I think now that Summer Bird is growing up and blinkers have been added he may very well end up being one of the best. RA will be right at the top no doubt. There are a lot of them who could be best, but there still may be another Mine That Bird that comes out before voting time.

I voted for "Other" just to be a little bit of a contrarian. It's possible this season's best 3-year-old is Sea The Stars, winner of the Epsom Derby and 2000 Guineas. He appears to have the English Triple Crown at his mercy, although his connections may not point him for the St. Ledger.

I don't think we have seen the last of Summer Bird and his winnings.  I like him, more so after his Belmont win.  I think he will just improve as the year wears on and it will be him, not Mine that Bird, that will be named top 3 yr old.

I think, in view of the attrition rate among 3 yr. olds, a more pertinent question is: which of them will survive the season?  

ITS a guess but munning or warriorsreward from todd pletcher barn will be top three year at end of year.A sleeper is big DRAMA

I know they are dumb picks right now

Mick Kinane and Sea The Stars: i.dailymail.co.uk/.../article-1176601-04C869FB000005DC-982_468x527.jpg

Winning the 2000 Guineas: i.dailymail.co.uk/.../article-1176601-04C869B3000005DC-151_468x374.jpg

Winning the Epsom Derby: cache.daylife.com/.../610x.jpg

I voted for Rachel Alexandra--she is truly something amazing, and the colts, as nice as they are, do not have that extra something special that stamps them as extraordinary. None of the colts so far have that extra spark that the likes of Easy Goer, Sunday Silence, Barbaro, Bernardini, or Big Brown possessed, and Rachel Alexandra does.

I think the defining races for the three-year-old colts this year will be in the Travers and the fall at Belmont, the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Whoever wins the Travers will have the leg up, and if that horse adds a good performance in the JCG Cup, that will be it. I throw out the BC Classic, as it will once again be on a synthetic surface, and I see a California based horse winning, and it will be meaningless, say if Pioneerof TheNile wins, as he did nothing to warrant being named a champion.

I see the championship coming down between Mine That Bird and Summer Bird. Musket Man is nice, but I think just a small notch below those two.  

For Big Red,

Although you make a good point for STS as the world 3 year old leader, if the Eclipse Awards were held now, he wouldn't be considered as he lack US form. Mentioning any Euro horse for top 3 year old voting without having raced in the US is pretty much moot.

RA definitley has the top voting right now. Too bad they don't have an overall champion 3 year old category in the US, but if they did, RA would be the choice.

2nd. would be MTB. His TC performances hold alot of weight.

3rd. Quality Road- Despite not performing in the Classics due to injury, he still has two graded stakes wins, one being in a G1, which is more than you can say for Dunkirk and or Musket Man ahead of him.

4. Summer Bird. Although he is a classic winner, 1 1/2 is a tricky distance nowadays. I'd like to see him win another G1 at a shorter distance than 12f's to give him more consideration.

5. Pioneer of the Nile - Still arguably the West's best. KY Derby 2nd place finish still holds high regard.

6. I Want Revenge - Although he's most likely out for the year, he still has that G1 win from the Wood, and was one of the hottest 3 year olds heading into the Derby.

7. Musket Man - Multiple graded winner gave respectable performances in the first two legs of the TC. Definitley has some upside coming in fresh into the Haskell and the rest of the year.

8-10. I have it split 4 ways through General Quarters, Dunkirk, Fresian Fire & Charitable Man. If I had to choose a horse to leave out, probably Dunkirk b/c he hasn't won a graded stake. Two of the remaining 3 are out for awhile due to injury but definitley gave a good account of themselves in graded stakes. Charitible Man possible has the biggest upside. His speed/closing kick can be lethal and should be reckoned with in the 2nd half of the year.

Janesville Liz,

 How can you state that POTN did nothing? Are you saying that all the races he won don't count because they were in California and on synthetics? Let's see, he won the Cash Call, the Robert Lewis, the San Felipe, the Santa Anita and finished second in the KY Derby. Meaningless? If POTN comes to NY or NJ this summer and wins a race and then goes home and wins the BC Classic, I won't think it is meaningless.

I think the question really is who will be SOUND and still in competition at year end?  I think it will be RA.  

This has been a rather fickle crop of 3 year olds.  Mine That Bird looks to have come out of the TC series sound, so I give him the advantage to continue on and compete the rest of the year and be the top 3 yr old colt or gelding. I also like Musket Man and perhaps Summer Bird challenging late.  

I'll wait to see how Quality Road fares with his quarter cracks.  I don't put alot of stock in 3 year olds with hoof problems any more.

Any word on how I Want Revenge is doing with his injury, or too early to tell? I don't expect he'll race again, but I haven't heard anything since just after the Derby. Any word on when Stardom Bound will be back on the track?

Looking forward to the Haskell and Travers, that is for sure!

I chose *other..These 3yo's should be thankful that IWR got injured.He definitely was/is the most talented of this years crop.

At this moment,MTB should be the leading 3yo by far...he won the Derby by the widest margin since who knows when,finished a gallant 2nd in the Preakness(would've won with a better trip),and would've won the Belmont with a more timelier ride by the cocky BOO-rel.IMO, we'd have been witnessing a TC Champ had it not been for some unfortunate circumstances,but so goes the Quest for that elusive Crown.

RA is solid,but a healthy Rags' would've ran circles around her,just for arguments sake. BTW-- nothing compares to a well trained Pit Bull!....water-dogs or Schnauzers are for pansies...lol

I vote for Rachel Alexandra.

But I think that the best 3yo colt is I want revenge (: I hope he will be back this season... ;//

My vote went to Rachel Alexandra. That may change by the end of the season IF Jess Jackson will not allow her to comepete in the B.C. because of its synthetic track. That is also on the basis that she continues to compete during the rest of the season. In my opinion shes a very tallented filly. I'm a fan. (does anyone know if / when Stardom Bound is set to start training again??)

But I'm also torn between her and  that hard working little gelding Mine That Bird. The Derby winner has really blossomed, and I think that with a rest after his T.C. runs, he will finnish this season and take the 3 y/o male Eclipse Award. He does have to watch out for Quality Road if he returns as strongly as he left off...

