Belmont Park
Charitable Man ran down front running Hello Broadway in the upper stretch and then pulled away from Imperial Council to win the featured Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park today. Brave Victory passed a tiring Hello Broadway in mid stretch to claim the show spot.
Charitable Man, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, was brilliant as a two year old in breaking his maiden with an 11 length win at Saratoga. He followed that up in the fall by winning the Grade II Belmont Futurity over Flying Pegasas and Fresian Fire who went off the post time favorite in the Kentucky Derby. After recovering from an injury which sidelined him for the winter, his first race back was a 7th place finish in the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland but Charitable Man looked fantastic today. The Belmont Stakes seems a clear possibility for his next race.
The same can't be said for Imperial Council who for the 3rd straight race moved into position in the upper stretch but failed to close on the winner down the lane and he simply has not lived up to his potential as a 3 year old.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Rachel In Preakness, Borel Bails on Derby Winner
The new owner of Rachel Alexandra, Jess Jackson, said today that Stonestreet Stables will pay the $100,000 fee to supplement the 20 length winner of the Kentucky Oaks into next Saturday's Preakness where she will face colts for the first time. Jackson also announced that her regular rider, Calvin Borel, will be aboard "Rachel" in the Preakness as well as the rest of her races in 2009.
In accepting the mount on Rachel Alexandra jockey Calvin Borel, who rode her to victory in the Kentucky Oaks and the next day guided Mine That Bird to a stunning win at 50/1 in the Kentucky Derby, will become the first jockey to ever win the Derby and then take off that horse to ride a different horse in the Preakness. Borel said "I have no choice, she is the best horse I have ever ridden."
Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley, said he understands the decision by Borel and he has talked with several jockeys about picking up the mount. However, he will wait to name a replacement until Rachel Alexandra actually passes the entry box for the race.
The field for the 134th Preakness is starting to take shape. In addition to Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, other confirmed starters for the Preakness include, Musket Man (3rd in the Derby), Papa Clem (4th in the Derby), General Quarters (10th in the Derby), Flying Private (19th in the Derby), Big Drama (2nd in the Swale Stakes), Hull (winner of the Derby Trial), Take The Points (4th in the Santa Anita Derby) and Terrain (4th in the Blue Grass).
Derby starters, Pioneerof The Nile (2nd in the Derby) and Fresian Fire (18th in the Derby) are currently listed as probable Preakness starters. Two horses listed as possible starters are Conservative (2nd in the Lexington Stakes) and Tone It Down (3rd in the Tesio Stakes). These two are the only horses listed here who are not currently at Pimlico or have a scheduled arrival date.
In accepting the mount on Rachel Alexandra jockey Calvin Borel, who rode her to victory in the Kentucky Oaks and the next day guided Mine That Bird to a stunning win at 50/1 in the Kentucky Derby, will become the first jockey to ever win the Derby and then take off that horse to ride a different horse in the Preakness. Borel said "I have no choice, she is the best horse I have ever ridden."
Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley, said he understands the decision by Borel and he has talked with several jockeys about picking up the mount. However, he will wait to name a replacement until Rachel Alexandra actually passes the entry box for the race.
The field for the 134th Preakness is starting to take shape. In addition to Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, other confirmed starters for the Preakness include, Musket Man (3rd in the Derby), Papa Clem (4th in the Derby), General Quarters (10th in the Derby), Flying Private (19th in the Derby), Big Drama (2nd in the Swale Stakes), Hull (winner of the Derby Trial), Take The Points (4th in the Santa Anita Derby) and Terrain (4th in the Blue Grass).
Derby starters, Pioneerof The Nile (2nd in the Derby) and Fresian Fire (18th in the Derby) are currently listed as probable Preakness starters. Two horses listed as possible starters are Conservative (2nd in the Lexington Stakes) and Tone It Down (3rd in the Tesio Stakes). These two are the only horses listed here who are not currently at Pimlico or have a scheduled arrival date.
