My good friend George sent me an email today that started the old hamster wheels churning in my cobweb filled brain. Not sure if anyone saw this or not, but Rick Dutrow is apparently a bit upset with Edgar Prado, who rode longshot Riley Tucker in the Preakness, for what he feels was an attempt to box his colt in during the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown.
Source:http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown08/news/story?id=3406888
The story gets a bit dramatic when you consider that Prado is Dutrow’s regular go-to guy for his best mounts. In fact, Prado was supposed to be Big Brown’s jockey, but due to an injury appears to have missed his date with destiny aboard the super-colt.
All this got me thinking. We’ve got the Belmont coming up. Big Brown’s biggest challenger is likely going to be the lightly raced Casino Drive. Casino Drive needs a jockey. Could it be? Nah, you don’t think…could Edgar wind up on him? We’ll have to wait and see, I guess. In the meantime…
Flashback for a moment to our last bid for a Triple Crown with Smarty Jones in 2004. Many racing fans still feel that Alex Solis and Jerry Bailey aboard Rock Hard Ten and Eddington ran the race in a fashion that sought to ensure that Smarty Jones would be defeated. In their defense, these guys aren’t paid to simply let Smarty roll on to history. Sometimes I think folks forget that rather conveniently. Regardless, Smarty was never able to settle, and in the end was caught by the longshot Birdstone in the final 100 yards.
Birdstone was of course ridden by none other than Edgar Prado! Can you see where this is going?
How ironic would it be if Prado were able to play the roll of spoiler in yet another Triple Crown quest - a quest he was seemingly destined at one point to be on himself?
Need more irony? Don’t forget that it was Kent Desormeaux who rode Real Quiet in 1998. Real Quiet had of course won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, the second year in a row that trainer Bob Baffert had placed himself in striking distance of a Triple Crown. Real Quiet was sent by Desormeaux perhaps a bit too early, and was in front by as many as 7 lengths before Victory Gallop started swallowing up ground behind him. At the wire, Desormeaux’s Real Quiet had been bested by a nose.
That’s the kind of defeat that you just know has to haunt a guy. Will Kent Desormeaux overcome the ghosts of 1998 and unify the Triple Crown for the first time in 30 years? Or will Edgar Prado get a shot to play spoiler again as he did in 2004? One thing’s certain, things could get a bit more interesting here as Belmont week approaches.
I’ve no idea if Prado has a good shot or not to get the call on Casino Drive. I suppose he’s just as likely as anyone else.
For all the Casino Drive fans out there, don’t forget that Birdstone entered the 2004 Preakness as the “horse for the course” angle, having won the Champagne Stakes as a 2 year old. History would seem to be on the side of Casino Drive following his run in the Peter Pan Stakes and considering his bloodlines (being a half to Jazil and Rags to Riches - Belmont winners both).
that was like six degrees of separation for horse racing! instead of kevin baconisisms, they could be pradoisms! i am still rooting for big brown! i hate to admit it, but it would be cool to have a triple crown winner the year i turn 30!
Big Brown seems to be a ‘rockin! Seems to be his season.
@Fritz - LOL - I know, I got done writing that and thought “did this place just turn into some sort of reality tv site for horse racing?” Oh well, a little drama’s good for the ole blog, no?
No need to be ashamed of rooting for Big Brown - check out my “why I’m backing Big Brown” post from a couple of days ago. I’m with ya all the way.
@Pentad - indeed. Casino Drive is probably the only serious contender for him to face, but considering he’s (Big Brown) passed every hurdle he’s faced I’m not going to expect him to do anything but run a big one.
Interesting article about the possibility of a Curlin vs. Big Brown matchup including some great Dutrow quotes… http://www.drf.com/news/article/94847.html
Oh it’s funny to hear somebody so naive being so cocky.
If and it is a big If for BIG BROWN to meet CURLIN it would likely be in the FALL when 3-year olds get the 5lb. weight allowance from older horses. The 5lb. weight allowance ‘helped’ RAGS-TO-RICHES last year in the BELMONT(fillies v. colts/geldings) and there is no reason to assume DUTROW would not take every advantage he was entitled too.
I actually gave out this winner, exacta, triple, & superfecta on ESPN radio. I loved Birdstone. I think Z Fortune has kind of similar form … that’s why I’d to see Z enter the Belmont …
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8txCP8CKww&hl=en&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1]
Take care Kev
[...] to these shenanigans, we had Dutrow whining like a 5-year-old girl about the way Edgar Prado rode longshot Riley Tucker in the Preakness. Apparently Edgar was just supposed to let Big Brown win. How dare he not do [...]
[...] BIg Brown will take to the track and stare down not only the other horses, but 30 years of history rife with heartbreaking upsets. There are some that are predicting doom for the son of Boundary - that his quarter crack, [...]