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Posted June 1, 2008
Smooth Win for Smooth Air
The morning-line favorite Smooth Air may have been passed over by the Ohio Derby betting crowd Saturday. However, Mount Joy Stables’ Smooth Air left no doubt that he was the best horse in the 74th running of the Ohio Derby.
The fun began with Smooth Air being passed over for Z Fortune in total money wagered on him. 12-1 long shot Cherokee Artist was then bet down to the 2.80 third favorite. Z Fortune gathered the most money, as he became the post-time favorite at 1.50.
All horses got off to a good start, as Celtic Meal took the early lead. Cherokee Artist snuck into the third position, as he wouldn’t wander away from the front of the field the rest of the race.
Smooth Air and Cherokee Artist battled for the second and third spots as the field straightened after the first turn.
Cherokee Artist made his move with three furlongs left in the race, as he took away the lead from long shot Celtic Meal.
As the field entered the final turn and straightened out, it was Smooth Air capturing and maintaining the lead. Garett Gomez tried sneak Z Fortune up on the rail, but his horse flattened out down the home stretch.
Smooth Air cruised to victory in the Ohio Derby, beating out lasting Cherokee Artist by four lengths.
For Smooth Air, it was the biggest win of his career. Mount Joy Stables earned $180,000 for the showing, which rises Smooth Air’s lifetime earning to $575,000.
70-year-old Bennie Stutts, trainer of Smooth Air said, “this is the proudest moment of my life.”
Cherokee Artist finished second, 2 1/2 lengths better than Z Fortune who ran third. Medjool rallied from behind to complete the superfecta by capturing fourth. Your Round, Instill, Celtic Meal and Stolen Chevy rounded out the rest of the field.
Now, let’s break down each horse’s performance in the Ohio Derby.
8th Stolen Chevy: Better stick to the Maidens at Mountaineer. The undefeated 3-year-old could not hang with the big boys in the Grade II stake.
Stolen Chevy was never a threat as he stayed in the back of the pack for the running.
I had him sixth; I overestimated him. Looks like Mountaineer is where he will continue to run.
7th Celtic Meal: The early pace setter gave way to the rest of the field, as the race went past the 3/4 mark. His race was exactly how I thought it would go, much like Tri Umet’s two years ago in the derby.
He could not keep up with the speed of the horses and ended up edging Stolen Chevy by 1 1/4 lengths. This horse is bred to run shorter distances; the mile and 1/8 was too long for him to handle as he finished 9 1/2 lengths away from sixth place.
6th Instill: Instill was right there the entire race but could not push the button to make it happen. He finished a distant 7 3/4 lengths away from Your Round. Turns out his 101 Beyer in a stakes race at Hawthorne was banking on too much.
He finished behind Your Round in the John Battaglia and finished behind him in Ohio. He was a big disappointment to me.
5th Your Round: Your Round rallied a bit, as he came within 3 1/4 lengths of the next spot to capture $9,000 for his fifth place finish.
He ran near the back for the first half of the race, then made a rally at the 3/4 mark to make edge Instill for the second time.
4th Medjool: If Medjool would have had more experience on dirt, he could have finished in the money. In just his first race on dirt, Medjool gave a valiant effort to take home $15,000 for Equine Prep Management.
He sat in the back in eighth for the first half of the race before he made his rally to finish in the upper half of the field.
3rd Z Fortune: It was a disappointing Ohio Derby for the favorite Z Fortune. I thought this horse was the best in the field, but he sure didn’t show it.
Zayat Stables brought in one of the all time best jockeys to ride him in Garett Gomez. Gomez got his horse in a good position as he made the second turn near the rail, but Z Fortune flattened out and did not respond for the demand of speed. He finished 6 1/2 lengths away from Smooth Air.
2nd Cherokee Artist: Remember this name, Cherokee Artist. You will be hearing more of this horse as the summer goes on. In just his third race, Cherokee Artist placed second in a Grade II stakes.
The betting public noticed this horse and bet him as the third favorite. He didn’t disappoint as he stalked the lead much of the race.
He made a move with three furlongs to go to gain the top position, but Smooth Air was just too much. Nevertheless, as I said, remember this name; he can be a force come the latter parts of this summer. A $60,000 payout for second isn’t a bad trip back home to Churchill.
1st Smooth Air: Smooth Air proved he is an elite 3-year-old, as he took the Ohio Derby by four lengths. Manoel Cruz was summoned in to ride Smooth air, and he gave him a smooth ride.
He stayed to the front of the field, letting Celtic Meal take the lead for the first half of the race. As the field straightened after the second turn, Smooth Air breezed to a victory. The win earned him the biggest victory of his young career, and it was his best showing since the Florida Derby.
He ran the mile and 1/8 in 1:50.26.
My Picks Review
It was put up or shut up for me. Z Fortune didn’t do as well as I thought, but I still managed to cover my money I put on him.
$50 across the board (win place and show $150) bet on No. 7 Z Fortune: -$97.50
$50 to show on No. 8 Cherokee Artist: +60
$2: 7, 8 Exacta: -$2
$2 1, 8 Exacta: +$27.80
$6 Boxed Trifecta (7, 1, 8): +$26.90
$2 Superfecta (7, 2, 8, 4): -$2
Money Wagered $212
Money Back +$13.20
Year to Date -4.80
The 2008 Ohio Derby was a great race. It was the first graded stakes race I got to attend this year, and I’m proud Ohio has maintained this race for 74 years. We all have to work together to keep this race going and to keep it at Thistledown. Can’t wait for next year’s Ohio Derby!
Stay tuned tomorrow for pictures from the 2008 Ohio Derby.
This is John Brown’s horse racing blog, where he’ll discuss horse racing news and release his picks.
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Posted May 31, 2008
Ohio Derby Prediction
It’s Ohio Derby Day! The crown jewel of Ohio racing is today with the Grade II, 74th running of the Ohio Derby.
The field is set, and in just hours, the horses will be in the gate and ready to run for the $300,000 prize.
Last year, longshot Delightful Kiss made a move at the three-eights of a mile mark, to capture the lead. He would not relinquish the top spot, as he upset the field to take the 2007 Ohio Derby.
2007 favorite Cowtown Cat could not catch the wining horse and finished a distant fourth.
For Delightful Kiss, it was his first stakes victory. For fans who bet the longshot winner, they went home happy, as he paid $51.80 for the win.
The 73rd Ohio Derby provided a great story too. Winning jockey of the 1964 Derby, Pete Anderson, just so happened to train Delightful Kiss.
The 72nd running of the Derby in 2006 may not have had the fairy tale story and the longshot winner. However, it was one of the most memorable races in Ohio Derby history. 11-10 favorite High Cotton was expected to cruise to victory, but Tampa Bay Derby winner Deputy Glitters had other plans. As the two horses battled the whole race, the determining strides were made down the final stretch.
High Cotton took the lead away from Ohio-bred Tri Uimet, as the field turned for home. Deputy Glitters caught High Cotton, and the two were in a race to the finish. Deputy Glitters pulled out the victory by a neck.
It was a great race to the finish in 2006, and we can only hope for the same in 2008. Now, here are my predictions on how all the horses will finish in the 74th Ohio Derby.
8th Celtic Meal: I like the fact that Celtic Meal has won at Thistledown before, and I highly underestimated what Icabad Crane would do at Pimlico for the Preakness. Nevertheless, I am going to take another stab at this.
The fact he has not run a mile race since March proves that this distance may not be comfortable for him. I picture him running how Tri Uimet ran in 2006: In the front for most of the race but then will be passed up by the entire field down the stretch.
7th Your Round: The inexperience of this horse is a cause for concern. He has not won since his opening Maiden, and this is just his second time running on dirt. I don’t expect him to be a factor even though he has finished ahead of Instill before.
