We all like an underdog, dont we? That position always seems to be the case whenever a horse steps on the big race stage trained by Peter Gelagotis.This Saturday may just see his unfashionable training location deliver a second victory at Group 1 level, with Malaguerra in the Winterbottom Stakes over 1200 metres at Ascot in Perth.What is cool about Gelagotis and his family-centric training team is, they are winners. Their touch isnt necessarily golden, but they are high achievers despite the odds often being against them. There is even a chicken shop that plays a part in this story too and a lesson in customer service.Weve been there. Weve experienced the top echelon of competition, Peter Gelogotis told ESPN from Perth.I think we are every bit of being able to handle these situations and equally as competent in being able to uphold our CV when it comes to these races, whether the horse has come to us from a Hall of Fame stable or whether weve trained them from the beginning ourselves, he added in reference to the boutique stable that he heads of less than 20 chargers.I dont think we punch above our weight. I reckon we fly under the radar. Theres a lot of good trainers out there and I think we fall into that category. We dont get these opportunities as regularly as the big guys, but when we do were there.Peter is closely supported by his brother Manny and they are sometimes relatively outspoken in their views on racing matters, which has developed for them somewhat of a cult following for it. Theyve developed similar cult heroes in their stable like Group 1 winner Mourinho and later acquisitions such as The Cleaner and Malaguerra, they have thrust themselves into the spotlight with their horses performances.Newborough is a proud little town near Moe, situated two hours east of Melbourne and the area is home to around 16,000 people.Even Manny described it as being as unfashionable. That, though, has never stopped them.Were not a small stable on purpose. We started with six boxes at our stable and have expanded to a capacity of 20 over time with evolution, he said. Our stable isnt the Taj Mahal but the horses all have their space, they can have a pick of grass whenever they like. It is that next-to-nature experience that makes a real difference to them.The Gelagotis made racing headlines in 2016 and were painted as poachers of other talented gallopers from other trainers. The Cleaner became a Tasmanian hero for his guaranteed frontrunning while under the care of the horse racing battler Mick Burles.Similarly, after winning the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) in Brisbane in June, Malaguerra was sensationally transferred from Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman to the Moe-based team. Seemingly, it is a customer-first, friendly approach taken by the Gelagotis that saw the owners of those horses gravitate towards them.We had several days at the races where it was Mourinho vs. The Cleaner. We got to know the ownership of The Cleaner intimately (by just being there). In true racing style, when they won, we congratulated them. The winning margins were always tight and we also liked to acknowledge the good stories, Gelagotis said of what would soon become a talking point in racing of 2016.As he further explained, the ownership of both horses wanted to make a change - each their own reasons - and chose Peter Gelagotis. While The Cleaners career was already in decline, Peter has risen to the challenge of continuing Malaguerras Group 1 winning form.Malaguerra started at $9.50 when winning in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at $9.50 on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.Ive (currently) got two good sprinters in Malaguerra and Illustrious Lad, Gelagotis said, with the latter being the winner of the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day.You can compare them (in their work). After they both came through their first-up runs hugely.... we were super confident in the ability of both horses to win their races and were rolling into the Winterbottom equally confident.Before the Darley, Ben Melhan (jockey) said to me: just have a good nights sleep, mate, Ill win the race for you.As Melham did just that, the five-year-old gelding lines up this week in an unusual position for a Gelagotis-trained Group 1 galloper as the UBET $3.60 favourite.But where does their attitude to their business and success in racing stem from? The answer: a take-away and restaurant chicken shop.My dad emigrated to Australia from Greece as a 16-year-old. He started to from scratch and the chicken shop has been this familys livelihood, he said. He taught us that the customer is always right. That business is the backbone of our family. We treat our owners that way and provide them with great service and communication.You have to do that. Just like the chicken shop, if treat your customers poorly then they wont come back.With that thinking and a very positive preparation, Malaguerra is all set to deliver yet again. Just like the chicken shop. Gary Barbaro Jersey . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Neil Smith Jersey . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/ . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Daniel Sorensen Jersey . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Dave Hill Jersey .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. The campaign to reverse the trend of cuts to youth sports funding is going green.The Sports Matter program run by the DICKS Sporting Goods Foundation has launched a green shoelaces movement. Under the latest all-sports initiative, DICKS will donate $2 from every shoelace sale to Sports Matter. The green shoelaces can be purchased at DICKS stores or online at dicks.com.As I travel around the country, I see more and more young athletes who dont have the means to play, and it breaks my heart, says Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, now an analyst for ESPN and an ambassador for Sports Matter. The green laces represent more than your average shoelaces. They are a tangible way to raise awareness and start conversation around this crisis, all while raising money for kids who really need it the most.Projections show that 27% of U.S. public high schools might not have any sports programs by 2020, according to Up2Us Sports, a New York-based non-profit. With billions of dollars slashed from youth sports budgets in recent years, DICKS and its foundation have pledged more than $50 million to support teams and raise awareness of the issue. To date, the Sports Matter program has helped nearly 2,000 youth sports teams.Sports helped me get through some tough times in life, and taught me a lot about how to be a man on and off the field, says Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Kids need more chances in life, and I hate to imagine a world where sports arent around to help kids stay out of trouble and succeed.Green shoelace users can sshow their support as well by taking a picture of their casual or athletic shoes or cleats laced up with green shoelaces and use (hash)SaveYouthSports.dddddddddddd You can be sure Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs will make such a fashion statement.Seeing what kids are exposed to nowadays makes the positive influences of coaches and teams more important than ever, Diggs says. The opportunity to play sports is huge in a kids life in so many ways, and not being able to afford joining a team is tragic.Thats why Ill be standing with others who purchase green laces in support of Sports Matter, and proud to wear them during Week 13 on `Thursday Night Football. `DICKS foundation also will use money donated to help raise awareness for and support underfunded youth sports programs.Other athletes involved in the program include Justise Winslow of the Miami Heat, Dexter Fowler of the Chicago Cubs (now a free agent), Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics, and Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets.The initiative also includes a short film profile of the Fifth Ward Saints football organization outside of Houston. It shows the importance of football in the lives of generations of Houston-area kids. At the end of the film, DICKS Foundation donates a $100,000 grant, including new equipment, as a gift.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLSportsMatter.com/greenlaces ' ' '