Thursday at Pimlico

15 05 2008

Had a rather exciting Thursday morning today at Pimlico.  I got to meet Tex Dulay and Cindy Pierson Dulay from horse-races.net.  Great folks – they made me feel right at home even though I was totally overwhelmed at the spectacle before my eyes.  It’s not often as a common horse racing fan that you get to sit in a room with so many distinguished names in the sport.  I probably looked like a deer in headlights.  Thankfully Tex was kind enough to make sure I knew who was who and what was going on.  That guy’s a bundle of energy – I can see why they are great photographers.  If I spot them on Friday and Saturday I’ll be something of a cheering section for them while they ply their magic.

I also got to meet Amanda from turfangels, who was wonderful to talk horses with. I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t recall having checked out her blog before, but now that I have I’m very impressed.  Let’s just say it’s an instant blogroll addition.  I’m especially fond of the mission statement:  “…dedicated to furthering the education of young racing fans. “ 

That statement got me thinking for a moment.  That really is what I started blogging for as well.  Just trying to reach as many folks as possible and share the love of the game.  I’ve got some more ideas on this now, having been inspired a bit by Amanda’s blog.  My friends at the Thoroughbred Blogger’s Alliance who have seen my latest email will know at least one of my half-crazed ideas for nurturing more fans of our sport.  I’ll have more on that in post sometime later.

So what were the highlights of the morning?  Well, I drank several free Black Eyed Susan’s – which means I also now possess a pair of the famed Preakness glasses the drinks come in.  It’s so awesome to see Curlin listed amongst the winners.   Ah, the memories!!! Last year’s Preakness…my god.  Oh to live life at it’s fullest and feel that rush once more!

The program for the breakfast featured a very passionate article about the “Street Fight in the Preakness” between Curlin and Street Sense last year.  Obviously I’ll treasure that forever. 

Chris Lincoln hosted the Alibi breakfast, which is a tradition dating back to the 40′s at Pimlico, and was very entertaining.  I’m told that’s usually the case.  He gives out a rather funny “rat bastard” award to trainers who aren’t there to give a rundown on their horse’s chances.  All of this in front of an Archbishop and the Little Sisters of the Poor, no less.  It’s all in good sport and very tastefully done. 

I really didn’t get a chance to snap any photos of note.  Don’t worry though – with Tex and Cindy on the scene, there are workout photos-a-plenty on their site:

http://www.horse-races.net/library/preak08-thursday.htm

I don’t know about you guys, but two horses stick out to me in those pics.  Big Brown obviously looks the part.  He looked that way going to post in Churchill and doesn’t appear to be any worse for the wear.  The other that really sticks out to me is Kentucky Bear.  Hey Byrn, Macho Again, and Gayego also look pretty good to me. 


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Let’s Meet the Preakness Contenders

14 05 2008

A field of 13 runners will compete on Saturday in the 133rd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.  The field is headlined by the Kentucky Derby winner and 3-year-old phenom Big Brown.  Only one of his competitors in the Kentucky Derby, Gayego, has returned to face him, and that colt will be breaking from the outside.  11 other contenders have drawn in and are set to give battle to the colt many think may walk away with a Triple Crown.  

Post time is 6:15 PM on Saturday, with national coverage available on NBC.  The second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes) is a 1 3/16 mile race over the main dirt track at Pimlico.  $1 million in total purse money is up for grabs.  The track record for the Preakness is 1:53.40, set by Tank’s Prospect in 1985 and then matched by Louis Quatorze in 1996 and Curlin in 2007.  Many will also tell you that the great Secretariat either matched or broke that record, and controversy around the official time of Secretariat’s trip abounds even to this day.  The largest victory margin in the Preakness was an amazing 11 1/2 lengths by Smarty Jones.

