You can do it Dray

Leaving CC off our ticket will be our downfall. Just my very humble opinion. Congrats in advance Draynay.

Good Job Everyone!,

     So it all comes down to "The Birds" have to finish better then Dray's, "Dunkirk" and "Chocolate Candy", Umm, Not a worry in the world...Let's Go Birds...

Dray,

    Enjoy your Vacation!, I hate to say this, But I will miss Our good natured banter back and forth!, But, It also will be refreshing to have a whole month free of Un-educated comments, lol...

Jason,

    Again, Great Job on Your Blog, Kudos to you(I am sorry that instead of me contributing to your kid's college fund, That money will come in handy feeding my Killer cat, "Cheetah", lol...)...

Go "Benny the Bull" and "Mine that Bird"...

CHAMP ELYSEES IS MY PLAY OF THE DAY TOMM.

cant waitto see mine that bird win. im gonna be there:)

Jason I am worried bout ur FAB STRIKE play, will get pressure. I said yesterday I didnt think (Benny the Bull) would have beeny ready, well I have change my mind after hearing they plan to bet the horse HEAVY as they like to do.

Hello broadway is a ringer if you ask me,  that could pay us off there Jason in the P4.

my pick 4 is,

1a,2,6/4,8/2/2,6,7,8     will be betting Flyin Private WS  and keying in ex and tri.

good luck all.

I didn't get my votes in on time for the Draynay vs. the blog contest, but will throw my picks into the mix anyway. I did zero handicapping, and am picking these solely on what I wish would happen.

Mine That Bird -- always love those hard-knocking geldings

Mr. Hot Stuff -- always support Tiznow offspring

Miner's Escape -- Mineshaft from a Broad Brush mare

In my exactas and exotics:

Dunkirk -- A.P. Indy is his broodmare sire

Summer Bird -- Summer Squall is his broodmare sire

Hey Blog! Don't worry, we have this one! Draynay's picks are exactly how I thought. Good luck with Flunkirk in there!

I think Dray has us beat with Dunkirk and Chocolate Candy. CC closed from 15th to 5th in the Kentucky Derby and reportedly HATED the goo (Picked up Gomez to boot).  Dunkirk also had exuses and at some point in time will have to live up to his 3.7 million dollar tag (what better time than now?).   The only difference on my exotics would be Charitable Man.  I tossed him in favor of the Kentucky Derby Winner and Preakness Runner up.

I wanted Dray to win so I could read his Blog but Charitable Man and Dunkirk. Dunkirk?????????? Throw in the towel Dray.

Am disapointed the votes are for Mind That Bird. Just don't see it happening. I like draynays pick, I think he has us on this. On that note, I'm leaving next week for Hollywood Park. Can't stay at home with the computer and face the music, and yes, I will be gone well over a  month!!!!

Gee am I a Draynay...picked the 2nd and 3rd like he did but of course he didn't have THE BIRD.

Hull/Hello Broadway in Race #8

Justwhistledixie/Casanova Move in Race #9

Court Vision/Cosmonaut/Better Talk Now in Race #10

Mine that Bird/Summer Bird/Charitable Man in the Belmont!

I Lost My Choo/Forever Together/My Princess Jess in the "Just a Game" Stakes...

Finally, Benny the Bull/Fabulous Strike/Two Step Salsa in the "True North" Handicap...

Good Luck to All !, Hope it is a Safe Day for Everyone Involved...

I didn't get my picks in on time.  But here they are for the record.

6-9-2-8-1

May they all come home safe!

What we have here... is a failure to communicate. lol...  What it comes down to is Dunkirk and Chocolate Candy vs. The Fluke and Summer Bird... I guess I will take my victory lap now.  Do you realize that DUNKIRK alone has as many wins this year as the FLUKE and SUMMER BIRD COMBINED !!! When handicapping races its best to bet on horses that like to win and the blog has chosen two that have no real desire this year to win. To think Summer Bird is on par with CC is laughable at best.  And I predict here and now the FLUKE will never pass DUNKIRK in the race.....NEVER

If it weren't for some kind of weird dislike of the gelding from NM, Dray would have gone with his SOP, all chalk all the time.

Always picking the favorites? Even if you win with them it's akin to kissing your 90 year old great aunt, with her false teeth out!

Not difficult to tell Dray is NOT a handicapper.

He's got plenty of hot air like the touts you run into at the track the ones who tell you for 20 bucks they'll pay the water truck driver extra to put water on the track before your mudder runs? Only to have the water truck come out and water just like he does between every race? That's what a tout does, shills you. (love that story) Dray is a chalk tout, and brags about it, the worst kind of a tout, not a handicapper and one everybody laughs at.

Dray,

   I hate to say it but your gonna win. I actually made a bet with my mom that MTB will not win. Only ten bucks though.

Is it just me, or does the title "Draynay Versus the Blog" have a very 1960's Japanese monster flick ring to it?

I can see it now, Draynay kicking over buildings and breathing halitoctic Cheeto fire breath throughout downtown Manhattan in a snit after The Blog spanks him with its winning picks!

Who will play the Raymond Burr role - Jason?  And the singing twins that summon The Blog will be Haskin and Shulman!  

I smell a hit!

OK, wait a second.  It is now time to complain about the democratic process that put (blech) Charitable Man in front of Chocolate Candy.  

Can I pull a Draynay myself and be Emperor of the World and delete one and put the other one in?

p.s.  Jason: you afraid of cats?  Gigi and his pals always sit on the fence and bug the Dobie across the street.  The Dobie gets yelled at.  The cats get treats.  Who's coming out ahead?

LDP - glad it was only $10!

JordanL - Guess I'm not the only one who observes the manical hatred of geldings shown by poor  Dray.

Jason: so what's your point?  You can only deal with pets, etc. who follow you around, wagging their tails and agreeing with you, no matter what (even if you pick Dunkirk over MTB)?

sniff....sniff... JordanL do I smell bitter ?  I do tend to be a bit chalky but when you bet what I bet it can still pay very well. I seldom find myself betting on a horse that is more then 8 to 1. But you can do very well on 6 dollar horses if you know when and when not to pull the trigger. And as far as people laughing at me well JordanL let me tell you that win or lose after I leave the races I get in my wonderful car and drive to my beautiful home to my stunning 23 year old wife and play with my wonderful little dogs in our pool.  Laugh all you want but remember I always have a smile on MY face for a reason.

One more thing... for years people like you say things like, "Big deal Rachel Alexandra won...so what everyone had her!" people like you NEVER have the favorite but when they win you claim everyone had it. You keep playing those longshots and I will keep eating the 6 dollar chalk just remember at the end of the day I am smiling win or lose.

haha, Jason, my cat wags her tail when she sees me...but she's the odd one out as she was literally by a dog and thinks she is one, haha!  but I agree- hense the reason we are picking up a puppy on the 13th, so I can get the genuine tail wag without the food beforehand, LOL

As for me, I think Miner's Escape will have it. Don't know why...have a feeling but feelings don't matter much in racing, LOL

Wait: I forgot to say that also just like Dray, I will disclaim all responsibility if my picks go nowhere.

Good luck to all.

Safe trip to all.

I am contradicting myself.

I stand by by my choice;

Chocolate Candy

Charitable Man

Summer Bird

but to be safe I am including and placing bet win on

       LUV GOV

The key is DA TARA.

I'm with Jason on this one.  No matter how you cut it, a litter box is still a box of (poop) sitting around in your house.  

Don't get me wrong.  I like cats.  They taste just like chicken.

I THINK WE ARE ALL DELIRIOUS!!!

As if the picks weren't depressing enough, I just read the Sheihk has done it again, he just bought Medagiia d'Oro. Better watch that tail wagging cat Kayte, Jess Jackson and the Sheihk can't stand it if anyone else owns a winner because they can't bred one themselves.

i think charitable mam is a great pick hes 2 for 2 at belmont i think miners escape could be a upset horse.

Laugh all you want, Monkey Boys.

Storm CAT.  Tale of the CAT.  SecretariCAT.

Don't know too many horses named after dogs...at least in a good way.

My cats wait for me at the door, purr when seeing me, and follow me around.  They give unconditional love, are affectionate, soft, and don't bark!!! Why anyone has an issue with cats, I don't understand. They must have been rats or mice in a previous life!!! Dogs roll in dead stuff! They smell bad and need to be let out all the time; those already outside bark all hours! Give me cats any time - and horses!

my stunning silver Bengal cat is wonderful with a wonderful name - CURLIN! You guessed it - a fast, strong, smart, and beautiful cat.

Now for tomorrow's race - let's all enjoy it and celebrate the winner and hope for safe trips for all the whole day! enjoy, friends - minus Draywhoeveryouare!

GO MTB!!!!!!!!!!!

Cgriff,

    Too Funny!, The Movie is already in Pre-production in Japan, Due for release late Summer..

Jason,

    On the Bathroom thing for cats, You show me a Dog that is smart enough to use a litter box, cover up the smell(Inbred in them, so predators couldn't smell them), They groom themselves, Unlike Dogs and Yes, My cat does greet me at the door with tail straight up(Sign of being Happy and Content!, A waging tail is a sign of aggression in cats)...

*Any time a Horse is in a Race with the Name Cat in it, Bet it!, 67 percent of the time it hits the board, A Fact....

I do love dogs though, lol...

See how depressed I am? Can't even spell right or I spell okay but fingers and mad as hell computer won't listen. I was supposed to say "they can't breed one themselves". Course I might have been in the process of swallowing a zanax or two while typing.  

What happens in the case of a tie?

Oh please Draynay!!!!!! Dunkirk????? This year he has beaten maidens and non-winners of two . . . and now you think he will win the Belmont!  Of course there was his memorable race in the Derby! Tell me why a horse who was purchased for 3.7 million has raced so few times? He is a looker  . . . but this is a horse race, not a horse show.

Calvin is really high on Mine That Bird, but Charitable Man has a great performance on this track and was a great two-year old. He is by a Belmont winner so he will get the distance.

Luv Gov,Flying Private,Mr Hot Stuff and Summer Bird are all eligible for non-winners of two!

Let the racing begin!  The suspense is killing me! Dray or the Blog????? Dogs or cats????? Poop in the yard or poop in the tray????  AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Jason,

My cat (at least one of them) meets me at the door, even if I have been gone for a week.  He wags his tail in greeting and follows me everywhere I go.  He is helping me type now.  And don't ask him if he wants to go for a walk unless you are prepared to get his harness and take him out!  

I have not given up on Dunkirk either!  I liked his close in the Florida Derby and realize what a bad start can do to an inexperienced horse.  A mile and 1/2 might be a stretch for him, however, I wuold prefer him at 1 1/8 for now.

Got to love Dray blowing his own horn on chalk regarding RA which was a slam dunk buddy my 5 year old sister could of picked her to win the belmont. I am glad though to see your dunkirk in spot two because WE ALL KNOW He chased QR at 1:35 I dont know how many times i have heard that! Dray dunkirk is a 3.7 loss and belongs on turf my friend! I too am a big Quality Road fan but Dunkirk is not Quality Road and I wear a pink school girl outfit if dunkirk wins to canterbury because he has no chance!

I have four dogs, (2 Newfoundlands, 1 German Shepherd, 1 Terrier Mix), three cats (2 Siamese, 1 Tonkinese), three horses (2 Tennessee Walkers, 1 Spotted Saddle Horse). By far the cats are the easiest and the most entertaining. Just this week I had a package arrive from a friend who also has a cat. Apparentely her cat had left it's scent on the package and my cats decided that the German Shepherd had morphed into a cat and all three proceeded to attack the Shepherd with a vengence. It took me and one Newfoundland to rescue the Shepherd and a can of disinfectant and two hours to convince my cats that the Shepherd really was still a dog.

We are nothing if not multi-layered in our intelectual questioning!

I have a cat and a dog - so I guess I'm living the dream regardless!

And the only 23 yr old item Dray goes home to is his underwear and socks.  :)

Jason: my cat sits when I tell him. He learned this from my previous cat.

I have a friend whose 16yo English Setter thought she was a lap dog, a friend whose Schnauzer loved everyone who showed up at his house, and a friend whose Bernese Mt. Dog was looking mighty tasty when we got stuck on a long trek to his cottage.

......

OMG!  Is THIS what a Dray-less blog looks like!!!!

Jason,

I love Fabulous Strike as well. benny the Bull needs a race, and two step salsa may need more distance to catch FS. I did a p3 starting in race 6 with BTB, TSS, and FS, singled Forever Together, and then used Regal Ransom, Everyday hero, This one for Phil, Munnings and Hull and a 10$ late p4 with RR, EH, Hull with Justwhistledixie with Cowboy Cal, Gio Ponti, with Charitable Man, $40.00 Good Luck

You just have to get the right breed of cat. I have Burmese (kind of like Seatariat's Siamese & Tonkinese), and I can't shake them. They're at the door, they follow me around, they sit on the computer when I'm trying to respond to a Bloodhorse blog.

For the record:

Mine That Bird

Chocolate Candy

Dunkirk

   A Test of my Horse/Cat names theory, "Whywhycat" is running today at Churchill, Race # 7, He will win, Just Watch....

I call it my "Dray" way of picking horses, No handicapping skills involved...

Jason...You have to get out and meet more cats! They are all of the good things people have said(plus petting them lowers your blood pressure!). Smart, entertaining, mine love to play fetch and sooo affectionate. I have multiple cats and a dog(malamute/shepard mix). I trained the dog, the cats trained me(and the dog,lol). One thing CurlinLover forgot to mention is that cats don't eat poop or as we call it at my house "kitty roca".

Pick 4

8)Munnings, Hello Broadway, Hull

9)Funny Moon, Justwhistledixie

10)Court Vision, Champs Elysees, Marsh Side, Wesley, Better Talk Now, Cosmonaut, Lauro

11)Mine That Bird, Flying Private

As far as cats vs dogs...I have to go with the dogs.  Cats can be affectionate and loving but dogs do that in spades.  I have a dog whom I just couldn't live without.  His name is Derek.  He looks like Benji and has a personality you can't believe!  He is a very happy and loving dog and I am so thankful to have him.

I also wanted to mention how impressed I was when Bobby Frankel stayed home from the BC to be with his ailing dog.  That's just how it is, a closeness you can't describe and a love that is deeper than you could imagine.  I know there are "cat" people who feel the same way about their cats.

Oh Jason, don't you know the whole point of having a cat is so you'll know how a dog feels?

Our cat has me whipped into perfect shape. She meows at 4 a.m. to be fed. She meows at 5 a.m. to be let out. She meows at 6 a.m. to be let back in. She strolls to the bathroom sink and meows for me to turn it on so that she can drink fresh, running water.

She also gets between me and the kids and meows her displeasure if I'm yelling at them.

I like to refer to her as the Black B****, although her real name is The Mouse.

LACS70,

    I'm not glad cause the odds of me winning are much better. There are ten horses in the field which means one of the nine horses that is not MTB needs to cross the wire first. I feel pretty good since i have nine to her one. I tried to tell her this but she's stubborn and ignored me. Another reason i'm not worried is because i'm almost 100% sure MTB will not be first. There is no pace, and too many others who are fresh and are bred to get the distance just like he is.

