1

12 Stephen Got Better(L),105

K Coa

7-9-6

Hartmann

12-1

4. 5 fur(T); $29,250; clm($15,000); 4up

DONT SAY NO drops in class after running evenly at this distance. LOVE WHO finished fourth this distance in last start on grass. MATTS A GIANT has finished third in his last three starts.

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Gomez2-5-9Cascallares5-19 Carolina Lizard, Monterrey, Phoebe Moon, Bostonian Cat, N HUGHES, dirt

Nypost.com

Yankees’ Pettitte might face Mets in exhibition finale

TAMPA -- Andy Pettitte threw a shortened bullpen session yesterday and was awaiting word about what is next in his comeback program.

“I know he has a simulated game coming up in the next few days,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I am not sure he is going to [Miami] with us. I think he is going to stay back [at George M. Steinbrenner Field].’’

The Yankees open a two-game series with the Marlins on Sunday night.

Pettitte said it’s not necessary to pitch in a big-league exhibition game before spring training is done, but there is a chance the 39-year-old left-hander could face the Mets on Wednesday in the finale.

COMEBACK TRAIL: Andy Pettitte may face the Mets in the Yankees’ exhibition finale on Wednesday, but said he does not feel he has to pitch in a spring-training game.

“We will see. We have to see how he feels at the time,’’ Girardi said of Pettitte, who breezed through a batting practice session Tuesday.

Pettitte has impressed everybody thus far.

“In BP the other day I thought he located his pitches well,” Girardi said. “I have been happy with what I have seen.’’

The general date for Pettitte’s return to the big leagues after sitting out the 2011 season has been May 1, but Girardi isn’t committing to that more than a month in advance.

“You have to see after his starts, see how his body responds,’’ Girardi said. “I expect it will be sometime in May, but I can’t tell you exactly when.’’

***

Nick Swisher went 2-for-5 in minor league games Thursday. If his groin doesn’t act up, Girardi has options for his switch-hitting right fielder.

”We will see how he feels [Friday],” said Girardi, who could play Swisher in a big-league game or a minor-league game. “We could put him in the outfield but if we have to wait a day we will,’’

Because a player only can be back-dated to March 26 for DL purposes, it might be wiser for the Yankees to play Swisher in a minor-league game today because that doesn’t count toward the backdating process because admission isn’t charged.

***

Curtis Granderson was back in the lineup Thursday night after missing the previous two with right elbow soreness. Granderson, who was the DH against the Orioles, went 1-for-4 in a 4-3 loss at GMS Field.

***

Raul Ibanez hit his second homer and is seeing signs of coming out of a spring-long slump in time for Opening Day.

“I have been feeling better the last four or five days,’’ the DH against right-handers said. “I am trying to build momentum. [My timing] is getting better, and I am trying to stay on top of it.’’

***

Girardi said right-handers D.J. Mitchell, David Phelps and Adam Warren are in the mix for a possible long reliever spot.

Mitchell was scheduled to start against the Orioles but was replaced by Phelps. The plan was for Mitchell to work Thursday night in relief and again Saturday, but that was scratched after the game.

The Yankees want Mitchell built up to 90 pitches for either a long relief role in the big leagues or at Triple-A.

Girardi is going to carry a dozen hurlers and is undecided if a long reliever would be in addition to a second lefty in the pen.

“Either one,’’ Girardi said. “Because there is no guarantee the sixth starter goes to the bullpen.

Andy Pettitte, Yankees manager Joe Girardi, George M. Steinbrenner Field, The Yankees, the Yankees

Nypost.com

What the puck??

NBC Sports Group boss Mark Lazarus is failing to score with his ambitious plan to overhaul NBC Sports Network.

In the first three months of the year, ratings plunged 22 percent — the biggest drop in eight years — after Lazarus announced the cable channel was jettisoning the Versus moniker and changing its name to NBC Sports Network.