I, honestly, cannot pick one.  Rachel Alexandra, by her perfect record, fits the bill, but I cannot really pick her as the top three-year-old.  Yes, she is the top three-year-old as a filly, but she raced and won against the boys only once, those of her own age.

I agree with For Big Red.  One mustn't disallow the three-year-olds over in Europe, since it was never specified that the voting should regard only North American horses.  Sea The Stars appears to be a formidable opponent, and since the synthetic track at Santa Anita favored Europeans in last year's Breederscup, then it is more than likely that Sea The Stars will put on quite a performance against the North American contingent.  I would also like to add Eye of the Leopard, as well; he is one to watch as he takes on the Canadian Triple Crown.  And no, I'm not Canadian, so I'm not biased on that one.

Speaking about Triple Crowns, now that ours is over, why hasn't the racing media try to market Triple Crowns around the world?  America's Triple Crown isn't the only one out there; neither is it the oldest of its kind.  Really, if you could call it a season, the Triple Crown season is officially not over yet, especially in the northern hemisphere.  There's still the Canadian Triple Crown, the United Kingdom Triple Crown, the Irish Triple Crown, and others all over the globe, even in Australia.  I always find the Canadian, United Kingom, and Irish Triple Crowns.  For one, each race of the Canadian Triple Crown is run on different surfaces.  For another, the three race of United Kingdom Triple Crown are run at much different distances:  the 2,000 Guineas run at a mile, the Epsom Derby run at a mile and four furlongs (making it 1 1/2 miles), and the St. Leger Stakes at 1 mile and 6 furlongs (so if anyone complains about the distance of the Belmont, one should note that the United Kingdom Triple is more daunting to accomplish).  And the Irish Triple Crown's last jewel is open to older horses, making the feat very difficult.  One should also note that the United Kingdom has been waiting for a Triple Crown winner since 1970, and the Irish since God knows how long.  (Correct me I'm wrong, everyone, if I'm inaccurate of the Triple Crowns).  So we need to all stop bashing, blaming, complaining about the Triple Crown (distances, tracks, times, etc.) and we need to understand that it is a very diffictult thing to accomplish; when there is a victor, that horse shall be the most deserving out of all that tried in the past, and the most celebrated.

That point made, if the honors of three-year-old champion should be given now, by virtue of her perfect record, Rachel Alexandra would most definitely receive it.  However, even though my vote goes towards her, I vote reluctantly because there are other three-year-old colts that she hasn't faced yet.  One mustn't automatically assume that since she only raced and won once against males, she clearly beat them all.  The few that she did face did not have the company of Quality Road, I Want Revenge, Summer Bird, Charitable Man, Dunkirk, and Chocolate Candy to name a few top quality three-year-old males.  She also hasn't faced the likes of Stardom Bound, or other up-and-coming fillies yet.

I for one don't proclaim a three-year-old, male or female, as the best of its age until the year is over.  For my credentials of the best three-year-old of the year, it is as follows:  faced competition more than once while maintaining a higher win record over their opposition, consistently placing in the money and never giving a poor effort, faced older competition more than once, and whether the horse remained sound all throughout the season.  Yes, soundness issues should factor in, because if that horse is unsound and retires prematurely because of unsoundness, there might be a chance that his or her offspring will carry on that bad legacy, making the breed more fragile.  It’s not that the unsound, prematurely retired horse should be penalized, but one should look at the other competition that have continued to do well throughout the remainder of that year.  (Also, whenever a horse takes a break, that horse should not be penalized because it only took a break.  However, if a horse takes too long of a break, then that horse shouldn’t be given the year-end prize solely off of three or fewer races, won or lost.  One should also factor in the other competition that have endured and stayed sound enough throughout the year.)  The horse must be versatile and be able to endure all kinds of weather conditions and all kinds of different track conditions, as well as face different opposition at different tracks.  He or she doesn’t have to race on all the tracks in the country; the horse, though, has to go beyond its own safety net.  Of course, I never mention surfaces because I don't think that should be a main issue.  If a three-year-old puts up a string of wins in graded wins, against his own generation and the older ranks, and goes on to perform impressively against even Europeans in the Breederscup Turf or wins over said competition, that three-year-old should be most considered as part of that vote.  Synthetic surfaces are a bit iffy to me.  Only a few tracks have them, the majority being in California, and if a three-year-old has to receive year end honors, it has to go beyond the state to venture on the dirt.  I Want Revenge is a prime example of accomplishing these credentials:  racing impressively on synthetics and winning on the dirt, while also facing different competition on different tracks and surfaces.  In my opinion, I think he is better suited for the dirt than the synthetic surfaces, but both accounts are most impressive.

In conclusion, my vote reluctantly goes to Rachel Alexandra as of right now, but I should perhaps wait until the end of the year to reflect who is the most deserving.

Presently, I’m looking forward to the Stephen Foster weekend.  I’m going with Bullsbay as good value to win, even though I’d like to see Einstein triumphant.  Bullsbay likes Churchill Downs (although, I’d like to see him go beyond that), just look at his 3-for-3 record, won the Alysheba in impressive time, garnering a 100+ Beyer (at least I think, so correct me if I’m wrong) in that race, and is on the improve.  Einstein looks to be much the best of this group, with winning and also coming in the money on dirt surfaces.  If he wins on the dirt this Saturday, it will be the first horse ever to do so in the same year to win on three different surfaces:  dirt, synthetic, and turf.  One doesn’t see such a feat done, especially in a seven-year-old horse such as him.  Asiatic Boy looks to improve here, so watch out for this one.  My picks:  Bullsbay, Einstein, and Asiatic Boy.

Any news otherwise on Tiznows other than Bullsbay?

Quality Road.

I miss Draynay.

EXCLUDE SEA OF STARS EVEN IF HE WINS BREEDERS CUP CLASSIC

Although I voted for Rachel Alexandra. I really would like to see Stardom Bound and Rachel face each other few times before the Breeders Cup. I think a few races with the two would be good for racing. I don't think we've seen the last of Mind That Bird. I need to see Summer Bird win a few more races to give him a thumbs up.

