No horse racing triple crown this year
Michigan
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Mine that Bird finishes second at the Preakness. 31 years since the last one.
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<< <i>Mine that Bird finishes second at the Preakness. 31 years since the last one. >>
I was there at Belmont Park that day - and nobody there would have guessed that there wouldn't be another Triple Crown winner for at least 31 years.
<< <i>the jockey still has a shot >>
Definitely - I think you'll see some "fresh" horses in the Belmont to take a shot because for sure, nothing this year looks scary or anything like that.
Little bit of a tough call on the filly - she tired for sure, but considering the outside post and losing ground on the first turn at Pimlico is usually the kiss of death, and that fact that she had to duel a little bit with a semi-fractious horse on the front end that was just gonna run fast and back up, this Preakness race race is a lot better for her than it looked. I'd say right now the filly is gonna be around a 2 -1 favorite again in the Belmont depending on the new entries.
<< <i>I was there at Belmont Park that day - and nobody there would have guessed that there wouldn't be another Triple Crown winner for at least 31 years. >>
What a Great race back in '78!
But this, IMO, was the best race horse in my lifetime.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>
<< <i>I was there at Belmont Park that day - and nobody there would have guessed that there wouldn't be another Triple Crown winner for at least 31 years. >>
What a Great race back in '78!
But this, IMO, was the best race horse in my lifetime. >>
I was killing 'em all day, and made a large bet to win on Alydar with about 10 minutes to post time, settled in right outside the grandstand level right at the finish line, and about 1 - 2 minutes to post time a sea of humanity came down, and I'm 6' tall and couldn't see a thing, so I quickly went back inside right after the race began and watched it on the monitor. I thought Alydar was a lock at the top of the stretch, but even though I dropped a bundle on the race, it was such a great race, I surprisingly to myself wasn't even po'd. To this day I think it is one of the top races of all time, and the best race I ever saw...just wish I coulda won the dam thing. LOL
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<< <i>I was there at Belmont Park that day - and nobody there would have guessed that there wouldn't be another Triple Crown winner for at least 31 years. >>
What a Great race back in '78!
But this, IMO, was the best race horse in my lifetime. >>
Yes, the Secretariat Belmont was a great race as well, for a number of reasons which you likely know, and of course the call by Chic Anderson, was basically flawless...just a magnificent race call.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
ROCK ME!
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This video of Secretariat at the Belmont is so inspiring it chokes me up every time I see it.
I thought the Preakness was a very impressive victory. Granted it was a fairly weak 3 year old class with the injuries, but Borel said she didn't like the track and couldn't dig into the turf, and I believe him. Add to that she got strung out by Big Drama (who killed himself in doing so) and had to run on the outside the whole race, as well as the fact that this was her first race against males. Coming out of the 13 hole, having a terrible trip and still holding off the best 3 year old closer since Concern makes me think this horse is definitely the real deal. I'm guessing she trounces a weak Belmont field of 8 or 9 going away by 7-10 lengths.
The interesting story that nobody's talking about is how bad of a trainer Woolley (Mine That Bird) must be. It took a horrible break from the gate and getting shuffled back behind a wall of horses in the Derby for him to realize that this horse should be run strictly as a closer? I went back and watched all his previous races and in every one they ran him pretty much ABC- just off the pace and in position to make a stretch run. Never once did it occur to this guy that he had such an amazing burst at the end if you don't use the horse up at all until the 16th pole? They've been giving Borel a ton of credit for winning the Derby, but the real reason he won was because he was allowed to play to his strengths for the first time. Borel made some good moves that other jockeys might not have made, but even in his own words "My horse was the only one running at the end".
Lee
<< <i>Little bit of a tough call on the filly - she tired for sure, but considering the outside post and losing ground on the first turn at Pimlico is usually the kiss of death, and that fact that she had to duel a little bit with a semi-fractious horse on the front end that was just gonna run fast and back up, this Preakness race race is a lot better for her than it looked. I'd say right now the filly is gonna be around a 2 -1 favorite again in the Belmont depending on the new entries.
