136th Preakness Stakes up next: May 21st

[Glimmerglass]

Dialed In galloped Wed morning 1-½ miles at Churchill Downs before shipping from Louisville to BWI.

Before anyone forgets about Dialed In least we recall another Zito bullet that ran in the Preakness:

Zito knows first-hand that a disappointing Derby finish doesn’t necessarily have a negative impact in the Preakness. The Hall of Fame trainer saddled Louis Quatorze for a track record-equaling victory in the 1996 Preakness that followed a 16th –place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

"I just think for some reason with 20 horses – the big field – some of these horses really don’t get the chance to show how good they are. Again, to say, ‘Throw out the Derby,’ is hard to believe, but sometimes you just have to do that. I don’t know why, “With Louis, I don’t know what happened, but he came back in the Preakness and set a track record.”

[Glimmerglass]

The 136th Preakness field, ML Odds, Jockey

PP. Horse … ML Odds … Jockey

1. Astrology … 15-1 … Mike Smith
2. Norman Asbjornson … 30-1 Julien Pimental
3. King Congie … 20-1 … Robby Albarado
4. Flashpoint … 20-1 … Cornelio Velasquez
5. Shackleford … 12-1 … Jesus Castanon
6. Sway Away … 15-1 … Garrett Gomez
7. Midnight Interlude … 15-1 … Martin Garcia
8. Dance City … 12-1 … Ramon Dominguez
9. Mucho Macho Man … 6-1 … Rajiv Maragh
10. Dialed In … 9-2 … Julien Leparoux
11. Animal Kingdom … 2-1 … John Velazquez
12. Isn’t He Perfect … 30-1 … Edgar Prado
13. Concealed Identity … 30-1 … Sheldon Russell
14. Mister Commons … 20-1 … Victor Espinoza

I’ll take 9-2 on Dialed In all day long!

[Acertainsmile]

[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;5613350]
Try working for the man. He is a hoot and a half!

He has MANY nicknames on the track and I like him too much to divulge any here!!

~Emily[/QUOTE]

I just love Eddie and Linda, worked for them when I was 18…what an education I got from him walking back and forth to the track! I’ll be cheering for them as usual.

[dressagetraks]

Dance City threw a heck of a fit at the gate before the Arkansas Derby. It certainly felt like a several-minute delay watching from the crowd. Hope he doesn’t decide to do it again here. Or maybe they will load him first?

[sportinghorsepolo]

Macho Mucho Man and Astrology looked awesome galloping this AM, and Dialed In looked good as well. Didn’t see my boy Shackleford unfortunately.

[Glimmerglass]

NYT’s Joe Drape thinks Animal Kingdom could be “Triple Crown” horse.

Animal Kingdom’s losses can be excused. Last September, he was caught in traffic in his career debut on Arlington Park’s synthetic surface and still finished second by two and three-quarter lengths. In March, his first time on grass, Animal Kingdom overcame a poor start to finish second by a head.

The colt has proven unflappable. Not only has Animal Kingdom run at five different racetracks — from Chicago to Kentucky to South Florida — he has been ridden by a different rider at each stop. Not here, though, as the highly regarded John Velazquez is more than eager to get back on the colt that gave him his first Derby victory.

So he’s lost only due to poor starts or traffic? That’s a valid excuse for most horses running at the Grade 1 level. Outside of sprinters being incorrectly pointed is races past their distance, few simply lack the brass to win. Apply the same comments of Joe to Dialed In: he could’ve won but rather just hit traffic and was bumped.

ESPN’s Bill Finley supports the notion of the Pimlico weekend with Sat and Sun:

I like the idea of running the Preakness on a Sunday. The same move worked this year at Gulfstream, where they switched the Florida Derby to Sunday and were rewarded with two big days, the Saturday before and Florida Derby Day itself. Unlike Kentucky Oaks Day, the Friday before the Preakness is a non-event and every attempt made by Pimlico to spice it up has failed. Turning the Preakness into a two-day affair starting on a Saturday is at least worth a try.

[danceronice]

Dear Mr Drape:

Stop jinxing him.

No love,
Me.

(Seriously, I never get my hopes up no matter how much I like a horse. I will only go so far as to say a horse with such “alien” bloodlines, even though they’re not REALLY that outre, winning the Triple Crown would be a good thing for the breed.)

