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2009 Preakness
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Author:  newper [ Fri May 08, 2009 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:  2009 Preakness

Daily Racing Form wrote:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The new connections of Rachel Alexandra issued a press release Friday to announce that the filly will face male rivals in the Preakness Stakes next Saturday "if she continues to be in perfect condition" and that jockey Calvin Borel has agreed to continue riding her in all of her races this year.

Jess Jackson, whose Stonestreet Stables purchased Rachel Alexandra this week in partnership with Harold T. McCormick and turned over the filly to trainer Steve Asmussen, said in the release that retaining Borel "came down to the facts that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her. We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse."

The decision by Borel to stay with Rachel Alexandra means he will become the first jockey ever to take off a Derby winner to ride a different horse in the Preakness. Borel rode Mine That Bird to a 50-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby last Saturday for trainer Bennie Woolley Jr., who in recent days has been in close contact with Brad Pegram, the agent for Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, in regard to Smith possibly replacing Borel for the Preakness at Pimlico. However, there has been no final confirmation of that arrangement.

Rachel Alexandra, a 20 1/4-length winner of the May 1 Kentucky Oaks in her last start, will try to become the fifth filly to win the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, and the first to run in the race in 10 years.

Author:  Irish Boy [ Fri May 08, 2009 4:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

For the first time in a long time, I'm actually really excited about this Preakness. I probably won't bet it, but there's a ton to watch here. Was Mine That Bird legit? Does Friesan Fire recover from the compromised effort? Will the filly smoke them all? And if she wins the Oaks, Preakness and Belmont, can we legitimately consider her a triple crown winner?

Author:  reents [ Mon May 11, 2009 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

I have a question on the filly's in horse racing, and I am no expert, but I think the Belmont is the longest of the Triple Crown, and didn't a filly win there in 2007, and I know this question is a little past due, but why did people get mad when Eight Belles ran the Derby, she is a filly, but it's not the longest race, so I think it wouldn't be a big deal, unless I am wrong somewhere, just a question I had.

If you believe ESPN's reporting, they reported yesterday that Rachel will not run in the Preakness due to already having the field filled.

Author:  reents [ Mon May 11, 2009 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

Now ESPN is reporting she will run in the Preakness. These people need to get their facts before they report a story.

Author:  Irish Boy [ Mon May 11, 2009 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

reents wrote:
I have a question on the filly's in horse racing, and I am no expert, but I think the Belmont is the longest of the Triple Crown, and didn't a filly win there in 2007, and I know this question is a little past due, but why did people get mad when Eight Belles ran the Derby, she is a filly, but it's not the longest race, so I think it wouldn't be a big deal, unless I am wrong somewhere, just a question I had.


I don't think people got mad until something bad happened. I thought there was a general consensus that Eight Belles was a good enough horse for the derby, and she proved that last year. The problem was the breakdown, combined with the fact that she's a filly, and people assume there's some sort of causation. Horseplayers remember the Ruffian breakdown from a few decades ago as well.

It really isn't a big deal. Fillies run against colts all the time in Europe, and breakdowns are statistically the same regardless of sex. One reason you see more of that is the major stakes schedule in Europe is relatively back-loaded, so that most of the major races are held later in the year. There is evidence that fillies develop less quickly than colts, so they tend to lag behind in the spring of their 3yo years (when the triple crown races are run). It's not that they'll break down more, it's just that they tend to be slower. That's why Winning Colors winning the Derby in 88 was such a big deal, or why Rags to Riches winning the Belmont was a big deal, but Zarkava winning the Arc de Triomphe was news, but not a revelation; fillies win that race once every three years or so, on average.

There's also an inertia on the part of trainers and owners which tends to become all the more impassable when events such as the Eight Belles tragedy occurs. Why race fillies in major races when you can stay in sex-restricted races, and where the rate of breakdown is anecdotally (but not statistically) less? The trainer of Eight Belles took a lot of shit over having entered a filly that broke down; why put yourself through that?

The best horse in the country right now (Zenyatta) is a filly. The best three year old in the country right now is a filly (Rachel Alexandria). If those were my horses, I'd enter them into any race in the nation, restricted or not, and feel pretty good about my chances.

Author:  reents [ Mon May 11, 2009 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

Thanks Irish Boy.

Author:  bigfan [ Thu May 14, 2009 7:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

Should I be wagering on this? any odds?

Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Thu May 14, 2009 10:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

1.1 Million Preakness Stakes (gr. I, Race 12, 6:15 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 3/16 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1. Big Drama, J. Velazquez, 126, D Fawkes, 10/1
2. Mine That Bird, Smith, 126, B Woolley, Jr., 6/1
3. Musket Man, E Coa, 126, D Ryan, 8/1
4. Luv Gov, Theriot, 126, D W Lukas, 50/1
5. Friesan Fire, Saez, 126, L Jones, 6/1
6. Terrain, Rose, 126, A Stall Jr., 30/1
7. Papa Clem, Bejarano, 126, G Stute, 12/1
8. General Quarters, Leparoux, 126, T McCarthy, 20/1
9. Pioneerof the Nile, Gomez, 126 B Baffert, 5/1
11. Take the Points, Prado, 126, T Pletcher, 30/1
12. Tone It Down, Desormeaux, 126, W Komlo, 50/1
13. Rachel Alexandra, Borel, 121, S Asmussen, 8/5

Author:  spmack [ Thu May 14, 2009 11:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

I'm putting my money on whomever Irish Boy hates.

Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Thu May 14, 2009 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

Past Performances here: http://equibase.com/rotw/fullpp.pdf

Author:  Irish Boy [ Thu May 14, 2009 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

I'm going to stick with Friesan Fire, although I'm not betting this race. He was hurt coming out of the gate and never had a chance. Rachel Alexandria is the best horse in this race, but she's going to be bet down. Mine That Bird is a complete toss, but I said that last time.

Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Thu May 14, 2009 3:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

I can see betting him back. I'm really on Pioneer of the Nile. I think he tired in the mud at Churchill because he had to be used early from the outside and that's not what he wants to do. With enough speed in this race, he can take back and make that one big run to the winner's circle.

Author:  lipidquadcab [ Sat May 16, 2009 10:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

I've heard a lot of talk about this filly so I decided to switch to ESPN and got this instead...

Image

Really...is she the horse that is going to win the Preakness?

Author:  bigfan [ Sat May 16, 2009 4:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

I am on that bitch

Author:  spmack [ Sat May 16, 2009 6:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

Irish Boy wrote:
I'm going to stick with Friesan Fire, although I'm not betting this race. He was hurt coming out of the gate and never had a chance. Rachel Alexandria is the best horse in this race, but she's going to be bet down. Mine That Bird is a complete toss, but I said that last time.


Stick to being a lawyer, IB..... :wink:

Author:  Irish Boy [ Sat May 16, 2009 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2009 Preakness

spmack wrote:
Irish Boy wrote:
I'm going to stick with Friesan Fire, although I'm not betting this race. He was hurt coming out of the gate and never had a chance. Rachel Alexandria is the best horse in this race, but she's going to be bet down. Mine That Bird is a complete toss, but I said that last time.


Stick to being a lawyer, IB..... :wink:


There's a reason I wasn't betting this race, although 1.) I'm surprised by how good the price was on Rachel Alexandria, and 2.) that Mine That Bird might be legit. No matter. The favorite wins sometimes, and as I said earlier in the thread, Rachel Alexandria is the best 3 year old in the country of either sex. Friesan Fire just doesn't want the distance, it seems.

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