The Field:

 #1 Macho Again

  • Odds: 20-1
  • Owner: Westpoint Thoroughbreds
  • Trainer: Dallas Stewart
  • Jockey: Julien Leparaux
  • Sire: Macho Uno (Holy Bull)
  • Dam: Go Donna Go (Wild Again)
  • Notes:  Winner of the Derby Trial Stakes on 4/26/08 at Churchill Downs.  Also boasts an impressive Allowance level win from earlier in February. Has never faced the likes of Big Brown and will need to bring his best on Saturday to factor into the money.  Macho Again was originally pointing towards the Ohio Derby until a recent decision was made to instead run in the Preakness.  The colt worked 4 furlongs in 50.80 on 5/10/08 at Churchill.
    • Macho Again breezes at Churchill on 5/10/08

 

 #2 Tres Borrachos

  • Odds: 30-1
  • Owner: Beau Greely, John Greely IV, Phil Houchens
  • Trainer: Beau Greely
  • Jockey: Tyler Baze
  • Sire: Ecton Park (Forty Niner)
  • Dam: Pete’s Fancy (Peteski)
  • Notes: Ran 3rd to Gayego and Z Fortune in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby.  Has some speed and could be a part of the Preakness pace. Led the way for a while in the Arkansas Derby before finally fading to Gayego and Z Fortune, but held on for show honors.

 

 #3 Icabad Crane

  • Odds:30-1
  • Owner: Earle Mack
  • Trainer: Graham Motion
  • Jockey: Jeremy Rose
  • Sire: Jump Start (A.P. Indy)
  • Dam:Adorahy (Rahy)
  • Notes: Winner of the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico, which makes him the “horse for the course” out of the field.  He stalked pace setter Mint Lane that day to triumph.  I got to see him live that day and he looked pretty impressive to me.  Of course, like many in this field, he’ll find the competition a bit steeper with the presence of Big Brown.  Also has a 3rd place finish in the Rushaway Stakes.  The colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:09.60 at Fair Hill on 5/9/08
    • Icabad Crane blows past Mint Lane to win the Federico Tesio Stakes

 

  #4 Yankee Bravo

  • Odds: 15-1
  • Owner: Richard Duggan, Bienstock and Winner Stables, and Harlequin Ranches
  • Trainer: Patrick Gallagher
  • Jockey: Alex Solis
  • Sire: Yankee Gentleman (Storm Cat)
  • Dam:Vickey Jane  (Royal Academy)
  • Notes: Has a win in the California Derby on his resume, as well as a third place finish in the Louisiana Derby behind Pyro.  Ran a disappointing 4th in the Santa Anita Derby most recently.  Colt worked 7 furlongs in 1:24.20 at Hollywood Park on 5/8/08.
    • Yankee Bravo finishes 3rd behind Pyro and My Pal Charlie in the Louisiana Derby 3/8/08.

 

 #5 Behindatthebar

  • Odds: 10-1
  • Owner: Padua Stable, Michael Shustek, and W. Don Stanley
  • Trainer: Todd Pletcher
  • Jockey: David Flores
  • Sire: Forest Wildcat (Storm Cat)
  • Dam: Rhiana (Runaway Groom)
  • Notes:  Winner of the Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes.  The colt breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.13 on 5/11/08 at Belmont Park.  Behindatthebar is Todd Pletcher’s only Preakness runner for 2008.
    • Behindatthebar runs away with the Coolmore Lexington Stakes

 

#6 Racecar Rhapsody

  • Odds: 30-1
  • Owner: Jerry Carroll, Stan Kaplan, Ronald Plattner, and Mark Guilfoyle
  • Trainer: Ken McPeek
  • Jockey: Robby Albarado
  • Sire: Tale of the Cat
  • Dam: Reflect the Music (A.P. Indy)
  • Notes: Longshot closer is piloted by last year’s Preakness winner in Albarado.  His name suggests he’s faster than he has appeared thus far in 6 lifetime starts. Still, apart from Big Brown, he seems to belong with the rest of the field.  The colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.00 at Churchill on 5/8/08.