Terry's Horses To Watch For The Peter Pan Stakes
Saturday's 1 1/8 mile Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park serves as the track's major prep race for the Belmont Stakes which will be run on June 6th. A short field of seven will go postward on a track that has seen steady rain for a week although the forecast for the weekend is looking better.
Imperial Council
After a 2nd place in the Gothem and 5th in the Wood Memorial both behind I Want Revenge, the Shug McGaughey trained Imperial Council looks to have found a softer spot in the Peter Pan and looks like he could return to his winning ways. Edgar Prado keeps the mount.
Cheritable Man
This guy looked sensational last year breaking his maiden at Saratoga and then taking the Belmont Futurity in the fall over an off track before being sidelined with a knee injury. After the winter off, his connections decided to take a shot at getting into the Derby by running in the Blue Grass stakes but he was no factor in there. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has been very high on him and he could be dangerous in his second off a layoff.
Al Khali
He shipped to the US from Peru and immediately won a NW1 Allowance at Gulfstream under John Velasquez before a disaster in the Illinois Derby where he gave way badly. He has been working well since that race and trainer Todd Pletcher is keeping him at the same level. Johnny V gets back aboard so we will see if he is for real.
Hello Broadway
He ran 2nd as the favorite in the Grade II Hutcheson at Gulfstream and looked like a Derby contender. He then turned in a dull 7th place performance in the Tampa Bay Derby before winning a NW1 Allowance in his last at Keeneland under Garret Gomez. He is sporting a bullet work over the Belmont track last Sunday and Gomez will again be back on board for trainer Barclay Tagg.
Imperial Council
After a 2nd place in the Gothem and 5th in the Wood Memorial both behind I Want Revenge, the Shug McGaughey trained Imperial Council looks to have found a softer spot in the Peter Pan and looks like he could return to his winning ways. Edgar Prado keeps the mount.
Cheritable Man
This guy looked sensational last year breaking his maiden at Saratoga and then taking the Belmont Futurity in the fall over an off track before being sidelined with a knee injury. After the winter off, his connections decided to take a shot at getting into the Derby by running in the Blue Grass stakes but he was no factor in there. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has been very high on him and he could be dangerous in his second off a layoff.
Al Khali
He shipped to the US from Peru and immediately won a NW1 Allowance at Gulfstream under John Velasquez before a disaster in the Illinois Derby where he gave way badly. He has been working well since that race and trainer Todd Pletcher is keeping him at the same level. Johnny V gets back aboard so we will see if he is for real.
Hello Broadway
He ran 2nd as the favorite in the Grade II Hutcheson at Gulfstream and looked like a Derby contender. He then turned in a dull 7th place performance in the Tampa Bay Derby before winning a NW1 Allowance in his last at Keeneland under Garret Gomez. He is sporting a bullet work over the Belmont track last Sunday and Gomez will again be back on board for trainer Barclay Tagg.
Einstein's Next Start In Stephen Foster
Trainer Helen Pitts announced today that the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap, to be run at Churchill Downs on June 13, will be the next start for multiple graded stakes winner Einstein who recently won the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Derby under card.
Einstein has Grade I wins on turf and synthetic surfaces but he has still to win a Grade I on the dirt. Trainer Helen Pitts said that Churchill Downs, where Einstein is based and where he took down the Grade II Clark Handicap last fall, seemed to be the logical place for him to try to get his first Grade I win on dirt. It is believed that Lava Man is the only horse ever to have Grade I wins over all three surfaces.
After wins in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap and the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic to bring his lifetime earings to $2.6 Million, Einstein was named the top horse in training ahead of the likes of Well Armed, who won the $6 Million Dubai World Cup in his last start, the undefeated super mare Zenyatta, and three year old filly sensation Rachel Alexandra.