6th Stolen Chevy: I’m still a little bit mad about a three-time winner at Mountaineer being in this field, but hey why not? The Preakness field was somewhat weak and this is what we get with 3-year-olds in 2008.
His Beyer times are good enough to compete in this race, but not good enough to show. His 2008 perfect streak will end Saturday; join the Patriots.
5th Medjool: I still don’t like the fact Medjool has never raced on dirt. Doing so in a Grade II stakes for the first time will be a difficult task. I like that he raced in a Grade I stakes previously, but the 47-day layoff doesn’t comfort me.
4th Instill: A 101 Beyer is enough to impress me. I added Instill in my Superfecta because I like his speed. I know he has already finished behind Your Round, but I’m banking on another strong performance.
The horse has the speed; he’s competed with good horses before in the Illinois Derby. I expect him to do just that at Thistledown – compete with the best.
3rd Cherokee Artist: The Ohio Derby is full of surprises, and Cherokee Artist will have his coming-out party in North Randall. Well it’s not really coming out, and finishing third isn’t really anything to party about, but this is a horse to keep your eye on.
The fact that he has only raced twice in his career causes some concern, but he was so impressive on the card at the Kentucky Derby. This horse has the ability to win a graded stakes; I just wished he had more experience.
2nd Smooth Air: What would the Ohio Derby be if the favorite won the race? It wouldn’t be the race I know and love.
People are buying into his second-place finish to Big Brown in the Florida Derby. That’s good, but losing to Big Brown by five lengths isn’t something amazing.
He’s a great horse and will win other graded stakes this summer; I just don’t think he’s the best in the field.
1st Z Fortune: It’s not going out on that much of a limb, but I think Z Fortune is the best horse in the field. He has the best Beyer time at 102, and it’s not uncommon for him to posts times in the 90s frequently.
I expect him to have to earn the victory from Smooth Air. I think it will come down to a sprint between him and the favorite.
He’s finished ahead of Smooth Air already; now let’s see if he can beat him.
My Selections:
Since this is my state’s race, I’m going to bet big.
$50 across the board (win place and show $150) bet on No. 7 Z Fortune
$50 to show on No. 8 Cherokee Artist
$2: 7, 8 Exacta
$2 1, 8 Exacta
$6 Boxed Trifecta (7, 2, 8)
$2 Superfecta (7, 2, 8, 4)
The Grade II Ohio Derby takes place Saturday at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio. The race is the most prestigious event in thoroughbred racing on the 31st. It will be the ninth race on the card, post time is set for 5:27 EST.
Fans can watch the race on HRTV, channel 404 on Dish Network.
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: [email protected].
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Posted May 30, 2008
Ohio Derby Field Preview
We now know the eight horses that will be running in the Grade II Ohio Derby this Saturday.
It’s a diverse group of horses with previous graded-stakes winners, along with horses running in a graded event for the first time in their racing career.
Let’s now break down the field for the 74th running of the Ohio Derby.
1. Smooth Air (2-1)
Strengths: There’s a reason why Smooth Air is the favorite to win. In three graded stakes attempts, he has finished in the money in two of the three races.
Smooth Air posted Beyer’s times of 98 in his second-place finish in the Florida Derby, and 95 in his win in the Grade II Hutcheson stakes.
His career earnings of $395,000 is the most among the eight horses in the field.
Only once in Smooth Air’s career has he finished outside the money, that being his last start in the Kentucky Derby.
Weakness: A third-place finish in an upgraded stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs poses some questions. His 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby isn’t anything to write home about. A Beyer time of 78 at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress much ether, but the Ohio Derby is not as cluttered as the 20-horse Kentucky Derby.
2. Medjool (7-2)
Strengths: Having run in a Grade I Blue Grass Stakes race bodes well for Medjool. He is one of three horses that have raced in a grade I stake race in the field.
The Ohio Derby will mark his third straight race at the mile and 1/8. So, the horse should be used to the distance.
In the Grade II Lanes End, Medjool ran third, tying his Beyer best of 87.
Weakness: One win in eight lifetime starts isn’t very impressive. His only win came in a Maiden Special at San Anita Park on the synthetic surface.
This is also Medjool’s first race on dirt. He has never raced off the synthetic surface, which is a cause for concern.
Medjool has not raced in 49 days. It’s good to be rested, but for almost two months? We will see how the colt reacts to the layoff.
3. Your Round (8-1)
Strengths: Your Round has already finished ahead of Instill who will also be running in the Ohio Derby. His second-place finish in the John Battaglia was eight spots better than 8-1 long shot Instill.
His 86 Beyer in the John Battaglia marked a career high.
Katie Rich Stables’ Your Round has finished in the money five times out of his seven starts.
The Ohio Derby marks his second start in a graded stakes race; his other coming in the Grade III Summer as a 2-year-old.
He is lightly raced as a 3-year-old, only racing twice in 2008.
Weakness: Your Round has not won a race since his opening Maiden last August.
Saturday will mark just the second time the colt will run on dirt. He is coming off back-to-back races on Turfway Parks synthetic surface.
Saturday will also mark his first race in three months, which is also a rather high layoff.
4. Instill (8-1)
Strengths: Winning two stake races for Illinois-bred horses makes Instill the pride and joy of Illinois’ breeders.
He is coming off a win, capturing the $100,000 Milwaukee Ave. Handicap where he posted a career high Beyer of 101, the second-highest Beyer time in the field this Saturday.
He has won three races in ten starts, and has finished in the money seven times.
His $162,000 in career earnings is the third-highest in the field.
Weakness: He has already finished behind two horses in the Ohio Derby. His 10th-place finish in the John Battaglia was eight spots away from Your Round.
His sixth-position finish in the Illinois Derby was outdone by Z Humor, who placed third. The Illinois Derby marked the last time Instill ran at a mile and 1/8.
5. Stolen Chevy (15-1)
Strengths: Stolen Chevy is the only 3-year-old in the field to claim being unbeaten at his age. In three attempts in 2008, Stolen Chevy has won all three of his Maidens.
Every victory has been impressive for the colt. In his first race of 2008, Stolen Chevy posted his career best Beyer of 89, as he won by 11 3/4 lengths. His last victory didn’t come at as wide of a margin, but he still pulled out a 1 1/2 lengths victory, with a Beyer of 85.
After the first turn of all three races, Stolen Chevy has yet relinquished a first-place lead.
It would be a fact to say that Stolen Chevy has never trailed in 2008.
Weakness: Winning three Maiden races is impressive. But let’s face it – it’s only Mountaineer Race Track. It would be another thing if it were Churchill Downs or the Belmont. Winning three races in West Virginia won’t put a horse in the category of the elite. Nevertheless, it will give him an opportunity to make a name for himself.
His lifetime earnings of $45,161 isn’t enough to intimidate the field, as it is the lowest among the group.
6. Celtic Meal (20-1)
Strengths: Like Icabad Crane in the Preakness, Celtic Meal is the only horse that can claim a win at Thistledown, as he won in 2007.
He was the first horse on the scene in North Randall, as he posted a workout on the track May 23.
His 86 Beyer in the $100,000 Tall Ships at Presque Isle Downs marked a career high. He has finished in the money seven out of his eight races.
Weakness: Saturday will mark the first time since April that Celtic Meal will race on dirt.
He has never raced in a graded stakes, while finishing second in an ungraded stakes race at Presque Isle Downs doesn’t look that amazing entering a graded competition.
Celtic Meal has not race longer than a mile since March. His two wins have both come at six furlongs. He may not be able to handle the long distance.
7. Z Fortune (5-2)
Strengths: Zayat Stables Z Fortune, enters the Ohio Derby as the second favorite. Saturday will mark his sixth-straight graded stakes race.
His 102 Beyer in the Grade II Arkansas Derby marks the best number in the field. Four times in his racing career has he posted a Beyer of 90 or better.
In the Kentucky Derby Z Fortune finished 10th, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of favorite Smooth Air. So, he has already finished ahead of the favorite in the crowded Kentucky Derby.
