John Brown's Horse Racing Blog This is John Brown's horse racing blog, where he'll discuss horse racing news and release his picks. Send John an e-mail here: jbrown01@ysu.edu. All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com Posted May 12, 2008 Peter Pan and Lonestar Derby - Weekend in ReviewWhat's the best present a son can give to his mom on Mothers Day? How about a win at Belmont Park? What mom wouldn't want their son to keep the family name alive at a park their children have dominated? Better Than Honour, has been the dam (mother) of the previous two Belmont Stakes winners (Jazil and Rags to Riches). Casino Drive will try to make it three straight for the proud mom. Casino Drive delivered a message, heard loud and clear, on Saturday as he took the Peter Pan Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths. In just his second race, the Japanese import Casino Drive, as legendary track announcer Tom Durkin put it, "said sayonara to the field." Casino Drive was rode by Kent Desormeaux, the winning jockey aboard Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby, and will ride the horse in his quest toward a triple crown next week at Pimlico. Ironic enough, Casino Drive may be Big Brown's biggest competitor at the Belmont Stakes. After the race, it was clear that Casino Drive is a legitimate contender for the Belmont Stakes. You can't argue with his pedigree. It's in his blood to run the grueling 1 1/2 mile at Belmont Park. Peter Pan in Review (-$48) I'm eating my words today. I said that Golden Spikes would be the post-time favorite. Obviously, the fans at Belmont Park knew more than I did. Casino Drive was the post-time favorite and rightfully so. I needed a good run by Golden Spikes and didn't get it. I bought into the hype of his Illinois Derby second-place finish, and it came back to bite me. I came nowhere close to hitting an exacta or trifecta, and I couldn’t even hit an across-the-board bet. Belmont Park, 9th Race - May 10, 2008
Lone Star Derby in Review (+$60) What I lacked in the Peter Pan, I made up for in the Lone Star Derby. I knew that El Gato Malo was the best horse in the field, and he made it exciting down the stretch. I said that El Gato Malo would be the post-time favorite, and the crowd at Lone Star Park backed me. El Gato Malo who never ran on the dirt before, made his move down the stretch at Lone Star Park, as he overcame Somba Rooster, who eventually finished third and beat Leoinides by half a length. El Gato Malo finished the mile and 1/16 race in 1:43.04. It wasn't the statement win that Casino Drive made in the Peter Pan, but West Point Thoroughbreds proved they made the right decision by running their horse in Texas as opposed to the Preakness. The win wasn't enough to make their horse a strong contender for the Belmont Stakes, but it's still a possibility. Don't be surprised if El Gato Malo is considering running in the Ohio Derby on May 31. El Gato Malo paid off decent money, enough to offset my losses in the Peter Pan. Lone Star Park, 10th Race - May 10, 2008
Weekend Break Down Up $12 is hardly anything to take to the bank. But being up money is better than being in the red. Next Saturday will be a big day in racing, so let's try to make that day a monster one. Other Horse News And then there was Big Brown. Recapturetheglory, who was expected to be the only other horse outside of Big Brown to run in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness came down with a fever on Friday. That prompted owner Ronnie Lamarque to pull his horse out of the Preakness Stakes. This will be the first time since 1948 that only one Kentucky Derby starter will run in the Preakness. In other news reguarding the Preakness, Big Brown galloped over a mile at Churchill Downs. This was his most extensive work out since winning the Kentucky Derby. He's expected to gallop every morning on the Churchill Downs dirt until he leaves for Pimlico Wednesday. According to the Preakness Web site, here are the confirmed starters to run in the second leg:
Monday through Friday, I'll break down the Preakness. So, be prepared for "Preakness Week" on Walterfootball.com. This is John Brown's horse racing blog, where he'll discuss horse racing news and release his picks. Send John an e-mail here: jbrown01@ysu.edu. All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com Posted May 10, 2008 Peter Pan and Lonestar Derby SelectionsHere comes the weekend. Saturday marks the weeklong countdown to the Preakness Stakes, and the three-week countdown to the Ohio Derby. Nevertheless, Saturday also makes for a good day of racing. Saturday features six graded stakes races. For those of you that don't know what a graded stakes race is, here are some requirements. There are three grades associated with graded stakes, Grade I, II and III. The National Thoroughbred Association looks at previous fields of the races to determine the grade of a stake. For