Einstein has Grade I wins on turf and synthetic surfaces but he has still to win a Grade I on the dirt. Trainer Helen Pitts said that Churchill Downs, where Einstein is based and where he took down the Grade II Clark Handicap last fall, seemed to be the logical place for him to try to get his first Grade I win on dirt. It is believed that Lava Man is the only horse ever to have Grade I wins over all three surfaces.
After wins in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap and the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic to bring his lifetime earings to $2.6 Million, Einstein was named the top horse in training ahead of the likes of Well Armed, who won the $6 Million Dubai World Cup in his last start, the undefeated super mare Zenyatta, and three year old filly sensation Rachel Alexandra.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Rachel Alexandra Sold, Moves To Asmussen Barn
Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Kentucky Oaks, was sold following the race to Stonestreet Stables. Stonestreet owner Jess Jackson, who is the owner of Curlin, confirmed that the fabulous filly has been moved to the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen.
Under previous trainer, Hal Wiggins, the filly had won five straight races, including her dominating 20 length victory in the Oaks. Rachel Alexandra was being originally pointed to the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6th but after the move, trainer Steve Asmussen announced that there is no timetable for the filly's next race but left open the possibility that "Rachel" may actually be a starter in the Preakness.
Under previous trainer, Hal Wiggins, the filly had won five straight races, including her dominating 20 length victory in the Oaks. Rachel Alexandra was being originally pointed to the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6th but after the move, trainer Steve Asmussen announced that there is no timetable for the filly's next race but left open the possibility that "Rachel" may actually be a starter in the Preakness.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Mine That Bird Wins the Kentucky Derby in a Shocker
Churchill Downs
Saturday, May 2
Join In the Dance set the pace followed closely by Regal Ransom until the head of the stretch. Pioneerof The Nile had been stalking the pace throughout and took the lead at the beginning of the stretch. It certainly looked like the decision of jockey Garret Gomez to ride him was a winning one as they headed for home.
Chocolate Candy made a nice move at the head of the stretch and Mike Smith had him in a great position as they emerged from traffic on the turn. Summer Bird mounted a like rally but 7 wide was too much to overcome. Both faded down the stretch to finish 5th and 6th.
Musket Man and Papa Clem moved into a position to challenge with six wide and five wide moves on the turn and were closing on Pioneerof the Nile to where it looked at the 1/8th pole like it would be a thrilling three horse finish.
Then, out of nowhere came Mine That Bird and jockey Calvin Borel who went from last to advance along the rail in a ride that looked very much like the trip Borel made with Street Sense to win this race two years ago. They had moved into contention at the 1/8th pole and then Borel moved Mine That Bird through a very tight spot along the rail before they rapidly pulled away to win the 135th Run For The Roses. Pioneerof The Nile held on in a tight photo for place to be 2nd as he edged out Musket Man by a half nose who finished 3rd. Papa Clem was a half length back in 4th.
The 6 3/4 length margin was the largest margin of victory since Assault won by 8 lengths in 1946. The payoff of $103.20 at odds of 50/1 was the second largest payoff in Derby history behind the $184.90 payoff by Donerail in 1913. Jockey Calvin Borel, who won the Kentucky Oaks with Rachel Alexandra the day before, became the first jockey since 1993 to win the Oaks and Derby in the same year.
How the other "Terry's Horses To Watch" finished in the Derby:
I Want Revenge became the first morning line favorite to scratch on Derby Day as he was scratched just hours before the race when trainer Jeff Mullins detected an inflammation on the colt's left front ankle. The injury was not considered to be career ending. His sire, the great A.P. Indy, was also scratched the morning of the Derby.
Dunkirk, my top pick, lost all chance when he stumbled and went to his knees shortly after coming out of the gate and after never really finding a comfortable spot in the race, he finished 11th. This kept trainer Todd Pletcher's Derby streak in tact and it now stands at 0-24 after not winning with any of three horses in this race.
