What about Icabad Crane?
Won the Frederico Tesio, based out of Fair Hill, and ridden by local jock Jeremy Rose…
Maybe not a born and bred exclusive MD runner, but that’s still pretty darn local.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;3206824]
No reason Harlem Rocker can’t run in the Preakness and then go up north and annex the Queen’s Plate (his original goal). The latter isn’t run until the June 22nd.[/QUOTE]
I completely agree!
So is it a good idea for a horse to have a “blow out” work the day of a race as Big Brown is going to have? I don’t understand this logic. Sorry, love racing but not sure of some of the training techniques.
[QUOTE=gubbyz;3207650]
So is it a good idea for a horse to have a “blow out” work the day of a race as Big Brown is going to have? I don’t understand this logic. Sorry, love racing but not sure of some of the training techniques.[/QUOTE]
A blowout is really just a very rapid but short workout.
Big Brown on Thur May 2nd had a blowout - 3F in 37.99 - as did Smooth Air
Back in the day of Silky Sullivan (late 1950’s) that distance would be longer.
An amusing sidebar article if you will on Derby v Preakness from the non-racing angle 
At least Baltimore is able to poke fun at themselves
Baltimore Sun May 12, 2008 “Classy vs. sassy: Comparing the Kentucky Derby and Preakness”
Sample
FOOD AND DRINK
Derby: Bourbon balls, pecan pie, pudding, grits and biscuits, mint juleps.
Preakness: Crab cakes, crab soup, pit beef, Lady Baltimore cake, Natty Boh, black-eyed Susans.
Comment: The second-greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing rich people that Early Times was a good whiskey to use in mint juleps.
Advantage: Preakness. Natty Bohs and Berger cookies are the perfect Preakness breakfast, kids!
Regarding the Infield:
Preakness: Sort of like Caligula’s Rome crossed with MTV’s Spring Break, but with less attractive people. More disgusting acts are committed per square foot during the Preakness than just about anywhere else in the country. About the only thing you cannot do is fight. Also, look out for beer grenades!
Comment: Two must-haves when attending the Preakness infield: sunscreen, penicillin.
Regarding the Racing Field and Overall Aesthics
Preakness: Say what you want about the Preakness, but it always has the Kentucky Derby winner, and the possibility for a Triple Crown is still alive. C’mon, Big Brown, momma needs a new pair of shoes!
Comment: OK, so one time at the Preakness, a guy ran on the track and tried to punch a horse. And we still don’t have slots to play while you wait. And, yeah, Barbaro ran his last race here. And the grandstand looks like a shuttered steel mill. Did we mention you can bring your own beer?
Advantage: Preakness.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;3206893]
What about Icabad Crane?
Won the Frederico Tesio, based out of Fair Hill, and ridden by local jock Jeremy Rose…
Maybe not a born and bred exclusive MD runner, but that’s still pretty darn local.[/QUOTE]
I’d still say he’s in large part still a ‘carpet bagger’ compared to Magic Weisner made worse by his very NY name 
Run four times in his career: twice at Aqueduct, then Turfaway in KY, and most recently up to Maryland for the first time. Icabad Crane from Gallaghers Stud in Ghent, NY and purchased in Ocala, FL otherwise does have MD connections so I think in the greater scheme of things he’s the only ‘local-ish’ angle they’ll find this year.
SO, I heard there is a little race going on this weekend 
Is it safe to return??
I think I’m gonna go for the superfects bets this weekend!
Racing - this weekend? Surely you jest! Folks would rather chatter on about the past and life post-racing then actual races The Preakness, what is that?
Well it has a been a bit dull in the prelude to the ‘big race’ at Old Hilltop.
How about the Baltimore Sun’s Video look at a stakes barn
Also ESPN2 will try again to have the live selection show for the Preakness today (Wed 5-14) at 5pm EST/4pm CST.
Big Brown moves this late afternoon to his new digs:
After spending the past four weeks in Barn 22, Stall 12 at Churchill Downs, the undefeated Kentucky Derby winner will ship here today from Louisville for Saturday’s 1 3/16-mile Preakness.
Pimlico officials have been told that the flight carrying Big Brown and Preakness longshots Racecar Rhapsody and Tres Borrachos is scheduled to land at Baltimore-Washington International Airport at 5:30 p.m. The van carrying the three horses is expected to arrive at Pimlico an hour later.
With an entry by Gayego - which raced in the Derby - then historically speaking we have ot go back to 1980 when we last saw just two Derby horses run in the Preakness.
Due to the recent bad weather in Louisville Big Brown has only been worked out three-times since the Derby. That is much less then Dutrow wanted in the two-week gap.