[CVPeg]

Thanks again to Glimmerglass

As usual, you’ve supplied all the comprehensive pre-race information needed. Been a hectic 2 weeks with graduation and house repairs. And I don’t have to wade through many other papers, websites, and egotistical prognosticators’ articles elsewhere for really pertinent information.

Let alone the entertaining and KNOWLEDGABLE members’ discussions.

Plus I like to hide under a rock before the Preakness when there’s been a particularly satisfying Derby winner, hoping he’ll show up Saturday in good stead. I see others are also afraid to hope as well. May watch the race from behind the couch, too! :sadsmile:

[sportinghorsepolo]

question…

Anyone know how tall Animal Kingdom is?

[Glimmerglass]

As usual, you’ve supplied all the comprehensive pre-race information needed. And I don’t have to wade through many other papers, websites, and egotistical prognosticators’ articles elsewhere for really pertinent information…

Thanks, but I’ll be the first to say that I’m no more informed then most.

As I was widely criticized once before on another issue (after adding my $0.02) my “value” of sharing quotes, comments, and other published material doesn’t make me an expert at anything.

Having galloped an exracer, competed in lower level eventing, owning a horse, meeting owners/trainers, going to the track, watched far too many races in person and on tv, and so forth might help me a bit, but still doesn’t garner any inside knowledge with the TC. I just happen to spend far too much time looking through the assorted coverage while multitasking or avoiding doing other pressing matters. At some point continuing to do so just won’t be feasible.

If in the mean time continuing to do so I’ll just take a no harm, no foul viewpoint in posting bits and pieces. If others find it helpful then great. No popularity contest being sought by me with the number of postings.

This year’s Black-Eyed Susan (and undercard) plus the Preakness all should be fun to watch. As a fan nothing is life or death here. No family farm being wagered. Just putting some mad money down on the horses, enjoy the action and having a few good drinks and food Break even, great; see a potential TC winner, wonderful; everyone coming home safe that’s what we all want at the very least.

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5615475]
Thanks, but I’ll be the first to say that I’m no more informed then most.

As I was widely criticized once before on another issue (after adding my $0.02) my “value” of sharing quotes, comments, and other published material doesn’t make me an expert at anything.

everyone coming home safe that’s what we all want at the very least.[/QUOTE]

Well, that’s why I enjoy following your COTH entries - others elsewhere share media, but always add their $.02, and then go on and on about why their view is better/smarter, or they are more “in the know”. Your items are well chosen, informative, and speak for themselves.

I’ve been involved in riding much of my life, but really returned to racing involvement the past few years, and am amazed at all the “new” experts - including some people near and dear to me. There are 2 or 3 columnists I respect, but mostly I just like to draw my own conclusions, so appreciate your efforts on this board.

And amen to your last remark!:yes:

[theblondejumper]

Saw Midnight Intruder and Shackleford work this morning–both were looking good!

Also got a glimpse of THE Bob Baffert in the shedrow, I was totally starstruck! He’s a legend at my house.

[Glimmerglass]

England’s top flight female jockey has flown into Baltimore tonight and will be out tomorrow evening. Tight schedule! Pimlico Female Jockey Challenge

England’s champion apprentice in 2005, she is her country’s all-time leading female rider with 480 career wins and nearly $6 million in purse earnings. This year, she had 43 wins in 271 mounts through May 16.

“I’m really excited. I can’t wait,” Turner said. “We are obviously all competitive; otherwise, we wouldn’t be good at our jobs. I think that’s what makes this so good. We want to win, and it’s the same with every race every day. You’re competitive out on the track, but it’s nice to have a bit of fun and a laugh with everybody, as well.”

Turner will have a quick turnaround for the challenge. She and her agent are scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on Thursday night and fly back to England just hours after Friday’s card concludes.

“We’re quite used to having a hectic schedule over here, because we’re not based at one track,” she said. “We drive around every day, from track to track or up and down the countryside. It’s just part of our daily routine. We’re quite used to it.”

DRF’s Publisher Steve Crist says “Dialed In can turn tables on Animal Kingdom”

[Animal Kingdom] will be on all my tickets, but so will the lone horse who I think had a legitimate excuse in defeat behind him at Churchill Downs: Dialed In, who ran eighth as the favorite but had no chance at all after falling back to last place behind one of the slowest paces in Derby history. I will pick him to register a mild upset as the 9-2 second choice on the morning line.

So call it Dialed In, Animal Kingdom, Sway Away, and King Congie – the Derby favorite, the Derby winner, and a couple of new shooters at big prices.