Fresian Fire went off the favorite in what is said to be trainer Larry Jones final attempt to win this race as he plans to retire at the end of the year. He clipped heels shortly out of the gate and encountered a cut on his hind leg. After that he was not urged on by jockey Gabriel Saez and finished 18th. The trainer said the colt's status for the Preakness was uncertain at this time.
General Quarters was in traffic trouble at several points in the race and finished 10th. His trainer, Tom McCarthy, said the horse never showed who he was and he came back to the barn choking in mud.
Hold Me Back made a big move on the backstretch to come as close to the lead as 5th before fading to 12th. Jockey Kent Desormeaux said his horse was more tired than he should have been and maybe he was just struggling with the sloppy track.
Regal Ransom pressed the pace to the head of the stretch as mentioned and then faded to 8th. Jockey Alan Garcia said he ran his race and ran really hard.
Desert Party, the second of the two Godolphin horses, was close to the leaders in the early part of the race but stopped badly. Jockey Ramon Dominguez said that he found himself with no horse at the 5/8th pole and the horse never really finished up. They finished 14th.
For Mine That Bird, it was a very improbable win in the world's most prestigious race. Trainer Chip Wooley drove the horse to Louisville in a 21 hour van trip from his home base at Sunland Park in New Mexico. In 2009, the horse had finished 2nd and 4th in two non graded races at Sunland Park after a dismal 12th place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in his final 2008 start last October. He qualified for this race earlier last October at Woodbine in Toronto by winning the Grade 3 Grey Stakes which was his only graded earnings but it was enough to make the Derby field in a year when the contenders were scratching one after another due to injury.
Trainer Wooley said he had no plans to run this horse in the Derby but when a spot opened up, the owner wanted to race because from where they play this game you do not normally get another chance to run in the Derby. Mine That Bird is the first gelding to win the Derby since Funny Cide in 2003. Now, he is the only horse of the roughly 40,000 foals of 2006 who has a chance to win a Triple Crown.
In the race before the Derby, Einstein advanced his current status as the best older horse in training by winning the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic by a head over hard running Cowboy Cal who finished finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Court Vision who finished 3rd.
Next, it is on to Baltimore and the Preakness on Saturday, May 16.
Saturday, May 2
Join In the Dance set the pace followed closely by Regal Ransom until the head of the stretch. Pioneerof The Nile had been stalking the pace throughout and took the lead at the beginning of the stretch. It certainly looked like the decision of jockey Garret Gomez to ride him was a winning one as they headed for home.
Chocolate Candy made a nice move at the head of the stretch and Mike Smith had him in a great position as they emerged from traffic on the turn. Summer Bird mounted a like rally but 7 wide was too much to overcome. Both faded down the stretch to finish 5th and 6th.
Musket Man and Papa Clem moved into a position to challenge with six wide and five wide moves on the turn and were closing on Pioneerof the Nile to where it looked at the 1/8th pole like it would be a thrilling three horse finish.
Then, out of nowhere came Mine That Bird and jockey Calvin Borel who went from last to advance along the rail in a ride that looked very much like the trip Borel made with Street Sense to win this race two years ago. They had moved into contention at the 1/8th pole and then Borel moved Mine That Bird through a very tight spot along the rail before they rapidly pulled away to win the 135th Run For The Roses. Pioneerof The Nile held on in a tight photo for place to be 2nd as he edged out Musket Man by a half nose who finished 3rd. Papa Clem was a half length back in 4th.
The 6 3/4 length margin was the largest margin of victory since Assault won by 8 lengths in 1946. The payoff of $103.20 at odds of 50/1 was the second largest payoff in Derby history behind the $184.90 payoff by Donerail in 1913. Jockey Calvin Borel, who won the Kentucky Oaks with Rachel Alexandra the day before, became the first jockey since 1993 to win the Oaks and Derby in the same year.
