Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Lise from Maine — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:38:06 GMT

Hi!

I just love Orb's radiant smile.

That is such a neat photo of him.

Thanks for the photos. I love to see them.

Lise from Maine

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Coldfacts — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:31:49 GMT

I have never regarded Oxbow as a top class 3YO. He has run some nice races but has not given any indication that he will be able to win the really big ones. That stated, Is Oxbow a mirror image of Tabasco Cat?

The Lukas trained Tabasco Cat finished 6th behind 1994 gate to wire Derby winner Go For Gin. Ironically that Derby was contested on a sloppy track. Tabasco Cat returned in the Preakness to turn the table on the Derby victor. A feat he would repeat in the Belmont.

Oxbow finished 6th in the 2013 Derby also contested on a sloppy track. Can lightning strike twice for Lukas with colts that finished in similar positions in their respective Derbies contested on sloppy tracks?

Unlikely, as it would require a launch into Orbit.

Am I being a shade too negative regarding Mr. Lukas gray colt? History suggest that I might be as the coach is known for taking down Derby winners in the Preakness with his also ran’s:

1985 - Tank Prospect 7th. (Derby winner Spend A Buck)

1994 – Tabasco Cat 6th. (Derby winner Go For Gin)

Codex his first winner of a TC race had bypassed the Derby and was accidentally entered in the Preakness. He took down Genuine Risk in a controversial victory.

Title Town Five??

NB: Louis Quatorze finished 16th in his Derby effort and returned in the Preakness to win in a new stakes record. Yes, there is definitely hope for those classified amongst the also ran.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Coldfacts — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:15:48 GMT

Plod Boy Phil,

"Very disappointed that Normandy Invasion will be skipping the Preakness."

I have to take another shot at you. He is only a MSW winner and those should be directed to NW2.

He is a May foal who seems to have problems maintaining weight. The 10F distance of the Derby would have negatively impacted his body mass and as stated be his connections he needs to regain some the weight lost.

In any event he would not be the likely winner as the spacing between his races suggests he needs lots of time between them.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Karen in Texas — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:29:23 GMT

Uncle Smiley,

In addition to the American riders mentioned by Jean in Chicago, Chantal Sutherland rode at Ascot last year in the same team competition that Rosie will be a part of this year. Gary Stevens has ridden at Ascot for entire meets, and has even received instructions from Queen Elizabeth herself before riding her horse. Jerry Bailey rode Dubai Millenium to a win in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Ascot in 2000.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Plod Boy Phil — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:43:30 GMT

Very disappointed that Normandy Invasion will be skipping the Preakness.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Jean in Chicago — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:23:41 GMT

And don't forget John Velazquez got the mount on Animal Kingdom partly because of his experience at Ascot.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Jean in Chicago — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:06:08 GMT

Uncle Smiley--Steve Cauthen, Cash Assmussen and Darrell McHargue all moved to Europe. Steve had a spectacular career over there after a terrible run of over 100 loses after the Triple Crown here in the US. And don't forget Tod Sloan (the original Yankee Doodle Dandy) who introduced the shortened stirrups to English riders (although this was in the 19th century).

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Love 'em all — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:40:16 GMT

Pedigree Ann

Can you imagine how many more boxes of Cheerios GM could sell if they started featuring champion horses on the cover of its box? Why, I would chuck my Total box for a Cheerios box in a heartbeat! They should've thought of this years ago when their Wheaties box featured human champions. Everybody loves a champion horse! Heck, everybody loves a horse!

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

datflippinrabbit — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:58:28 GMT

After the Orb derby win i'm starting to get a feeling the rest are an ordinary bunch,unless the off track was a player.Looking at it now as Gary Stevens said they are up against it for shure.If he wins this one he'll have the Belmont in his backyard,but horses can make idiots out of us as we have seen time and time again.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Uncle Smiley — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:18:31 GMT

Steve,

Your lens matches your pen. Superb reporting, for both eye and mind!

Now, off topic,

Rosie Napravnik to ride at Ascot (UK) this August.

Is this a first for an American flat rider? In this or the twentieth century?

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Pedigree Ann — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:16:54 GMT

Love 'em all -

When I was little, back in the Dark Ages, I ate Cheerios for the sole reason that they were made from oats and horses ate oats. Good enough for horses, good enough for me.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Pedigree Ann — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:50:37 GMT

This is off-topic, but we need to get the word out to as many people as possible.

We need to get a national movement going to make certain that what happened to Omaha's grave does NOT happen to Native Diver's grave.

