THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER

It’s been a wild week since the Derby as the game continues to take a look at itself in the mirror and come to grips with some of the concerns of the general public.  Quietly in the background, the forward procession of the Triple Crown continues to march on. 

Up next is the Preakness - my favorite day of the year.  I admit I’m biased since I basically came of age as a horse racing fan watching the Preakness at Old Hilltop.  Living and working near the Baltimore area it has always been special to see the amount of attention that the sport gets as we head into Preakness week.  As the years have gone bye and the crowds have dwindled throughout the meets, there’s always been  something majestic about seeing the historic track where many of the game’s legends have etched their names in the history book decked out in all it’s glory.  

Over the years we’ve had some legendary battles that have helped shaped the legacy of the “run for the Black Eyed Susans.”  Who can forget Affirmed and Alydar in 1978 -one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport?  Or Sunday Silence and Easy Goer in 1989.   Of course, last year’s running of the Preakness is the one most firmly entrenched in my heart, as I got to watch the colt that I had fallen in love with, Curlin, come of age in the stretch against Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in a photo finish that ranks as the most singularly exciting moment in all of my sports fandom. 

This year we’re getting a bit of a depleted field.  After Big Brown’s romp in the Kentucky Derby, none of his challengers appear to be returning.  Instead, a fresh crop of competitors are headed to Pimlico to take on the champ and try to upset his bid at the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown.

As of right now, NTRA.com is reporting that Behindatthebar, Kentucky Bear, Giant Moon, Stevil, Yankee Bravo, and Tres Borrachos have answered the call to face off against Big Brown.  At one point it looked like El Gato Malo may join them, but that no longer appears to be the case. 

It’s way to soon to make any official predictions, but it goes without saying that the 6 challengers are going to be up against it.  Kentucky Bear is probably the one I’m most anxious to see as he ran a pretty good race chasing Monba in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 12.  My gut tells me he’s the best bet for an upset at this point in time.

Behindatthebar is one of Todd Pletcher’s runners that had qualified for the Derby but chose to pass and instead point for the Preakness.  Judging from the way things turned out last Saturday (which has to have been one of the worst overall Derby days in the history of the sport - no offense to Big Brown), his connections seem to have made the right call.  I”m still not sure what kind of colt this is.  He didn’t fire on the dirt in the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows on March 8, but did come back to prevail in the Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland on 4/19.  My initial thought is that he may be more of a synthetic runner, in which case Big Brown will make short work of him.  He’s out of Forest Wildcat and was original a member of Craig Dollase’s barn before being transferred to Todd Pletcher.

Giant Moon started his career as one of the shining stars of the NY racing circuit.   He rattled off 4 consecutive wins (including 3 Stakes wins) before soundly beaten in the slop during the Gotham Stakes.  He came back to finish 4th in the Wood Memorial won by Tale of Ekati.  It’s worth noting that Tale of Ekati came back to finish 4th in the Kentucky Derby - well ahead of other colts that were thought to be better. Keep that in mind before you totally write off Giant Moon.  Another interesting tidbit is that Ramon Dominguez is scheduled to ride Giant Moon.  Dominguez was aboard him for the first 4 wins of his career.  The Gotham effort looks like one you can toss from consideration, and the combination of Tale of Ekati’s flattering in the Derby finish and the return to Dominguez could be just what the doctor ordered to make this colt a bit more attractive to bettors.

Yankee Bravo is a son of Storm Cat that brings a late running style to the Preakness.  He won the California Derby at Golden Gate on January 21 and then came back to finish 3rd in the Louisiana Derby and 4th in the Santa Anita Derby.  He looks like a guy that could be useful underneath in the exotics.  I liked him a bit in the Santa Anita Derby and was expecting a better run.   His connections skipped the Derby for a number of reasons, perhaps most notably since Storm Cat’s offspring have never won one before.

Stevil is a Robert LaPenta colt that was last seen finishing 4th in the Blue Grass.  Prior to that he was 5th in the Louisiana Derby.  I’m not seeing a whole lot to be excited about yet on this one. He closed late in the Blue Grass to get into the superfecta.  He has only one win lifetime - his maiden breaker - but he’s been in the money or close in virtually every start.  He could be a horse to use underneath in the exotics as well.

Tres Borrachos could be a bit of a surprise horse to some.  He ran third behind Gayego and Z Fortune in the Arkansas Derby.  He’s been working pretty well (5 furlongs in :59.60 on 5/7/08 at Churchill) and is trained by Beau Greely.  Tyler Baze looks like he’ll keep the mount for the Preakness.

At the end of the day I’ll most likely wish I had back the 20 minutes or so it took me to type the information about the competitors.  It’s clearly Big Brown’s race to lose, and with Kent Desormeaux returning to Pimlico, it would take a miracle to beat him. 

I’m convinced that Big Brown is actually getting the easiest road to a Triple Crown I’ve ever seen.  If only my beloved Curlin had been born a year later, with no Street Sense, Hard Spun, or Rags to Riches to face.  Unless someone is able to rise up from the ranks - he should be set to romp his way towards the first Triple Crown in 30 years. Of course, the Belmont still awaits -a race where favorites have gone down to defeat in rapid succession in recent years. 

I’m just hoping we get a good, clean race. Last year the  Preakness was the turning point of the year for me as a fan and horseplayer.  I’m not expecting any miracles this year, but will settle for a good, clean race where all the horses return home safely.