 

 

 #7 Big Brown

  • Odds: 1/2*
  • Owner: IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.
  • Trainer:Rick Dutrow
  • Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
  • Sire:Boundary (Danzig)
  • Dam: Mien (Nureyev)
  • Notes:  3-year-old phenom and winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby is sure to go to post as the overwhelming favorite.  He’s a perfect 4 for 4 lifetime and will have the legendary Triple Crown of horse racing within his sights if he can run to expectations in the Preakness.  Blew away a field of 20 to win the Derby in stunning fashion.  Does not appear to have an equal in his division at the moment.
    • Big Brown’s dominating performance in the 2008 Kentucky Derby

 

 #8 Kentucky Bear

  • Odds: 15-1
  • Owner: Bear Stables
  • Trainer: Reade Baker
  • Jockey:Jamie Theriot
  • Sire: Mr. Greeley (Gone West)
  • Dam:Tate (Afleet)
  • Notes: Has had Pimlico all to himself in recent days, being the first contender to arrive on the scene.  The third place finisher in the Toyota Bluegrass has flashed some potential in his 3 lifetime starts and has much room for improvement.  Will he be a part of the pace or will he stalk the leaders into the stretch?  It seems impossible to tell right now.  Has the looks of one of the better longshots in the field and could be a surprise in the exotics.
    • Kentucky Bear finishes 3rd behind Monba in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland

 #9 Stevil

  • Odds: 30-1
  • Owner: Robert LaPenta
  • Trainer:Nick Zito
  • Jockey: John Velazquez
  • Sire: Maria’s Mon (Wavering Monarch)
  • Dam: Company Storm (Storm Creek)
  • Notes: Sire was a 2 year old champion that had to be put down on the track following an injury. Colt is a half to Wait a While and Monarchos.  The Zito/Lapenta connection originally desired to have War Pass in this position, but that colt’s injuries have made Stevil their best shot for the Preakness.  Looms as a longshot that will have to bring his best race to factor into the final.

 

 #10 Riley Tucker

  • Odds: 30-1
  • Owner:Zayat Stables
  • Trainer: Bill Mott
  • Jockey: Edgar Prado
  • Sire: Harlan’s Holiday (Harlan)
  • Dam: My Sweet Country (Bold Ruckus)
  • Notes: Another of the longshots in the field who has finished in the money in a couple of tries as a 3 -year-old, including the Arlington Washington Futurity and the Saratoga Special.  Was a surprise late entry to the field after it was decided El Gato Malo would not enter the Preakness.  Worked 5 furlongs in 1:06.09 on 5/12/08 at Belmont Park.

 

 #11 Giant Moon

  • Odds: 30-1
  • Owner: Albert Fried Jr.
  • Trainer: Richard Schosberg
  • Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
  • Sire: Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat)
  • Dam: Moonlightandbeauty (Capote)
  • Notes:Colt began his campaign impressively in NY by winning his first 4 starts.  Since then he has slipped a bit with a disappointing finish in the Gotham Stakes and a 4th place finish in the Wood Memorial. He worked 4 furlongs in :47.77 at Belmont Park on 5/13/08 - good enough to qualify as a bullet.
    • Giant Moon wins the 2008 Count Fleet Stakes-his last of 4 consecutive victories to begin his career

 

 #12 Gayego

  • Odds: 8-1
  • Owner: Cubanacan Stables
  • Trainer: Paulo Lobo
  • Jockey:Mike Smith
  • Sire: Gilded Time (Timeless Moment)
  • Dam: Devil’s Lake (Lost Code)
  • Notes:Colt that I’ve had a bit of a fascination with throughout the year. He won the San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita on 1/20/08. Proved he could handle the dirt with his victory in the Arkansas Derby.  I liked him heading into the Derby, where he had a god-awful trip.  If the horse I thought he was in the Derby shows up on Preakness Day, he should be the most logical challenger for Big Brown.  Of course, he’s got the outside post position to contend with as well, which may be a hindrance as it was in the Derby.
    • Gayego takes the Arkansas Derby over Z Fortune at Oaklawn Park on 4/12/08

