Rachel Alexandra and Calvin Borel winning the Preakness (wendyu)

Congrats to Rachel Alexandra and her connections and a particularly big THANK YOU to Jess Jackson.

Congrats to Mine That Bird and his connections as well, nice to see them prove that his Derby win was not a fluke… poor stallions.

(partymanners)

Steve Crist sums it up nicely:

Good for her and good for him. Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird made the unprecedented Preakness showdown between an Oaks and Derby winner live up to and exceed all expectations with a pair of excellent performances and a clean, straightforward horse race.

I’m usually cranky about so-called feelgood stories, but it’s hard not to feel good about this one. Rachel Alexandra is obviously something special, and she got the historic job done over a likeable gelding who vindicated his shocking Derby victory with another strong effort.

And celebrating abounds all over the twitterverse… there was even a rainbow in Baltimore!

If I may quote myself on the outcome…

I had the tri and the teeny tiny P4 but that pales in comparison to how exciting that race was and how FABULOUS the outcome was

Ok, I think I hear my alarm clock…

Posted by dana on May 16 2009    
Filed Under: Geldings, Steve Asmussen, 2009, Twitter, Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, Sweet Vindication, YouTube, Race Replay, Triple Crown, Calvin Borel, Preakness, Pimlico, Racing

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Rachel Alexandra getting her Preakness day morning bath (wendyu)

I still haven’t had a chance to handicap and it’s the big already! It hardly seems to matter since the Preakness is one of the most competitive and exiciting races that comes to mind in the recent past.

No doubt I won’t be able to keep from throwing some money around but I have half a mind to just back and enjoy the show!

Good luck to everyone today and let’s get everyone home safe!

Update: I’ve hit two back to back long shots (both 13-1) in the parade in the 3rd & 4th and am seriously thinking that today is gonna be a parade play kinda day.

Posted by dana on May 16 2009    
Filed Under: 2009, Rachel Alexandra, Pimlico, Preakness, Triple Crown, Racing

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Rachel Alexandra & Scott Blasi tooling around the grounds (wendyu)

Yours truly has been too busy to join in on the speculation and fun of the impending events. I’m hoping to spend tomorrow night obsessing handicapping, in the meantime go check out Wendy’s photos from Pimlico.

She took some great stuff last year and lucky for us she’s back in action! I’m sure she’ll keep those photos coming too, so check back often!

Posted by dana on May 14 2009    
Filed Under: 2009, Rachel Alexandra, :), Pimlico, Wooo!, Preakness, Racing

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Next stop, Baltimore! (brykmantra)

Now that Mine That Bird is officially in the Preakness, what do you think his chances are? No chance? Depends on the weather? He’s better than we’re giving him credit for? Gulp… Triple Crown potential??

Imagine THAT outcome for a moment… and we thought Saturday was wild. In fact, if he won the Triple Crown I think we’d be sitting on the feel good story that could seriously turn racing around from a popularity stand point (ahem).

A dear friend referred to the outcome of the Derby as:

A shining moment for undistinguished individuals everywhere.

Indeed!

There are those who are nitpicking though. Blah, blah, blah shady owners who probably made the purchase with illegally obtained proceeds. Did we love Curlin any less?

Additionally, grousing about Chip Woolley, the trainer, not giving good media abounds. I’m not going to begrudge the guy a little surliness directed at the inanity of asking him some stupid, pointless questions on what had to be the most shocking moment of his life. I love that he’s not some insincere slickster with the ready made “feel good” response that the media craves. Let him have his moment, I’m sure his head was about to explode… after all, he did drive 21 hours to get there!

I’m also not ready to concede that this year’s crop of 3yo colts are sub-par. For all of those folks making fun of Friesan Fire, I look forward to taking your money sometime in the near future. In fact, that holds true for any number of previously well regarded starters who, for whatever reason, had an off day.

Dunkirk? Stumbled, twice. Hello 8-1 next out! Regal Ransom, did exactly what I expected, here’s to 10-1 in a more suitable spot. Desert Party? I still think he’s a better horse than he showed, let’s go 20-1!! And here’s hoping Quality Road, I Want Revenge, Friesan Fire, Dunkirk, Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man, Papa Clem and Chocolate Candy have a rematch in the Travers.

With 3 weeks out I asked if you had a Derby horse yet. At the time the field wasn’t clear so I didn’t include everyone by name. Naturally 47 of you said that you liked a horse that I didn’t mention by name (I really should have listed more of them, next year!). 35 of you said Friesan Fire was your horse, 32 of you liked I Want Revenge, 23 of you (myself included) said that you hadn’t made your selection yet, 21 of you liked PotN, 14 of you liked Quality Road and 4 of you liked Papa Clem. As always, thanks!

Posted by dana on May 04 2009    
Filed Under: Poll, 2009, Mine That Bird, Mainstream Media, Pimlico, Triple Crown, Preakness, Racing

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Pays to Dream on the outside lives up to his name (Bud Morton)

They’re retired with an injury!

Pays to Dream, the long shot that came on to surprise in the Dixie and then ran a game third in the Manhattan was retired with a fracture. Ugh is all I can say to that, and of course, get well soon!

Here’s his eye popping run in the Dixie on the Preakness Card:

And his game effort in the Manhattan:

Posted by dana on Jun 09 2008    
Filed Under: Turf, :(, YouTube, Get Well Soon, Bud Morton, 2008, Injury, Javier Castellano, Belmont, Retirement, Race Replay, Pimlico, Edgar Prado, Racing

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