The Manhattan Cap is a killer of a race to pick. Im guessing you would have to go at least 4 or 5 deep to have a chance. Im leaning towards Court Vision.  It all depends on the condition of the turf though.

    We have all gone off the deep end!, This is hysterical regarding cats and dogs...

    Jason, Your comment, "only cats I have ever lived with sit in dark rooms, hiss when you come near them and stink up the whole house", Had myself and my niece laughing hysterically, Way too funny!, I think we ALL needed a break from the Horses, even for a brief moment...

    Last comment about cats from me, I swear, Cats actually do spend 8-15 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves, and all you cat owners, next time your cat eats, Watch how the first thing they do after they eat is groom themselves!(Inbred from the wild, So no predators can smell the food on them!)...

www.petplace.com/.../page1.aspx

Now, Back to the Horses...

Jason,

Try to meet an ocicat.  They are a spotted breed developed from Siamese and Abysinnian.  Look them up, every one that I have met is almost like a personality clone.  Some of it they get from the Siamese, just not the voice.  

MikeG the last 2 races you gave yourself no shot to win.

Way to go Draynay! I think Charitable Man is going 2 win the Belmont and I think CC will be 2nd. You'll probably beat the blog.

    Theory Proven(At least today!), Race # 7, At Churchill :

# Horse   Jockey  Weight Win

3 Whywhy Cat Mena M 121 3.20

*With a "little" Handicapping skills, and a few "quirky" ways to pick horses(I have over 25 Horses in my Virtual stable with the name cat in it), Call me crazy, but it seems to work, at least in my case :)

I had a cat who could sit too.  He could also do the NYTimes crossword puzzle on Sunday mornings.

Is anyone else finding themselves in an Alternate Universe here?

Draynay is trying to bring us all back to the point.

How come he's now the sensible blogger?

(Now, if Spock starts playing cosy with Uhura, I KNOW I'm in an alternate universe!)

All I know is... when you compare my picks vs the blog... I am in the CATbird seat !

FYI,

    These are the  Belmont Stakes Media Selections (37 different media people, including a couple from Bloodhorse, Dan Liebman who likes, Charitable Man, Dunkirk, and Mine That Bird while Paul Volponi likes, Charitable Man,  Mine That Bird, and Dunkirk).

    The overall Consensus is the following:

1.Mine That Bird(97)

2.Charitable Man(97)

3.Dunkirk(80)

4.Summer Bird(22)

5.Chocolate Candy(18)

6.Flying Private(8)

7.Miner's Escape(1)

8.Mr. Hot Stuff (1)  

*5 points were awarded for a 'win' selection, 3 points for 'place', and 1 point for 'show'...

   Interesting, I thought...

Are We In The Twilight Zone or What? By the way I had a cat that would play fetch like a dog and had trained to use a doggie door and go outside, never really needed the litter box. She also always used the hill along side the yard and not the lawn.

I also think dray may have us on this one!

All I can say is dogs & horses, horses & dogs!! CC was left off, which bummed me out.

Dray,maybe you will be around for your own blog, and if so lordy, lordy, what nonsense we're in for!!! :):) At least make sure you kiss the furry's, whether they're 2lbs or 150lbs, they are full of love!!!  

Sounds like Jason's got a bad case of puppy love. If I could just figure out who it's directed at.

I know I'm late but my picks would have been:

1) Flying Private

2) Charitable Man

3) Dunkirk

4) MTB

Greg J.

Belmont Stks. horse that doesn't have cat in his name, but has cat in his breeding. Brave Victory by

Lion Heart thru Tale of The Cat thru Storm Cat.

Question for you, did any of these

selectors mention Mine That Bird's

nae when they were picking Derby selections?

Jason, those are called feral cats. Surgically removed (amputated) a guys arm once when he was bitten by one.

Cat scratch fever even from healthy cats. Ours stay outside, in the barn.

For those concerned about the general population's interest in the Belmont, this year's Belmont has received more media attention than any Belmont I can remember(back to 89) that did not involve a horse trying to win a Triple Crown. And to be honest, I think the general media focus on this year's Belmont is very, very close to last year when Big Brown was going for the Triple. While many on this blog have debated the comparative merits of Rachel, Bird, Zenyatta, and Jess Jackson, not enough attention has been paid to the one story that the larger sports media and general population have really latched on to, and that is Borel going for the "Calvin Crown".

While horse racing is my passion, I am a big sports fan in general. I watch alot of ESPN, and with its mother network, ABC, covering the Belmont, I have been satisfied with the promotion of the race; ESPN has been showing a promo ad for the Belmont about every hour. The big selling point in these commercials? Borel being ruinited w/ Bird in his quest for his unique Triple. Although many true horse facing fans, including myself, do not equate a "Calvin Crown" to a real Triple Crown for a jockey( rightfully recognizing that it is a much greater feat to ride a single horse to victory in all 3 races), the general sports media has given it great prestige. I have heard repeatedly from general sports writers on ESPN that what makes Borel's "Calvin Crown" so interesting, from someone outside the sport, is that it has NEVER been done. Rather than criticizing Borel for "betraying" Mine That Bird in the Preakness, they point to how astute and courageous he was to take off a Derby winner, for a filly no less, and then ride her to a front-running victory in a style completely opposite to how he rode Bird in the Derby.

Throughout the week, ESPN shows like PTI(Pardon the Interruption) and Around the Horn have featured a discussion of the Belmont, in particular Borel's quest for his Calvin Crown and his "guarantee" made mid-week. And guess who is on David Letterman tonight? That's right, Calvin Borel.

There has been alot of discussion the past 3 weeks about the relative abilities of Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, and which one is a bigger "story" or "draw".  Ultimately, this debate has missed the marked, because the biggest star of this Triple Crown campaign, in the eyes of the larger sports media and general public, has been Calvin Borel. He, more so than Rachel and even Bird', has transcended the sport of horse racing and been embraced by millions of "casual" fans. And in the story of the "Calvin Crown", Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra are not mortal enemies to be argued over, but  are part of a larger story, each having been teamed with Calvin and having given him the opportunity to accomplish his unique Triple.  If Calvin and Bird win the Belmont, the story should not be how Rachel "ruined" Bird's Triple Crown, or how poor a sportsman Jess Jackson is; the story should be how two wonderful racehorses, one a small, longshot gelding with a big heart, the other a brilliant, giant filly with amazing spirit combined together to help an unheralded but engaging veteran jockey to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and national fame.  

It's hard hearing about everyone's pets...dogs and cats.  I just lost my Rot, Jada to a drunk driver last Monday.  And he was worried about the slight dent in his truck. Just about lost my mind and went to jail.  Sorry to be a downer but I just wanted to remind everyone don't ever miss a chance to hug, kiss, and love on your pets, cats, dogs, horses or whatever you have because you might not have a "later time" in which to do so.  Please, give them a big hug and an "I love you" for me and for my girl Jada.  Thanks.

I still see her every time I close my eyes.

Pick6:

6) Fab. Strike & Benny the Bull

7) Forever Together

8) RR - Hull - TOFP

9) JWDixie

10) Gio Ponti & Cowboy Cal

11) Charitable Man - MTB - Choc. Candy = $72

Pick - 4 : Same as above = $18

I think CM is the winner. MTB and CC fill the tri.

Super : CM/ CC,MTB/ CC,DK,SB,MTB,FP/ CC,DK,SB,MTB,FP

I'm a bit surprised that Draynay has Dunkirk so high (I have Dun finishing second to MTB) but before the derby he blasted that horse left,right,up&down side.

I am very disappointed in the bloggers picking Summer Bird. I don't have faith in Dunkirk, nor do I have faith in Charitable man.  I do like MHS and CC... I hate to say it, but I can't wait to see what Dray will blog about. Hopefully it will be unique and not based on his handicapping "prowess"! GL to all and I hope all horses come back safe!

I have a cat, Simon. But I hope everyone here will also take an interest in the Philippine Eagle, headed for extinction. He's a beauty, and needs our help. Won't take up your time and space with URLs, 'cause we all know how to Google (well, there may be one exception!). Just wanted to give this deserving fellow a shout-out here on Animal Planet this morning. Thanks.

Jason:

After the Belmont, will you give recognition to those individual commenters who picked win-place-show correctly in the contest?  

Well if the reasons for watching the Belmont Stakes weren't good enough before, The blog/Draynay contest should be the capper.

Jason, do you know anyone at ABC who can hype the contest and plug the blog during the telecast?

Jason- you do such a great job on this blog!! Earlier in the comments, someone asked about a tie between Draynay and The Blog. I think that in the event of a tie, Draynay would have to stay off the blog for a month (which is what happens if he loses) BUT he would still get a guest blog (which is what happens if he wins).

dray wins summer bird comes in last and its a battle to the wire between dunkirk and the fluke.

jason my cat lives indoors and goes to the bathroom outside you have to train the cat not let the cat train you....

Hey GunBow, welcome back!!! Where have you been?

Horswld...I am very sorry for your loss. I distributed much love to my kitties and dog in Jada's name. I hope you have a great day watching the races and feel better soon. Give yourself a hug from me.

Horswld, deepest heartfelt sympathies on your loss of Jada.

LOL, I know Randy, figure he would probably give YOUR blog and the magazine a plug Jason. Does so frequently with the DRF etc.

But I doubt he would appreciate being an unwitting promoter of Draynay's

Just watched Kent D. win 3 races in a row at Belmont. Bodes well for the blog's third choice. Summer Bird wasn't one of my picks but now I wonder...

Jason, Tell the truth, That hot pace and the charging Benny the Bull scared you for just a second!!!

Jason,

     I have no voice left Jason!!!, I swear, I thought the Bull was going to catch Strike!!!, You got me fair and square, I need to STOP betting with my heart and use my brain, But, that's all right, Benny the Bull was awesome, for his first race after the long lay off, He will take Strike next time, lol...(Whoopie, I did have a $4 tri 6,1,2 for $140-$50(lol), net of $90), Still alive for pick 3 and 6!)...Need  either 5,8,2 in race #7...

Good Job...

Jason,

     Thanks, But would rather have beaten you, lol...Also, I am telling you one last time, The Birds will go one, two...Kent D. is on fire!...I can't believe "This one's for Phil" will go off as the favorite?...Hull, Phil, Broadway...

Horswld, so very sad for you.

Dray, I want my guys to win, but I will miss your "bait n' hook" a lot!

What a great race for FS, and BTB is back!

Horswld,

     So Sorry to hear about your loss, Terrible News, My condolences...

TO:DRAYNAY

When MTB wins today would be nice for you to do something totally different,admit you were wrong! Remember from your opinion he won't hit the board,remember?

Belmont is 2 hours away! I'm definitely rooting for Mine That Bird, and think he is superior to the other closers(Chocolate Candy, Summer Bird, Mr Hot Stuff). On speed figures and form, Bird has about 5 or 6 lengths on those horses. I am also dubious of Charitable Man getting the distance, in spite of his breeding, but the pace scenario makes him a logical inclusion. In addition to Charitable Man, the one horse I believe Mine That Bird fans should be concerned with is Dunkirk.  That's right, the $3.7million hype-machine horse. I said prior to the Florida Derby, that even though he is an Unbridled's Song, I believed the Belmont would be Dunkirk's best race. At that time, I compared Dunkirk's long, smooth strides to Rags to Riches; just like Rags, Dunkirk does not have that brilliant, explosive kick, but after winding up, those long strides cover so much distance that he just grinds into horses without appearing to be running fast. With the wide sweeping turns of Belmont, fewer entries, and a drier track, Dunkirk has a real chance to run back to his Florida Derby, which, with it's 108 Beyer, would make him a major threat.

I'm certainly not alone in liking Mine That Bird, Charitable Man, and Dunkirk, given they are the 3 favorites. However, I'm not betting the race. As a 4th horse, I give Steve Haskin's longshot, Flying Private, an outside chance. I have been high on this $700,000 yearling purchase since I saw him in person at the Lane's End. After being knocked around by a tiring Zigfield in the Arkansas Derby, and then spitting the bit in Kentucky, FP ran back to his Lane's End when 4th in the Preakness. I think FP will show a little more speed in the Belmont, he has the breeding, and Lukas has said all along that this horse only gets stronger with racing.

Dunkirk's whipping boy, sparring workmate Munnings, just crushed the Woddy Stephens. The track is rock hard and producing fast, fast times. Sounds like Gulfstream on Florida Derby day. Speaking of faster, harder surfaces, what's the name of that horse, I believe it is a filly, who loves this type of track? Oh yeah, Rachel Alexandra. I am not going to second gues Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen for even a second, but I am a wee-bit down that she didnt get the chance to do what NO other filly has ever done, and win 2 legs of the Triple Crown. Again, I have faith that Jackson and Assmussen made the appropriate decision, but the way Belmont is today would seem to be ideal for her. Of course, having already raced 5 times this year, 2 times in 2 weeks with maximum efforts, the hard Belmont track could have been her physical Waterloo. So, I am content that Rachel is in the barn today.

Good luck to all those wagering, and may  all the horses return safely.

Wow, some longwinded guys on here.

Hmmm, not a place for a 'man' of few words is it?

Quality Road is on the mend, but the quarter cracks just never seem to resolve for long.

Farrier issue with JWD for the Oaks, wow.

barb

sweet terchi

da3hoss

Greg J.

Thank you all for your kind words. They mean alot. And I know your kindness would mean alot to Jada too. She was a very loving and kind girl. Even for a big old Rot. Your kindness means more than you'll ever know. God bless you for that. Hope everyone is having a wonderful raceday. I've had some pretty awsome luck so for. Hope it continues into the Belmont. Much luck and love to everyone!

Good grief! What an effort from Gabby's Golden Gal. Hope she's all right. It's taking forever to cool her down.

Not a single closer today has won a race.... good bye FLUKE back to New Mexico you go with the tag FLUKE written all over you.

no dray for a month yaaaaaaaaa!!

Bye Bye Dray.  See ya in a month.

Buh Bye Dray.

For the guy who said boo the Summer Bird, had my Tri. Kent was due and he owed one. MTB was a game little guy. Pace too slow and a little rank, moved him a bit too soon.

Think MTB showed more guts and class than any of your picks Dray.

Look for him to keep running, unlike all the others maybe the next John Henry

If Dunkirk comes down then MTB second, I sure hope.

The fluke still hasn't one another race since the Derby

Dr Jay and the Mrs, are making a big impact. Watch for some big things from them and Tim.

Dray,

bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.

whew!

(I'll give you Dunkirk, though. Never ever thought he'd get 1 1/2)

Oh well, Congrats Dray.  You have the only one of 6 on the board in the right place.  I was pleasantly surprised to see Dunkirk come back like he did in the stretch.

BYE DRAY.

The Fluke still hasn't won another race since the Derby YET.

Little guy has guts and danced all the dances so far.

And wait a sec...Jason, when does the month start?

LOL! Bye Dray. See you next month.

I did ZERO handicapping, but had Summer Bird, Dunkirk and Mine That Bird. See my post of 05 Jun 2009 12:47pm above. Once again, unlike the Blog and Draynay, I didn't fall for the over-hyped horse for the given race. This time it was Charitable Man.