Maggie, i totally agree. i don't think we, the Irish, have ever had a TC. :( Although if Sea the Stars were to sweep the British one, at least it would be a Irish trained horse.

I voted for Rachel but i love MTB so much! And Sea the Stars is just incredible.

Corrections in my last post:

*I always find the Irish, United Kingdom, and the Canadian Triple Crowns *most intriguing.*

*If a three-year-old *turf runner* puts up a string of wins in graded wins, against his own generation and the older ranks, and goes on to perform impressively against even Europeans in the Breederscup Turf or wins over said competition, that three-year-old should be most considered as part of that vote.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

deff one of the birds, rachel is great, but these two will own 09=]

In the US, RA is by far the best 3 year old hands down. Look at Gabby's Golden Gal, who lost to RA in the Oaks by 26 lengths, and then comes back to win the Acorn.

Sea the Stars looks much better than any of the US colts or geldings.

I voted QR, even though i'm having a tough time deciding who will be the best between him or RA. This with QR and RA kind of reminds me of the Ruffian vs Foolish Pleasure set up. Both are absoulutly brilliant, and both have simalar running styles, and distance preferences, like Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure. I love POTN, but i do think had QR been in there he probably would've won. He is a beast of a horse and is fast as a bat out of h///. If a match up comes between him and RA, it will be an absolute must see race. I hope that race, even more than Zen and RA happens.

Over compensating much CARLOS? Or living vicariously through your pitbull? lololol

please. pits can be great dogs, but its ignorant individuals parading them around to be overly aggressive monstesrs is why 10s of thousands are put down in shelters every year.

So congrats for being an obvious advocate of that ;)

BTW CARLOS -  speculating thats Rags to Richs would run circles around Rachel Alexandra is not only a moot point b/c it will never happen, its irrelivant when it comes to the topic of the blog.

Go back to grade school, learn to read & comprehend before posting nonsense.

There are other intelligent people here that have interesting insight into the question asked .. so lets actually converse about the topic

:)

Quality Road will be a force to reckon with when he returns.

Also, I believe Musket Man and the Birds will hang tough.

Of course, Rachel Alexandra will be right there in the mix.

It's just impossible to make a statement about Best 3 YR Old at this point.  There is so much that could happen the rest of this year.  At this point, it would have to be between Rachel and Mine That Bird.  She is unbeaten with the Preakness under her belt.  There has been discussion about the competition she faced in all but the Preakness which could put a very small question mark on her record.  Bird was 1st, 2nd, 3rd in the Triple Crown races which gives him some weight to the grading curve.  Those are just the toughest races, toughest competition and toughest schedule a horse can do these days. Really love them both and can't decide.

 I bet on Summer Bird for the derby after Quality Road dropped out and then bet on him for the Belmont.  I am concerned that the 1 1/8 mile distance of the Hadkell will not suit SB: WAIT FOR THE TRAVERS!  A Haskell match-up of Quality Road and Rachel would be conclusive of the best 3 year old

Majella from Ireland in your 11 Jun 2009 3:23 PM post.

I was looking around on the Internet to find it, but the only facts I could find were at Wikipedia.com.  Hardly the best place to find anything really accurate and factual, yet I find it fascinating that you kind most anything on there.  On there, it says Windsor Sleeper won it last in 1942.  Now, I'm getting my information from a site where others can edit as they please, so I and Wikipedia.com could be wrong on this.  Here's the link and scroll down to Ireland:  en.wikipedia.org/.../Triple_Crown_of_Thoroughbred_Racing

I just fell in love with the Irish Derby when I first watched it on television when Soldier of Fortune won.  That, also, was the start of my interest in European racing and the horses over there.  I try to follow what goes on over there as best as I can.

I'm only a 25% Irish, so I'm biased when I say that I wish Sea The Stars was an Irish-bred, too.  I never knew that John Oxx, the trainer of Sea The Stars, is Irish!  Thanks for letting me know!

I think RA is tops, and if she does beat the boys again in Saratoga, then Zenyatta will have to meet her to get top  Eclipse Award horse of the year. Has any 3 year filly gotten horse of the year?

TO THE ROCK: In your reply to me, you wrote, "Mentioning any Euro horse for top 3 year old voting without having raced in the US is pretty much moot."

I know. That's why my confession to being a bit of a contrarian here. :)

Sea The Stars appears to me to be the best 3-year-old in the world for the first half of this year. What the second half brings, who knows.

Domestically, I like Quality Road and Friesan Fire, and hope they both come back really strong. I also like The Pamplemousse, but we may not see him again until next year, if ever. I think both Birds are fine horses. And Rachel is a deserving superstar. I'm just not willing to pick who the best among them is at this point.

1) MINE THAT BIRD

2) RACHEL ALEXANDRA

3) SUMMER BIRD

4) MUSKET MAN

5) PIONEER OF THE NILE

Jason--none of my comments should be taken as being ridiculous just because they differ from your East Coast biased-perspective,i.e,(dogs,horses).MTB should be at the top of the heap right now,and I assume he will continue to "shock" some folks later on in the year as he's found his racing "technique",sit-and-pounce.

My horse analogy regarding dogs would be: Chessies= show/dressage vs. Pit Bulls= thoroubreds/QH. To each their own...btw: my dogs can also fetch from any body of water,are a helluva' guard-dog,companion,Ranch hand and will scare the living crap out of Chessies.   :)

MOKEY: Re your question, "Has any 3 year filly gotten horse of the year?" The answser is yes.

Twilight Tear was the first filly ever to be named Horse of the Year in the U.S. Foaled in 1941, she was Horse of the Year in 1944.

Busher was Horse of the Year in 1945, as well as 3-year-old filly champion.

Moccasin was champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year in 1965 (2-year-old is not a typo).

I don't recall any others, so if there are any, maybe someone can add to this list.

