I’ll Have Another Preakness winner!

He did it! A slight surprise to me, but a pleasant one nonetheless. I will not lie, I had Bodemeister and Creative Cause for the win and show in the race. I was not too far off as they ran second and third, respectively.

I was on the infield for the Maroon 5 concert, but it ended in time for me to sneak out and get trapped between people standing by the gate. That meant I only got to see the horses break from the gate and come around to the top of the lane. Yet as they ran by me into the homestretch, I knew the entire line up based on the silks and saddle cloths, so the people around me demanded I let them know who was on the lead. All I got to see was Bodemeister charge into the lane with Creative Cause at his hip and I’ll Have Another hot on their heels. When the crowd roared, I knew immediately that I’ll Have Another took the win (albeit by only a neck).

I have never been a fan of I’ll Have Another, but I am so pleased that he won the Preakness. It proves to any doubters (which once included myself) that he is the real deal and has a legitimate shot at the being first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. I am crossing my fingers for him and trainer Doug O’Neill, but they have a tough and long road ahead of them. A mile and half long road, to be precise. The Belmont Stakes is notorious for supporting huge upset wins. Some of the biggest I remember in recent years:

Sarava defeated Derby and Preakness winner, War Emblem, in the 2002 Belmont.

Empire Maker got his revenge on Funny Cide in 2003.

Birdstone ran down Smarty Jones, who looked to be home free, in 2004.

Da’tara ran huge to defeat Big Brown in 2008.

There’s a reason there has not been a TC winner since 1978 – it’s extremely difficult to do. The closest we have come since was Real Quiet in 1998 who lost the Belmont Stakes by a heartbreaking nose to Victory Gallop. Would I like another TC winner? Absolutely. Do I think it will happen? I’m undecided.

The thing is, I’ll Have Another has put in two huge efforts within two weeks. He has a three week rest before running the longest, most daunting race of his career. The pressure put on him will be immense, whether he knows it or not. All of his connections will feel it and his competitors now have more drive than ever to win the Belmont. Did I mention that Union Rags is set to enter the Belmont? That will be a scary horse for I’ll Have Another to face. Union Rags should eat up the added ground and his extended rest will have him fit, fresh and ready to tackle I’ll Have Another. He also has a new jockey aboard. I have a source that says Johnny Velasquez will be in Rags’ saddle. I believe he will be a beautiful fit for Rags – calm, patient, but determined and quick thinking.

I’ll be rooting for him (and Rags!). 19 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness since 1979,yet none of them have won the Belmont. Is the 20th time the charm? I am not sure, but what I do know is that I’ll Have Another will have his work cut out for him.

Preakness Fever!

As a native Marylander, I will openly admit that I get far more excited for the Preakness Stakes than the Kentucky Derby. With the looming race being held Saturday, I can barely contain my excitement!

I will be in attendance in the Infield, much to my dismay. I was on the Infield last year because my boyfriend surprised me with tickets to see Train and Bruno Mars, who performed during the day just before horses were saddled with for the big race. We are back again this year because Maroon 5 is playing and I have a huge crush on Adam Levine. My boyfriend reasoned that this will be the only time we will be able to be in the first few rows for Maroon 5 while only paying $50. Good enough for me – but next year I will be in the Grandstand, unless Fall Out Boy makes a comeback and plays next year.

Anyway, post positions for the Preakness were drawn just a few moments ago. Here is how they will be lining up:

1 – Tiger Walk

2 – Teeth of the Dog

3 – Pretension

4 – Zetterholm

5 – Went the Day Well

6 – Creative Cause

7 – Bodemeister (current favorite)

8 – Daddy Nose Best

9 – I’ll Have Another (Derby winner)

10 – Optimizer

11 – Cozzetti

I am quite pleased Tiger Walk has the rail (he’s ALWAYS on the outside) and I think Bodemeister is going to be extremely dangerous in lucky #7. Creative Cause is a looming threat as well just to Bode’s inside. Everybody is raving about I’ll Have Another’s training, but I still remain unimpressed. I am really hoping he proves me wrong though, I would love to go into the Belmont Stakes with a live Triple Crown shot.