Congratulations to Birdstone, the pensioned Summer Squall, and to his half-brother, A.P. Indy, broodmare sire of Dunkirk.

This was fun.

Well, I guess the most important closer closed.

So when does the ban begin? Also Jason, you should have included a requirement of a written apology.

Should Tim Ice, Dr K Jay and Dr D Jay go back to Arkansas/Louisiana Dray?

PFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTT go home and cry on your wife's shoulder.

Dray - Who's the fluke NOW, Basement Boy????  He didn't win (a little rank on the backstretch) but your latest chalk pick Dunkirk was only a hair's breath in front as the crossed the wire - not to mention that MTB beat your other chalk pick, Charitable Man.

Jason - let's make an added condition for Dray coming back to the blog is that he can NEVER call Mine That Bird anything but his actual registered name!!!!!  Just plain old running machine MINE THAT BIRD!  From Sunland Park to placing 1,2, and 3 in the 2009 Triple Crown!

You know what, Dray?  YOU'D be the FLUKE, if you'd ever actually pick a winner!

the grocery in Garden City is running a special on Cheetos - go stock up and drown your misery in cheese dust and Yahoo!  And TRY to learn to keep a civil tone when (if) you ever return!

Go, go, go you sons of Birdstone!

Thanks to all bloggers who put Summer Bird in the blog's pick!!!

Dunkirk surprised me. Mine That Bird didn't win but as usual he showed his heart.

Most important, everybody came out OK!!!

Horswld,

Dogs lovers(and I'm one of them) feel your pain. Big hugs to you.

Ok Dray, you make yourself look like a fool when you make statements such as "The fluke still hasn't one another race since the Derby", most glaring, where did you go to school and learn English?  "One" a race, believe that should have been won a race, however, he has shown up in some very tough ones, you must give that to him.  Hope you find a new hobby in the next month, that is if you live up to your side of the bargain.

Now why does it not surprise me that Draynay is still full of excuses and still such a bad sport?

MTB has more guts and heart than you do Dray, also more class.

He just didn't get the trip, had to move out and the horse having a huge heart wanted to run. Possibly, Calvin didn't help the gelding so much but he did win the Derby period end of discussion.

A bad loser and a bad winner (if that ever happens Dray) give me the little gelding and his connections any day.

Hey, figured it out, he's jealous of how much they've earned. Need the money to stake your business Dray?

Hmmm, a filly won last in NM, wins the Acorn. A colt who ran well at Sunland Park NM wins the Lone Star Derby and the KY Derby. I'd say that's some serious accomplishments.

Dray, don't forget MTB has run 3 races in 5 weeks while Dunkirk sat at home for the Preakness and got some freshening.  At some point, even you might want to admit the horse is the class of the 3 year old colts/geldings in training right now.  Bad break for Charitable Man with the bump from Dunkirk and having to check.  I don't think it affected the order of finish, but I think he would have been closer at the end.  I think if Rachel had run today, she would have run away from them all.

Yikes!  What was Dunkirk doing up front???  

Bye Bye Dray I don't know my way around the track!

Seriously Dray......you are a poor sport. You left out MTB at your own risk and you LOST!!!!! Buck up and be a man. Your so called "fluke" danced every dance and showed up in the money for every race. Dunkirk was a fresh, rested horse and could only muster a neck ahead of your so called "fluke"..... Summer bird..was also a fresh horse. It is time to recognize the talent of this little gelding.  Furthermore Dray..... What was the last race Dunkirk won???? The problem here Dray is that you have gotten yourself so deep with your "so called" expert handicapping skills (hahahahaha) and your clear dislike for the super talented gelding that you just can't get yourself out of it. Let me offer up some help....

My name is Draynay...and I am a bad handicapping aholic.

Peace.

That wasn't dray that me, forgot to put in my name, just want to clear things up.

Had the second and third, didn't figure on the other Bird tho'.

Didn't see the rankness that has been spoken of on MTB, I did see Cal move too soon, but did not see the tell tale tossing of the head etc. when a horse is rank. Kent may have been right when he said Cal was a bit naive about the race, but that's where experience comes in, Cal given another chance would probably ride a bit differently. Kudo's to tough Dunkirk running his a** off! Glad he came back ok, but sure he'll get a rest. Birdstone, what a sire he's turning out to be.

Dray, gonna miss you, enjoy your vacation, (hope J lets you write a blog anyway)

Hope to see MTB in the winners circle again...

I was in the middle of typing a comment to For Big Red and accidentally hit enter. Not sure if it will show up but just to re-cap. You are a true horseman (horseperson??) I left out Dunkirk at my own risk and lost. I had MTB, SB and CM.  I am super impressed with Dunkirks efforts. He is a scrapper.  Hope to see more of these boys down the road. What a great year in racing!

I am so proud of MTB and will certainly be watching for his races as the year progresses.  As stated above the first two places had extra time to get it all together while our little guy ran all three races and that he had a lst, 2nd & 3rd is great, now they need to give him a bit of rest so he can go on later in the year.  Hope that he will be at Saratoga in August.

So, does that mean that dave the draynay fan also gets banned, for being a bad sport? Or worse yet, Drays sock? Pretty bad when you have to be your own fan Dray.

I'm sure ole Mark Allen is crying all the way to the bank, his QH just won the Ruidoso Derby.

Bye Dray, don't be a spoil sport in your last comment, and treat your teeny tiny, teensy weensy, itty bitty, little ditty dots to lots of kisses! Dogs Rule!!

Greg J., you said Summer Bird all along!

MTB gave a great performance, but in IMO, I think Calvin should have run at least one race to get a feel for the track, so he would have known when to ask MTB for his "run". What does everyone else think?

Horswld, gave my pooches lots of hugs, and I hope in time you will let another buddy in your life.

O.k. I got two out of three, including Summer Bird who I picked for third so I feel good to quote James Brown! Draynay, I am sorry but I think you're toast for a month. I will miss you. Wish MTB had one but everyone, HE'S NO FLUKE!!!!!

Love that Raise a Native line, the top three finishers all descend from the great one.

Should have said the top four finishers today in the Belmont are from the Raise a Native line.

Thank goodness!!!

The Birds saved us all and gave us four weeks of most needed intelligent discussions.  :)

Oh, I'm sorry, Dray, that Mine That Bird messed things up for you.  Haha lol!  One thing is for sure, he isn't a fluke, but he BARELY got second to Dunkirk, who seemed to be everyone's pick along with Charitable Man.  Let me repeat, he isn't a fluke!  Before you start making up excuses for calling him a fluke, your reasoning is very lacking if and when you do, but keep in my that he's been one of a very few who have danced every dance in three races during a five week span.  That's certainly incredible for a little gelding such as Mine That Bird.  He certainly garners respect.  I can see him getting a little breather, and then possibly being pointed to the Haskell Invitational or the Travers (or the connections could stick to the West Coast racing).  One thing is for sure, once he's come back from a bit of a breather, he'll be VERY tough to beat.

Congratulations to Birdstone for a fantastic half of the year!  In his first crop, he certainly stamped himself as a classic sire producing classic distance offspring by securing the 10 furlongs of the Kentucky Derby and 12 furlongs of the Belmont Stakes, two jewels of the Triple Crown.  I can expect to see his stud fee to rise at the end of the year for this phenomena.

Now, the second half of the year belongs to the Breederscup.  I can't wait for the whole summer of races!  This is going to be very exciting ^_^.

Summer Bird did great! Dunkirk did very well too-he dug back in after being passed and setting the pace!  I was happy with that!  How about this for idea too - no more excuses for losses or "blaming" the winner. Mine That Bird is a terrific horse but he was never actually in the running for the triple crown after winning only the first race.

To Dave the Draynay Fan - Check the records, how many wins does Durkirk have versus MTB including Grade I races. Are you going to be Draynay's replacement...I don't think so!

Jason:

You had a great idea, and we had a lot of fun. Same time next year?Thanks.

Any updates on Gabby's Golden Gal? That got a little scary.

Oh by the way, Jason, does that mean that Dray can only ONE comment tomorrow, or can he still continue to comment throughout the day until midnight comes around?  Just making sure he doesn't make another comment for awhile and keep things fair for the rest of us.

Dray,

    Enjoy your month away Dray, Maybe in that month away you can study up a little and learn to give "Summer Bird" and A little Gelding with the name, "Mine that Bird" some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, A great horse, First in the Derby, 2nd in Preakness, 3rd in Belmont, Not too shabby!  I will give Dunkirk all the respect in the world, I, for one, Didn't think he would last the Mile and a Half!, If Dunkirk had gotten DQ'ed(Don't think he should have though), I honestly could have taken a very long Vacation with my winning's!  Didn't hit one Exotic because of Dunkirk, But that is alright, I would take a month free of Draynay over a lot of money!(I am only kidding, the only thing that is saving me from losing my mind over Dunkirk finishing second, is Dray having to eat his words!).  The only saving grace is that I had two $50 winning tickets on, "Mine that Bird" and "Summer Bird".  So that is cool!  A final Congrats to Summer Bird, Dunkirk, and Mine that Bird! It was a Great day all around, I believe all the Horses came back safely, I hope Gabby's Golden Gal is OK, She should be, They cooled her off pretty quickly, She sure did run a great race!

    Congrats to Mr. Ice,  Drs. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, Kent Desormeaux and all other connections.  It was BRILLIANT by Mr. Ice to use the Blinkers and toe grabs and to bring "Summer Bird" to Belmont early to get him used to the track, Kudos to him!, He certainly will be a trainer to reckon with in the future, The talent he will get due to this win should be incredible.  I wish everyone was paying attention to today's races, Kent D. was on fire early, He won three straight races, I am glad for him getting the Belmont victory with "Summer", Now everyone can leave him alone for last year on Big Brown!  

    So Congrats to us, "The Blog"!!!, We did what we set out to do, No Dray for a Month.  We should have a stipulation also, Their should be no mention of Dray for that whole month, lol...

Lastly,

    I have to say what a great race "Benny the Bull" ran, The true Heart of a Champion!  Not too shabby after his almost career ending injury, Coming out of his short lived retirement to come in second to am AMAZING horse, Fabulous Strike!, Did any one catch those fractions, and the final time, A blistering 6 Furlongs in 1:07.85! (He just missed the 1999 track record of 1:07.66 set by Artax).  If not, Here is the Video, It was great:

www.youtube.com/watch

For Big Red,

     Good Job!, How about them "Bird's"....

Horswld,

    Your quite welcome, I know how tough it is for you right now, I have lost a few Beloved pets in my life, But, You will always have your memories of your "Jada", Which will carry you through this!

    Now on to Next week!(Isn't it great that to all of us "true fans" of this great sport, there is always another great race around the corner!)  Einstein, Who was assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the $600,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 13 at Churchill Downs.  Should be a Great race...

Dray,

    Enjoy your Vacation...

TO:DRAYNAY

Ok,I can admit error in stating MTB would win. Many times you said he "wouldn't hit the board". You were wrong on that.

Runfast,

    That is true, but he also had an incredibly easy trip in the derby, and except for going wide on the last turn another easy trip in the Preakness. Plus when you only run the last three furlongs of a race after loping along in the back, you shouldn't be that tired.

Zookeeper,

Thank you so much for your kind words. Much love to you and God bless.

Tee hee hee. You just gotta LOVE horse racing!! Things eventually DO take care of themselves, don't they??

Well done, Birds!

Tim G,

   The race set up quite well actually. Running the first quarter in 23 and 2 the half in 47 and then the three quarters in 1.12 in a 12 furlong race is a darn good pace, and MTB should've been able to close into it. Dunkirk had every right to fold, but didn't after setting stout fractions, and even then he showed heart and outran MTB. Calvin did all he could, MTB was getting strong, and all you can do at that point is to let the do what they want, since if you fight them they'll only tire quicker. I knew as soon as they said he was acting more rambunctious he'd loose, why, because remember BB. Both horses normally laid back, but last year BB left his some of his race in the paddock, like MTB. You are the one making the excuses, so why don't you stop being the pot calling the kettle black. MTB fired his shot, and again still could not outrun a quality horse, w/o a perfect trip. I say this because he got a perfect trip in the derby, and won. Had a little trouble in the Preakness, lost to another quality horse, then has a chance to redeem himself in the Belmont, and again he finds himself in a little trouble, despite actually having a decent pace, and still could not outrun a quality horse, period. I will admit he's good, but that's it, good not great.

Householder,

    I said the same thing, lol. I was like what the heck is Dunkirk doing up there. I was surpised to see him set those solid fractions and still battle back to finish ahead of MTB. Maybe if he'd seen SB he'd have run on with him too. Needless to say he definitly has some guts.

Draynay,

Na Na Na Na.....Na Na Na Na.....

Hey Hey Hey.....GOODBYE!!!!!!!!!

Cgriff,

   If you didn't notice, MTB had pass dunkirk, then later in the stretch he himself was passed again by Dunkirk, who'd just run solid fractions. MTB had the pace and Dunkirk still re-rallied to beat him, so it wasn't like Dunkirk was sputtering at the wire and MTB just missed nipping him. Dukirk re-rallied after being passed by MTB to beat him out for second.

As in the Preakness, the best horse on the day won the Belmont. Congrats to Summer Bird, his connections, and those on the blog that included the "other" Birdstone in their selections. I'll be honest, while I did have Dunkirk 2nd(behind Mine That Bird), I only had Summer Bird 5th. Although as a fan I was rooting for Borel and Mine That Bird, I was happy to see the Belmont, like the Preakness, dominated by the horses I had seen in person at Churchill Downs May 1st(Oaks) and 2nd(Derby). Except for Rachel, who ran in the Oaks, the Derby veterans dominated  the new shooters(Big Drama and Charitable Man to name a few) in the Preakness and Belmont.

By now, I can only imagine one person who is not convinced by Mine That Bird. Is Bird a great horse? No, but he is a very good one, and he certainly does try. With his late running style, he is unlikey to put together a long winning streak, but if he stays sound, I envision a long and productive career. Perhaps Calvin moved him a second too soon in the Belmont, but it was evident that his kick just simply wasnt as explosive as it was at shorter distances. Summer Bird and Dunkirk, each with more of a grinding style, were a little better on the day.

Looking back, I think it has been a fantastic Triple Crown. One of our brave jockeys, Calvin Borel, accomplished a unique Derby-Preakness sweep, and in the process transcended the sport to become a recognizable name and face to millions of people otherwise unfamiliar with thoroughbred racing.

Mine That Bird has been an absolute revelation, and he has drawn in many new fans and touched even some of the most cynical horseplayers.

Then there was the beauty, pure speed, and determination of Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, a truly special filly delivering a truly special performance. I sincerely hope that with the results of the Belmont, those Mine That Bird fans(I consider myself a Mine That Bird fan) that critizised Rachel for "ruining" Mine That Bird's Triple Crown can now look back at the Preakness and acknowledge what an amazing race Rachel ran. Two weeks after an historic Oaks win, Rachel accomplished something only 3 other fillies have done in the last 85 years, and that is win a Triple Crown race. Rachel need not have run in the Belmont for her Preakness to stand as a singular achievement.

