Reunited?
Chantal Sutherland and Mine That Bird in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Hen Bros)
Mike Smith is going to honor his commitment to the Shirreffs and the Mosses (cough *Zenyatta* cough) and stick with Madeo in the Whittingham at Hollywood Park on Belmont weekend. This could leave Mine That Bird without a mount (again!) if Rachel Alexandra is entered.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d like to see Chantal Sutherland reunited with Mine That Bird! If you were buying “Blinkers Off’s” Animal Planet conspiracy theory, you’ve gotta think that there’s at least 7-2 shot at a reunion if Rachel Alexandra. Stranger things have happened!
And speaking of Zenyatta, who makes her debut in the Milady this coming weekend, now that Rachel Alexandra has beaten the colts and a gelding in a classic race, she’s probably gonna have to beat BOTH Rachel Alexandra and some males (BC Classic, no?) if she wants HOY this year. Jerry Moss, do you read GbG? I hope so!
Posted by dana on May 18 2009
Filed Under: Zenyatta, Geldings, 2009, Mike Smith, Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, :), John Shirreffs, Calvin Borel, Belmont, Chantal Sutherland, Hollywood Park, Belmont Stakes, Racing
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Loading ...
Dana,
What a story that would be, CHANTAL back w/MINE THAT BIRD. If my memory serves me correct, didn’t JULIE KRONE win the Belmont for her only Triple Crown race win?
What do you think the chance is that RACHEL will run in the Belmont S.?
Krone won riding Colonial Affair in ‘93. I would think Chantel has to be the logical go to if Rachel runs, No?
Trackback: Railbird - Odds and Ends
The Animal Planet thing is holding up pretty good, eh? After all, isn’t Mike Smith part of the show? Doesn’t he take off Mine That Bird so Chantel can get back on . . . for the show? Of course he does. This is all working out beautifully for everyone involved. What boffo ratings await this second season!
Absolutely I think putting Chantal Sutherland back aboard would be a good choice for Mine That Bird.
And what day of racing isn’t made MUCH better with more Chantal Sutherland?
When I heard that Mike Smith would ride MTB in the Preakness, I just howled! I told a friend, “This has to be because his gal-pal rode him last year!”, and of course, Costas asked Mike if she had given him any advise on riding MTB.
Now, let’s think about this. Chip Wooley COULD give Chantal’s agent a call, and we KNOW she would be on the next flight to Louisville. She is most likely one of the jockey’s Wooley mentioned called to express interest. However, how familier is she with Belmont? I would rather have someone like Ramon D. who pretty much ownes Belmont, or (could be fun) Robbie A. ride, escpecially if RA is in the race with Borel up. Remember that Robbie is Jess Jackson first call jockey, so that would make for an interesting story. However, I like the angle of the Bird and Chantal together again.
AC & Robert - I hope she’s logical if RA runs!
BO (ha ha!) - IF, and it’s a big if, Animal Planet had anything to with this (or Aaron Gryder winning the Dubai World Cup, etc., etc.) it will be the only time in the history of media that I will be happy that media is controlling something!!
Glenn - indeed!
LuLu - I know she rode in New York for awhile a few years ago but think it was Aqueduct. Not that I’ve had a chance to pay serious attention to new york racing recently but I can’t say that I’d love Dominguez. I feel like he stands out because he’s the only “top” rider on circuit, at least that seemed like the case at the Big A over the winter. Ernie would know better. I think Jose Lezcano has been tearing it up at Belmont since the meet kicked off.
Dana,
Been gone a few weeks, missed a lot of drama. Watched both the Derby and Preakness… Great races by both horse….horses that should be around next year (amazingly). Interesting thought popped in my mind a few days ago….not sure if it was brought up. If she (Rachel) stays in the Distaff division for the Breeder’s Cup (for whatever reason) and runs against Zenyatta in a big anticipated match up….Does ESPN strong arm the Breeder’s Cup to move that race to Saturday? Does racing’s most marketable athlete get the Friday Rush Hour treatment or the Marquee Saturday spotlight?
By the way I hope she runs in the Belmont. Do I think she could win the Belmont? Who knows, probably not, since the distance may be too much for her. But that is the same question for all the horses….even Mine that Bird. He runs extremely hard the last half of the race….Can HE sustain that move the entire stretch of the Belmont. People forget the 1/4 pole at Belmont in on the end of the far turn. That is how far the extra distance is. Remember how dominating Smarty Jones looked rolling off the turn after a mile and 1/4? Real Quiet as well. My feeling is this is a free race for Rachel Alexandra. If she wins, racing immortality and she graces the covers of books for years to come. If she loses, she gets a nice break and we will see her in the Haskell. There is no great shame in losing…the only shame is not letting an athlete dare to be great.
One final note….Calvin Borel should get a lot of credit here. Great, daring ride on MTB in the Derby. I know of very few veteran riders who will make that insane move up the rail (at that speed) that he made in the stretch. Secondly and more importantly, regarding his ride in the Preakness. The track was extremely slow all day, which made Rachel’s fractions, especially the 1/2 mile, very impressive. Borel did what most current jockeys (i.e. Desormeaux) refuse to do….he let her run. If he would have attempted to hold her back early and fought with her to do so, he would have cost himself the race. The technique, which Jerry Bailey mastered with Cigar and has been emulated by all the top jocks, in which you hold your horse until the big move on the far turn does not always work. More often than not the horse who is being strangled becomes submissive and is no longer keen on running (see Hard Spun 2007 Belmont). Calvin let her run the race that she wanted and I give him credit for that.
P.S.- That is why I always say that if a top jockey was on Secretariat in 1973… The early big move (clubhouse turn) in the Preakness would never have happened…the 31 lengths in the Belmont would never have happened. He most likely would have won the Triple Crown with another rider but Turcotte’s (pardon the expression) balls to the wall attitude made Secretariat a legend.
Jason - I was wondering where you were :)
Great comments as always… I feel like Rachel and Zenyatta are our Personal Ensign & Winning Colors (and RA & MTB are our Affirmed & Alydar). You’re right in that should be interesting to see how that made for primetime match-up actually plays out in the fall.
Also, great points about RA in the Belmont & totally agreed about the only shame is not giving the athlete a chance to be great.
I was never a fan of Borel, primarily because I never bought the Street Sense hype but I’ve definitely come around to him (although I still don’t care for his over the top celebratory antics). I love how he gives his mounts a loose reign. Even when RA was on the lead in the back stretch it didn’t look like there was any tension in that reign… he’s one confident rider, and I like that. I loved Maryjean Wall’s recent post about on the young Calvin, definitely worth a read!