Steve Haskin posted a blog a few hours ago that goes over some of the entrants, plus a little Maryland TB history with Sagamore Farm.

There is also going to be an Arabian race held at Pimlico this Saturday. The same race was held at Churchill Downs last year on Stephen Foster day. I am really intrigued by the sudden interest in adding Arabian racing to a dominant Thoroughbred card. I know there is a lot of Arabian racing at Delaware Park and I think they really benefit from running two breeds at their track. I am really pleased to see Pimilico opening their doors – even if it is just for one race. Could be the start of a beautiful Arabian/Thoroughbred racing partnership. Lord knows the TB racing industry could use a monetary and popularity boost.

Since I’m on a Union Rags kick

Phyllis Wyeth, owner of Union Rags, announced along with Michael Matz today that Rags will not be running in the Preakness Stakes next Saturday. 

I cannot say I am surprised. I was really hoping he might be entered, but I too believe it is best that he skips, especially with the whole “who’s going to ride him?!” fiasco. I would like to see Javier Castellano (who rode him in his first races) get the mount again. He is a great, patient jockey who always tries to do right by the horse. Not that Leparoux is a terrible rider, but clearly he messed up on the most important race of Rags’ career.

From all this Union Rags talk, you would think that I am his biggest fan. I am huge fan, after all, he has Pennsylvania connections and Wyeth’s Chadds Ford Stables is located only a few minutes from my boyfriend’s place. Which means I can drive by as much as I would like…until somebody noticed. Gotta love the local horses! But don’t get me wrong, I’m diggin’ Bodemeister and that handsome grey, Hansen (mainly because his sire, Tapit, is one of my all time favorites).

The Preakness should be interesting though. Derby winner, I’ll Have Another, is already at the track and prepping. While he’s nothing to be visually impressed over, he seems to have come out the race well. Bloodhorse has an article up about his arrival at Pimlico with a picture of him jogging over the track. You can judge his appearance for yourself.

The rest of the field is shaping up to be pretty large. Looks like there will be a full 14 entries for the race, which is unusual for the second leg of the Triple Crown. I’m not sure how I’ll Have Another will stack up against his competitors just yet, but once the definite entrants are announced you can be sure that I’ll share my opinion!

I hate to say it, but…

I told you so! This article from Chronicle of the Horse quotes Michael Matz, trainer of Union Rags, saying that Julien Leparoux put in a poor ride on his horse. He even saw the same opportunity for Rags to get through the gap between Take Charge Indy and Dullahan. Of course, I fully expect him to see that – it’s sort of what he does for a living. Not to mention he’s a brilliant horseman.

So there! My thoughts validated.

Cinco de Derby Day!

Saturday was the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. I mentioned it in my last blog and normally I would ramble about the event, but this year…that’s not quite the case. I’ll Have Another’s victory marks the fifth Derby in a row that a horse not considered to be a top contender has come out with the win. While it reaffirms that horse racing is really all up the horses in the race, it is also very disappointing to not see a crowd favorite do what everybody thinks he/she can do. 

Personally, I was really pulling for Union Rags. He is, by far, the most physically impressive horse that was entered in the Derby and had some of the best races leading up to it – including his two-year-old season in 2011. This article in the Washington Post argue, along with several others, that Union Rags was pinched by two other horses coming out of the gate and ran into traffic trouble through the second turn. While all that holds some truth, I think it’s not what ruined his chances at winning.

If you watch the race, Union Rags exits the gate in good fashion and is briefly touched by Take Charge Indy to his inside and Dullahan to his outside. The article describes it as “brutal” and Unions Rags’ jockey, Julien Leparoux, claims that he had “…nowhere to go.” Anybody with eyes and understanding for equine sport can recognize that was not actually the case. The two horses on either side of Union Rags briefly bumped him and has been described as more of a “love tap” from expert handicappers. 