JASON: I've lived with a female pit bull since rescuing her in 2000. She is a thoroughly sweet dog. Not agressive with people at all. Just the opposite, as she's shy with strangers. She lives quite happily and peacefully with a silly Chihuahua mix I also rescued, and two cats.

Oh no!!! We're back to dogs!LOL

Jason,

Believe me I like it a lot better this way, dogs and all!!!:)

Jason -

I know this is your war of words with the dimwit CARLOS. But I don't even think the dude knows what an analogy is. Hes trying to compare and event to a breed... and hes failing miserably.

The "east coast bias" bull actually really irked me. I was born in NY living out west now. WTH does that have to do with anything?

CARLOS an analogy is when you compare two points of debate and try to relate them by using other similar topics. "Chessies = show/dressage vs. pit bulls = thoroughbreds/qh" doesnt make sense. Haven't you ever realized that thoroughbreds & quareter horses aren't just the only breeds that compete in dressage?

Let me reitterate.. I have noting against pitbulls. I like the breed, but elevating them to this uber dominant dog status the way that you CARLOS are trying to do simply makes you look ...weak

Lady Ruffian---carefull,thats a long way down from that high horse of yours....please.

Jason--relax,just trying to rib-u a lil bit bro.

As someone else mentioned Eye of the Leopard: I've been keeping an eye on him since he broke his maiden last year,he should be tough to reckon with in the Canadian TC and later in the year,hopefully somewhere here in the States.

Jason,

No, cats are TOO smart to race.LOL

Cats train humans to race.

JASON: LOL, about the blog going to the dogs in Draynay's absence. We're just going to have to fix that.

How could you even have that FLUKE on the list in 2nd? What other three-year-old set a STAKES RECORD at 1 1/8 miles? Quality Road is first by a mile. What did I Want Revenge ever beat? Send Pioneerof the Nile back to his plastic track. I can't stand it anymore. Horses are supposed to race. Stop putting them in bubble wrap cocoons and run them. Put Rachel in the Haskell or Travers. She'll beat that FLUKE again. Send him back to New Mexico where he belongs. Charitable who?

ROFLMAO!!!

(Hit the "submit" button too soon)

It seems to me that there are a good bunch of possibles but we need to wait further into the fall, when some sidelined horses come back, to confirm who is best 3YO.  I, too, want to see The Pamplemousse and Stardom Bound come back.  I also want to see how Eye of the Leopard does, as well as a couple of Cdn fillies, esp. Tasty Tempatation.  

At least we can agree that a filly might be THE best 3yo this year (like last year: Zarkava).

p.s. "pit bulls" are banned dogs in Ontario.

CARLOS -

one thing im not is arrogant. only aggitated when one comes off as an elitist by using something they have attempting to put someone else down.

Are you liking anyone this weekend? Stephen Foster? Californian? Fleur de Lis?

I'm partial to Newfoundlands myself :)

But as far as the best 3-year old goes... For now, I'd definitely have to go with Rachel. She's had a fantastic year so far, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds for her. She's just beautiful!

That last effort from Mythical Power was an eye-popper. He is one to watch out for in the coming months.(may i add that i think Music Note is the best horse in training?)  

Although I am "Impressed" with RA, i'm not that big of a fan of hers for overall Best 3 yr old (Not yet anyways).

I do believe that she "Could" end up being voted Best 3 yr old.   But, "If So", it would only be because Jackson strategically avoids running her against the boys again and Zenyatta as well, therby trying to keep her Undefeated.

However, IF, IF and IF she does run against the Rested and Refreshed boys at 1 1/4 miles, then she'll be beat and the voting will be up in the air again.

    What a tough/impossible question to answer with so much to come and so much uncertainty involved!  I will leave out all of the quality horses that are off the trail due to injury because it is just impossible to gauge what they will do when and if they return.  Sea of Stars would probably be the leader, as of right now, but I will stick with the Horses on this side of the Pond.

     The top three have to be, Rachel Alexandra as number one, Mine that Bird as a very close number two(Based on Rachel beating him head to head), Summer Bird and Musket Man in a tie at number three.  With so much racing left in the year, Any four could take it or a dark horse could creep up and snag the title, It really is way too early to predict with so many varibles to consider.  I do think Summer Bird has the biggest chance to take it, I think he is coming into his own, Has an extreme amount of confidence now.  If he takes the Haskell and the Travers, He will easily take the lead.  I don't think Summer Bird will be in the Super Derby, Which is only three weeks after the Travers, I think he will take the six weeks before the Breeder's Cup, But it all depends how he comes out of those previous races.  Who knows???, It probably will come down to the Breeder's Cup. How about a three way tie, Mine that Bird, Rachel, Summer Bird, lol...

    I won't lie though, I am still holding out hope for one of my favorites, "Friesan Fire", If he returns to form the only thing holding him back would be his Mental State(Confidence), Also, Watch out for Eye of the Leopard, Zensational, and yes, Nicanor(Not one comment people, lol)...

Jason, I think you meant to say cats aren't dumb enough to race. ;)

My vote went to Mine That Bird. He won the annual Demolition Derby then came back to dance the other two dances and still place and show. That carries a lot of weight with me. The TC is a serious grind, especially if you run in a 20-horse Derby.

And yeah, Jason re: your 3:00 p,m, comment: lawyers pour their hearts into their profession too!

START YOUR ENGINES: This comment has been brought as a public service to all persons who miss D*****Y bashing and now wish to repeat every lawyer joke they ever heard.  Please be creative.  Note that my friends and (especially!) my family have probably already brought your joke to my attention.

...

And I think the Purr-kness at Cheetah Downs might be an interesting race, so there!

As I understand it this is who we think at the END of the year.  That said ... I would have been looking square at Dunkirk had he not gotten injured.  But I just can't predict any of the injured horses will be there at the end of the year.  

I think Sea the Stars is the best 3 YO now and will be at the end of the year.  

But limited to North Americans I would go:

1.  Rachel Alexandra

2.  Summer Bird

3.  Charitable Man

I like Mine That Bird, but I think SB and CM are so lightly raced that they should continue to improve (whereas I think maybe we've seen MTBs top form, which is good).  

