Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

sara futh — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:42 GMT

Jean,

Stallion behavior is mainly environmental, mare behavior is not just inherited, it is from the way the mare brings up her foal. A nervous mare will communicate that to her baby, as will nastiness come through.

The Secretariat-The Bride story has been told often enough that Steve didn't have to bring it into the mix - and her groom once told me she was another nasty one. It took several more generations before the good genes from their dam came out.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

smarie — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:05 GMT

Another wonderful column, Mr. Haskin, but I wouldn't expect anything less from you.

I see where Orb has arrived at Pimlico. Has anyone else noticed this horse's calm expression? His eyes have the look of a happy, contented horse. I would think that this comes from being around the good horse folks that he is, plus having such a good, caring trainer as Shug McGaughey.

I would be interested to see you do a "Preakness Dozen" list too, if you were so inclined. I have Orb at the top of my list and I wonder which horses you pick to be in the money in the Preakness.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Uncle Smiley — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:31:18 GMT

Alexlovesleo,

Thanks.

We get to the area once a year, and Crackpot sounds a natural to me!

Pleased to know Steve H appreciates such off topic, but essential communiques.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Alexlovesleo — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:16:57 GMT

Uncle Smiley, for crab soup go to the Crackpot off Loch Raven Blvd. It's about a half mile from Pappas', so you can get your crab cake too. Take a left on Taylor Ave out if Pappas' and continue until you cross over Loch Raven Blvd, immediately turn right into the Giant shopping center and Crackpot is at the top of the hill.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Fran Loszynski — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:57:07 GMT

Thank you Alex,s Big Fan. Will hug Alex for you when I see him. My Preakness picks are Orb Governor Charlie and Goldencents Good luck everyone and can't wait for Steve,s post Preakness report Yeeehaaawh

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Uncle Smiley — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:35:14 GMT

Old Old Cat

Thanks for the heads up on qualty MD crab cakes. The gold standard.

Crab cakes are the indicator for decent eateries in surrounding states like Delaware and Pennsylvania. If the crab cakes are good, then chances are you went to the right place.

Crab soup is another story. The best I have encountered is at Rooney's, a deli on the premises of Delaware Park, Stanton Delaware.

Please let me know if you can recommend crab soup in MD.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

robinm — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:22:18 GMT

Normandy Invasion out of the Preakness. Actually, I thought he would be one of Orb's tougher challenges. Itsmyluckyday looked pretty good breezing today and I imagine he will be the pace along with Gov Charlie next Sat. I'm not too worried about Charlie. Still concerned about the foot issue; no foot, no horse they say and after last Thur., I know that well. I lost one of my horses to the effects of laminitis. Sad day for me and others who loved him well.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:39:47 GMT

Mary Re Pimlico, track of the Preakness.I think the track is more narrow than Churchill and the turns are banked at a differnt degree.I dont think the turns are tighter,and weather will play a factor on the track condition(best part of the track)running style providing the most winners etc.

There is also the human element(track superintendent)I understand the track superintendent at Churchill was employed at that position for his FIRST Kentucky Derby in 2013.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

louie — Sun, 12 May 2013 05:01:17 GMT

I think orb wins any race with a slow time.This next race might tell us if the weather compromised other horses chances.Iam leaning towards hes much better against inferior competition in the next race.There is not alot of competition in the preakness. However that being said gov charlie fresh has a chance and you can stick a fork in normandy invasion, his backers always have a story for his losing im sure they will come up with another one .

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

tjconway — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:59:08 GMT

Not concerned about Freedom Child. No way he gets 1 1/2 miles carrying 126 lbs. The Preakness won't be easy,but you can put Orb on the Sports Illustrated cover if he wins it! Another certain magazine if he wins the one after that!?!

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Mary — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:32:51 GMT

Chief P, I agree, the track at Pimlico is much faster, so I think that Govenor Charlie and IMLD, have the advantage here.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Mary — Sat, 11 May 2013 17:25:36 GMT

Govenor Charlie is the most beautifully and thoughtfully bred horse that you will ever see. The broodmare sire's female line is loaded with stamina, as well as the tail female line. There also are many sprinters in his pedigree. Govenor Charlie is galloping through time with a heart of gold,not metaphorically, but literally.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

AngelaInAbilene — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:41:09 GMT

ABF- Thank you. "...working with the animal instead of trying to fit the animal into the human racing agendas and schedules." You hit it, that's exactly the problem. I tell potential new owners, a)They're going to spend a lot of money. It takes TIME to properly prepare a horse for the track & I take NO shortcuts and b)If they're doing it to make money, don't bother. You gotta get in this business because you LOVE it. Be happy if the horse just pays his/her feed bill. [Consequently, I have very few outside horses.]

"One try, two, maybe three and that's it..." Again, you are more than right. If a horse has a bad experience, with anything, it is 10X's harder to get them to do it again and give it their all. Additionally, it is not in any way fair to the other entries to stand in the gate while another horse balks and creates a disruption. What they done to Quality Road was beyond my comprehension.

The newer gates are a lot roomier and safer than what we used to have. They remain a dangerous place to be, for both horse and human. That's why it is so important for gate training to be done right and the horse handled properly each and every time it goes anywhere near a set of gates. [I've never had a horse, QH or TB, refuse to go in and act right in the gates.]

