May 17th, 2008
The 133rd Preakness Stakes has arrived, and Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown looks like a short priced winner on paper. The undefeated colt has been awesome in four victories to kick off his career, and he hardly faces a stellar cast in Baltimore. His task was made that much easier when Grade 2 winner Behindatthebar scratched due to a bruised foot. Returning in two weeks following a career top is a concern, but the Dutrow trainee could bounce and still beat many of these. They still have to run the race, and there are a few with the talent to make some noise.
Gayego had all sorts of early trouble in the Derby, and that threw the early/pressing type off his game. He fired in all of his previous starts, and the Grade 2 winner could sit the right outside stalking trip. Dangerous rebound candidate with clear sailing.
Icabad Crane is an interesting price player for Graham Motion. His lone career setback was a synthetic 3rd in the Rushaway at Turfway. He exits a victory in the local nine furlong prep for this, and the lightly raced sort has plenty of upside.
Speaking of raw talent, Kentucky Bear has only raced three times. He was rushed into graded action following a visually impressive debut maiden romp in Florida, and he failed to seriously threaten in the Fountain of Youth as expected. He rebounded with a solid 3rd in the Blue Grass, and he is training with a purpose for this engagement.
Giant Moon began his career with four straight tallies, but he has found graded company a bit too much in his last pair. He is another with a good looking work pattern, and the early/pressing type should make his presence felt in the early stages at the very least.
Tres Borrachos looms the early target, and Racecar Rhapsody and Yankee Bravo will be grinding in the late stages.
Hey Byrn, Macho Again, Riley Tucker, and Stevil round out the twelve horse field.
Photo Credit: Newscom
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By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 16th, 2008
Behindatthebar is out of the 133rd Preakness Stakes with a bruised left front foot. The injury was discovered Friday morning at Belmont Park.
The Todd Pletcher trainee was exiting a victory in the Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, and his departure will make things that much easier for Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, shown training at Pimlico on May 15th.
Twelve horses will now line up for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Photo Credit: Newscom
Tags: Behindatthebar, Big Brown, Preakness Stakes, Triple CrownShare This
By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 15th, 2008
The much anticipated Preakness Stakes card will be on Saturday, but Pimlico has a big day on hand Friday, with no less than three graded races.
The Grade 3 Miss Preakness (race 8) is up first, and Todd Pletcher’s Passion is the one to beat. The versatile graded winner handles any footing and looms the one to catch under Johnny V.
The Grade 1 Pimlico Special (race 10) has attracted a decent field of nine, and Student Council should offer value. The Steve Asmussen trainee has been a bit off his game since the trip to Japan late last year. He showed some early interest on the weeds last time, and a return to conventional dirt at today’s longer distance should suit the son of Kingmambo.
Grasshopper failed as the heavy favorite in a graded flat mile affair at Big Sandy last out, but that one-turn event was probably too sharp for him. The ultra-consistent colt appears poised for a big effort, and regular pilot Robby Albarado has plenty of options with the versatile sort.
Sir Whimsey is a playable longshot under Edgar Prado. He has won his last two conventional dirt starts and exits a respectable 3rd on synthetic ground.
A.P. Arrow
has always been a grade three type and will get overbet off a 4th to Curlin in the Dubai World Cup. I’ll try to beat the Pletcher underlay, but the consistent sort is clearly an exotics candidate.
The Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (race 12) also features nine entrants, and She’s All Eltish is my top. Martin Wolfson trainee did not run her race in the Calder Oaks, but she looked great in the Bonnie Miss at this distance, and she can rebound at a hint of a price.
Bsharpsonata was 5th in the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago, and the win type can make amends today, but do not expect much of a price.
Seattle Smooth is on the upswing for Julio Canani, and she garnered a triple digit rating at Bay Meadows last time. Edgar Prado certainly knows this course and is sitting on a live price player.
Sherine hails from the dangerous Tony Dutrow barn and might get brave if able to sneak away early.
Highest Class will take action but is seemingly up against it based on her sustained running style. A minor award is not out of the question for the possible underlay.
Image: Newscom
Tags: Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico, PreaknessShare This
By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 14th, 2008
Post positions have been drawn for the 133rd Preakness Stakes, and undefeated Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown (post 7) has been installed as the 1-2 morning line favorite.
