Preakness Stakes on Saturday

A filly, Rachel Alexandra, is taking on the colts, including Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. In Europe, Asia and Australis fillies running with colts is the norms, but for some reason it doesn't happen as often here, especially in a Triple Crown race.

For entries:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/triple/preakness/2009-05-14-handicapping_N.htm

We'll tape the coverage since we'll be out all day tomorrow. Some day I hope we can watch the Preakness in person. We're only two hours north of Baltimore.

It should make for a good race! Rachel won the KY Oaks by 20 lengths!!

1.
Big Drama
J. Velazquez
10-to-1
Should be the value in the race off a 3½ with plenty of rest and the rail.

2.
Mine That Bird
M. Smith
6-to-1
After jumping from a 9 ¾ to a 3 on a wet track, Derby winner will be praying for rain.

3.
Musket Man
E. Coa
8-to-1
Has paired 4½s. Can he post a new top on short rest?

4.
Luv Gov
J. Theriot
50-to-1
Hart to Luv off a 4-point move to an 8 in a maiden win.

5.
Friesan Fire
G. Saez
6-to-1
If you can ignore the 24 in the Derby, had a promising 4½ and 6 before that.

6.
Terrain
J. Rose
30-to-1
Northing better than a 9 in two 2009 starts.

7.
Papa Clem
R. Bejarano
6-to-1
Can be a spoiler if he gets back to his 3½ in the Arkansas Derby.

8.
General Quarters
J. Leparoux
20-to-1
A weak 9¾ in the Derby but a solid 4¾ before it. Which way does he go?

9.
Pioneerof the Nile
G. Gomez
5-to-1
Circled back to a top of 4, but short rest may be an issue.

10.
Flying Private
A. Garcia
50-to-1
Was awful in the Derby (a 23) but had a decent
5¾ two starts before that.

11.
Take the Points
E. Prado
30-to-1
Has to improve off three straight 6½s to be a factor.

12.
Tone It Down
K. Desormeaux
50-to-1
Much slower than the others with three straight 12s.

13.
Rachel Alexandra
C. Borel
8-to-5
She’s the fastest horse, but the question is how much does she bounce off a ¼ in the Kentucky Oaks? Post 13 and 8-to-5 odds are not inviting

Run Rachel Run

She can do it! I know Mine That Bird is out to prove his Derby win was no fluke. Friesan Fire, who loves an off track, ran poorly in the Derby with a legit excuse, so he will want it as well.

This could be one hell of a race!

Go here for good info:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/triple/preakness/2009-05-14-handicapping_N.htm

Congrats to Calvin Borel and Rachel Alexandra! I was pretty impressed with Mine That Bird and his jockey too!!! :agree: arty:

Here's the Equibase chart of the race:
http://equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/PIM051609USA12.pdf

Calvin Borel was on the news this morning saying she didn't handle the track surface so well yet still managed to go wire to wire! Wow! Wire to wire means she led from start to finish. When she jumped to the lead right away I got VERY nervous, thinking she wouldn't be able to sustain it.

During my riding days (how bad they were), the manager of the school when talking about Racing said that if a Filly gets in front, the stallions will not pass her. Maybe someone more versed in thorobred racing here can comment on that.

Johar said:

When she jumped to the lead right away I got VERY nervous, thinking she wouldn't be able to sustain it.

Click to expand...

It looks like the mile and a half Belmont might be a problem for her.

I've seen races where that certainly is not true.

Joesitz said:

During my riding days (how bad they were), the manager of the school when talking about Racing said that if a Filly gets in front, the stallions will not pass her. Maybe someone more versed in thorobred racing here can comment on that.

Click to expand...

I've seen races where that certainly isn't true.

Kentucky Derby - So traditional.

The Preakness - So tricky.

The Belmont Stakes - A long stretch to cover.

Sunday Silence--was very heart broken he lost, but he got his revenge in the BC Classic.
When Real Quiet lost the Belmont by a nose, I cried a long time.
Silver Charm didn't see Touch Gold in time. It stung.
Funny Cide--didn't see him winning it.
Smarty Jones--He had a good chance but I didn't get my hopes up, fortunately.
Big Brown--that was an ugly ending to a race.