Immediately after the brief contact, a gap opens up for Union Rags to follow through. All he had to do to get to easy stalking position throughout the race was lengthen his stride a bit and stick to the hip of Take Charge Indy. There may have been a bit of maneuvering coming out of the first turn, but I’m positive that if Union Rags took the initiative to place himself in that gap, he would never have been placed 18th so early on. That’s right, Union Rags was held back by Leparoux and the pair struggled along two from last.  A situation that could have been entirely avoided if Leparoux had asked Union Rags for a bit of “go” instead of “whoa” after being jostled only a bit. 

I blame Leparoux’s passive ride for Union Rags’ failure to get the win. The horse was able to rally from 18th, despite facing much more dramatic traffic complications coming into the final turn, to finish 7th out of 20. He just missed 6th by a head and continued to run on well passed the wire. I cannot be sure that Union Rags would have defeated I’ll Have Another, but I’m certain he would have placed in the top three if Leparoux had given him his best riding. I understand that some jockeys like to “play it safe,” and I am all for bringing the horses back sound, but I think Leparoux may have been too cautious – too cautious for a race like the Kentucky Derby.

But what is done, is done. I absolutely have to mention Bodemeister who ran a brilliant race to hold for second. He ran the fast quarter and half mile in Derby history, was five lengths in front turning for home, and dug in as best he could once confronted by eventually winner, I’ll Have Another. He was clearly rubber legged and trying to find the finish, but man…what a horse! If he had taken it a bit easier on the lead, I’ll Have Another may not be wearing those roses! And that’s the reality of horse racing, so much can happen, so much cannot happen and even more will not happen.

Next up is the Preakness Stakes, second leg of the Triple Crown held at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md. I’ll be in attendance, but unfortunately I’ll have to catch a glimpse of the horses as the come into the stretch. I do not recommend any horse racing fans get tickets to the infield, ever. I am only doing it because Maroon 5 is playing the infield (I was there to see Bruno Mars last year), but I refuse to be anywhere but the Grandstand next year. A part of me will be rooting for I’ll Have Another because I’d love to have a Triple Crown winner, but I will not be putting any money on him. After all, it’s another big horse race and everybody is in it to win it.

The end of an era

Okay, it may not be the end of an era, but it sort of feels like one. Tonight will be the last layout night for Wilson College’s newspaper, The Billboard. I always looked forward to the last issue, it meant summer was on its way, but now I’m incredibly sad. I’ve grown very close with the other editor and I love seeing the improvement, skills, and ideas the staff writers bring to the table. I’m just going to cherish every moment of this tonight…even if it means I have to drive an hour home at 3am.

I’d also like to mention that Wilson hosted a tryout for the Breeder’s Bridge Competition sponsored by John Madden Sales. A ’93 graduate entered her Thoroughbred gelding in the contest and was chosen as a top five semi-finalist out of 139 entrants! I was able to stop by to see Callie Schott, assistant trainer to Olympic rider Beezie Madden, ride Golden Altar and actually just completed by piece on it for the Alumnae Quarterly. Since my story is not currently published, click here to view the school’s spotlight on the event.

Also, it’s Kentucky Derby week! A full field of twenty horses will be answering the call to post this Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Very similar to recent years, this three-year-old crop is full of surprises and it could be any horse’s race. Which is good and bad. It makes hard to select a favorite, or who to bet on, but makes it prime for an absolute upset (like Giacomo in ’05, Mine That Bird ’09, Animal Kingdom ’11, etc.) 

Personally, I like Union Rags, Hansen, and Bodemeister. Union Rags is clearly the standout of the field. He was the fastest two-year-old colt and is continues to be the fastest three-year-old colt. Not too mention, he’s the most beautifully built horse in the race. Yet Take Charge Indy stole a win from this year in the Florida Derby. Everybody is out to beat him though, so that basically makes his odds 19-1. Hansen in my sentimental choice because I absolutely adore his sire, Tapit. I do not think Hansen can handle the 10 furlong distance, especially with his front running style. Although crazier things have happened! Bodemeister is coming along beautifully, especially after his last win. He’s an impressive guy with all the right connections. Let’s face it, Bob Baffert known how to develop a Derby horse. 

Anything can happen though, I just hope they every horse and jockey makes it home safe and sound.

Happy Derby week!