How the other "Terry's Horses To Watch" finished in the Derby:
I Want Revenge became the first morning line favorite to scratch on Derby Day as he was scratched just hours before the race when trainer Jeff Mullins detected an inflammation on the colt's left front ankle. The injury was not considered to be career ending. His sire, the great A.P. Indy, was also scratched the morning of the Derby.
Dunkirk, my top pick, lost all chance when he stumbled and went to his knees shortly after coming out of the gate and after never really finding a comfortable spot in the race, he finished 11th. This kept trainer Todd Pletcher's Derby streak in tact and it now stands at 0-24 after not winning with any of three horses in this race.
Fresian Fire went off the favorite in what is said to be trainer Larry Jones final attempt to win this race as he plans to retire at the end of the year. He clipped heels shortly out of the gate and encountered a cut on his hind leg. After that he was not urged on by jockey Gabriel Saez and finished 18th. The trainer said the colt's status for the Preakness was uncertain at this time.
General Quarters was in traffic trouble at several points in the race and finished 10th. His trainer, Tom McCarthy, said the horse never showed who he was and he came back to the barn choking in mud.
Hold Me Back made a big move on the backstretch to come as close to the lead as 5th before fading to 12th. Jockey Kent Desormeaux said his horse was more tired than he should have been and maybe he was just struggling with the sloppy track.
Regal Ransom pressed the pace to the head of the stretch as mentioned and then faded to 8th. Jockey Alan Garcia said he ran his race and ran really hard.
Desert Party, the second of the two Godolphin horses, was close to the leaders in the early part of the race but stopped badly. Jockey Ramon Dominguez said that he found himself with no horse at the 5/8th pole and the horse never really finished up. They finished 14th.
For Mine That Bird, it was a very improbable win in the world's most prestigious race. Trainer Chip Wooley drove the horse to Louisville in a 21 hour van trip from his home base at Sunland Park in New Mexico. In 2009, the horse had finished 2nd and 4th in two non graded races at Sunland Park after a dismal 12th place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in his final 2008 start last October. He qualified for this race earlier last October at Woodbine in Toronto by winning the Grade 3 Grey Stakes which was his only graded earnings but it was enough to make the Derby field in a year when the contenders were scratching one after another due to injury.
Trainer Wooley said he had no plans to run this horse in the Derby but when a spot opened up, the owner wanted to race because from where they play this game you do not normally get another chance to run in the Derby. Mine That Bird is the first gelding to win the Derby since Funny Cide in 2003. Now, he is the only horse of the roughly 40,000 foals of 2006 who has a chance to win a Triple Crown.
In the race before the Derby, Einstein advanced his current status as the best older horse in training by winning the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic by a head over hard running Cowboy Cal who finished finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Court Vision who finished 3rd.
Next, it is on to Baltimore and the Preakness on Saturday, May 16.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Rachel Alexandra Wins Big In Kentucky Oaks
Churchill Downs
Friday, May 1
Dolphus Morison's Rachel Alexandra, ridden by Calvin Borel, destroyed the rest of the field in the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks. Borel kept "Rachel" in a stalking position just off front running Gabby's Golden Gal from the start of the race until the middle of the final turn. Then, Borel asked her to go and it was all over as Rachel Alexandra blew by the front runner and on to an easy 20 length victory for her fifth straight win.
Now the debate is on as to whether or not they should have run her in the Derby against the boys as she likely would have been very competitive in that race.
Friday, May 1
Dolphus Morison's Rachel Alexandra, ridden by Calvin Borel, destroyed the rest of the field in the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks. Borel kept "Rachel" in a stalking position just off front running Gabby's Golden Gal from the start of the race until the middle of the final turn. Then, Borel asked her to go and it was all over as Rachel Alexandra blew by the front runner and on to an easy 20 length victory for her fifth straight win.
Now the debate is on as to whether or not they should have run her in the Derby against the boys as she likely would have been very competitive in that race.
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