Along with Smooth Air, Z Fortune can claim winning a graded stakes as he won the Grade III Le Comte by 2 3/4 lengths.
He has never raced off dirt, which means this is a races he was bred for.
Weakness: His second-place finish in the Arkansas Derby isn’t anything to be ashamed of, but he lost to Gayego, who has performed rather poorly in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. I know that’s a rough statement to make, but this is a good horse; I had to find something.
His fifth-place finish in the Grade II Rebel Stakes was a disappointment, as he posted a Beyer of 82.
The Kentucky Derby was also a disappointment, as he finished the 20-horse race with a Beyer of 80.
8. Cherokee Artist (12-1)
Strengths: Cherokee Artist is lightly raced, and is coming off a win on the Kentucky Derby Card on May 3. He won a Maiden Special by 2 1/2 lengths in the fourth race at Churchill Downs on Derby day.
His 92 Beyer best time came in just his second career race.
Weakness: His 48,117 in career earnings is the second least in the field, but it does outdo rival Stolen Chevy by $3,000, even though he raced in two less races.
The colt is lightly raced but is very inexperienced. His last work out came May 23 at the Fairgrounds on the synthetic surface. We will see how he reacts to the Thistledown dirt.
————————-
There’s the breakdown of each horse in the Ohio Derby.
Check back tomorrow, as I predict where every horse will finish.
Remember, the Ohio Derby is this Saturday at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio. For those of you who cannot make the race, tune into HRTV. Check your local listings.
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 29, 2008
Ohio Derby Field Set
The field is set for the Grade II $300,000 Ohio Derby. Out of the 30 horses entered, eight will make their way into the starting gate Saturday.
Drawing the rail position is Smooth Air, the favorite to win the race in North Randall Ohio.
The Ohio Derby draw was held Wednesday afternoon, as it was announced Mount Joy’s Stables Smooth Air will be the favorite at 2-1.
The Florida Bred colt finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby and finished behind Big Brown in the Florida Derby where he was second.
Z Fortune joins Smooth Air as the only two horses that will run in both the Kentucky and Ohio Derby in 2008.
There will be no Ohio-bred horse to run in this year’s derby. Triumet was the last Ohio-bred to run in the state’s only graded stakes race. Brent’s Prince winner of 1975 Ohio Derby will remain the last Ohio bred horse to win the Derby.
Now, let’s break down all eight horses that will be running for the crown jewel in Ohio horse racing.
1. Smooth Air (2-1)
Career Earnings $395,500
Smooth Air is the early favorite to win the Ohio Derby. He last raced in the Kentucky Derby where he finished 11th, 21 lengths away from Big Brown.
He last ran the Ohio Derby distance at a mile and 1/8 in the Florida Derby where he finished second, five lengths behind Big Brown. Smooth Air held off third-place finisher Tomcito by 7 1/2 lengths.
The Ohio derby appears to be no problem for this horse, as he has already won the Grade II Hutcheson at Gulf Stream Park.
2. Medjool (7-2)
Career Earnings $110,460
Medjool, who last ran on the synthetic surface at Keeneland Park finished eighth in the Bluegrass Stakes. The colt will run his third straight race at a mile and 1/8 at Thistledown Saturday.
The Ohio Derby also marks the third straight graded stakes race run by Medjool. He ran an impressive third in the Grade II Lanes End Stakes 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Adriano.
He is trained by Michael Matz and will be ridden by Jose Caraballo.
3. Your Round (8-1)
Career Earnings $80,110
The Ohio Derby will mark Your Round’s first graded stakes attempt in 2008. His last time competing in a graded event was as a 2-year-old in September 2007 where he finished third.
Your Round is coming off a 2-month rest, with his last race coming in the John Battaglia Memorial where he finished second. He was beaten by 6 1/2 lengths, as Absolutely Cindy took the lead away from him down the stretch in the Battaglia Memorial.
4. Instill (8-1) Career Earnings $162,167
Illinois-bred Instill is twice a winner of Illinois-bred stakes races and is the pride of his state’s bred horses.
The last time Instill ran the Ohio Derby distance was in the Grade II Illinois Derby where he finished sixth, 13 1/2 lengths behind winner Recapturetheglory. In the Illinois Derby, Instill also finished behind Ohio Derby runner Z Humor, who finished third.
He finished a disappointing 10th in the John Battaglia Memorial. Ohio Derby horse, Your Round ran second, eight spots better than Instill, in the race at Turfway Park.
5. Stolen Chevy (15-1)
Career Earnings $45,251
Bred by the University of Kentucky, Stolen Chevy is unbeaten as a 3-year-old. In three starts at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester West Virginia, Stolen Chevy has won every one.
The longest race the colt has run was a mile and 70 yards in his last race on May 6.
Stolen Chevy has never trailed after quarter pole in 2008. He will take his Mountaineer success and hot streak into the Ohio Derby.
6. Celtic Meal (20-1)
Career Earnings $50,185
Florida-bred Celtic Metal is the biggest longshot on the board. Nevertheless, he is the only horse to race at Thistledown, as he won in 2007 as a 2-year-old. He has been working out at the track the entire month, so this is Ohio’s adopted son.
He is coming off a second-place finish in the $100,000 Tall Ships at nearby Presque Isle Downs. He has never run longer than a mile on dirt, and this will be his first graded-stakes attempt.
7. Z Fortune (5-2)
Career Earnings $386,600
The second favorite to take the 74th running of the Ohio Derby is coming off an eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. His finish in Louisville was 1 1/2 lengths better than Ohio Derby favorite Smooth Air.
This will mark Z Fortune’s sixth graded-stakes race. He has enjoyed success on the graded stakes circut. He placed second in the Arkansas Derby, 3/4 lengths behind winner Gayego.
In the Grade III Risen Star, Z Fortune finished second, two lengths behind Pyro.
In January, he won the LeComte Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths.
At 5-2 odds, Z Fortune could be a good value heading into Saturday.
8. Cherokee Artist (12-1)
Career Earnings $48,117
In only two appearances, Cherokee Artist has been impressive. In two Maiden Specials, he has placed first and second.
On the Kentucky Derby card on May 3, Cherokee Artist impressively rode to victory in a mile 1/16 race at Churchill, which he won in 1:43.19 by 2 1/4 lengths.
So there you have it, the field for 74th running.
I must say I am a little disappointed in the overall quality of the field. However, the two Kentucky Derby horses, Smooth Air and Z Fortune, make for two great horses.
The 2008 Ohio Derby will be the ninth race at Thistledown on Saturday; post time is set for 5:27.
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 28, 2008
Ohio Derby Preview Week
The 74th running of the Ohio Derby will take place this Saturday, May 31. The Ohio Derby is a Grade II, $300,000 race, for 3-year-olds run at Thistledown in North Randall Ohio. The mile and 1/8 race is Ohio’s only graded stakes race.
It appears that Smooth Air will headline the field in Ohio. Smooth Air was the runner up to Big Brown in the Florida Derby, a prelude to the Kentucky Derby.
Smooth Air worked out seven furlongs at Arlington Park in preparation for the race. He won the grade II Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, and aims to win the Ohio Derby.
The Ohio Derby attracted more than 30 horses that were nominated to run in its 74th running. Hey Byrn, Behindthebar and Z Fortune are some of the key names who were nominated.
Tale of Ekati, winner of the Grade I Wood Memorial, was nominated to run at Thistledown, however he will run in the Belmont Stakes instead.
“This is probably one of the best lists by quality that we’ve ever had,” said coordinator of racing at Thistledown Bill Couch.
I would agree. I have attended the Ohio Derby the past two years and this is definitely the best-looking field I have seen.
Last year, Delightful Kiss took the Derby, winning with a time of 1:49.36, the fastest time since Western Pride won in 2001.