I thought the Preakness was a very impressive victory. Granted it was a fairly weak 3 year old class with the injuries, but Borel said she didn't like the track and couldn't dig into the turf, and I believe him. Add to that she got strung out by Big Drama (who killed himself in doing so) and had to run on the outside the whole race, as well as the fact that this was her first race against males. Coming out of the 13 hole, having a terrible trip and still holding off the best 3 year old closer since Concern makes me think this horse is definitely the real deal. I'm guessing she trounces a weak Belmont field of 8 or 9 going away by 7-10 lengths.
The interesting story that nobody's talking about is how bad of a trainer Woolley (Mine That Bird) must be. It took a horrible break from the gate and getting shuffled back behind a wall of horses in the Derby for him to realize that this horse should be run strictly as a closer? I went back and watched all his previous races and in every one they ran him pretty much ABC- just off the pace and in position to make a stretch run. Never once did it occur to this guy that he had such an amazing burst at the end if you don't use the horse up at all until the 16th pole? They've been giving Borel a ton of credit for winning the Derby, but the real reason he won was because he was allowed to play to his strengths for the first time. Borel made some good moves that other jockeys might not have made, but even in his own words "My horse was the only one running at the end".
Lee >>
I think it will be a very interesting Belmont. You may be right in the filly easily winning the Belmont. When fillies get good, they really get good. But if one of those New York trainers has a fresh, hot 3yo running, they might enter a rabbit in there to ensure the filly doesn't easily steal it on the lead, and then it's a different story.
<< <i>Yeah you're probably right, but could they do any more damage to her than Big Drama did in the Preakness? I think with a smaller field in the Belmont (if it is) Borel would be more likely to settle into 2nd or 3rd like they did in the Oaks. My guess is that in the Preakness coming from the 13 hole the only way to avoid traffic was to get the lead, so that's what they did. I don't think this horse needs the lead, but it seems like the connections are worried about her when she gets into traffic (which is how she lost one of her races). The more I think about it the more I feel a Secretariat-esque romp coming. I almost never bet chalk because I like to go for the jackpots, but if she goes off at anything higher than 6/5 I might have to lay some coin down. >>
Well, a filly won the Belmont two years ago and the railbirds are gonna remember that. Still though, many railbirds won't bet fillies or geldings on races such as this for the good reason that fillies and geldings rarely have won the Belmont...of course not many of them get entered either.
Once I see the other entries, if I remeber to do it, I'll offer my "expert" analysis, and then everyone can bet against what I said for a sure winner. LOL
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<< <i>If RA's owners have any sense, they'll skip the Belmont and aim for the summer races. Her race Saturday had nothing to do with the track. It had everything to do with her running a huge race in the Kentucky Oaks and then backing up like most horses do, even the great ones. Chances are she'll back up even more at the Belmont and that brings the injury possibility even more into the equation. >>
Maybe they're thinkin' if Rachel Alexandra wins the Belmont, it will increase the stud fees.
The Oaks was more like a workout, but you're right that the Preakness might have taken a lot out of her. She had to cover more track than any horse in the race and gave everything she had in the stretch run; most horses would've completely folded there. Unless the horse is showing no signs of wear then maybe they should skip the Belmont even though she'll probably win. Hard to pass up the opportunity to be a favorite in a million dollar G1 though. Based on how the last two decades of triple crown racing has gone, it would probably be a good idea to add another week in between races to give the horses a chance to recover. It would certainly make the Triple Crown a more attainable feat (could be a good or bad thing) but will definitely reduce the risk of injury or burning the horses out before their 4 year old campaign.
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
<< <i>
<< <i>Mine that Bird finishes second at the Preakness. 31 years since the last one. >>
I was there at Belmont Park that day - and nobody there would have guessed that there wouldn't be another Triple Crown winner for at least 31 years. >>
No Chit! Back then I thought Triple Crowns were a dime a dozen.
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<< <i>
<< <i>Mine that Bird finishes second at the Preakness. 31 years since the last one. >>
I was there at Belmont Park that day - and nobody there would have guessed that there wouldn't be another Triple Crown winner for at least 31 years. >>
No Chit! Back then I thought Triple Crowns were a dime a dozen. >>
Yep - I was at Belmont Park the year before for that Triple Crown as well.