According to Nielsen, NBCSN averaged 64,000 total daily viewers in the three months ended March 25, down from 82,000 viewers in the same period a year ago.

That means it would be the least-watched since the second quarter of 2004, when OLN averaged just 51,000 viewers.

In fact, Versus put up better ratings in 2004, when it was still known as the Outdoor Life Network and focused on hunting and fishing shows. Under Comcast’s ownership, the network morphed into Versus in 2006. The latest rebrand on Jan. 2, which follows Comcast’s takeover of NBCUniversal, gave it the NBC name along with the Peacock logo.

The overhaul was more than just a name and new logo, however. The goal was to catapult the network, which has been anchored by National Hockey League games, into a different league by pursuing more traditional sports programming, ranging from college football to car racing.

NBCSN has replaced 40 percent of its programming and — despite the ratings fall-off — boasts “higher quality” sports content as well as exclusive NHL coverage, a source close to the network said.

The network should benefit from the NHL playoffs in the second quarter, as well as from the Olympic Games in the summer, the source said, adding that revenue is also up. An NBCSN spokesman declined to comment.

In the meantime, the network is struggling to convert viewers who tuned in to the hunting and fishing shows that aired on Versus.

An even bigger issue appears to be the loss of Mixed Martial Arts, which was acquired by News Corp.’s Fox. (News Corp. also owns The Post.)

NBC Sports Network is the focus of much attention at Comcast’s NBCUniversal as CEO Steve Burke is making sports programming a pillar of his overhaul of the entire media outfit.

The company won the rights to the Olympic Games through 2020, after paying some $4.4 billion, and also added Major League Soccer, mostly to boost NBCSN. It is also building a new studio in Stamford, Conn., where all the NBC Sports staff will eventually be located.

Even a slick marketing campaign and cross promotion across NBCU’s sister networks has done little to lift the sports channel.

“It is very disappointing, but I wouldn’t overreact,” said Frank Vuono, partner at 16 W Marketing. “The NBC Sports audience has to find this channel and know it’s around. It’s a different viewer.”

Other ratings experts suggest NBCSN’s ratings woes were compounded by the NBA lockout in the fall, which created pent-up interest in the first quarter for basketball games on rival networks.

catkinson@nypost.com

NBC Sports, NBC Sports, NBC Sports Group boss Mark Lazarus, News Corp., NBC, NBCUniversal, Comcast, Outdoor Life Network, NBC Sports Network, NBCSN, Major League Soccer, National Hockey League games, ratings

Nypost.com

Facebook targeting May IPO

Facebook Inc. is preparing its initial public offering for May, according to people familiar with the matter, in what is shaping up to be the largest-ever US internet offering.

The Menlo Park, Calif., social network halted trading of its shares on the secondary market this week, as it sets about nailing down its shareholder count, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Facebook filed for an IPO in early February, in an offering that could raise as much as $10 billion and value the eight-year-old company at $100 billion. Facebook made $1 billion in 2011 on $3.71 billion in revenue. It has 845 million users globally.

Facebook is still in discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission over its IPO and expects to file at least one more amendment to its S1 registration papers, according to one person. The company last filed an amended S1 on Tuesday.

It's unclear which week in May Facebook is aiming to go public, cautioned the person, and the timing may still change. The timing depends in large part on the SEC and isn't in Facebook's control, this person added.

Facebook has seen demand grow for its shares on the secondary market since the company filed to go public, boosting its valuation to about $105 billion in some trades.

Facebook, initial public offering, IPO, secondary market

Nypost.com

Red Bulls' Agudelo has knee surgery

Red Bulls striker Juan Agudelo had surgery yesterday to repair a torn medial meniscus in his left knee. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Riley Williams at the Hospital for Special Surgery, with Agudelo expected to miss up to six weeks.

Agudelo was hurt during the U.S. Under-23 National Team’s 6-0 rout of Cuba last Thursday in Olympic qualifying. The 19-year-old forward made one start this year for the Red Bulls – the 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on March 11 – and his injury leaves just two healthy experienced strikers on the roster.