The year prior, Deputy Glitters upset pastime favorite High Cotton, to take the race aboard Rene R. Douglas, in 1:50.32.
The Ohio Derby was first run in 1876 and was canceled in 1882. The race resumed in 1924 and was canceled again in 1935. It was again reinstated in 1952 and has been run every year since.
The field will be finalized Wednesday at noon along with the draw. Nominations closed on May 19 to enter the race.
Now here are some news and notes regarding Ohio’s biggest race.
Ohio Derby News and Notes:
This is John Brown’s horse racing blog, where he’ll discuss horse racing news and release his picks.
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Posted May 27, 2008
Big Brown Suffers Hoof Trouble
No news is good news regarding Big Brown, who will run for the Triple Crown in two weeks at Belmont Park. However, news about the horse has surfaced in the past 24 hours. The horse has suffered a slight crack in his left front hoof.
The injury is minor and won’t prevent Big Brown from running in the Belmont Stakes.
Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay has been treating Big Brown and said that the crack is five-eights of an inch long. “This is a very, very minor crack,” McKinlay said.
The injury has sidelined Big Brown from training for two days. Big Brown can expect to be back on the training circuit as soon as Thursday.
Big Brown feels no pain, and the injury is not life threatening.
This is the third foot injury the colt has suffered in his racing career. As a 2-year-old, he obtained abscess in the soles of his right and left feet.
Big Brown was treated for the injury on Monday and is responding well.
So what’s the big picture here? There’s two ways of looking at this.
The first is, so what? The injury isn’t significant and the Belmont is still two weeks away. Big Brown is the best 3-year-old and a little injury isn’t going to take that away from him.
He’s overcome more serious injuries before and will overcome this one. This is why the Belmont is three weeks separated from the Preakness Stakes – to give horses time to recover.
The other way of looking at this is by saying “Uh Ohh!”
At a mile and a half, this is the most grueling race of the year. The horse needs to be in top shape entering the most difficult task in the Triple Crown.
While Big Brown is recovering from his injuries, all the others are training and doing what they need to do to win the race. So now, Big Brown is behind.
Any setback isn’t good and is enough to derail a horse’s hopes. This isn’t the Preakness. The horses and better, and the race is set up for anyone to win.
I buy into both scenarios. Sure, the injury is minor, but athletes get better by practicing. The same goes with horses. It’s a minor set back that could turn into a major one if it derails his Triple Crown attempt.
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 23, 2008
Belmont Stakes Starting to Heat Up
“He’s [Casino Drive] got no chance of beating our horse,” said Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow to the associate press. “I’ll be in the winner’s circle when they get to the quarter pole. That’s how I feel. I don’t see that this horse can beat him.”
Is there such a thing as bulletin board material in horseracing? It’s starting to sound more like the Washington Wizards/Cleveland Cavaliers NBA playoff series than the final leg of the Triple Crown. But Rick Dutrow can back up the talk.
The controversial figure in horseracing can put his money where his mouth is too. He once bet $160,000 on Saint Liam in the Breeders’ Cup. His horse won him $380,000.
Dutrow also has a tainted past. He has been suspended for giving horses illegal drugs, and taking illegal drugs himself.
Let’s hope he’s not overlooking the biggest obstacle to Big Brown’s historic run at the Triple Crown.
To say Casino Drive has no chance of beating Big Brown is a bold statement.
The Japanese-owned Casino Drive was purchased for $950,000 and has already proven himself in one race at Belmont Park.
In the 2008 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, Casino Drive beat the competitive field in a prelude to the Belmont Stakes, winning by 5 3/4 lengths. He posted a Beyer of 100 in the mile and 1/8 race.
His only other race prior to winning at Belmont was a maiden win in Japan by more than 11 lengths.
Other than those two races, only one thing is known about Casino Drive. His pedigree is to win at Belmont.
His half brother Jazil, and half sister Rags To Riches, have captured the past two Belmont Stakes. It’s clear that this horse is bred to run the grueling distance.
The locals at Belmont Park know all about Casino Drive and his chances to win the Belmont Stakes. Look for this horse to open as the second favorite and end that way too.
It’s clear that Big Brown is the best 3-year-old in 2008. However, is he the best 3-year-old at 1 1/2 miles? Casino Drive will look to prove his family’s dominance at Belmont 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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 22, 2008
The Quest for the Triple Crown Begins
Big Brown’s performance was something spectacular on Saturday. He will be in the news every day until the Belmont Stakes. I don’t want to take anything away from Big Brown, but horse racing is more than just three races.
In the upcoming days and weeks, I will be talking about other graded stakes. The one I will talk about most is the Ohio Derby, which will take place May 31. Next week will kickoff “Ohio Derby Week.”
It would be naive of me not to include information on the Belmont this week and next, so don’t worry.
Keep the name Casino Drive in mind. The Japanese import has the pedigree and past performance to win the Belmont Stakes. His half brother and sister have taken the Belmont Stakes the past two years. Casino Drive has already won a graded stakes race at Belmont Park in the Peter Pan two weeks ago.
Casino Drive is the biggest competitor to Big Brown’s hope at the Triple Crown.
The field at the Belmont Stakes is not confirmed; however, there will be seven likely runners:
Anak Nakal
Big Brown
Casino Drive
Dennis of Cork
Icabad Crane
Macho Again
Tale of Ekati
Tomcito
Big Brown will be a huge favorite. Casino Drive would be the next favorite, as the locals at Belmont know all about his last race. Dennis of Cork, the third-place finisher at the Kentucky Derby, will most likely follow. Icabad Crane and Macho Again, after finishing in the money at the Preakness, will follow Dennis of Cork.
Many things can change from now until the Belmont. Horses will be added, some will withdraw. It’s likely the field will look nothing like the seven horses listed above. If you learned anything about the Preakness field, you know it can all change in a day.
Reviewing My Selections:
Like Walter does, I will review all my selections and keep track of my earnings/losses.
Kentucky Bear over Hey Byrn: +$10
Giant Moon over Riley Tucker: +$10
Yankee Bravo over Riley Tucker: +$10
Will Yankee Bravo finish in the top 5? Yes: -$10
Over and Under of 1:55.0: Over: -$10
Horse Book Bets:
Kentucky Bear to place and show: $20 to place, $20 to show: -$40
(7. Big Brown, 8. Kentucky Bear, 12. Gayego) $1 ($6 bet) boxed Tri-fecta: -$6
(7. Big Brown, 12. Gayego, 13. Hey Byrn) $2 straight Tri-Fecta: -$2
(7. Big Brown, 8. Kentucky Bear, 12. Gayego, 13. Hey Byrn) $2 Super-fecta: -2
Weekend losses: -$30
Year to date: -$18
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 19, 2008
Big Brown – Big Win
The 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes was an easy win for Big Brown. Big Brown made his move at the 3/4 mark and took the lead away from Riley Tucker. The rest of the race was a breeze as he proceeded to win by 5 1/4 lengths.
Let’s face it – we all expected Big Brown to win, and to win easily. The biggest story of the day would have been if he didn’t win.
The field at the Preakness wasn’t the greatest the Grade I stakes ever produced. Big Brown didn’t even give it his all to win the race. With that said, he did run a fast mile and 3/16 in 1:54.08.
If Kent Desormeaux wanted to, Big Brown could have won by more than 10 lengths. However, he chose to save his horse for the Belmont.
Now, here’s a complete breakdown of the Preakness starting with the last horse to Big Brown.
12th Riley Tucker: My prediction was close with this horse. I gave him a little bit too much credit though, predicting him to finish second to last. His poor workouts were a concern of mine all week long. He came within a length of beating the race’s second favorite, Gayego, as those two horses set the pace for half the race.
11th Gayego: I will admit when I’m wrong, and boy was I. I didn’t take the second favorite in the Preakness to finish second, but I did predict him to finish third. People, myself included, bought into the hype of him being the only horse, along with Big Brown, to race in the Kentucky Derby.