Then, there is the Belmont. Sure, as a fan of Calvin Borel and Mine that Bird, it was a little dissappointing to see them fade some in the stretch. But both atheletes distinguished themselves wonderfully throughout the 5 weeks, and should be applauded for another solid effort in the Belmont. By now, we racing fans should be adept at handling a little disappointment. Rather than crown a jockey or horse, this year's Belmont instead pointed towards the future, given that the first two finishers, Summer Bird and Dunkirk, were only making their 5th career starts, respectively. Think about the potential of these two horses! Prior to January 24th of this year, neither Summer Bird nor Dunkirk had ever run a race. As of March 27th, neither had ever run in a stakes! Amazingly, Summer Bird was still a maiden as of March 18th! The future of both horses should be quite exciting, and their presence, along with the return of Quality Road, should make races like the Haskell, Swaps, Travers, West Virignia Derby, Penn Derby , etc that much more exciting. Throw in Mine that Bird, Musket Man, and maybe Rachel Alexandra, and this crop appears to be in good shape.

Lastly, for all the Birdstone fans, don't you think it is justice that after one of his geldings wins the Derby, he has one of his colts win the Belmont? Mine that Bird, as special as he is, was not going to pass along the Birdstone blood, nor make Birdstone a sire of sires. However, Summer Bird certainly fills that roll now. Also, Secretariat fans, like For Big Red, must also feel some pride. Two maternal great-grandsons of Secretariat's amazing daughter, Weekend Surpise, ran 1-2 in the Belmont.  Summer Bird is the maternal grandson of Summer Squall, who was out of Weekend Surprise, while Dunkirk is the maternal grandson of Summer Squall's half-brother, AP Indy, who was also out of Weekend Surprise. Thinking back to that unbelievable 1973 Belmont, should one be surprised that descendants of the great Secretariat filled out the Belmont exacta?

AS I SAID- THE WORST FIELD IN THE HISTORY OF THE BELMONT STAKES!!!!!!

I said that CM would be off the board- and the horse I picked to win- Dunkirk came in 2nd AND I SAID MINE THAT BIRD WAS A SUCKER BET.

What a pathetic broup of three year olds that ran today!!!!!

Bye, Dray, gonna miss you. NOT!!! You suck at picking horses. What a loser! Any fool should've known both Birds would hit the board.

Well well well.  The birds not only have speed they have wings.  :)  Dunkirk messed up my wagers but I loved the race anyway.  MTB is no fluke that is for sure.  Love that little gelding more and more all the time....

Hi Greg J. For Big Red and Mike Relva.  :)

CB blew it. Did he think he would come into Belmont and out ride the best jockey coloney without riding anything else on the card.He moved to soon.CW should have name a top Belmont jock to ride MTB. He owes CB nothing and by being a "nice guy" it cost him. Hey Chip, get youself a top NY rider that will commit to him for the rest of the year. My hats off to Todd Pletcher. I never thought he would send Dunkirk to the lead and it proved to be the right move.

The birds prevale.  :)  I had a feeling that Dunkirk would do well all day today but still did not put any money on him.  Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Since Mine That Bird did not win the Belmont Stakes, Calvin Borel probably won't be hearing any more criticism of his decision to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness.

Well LDP, actually I was basing it on what Calvin said right after the race. That the pace was a little soft, his horse wanted to run (the one thing Chip didn't want)so Calvin moved him a little early. He was also eager and a bit rank, so Calvin took him outside a bit to try and get him in hand.

I know Chip and this is straight from the horses mouth, he reiterated what he said on TV where he added that he would still pat Calvin on the back.

The one thing that Chip has been working on is getting the gelding to settle and make one big run, he wouldn't settle and he made his big run too early and backed out of it the way he has since Chip got him, then finally figured him out.

I know what you said is just your opinion, so maybe listening to what the guy who knows him best said, would be advisable?

Anyone who has watched 30-40 of these knows that the Belmont is a riders race. You put the wrong rider out there or they don't quite know the track and they are going to fall into all the traps.

Kent knew that and so did a few others. Chip didn't think it would affect MTB, I did. I've watched it time after time going back many many years.

Robert H, what is a 'broup'?

Slow down sir, in your rush to negativity that just discounted your profound statement.

I assume you have one running next year? What's his name?

Guess that will be a superior group?

Also, LDP?  Get back with me in 30 years, we'll talk.

By the way, have you ever even BEEN to a race track?

Take it from me kiddo, OLKIA's are just that.

Horswld,

You have my deepest sympathy.  I know how painful it is and how hard it will be to recover but she will always live in your heart.

As for today, MTB proved he was not a fluke but a gutsy horse with a huge heart who deserves our respect.

I believe that now it can be said that RA didn't spoil MTB's triple crown nor did Jess Jackson.

LDP,I think we all forgive you somewhat because you are young. But all the experts said basically the same thing, Calvin moved Mine That Bird too soon.

I'm not quite sure you are the expert you think you are. Giving your opinion is fine, but you are guilty of doing what you accused someone else of doing and you sound very arrogant. So just ratchet it down a few notches.

Those of us who do know, have followed or been in racing for years, have seen jockey error lose this race more times than we can count. I KNOW you aren't old enough to remember many if any at all.

Your brashness isn't charming or becoming of a still wet behind the ears girl.

Greg J.  aka GG or Gabby Greg,

Maybe you should take a month off of here also. You had more posts then Jason. Well one of them was a letter you typed.

Did you have any winners today?

Horswld:

I am very sorry to hear about your beloved Jada. My cat Jacob died 6 years ago from lymphosarcoma, so I can understand your sense of loss. A few months after Jacob died, I took up knitting and found it to be very comforting and therapeutic. I still miss Jacob.

LDP-

Yes, MTB has had some good trips in his races.  But there is something to be said for winning the Derby and being in the money the other 2 races.

What is true, is that this crop of 3 year olds doesn't appear to be very strong.  

The other thing is that MTB is not a very versatile horse.  He has to have the race set up his way to make his late run.

That said, he's still leading the way right now on this 3 year old crop.  Except for my girl, RA.

On another note: How about 6 year old Fabulous Strike.  He absolutely sizzled today!!

Gunbow, read part of your post (you know that after the first 150-175 words a post on a board loses its impact?).

Anyway, did you see the mock-up version of the Preakness presented by Bailey? Where he showed the overlay of the route from the Derby and the actual Preakness which showed similar holes that opened up? Said if Calvin had ridden MTB in the Preak he would have won by half a length taking the openings that were there. (which he would have done then and today if they'd have been there.)

I love Mikey, but his history and broken back? He isn't going to be going down on the rail. Calvin pretty much proved that moving to the outside and early resulted in a loss.

What a great race!, some still mumble what a crappy  crop this is (still cant bring yourselves to bet the bird(s) huh?) well I for one have enjoyed this year thus far and you can blame Calvin and blame this or blame that   but I think that this is what racing needs   good ole slug fests and its any mans game  !The hero's are the horse's and there  connections . Summer Bird ran a wonderful race today , Dunkirk proved that he was worth at least some of his purchase price and MTB Well my little friend have a nice 3 months off Hold your head HIGH! You are a tuff and gritty little animal  you deserve a rest and I know you will bring us allot of pleasure in the future !  

Just to Poke at Dray I had the tri Box! and You had? Want some candy ???

MTB was clearly a bit rank leading up to the race, I think a combination of that and the hubris of Borel doing the media circuit all week and then not riding today before the Belmont did him in.

Also nice to see vindication for Kent D., who I think got too much flak for his ride last year. Big Brown threw the race himself, Kent was just doing the wise thing even if it looked bad for the cameras.

GunBow, thanks for the pedigree/ history lesson ^_^.  I'm a huge Secretariat fan myself (I've read the book that Bill Nack wrote more times than I can count), so knowing that his descendents are still flourishing at the track is a big deal for me.  I always try to root for his descendents as much as possible.  It should have been a no-brainer after all for the 1-2 finishers...  Secretariat definitely thrived at twelve furlongs, especially in the 1973 Belmont Stakes tour de force.

I will have to say this in regards to Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird.  There shouldn't be blame placed upon them just because they ran third.  They ran a big race in just getting in the money.  First of all, I watched the pre-race footage and Mine That Bird was most definitely too keen; he was losing energy just by using most of it at the wrong time.  He dropped back to near last like he usually does, but it became clear that he wasn't settling properly.  Calvin Borel had no choice.  If he had to put a stop on Mine That Bird, it could have been possible that the gelding would not like to be held back when all of his systems were screaming, "I want to run fast now!"  Thus, Calvin Borel would probably fight with the gelding, wasting even more energy and then potentially finishing way off the board.   They ran a good race to run third, just by not having all the appropriate energy to get to the top.  Jockey Calvin Borel doesn't know the track very well, which was a negative.  Kent D. was right.  You can't be naive going into the Test of a Champion.  It's a special race that one needs to treat with respect and lack of ignorance.  I can see that Calvin Borel learns his lesson from this and does bigger and better things in his career down the road, just as Kent D. did after the 1998 Belmont Stakes loss by a nose on Real Quiet.  Calvin Borel was riding on the Derby-Oak-Preakness win series and that victorious bliss blinded him from reality a bit.  It takes a loss to jar to humble you.

That stated, Mine That Bird certainly has a bright future ahead of him.  This year's three-year-old crop definitely is much better than the one last year.  I hope we will all get to see more of these three-year-olds continue on in their racing careers, successfully and soundly.

Thanks for your post at 11:19, Katsan. I'm a new poster here and didn't feel I should say anything, but LDP's negativity toward MTB has been as wearying as Dray's IMHO.

I'm on record (in another thread) as seeing Summer Bird as the "dark horse," & I'm also not disappointed to see Dunkirk run so well.  I've always loved the look of greys, and he's a beauteous one with stamina, as he's shown.  Congratulations to them and all their connections!

Nevertheless, Mine That Bird is still the champion of my heart. He is the ONE who competed & made the grade in all 3 grueling races, facing mostly fresh colts in the 1.5 miles today (kudos to Flying Private for his effort!). MTB didn't get the best ride today and, sadly, I think all the media attention on Borel may be the cause of that.  The MSM wants the Human story. This should be the HORSE's story, shouldn't it?

But I'm looking forward to following MTB's racing career for years to come.  Which is more than I can expect of SB & Dunk, except maybe through the foals they will sire in a couple of years.

Anyway, it was a great Belmont that we'll all remember.  Let's just hope Darley doesn't buy Birdstone next!

Some random thoughts:

-  As some suggested, Jess Jackson should have kept Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness, and passed up the opportunity for history, for the good of the sport at large, allowing Mine That Bird to go to the Belmont with a chance to sweep the Crown. Yep, that sure would have worked out well. I, for one, am glad Jackson ran her in the Preakness. At least this way we had the chance to see some history made.

-A was very surprised to see Dunkirk on the lead in the Belmont, and the early pace so fast (23 and 2, 47 flat). I bet Johnny V wishes he could ride that first half over again. Given how well Dunkirk lasted in the stretch, what would have been the result had Johhny V slowed it to a 48 first half? However, the pace was surprisingly contentious, with even Prado on Mr Hot Stuff pressing the issue. Had Johhny V gone slower, he might have been forced to concede the lead.

- Do not expect a big Beyer for the Belmont. The track was extremely fast, like it was when Smarty went for the crown in 2004, yet Summer Bird's final time of 2:27 and 2 was only moderate for a Belmont, although incredibly it was the same as his dad's time 5 years earlier. In 2004, Birdstone received a 102 Beyer, and I expect the son's Beyer to be around 102 as well. Very interesting, father and son win the Belmont, both in 2:27 and 2!

- There's probably going to be some discussion of how Borel moved too soon on Mine That Bird(just like there was discussion of how Mike Smith moved too LATE in the Preakness). I suppose there is some validity to this, but Borel rode Bird almost exactly like Jeremy Rose had ridden Afleet Alex in 2005. Really, Borel rode Bird like many experts, including Steve Haskin, had implored him to, moving Bird up a little earlier than normal while trying to save enough for that late kick.  The simple fact is that Mine That Bird was unable to sustain his run the final eighth of a mile.

Mine That Bird just may be one of those horses that has an explosive, but very finite run, and once that run is over, there is not much left in the tank. This, in comparison to horses like Summer Bird and Dunkirk that are able to keep grinding away for a longer distance. Their runs may not be as quick as Mine That Bird's, but they are able to sustain their runs over a longer distance of ground. It's also possible that Mine That Bird really isn't a 12 furlong horse, and that by the time he made his run in the Belmont, some of his energy had already been zapped.

-I may not be in the majority with this, but the Belmont confirmed my belief that Mine That Bird would not have caught Rachel Alexandra had the Preakness been longer. Of course, this really is a moot topic because the Preakness was what it was; it was a mile and 3/16th race, so it really doesnt matter what would have happened a sixteenth or eighth of a mile later. However, back to speculation, I think that by the time Mine That Bird hit the wire at Pimlico his run had been spent; he has that finite burst, and in the Preakness he had expended himself by the time he got to Rachel. This could help explain why, past the wire, Rachel galloped out so far ahead of Mine That Bird.

- The fact that so many criticized Mike Smith for asking Mine That Bird too late in the Preakness, and trainer Bennie Woolley is already criticizing Borel for moving too soon in the Belmont, seems to suggest that Mine That Bird has a very finite, and limited run. While Mine That Bird can be explosive, he cannot sustain that rate of acceleration for an extended distance. Whether his burst his a half-mile, three-quarters, or some other distance, when it is over there is not a lot left in the tank. Similarly, prior to being asked for this run, Mine That Bird does not have alot of speed, so he is going to find himself about 15 lengths out of it in almost every race. All this means that whoever is riding him has to be extremely precise, and time that run perfectly. When one includes the possibility of traffic, my overall conclusion is that while I think Mine That Bird is a top-level racehorse, he probably will not have a particularly high winning percentage.

- With his physical appearance and style, the horse Mine That Bird most reminds me of is Festin. Festin was a small and light South American import trained by Ron McAnally, and was one of the top handicap horses of 1991. Festin would typically lay far off the pace, behind even Unbridled and Strike the Gold, but then explode around the turn and in the stretch. Unlike an Unbridled, Festin could not sustain his run over a long distance, but at full speed in the middle of his run, there was no horse more explosive. Like Mine That Bird, Festin's style produced more losses than wins, but in those winning performances he was electric. In 1991 Festin won the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Oaklawn Cap(when it was a grade 1), and the Nassau County Cap(when it was for males and at 9 furlongs).

-I guess we can't keep on referring to how weak the Kentucky Oaks field was. The filly Rachel Alexandra absolutely inhaled at the top of the stretch in the Oaks, Gabby's Golden Gal, came back to win the gr.1 Acorn.

-The Triple Tiara has little meaning anymore, much like the "Handicap Triple" (Met Mile, Suburban, Brooklyn). In fact, with the Brooklyn carded just a week after the Met Mile, there really isnt even a Handicap Triple to speak of anymore, and there really hasnt been one since 1990. I guess if all 3 races in a triple are run over the same track(Belmont), it's hard to call it a truly national series(includes both the Triple Tiara and Handicap Triple). Alot of bitter Mine That Bird fans suggested that it would have been better if Bird' and Rachel Alexandra would have met later in the year, with Bird a Triple Crown winner(which wouldnt have happened anyways, Rachel or no Rachel in the Preakness) and Rachel a Triple Tiara winner. Well, Gabby's Golden Gal just won the Acorn, so let's all get excited for a possible Triple Tiara...I'm being sarcastic.