Any of the 3 injured horses come back strong (QR, IWR and Dunkirk) and they could be the best.  

Jason,

Since you mentioned Chessies, I have to weigh in and say that last year before the Belmont I nicknamed our Chessie Big Brown! I still call him that. And no worry--if he gets scared of a pit bull, our German Shepherd will take care of the intruder!

Back to horses--voting now is a vote with the heart rather than the head. I haven't come to love Rachel yet, but I'm head over heels for Mine That Bird. I hope he and Summer Bird have a safe, long run. We'll se how it plays out.

At this point Rachel is looking pretty good and if she continues she will be right up there for best 3 year old. Can not wait to see a race of Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra XD  I don't think we have seen the end of Mine That Bird and if those blinkers are what helped Summer Bird he could be up there too.  I also like Musket Man, but believe he is a bit of an underdog.  As long as Quality Road doesn't get any quarter cracks before each of his future 3 year old races he could be a big factor.  So that would the four horses I am watching for 3 year old.  So sad I Want Revenge is out, really loved that guy and if were not for him scratching I would have never looked at Mine That Bird to bet on.

Oh yeah my cat would run back to the barn for more food instead of race.  But you put a fuzzy ball at the end of some string and that cat would run after it for days.  

At 16 yrs old my poor dog is retired lol, though she would have run in her prime...heck she pulled a minivan to get to some crows at a show.  Got to love the mixes :) Flat Coated Ret./Airdale Terrier or as I called her breed Flat Terror.

It's difficult to predict the best 3 year old for the end of the year at this point. If RA remains undefeated, then I suppose she would be considered best. Both the Birds should continue to be tough competitors as well. I can't help remembering though, the way Tiznow dominated the post Triple Crown season of 2000. His accomplishments began in the summer and continued to the BC Classic, so many things are possible between now and the end of the year, historically speaking.

And, actually, cats are way too smart to race!

Mokey,

I LOVE Zen but she's got alot of running to do between now and the BC if she wants to stick her nose in front of RA for HOTY honors based on where we stand today.  That is if none of their lovely male counterparts prove worthy of HOTY (and Einstein clearly has his eye on that prize right now!).

All I'm saying is at this point in the year, Zen's resume is weak compared to RA's.  Thankfully, we have 4 plus months of racing left to go!

How does Rachel have the edge when her connections skip the test of champions (Belmont Stakes) in order to find something easier for her,  how is that an edge.. This industry needs to get it together.  She's not the best 3 year old out there,  where do they come up with this stuff.. She dropped in for the Preakness and her owner is AFRAID to run her in the test of champions,  yet someone thinks this is what constitutes the top 3 year old horse,  bow out of anything too tough for you to handle so they don't see your weaknesses and they'll think your great and you don't even have to run.  Can things get any more pathetic than that. OMG!

Jshandler:

Lol...my two fur balls make a pretty good race of it to the food bowel.

I'd have to say at this point in the year, it would have to be Rachel.  She has a flawless record this year so far.  Depending on the rest of the year and what the males do may change that.  Right now, none of them have a better record than she does.  3 horses have one TC win and she's one of them and has no losses.  That could also change for her so we just have to see what happens.

For the moment I have picked Rachael but there is so much more racing this year and the question is still, who is going to stay sound and who isn't.  As for me I would tend to wait later in the year to see who is doing what before entering a final verdict. Inches away I would say MTB, all three races and in the money on all of them but when he comes back from his rest will have to see where he races, hope to see them both at Saratoga while I am there but we all know that it is death to many a good horse whom you think should win end up nowwhere, they are right it is the graveyard of champions.

Love how in the absence of Draynay, we have lowered ourselves to the dogs, haha!  Guess we didn't have enough excitement with this year's TC LOL.

As for my 2 cents to the dogs: much prefer a Bouvier de Flandres-quiet, loyal, big and, when you need them to be, agressive.  Owned them all my life pretty much and would give my right arm to own on again.  So there, LOL, there is my addition to the Draynay lacking blog...

My vote went to Musket Man, who always runs his race. I really don't know if he's the best 3-year-old, but I love honest horses like him.

Mike S, How can you have MTB over Rachel! She beat him. Look at the fractions she ran in the Preakness, and she still won. This horse will not be beaten the rest of the year.

cats are smart enough to know not to race

longwaytomay,

    I agree with you, i don't see how people can discount what POTN has done. This horse has proven he can run on anything, and win from any situation. He should've race in the Belmont not the Preakness, he was dead beat by then. The horse won last years Cash Call and this years Robert B Lewis over I Want Revenge who was on top of may peoples lists. He also won the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. Going into the Derby he was unbeaten this year and was riding a four race winning streak all four were graded stakes, how can that qualify as nothing. The he shows up in KY after traveling 3000 miles runs on peanut butter, going wide the whole way, and dukes it out for second. That is far from nothing. Steve Haskin put it right when saying that when this horse returns, when on the track with him stay as far away as possible seeing as how if he's in front your not getting past him by getting into a dogfight. POTN is a quality colt that has done enough to be more respected than, "he's done nothing".

I would also say that i think Seo the Stars would sit atop the 3 year ranks if we considered all 3 year olds, but i would say that Rachel is and will be the best 3 year old when all is said and done.  If not her, then if QR can get back to the track we could see him challenge for the top 3 year old.  

And lastly i will put Mr. Fantasy name forward.  I don't think he will win the eclipse award for the 3 year olds (think that will go to one of the classic type horses), but i do think he will become the dominant miler in the country.

My vote at this point in the year goes to Rachel Alexandra. This is open to change once the Saratoga/Delmar seasons end.

For myself a good indicator of a strong 3 year old is who competes well against older company. This is why I like races like the Jockey Club Gold Cup. They also provide fodder for this blog in time for the Breeders Cup series.

Aside from Quality road, I want to see what I Want Revenge shows if and when he comes back.