He proved his race in Louisville wasn’t a fluke as he barely edged out Riley Tucker for second to last. He set the pace the most of the race, as he led until Big Brown made his move at the 3/4 mile mark.
Maybe the Arkansas Derby win was the fluke.
10th Yankee Bravo: I was worried that Yankee Bravo was racing and practicing too much on the synthetic surface and my concern was right.
He sat in the rear of the race the entire time, and never climbed out of the basement. He held off Gayego by 7 1/4 lengths. I had this horse finishing fifth, but he never responded when speed was needed to gain in the final turn.
9th Tres Borrachos: It was a step back for a horse that continued to improve every time out in 2008. I had Tres Borrachos finishing sixth, so I wasn’t too far off.
He stumbled out of the gate, and couldn’t overcome the bad start. He spent the entire race in the rear with Yankee Bravo.
8th Giant Moon: I was one off by one with this horse; I had him finishing seventh. Giant Moon made a late run down the stretch, as he went from 11th to eighth place, edging Tres Borrachos by 3/4 of a length.
7th Hey Byrn: I was three spots off when I included Hey Bryn at fourth in my superfecta. He was within striking distance until the 3/4 mark when he began to show signs of fatigue. Kentucky Bear caught him down the home stretch to edge him out by 1/2 a length.
6th Kentucky Bear: I needed a good run by Kentucky Bear and almost got it. Kentucky Bear got trapped on the rail and then got caught in traffic.
He tried making his move around the 3/4 mark but got caught by a wall of horses in the back stretch. He stumbled out of the gate, which may have been a reason he was unable to maneuver around the stack of horses.
5th Stevil: I was dead wrong about Stevil. I had him finishing dead last, and he ran a good race. He stayed in the middle of the pack the entire race and finished right where he was at the 1/2 mile mark. He bumped with Racecar Rhapsody down the far turn, but failed to edge out the horse as he was separated by 4 1/4 lengths to the next position.
4th Racecar Rhapsody: “This is a horse that will run and finish at the end. No chance.” That’s what I said when previewing the Preakness. As you can tell, I was wrong. He rallied from 10th to second down the stretch, and faded at the end to take fourth.
3rd Icabad Crane: The only horse to win at Pimlico showed that home-field advantage shouldn’t be overlooked. The locals at Pimlico bet Icabad Crane, and he didn’t disappoint.
He rallied from ninth at the 3/4 mark to fifth down the stretch. He responded to Jeremy Roses’ demand for speed down the stretch to edge out Racecar Rhapsody by 3/4 lengths.
2nd Macho Again: “Don’t expect this horse to be a serious contender at any time in the race. He will run in the middle of the pack and fade down to eighth.” Who is making these ridiculous predictions? Ohh wait, that’s me.
Jockey Julien Leparoux wanted speed down the stretch and he got it from Macho Again. He was in fourth as the field straightened down the home stretch. He responded well in the final furlong to edge out Icabad Crane for second.
1st Big Brown: To no surprise, Big Brown won the Preakness. He stayed in the front of the pack in third the first half of the race, and made his move at the 3/4 mark. He didn’t give an all out effort down the stretch and should be rested for the Belmont. He had a good start out of the gate, and won easily by 5 1/4. I said it last week – baring injury this race was his to win. Casino Drive will be waiting for him at the Belmont.
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 17, 2008
Preakness Day is Here!
Breaking News: The third-money favorite, Behindthebar, has scratched from the Preakness. The 10-1 choice was scratched on Friday because an injury to his left front.
With the scratch, 12 horses will race at Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes. Let’s not beat around the bush any longer. Here is how I see the outcome of the race, from 12th to first.
12th Stevil: Not one thing impresses me about this thoroughbred. He has not earned six figures in earnings, and hasn’t won a race over a mile. Expect him to be an early pace setter, and then expect him to fade quickly.
11th Riley Tucker: In yesterday’s blog entry, I talked about his poor workouts. This is a sign of caution. Those poor workouts are the reason he finishes in the back of the field.
10th Icabad Crane: Despite being the only horse to win at Pimlico, he will still run in the rear. Expect him to run out in front to start the race, and then expect him to fall.
9th Racecar Rhapsody: This is a horse that will run and finish at the end. No chance.
8th Macho Again: Don’t expect this horse to be a serious contender at any time in the race. He will run in the middle of the pack and fade down to eighth.
7th Giant Moon: Expect Giant Moon to be a pace setter for Big Brown. He will run toward the front of the field until the final turn and lose speed down the stretch.
6th Tres Borrachos: This horse has improved each time out in 2008. A sixth-place finish will be nothing to go home broken hearted about. He may be in contention as the field turns for home in a place or show position, and fizzle out a bit.
5th Yankee Bravo: It still troubles me that this is only his second race on dirt. All of his workouts have been on the synthetic surface. A Beyer’s best in the upper 80s doesn’t sit well ether. A cross-country flight continues to worry me. Expect to see him run in or around the seventh position for the entire field and make a late push.
4th Hey Byrn: He’s coming off of a win and one at a mile and 3/16, the same distance the Preakness is run. Expect Hey Byrn to make a late run to put him in fourth. This could make for a nice super-fecta payout.
3rd Gayego: Since I’m picking the obvious favorite to win, I have to go out on some kind of limb, putting the clear second favorite in the Preakness in third place. He cannot mimic his Beyer speed of 55 that he put up at the Derby again. He will be running with Big Brown, until he puts his final moves on the field.
2nd Kentucky Bear: I like the fact that he has run against and finished ahead of some good horses before. I love the fact he was the first horse to arrive at Pimlico. That’s something that shows me trainer Reade Baker thinks his horse has a chance. This is an old-style way of training and nothing is wrong with that. He could make a final push to take second.
1st Big Brown: The only thing that can stop Big Brown is injury. The question is not if, but how much can this horse win by. I’ll say Big Brown takes the Preakness by 8 3/4 lengths.
Bets:
Well, there are many prop bets that can be made; here are a couple of my selections in prop betting:
Kentucky Bear over Hey Byrn: $11
Giant Moon over Riley Tucker: $11
Yankee Bravo over Riley Tucker: $13.50
Will Yankee Bravo finish in the top 5? Yes $10
Over and Under of 1:55.0: Over $10
Horse Book Bets:
Here are the bets to place in the horse book.
Kentucky Bear to place and show: $20 to place, $20 to show
(7. Big Brown, 8. Kentucky Bear, 12. Gayego) $1 ($6 bet) boxed Tri-fecta.
(7. Big Brown, 12. Gayego, 13. Hey Byrn) $2 straight Tri-Fecta
(7. Big Brown, 8. Kentucky Bear, 12. Gayego, 13. Hey Byrn) $2 Super-fecta
There you have it, my selections and picks. Let’s get this Preakness started.
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 16, 2008
Preakness Underdogs
All the talk this week has been about Big Brown and his quest for the Triple Crown. To be honest, it’s well deserved too. However, after Wednesday’s Preakness Draw, nine horses have a morning line of above 10-1 odds.
The national media and I have already declared Big Brown the winner of the Preakness Stakes. Nevertheless, can any horse steal the spotlight away from Big Brown?
I will break down each long shot’s strengths and weaknesses heading into Saturday’s race.
*For your benefit: The Beyer Speed figure is a way of determining the performance of a thoroughbred. For more information on the Beyer’s speed figure go to http://www.drf.com/products/beyers/beyers.html
Macho Again (20-1):
Strengths: Winning the Derby trial at Churchill downs is impressive. Macho Again had a Beyer speed of 99 in the race, which is a decent number. He will need that speed to keep up in the race. Eight career victories are not too shabby for a 3-year-old.
Two races run in 2008 will benefit Macho again. He’s well rested as he last raced April 26.