The 2 most important races for 3 year old fillies are the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama. And the Breeders Cup Distaff is more important than any of the Triple Tiara races as well. The reality is that the Triple Tiara has had very little meaning for at least the last 10 years. Sky Beauty, who I believe was the last filly to win the Triple Tiara in 1993, wasnt even champion 3 year old filly that year(Hollywood Wildcat)! Another very telling fact is that Sky Beauty and Open Mind, the 1988 Triple Tiara winner, have both been on the last two Hall of Fame ballots, but lost to Inside Information and Silverbulletday. Open Mind won 4 grade 1 races in addition to her Triple Tiara races, and Sky Beauty won 6 grade 1 races in addition to her Triple Tiara races, yet neither is in the Hall of Fame. As for the fillies that kept them out of the Hall, Inside Information and Silverbulletday, they won a combined ONE Triple Tiara race(Inside Information won the 94' Acorn).  

- Gio Ponti has finally put it all together, and has now won 2 straight grade 1 races. He is effective from 1 mile to 10 furlongs, and must be ranked up with Einstein and Kip Deville at the top of the turf division.

- Great to see veteran war horse Better Talk Now run 3rd in the gr.1 Manhattan. This is a horse that should be truly appreciated. He's a winner of 5 gr.1 races, and has probably placed in more than 15 gr.1 races total.

- Fans at Belmont got to see the two best sprinters in the country, Fabulous Strike and Benny the Bull. Unfortunately, Fabulous Strike does not run as well on synthetics, so he probably will not be at Santa Anita for the Breeders Cup. Benny's Pro-Ride form is questionable as well.

- Speaking of California and synthetics, the Belmont concluded another poor Triple Crown for the Cali contingent. Pioneer of the Nile in the Derby was the only Cali horse to place in a Triple Crown race this year.  So, in the 2 years since California installed synthetics there has been a total of 19 horses that have placed in a Triple Crown race(deadheat for 3rd in 08' Belmont), with only 1 having prepped in Cali. Now, I grew up in SoCal, so I have great respect for racing in the state. However, the evidence is growing that...1)Horses that actually prefer dirt to synthetics are shipped from Cali early in the prep season, like I Want Revenge, 2)The synthetic horses that are dominating California preps have trouble running as well on dirt, at least during the Triple Crown. It's unfortunate I Want Revenge suffered an injury because he was proven on dirt, but the others have not represented the proud California racing tradition well. Pioneer of the Nile, Chocolate Candy, Mr Hot Stuff, and Papa Clem fared terribly in their 2nd Triple Crown race.  Extending it further, horses that prepped over synthetics in Kentucky have also struggled in the last 2 Triple Crowns.  I guess that's why there has never been a significant Kentucky Derby prep race run on the turf over the years. I guess it has something to do with different surfaces...

-I was at Pinnacle Racecourse this afternoon for the Belmont. The local feature, a $15,000 allowance, was won by the venerable 7 year old Michigan-bred gelding, Meadow Vespers. Meadow Vespers is a 4-time Michigan bred champ, and has now placed in 26 of 29 career races. I hope racing in Michigan survives, because statebreds like Meadow Vespers deserve a place where they can be showcased.

    Dray, gone but not forgotten.  Anyway, as I see the recap of the Belmont, the horses who ran the best race finished 2nd & 3rd.  Dunkirk simply ran lights out.  I've never seen a horse run a :47 in that race and still be there in the end.  I thought he was cooked by the 1/4 pole, but that last surge he had to finish 2nd was simply outstanding.  As for Mine That Bird, as much as I like Borel, he lost that race for the horse.  He was too confident and moved way too early.  You could also chalk it up to inexperience riding in Belmont, but either he moved too soon and got the horse beat.

    On a positive note, the blog nailed the super.  If someone was so inclined to take Dray's picks and the overall consensus and box them in a super, it would have cost $120 for a $1 bet.  The $1 super returned $426 so that would have been a $306 profit.  Not too bad.

Great race! I came away from it really impressed with Dunkirk. Led most all the way, got headed and fought back for 2nd. Of course, he did have the layoff as did Summer Bird whereas MTB did not. Also, this enhances Quality Road in my eyes as to how he brushed off Dunkirk in the FLA Derby when Dunkirk tried to head him in the stretch. Will be great to hopefully see him come back and duel with Dunkirk and the others this summer. Sure hoping that we see another edition of these horses in Saratoga.

I knew that Summer Bird would be up there XD

Can not wait to see both the Birds race again and Quality Road show up to race again as well.  

By the way any word on I Want Revenge and how he is healing?  

Aaahhhh poor Draynay...go cry and cuddle your little drop kick schnauzers Bwahahaha!!! >:D

"To think Summer Bird is on par with CC is laughable at best.  And I predict here and now the FLUKE will never pass DUNKIRK in the race.....NEVER"

Missed on both accounts.

I'll admit to not giving much credit to Summer Bird. With only one win in a maiden race, and that coming over Luv Guv. Nevertheless congrats to the horse and connections.

I have to give credit to MTB. At least he showed up and raced well in all three TC races. How many horses today do that? I look forward to seeing him again.  

Look Katsan,

    There are people on this blog ten times more arrogent than i am, so excuse me for responding back to it. I know the horse moved to soon but as i stated earlier unless he has a perfect trip he does not win. Other than gate problems in the Derby, which at a 1 1/4 and for a closer don't really do to much, MTB had a perfect trip. He was on the rail the whole way, on the fastest part of the track, was 20 lengths off the lead and only ran the last three furlongs while skimming the rail. In the Preakness he ran into the best horse he's ever faced, and when he ran into some trouble, going wide, which closers do all the time, he couldn't catch her, even when he had the pace to run into. The belmont again he had some trouble, but he also had the pace. It's not calvins fault the horse began to fight and as other experts said the best thing you can do with a horse is to do what makes them happy, since fighting them will tire them out just as fast or even quicker. If you don't like my brashness too bad, i'm not going to, change, obviously i do know something, because i have been told i have good points. MTB is a good horse, but if he's going to be great he needs to be able win even without the perfect trip, which he's show so far he can't. He's good not great.

Tim G,

    Yes i have been to a race track, plus i actually work around racehorse, and own two thoroughbreds myself. That pace was not soft for the Belmont, you want soft go and look at the 07 Belmont. The announcer said the race was strong, and i believe even the artical on the Belmont on Blood horse say Dunkirk set swift fractions for the Belmont. That pace was not soft, was it blazing, no but the fractions were solid, which should've given MTB something a great horse to close into. Great horses overcome things like that, if he can't overcome that he doesn't deserve to win the Bemont or the TC. Is he a fluke, no, but is he great no.

By the way Tim G, why don't you learn to base things one what you yourself know, instead of taking everything everyone else has got to say. If you actually knew something maybe you'd be able to come up with your own opinion.

Gun Bow,

    I was just wondering can you tell me how many horses have won the Belmont in their fifth start? I'm just curious.

I think CB rode the best he could with the horse running the way he was that day...champion horses want to run...the horse was clueless how long the race was going to be...you can't argue the whole race or the race is shot, so he did the best he could and the result is he was first in the Derby, second in the Preakness, third in the Belmont...where's the disgrace in that??? Only one other horse ran in all three and it looks like he bounced badly...so no crap about MTB. Geesh, even Seabiscuit only won 50% of the time...

It's going to be a great racing season with QR coming back, maybe Munnings moving up a notch, hopefully IWR and GQ coming back...

Dunkirk validated a lot of people's faith and helped disprove that US can't run long...

and I was right that a "Bird in the race is worth two in the Belmont!", just wish I had had Dunkirk as a sandwich instead of Chocolate for dessert!

Ummm, BIRDS RULE, your kind blog host didn't pick both Birds to hit the board, so he sucks, too, like Draynay?

Lots of people on this blog picked Chocolate Candy, remember Jason said he was like 4 votes behind as the third choice? And Dray stuck with Dunkirk...

Dray, you rock as far as I'm concerned, you are a lot less rude than the many who diss you with such vitriole on this blog.

TO:DON

So,how many winners did you have? lol

Very happy for both the Birds! MTB will probably never be faced with a pace scenario like that (at 1 1/2 mi.) again. Hopefully, it was a learning experience for Calvin. Apparently all the horses came out of the race without injury...is that correct? Anyone heard further news on that this morning?

Don...

Get off Greg.  He is an assett to this blog and we all like his imput.  He has given us a lot of very good information not to mention all the other stuff he does for us (videos, articles, etc.)  Be nice. :)

Soldier Course  IMO I don't think he should have had the mount on MTB in the Belmont.  If I were Chip, he would have never rode my horse again.  :)

Calvin moved too early. The tracks that he's won with "the move" are 3 furlongs from start of the turn to finish, so that is embedded in his mind. Belmont is 4 furlongs from start of turn to finish - he moved 1 furlong too early. You see he had the lead by a head at the 1/8 pole. And that was it for the tank.

Calvin's other mistake was not having a mount all day - even just for timing purposes from turn to finish.

Kent timed his ride perfectly. I could imagine his flashbacks to Big Brown and Real Quiet at the top of the stretch.

And a heck of a race by Dunkirk! It looks like his pedigree kicked in at the last furlong.

Well, I wasn't trying to get rid of Draynay, but I did pick the top three...just a bit out of order. I had Mine That Bird, Summer Bird, and Dunkirk.  Do I get a victory lap? Haha...just kidding.

Now what are all of you people going to talk about for a month with Draynay gone? I'm sure he will be taking notes while he's silent...while he's trying to be silent?

LDP,

I'm gathering you somehow got burnt by either Dunkirk not winning or with MTB coming in 3rd, because I can't see another reason for getting so up in arms about the results - or people's positive comments about the two Birds.

Unless you are secretly an acolyte of the exiled Cheeto King's misanthropic and uninformed opinions.

I take nothing away from Dunkirk - who I did see re-rally impressively to grab second right at the wire.  I had my doubts that he'd get a mile and 1/2 - and I had even more doubts about his heart when eyeballed.  But he proved his class yesterday.

My point was that - with all the nasty comments and incredible lack of respect Dray spewed about MTB not being fit to run with the likes of Dunkirk and Charitable Man - and that he "wouldn't even hit the board" - MTB ran as good a race as Dunkirk (and probably a harder one since he came from off the pace whereas Dunkirk had a pretty easy cruise on the front end) and STILL only got beat for second money by a scant neck.

That, LDP, is proof that he is a quality, top level race horse.  Dunkirk  has not run in 5 weeks and had to scrape tooth and nail to beat him.  MTB danced 3 Grade I races in 5 weeks - won the toughest (Derby,)placed 2nd to a superfilly by a diminishing length and finally ran out of gas to another Birdstone colt in the Belmont while losing a short neck to a $3.7 million purchase.

By the way, in Draynay's standards - Dunkirk meets every criteria of the word "fluke," as he has yet to win a  race since early spring in a high level allowance.  

I would never call Dunkirk a fluke, but neither should that word be uttered regarding MTB.  He finished in the top three of the TC races and was 2-yr-old champion in Canada.  If that's the definition of a "flukey" horse - then Dray must be living in Bizzaro Racing World - where "denial" ain't just a river in Egypt.  

True fans should be thrilled for a runner like MTB - isn't that what we say we want in racing?  

Congrats to Summer Bird on a great race and to all the top three.  We should have some great racing coming down the road.  Add in Rachel and the return of Well Armed and hopefully Quality Road - we should be chock full of storylines for the fall!

Cgriff,

    how about you ppl learn to stop assuming, because if you read back i never bet on races, unless it's with family or friends, which in this case i did, but i won my ten bucks so i'm happy. I just don't like being talked down to for my opinions. Am i brash and blunt yes, yesterday more than normal because i had an extremely frustrating day at work which mean not only mentally but physically. My back popped, and i ended up needing a brace all day, then my boss tells me i'm going slow, when he even sees i'm wearing a brace. Thats why i was mad yesterday. As i have said MTB IMO is a GOOD horse. He's just not great. Dunkirk did not have it that easy, setting solid frontrunning fractions for the first time, going 1 1/2 is not easy. To run a 1.12 and 2 is very good and he should've folded. MTB is a good horse, but what i see is when he runs into trouble and does not get a close to perfect or perfect trip he will lose. Closers go wide all the time, but in the Preakness when he ran wide he couldn't run down RA. In the vitual race by JB he only wins by a half, and he even had the pace to close into. In the Belmont he gets strong so Borel had to let him float up. Again he had the pace, but couldn't settle or hold off a re-rally by Dunkirk. He is a good horse and he can improve, but right now he's not as great as others make him out to be.

StardustyRose:

Aha, I think you got the subtle point I was making about Borel's ride yesterday. Didn't want to start a firestorm, so I kept it ambiguous. Do you think there's a possibility? Thanks for commenting.

One last hurrah: I have loved this TC season. Sure, it's been weird and VERY quirky, but IT HAS BEEN GREAT! Fun and interesting and full of "I never heard of THAT before" moments. So being weird and and quirky myself, I can revel in this year. And I apologize for repeating myself, but this has been more fun than I can remember.

Frankly, I DO NOT care who won what; it's been a great ride with all sorts of twists and turns and it certainly held my attention. No televised breakdowns, no horrific falls for the world to see, safe trips, wonderful horses......ALL OF 'EM........... interesting trainers, fascinating stories, the best and most astounding film of a Derby ever (THANKS blimp guys!) and we ALL came home winners...... maybe not financially, but let's face it, racing needed a season like this and we got it.

So hurrah! for us, AND the horses, AND the trainers AND the jockeys, AND everyone else who got to see what we just saw.

Safe trips, and cheers to all.

Runfast, and any others who seem to hate me right now,

    Runfast, you didn't seem to talk down in your post to me, so thank you for that. I am not saying anything against MTB, or his 1 2 3 finshes in the TC. He is a good horse. Great ones are versitle enought to overcome troubles, and can run there race every time. Zenyatta, though i don't feel she's as good as RA, is great. She fires every time, no matter who she races or how the trip is. She makes her own race. MTB is a very good horse, you have to be to get 1 2 3 in the TC races. But he's not great, which is what some people say he is, and his last couple have not justified that. They have justified he's not a fluke, and yes, unlike Dray, i do think he's a good horse. I would have had no problem with him winning the Belmont, in fact i was rooting for him. My head though thought he wouldn't win, and it was right. Can this horse improve to become great, heck yes. I never said he couldn't. As of now i just don't think he is a great horse.

I for one still actually believe this is a very good crop. There have just been unfortunate injuries as of late. You can't say a crop with horses like IWR(injured), QR(injured, but on the mend), SE(injured), FF(injured), POTN(resting), Dunkirk, and MTB is a bad year. We all know that most of those horses will be returning. This is not a bad crop. One plagued by bad luck, but not bad.