Luke Rodgers is still in the UK, with Homeland Security yet to approve his appeal for a P-1 visa. Thierry Henry and newcomer Kenny Rodgers each had a brace in Sunday’s home-opening 4-1 rout of Colorado, the former adding an assist and being named MLS Player of the Week.

The Red Bulls host expansion Montreal Saturday (4 p.m., MSG).

Juan Agudelo, Red Bulls, torn medial meniscus, Hospital for Special Surgery, Riley Williams, Agudelo, the Red Bulls ebook download, Homeland Security, Kenny Rodgers, Thierry Henry, FC Dallas

Nypost.com

CHSAA Staten Island softball preview

The formula for success doesn’t change at St. John Villa.

The Bears stunned favorite St. Joseph by the Sea in the CHSAA Archdiocesan semifinals before falling to Moore Catholic in the championship game. Star pitcher and leadoff hitter Brittany Smith graduated and is now at CSI, but a large contingent from that squad returns.

“This group has been through it already so I don’t think that is going to be a problem,” Villa coach John Curatolo said of not being intimidated by Sea and Moore. “I think we are going to just come to every game to compete. We are built around what we are always built around. We are built around defense and speed.”

The Bears' strength will be up the middle starting with leadoff hitter and second baseman Nicole Burt and fellow junior Arianna Trembone at short. Senior Sam McCauley is back in center field for the fourth straight year. Mary Curatolo, the coach’s daughter, will see time in left and be the backup pitcher. Sam Long and Serena Zinsley are expected to split time in right. Junior Sevdiana Liharevic takes over for Smith in the circle

“That’s our strong point,” Curatolo said of Burt and Trembone. “They are both very good up the middle and if you hit it decently hard on the ground they can turn it.”

The philosophy of bunting and slapping won’t change for Villa, but John Curatolo has felt some of his hitters have matured enough to let them swing away when the situation is right. His daughter will bat righty as much as she tries to slap from the left side. John Curatolo has been impressed with the bat of Laura Innocente, but has yet to find her a set position in the field. He said he will need to find a spot for the lefty Zinsley.

“As they get older they get stronger with the slapping and the bunting and now they can actually hit the ball,” thecoach said. “Now you are not just putting the ball in play anymore. You are actually swinging.”

St. Joseph Hill will be extremely young, talented and building toward the future. Coach Joe Wuensch will be starting a freshman at first base, catcher, in the circle and the outfield. The key will be Julia Piscopo, a finesse pitcher, taking over for the graduated Victoria Procopio.

“She’s a very solid pitcher, who has even greater potential,” Wuensch said. “I expect her to keep us in all the games.”

Lefty top-of-the-order hitter Amanda Laudani will be behind the plate and Meghan Sheridan at first base. Alyssa Orosz, who can add speed to the one and two spots in the order, will see time in right field and center. She will be battling sophomore Tatiana Perone and Danielle Barchitta, who has some pop in her bat, for the starting job in those spots.

“This is a very young team, untested and it’s wait and see right now,” Wuensch said.

The Hilltoppers' strength will be up the left side on defense with senior Jackie Solomon returning at shortstop and Megan Sullivan back at third. Solomon ended last season red hot with the bat and Wuensch is hoping the success carries over into this season.

Notre Dame Academy and longtime coach Tony Curatolo will hope the sophomore Amanda Guarino will build off the success she had last season and be a rock in the circle this year. Her freshman sister Alex is expected to be her back up.

“She’s throwing strikes,” Curatolo said of Amanda. “She doesn’t walk as many anymore”

Senior shortstop Alanna Bergstrom is one of the league’s most underrated players. She is a slick fielder, who will be an anchor in the middle of the order with junior Gabby Piscopo, who will see time at first base. Tony Curatolo believes Bergstrom is right there with the other top shortstops in the league. St. Peter’s transfer Jillian Cancel will be in center field and add lineup depth with fellow former Eagle Christina Giampiola. Freshman Leanne Forsyth will be at third and classmate Jackie Castore is behind the plate and a top-of-order hitter.