Flashback:
As pointed out elsewhere this is one of the more bizarre draws that has transpired during the Preakness selection show:
NTRA video May 17, 2006 - Michael Matz dazed and confused at the selection for post position
Flashback:
As pointed out elsewhere this is one of the more bizarre draws that has transpired during the Preakness selection show:
NTRA video May 17, 2006 - Michael Matz dazed and confused at the selection for post position
So during NBC’s two hour telecast of the Preakness there will be discussion roundtable which will delve into the breakdown on Eight Belles and other related public controversies. Something that, in theory, I think is a very smart decision and with the panelist cited should be on-topic and straight forward:
Among the guests: Churchill Downs veterinarian Larry Bramlage; Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones; NBC analyst Gary Stevens; and New York Times columnist William Rhoden, who blasted the sport of kings as “only a couple of steps removed from animal fighting.”
One unexpected entry slipped in …
The entries for the Preakness, post-positions to be done live at 5pm EST today
Thirteen of a maximum of fourteen horses will go to the post
Horse/Trainer/Jockey/Owner
Behindatthebar/Todd Pletcher/David Flores/ Padua Stables, Michael Shustek, and Don Stanley
Big Brown/Rick Dutrow/Kent Desormeaux/IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.
Gayego/Paulo Lobo/Mike Smith/Cubanacan Stables
Giant Moon/Rick Shosberg/Ramon Dominguez/Albert Fried Jr.
Hey Byrn/Eddie Plesa/Chuck Lopez/Beatrice Oxenberg
Icabad Crane/Graham Motion/Jeremy Rose/Earle Mack
Kentucky Bear/Reade Baker/Jamie Theriot/Bear Stables
Macho Again/Dallas Stewart/Julien Leparoux/West Point Thoroughbred
Racecar Rhapsody/Kenny McPeek/Robby Albarado/Jerry Carroll, Stan Kaplan, Ronald Plattner, and Mark Guilfoyle
Riley Tucker/Bill Mott/Edgar Prado/Zayat Stables
Stevil/Nick Zito/John Velazquez/Robert LaPenta
Tres Borrachos/Beau Greely/Tyler Baze/Beau Greely, John Greely IV, and Phil Houchens
Yankee Bravo/Patrick Gallagher/Alex Solis/Richard Duggan, Bienstock and Winner Stables, and Harlequin Ranches
Who is Riley Tucker? TB Times profile for Riley Tucker 7 starts 1-3-2
Confident remarks from Dutrow in his “blog” with the NY Post - May 14, 2008:
I see Gayego (17th in the Derby) is running in the Preakness. That’s fine with us. They say he had a bad trip. I think he just got outrun - and it’s going to happen again. That horse ran terrible in the Derby, flew back to California, now he’s flying east again. That’s enough for me to know. They’re just completely putting him up against it.
Ouch!
I’ll take Gayego, because I saw him in Arkansas and because his style suits shortening up a bit, and I think he’ll like Pimlico. He had no chance in traffic in Kentucky.
Still just cannot support the UPS horse. Yeah, I know, a rose by any other name and all that, but people don’t have to be logical in their racetrack selections and non selections. In my own breeding operation (non TB), one of my name criteria with my foals is, “How would this sound announced at the Olympics?” Of course, chances are that I will never be the breeder of an Olympic horse, but if I am, the name will be suitable for one.
Agree on BB’s talent. Hope he runs very well - and gets nosed out.
Nice to see (or not?) that things have returned to normal and the arrogance is back. Dutrow is such a blowhard. Gayego got screwed early in the Derby…he got into major traffic and had to check HARD. It’s not like he had a good trip and he just ran like crap.
Since Big Brown is the UPS horse, why isn’t UPS shipping him to Pimlico?
With a lightly-trained Big Brown? I’m skeptical.
This is Riley Tucker!
Hey guys…I know he’s a long shot, but I’m cheering LOUDLY for him.
His dam is a half sister to one of our mares, Miss muscles. He may not have won everything, but he has consistantly been in the money (6 out of 7 starts), and has some close efforts…the lexington was very close! he was only just passed for second. Edgar Prado has the ride, as he did in Riley Tuckers debut at belmont (a 5 length romp).
http://www.pedigreequery.com/riley+tucker
Johanna
Riley Tucker has been a contender for the past 2 weeks. Where have you been, Glim? :lol:
[QUOTE=Texarkana;3212065]
Riley Tucker has been a contender for the past 2 weeks. Where have you been, Glim? :lol:[/QUOTE]
I think he, like Stevil, is entered but I just don’t think of either one as having much of a chance unless something dramatic happens. No offense, but I don’t expect to be shocked. This is racing so anything could happen so I’m happy the field is almost maxed out.
Who knew: Yankee Bravo is co-owned by Harlequin Ranches.
Harlequin as in, yes, the cheesy romance books (published under Harlequin Enterprises) although Canadian owner/breeder/Jockey Club of Canada Presdient Richard Bonnycastle has since sold that company off.