Dunkirk's tactics in the Belmont were by design. Johnny V, very rarely makes a tactical error in a race. 99% of the time he puts his horse in a position to win. The rest is up to the horse. He is one of the best if not the best race rider there is. He would have many more Triple Crown wins if he wasn't first call for Pletcher. Also, Angel Cordero is his agent. Think he knows a little about riding in big races?

Needler in Virginia:

Well said. I thought Mine That Bird's story was so upbeat and good for racing, and I like his connections. There were interesting angles about all 3 races to tantalize new fans.  

And New Mexico has been solidified as a viable national racing venue, much like what happened to Arkansas because of Smarty Jones. Peppers Pride, Mine That Bird, Gabby's Golden Gal all gave New Mexico a tremendous boost in a matter of a few months. Well done!

I didn't have them in the right order, but I did have 2 of the top 3 finishers. I had MTB, Flying Private & SB to run 1, 2 & 3. I think that MTB is a great horse. He & Flying Private were the only 2 horses to run in all three TC races. All the others were fresh horses. Yet, he still ran in the first 3 in all three races. I read an interesting blog this morning. I think it was in the NY Post, but I am not sure. The blogger felt that the horses running in the Triple Crown races should be required to run in all 3 races, unless injury prevents it. The blogger felt that in the interest of fairness with all the horses being as tired as the rest in the race, that is really the only fair way to run these races. For MTB to have run in all 3 races & show up in all 3 speaks very loudly on what a great horse he really is. I am curious as to what the rest of you on this blog think about what I read this morning. It has been talked about that all the other top 4 finishers in the Belmont yesterday were fresh horses. So, that blog I read made me stop & think about it. I hadn't thought of it quite like that before. But, it is definitely an interesting opinion & maybe does have some merit.

BTW, Morgan & I didn't get up early today & go down to Belmont. I didn't think it was a good idea since I have to work tonight & working 12 hours in a trauma ER requires me being on my toes & not dead tired before my shift even starts.

Colette

Monica V

Soldier Course

And to all of the others who commented and re-commented on my girl, Jada, thank you so much. You all have made me feel alot better because of your kind words and thoughts. I know I'm a stranger but we do seem to have quite a unique family on this blog.lol. Much love to everyone and their beloved pets. Yes, even you Dray!

LDP, you need to cool your jets young lady. You are far and away, by your own admission, too young to be talking down to people the way you do on here.

I, being far and away older than you, feel comfortable listening to the people who LIVE with the freakin horse 24 hours a day 7 days a week than I do someone I have socks older than and who expects me to take HER opinion of race horses when I will guarantee you've never owned one, run one or done anything else significant with one. I know how my horses that I own run, I know everything about them as does my trainer. However, I don't presume to second guess either Chip or Calvin. CALVIN SAID the pace seemed soft. Maybe it wasn't but that was his perception and perhaps what drove him to move a little early. Maybe you should advise him as well? Since he was only ON the horse.

You presume to tell trainers on here who have said they have been training horses for decades, ALL about the horse world.

Nobody hates you. We're just trying to give you a little worldy advice, which, also by your own admission you do not have.

As for telling me I should form my own opinions?

How are you doing that? Reading other peoples opinions? Figuring it out from watching TV?

I think someone may have said this to you before but do you think I would take your advice on performing surgery on a patient?

The equivalent of a 'candy striper'?

Now if you have a stable of race horses that I'm unaware of, I apologize. But go ask your Dad (think you said he helps you formulate some of your opinions?) anyway, go ask if he'd like you telling him or anyone he knows how to think when you have virtually NO experience in the field you are discussing.

Arrogance like Katsan said. There are a few on here, do you want to emulate that?

One kid on here tried to advise you of that, you said your persona on here is different, well it's not becoming on here. YOU called ME out, just like you've done others who you know nothing about, know nothing of their background in racing or anything else. YOU young lady are in for some really hard lessons in life. Give your opinion. But don't call out someone who probably has ten times more experience in the field than you do. There's a big difference working 'around' a race horse and owning or training 10-70 of the animals for 30-50 years.

I'm home playing hooky from the track today so I can watch on the internet, friends and family run in the big barrel race in Vegas.

But, I've watched Mine That Bird run in every one of his races since he came to NM. Like Chip said,early in his career here and in Canad he looked for the lead, went for it then faded every time.

He has one good move in him and frankly, I'd say as Steve Haskin (someone mentioned his suggestion)said himself, it's a good thing he doesn't train race horses.

Chip wanted him a little closer up, knew he couldn't fall way back like he did in the Derby or he was toast. BUT he didn't want him to make a premature move.

THAT LDP is speaking from what Chip said about HIS horse and the way WE would instruct a jockey on one of ours with a similar running style. Tim is right about that, plus he's correct in saying that Chip knew the little horse moved too soon.

Let me weigh this out here, your opinion vs what Chip and Calvin said? Now really who do YOU think is the most well informed on this subject?

Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey vs YOU, once again???? I knew Jerry when he first started riding and he has become arrogant. BUT, he has reason to be as far as horse racing is concerned. Arrogance is much more tolerable when the person is knowledgable about their vocation.

Also like BIGHORSEFAN said, Jerry Bailey did an overlay on top of the Preakness tape, with one of the Derby and stated that "if Calvin had been on the horse he would have beaten RA" A pretty bold statement in support of someone other than himself riding the horse (he always tells everyone how HE would have ridden it).

Is Mine That Bird a great horse? Maybe not but I really don't think we've had too many of those in a long time, especially a 3 year old. Is he one of the great horses of this year? Probably. Go find a horse that you could guarantee to do what he did and you'd get a huge chunk of change for it, even in these tough times.

Who cares if the Bird is a great horse right now?? Making that sort of judgment call at this stage is both premature and ridiculous. He HAS, however, won the Derby going away, placed a closing second behind Rachel, and finished a respectable third in the Belmont. GREAT? Maybe not right now, but he could be; he certainly has the time to try for that. Really good? YUP, no question. besides, he's the truly attractive star that racing needs right now, so why not cut the little fella some slack? Even machines don't perform at 100% all the time, and horse aren't machines ..............THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!

Cheers and safe trips for all.

Soldier Course

Yeah we are on the same page.  :)

Colette...I was sorry to read of your experience at Belmont...good luck with trying again. From what I have heard I am sure someone would be happy to meet your son and show him around so Good Luck(I will be hoping to meet anyone who can help me see the backside at Hollywood Park next month, so wish me luck too,lol.). As for your question...I disagree with making any race a mandatory prep for any other race. The TC is not supposed to be "fair", it's supposed to be hard, that's how you set apart a superstar. Also the Belmont is an older race than the Derby and it was a BIG race well before the Derby was. For example, in 1919 Sam Riddle had NO interest in the Ky Derby but was quite intent on winning the Belmont with Man O'War. The Preakness also has it's own rich tradition. The Triple Crown is so different from anything else in sports, it's not guaranteed. I have never seen one, I was too young in the 70s(I was 3 in 1973) and would LOVE to but not like that. It would be totally unfair to only allow horses to enter the Preakness if they ran in the Derby and only to let them in the Belmont if they ran both. (Who would you have liked this year? Mine that Bird or Flying Private?) Would have been a pretty sad race and NOONE(casual fans,the press) would have cared who won and noone("serious" fans,racing insiders) would respect that horse as a superstar. The TC is not mandatory, it is an incredible feat that only 11 have accomplished. Also it sounds like you(or the blog you are referencing) wants all of the TC bound horses on the same prep schedule. While I like the idea that that would create rivalries(if the same horses all have to run in the same races over and over) but which races are the "approved" preps? It goes back to what I posted on a different blog...I wish that all of the Graded stakes were treated with equal respect. There are more(many,many more) really good races every year than just the TC and BC. I get so frustrated hearing that EVERY race is "just a prep" for either the TC or the BC. I don't know if I'm answering your question or have just gone off on a rant! lol, so to sum up...I don't like the idea at all ;)

LDP...I tried to warn you that you argued like Draynay and now that he's gone it looks like you're taking his heat. :)

   To Gunbow, I agree with your comments on RA. I was surprised at those who said she 'ruined' MTB's chances of winning the TC. That can officially be put to rest.  

   For me, she was the highlight of these races this year. Nothing against MTB; for some reason I just never became a big fan. I will say finishing 1-2-3 was quite an accomplishment, he definitely has my respect for that. Also for how he has reportedly handled himself. Whether he is indeed 'good' or 'great', I'll say he has the heart of a champion.

    To Horswld, I would like to offer my sincere condolences for your precious Jada. I read your comment about her yesterday, and did give my special cat more affection than usual last night(that might sound weird, I think you know what I mean). You are right, that could have been anyone's pet, and because of your heartfelt words I will remember each day to be as thankful as possible. Because of you and precious Jada. Thank you.

TO:TIM G

Your statement to LDP,"we're just trying to give you a little worldy advice". Got a question! Do you ever need advice or have you got the market on that? You weren't talking to LDP,you're lecturing her. There's a big difference,in case you haven't noticed. Here's a tip,you don't like her posts,don't read them! Don't think you would take kindly to lectures,would you?

"Don",

     WOW, To be so bitter, Umm, It seems to me you must not of had a good day at the track?, Honestly, If you don't like what I post, You can skip right by it, Unless that is too hard for you.  Just a heads up to you, This is a "Blog", Hence, Jason comes up with a subject that would generate a lot of interesting comments and opinions, That is what Jason does, and this Blog is probably the best on the net.  I, for one, Have gotten incredible information from Horse owners, Trainers, Great fans of the sport, All from this Blog!  Being a Huge Fan of the sport for over 25 years and growing up with Horses, I am grateful for the knowledge and insight this Blog continues to supply me with.  I also hope, on occasion, I too help some people out here.  So thanks to ALL the people that provide such great commentary here, It it greatly appreciated...

FYI,

   "Don", You asked if I had any winners yesterday.  Well, If you looked at my posts, You could have answered that yourself.  I hit one Trifecta(Race 6, $2 tri for $140).  A $20 win ticket on "Munnings" for $90 in race #8.  And in the Belmont, Had a $50 Win ticket on "Summer Bird" for $650, And had a $2 Superfecta Box (2-4-6-7) for $852.00.  So "Don", Itwasn't really too bad of a day for me, It would have been incredible if "Dunkirk" had finished fourth, But the final tally was, I spent a total of $400 of Tickets, Collected $1,732.00 For a Net Profit of $1,332.00 give or take, Also minus another $50 for a personnal side bet I made on Benny the Bull beating Fabulous Strike, Didn't mind losing that one, It was a Great Effort by both horses...

Hello there Stardust,Mike Relva, For Big Red...

    Thanks Stardust for the kind words!

Jason,

    I owe you, Your comment on "Munnings" made me go back and place a $20 win ticket on him, So thanks for the Heads up...

BTW,

    Don, I can't seem to find any picks of yours, or any insightful comments, Surprising, lol...

Katsan,

    This is AMERICA, you know i can have my opinion, if you don't like that move to brain washed north korea, and become the leader, that way all will love you and everything you like. For now i'll stick with my opinion. This colt is not great and yet you ppl worship him like he's secretariats second coming. O he got 1 2 3 in the TC races. Well guess what, so did Curlin, who was less experience and was up against tougher horses. Now i have said i think this is a good crop, but the horses that were in the Derby, Preakness and Belmont for the most part didn't deserve to be there. There were only a select few who truley belonged. Curlin was making his fourth fifth and sixth start, ever, yet he doesn't get half the accolades this horse is getting. What scence does it make that more ppl are calling MTB who has had like ten starts only winning half them great, when you can only get half the ppl on the same blog to call Curlin who did everything MTB has done, and had 16 starts won 11, was never out of the money, and has done more as of now than MTB ever thought of doing, great. This horse makes one run every time that is three fulongs, if it's longer he's done. If he gets less than an ideal trip he's not going to get there. That is not great. Can he become it, without a doubt, but even his trainer said he has a lot more to do if he wants at least the three year old honors. QR, though not my favorite horse, is not going to back down so easily. This horse IMO is just as good possibly better than RA. QR nor RA need the lead they can win while setting hard fractions or can wait and relax and pounce. This horse is a one dimensional closer. Zenyatta could've won over these horses, RA would've as well. Zenyatta just sits back then goes. Is she my favorite again, no, but she can make her own race, pace or no pace, trip or no trip. Same goes for IWR, QR, or RA. This horse need the pace and the trip, and he proved it in the Preakness and Belmont. Both races he had the trip and pace, and he won. In the Preakness and Belmont he have the trip, even though he had the pace. If you want to say well he was tired after his third race in five weeks, well RA ran on average a race every 2.5 weeks, won by twenty in the Oaks almost setting a track record. Normally i'd say it was done easily, but a horse doesn't almost set a record time wise easily. She the came back off of two weeks, like MTB, with not the very best preperation on earth and still won. She had every right to fold and didn't. Closers overcome this stuff, going wide, moving a bit early, all the time, yet when faced with a horse better than the ones he had been beating he couldn't win. As of now he's not versitle enough, meaning he can make his own race. He is a fantastic closer, but to be great he's either going to become more versitle or learn to overcome the extra things closers deal with. He is a good horse, and i would have no probelm at all if he won the rest of his races. His trainer is right though, if he's going to beat these horses he going to need to step up to the plate the rest of the year, especially if QR, and some other returning from freshenings or injuries are going to be racing him, otherwise, he'll always be in the money or almost got there, but never the winner.

Tim G,

    I'm going to try really hard and be nice, since i know i won't be tommorow. I may not own race horses but i work with and around them for a job. I have ridden horses for 10 years and have got the physical ailments that go with already to verify it. So i do have experience in this field. You have just now told me you are older than me, so tell me how am i suppose to relize that before then. If i don't know i'm not going to hold off one ounce, though half the time if my temper gets to hot i don't anyway. I told you ppl why i was so angry yesterday, and believe me if you were my age had a muscle that presses on the siatic nerve in your back and chronic brucitis in one of your shoulders, have to lift hay and straw bales litterally over half your body weight, then getting yelled at by your boss who tells you your going too slow, when others around are as fit as fiddles and can do what you wish they could, yet they actually slack off, i think you'd be mad too. Ok i'm done ranting, sorry. My dad gives me advice on real world experiences, but knows virtually nothing about horses. I and you could ask anyone i my family, but i know more than any of them, and more than some of the ppl who work at my barn. Why, because unlike anyone you've probably meant i live for horses, i study all i can about every aspect of them to learn all i can about them, that is why when some ppl on here talk down to me, which some do, i get really really mad. Also Tim you ppl have no idea what i would give to be where you ppl are, training owning riding those horses. I can garuntee you i may be able to train or own, but my passion is to ride, and i never will be able to be a jockey, not even an exersise rider. I may sound arrogent when i say i know i'm talented enough, but i've had ppl tell me how good of a rider i am. I'm light enough to be a jockey barely over 100lbs, and i'm in high school. But with the things going on with me, my back and shoulder, things that you need to be able to ride horses like that i will never be able to. I am not arrogent, hot tempered and opinionated i will say. Negative and pesamistic, again yes, but if you knew me and my background i will garuntee you arrogant would be the last word to come to your mind. I know people on here try to give me advice, but believe me, you talk down to me and i'll fight, every single time. Not because i dislike you, but because i'm constantly talked down to and looked down upon by ppl my age who barely know me. Thats the main reason i get so defensive, and i'm sorry. The bluntness and brashness is me, plain and simple, and that i won't change, i will try to be less defensive.

barb,

    I know, but hopefully you kinda get me. I don't mind the heat, being in high school and not in the popular groups gets you used to taking a lot of heat. When dray left i knew it was going to be me or possibly Dave. I guess i get under ppl's skin more. I wonder why, lol.