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Alex'sBigFan — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:14:53 GMT

Preakness picks so far:

1. Orb

2. ItsMyLuckyDay

3. Oxbow

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Mary — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:58:48 GMT

Govenor Charlie, Itsmyluckyday, and Orb in that order. Swale had a heart attack obviously, but what caused it is a mystery, perhaps, oh no I won't go there.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Alex'sBigFan — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:21:00 GMT

AngelainAbilene,

Good point about how quarterhorses leave the gate differently and I appreciate your training expertise here. I agree schooling needs patience, working with the animal instead of trying to fit the animal into the human racing agendas and schedules. I was referring more to their "balking" going in. One try, two, maybe three and that's it, if they don't want to go I don't think they should be forced any more than that. I've seen the blanket but did not know it was called the Robert rug. The gates themselves could use some revamping to avoid what happened to Smarty and goodness why are they still getting caught underneath it? Both need work I guess, schooling and more patience and less obtrusive metal. I guess whatever the breed of horse they are a prey animal and are going to be apprehensive about going into a contraption that looks like a predator's entrapment.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Steve Haskin — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:13:56 GMT

Louie, I'm 99% sure I know what happened to Swale, but I'd rather not say on a public forum because I wasnt there. But the cause of death is known in some circles, just hasn't been made public.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:52:27 GMT

I also think that Lucas having 3 colts in the race and his proclity to strategize before the race will render him more control over the early pace of the race.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:49:58 GMT

I know I am only using two samples,but the track at Churchill in the Oaks and the Derby were playing best for closers.

Last year I think it was the opposite.

At Pimlico they could run on a much different surface, one where speed carries much better, and I think that is a way Orb could come in 2nd if he drops too far back on that type of track in the Preakness.

Animal Kingdom dropped too far back in his Preakness and was not able to catch Shackleford.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Louie Dula — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:14:38 GMT

reading your article and seeing SWALE'S name brings a question maybe you might know the answer to or can find out.... what really DID he die of? no one seems to know the cause.

i'm friends with Sandy Bruno who was holding Swale while he was getting his bath that day he died. she said all of a sudden he just sat down on his hind legs just like a dog and then just fell over and died. she said they never found out what killed him.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Plod Boy Phil — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:46:38 GMT

JIMF552 -

It's certainly possible, but I'm hoping not. As I posted over in Pete's Blog, Titletown Five would be best served winning an 8 or 8.5f one turn Alw1x race (Belmont), then heading to the 7f G1 Woody Stephens on Belmont Day.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

AngelaInAbilene — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:16:52 GMT

It's not the gates that need "reconfiguration and tweaking," it's the gate training that needs work. The secret to good gate behavior is time. It takes time to get ANY horse comfortable going in, standing well & leaving the gate. Time is money and most owners/trainers don't want to take the additional time.

It is very difficult to compare QH's & TB's when it comes to the gates. QH's have yards to run (unless they're going around the hook) and must leave the gates bellydown, TB's have plenty of realestate and don't have to leave as sharply. The way they are taught to leave the gates is what causes most of the QH's bad behavior. [I learned this the hard way when I started training QH's in addition to TB's 18 years ago.]

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Jean in Chicago — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:29:23 GMT

Pedigree Ann (and all)--sorry, I didn't mean to post pretty much the same thing twice. I got an error message the first time.

Alex'sBigFan--a Roberts Rug (introduced by Monte Roberts) is a blanket that covers the horse's hind quarters when he is in the starting gate. With it on he doesn't feel the metal of the gate. Its actually attached to the gate so it pulls off as the horse runs out. Its especially effective on horses with very sensitive skin.

I think all horses need a lot more schooling in and around starting gates. Walking through them and just standing in them until a horse finds them basically boring. There is enough excitement with all the noise, people, the other horses, the assistant starters climbing around and knowing that a race is coming. The last thing a horse needs to think is that he is being shoved into a giant, horse-eating metal monster.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Alex'sBigFan — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:15:28 GMT

Fran,

Love your "Writer, Up!" Very clever and thank your for reminding me that it is Afleet Alex's birthday. I miss him so. Last time I saw him was Sept. 10, 2005 exactly on his own special day at Delaware Park. Please plant a big kiss on him for me when you see him.

Pedigree Ann,

I think the starting gate needs some reconfiguration and tweaking. A lot of them, including quarterhorses are afraid to enter it. Since the horses are neophobic and claustrophobic, some engineer somewhere should redesign it with that in mind. At least make it higher so if they rear up they are not banging their heads on all that metal. I'm not too keen on the blindfold approach either, it worked in reverse for Quality Road. Maybe it works more often than not but can't they think of a less draconian way to divert the attention of an already agitated animal? What is a Roberts Rug?

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Classic Reunion

Fran Loszynski — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:03:41 GMT

Happy Birthday A fleet Alex. 11 years old but your mane still challenges the wind when you romp at Gainesway. My dear friend hope to see you soon. Yes Steve who could forget the coin toss the Phipps now have Orb we all had Secretariat and the legacies always will shine as your love of horseracing and writing will always keep our eyes big and wide when it comes time for the cry for you to take pen in hand---"Writer, UP!