Big Brown deserves to go off at low odds after his smashing Derby victory. He could easily regress two weeks after a career top in the biggest race of the year for his age group, but he is faster than these and will likely prevail anyway.
Late entrant Gayego could give him a scare if he brings his A game. He was thrown off his early/pressing game with early trouble at Churchill Downs, and he is a rebound threat with clear sailing.
Kentucky Bear is lightly raced and has plenty of upside, and Behindatthebar owns nice synthetic form and tries to transfer his sharp races to conventional dirt.
The remaining nine entrants have their work cut out, but they still have to run the race…and stranger things have happened!
Image: Newscom
Tags: Big Brown, Preakness Stakes, Triple CrownShare This
By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 13th, 2008
The spring meet at Golden Gate launches on Wednesday and runs through June 22nd. The inaugural synthetic meeting featured Michael Dickinson’s Tapeta surface and was an all-around success. The track played fair and was safe with competitive racing and numerous money making opportunities for bettors.
The new meet should offer more of the same, and he is a quick overview of the May 14th card…
Race 1: Early/pressing types from outer posts were preferred at six furlongs during the last Tapeta meet. Lockitup fits the winning track profile and cuts back to a preferred sprint 2nd off the claim. Thisonesforbart is not big on winning and might go off at underlaid odds. She attracts Baze and landed the place in all three of her local outings.
Race 2: Six furlongs. Black Mallou looms an elusive target for Miyadi, who is 46% with this type of dropper. Flaming Mandate is a wake up candidate on the drop and return to synthetic footing.
Race 3: This is my racingonthenet free website selection of the day.
Race 4: This flat mile turf distance tends to play fair with inner to middle posts performing best. My Little Cinder is on the upswing, and the switch to Baze might put her over the top, but the price could be wrong. Midnite Babee switches barns, surfaces, and circuits. Morey is 30% with new additions to his barn and Alvarado is 41% with this outfit. Dam has tossed a turf winner. Quan’s Girl debuts for dangerous grass sire Unusual Heat, and she rates a longshot look on the pedigree angle alone.
Race 5: Flat mile Tapeta events tend to play fair with an edge to middle/outer posts. River Bold improved dramatically with blinkers 2nd time out, and Baze/Sherman do business together.
Race 6: Another flat mile synthetic affair. Coyote Moon burned me on more than one occasion, but he ran his best race here and seemingly meets a field he can topple. Rocket Plus exits a good try at this level (bay meadows). He ran 2nd at this course/distance earlier this year, and Baze/Morey are 48% together.
Race 7: This is my myspace free pick of the day.
Race 8: Flat mile Tapeta finale. Street Number has not lived up to his $260k purchase price, and he will never find a better spot to earn his diploma. He could improve 2nd time under the care of Steve Sherman, and he has never raced this low on synthetic.
Tags: Golden Gate Fields, Michael Dickinson, TapetaShare This
By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 12th, 2008
Frank Stronach’s Harlem Rocker will not contest the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Todd Pletcher and company have decided to point the undefeated colt to the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on June 22nd. Pletcher will be represented in the Preakness by Lexington Stakes winner Behindatthebar.
Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown might get a bit of competition from Arkansas Derby winner Gayego. The son of Gilded Time was a gem of consistency before a troubled start in the Derby hurt his chances. He hardly owns a classic pedigree, and if the early/pressing type is going to make any Triple Crown noise, the 9.5 furlong Preakness would be the spot.
The remaining horses under consideration for the Preakness are Giant Moon, Hey Byrn, Icabad Crane, Kentucky Bear, Macho Again, Racecar Rhapsody, Riley Tucker, Stevil, Tres Borrachos, and Yankee Bravo.
Gayego Image: Newscom
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By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 12th, 2008
Recapturetheglory was on the fence for several days after the Kentucky Derby, and no sooner than his connections decided to try the Preakness, he developed a temperature and will miss the second jewel of the Triple Crown. It would have been great to have Louis Roussel and Ronnie Lamarque put on a public relations show at Pimlico…but it was not meant to be. Their early/pressing colt will live to fight another day.