Mike R,

    Wow....Thanks, a lot. Glad to know i have someone that stands up for me. I'll try and do the same for you from now on too. Thanks.

Mike. I think the issue that I and some others have is WE don't like being lectured by HER.

You told Atthebarn that he knew what he was talking about. Yet this guy (who I almost think I know who he is from what he and others have said), a late 60's y.o. trainer, was lectured on human nature by this girl.

Katsan, who has said she and her husband have trained for years, same thing, see above.

She dishes it out but can't take it.

She's also called out any number of people without justification or a request for her synposis on our comment.

Go back and read my comment that precipitated MY remarks to her. It was not made to her,my response was STILL not as rude as hers until she made a smart aleck comment:

"By the way Tim G, why don't you learn to base things one what you yourself know, instead of taking everything everyone else has got to say. If you actually knew something maybe you'd be able to come up with your own opinion.

LDP 07 Jun 2009 9:33 AM"

Now read my comments prior to that. I said I was speaking with Chip and this was what he said to me. How arrogant would I be if I said the guy didn't know what he was talking about?

I assure you I'm capable of thinking for myself, I have horses have had for many years so I do listen when someone I KNOW talks.

And, No sir, I do not take advice from uninformed people who merely READ about things. I take my advice from people who are actually involved in whatever process.

My guess is if you ever need a knee replacement or something similar, you wouldn't want someone who 'read' about it or 'saw' it on TV, guiding me.

Like someone on here said, she seems to think her confrontational attitude is taking up Draynay's banner. As I said, he's an experienced man who bets (badly) but does know the game as irritating and provocative as he may be.

As far as not reading or responding? If she doesn't try to challenge me I don't have any reason to interact with her.

You say you have horses, you don't like being told all about the game by those who don't (from what I read) neither do I.

Yes it's still America.

I've lived in it for 60 years.

Yes, you are allowed your opinions, and you aren't afraid to give them, right or wrong. Even if the info is coming straight from those in the know (like Chip) Funny you took to heart PART of what he said but lectured me and others on other things he said.

I have one last comment to you. I really hope you aren't wanting to pursue a job in the industry, you wouldn't last a day.

LDP, there's a line from the movie "Seabiscuit" that fits here almost as well as it did in the scene: Pollard is raging at a loss and Howard asks "who are you so mad at?" Well, WHO are you so mad at, LDP? Why does it matter if your opinion is different from that of others? Why do you care if others disagree? At the end of the day, it really doesn't make a rat's patoot who likes the Bird, Rachel, Zenyatta or Arrrrr the best. The reasons we feel strongly about the horses we favor are varied and, probably, all (maybe) valid. Others disagree with you.....SO WHAT? You have your opinion and you feel strongly about it, but several of your posts are almost guaranteed to make some people reach for their automatic weapons. Possibly a gentler approach is an option here, as we ALL have the right to feel the way we do, AND to state our opinions. Just because someone questions YOU does not mean you are wrong, NOR does it mean you are right. It just means you happen to differ. As a matter of fact, my best friend and I have been arguing for 32 years over who was the best ever --she chooses Man O' War, and I choose Secretariat. Who's right? Doesn't really matter, does it?

Relax a bit, LDP........ you'll have WAY more fun!

Cheers, and safe trips to all.

My Juliet,

Your words brought me to tears. So kind. Thank you so much. I'm glad something positive has come from Jada's passing. The more love everyone can pass along to their pets and to each other makes each day a little better and a little brighter. God bless and much love to you and your special kitty!

LDP...I am sorry to hear of your back and shoulder problems, that's rough. I too wanted to be a jockey and my body wouldn't let me either(I was 5'6" by age 12 and 5'10" by 14). I said before that I (mostly) ignore Dray but I can't seem to ignore you...I think it's because I know you are young and I assume Dray is a grown man, so maybe it seems like you can benefit from other opinions and facts(which ppl DO present you with) more. Contrary to your thoughts you WILL change as you mature, we all do. One reason I think ppl are calling you out is that you often contradict yourself, for example you told Atthe to think carefully about what he says then said that you often get mad and just post anything that comes into your head. I have written MANY posts that I did not actually post, but it made me feel better to write it. This is such a great forum for racing fans to "talk" to insiders and to connect with other fans that I try to keep my posts positive even though I have as many negative thoughts as the next person. I am hoping to meet some of the people on here one day(maybe BC) and would like to have made a good impression. Needler gives good advice. In horse racing it's all subjective with personal favorites. Keep your chin up :)

Needler...For 32 years noone has argued for Citation??? LOL. I love the "Big Red"s too but I can never shake "Big Cy". He was never as flashy but his 3 y/o year was INCREDIBLE and since he went on til 6...it's hard for me to say anyone was better than Citation. Of course it's hard for me to say anyone was better than Secretariat or Man O'War either...or Native Dancer for that matter, lol. Too much Greatness!!

Hrswld...I am as pleased as you to see all of the affection flowing towards you, it reaffirms my faith in people. Losing a pet is so difficult. I have a 19 y/o cat who won't be with me much longer and I am enjoying my time with him to the last minute. With all of the puppy mills being busted lately I wonder if you have room in your heart and home for a rescue? Jada wouldn't want you to feel sad and alone. Again, my heart goes out to you.

Needler in VA,

   I understand what you say, but that line also has to apply to other ppl. Do i get pushy yes, but i've said before i'm not good at putting my words the way i want them to be heard. I may question some people, but i'm not hear to disrespect anyone. Some of these ppl get so riled up because they think they know more than me just because i'm young. Just a tip if you want me to cool off do not make a reference of superiority  to yourself because your older, and me because i'm younger, as far as i'm concerned age doesn't mean everything, so i hate it when ppl reference to me young lady or try to say i don't know much because i'm young, when at my barn, school and home i know more than just about anyone, this is not arrogence, it's a fact. If ppl are so bothered by me, why bother to respond, just ignore me. Do i get hot headed, yes but honestly the best thing you can do when i get like that is to ignore me. As i said i'll try to be less defensive, but my brasheness and temper are probably not gonna change. By the way believe it or not, i'm more relaxed than i was a couple years ago, a lot more relaxed, lol.

Katsan,

    You best off shut your mouth on commenting i would not last a day in an idustry i love, and have so much a passion for. This is a warning, not a lecture, and for your last comment to me this is being nice, please do not throw around insults. I may be pushy but show me one place where i insulted you straight out.

Tim,

    I am sorry for that comment, that was extremely rude. But i'm not sorry on commenting on other posts. This is a blog, you put your opinion up, i have have a right to question or agree with it. Also how can i not take the critism you ppl give me. I think i've done well, actually. If i truely couldn't take all this i wouldn't be blogging here still, i'd be somewhere else. I may not take it kindly if i think you are incorrect, but hey, i'm still hear. And like above if i see i've been overly rude, i'll apologize for it, but i'm not going to be sorry for commenting on blogs ppl put up. They post it which means they want it to be seen, which means anyone has the right to comment on it, agreeing or disagreeing. If you don't want ppl to argue with you don't post it. I keep posting because i don't care who sees my opinions, and if you want to argue fine. I need some way to vent.

" I don't mind the heat, being in high school and not in the popular groups gets you used to taking a lot of heat.When dray left i knew it was going to be me or possibly Dave. I guess i get under ppl's skin more. I wonder why, lol.

LDP 07 Jun 2009 9:07 PM"

That first part of that comment pains me, terribly.

First LDP we aren't your schoolmates, we're adults. We don't need to bear the brunt of your frustration with a bunch of immature unkind kids.  

You speak to us without an agenda and I guarantee we'll speak to you in kind. There is no need for a chip on your shoulder with us. Give your opinion, but don't try telling experienced people in the industry and life how wrong they are or how they should think.

The last part of your comment? No we can disagree as people will do and there doesn't need to be a replacement for the agitators like Dray.

We can have discourse and disagreement and stay friends in the end, usually works better when someone isn't TRYING to be confrontational and controversial.

Like someone said, Dray irritates almost everyone, sometimes he is funny.

It's when he goes over the top with his insults and disdain that people don't like him.

Fact is most people don't like ANYONE who takes on everyone on the board with insults, muddies up the conversation and all that makes their point a lot less insightful or even one that gets the attention it might deserve.

Don't buy into the adage that any attention is better than no attention.

Pretty soon, people who attempt that? Get totally ignored.

LDP, on your last comment to me?

I said in earlier posts, prior to the one you attacked, that I'm a Dr.

Therefore I'm obviously what you would consider 'old'. Some others you have called out have said how long they've been in the game and how 'old' they are.

As for living and breathing horses, I know a whole lot of people like that. Was one of them when I was your age. Never talked about how much I knew, listened to every word I heard, watched evey thing I could as far as different training methods. I will guarantee you from what I've read on here there are a lot like that.

The ones talking about barrel racers? I know a few of them (meet a lot in my line of work)and you think YOU live and breathe horses? Those girls and guys often have 10-12 horses that they train and ride usually while holding down a job too. Same with calf ropers, bull doggers and team ropers.

You want to be involved in the riding part? Get a job as a pony girl. There's treatment for bursitis and even for sciatica, do it every day.

I really don't think your issues are with those of us on here, so please stop addressing us as though it is, as though we are some of the people you have issues with in the real world.

One last piece of advice, I saw Katsan told you, I've seen it from other trainers on here and heard it from them in real life. Listen,

watch and learn. If you aren't at a barn where you can do that, get to one where you can. If you are just working at a riding stable, get to a race track where American agrarians are in short supply. Better yet? Pursue your education at a race track program like the University Of Arizona. But be assured, no trainer will take on an employee, no matter how experienced, who questions every thing they do and argues with them about all of it.

BARB......One could NEVER forget Big Cy, but I think our idiotic argument has been focussed on the two Big Reds that we just concentrate on them!! Besides we have a grand time dissing the other's horse and saying the ever-popular "YES, but.............."

LDP, one more thing and I'm done. I didn't once say I was superior, nor did I EVER say you were inferior. Age has nothing to do with anything, really. And I would NEVER assume ""superiority" because I happen to be older than dirt! There are some amazingly smart folks in each age group, just as there are amazingly thick folks in all groups, as well. Mostly, I was just asking why you're so angry? And if your anger is derived from replies to your posts, maybe a step back and an apology here or there MIGHT be in order. I just had to apologize my a** off on another blog when I went off for no good reason. On reflection, I was wrong and said so. Trust me on this one, LDP, and I'm NOT referencing age, everyone makes mistakes.....the adults apologize, the children don't. Intensity, determination, intelligence, strength, and good sense are welcome attributes for anyone; you obviously have strength and determination, and (I would guess) a lot of intelligence, too. It's the good sense you may have to work on a bit. Pissing off everyone on these blogs is not the best way to be welcomed back to the next one. Give it a shot, LDP; if a bit of moderation doesn't work, then consider me wrong and ignore me.

A rethink might be in order, too, since you either  misquoted me or read more into my previous post than I actually said.

Cheers and safe trips to all.

TimG. & Needler,

    Well Stated and thoughtfully written, Good Advice, Hope a certain somebody heeds your advice...

Needler,

    I was not reffering to you when talking about the age references, but other on hear do act like because they are older they know more, which seriously ticks me off. That is one of the worst ways to talk to me, because then i think you are being condecending. You talk to me like i'm a normall person and i will try to treat you the same. I know i can get rude, and when i relize it for the most part i think i show remorse. If i disagree i won't. I'm not going to name names on the age references, but you are not one of them, and i'm sorry i came across to you like that, because you have been more than kind and patient in your posts.

Tim G,

    Thanks for the advice. I'm sorry i either didn't see the post you are refering to about you stating you being a doctor, sometimes, especially late at night, or late for me at least, i tend to skim, and respond to what catches my eye. On your treatment sujestions i do stretch every day. It helps the bursitis, but not my back. The cyropractor says he thought it was a muscle swelling then pinching that nerve but we've never had it checked. It feels like the muscle on the left side of my back, does what i call spazing, where it will tense up real hard and suddenly like i got stung or stuck by something, and stay like that for a few seconds then release. It also has a consistant ache, which when lifting turns into a consitant throb, along with the spazing. In addition to the bursitis in my shoulder i pulled my thoratic muscle and was out of work for ten weeks because of it. Also when i say riding, for now, i mean the speed, the power, and exileration of being on a race horse. I used to gallop my morgan all the time and not even jumping compared to when we were running. It was like, i don't know, we blended, that i knew what she thought and she did the same for me. No horse will ever compare to her. Sorry, i didn't mean to get off topic. I do appriciate the advice and again thank you.

Barb,

    With my family we only get worse as we grow older, or it seems to be that way. I do often times have trouble keeping my temper in check, even when i try to make sure i don't get angry. I say things i don't mean a lot, and regret it when i do, because i don't mean to say them. Tim is right, i'm angry at a lot of other ppl, plus the fact that i am younger and still get injury after injury after injury. It gets on my nerves that i am young and i have all these probelems i'm told i'm not supposed to get until i'm in my late thirties. I don't mean to contridict myself, i try to follow my own advice, and i'm sorry that i can't.

Tim,

    My reference to school was not meant to be an insult, just sayint that because of it, i have learned to take the heat. I admit maybe i'm used to taking it to much, because if i read even one thing that could possibly taken as an insult i fly off the handle. I try to have fun on the blogs, and mostly i do. I'm sorry if i come off arrogant, because if you knew me, i'm not in the least arrogant, and as i said am very quiet and reserve. For the most part i do watch and listen, and i like to learn as many methods as possible. One thing that you can tell about me on here is that i'm hot tempered, and i'm not sure if you can tell this, but i'm not real trusting, or friendly. I've been let down by to many people to even begin to let others in to close. Basicly if i'm comparing with myself to a horse, i'm the horse who has been sent too many bad homes, and just doesn't trust anyone because all i've know for quite a while is all the bad the world can present. I remember the good times i used to have, but it's been so long time, since i've had any good consitantly. The bad so far outnumbers the good by a lot. I'm sorry i come across so bitter. I have to go now and deal with another experience, bad of course, my horse is colicing. Great.

barb,

Your right these people here have been kind. God bless them all. I hope for nothing but the best for you and you cat.  One of my cats Clyde (12yrs old) passed from cancer about a month ago. Of course I was more prepared for him but it doesn't mean it hurts any less. Jada on the other hand was killed right in front of me when a drunk driver ran his truck off the road and into the ditch where she was sniffing out a rabbit. It broke her back but she was still alive and trying get up and walk but she had no use of her back legs. Of course the vet was called and it took awhile for him to get here because I live on a farm way outside of town. I let her drink water from my hands till he got here. When he saw her, the look in his eyes told me everything. After he went over her I already knew what had to happen so I held her and told her what a good girl she was and that I loved her then I let her go on to sleep. That's what happened.