Weakness: He has never run in a Grade I stakes. Therefore, he has never faced the quality of field he will run against Saturday.
A less than stellar performance at the Lane’s End Stakes, where he posted a Beyer’s speed of 77, does not prove this horse can run a lengthy race. He finished behind Adriano, who finished 17th at the Kentucky Derby, and Racecar Rhapsody who will race in the Preakeness.
How I see it: He ran against good horses in the Lane’s End Stakes and finished seventh. He will finish toward the end of the field at Pimlico. I wouldn’t include him in any superfecta bets.
Tres Borrachos (30-1):
Strengths: He has run more than a mile every time in 2008. He has run in a Grade I stakes, the Arkansas Derby, finishing in the money at third. His best speed came at the mile and 1/8th Arkansas Derby, the longest race of his career.
He has improved each time in 2008. His last two races have resulted in a third-place finish.
Weakness: His best Beyer speed is 95, four below 20-1 long shot Macho Again. He finished well off the lead at fourth in the California Derby, behind the other Preakness long shot, Yankee Bravo in January of 2008.
How I see it: I like a horse that continues to improve every time out. He has raced at a mile and 1/16th twice and at a mile and 1/8th before. The distance shouldn’t be a problem. He will have to post his best Beyer to finish in the money. I think this horse will improve again at the Preakness. You might want to throw a couple of dollars on this horse to show.
Icabad Crane (30-1):
Strengths: There’s one advantage this horse has over the rest of the field at Pimlico – he’s the only horse to race there. Not only has he raced at Pimlico; he won there too.
Weakness: A career best Beyer of 87 is not overly impressive. In the Rush Away Stakes, he posted a Beyer of 76. That alone should throw up a red flag for bettors on this horse. He doesn’t have the speed.
How I see it: This horse can finish dead last. He can enjoy the home field advantage all he wants, but it won’t help. The Baltimore locals may bet the horse. They and the owner may be the only ones putting money on him.
Yankee Bravo (15-1):
Strengths: Yankee Bravo has performed well on every surface he raced on. He has run in the Grade II Louisiana Derby, and Grade I San Anita Derby. He held his own in each race.
He won the California Derby in January, placed second in the Louisiana Derby and finished fourth in the Dan Anita Derby. He has held off El Gatto Malo, winner of the Lone Star Derby, and beat Stevil and Yankee Bravo all in the field at the Preakness.
Weakness: A career best Beyer 89 in the San Anita Derby. Despite finishing fourth in the race, he faded down the stretch. He is a closing horse, but how will he do when Big Brown breezes past him?
How I see it: His Beyer speed isn’t the greatest, but as you can see, he has already beaten horses in the field. If you’re looking for a longshot, this is a good one to take. You might want to consider him in your super- and tri-fectas.
Racecar Rhapsody (30-1):
Strengths: A Beyer’s best of 95 matches Tres Borrachos in this same field. He has raced just twice in 2008, keeping him fresh for the Preakness. He has competed in two Grade II races, finishing fourth in both.
Weakness: He hasn’t raced in a Grade I stakes. Adriano, who ran poorly in the Kentucky Derby, and Behindthebar, a 10-1 horse in the Preakness, have already beaten him handedly.
An 85 Beyer’s speed in the Lane’s End Stakes wasn’t anything to write home about ether.
How I see it: He’s not as good as Yankee Bravo and will finish in the back of the pack at the Preakness. I don’t see him running well.
Kentucky Bear (15-1):
Strengths: Kentucky Bear’s odds are cut in half of the other longshots for a reason. He has been lightly raced in his career, and is ready to go on Saturday. He was the first horse to arrive at Pimlico, so he is accustomed to the track. He has already race in a Grade I stakes.
He beat Kentucky Derby runners Pyro, Visonaire, Coal Cool Man, Big truck, Monba and Adriano. As you can see, he can run with the best of them
Weakness: Inexperience, the young colt has not raced much and although he will be rested, he has not had many races to prepare. A Beyer’s speed of 76 in the Fountain of Youth Stakes in February is also a question of concern.
How I see it: He can finish in the money. He’s run with some good horses before, and beat them. He can compete with this field as well. I would certainly make a tri- or super-fecta bet with his name in it.
Stevil (30-1):
Strengths: Stevil is a fresh horse. He has not run since April 12 and he has already run in a Grade I Stakes.
Weakness: His best Beyer speed is 88. He has never won a race longer than a mile, and his career earnings are below six figures at $95,000.
How I see it: I’ve read where people like him as a longshot. I don’t. The fact he has never won, or came close to winning a mile race scares me. I would not recommend betting him Saturday.
Riley Tucker (30-1):
Strengths: Riley Tucker has only finished off the board once in his career. He has already run in five graded stakes. He posted his best Beyer’s time of 96 in the Lexington Stakes.
Weakness: His workouts have been pathetic.
Let me give you an example. At Belmont Park in April, he worked out at four furlongs in 48 seconds. In his May workout, he ran four furlongs in 50.64, a difference of 2.5 seconds. In his five-furlong workout in March, he ran 1:02; his latest five-furlong workout clocked in at 1:06.09.
How I see it: When handicapping races, you have to consider everything. Bad workouts translate into bad races, or at least that’s what I have always been taught. I am going with my instinct here, and laying off of Riley Tucker.
Giant Moon (30-1):
Strengths: Giant Moon’s fourth-place finish in the Grade I Wood Memorial was nothing to be ashamed of. He finished a nose behind Court Vision, who placed 13th in the Kentucky Derby. He finished the race with a 90 Beyer, which was an improvement from his 17 posted in the Gatham Stakes. He was unbeaten in his first four races.
Weakness: His ninth-place showing, and 17 Beyer in the Gathem Stakes were disappointing. It proved that he couldn’t run on a sloppy surface. Despite winning his first four starts, he has never won a graded stakes.
How I see it: If the track is sloppy, he has no chance. He has run decent races on a fast tracks, and will need that if he has any chance at finishing in the money. There’s nothing in particular that impresses me about this horse.
Hey Byrn (20-1):
Strengths: As I stated yesterday, Hey Byrn is the only horse, outside of Big Brown, that is entering the Preakness coming off a win. His victory in the Grade III Holy Bull was by 1 3/4 lengths. Also impressive about the win was that it came at a mile and 3/16th – the same distance as the Preakness.
Weakness: He has already lost to Big Brown in the Florida Derby, but you can’t really hold that against him. His 88 Beyer at the Holy Bull is not enough to wow anybody.
How I see it: I like Hey Byrn because of his win in the Holy Bull. I will make sure I include him in a tri- and super-fecta bet, and may even give him a place and show wager.
So there you have it, the forgotten underdogs. One of these horses will make a run for the money at the Preakness. One of these horses will help make for a nice tri- and super-fecta payout. There’s some good value here. It’s just about finding the right one.
Tomorrow I won’t beat around the bush any longer.
I won’t only predict the winner of the Preakness and give you my selections – I will predict the entire field. You won’t want to miss that.
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 15, 2008
Preakness Stakes Draw
The Preakness Stakes postpositions were drawn Wednesday live on ESPN2.
Big Brown, who was announced as a 1:2 below even-money favorite, drew a middle postposition.
Let us now break down all 13 horses and their postpositions for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
1. Macho Again (30-1): Never in Preakness Stakes history, has a horse won from postposition No. 1.
The winner of Churchill Downs Derby trial will try to make history by capturing the Preakness.
The colt was rumored to run in the Ohio Derby on May 31, but WestPoint Thoroughbreds decided to run their horse in the Stakes instead.
Macho Again has finished first or second in all but one one races run on dirt.
He had a light work out at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning, and flew to Pimlico on that evening.
2. Tres Borrachos (30-1): The third-place finisher in the Arkansas is likely to be the pace setter in Saturday’s race.
He is the only gelding running in the Preakness. He was bought for a bargain price of $7,000 and he has paid more than that off.