Holy Bull winner Hey Byrn failed to make the Derby field because of insufficient graded earnings, but he will give the Preakness a whirl. Note that Big Brown dusted him in the Florida Derby, and he would have to kick it up several notches to compete in Baltimore.
Federico Tesio winner and local hero Icabad Crane is another new Triple Crown series shooter. The New York bred is trained by Graham Motion, and former Preakness winning pilot Jeremy Rose (Afleet Alex) has the call.
Longshot Macho Again is back in the Preakness picture, and the Dallas Stewart trainee should arrive in Baltimore on May 14th.
Todd Pletcher will be represented by Lexington Stakes hero Behindatthebar, and he might also run undefeated Withers winner Harlem Rocker. A final decision on the latter will be made on May 14th.
Derby winner Big Brown continues to gallop and jog at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Preakness, and besides the aforementioned horses, he figures to face Tres Borrachos, Giant Moon, Kentucky Bear, Racecar Rhapsody, Riley Tucker, Stevil, and Yankee Bravo.
Image: Newscom
Tags: Preakness Stakes, Triple CrownShare This
By Jarrod Horak -- 2 comments
May 12th, 2008
Kentucky bred Casino Drive shipped in from Japan and served notice that he could be a force in the Belmont Stakes with a powerful tally in the $200k Peter Pan at Belmont Park on May 10th.
Kent Desormeaux, the regular pilot for Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness favorite Big Brown, was aboard the Japanese sensation, and he surely got a feel for his main Triple Crown competition.
Casino Drive was a $950k Keeneland yearling purchase, and he easily nabbed his nine furlong debut in Japan before invading Big Sandy. The son of Mineshaft is out of infamous dam Better Than Honour, better known as the mother of the last two Belmont Stakes winners (Jazil, Rags to Riches).
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By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 11th, 2008
Sunday’s Grade 3 Railbird Stakes at Hollywood Park has attracted ten three-year-old fillies, and look no further than the rail for the winner.
Sweet Hope went 1 for 7 in Great Britain, and that victory was a Polytrack romp at today’s extended sprint distance. She made her winning US bow at Bay Meadows in April, and the show finisher returned to score. Steve Sherman is 38% with shippers, and Jon Court will probably use aggressive tactics from the inside post.
Lethal Heat has done nothing wrong in a trio of victories to kick off her career. Bejarano hops aboard the off the pace type.
Tasha’s Miracle looked like a promising runner after three starts last summer at Hollywood and Del Mar, but she has struggled a bit in the Grade 1-2 ranks in four starts since. She rates a gander in this Southern California synthetic grade three.
Magical Victory is on the upswing for Gary Stute and continues to train forwardly, but she might not get enough pace help to set up her late charge.
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By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
May 9th, 2008
Two grade three events are carded at Hollywood on May 10th, starting with the Senorita (race 7) for three-year-old fillies traveling a flat mile on the turf.
Lovely Isle is the inside speed for 24% first grass trainer Robert Frankel, and Dominguez was aboard for her most impressive score. Come and get the daughter of Double Honor.
Sweeter Still is razor sharp and versatile, and she projects the first run trip should Lovely Isle falter.
Gorgeous Goose was on her game late last year, but she was a bit flat in her last pair versus similar. She reunites with her favorite pilot Valdivia and is 1-1 over the local green. Expect a decent late run in her 3rd race off the shelf.
Bel Air Sizzle has won three races on the turf this year, and that is not surprising with Unusual Heat on top. She packs a strong stretch kick and Abrams has been on a roll at the current stand.
Street Boss makes his much anticipated stakes debut in the Los Angeles Handicap (race 9). Versatile son of Street Cry is a neck away from four straight tallies. His last figure was his best yet, and that race was validated when place finisher Tropic Storm returned to score.
Bonfante always runs his race on any footing, and his off the pace rally should be good for a share at the very least.
Win type Doppio defeated Street Boss in February and is 4-5 on synthetic ground. He failed to fire his best shot at Keeneland (polytrack) last time but should appreciate a return to Southern California.
Bilo, shown above winning the Triple Bend last July, is a dangerous synthetic sprinter. He meets multiple speed types but can handle pace pressure.
Tags: Hollywood Park, Los Angeles Handicap, Senorita Stakes, Street BossShare This
By Jarrod Horak -- 0 comments
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