I'm sorry to everyone who reads this. I just had to get it out and explain what happened. I didn't mean to hurt anyone with this but I think it has helped me to share this. Once again thank you to everyone. And when the time comes, yes, I will adopt.

And thank you Jason for putting this on your blog for me. The people here are truly special.

Lets all get back to the ponies!

Apology accepted, LDP; no problem.

NOW how does everyone feel about arguing about which breed is the best? THAT ought to make for light and logical conversation. NAH, don't want to go there!!!

Cheers, and safe trips.

Wow. First off congrats to Summer Bird for a great run, Dunkirk for proving that paying $3.7 mil for him wasn't a bad investment and for MTB running his heart out again. The only horse in the three TC races to show up every time. Good for him, I'm looking forward to seeing him race later in the year. I do think he could have beaten Dunkirk but Calvin moved too early.

I will try to respond to this again because I think this comment is extremely disrespectful and I should be allowed to respond.

"Katsan,

   You best off shut your mouth on commenting i would not last a day in an idustry i love, and have so much a passion for. This is a warning, not a lecture, and for your last comment to me this is being nice, please do not throw around insults. I may be pushy but show me one place where i insulted you straight out.

LDP 08 Jun 2009 6:41 AM"

I tried to respond to you on this, don't recall what I said exactly but I feel that I deserve a chance to respond to you.

You did insult me. First by telling me that I should go to North Korea when I suggested you are a little overzealous in telling people what you think and how they should think. Secondly with this comment telling me to shut my mouth and thirdly with your disrespect to several in the industry and on this blog who are part of a fraternity and are my colleagues.

You say age shouldn't mean people know more? Well pure logic tells you that someone older has been through far more life experiences and someone who is older and has been in the racing industry for 50 years of their life? They might just know a wee bit more than you do.

Not even taking your age into account, just the pure sense of having seen about everything there is to see in racing, up close and personal as they say.

My comment? I just meant that trainers are respectful and they expect that respect returned in kind. The reason I say you wouldn't last a day? Is IF you don't change this beligerent attitude it'll be very hard to get a trainer to keep you on as an employee, we don't like discord in the barn it keeps animals and people alike stirred up.

Or when and if you get to be a trainer you'll have a tough time keeping clients or staff. These people talk about those who think they are never wrong and won't listen to other opinions, it'll label you as difficult and make your career a miserable one.

It may be justified, or it may not. But it certainly isn't adult behavior.

If you ARE interested in pursuing a career in racing or any facet of the horse industry, knowing how to deal with your clients is one of the most important things you can know.

There are times when you will have to bite your tongue, not because an owner wants you to do something illegal or unethical, but because a lot of them are high powered business owners and expect things to be done the way THEY want them done, whether it's right or wrong.

Then, you have the vibe that your animals pick up from you when you're always angry and let everyone know it. Yes we do get angry at staff and clients, but you can't display it because not only does it get you fired as a trainer, have staff turnover but it affects the horses.

There may come a day in your career when you can pick and choose your owners, but that is few and far between for the average trainer. Not the norm for most of us. We are lucky, we have folks who have been with us for years and are good people who love their horses. Some aren't so lucky, but it's their livlihood and as long as it's not illegal or unethical or inhumane, sometimes you will have to just suck it up and keep your mouth shut.

That is what I meant and if I had been meanspirited I would have just ignored you and figured you're all talk and not interested in being a part of the industry at all. Instead I took you seriously and tried to talk to you like you mean what you say about being involved.

Finally, may I suggest that you NEVER tell a 60 year old person to shut their mouth? I don't care how old you are, it's pure disrespect and certainly unwarranted.

LDP, you sound too young (sorry) to have so many issues without much support.

Make friends on here. Trust me if you don't lose your temper and insult people, they're very friendly. Not sure if you know the old saying 'honey draws more flies than vinegar'?

Well we're sort of the flies here.

If you find someone you want to talk to, maybe Jason will ask them if he can give their email address to you. Not that he's here to make social connections but some people just need a friendly 'voice'.

Know our friend has had that asked of him and another friend on here now communicates with her on a regular basis and we ALL try to show her our support and love after her tragic loss, HI WANDA.

We've met a few of the people on here at the various tracks and we all communicate with each other.  Even some of those you've battled with and you know what? They are the nicest people you'd ever talk to or meet. We also show one of those you were so disresptful to, saying to shut her mouth, as much support as we can as she too has had a really tragic past 6 months, HI KATSAN!

It's much more fun to discuss things, make friends and enjoy this stuff than it is to try and battle people and call them out, tell them to shut up or sound so bitter. Even arguments and calling people out once in a while can be stimulating, just not ALL THE TIME.

Like Tim G said, this isn't your school and we aren't some of blue meanies who are treating you dirty.

Don't go looking for trouble where it doesn't exist, if you're as ornery or adventurous as we all were when we were young it'll find you.

To me, the person one IS, is always much better than the person

someone tries to pretend to be. One just doesn't get it right unless they're a great actor. Real reality is better than any reality show or affected persona on a blog board.

ColetteMarie,  Please contact me regarding your sons visit to Belmont this weekend.  I can help!!!

kimcarr1970@gmail.com

WAAAAAY back, I think I started the cat vs. dog thing on THIS blog (continued to comment on something Jason said on another one.)

The ensuing comments were hysterical.

Can we get back to funny?  And stop with the high school (for me, nuns and uniforms with kilts fergawdssakes) / age (my RAM is rapidly being used up and that's the reason for everything I say that's dumb...I don't remember that I said it before - anyways, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it) / experience (can I try to pretend I didn't pick Chocolate Candy as one of my first three?) arguments and angst?

Thank you.

p.s. to Horswld: it's coming up on one year since we had to put Bepi the Cat to sleep.  I still can see him lying down on the front lawn across the street, watching HIS neighbourhood go by the night before we had to take him to the vet.  At least we (and, it seems, a lot of people on this blog) are lucky enough to remember great companions.  

Needler,

   Depends on which breeds, do you mean thoroughbred vs QH or arab? Though it may have to wait till tomorrow afternoon. I just got back from my horse. He looks a lot better, but i got up at five and haven't stoped moving until half an hour ago, so i've hit the wall, or so to speak, lol.

LDP and actually, EVERYONE ELSE, I was kidding, and thought we could move on to a less confrontational conversation. As soon as I wrote that, I knew I was, once again, quite wrong; besides the BH website NOT being a place for these kind of silly arguments (best BREED?? C'mon!), this isn't even the right blog for that!

Now way back a couple of days ago, I lied when I said to LDP that I was done. She apologized, and I had a major brain f**t in my "best breed" comment.... I really was trying to lighten things up a bit! So rather than kick start yet another yelling contest, I withdraw my suggestion and really will be done with this post. However, I DO know the best breed and won't brook any arguments over it, so don't yell, cajole, wheedle, beg, offer bribes, don't threaten or terrorize, and don't you dare laugh, either! Morgans are right at the top of the list, followed very closely by Thoroughbreds....... obviously for different reasons. Therefore, I'm running from this argument right now; you'd never change my mind, anyway. So put THAT in your pipes and smoke it!!

This has been sort of fun, but I really am out of here this time. Thanks to all.

Cheers, and safe trips.

MZ,

My regrets for you and Bepi. And yes, we do have our memories. I hate to say it but one of my favorite memories of Jada is when me and my ex would argue, he would get very loud and Jada would get in between us and back him into a corner or another room.lol She was very kind and laid back but I guess a 160 lb Rot can get pretty intimidating when someone's messing with her person.

LDP,

I truly pray that your horse makes a full recovery. I know all too well the effects of colic on a horse. Be sure and lets us know how everything turns out. God Bless!

LDP, we may disagree about the human end of it but I'm sure glad your horse is better, colic sucks (pardon my language)

can remember back to one mare that we had, spent many nights sleeping in the truck by the stalls after the vet said she wouldn't last till morning from renal colic and enough medication that rendered her unconcious. Several thousand dollars and many sleepless nights later she was fine until she passed away peacefully at the ripe old age of 32, never did breed her due to that colic issue, but she was a wonderful foster mama to every foal on the farm. Thought every single one belonged to her and if any of the others were mean to the babies, they went running to her. Guess she was the grandma all kids run to.

Hmmm just a thought, Dunkirk 'tied up' after the Belmont, wonder if it was somehting more????

p.s. Nap time.

My hubby who is up at 3:30 a.m. hits a wall about now as well.

Katsan,

    That comment was not meant as an insult, it was meant to say that not everyone agrees with you, everyone has different opinions. NK was a comparison, seeing as how those over there don't have opinions. Sorry if you took it as an insult. Telling you to shut your mouth was in response to you tell me that comment, which sounded in my mind very vindictive. I say what i say about age, becaucse some ppl IMO just don't ever get it. They may act like they do, but they are talking up a bunch of BS. How do i know this, life experiences, i've run into those types before, and they are agrivating. I know when to keep my mouth shut also, i do it most of the time regaurding my job. I got it last summer, and because i keep my mouth shut i'm still there. Honestly when it comes to a job in this industry, i probably won't want a trainer, i'd want to be both owner and trainer, mainly because i feel more comfortable when i know whats going on firsthand and not through another person. Do i want a big opperation no, but i will have one. That is not me being arrogent, thats my drive. I'm willing to stop attacking if you will, though i can't promise it for all time, i can promise to keep my temper in check as much as i can.

That's fair enough.

I really do think you should consider that people may not be attempting to engage YOU specifically when they make their comments and don't appreciate you taking them to task in the manner you do.

Like it or not, age is a deciding factor in what people will allow you to do or how much responsibility they'll give you. It's just the way of the world and for most, a fact that NO young person, no matter how intelligent can compensate for sheer life experience gained by older people particularly when it's their lifes work. Just not going to happen no matter how unfair it seems.

You speak of life experience? Dear, I'm afraid life has a way of handing you many more of those as you age. Some things beyond your wildest imagination or comprehension of how it makes you feel and react.

The other thing? At the race track there's a lot of favor exchanging. A lot of getting along with people to get things done. Whether that's getting the farrier to your barn before others, the vet, getting the clocker to get you lined out. Whether it's working with the racing secretary or entry office there's just a lot of stuff that requires kind of, not kissing up but being accomodating and easy to get along with. It really helps when you need a day or two with the feed store man or the tack man too. You best believe that even the best of them, unless they're independently wealthy, sometimes need to schmooze their way around a temporary shortfall.

My comment being vindictive? No it was just an observation based on the way you were coming off to a lot of people on here. As many pointed out to you, it's not necessary to be so agressive in your comments. Telling someone to 'shut their mouth'? That might be acceptable in school, but my guess is it'll get you beat up there and in the real world it'll get you fired, shot or taken down several notches. Not something that is advisable to say and far worse than me saying you wouldn't last in the racing business but failing to add 'if you keep up that attitude you were displaying'.

Like Atthebarn said, we could just ignore you, tell you off or call you names, but actually are trying to help you realize your dream. Even if it might seem harsh in the delivery.

I'm glad you're confident, that's important, but so is humility.

You want to be an owner and a trainer? That's great.

Most of us do that but you usually have to have some outside source of income to keep going so outside owners are best to help you achieve your personal goals. At least what we have found.

Hrswrld,

    Thank you. He seemed fine last night after we tubed him, and the tranq wore off, just tired and a bit agitated. I visited him around noon today and he looks good. He's hungry though, kept trying to eat my cell phone, boots or geans. He was playful too, and didn't look the least bit in pain. I'm relieved, because i've seen three horses colic, and all three were put down, so i was scared to death last night. All looks ok today, i'm praying it stays that way. Thank you.

Katsan,

    Thanks to you as well. Tray, my horse looks good now, and i hope it stays that way, cause when i got there last night, he didn't look good, real scared and frantic. This was the first time he's ever done this and not even the vet could say what caused it, which worries me because i'm that means he could easily colic again. As i said he looked good this afternoon, so we'll just have to keep an eye on him. For your second post thank you. I don't try to be agressive and i'm sorry at first impression i come across that way, because i'm not. Out in the real world, i shut my mouth unless someone really ticks me off, and by that i'm mean they need to push for a few months before i get mad. Normally i keep my mouth shut, though when the topic is something i feel strongly about i know i can come across stronger than i wish too. I've said before i'm not good at putting my thoughts into words and it comes out sounding way wrong. My sister is my translater normally, sometimes i even confuse her. With the life stuff, i've had plenty bad ones, which have made me harder and angrier than i wish. I love the horse industry, but i've seen the ppl in it that are in it for themselves and have been hurt by ppl like that too many times to trust many others. You don't have to obey what i say when i say this, you can deliver your opinion however you wish, but harsh deliveries will always provoke me into fighting back no matter what the intent. As i said, i'm still working on my deliveries, so i can't promise to always deliver nicely, but i will try. Truce?

Needler,

    Why would i laugh, i used to own a morgan. Pixie was her name though it should've been queen pixie, because that's how she felt about herself. She was such a plotting little nerd. You would think she was a push button pony, but if you dared take your leg off her before a jump no matter how close you were to it, she's ditch and run out, and normally leave you in the dirt. She was beautiful, and thats not bias, it's a fact. She knew when it was time for a show and would just turn it on. She loved to race, and was the fastest in our barn actually. I know because i challenged others quite freaquetly when they chanllenge me. She never let me down. She love to run, just run. When we galloped it was an feeling that is indescribable. No horse will ever come close to what she was to me. I now own a thoroughbred, Tray, and my sister has one too, Majec, who is a horse that is a brainiac but uses his brains to outsmart his rider, or find their weakness. Mine is my shoulder, which he will constantly yank, that's why it never gets better because i don't know when to get off. My next are Arabs. The farm i work on used to be strictly arabs, now they run thoroughbreds too. One of there stallions Patriot Missle, has to be one of the most beautiful horses i've ever seen. He was their version of HOTY when he raced. He's now 17, and acts like a 4 yr old. He knows he's good and it radiates. He has that look that great horses are said to have, and it's easy to notice. So you don't have to worry about me laughing at you because i agree, as long as you dont say palimino QH's, lol.

Mine That Bird Connection,

Thank you for your post on the blog. I read it earlier today, but we lost our electricity before I had a chance to email you. It stormed most of the day, with heavy rains & lightening. So, we were without electric most of the day. I did just sent off an email to you tonight. Thanks so much!!

ColetteMarie

LDP,

How is your horse doing? Hope everything is going well with him.

Horswld,

    Thanks for asking. Tray's doing good, no twist or anything, thank god. I'm still worried because i have no idea what caused the colic. The barn owner thinks clover because it's abundance so early in the year, but tray's had clover before, and i mean he's had a lot of it, and never coliced. I'm just worried that it could happen again since we don't know what was the cause. I guess i'll just have to keep an eye out. Overall he was good, he was playful and hungry when i went to see him. He didn't want to stand for his grooming so i just sat in the corner while he figeted and played. He tried to take my phone out of my pocket several times. When he relized he couldn't have it he grabbed my boot laces and pulled my foot up and held it in the air. So far it's safe to say he's doing better, i'm hoping it keeps that way. Thanks for asking.