3. Icabad Crane (30-1): There’s something to be said about home-field advantage. For Icabad Crane, this is one of his home race tracks. A runner in Maryland has already won at Pimlico. He is the only horse in the field that can have the honor.
He won the Tesio Stakes, which propelled him into the Preakness.
Icabad Crane will be the hometown favorite, and will arrive to Pimlico on race day.
4. Yankee Bravo (15-1): The fourth postposition was a good place for last year’s Preakness winner Curlin. In the stakes history two winners have come from the fourth position.
Yankee Bravo claims three wins in five starts. In his start in the San Anita Derby, he ran poorly in the last 16th of a mile.
He has won on both grass and synthetic turf, but the Preakess will mark just the second time he has run on dirt.
5. Behind at the Bar (10-1): Besides Big Brown, Behind the Bar is the only other horse running in the Preakness that is coming off a win. He won the Lexington Stakes two weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old colt had enough graded earnings to enter the Derby, but trainer Todd Pletcher chose not to run.
Nine winners have come from the fifth postposition.
Behind the Bar will race for his third time in 30 days on Saturday. Fatigue may set in.
6. Racecar Rhapsody (30-1): The sixth post spot has produced more winners than any other position in Preakness history. However, for Racecar Rhapsody, who has one win in six starts, he will need more than a good postposition.
He will run right next to Behind the Bar, whom he raced against in the Lexington Stakes, finishing fourth.
Expect Racecar Rhapsody to run in the back of the field, and try to make a later run to finish in the money.
7. Big Brown (1-2): Eleven times has the Preankess Stakes winning come from the seventh post. On Saturday, the race’s favorite will try to take advantage of the fourth-best spot in terms of winners at the Preakness.
Big Brown started in the outside post spot at the Florida Derby (13) and Kentucky Derby (20). This time he will start in the middle.
The Kentucky Derby winner made one last stop on the Churchill Downs dirt Wednesday morning before heading off to Baltimore.
His flight was delayed more than two hours, causing him to arrive later than his expected 5:30 ETA at BWI airport outside of Baltimore.
He is the below even-money favorite.
8. Kentucky Bear (15-1): Kentucky Bear was the first horse to arrive at Pimlico, and has worked out on the dirt all week.
On Wednesday, he galloped around the oval mile twice.
The second leg of the Triple Crown will mark his fourth career race. His last outing was a third-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes. Many people have questioned the strength of the Blue Grass’s field.
9. Stevil (30-1): Stevil will run right next to Kentucky Bear, who outmatched him in the Blue Grass Stake, as he finished fourth.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, in search of his second Preakness victory, trains Stevil.
Stevil arrived at Pimlico on time on Wednesday.
10. Riley Tucker (30-1): Only two winners have come from the 10th postposition.
With only one career win in Riley Tucker, may struggle in the field of thirteen.
The race on Pimlico’s dirt will be Riley Tucker’s first on the surface since racing in the Southwest Stakes in February.
11. Giant Moon (30-1): Giant Moon has won four of his six starts.
His last start in the Wood Memorial resulted in a disappointing fourth and kept him out of the Kentucky Derby.
Giant Moon ran poorly in the Gatham Stakes on a sloppy track at Aqueduct Park. Rain is not expected Saturday in Baltimore, although it’s expected Friday.
He will depart for Pimlico on Friday.
12. Gayego (8-1): The only other horse besides Big Brown to run in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness will draw the same postposition he had in Louisville, second from outside.
After a 17th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, the same postposition wasn’t what Gayego was aiming for.
Gayego, the winner of the Arkansas Derby, does stand a chance at the Preakness. The last three winners of the Arkansas Derby have won the Preakness Stakes.
Gayego made a cross-country flight from Los Angles to Baltimore Wednesday morning.
13. Hay Byrn (20-1): No horse has ever won the Preakness from 13th post.
In four starts, Hay Byrn has posted three wins. He had a good performance when winning the Holy Bull, and finished fourth in the Florida Derby that was won by Big Brown.
He arrived Tuesday at Pimlico and worked out on the track Wednesday morning.
So there you have it. The field is set to the 133rd Preakness Stakes. People often say postpositions mean nothing. If that was true, why do they draw the positions at random?
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 14, 2008
How to Win the Preakness
Yesterday, we found out what can cause a horse to lose the Preakness, as we reviewed the races from the past three years. What did War Emblem, Funny Cide, and Smarty Jones do right? Today I will go over what it took for those three horses to take the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
War Emblem, 2002: War Emblem left the gate in Louisville, Ky. as a 21:1 underdog and finished with a fast time of 2:01.1, to take the Kentucky Derby.
War Emblem may have been a longshot to win the Derby, but he backed up his performance in the Preakness.
After a fast half mile that was run in 46 seconds, War Emblem was well within striking distance in second place.
War Emblem took the lead at the far turn and would never relinquish the spot. Late rallies made by Proud Citizen, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby, and Magic Weisner, the local favorite, came up empty.
The final time was 1:56.36, one of the slowest times since the 1960s. But War Emblem held off Magic Weisner to win by 3/4 lengths.
I thought War Emblem was done when he took the lead in the far turn at Pimlico. But every horse in the field gave it their all down the stretch and could not match him. It was one of the few times in Preakness history that a horse took and held onto a lead at such a far distance from the finish.
Funny Cide, 2003: The first New York bred horse, and first gelding to win the Kentucky Derby since 1929 was Funny Cide. His time of 2:01.19 was the 10th-fastest time at the Derby.
Funny Cide’s run in the Preakness is comparable to Big Brown’s this year. The reason being, no one wanted to run at Pimlico against him. Empire Maker, who eventually won the Belmont Stakes, and was the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, had to be recruited to enter the second leg.
In the 128th running, Funny Cide made his move at the final turn of the race. That move was all he needed, as no horse could come anywhere near him down the home stretch. He ended up winning the race by 9 3/4 lengths, posting a time of 1:55:61, almost a full second faster than War Emblem’s the previous year.
Funny Cide won the race because he was the best horse. It was a brilliant run by jockey Jose Santos, as legendary track announcer Tom Durkin said, “[Santos and Funny Cide] turned the Preakness into a run-a-way.”
That’s just what the 128th Preakness was, a Run-A-Way.
Smarty Jones, 2004: If Funny Cide’s win in the 2003 Preakness was a run-a-way, then Smarty Jones’ was a blow out. He entered the Preakness unbeaten, as both a 2- and 3-year-old. He won the Kentucky Derby by 2 3/4 lengths and didn’t disappoint at Pimlico.
Smarty Jones roared from the starting gate with a good beginning. The rest of the race was history, literally.
He stayed within striking distance riding the rail the entire race. Lion Heart took the early lead, but was never a contender as the field turned home.
Rock Hard Ten was pushed hard in the backstretch, to take the lead with two furlongs left.
Jockey Stewart Elliott took his horse to the rail down the final stretch and made his mark on history. Smarty Jones captured the Preakness by a record margin of 11 1/2 lengths in 1:55.59.
Smart Jones’ run was one for the record books. Let’s see if Big Brown can make a memorable one as well.
The second leg of the Triple Crown has provided many memories from 2002 through 2004. Three completely different horses took both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. A longshot, a Gelding and an unbeaten warrior won the two legs in their own way. Whoever wins the Preakness this year will have to do it their way too.
Preakness News and Notes
Gayego won the Arkansas Derby before running in Louisville. In the Derby, he started from post position No. 19, right next to Big Brown.
Tres Borrachos, Racecar Rhapsody and Macho Again are expected to join Big Brown on the flight to Baltimore; all three horses will be running in the Preakness Stakes.
Don’t forget that Wednesday night is the Preakness Stakes draw. You can see where the horses in the second leg will start by tuning into ESPN2 at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
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: [email protected].