In case you missed it, Omaha was buried at Ak-Sar-Ben, in Omaha. Then the track was sold and the grave ended up under a parking lot, or was hauled away when basements were excavated.

At least at Hollywood there is a monument over the grave, so its location couldn't be lost, as Omaha's was.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Love 'em all — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:32:19 GMT

Does Orb know his baby picture was mistakenly put next to Lines of Battle in the Claiborne 'foaled and raised' ad (inside cover) of the B-H issue 5/4? LoB was mighty cute as a foal, but I'm pretty sure that's not Orb. Departing is the third foal in the ad. They're all too cute!

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

creaturelover92 — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:19:42 GMT

So glad Rosie and Gary did so well! I did notice rather quickly that Oxbow ran HUGE, if the pace wasn't so fast and Gary hadn't pushed the button early we may have been looking at a different winner!

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

swaff — Sat, 11 May 2013 05:46:19 GMT

"Will Take Charge looks like a Clydesdale standing next to Oxbow. How big is he?

steve from st louis"

Will take Charge is 17 hands tall.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

APCindy — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:15:22 GMT

I wish they would reinstate the million dollar bonus to the best finisher in the all the Triple Crown races maybe to incent the second and third place horses to run in the Preakness. I really miss the great rivalries like fun Affirmed/Alydar...Sunday silence/Easy Goer etc...Does anyone know in the years since they eliminated the bonus how many Derby runner ups have skipped the Preakness?

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Bigtex — Sat, 11 May 2013 01:55:24 GMT

Thank you, Steve!

Did Will Take Charge look that fit in Louisville?

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Alex'sBigFan — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:40:40 GMT

Oxbow I want to just go hug him.

He is so darn cute and seems to be a spirited little devil too. Love that Gary is riding again. Oxbow has grit. I'd like them to finish in the money in the Preakness but beating Orb I don't see it. I don't think Orb will be that far back this time and if he has that dangerous tactical speed that I think he has he should be fine. The way I see it is if Orb can run like that in slop he's that much more dangerous on dry dirt, and if the track comes up sloppy for the Preakness we already know he's not fearful of it. May be afraid of flowers though, did anyone else notice that 2 guys shielded Orb's eyes with their hands when they put the blanket of roses on him? Shug had said it's all new so maybe it was a precautionary measure. Great headshot of Orb here Steve.

Good luck little Oxbow, he'll be my third choice.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

SOUTHBENDFARM — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:38:40 GMT

I agree with Gary Stevens about Orb. The horse was barely blowing after 1 1/4 miles and was not wanting to stop running even after an extra 1/4 gallop out. He was fresh....even after 1 1/2 miles!!! Amazing!. I believe he is just learning how to run and to respond to his jockey. If this is the case, then Oxbow will have to have all the racing luck a horse could ever have in a race to beat Orb. I just don't see that happening.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Love 'em all — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:19:49 GMT

What a treat! This has made my day, Mr. Haskin.

Looking at the first pic, Oxbow has every right to hold his head up high ... as does Gary Stevens. They make quite a pair. Wish them both the best.

The "Os" really have it this year with Orb ... Oxbow ... and Overanalyze in the TC races. "O" as in Cheerios, since all three love their oats. Makes you want to sing that old yodeling tune ....

"Cheerio-ee-oh-ee-ohs

Yummy Oaty-oh-ee-oh-ee-ohs".

Who knows? It's long overdue for General Mills to feature a four-legged athlete on the cover of a Cheerios box. Horses love oats!

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

steve from st louis — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:07:53 GMT

Will Take Charge looks like a Clydesdale standing next to Oxbow. How big is he?

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

rams2050 — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:24:52 GMT

I'm not sure if anyone else saw it or not, but I noticed Orb began bucking when he was pulled up. Like Gary Stevens said, Orb did not want to stop. I hope that bodes well for the Belmont Stakes, especially if Orb can win the Preakness, as I am anticipating he will.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Agnes — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:55:43 GMT

Wonderful px of ORB. Steve Haskin is the best!

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

Giddyup — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:48:37 GMT

I've always been a huge fan of D Wayne Lukas because he is a straight shooter who tells it like it is. Gary Stevens is the same way and if anyone can bring out the best in Oxbow under race conditions it will be Gary.

re: Haskin's Preakness Report: Oxbow and Stevens Try Again

JSPII22 — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:42:34 GMT

Normandy Invasion tracked Oxbow all the way around the track. It is misleading to clump him in with the closers.