Carlos, schnauzers are not wimps. My schnauzer, Ralph, tried to attack a bull mastiff when it came into our house. No kidding. If you have ever seen a bull mastiff, you would understand my point. ALL dogs and cats are great. It's the owners that are the problem a la Michael Vick, the poster child for cruelty to animals. Just so you know, most of Vick's dogs were able to be rehabilitated and given good homes. Only a very few had to be put down and they tried with them too. There is a special place in heaven for those people who took his dogs and gave them another chance at life.

My vote goes to Rachel right now. MTB has my heart however and I think he is the most wonderful little horse. He tries so hard. I will always be rooting for him or Zenyatta.

Quality Road-the only problem is the BC is running on plastic again this yr.  So Europe will probably dominate that day, again.

My vote went to Mine That Bird. He appears to be very sound and very tough. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I say this). I have confidence that he will win more races and hopefully the BC. Synthetics shouldn't be a problem to him. His failure there last year (from what I read) was a saga of the absurd. So, forgive me for sticking with him at this point, even if I'm also one of the too numerous cat lovers in here. :)

Jason,

Don't ban me...I forgot to add that I love dogs just as much!!!

Well, usually Greg is the purveyor of bad news, but I think he missed one so let me tell all that the 3-yr-old filly Affirmed Truth was euthanized after her breakdown 2 weeks ago at Churchill Downs.  Here is her beautiful pedigree:  Affired Truth sired by Proudest Romeo from the Graustark line and out of the AFFIRMED broodmare Encore Amour.  She was a chestnut owned and bred by the same owner/breeder of the beautiful chestnut Summer Bird (the Jayaramans).

So I guess you have to run in the Belmont to be the best 3 year old or you're no good.  Interesting theory.

I agree with "for big red". I don´t have any doubt that, at this point, SEA THE STARS is the best 3 year old in the world. He was just stunning at the Guineas and the Derby; i really want to see him in the Breeders Cup Classic. Who was the best in USA in the first part of the year? Hmmm, according to the facts, Rachel deserves the title. You already mentioned why. On the side of the boys, only Quality Road was impressive enough  to believe he had a real chance to become a triple crown winner. What could we expect for the rest of the year? The panorama is so unclear, that the olders guys don´t have either a real leader, there´s nothing special around. Right after the Belmont, i thought DUNKIRK would be the real leader of his lazy crop in the next months. Yes, he was sensational in the Belmont, above all in the last part of the race. But again the injuries take a good one off the road. Munning was spectacular last week, but how far could he go. Summer Bird has a lot to say, first if he is able to perform as well in shorter distances as he did last week in New York.  I´m afraid that a boring season is ahead of us. I pray to be wrong.

Jason, I used to think like you did about cats and so did my husband. Now we have two rescue cats and we love them as much as the dog. They are great in their own way and very affectionate when they know they are loved. They are also tough. A possum got into my family room one year and my cat killed it before I could get it out of the house. I felt very bad for the possum.

Lots of people run cats, Stormcats.

Mundane enough? Guess I'll work on my Nayisms.

If Quality Road comes back healthy, and it looks like he will, watch out. Remember what happened when Dunkirk looked him in the eye in the Florida Derby. He ran away from him in track record time.

Jerkens will aim for the Travers and the big Fall races at Belmont then the BC. If this giant of a horse stays healthy, he'll beat them all. If not, it's Rachel's title to lose.

    At the end of the year, I think POTN will be 3 year old of the year.  The only reason I think that is because the horse has already won mutliple graded stakes races this year and Baffert will not have to leave California the rest of the year with him if he chooses to do so.  There are still plenty of quality races out west, races he could/should do very well in.  Throw in the fact that he has already shown his fondness for Santa Anita and the BC is back there again this year and I expect he will have an on-the-board finish in the Classic.  Now, do I think he is the most talented 3 year old, no I don't.  However, the rest of the racing year seems to favor him more than others so I think in the end he will be named champion 3 year old.  I honestly think there are 5 or 6, 3 year old horses who are better (i.e. Quality Road, Charitable Man, MTB, RA, etc.)

Paula H...LOL, poor possum! A few years ago my dog found some baby possums and brought me several of them. I left them in the yard for their mom to find (Kobe didn't hurt them). Later that summer one of them started coming into my back porch to eat birdseed and he(or she) let me pet him! It rarely left when I went out there and one day I just couldn't resist reaching out(he was sooo soft). And I would see him out in the yard with the dog. The cats were rather wary of him though. I had 2 racoons stalking my cat once...that was scary. I'd put my money on a racoon over a pit bull in a fight. Of course I had my butt handed to me by a monkey in Mexico (he took my friend out too),so I KNOW size doesn't matter!

You all are using the wrong type of dogs to compare to race horses.

Only one type should compare - the sighthounds. Whippets/Quarter Horses, Greyhounds/Thoroughbreds

and Salukis/Arabians. No other dogs are in the same league.

m t bird finish 1 2 and3 if you want more, show me another. he is the one.and only best 3 year old...

Dunkirk and I Want Revenge are my picks if they return-can't decide between the two but probably leaning a bit toward Dunkirk.  Otherwise I am going with Charitable Man to be the top 3 year old by years end.  I feel Rachel is the best right now but I fear she may not run with the boys many more times for us to see how she fares....?

Hahahahahhah Jason.  I go away for a day and come back and must say that this is the first I have laughed since yesterday morning LOL!  This a funny blog.  

My vote of course is Mind That Bird.  He has stole my heart and I believe him to be a really good horse and even better for the industry.  All of the horses deserve credit but this poll has the select few.  :-)  Sometimes a horse will steal the hearts of NON-RACING fans and MTB and RA both have done that.  

RA will probably remain tops in fillies, but appears vulnerable in open company with the colts, after her Preakness it's surprising but fewer fear her...I think QR can catch her, as can MTB and I hope IWR comes back.

Right now, somebody besides the classics winners is going to have to have a "Tiznow" second half of the season, or one of those 3 will get the honors...

Dogs drool and cats rule.

This from a Police/Narcotic/Bomb/Border Patrol/Search & Rescue K-9 breeder, since 1986 we've been doing our part to "Take a Bite Out Of Crime!" Germ Sheps rock! Top Cop in the World!