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Posted May 13, 2008
Preakness Week Begins
What’s the best part about the Preakness? Every year it’s run, a horse is still going for the Triple Crown. The same thing can’t be said about the Belmont Stakes, but almost every Derby winner runs in the Preakness.
Since 1997, there have been six horses that captured both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (Silver Charm, ’97; Real Quiet, ’98; Charismatic, ’99; War Emblem, ’02; Funny Cide, ’03; and Smarty Jones, ’04).
Since 2004, no horse has taken the consecutive stake races.
Today, we will break down what caused the past three Kentucky Derby winners to lose in the Preakness.
2005: Giacomo came into the Kentucky Derby at 50:1. The colt overcame the odds to capture the Derby, running the mile and 1/4 race in 2:02.75.
Giacomo followed his Kentucky Derby performance by finishing third in the Preakness. He was never in contention to take the second leg and wasn’t even the betting favorite.
Giacomo was entered into the Belmont Stakes, where he finished seventh. It was later revealed that he suffered breathing problems that may have caused his lackluster performance.
So, what caused this horse to run so poorly after the Kentucky Derby? Answer: Afleet Alex.
Afleet Alex was the better horse in 2005. He finished third in the Kentucky Derby by a length, and captured both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Giacomo managed to win only one major stakes race after the Derby, the San Diego Handicap. He ran below average in the Belmont and Breeders Cup Classic in 2005 and The Pacific Classic in 2006.
A horse is a 50:1 underdog for a reason, and that reason was clear; he was not the elite 3-year-old in 2005.
2006: May 20, 2006 just wasn’t Barbaro’s day. The winner of the Kentucky Derby by 6 1/2 lengths, the biggest win since 1946, was the favorite to win the Preakness.
Moments before the race, Barbaro charged out of the starting gate prematurely, delaying the race at Pimlico.
When the race resumed, Barbaro broke cleanly from the gate. However, after just a few strides, he was pulled up by jockey Edgar Prado. Barabo suffered a fracture in his hind right leg.
The injury proved to be catastrophic, as the horse was euthanized in January that year.
The only thing that could stop Barbaro that year was injury. The colt was undefeated with wins in the Tropical Park, Florida and Kentucky Derby as a 3-year-old. He also captured the Laurel Futurity as a 2-year-old in 2005.
There’s not a doubt in my mind he was going to take home the Preakness. Bernardini won the Preakness that year posting a time of 1:54.65.
2007: A head can win or lose the Preakness. For Street Sense, it lost it.
After becoming the first horse in racing history to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Breeders’ cup crown for best 2-year-old) and Kentucky Derby by 2 1/2 lengths, he entered the field in Baltimore.
The Preakness that year featured every 2006 Kentucky Derby horse that finished in the money (Street Sense, first; Hard Spun, second; Curlin third).
As the Preakness turned for home, Street Sense pulled away from Hard Spun, whom he beat two weeks prior. With one furlong to go, Curlin made his move.
As the race came down to the finish, a photo determine the winner. The result was Curlin, by a head.
Street Sense skipped the Belmont after his close defeat and went on to win the Travers Stakes later that year. He finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and retired in October of 2007.
One late move made by Curlin cost Street Senses a run at history.
The Preakness the past three years have been filled with disappointment, tragedy and a late rally. The past three before 2005, were met with expectations of a Triple Crown, as the Kentucky Derby winner took the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Stakes.
Today, you saw how the Preakness can be lost. Tomorrow I will review what the horses from 2002-04 did right.
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: [email protected].
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Posted May 12, 2008
Peter Pan and Lonestar Derby – Weekend in Review
What’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
| $200,000 Peter Pan S. (G2) | ||||
| Pgm | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1 | Casino Drive | 4.50 | 3.90 | 2.80 |
| 3 | Mint Lane | 13.40 | 7.40 | |
| 6 | Ready's Echo | 3.50 | ||
| $2 Exacta (1-3) Paid $66.50, $2 Trifecta (1-3-6) Paid $225.50 | ||||
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
| $400,000 Lone Star Derby (G3) | ||||
| Pgm | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 2 | El Gato Malo | 5.40 | 3.80 | 2.80 |
| 9 | Leonides | 8.20 | 5.60 | |
| 1A | Samba Rooster | 2.80 | ||
| $2 Exacta (2-9) Paid $69.00, $2 Trifecta (2-9-1) Paid $168.40, $2 Superfecta (2-9-1-10) Paid $1,166.00 | ||||
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:
| CONFIRMED PREAKNESS STARTERS | |||
| HORSE | LAST START | ||
| Big Brown | Kentucky Derby, 1st | ||
| Behindatthebar | Lexington, 1st | ||
| Giant Moon | Wood Memorial, 4th | ||
| Hey Byrn | Holy Bull, 1st | ||
| Icabad Crane | Tesio, 1st | ||
| Kentucky Bear | Blue Grass, 3rd | ||
| Macho Again | Derby Trial, 1st | ||
| Racecar Rhapsody | Lexington, 4th | ||
| Riley Tucker | Lexington, 3rd | ||
| Stevil | Blue Grass, 4th | ||
| Tres Borrachos | Arkansas Derby, 3rd | ||
| Yankee Bravo | Santa Anita Derby, 4th | ||
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 10, 2008
Peter Pan and Lonestar Derby Selections
Here 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.
| Post | Horse and Jockey/Trainer | Odds* |
| 1 | Casino Drive (KY )
Kent Desormeaux / Kazuo Fujisawa |
2/1 |
| 2 | Tomcito (KY )
Cornelio Velasquez / Dante Zanelli, Jr. |
6/1 |
| 3 | Mint Lane (KY )
Eibar Coa / James Jerkens |
8/1 |
| 4 | Deputyville (NM )
Jose Espinoza / Gary Contessa |
12/1 |
| 5 | Spark Candle (KY )
Jorge Chavez / Kazuo Fujisawa |
2/1 |
| 6 | Golden Spikes (KY )
Edgar Prado / Martin Wolfson |
3/1 |
| 7 | Ready's Echo (KY )
John Velazquez / Todd Pletcher |
6/1 |
| 8 | Cosmic
(KY ) Javier Castellano / Claude McGaughey III |
8/1 |
| 9 | Fast Talking (MD )
Alan Garcia / Robin Graham |
20/1 |
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.
| Post | Horse and Jockey/Trainer | Odds* |
| 1 | Limestone Edge (KY )
Corey Lanerie / Robert Hess, Jr. |
9/5 |
| 2 | El Gato Malo (KY )
Rafael Bejarano / Craig Dollase |
2/1 |
| 3 | Golden Yank (KY )
M. Berry / Gary Thomas |
20/1 |
| 4 | Poni Colada (KY )
Quincy Hamilton / Steven Asmussen |
15/1 |
| 5 | King's Silver Son (KY )
Luis Quinonez / Steven Asmussen |
15/1 |
| 6 | Texas Wildcatter (KY )
Robby Albarado / Todd Pletcher |
8/1 |
| 7 | Ide Like a Double (LA )
Kerwin Clark / Bryon Gilbert |
15/1 |
| 8 | Isabull (KY )
Timothy Doocy / Steve Hobby |
30/1 |
| 9 | Samba Rooster (FL )
Garrett Gomez / Bob Baffert |
9/5 |
| 10 | Leonides (KY )
Richard Migliore / Vladimir Cerin |
10/1 |
| 11 | My Pal Charlie (KY )
Jamie Theriot / Albert Stall, Jr. |
12/1 |
| 12 | Fort Apache (KY )
Eddie Martin, Jr. / W. Calhoun |
30/1 |
| 13 | Real Appeal (KY )
James Graham / Thomas Amoss |
30/1 |
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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 9, 2008
Preakness News and Notes
This 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: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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Posted May 8, 2008
Big Brown’s Chances at the Triple Crown
Everyone 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: [email protected].
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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.
Send John an e-mail here: [email protected].
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: [email protected]
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