By the way if Dialed In wins, that added winner’s purse + bonus will mean he’d be 10th place on the all-time earnings list of horses who have made at least one start in North America, just behind Zenyatta.

[pnalley]

Educate me please.

Why is a slow pace so bad?

I’d like to see a TC winner, it has been so long…

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=pnalley;5616201]
Educate me please.

Why is a slow pace so bad?[/QUOTE]

The old saying “Pace Makes the Race” is true. A solid, “classy” horse with good closing numbers may never have a chance to win if the pace of the race is too slow. You’d think it goes against logic … slower pace should mean plenty of energy in reserve to use in a kick - but that isn’t necessarily true.

Troy Record 2009 “Breaking news — pace makes the race”

Then, one factor – pace – becomes predominant.

It is more than a catchy slogan to say pace makes the race. Handicappers who correctly determine the probable pace scenario win day after day at racetracks around the nation.

This notion is not breaking news. The importance of pace has been discussed to death among players and in racing publications. Nevertheless, the betting public and some of us who should know better continue to miss what is an elemental part of the game.

Last week alone, there were at least five races at Aqueduct which fit this description. Bettors made the perceived ‘best horse’ a heavy favorite, even though that animal was up against an unfavorable pace scenario. Maybe we could all use a refresher course.

No analysis of pace is complete unless you know how the track surface you are watching plays. Dirt racing at Aqueduct favors early and tactical speed. Through Sunday’s card the main track profile rating at the current meet averages 53. That falls into the “speed-favoring but not biased” category on my scale.

Couple that with a race where the pace is going to be slower than par. That makes it easy, right? Let’s look at what happened.[continues]

Too bad there isn’t a quasi-rabbit in this race but we’re dealt the hands we’re given with the field.

[Glimmerglass]

An interesting article on the famed trophy proclaimed to be the most valuable of all sport - Baltimore Sun: 5-19 “Story of Woodlawn Vase has many twists — and some are even true”

excerpt

Joining the vase underground, but not under dirt, was Lexington, the stallion that served as the model for the top of the vase. He sired Preakness, who won the first stakes race ever held at Pimlico in 1870, and three eventual winners of the race named after Preakness.

Lexington was hidden away to avoid a battlefield commission, died of natural causes in 1875, was buried, dug up in 1878 and donated to the Smithsonian (Catalog No. 16020). The bones, found in the museum rafters, were shipped by FedEx White Glove Service last year to the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park, where the skeleton is on display.

Anyway, back to 1879. Moore was allowed to return to racing and had horses with names like Stonewall Jackson, so it’s a pretty good guess which side he was trying to hide the silver vase from. It probably killed him knowing that Lexington, the horse on top of the trophy he buried to keep it from falling into Union hands, also sired Cincinnati, General Ulysses S. Grant’s favorite horse.

Go figure - a Kentucky-bred and owned horse on top of Maryland’s greatest treasure

[Glimmerglass]

The quick and easy NYPost/Ed Fountaine Guide to the Preakness - their staff picks are all over the board. One for Dialed In, one for Astrology, one for Animal Kingdom, another for Mucho Macho Man …

[Carol_Ames]

we need another Triple Crown possibility

I want a Triple Crown winner; Animal Kingdom!

[Larksmom]

#@$#$%(DISH

Well, as I feared, it is raining, and appears as though it will all weekend. My DISH has gone out because it is RAINING. Not a big storm, a little nice rain.:mad: When I called yesterday to complain, I was told, well it doesn’t work in the rain. Oh really? Any of you in the PNW where it rains a LOT, have a DISH? Does it go out in the rain?
I upgraded to a higher tier so I could watch the racing on Verses. Now it looks like I will do all my watching online, if I can find it here.
Mind you when it works which is most of the time, it is great.

[Glimmerglass]

We’re all hoping that 2011 doesn’t have a repeat of 1999 (video) with the crazy fan taking a swing during the 7th race of the undercard - Maryland Breeders’ Cup - before the Preakness.

What happened to the guy - Lee Chang Ferrell - who was ultimately banned forever from any Maryland Jockey Club property [url=" http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-05-16/sports/0905150168_1_ferrell-artax-harford-county "]from a 2009 article? Today he is gainfully employed in Harford County (MD) and, while not married, has two school-age children. Having some mental issues as a youth he reportedly has no recollection of that day whatsoever.