example, Big Brown won the Florida Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby. Since the Kentucky Derby is so prestigious, the Florida Derby will receive grade I stake status next year. If a field of horses in a graded stakes lack in performance, the grade of that particular race will decrease in status. For instance, the Ohio Derby is a Grade II stakes race. If the winner of this year's Ohio Derby doesn't run well after, the grade may fall to III. Saturday, six races meet the graded stakes requirements. Belmont Park hosts the grade II Peter Pan Stakes for 3-year-old horses. That race offers a purse of $200,000. The park also hosts the Grade III Bold Ruler Handicap, at a purse of $100,000. In California, Hollywood Park offers three grades stakes. The Jim Murray Memorial Handicap and Los Angeles Handicap are all open to all horses three years old and up The Senorita Stakes is open to three year old fillies. The day is capped off with the best field of horses, in my opinion, the $400,000 Grade III Lone Star Derby, open to the best 3-year-olds. Although I will wager on all six stake races, I will handicap and preview the Peter Pan and Lone Star Derby, both involving 3-year-old thoroughbreds. Peter Pan Stakes The Grade II Peter Pan Stakes is run on dirt, at nine furlongs (1 1/8 miles). This race in not named after Peanut Butter, or the popular fairy tale, but after Peter Pan, a Hall of Fame stud champion and winner of many prestigious stake races in the early 1900s. The early lines from Belmont Park produced two favorites, Casino Drive and Spark Candle, both 2/1. The two favorites come as a surprise as Lieutenant Ron was expected take the lead role. A foot injury caused the colt to skip the race. This leaves the field wide open. Although Casino Drive and Spark Candle will open the day at 2/1, don't be surprised if Golden Spikes in the post time favorite. Golden Spikes finished second at the Illinois Derby, a prelude to the Kentucky Derby. In the Illinois Derby, Golden Spikes finished ahead of Dennis of Cork, who finished third in Kentucky. Here are the horses that will be running.
My Selections: $10 Across the Board ($30 bet, $10 to win, $10 to place and $10 to show) on No. 6 Golden Spikes. $10 boxed exacta on No. 1 (Casino Drive) and No. 5 (Spark Candle) A boxed exacta bet means that the No. 1 horse and No. 5 horses have to finish in 1st or 2nd in any order. $6 Boxed Trifecta with No. 6 (Golden Spikes), No. 5 (Spark Candle) and No. 1 (Casino Drive) $2 Superfecta (6, 1, 5, 2) *Must finish in that order. Right now Golden Spikes has good value, but as I said, don't be surprised if he is the post time favorite. Lone Star Derby: The $400,000 Grade III Lone Star Derby will be run on dirt at a mile and 1/16. El Gato Malo, who had a rivalry going with Colnel John in the preludes to the Kentucky Derby, is a horse I have my eye on. The field of 13 has two early-morning favorites. Limestone Edge and Somba Rooster both sit at 9/5. El Gato Malo follows them at 2/1.
This race has a lot of depth and has some of the best, unknown 3-year-olds. I do believe that El Gato Malo will be the horse to beat even as the third favorite. He may carry a good value after he finished a disappointing fifth in the San Anita Derby. Selections: The field of 13 has some good value for place and show; however, I don't have a race program. I will make one selection and take the No. 2, El Gato Malo. $10 Acorss the Board ($30 Bet win, place and show) on No. 2 El Gato Malo. For more selections during the day, log onto the Walterfootball.com Forum. This is John Brown's horse racing blog, where he'll discuss horse racing news and release his picks. Send John an e-mail here: jbrown01@ysu.edu. All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com Posted May 9, 2008 Preakness News and NotesThis week has been moving fast. I gave my suggestions to help the sport, and gave an opinion on why Big Brown will win the Preakness. Next week will be a busy week as I break down the weekend of racing at Pimlico. Here are some news briefs regarding the second leg. Racecar Rhapsody, who finished fourth in the Lexington Stakes will run in the stakes according to the Associated Press. Jockey Robby Albarado will ride him. For those of you who don't know, Albarado rode Curlin, the winner of last year's Preakness. Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, said he will gallop the thoroughbred around the track every day until his departure to Baltimore. Big Brown is scheduled to be flown to Baltimore on Wednesday. Recapturethelglory is expected to be driven by van to Pimlico on Saturday, and is expected to arrive Sunday. Those are the news briefs regarding the second leg of the American Triple Crown. Check back tomorrow as I post my previews and selections of this weekend's stakes. Saturday's races include the Grade II Peter Pan at Belmont Park, and the weekend's best horse race, the Grade III Lone Star Derby held at Lone Star Park. This is John Brown's horse racing blog, where he'll discuss horse racing news and release his picks. Send John an e-mail here: jbrown01@ysu.edu. All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com Posted May 8, 2008 Big Brown's Chances at the Triple CrownEveryone who has something negative to say about thoroughbred horse racing better get their words in now. Because on May 17, a horse will be trying to capture history. When Big Brown made his move at the 3/4 mark in Louisville, it was clear that no horse was going to touch him in Kentucky. Any win in the Kentucky Derby is convincing, but 4 3/4 length win is a statement. That statement has been heard loud and clear by America's best trainers and owners. There is only one stater from the Kentucky Derby that will run in the Preakness, which will be held at Pimlico on the 17th. The only derby runner outside of Big Brown in the second leg of the Triple Crown, is Recapturetheglory, who finished fifth. The best group of 3-year-olds in the world couldn't match Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby. The second tier of 3-year-olds won't touch him either. The likely Preakness list is short, consisting of Lexington Stakes winner, Behindatthebar, Blue Grass Stakes third-place finisher Kentucky Bear, and Giant Moon, who ran a disappointing fourth in the Wood Memorial. Those horses, along with Big Brown, will headline the 133rd Preakness. Other runners include Stevil, Tres Borrachos and Yankee Bravo. Harlem Rocker, who is undefeated, is considering entering the Canadian Triple crown over the Preakness. The decision to run in Canada or the United States will have a huge effect on the race. The draw for the second leg will come next Wednesday, the 14th at 5 p.m. on ESPN2. As recently as today, the owners of El Gato Malo pulled their horse out of the Preakness, and entered him into the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Derby held this Saturday in Texas. Horse fans might remember the battle El Gato Malo had with Colonel John in the prep races leading up to the Kentucky Derby. A post position of 20 didn't stop Big Brown from winning America's favorite race. A field of second-tier horses won't contain him in Baltimore. Big Brown's toughest race has yet to come. All the big boys in racing will be awaiting him at the Belmont on June 7. Forget Pimlico; we'll find out if Big Brown is the sports next legend at Belmont Park, as the Preakness is Big Brown's to lose. This is John Brown's horse racing blog, where he'll discuss horse racing news and release his picks. Send John an e-mail here: jbrown01@ysu.edu. All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com Posted May 7, 2008 Eight Belles' Death at Kentucky Derby to Cause Changes?In the wake of the tragic event that happened at Churchill Downs this past Saturday, many people have offered opinions on making thoroughbred horse racing better. PETA offered the unrealistic dream of banning the sport and took a cheap shot at Hillary Clinton for giving her support to Eight Belles, the second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby. Just because PETA is PETA, their suggestions are automatically dismissed. Other suggestions made by racing experts include the ban of the whip, a move to synthetic and turf tracks, and a ban of all drugs given to horses. Now it's time for me to offer my suggestions and opinions. Smaller tracks would not be able to withstand the cost associated with switching. The state that I live in, Ohio, does not offer casino-type gambling, which is a main revenue source for racetracks in this day of age. If a mandate was passed to ban dirt tracks, it would end thoroughbred racing in Ohio, and other states like it. It's just not a realistic plan. I do, however, support the idea of running more turf races. Although not every racetrack in the U.S. offers a grass turf, the ones that do should offer more racing on the green. I would be in favor of that idea. This problem needs to be addressed. Drugs in horse racing is a more serious problem than steroids in baseball. How can this sport turn its head on such a big issue? Those are my opinions affiliated with the suggestions that I have heard from some of the sport's biggest names. Now, here are some ideas I would offer to the NTRA: There is no doubt in my mind the accidents that happened to Barbaro, Eight Belles and George Washington over the past three years, in this sport's biggest races are horrific. However, accidents happen. If the NTRA will help regulate breeding patterns, ban drugs and promote turf racing, I believe these incidents can be prevented. Check back tomorrow when I give my reasons on why Big Brown will become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. This is John Brown's horse racing blog, where he'll discuss horse racing news and release his picks.
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