All animals are so cool. A bit of trivia: did you know that a horse's cognitive problem solving skills are better than a dog's? The thing found out about a horse, they cannot learn in a fearful state. There's a lesson here somewhere about handling skills....

My dogs tougher than your dog? Carlos sounds like a little kid bragging about his dad. Here's my analogy for you Jason:

Chessie = Tight End

Pit-Bull = Offensive Guard

I'd much rather have the Tight End handle the ball for me and they are just as good of a blocker as an Offensive Lineman.

Paula,

I've seen those weiner dogs go after bigger dogs many times too. It's not out of toughness it's for lack of brains. One thing I've never seen and never will would be a weiner dog in a real fight coming out on top with one of those. My folks had one of those little mexican dogs when I was a kid (notice I didn't say I had it). She was just like your weiner dog and went after a German Shepard thinking she was "tough". The Shepard took one look at her and in one quick bite she was gone. That's not being tough it's being stupid and not knowing your limits.

As for the real questiion at hand:

If the vote for 3 yr old was held today RA would win hands down. Whether or not she faces the boys again this year if she goes through undefeated for the rest of the year she wins the award. She's the front runner with MTB, and Summer Bird nipping at her heels like a schnauzer who doesn't know any better. I am anxiously waiting for the return of Quality Road as he will be in the mix if he comes back as good as ever. It's too early to tell of course but I'll base it on what we've seen so far and add my 2 cents worth for RA.

I HAVE THREE CATS, DOES THAT GIVE ME OLD MAID STATUS?

 I LIKE RA, BUT SHE HAS BEEN TESTED ONLY ONCE.

 MTB HAS BEEN TESTED THREE TIMES IN 5 WKS, BUT I AGREE WITH OTHERS WAY TOO SOON TO TELL.

MANY RACES LEFT, GREAT RACES BEFORE A QUALIFIED OPINION CAN BE MADE.

Here's a quick update in case anyone cares though I really doubt it.

draynay has put on 5 lbs. since he last appeared on your blog. He's a nervous wreck without his avenue of release and I think the orange cheeto stains on his short stubby fingers are now permanent. He's Frito-Lays number one customer for sure.

You know I got a peek at the blog you would have been forced to endure had he won and I have to say it was your lucky day that day and not in the way he saw it. He just thinks it was a fluke you won and calls it "dumb luck". Now when he repeats the words fluke, fluke, fluke over and over in his sleep he's talking about you. Greg J I can't describe in words what would have been in store for you had he won. Suffice it to say you were in his sights.

That's all for now folks, I gotta go make another cheeto run. Have a great day and enjoy your peace and quiet in his abscence, I know I would!!

By the way I stand by my man  when I say RA will win the 3yr old honors. God bless,

his better half

Monica:  You have to, at least, run the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles.  Her owners (both sets) ducked both longer races and sent her into the easiest of the Triple Crown races, where she ran so hard she overheated on a cool day.  My guess is she can't get the distance, therefore, can't beat the boys at the classic distance.

Helsbelles,

    You are right, I did miss that one, Another Sombering reminder that one cannot take life for granted!, So Sad, But it is really too hard to keep up, I really wish I didn't have to say that, But it is the truth.

     I hate to add another, But, "Bone Dry" was euthanized on June 3rd, This 6yr. old dark-bay gelding by Gulch out of Elaina by Dehere broke down on the backstretch and was euthanized on the track at Penn. I Vowed never to mention this man's name(I use that term VERY loosely!), "Michael Gill", A Owner/trainer of this horse, This man is a travesty to the Sport, It is a joke that he is even allowed near the Sport, People in the know will understand why I say that!, Their are so many responsible, incredible Owners/Trainers out there, And this low life isn't one of them!, Enough Said...

Also we shouldn't forget about the 5 time grade 1 winner Stardom Bound. She may be on a break but when/if she races RA and/or the colts she MAY be able to beat all of them.

First of all Quality Road has Ran four times why is he even on the list.  I mean big deal he won the Flordia derby and the Fountain of youth.  Yepi as for Rachel Alexandrea i like her alot i think she is a good horse but in her Eleven races she has only finished on the money once which would normally be pretty good but lets see how she is down the road i mean her twenty week victory was impressive but is she the best 3 year old we will wait and see and ferther more what did summer road actually do win the bellmont stakes he was going to be in the derby maybe he was and i just didn't see him but if he truly was in the derby and i didn't see him that should awnser your question right there i think alot of thesse horses are one hit wonders i will tell you what i mean by that they are not consistant.  However if i had to vote for horse of the year right now it would probley comedown to two horses Rachel Alexandrea , Dengota That's the only title that means any thing to me.  But if you want to ask me who is the best three year old my awnser would be most definatly would be Rachel Alexandra but let me give you a nother one start of Bound.  Why because she has not finished out of the top three this year i realize she is on vacation right now so to speak because they put her out in the paster but when she does race she has excallent numbers.  Start of Bound had to fall off the face of the earth because everyone once to talk about rachel but if my mind serves me corectly didn't she win the sainta neda oaks.  Didn't she win thrid in her last race.  I know people don't like IAH stables which bought here at the end of 2008 but Hello she has good numbers and she deserves to be menchened.  As for Mustate man i think he is alright he has been very consistant more consistant then mind that bird and please for give me for saying that but if you look at Mind that birds numbers before the kentucky derby he had two bad races in a row.  He has made a nice recovery sence then.  BUt i have always felt he has been over rated.  BUt the only reason he won was because Calvin you might disagree about what i said but the fact of the matter is if you put a diffrent jockey on that horse.  I am talking about a jockey that is unnown.  Lets see what kindof result you would get and if Max was so good he wouldn't have got off mind that bird to begain with and they wouldn't have to go back so bad.  Which that ended up screwing him in the bellmont any way and the commint was last week was he was breed to run at bellmont well if that is the case why didn't he run beter at bellmont and don't give me that the jockey isn't good enougt that isn't it.  Everyone was hopeing including my self that he would pull off the Bellmont stakes.  But it just didn't happen and it looks like not to many people cared by there t.v. ratings they are so worried about.  Hello we didn't have a triple crown winner that is why they are so low.  I wish Rachel Alexandrea the Best of luck inher next start which will more then likely be the 27th.  i realize they haven't announced it yet but there is a reason she worked out three mondays ina row.  and i hope she kicks you know what because we all need something to believe in and i think she is that horse at least for me.  