“I think this year we are going to be more competitive,” Curatolo said.

jstaszewski@nypost.com

John Curatolo, Tony Curatolo, Villa coach John Curatolo, Mary Curatolo, Curatolo, Curatolo, Brittany Smith, Villa, Coach Joe Wuensch, Moore Catholic, leadoff hitter, St. Joseph Hill, Arianna Trembone

Nypost.com

UNC holds off Ohio's upset bid

ST. LOUIS — North Carolina’s NCAA tournament title hopes weren’t broken along with star point guard Kendall Marshall’s wrist — barely. The top-seeded Tar Heels were ripe for an upset, but Ohio just wasn’t quite good enough to pick them off.

North Carolina built a huge lead, squandered it as Ohio made the Tar Heels look vulnerable, then held on for a 73-65 overtime win in a Midwest Regional semifinal at the Edward Jones Dome.

Though the Tar Heels (32-5) weren’t dominant, or even crisp, they were big and experienced, and that was enough to beat the Bobcats (29-8) and earn a berth in tomorrow’s Midwest final against Kansas.

Getty Images

UP IN THE AIR: North Carolina’s John Henson battles for position with Reggie Keely (30) and Walter Offutt of Ohio during the Tar Heels’ 73-65 overtime win last night.

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“I was just begging and pleading and trying to work my rear end off to get us [to play],’’ North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “My head was killing me. I got a little dizzy a couple times, but I said if I’m going to die let’s at least die with a win. You feel like a preacher, because I was just begging and pleading and pushing and trying to get them to understand “This is 5 minutes, let’s play better.” I think we did.’’

Williams’ prayers were answered in the form of a mammoth 20-point, 22-rebound, four-block night from Tyler Zeller, and a plus-33 margin on the boards. Both rebounding numbers were the best in the Tar Heels’ long NCAA history. That dominance let them overcome a season-high 24 turnovers and a sputtering offense.

“We feel like we got away with one,” said Zeller, who joined St. John’s George Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Joe Smith and Tim Duncan as the only 20-20 players in the Big Dance in the last 35 years. “Ohio played the better game. They hit a lot of shots. We just were able to make plays at the end ... to pull it out.’’

North Carolina built a 15-point lead as Ohio missed 17 of its first 20 shots, but they squandered that advantage and got taken to overtime. In the extra period, however, Reggie Bullock’s left-corner 3-pointer and Harrison Barnes’ jumper give the Tar Heels a 68-63 lead they never surrendered.

“When I caught the ball, I heard my whole bench ... say ‘Shoot.’ I was just thinking ‘It’s my time to perform,’ ’’ said Bullock, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to pick up the slack for the absent Marshall and the ineffective Barnes.

Without Marshall, who broke his right wrist on Sunday, and was replaced by little-used freshman Stilman White (six assists, no turnovers), Barnes struggled to 12 points on horrid 3-of-16 shooting. But he scored five points in overtime, while the Bobcats missed all six of their shots in OT — and one that could have prevented it.

Walter Offutt, who scored a game-high 26 points for Ohio, drove for a tying basket with 25 seconds left in regulation and was fouled. But he missed the potential go-ahead foul shot and the Bobcats settled for OT, where they imploded behind the reckless shooting of D.J. Cooper (3-for-20).

“One free throw away,” Offut said. “As a leader on this team, I take responsibility that I’ve got to hit that free throw. It just feels terrible to kind of let my team down in that sort of way.’’

brian.lewis@nypost.com

Tar Heels, North Carolina, Ohio, Ohio, Bobcats, Walter Offutt, Marshall, Marshall, NCAA tournament

Nypost.com