 

 

 #13 Hey Byrn

  • Odds: 20-1
  • Owner: Beatrice Oxenberg
  • Trainer: Edward Plesa Jr.
  • Jockey: Charles Lopez
  • Sire: Put it Back (Honour and Glory)
  • Dam: Restraining Order (Miss Shoplifter)
  • Notes:An impressive allowance winner at Calder earlier in his career, where he defeated horses such as Alaazo, he faced off against Big Brown in the Florida Derby and didn’t appear to be a match for the super-colt.  Hey Byrn returned to win the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on 4/12/08.  Has the makings of a frisky competitor if he can run his best race on Saturday.  Ever since Ron Correll first talked about this colt, I’ve felt that he was underrated.  We’ll see if he belongs with the upper crust of the 3-year-old division on Saturday.
    • Hey Byrn wins the Holy Bull after stalking Famous Patriot through modest fractions

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Categories : Big Brown, Gayego, Giant Moon, Hey Byrn, Horse Racing News, Pimlico, Preakness, Triple Crown, Triple Crown Coverage

Harlem Rocker out; Gayego in (maybe)

12 05 2008

Just a quick update for today.  The bulk of my Preakness posts will be coming later in the week as I attempt to attend the Alibi breakfast at Pimlico on Thursday, and then take in both the Black Eyed Susan and Preakness cards on Friday and Saturday.  Once the post positions have been established on Wednesday night I’ll have a “meet the Preakness runners” post similar to the numerous Derby updates we had earlier in the year (pics, videos, bios, etc.)

Source: http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=32431

Word is out that Harlem Rocker is not going to enter the Preakness.  Harlem Rocker was thought to be one of the main contenders (assuming anyone can contend with Big Brown) had he drawn in, but the connections have decided to pass.  I can’t say I blame them, no matter how badly I wanted him to run.  Harlem Rocker will likely point to the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine later in June. 

While the news of Harlem Rocker not entering the Preakness put a bit of a damper on the day, we also got word that Gayego may be coming after all.   Many of you will remember my less-than-clairvoyant dream of Gayego winning the Kentucky Derby.  Well, get ready, because now I can tease myself with the idea that perhaps I was mistaken about which race I dreamt of.  It’s a long-shot, but I’ve got to be honest and say that I still am interested in Gayego and have got a bit of a soft spot for him in my heart.

It will take improvement, it goes without saying, for a horse that finished 17th in the Derby to turn the tables on Big Brown.  I’m reminded of the daunting task Curlin had last year in the Preakness to make up a fraction of the ground that Gayego would have to close in order to prevail.  Gayego certainly isn’t Curlin, but he does have a Graded Stakes win over the dirt in the Arkansas Derby.   As much of a long-shot as it may be, it certainly isn’t impossible.  I won’t call it “likely” by any stretch of the imagination, but this is horse racing and stranger things have happened.

I would have thought that Gayego may have pointed to the Belmont instead, in an effort to give the colt some needed rest.  Steve Asmussen was on record as being a tad concerned about how much the Arkansas Derby took out of 2nd place finisher Z Fortune heading into the Derby, and certainly the trip that Gayego encountered two Saturday’s ago didn’t leave many with the idea that a trip to Baltimore was in order.

Still, can’t argue with the prospects of a practically full Preakness field – especially since just a week ago it seemed as if Big Brown had scared everyone off.  If nothing else, a full field will ensure there’s some money on the other horses, which could boost the Pick 4 and Pick 6 tickets that are likely to be singled on Big Brown in the feature race.  That’s going to be my hope, at least.   Hopefully we can catch some value in the previous races and look to what appears to be a “sure thing” lock to help keep the overall ticket cost down.  Not only that, but consider that the more horses who enter, the better the potential exacta/trifecta payouts can be if you can find the right horses underneath.


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Categories : Horse Racing News, Pimlico, Preakness, Triple Crown, Triple Crown Coverage

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