For Big Red,

      And all other Secretariat Fans, Just read that Disney is starting Production on a Movie about the Great Big Red and his owner, Penny Chenery.  Diane Lane will play Penny Chenery, As far as who will play Secretariat?, They are still doing interviews...

www.variety.com/.../VR1118004795.html

With all due respect to Quality Road, I Want Revenge, and many of the others, I just don't see how any horse can be in the running for "Best 3 Year Old" when the animal's physical issues prevent him/her from competing in the highest profile races of the year.

That's the reason horse racing is in the state it's in today... So many unsound horses are elevated to superstar status, bred for big dollars, and pass on their defects to future generations who are incapable of running more a few times in their careers.

I was just reading an artical that reminded me about POTN, and his lack of rest in the TC. Then i started thinking that, of course, they'd want him to be ready to run in the Classic this november. Then I started to wonder what would i do to get him ready, race wise, if i were his trainer. Since he was as tired as he was from his efforts earlier this year, i thought i'd give him about two months rest. I also thought since he's traveled this year, i would try to keep him in CA. Well i saw the Swaps is about two months from the Preakness, and decided since it's still in his home state, is at 9 furlongs and gives him plenty of time to rest, i'd go there. If he'd put forth a good effort in that i'd stick to the plan of keeping him in CA, only this next race i'd want him prepped against older horses. Then i saw that the Pacific Classic, which is against older horses, and should be very good practice. A good effort in this would be great seeing as how he could handle older horses, and also leaves him plenty of time to rest up for the Classic. Sorry if i rambled. I just started thinking, and felt like putting my thoughts into words. You all are welcome to critique.

SPEAKING OF STORMCAT,

LOS AL HAS A PICTURE OF HIS FIRST QH FOAL ON THEIR WEBSITE.

 CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!

    I might be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure over the past 30-35 years only 3 maybe 4 horses have ever won the Eclipse award for champion 3 year old male and didn't win a TC race.  Seems like Tiznow, Skip Away & Holy Bull were the 3 I can remember and maybe 1 more, but again, I'm not for sure.  I guess by that trend Mine That Bird or Summer Bird would have the inside track because I don't think there any horses in this crop like the 3 I previously mentioned.  Obviously Rachel Alexandra will be named the best 3 year old filly this year and she's seems to be better than most of the boys, but she can't win both 3 year old awards.  There's something standing in the way of that or I guess I should say something not standing in the way of that.

StardustyRose, it's Mine That Bird...not Mind, love yah!;-)

Speaking of dog racing, there's nothing like a bad guy trying to out run a police dog...one of my favorite puppies went on to have a great police career, his last case last fall, at age 10, was tracking down a robber who was trying to outrun him, the bad guy jumped in a canal and tried to swim away but the dog jumped in after him, caught him and dragged him back to shore...maybe the dog thought he was part Newfie! Germ Sheps Rock!

Draynays Better Half,

      Too Funny, Now I am intrigued on Dray's Guest Blog, Maybe next time the Blog will throw their picks, Because we all know that would be the only way he could win with his novice Handicapping Skills, lol...

     I figured I would join the Cat/Dog forum, I love all animals, but since I currently am a border line cat crazy person(Have Six, One found last summer, she was pregnant with one, kept them, and take care of a feral cat also, plus my three house cats of ten years!)...Thought everyone would get a kick out of this dog, I will match him up against any challengers(lol), A pretty big English Mastiff(Dray's little mini's WERE in the picture?, Then all of a sudden they disappeared?)

"Hercules":

urbanlegends.about.com/.../n_hercules_worlds_biggest_dog.htm

lol...

MATT H., Quality Road already has a major Gr 1 win, now "all" he has to do is win a grade 1 against MTB and SB, win against older horses in a Grade 1 and win the BC...like Tiznow did against Fusaichi Pegasus and Lemon Drop Kid...he could be HOY...

IF RA stays with the fillies, I'm not sure she would win HOY with just one TC win against the boys, especially if a colt/gelding dominates the second half, and definitely not if MTB or SB is that colt/gelding...Rags didn't get HOY and she won 4 Grade 1's, (Curlin won 3) beat a world class group of boys (who were equaling/setting track records) in the "Ultimate Test of Champions" in a gritty thrilling race and dominated her division, her only second that year (also Gr1) was because of a fracture, which you can tell in the last strides she was laying her life on the line trying to win and the sportswriters still didn't respect her...of course, for whatever reason, there is a major lovefest for RA that wasn't there for RTR, which is why I don't respect the awards like I use to, too subjective.

Disney doing a movie about Big Red? Wow, now that will be a "factual" retelling...not.

Well, call me blonde, and I am, but I just realized this blog is to discuss who's our choice to be 3-year old of the year...which doesn't exist...foolish me, I've been "iffing" a 3-year old having a chance of HOY and what it would take to get that...

Back to the dogs...

Jason,

 Does Kiss With A Twist have any shot Sat. in the Fleur de Lis H.? I noticed you didn't mention her in your analysis of the race.

Matt H,

    Not to be rude but the names are Stardom Bound and Musket Man.

GREG J.: Thanks for the bit of news about the Secretariat movie. It's good to know the producers are finally at the point where they are filling the human cast. According to reports awhile ago, they did some equine casting last year.

This movie has been in the early planning and pre-production stage for at least a year. I first heard about it on entertainment and, believe it or not, political forums, not in any horse racing media. The movie has been building a low-level buzz for some time in those more general interest forums, and the Internet Movie Database has had a basic "placeholder" page for the film up for at least 9 or 10 months (www.imdb.com/.../tt1028576).

Amazingly, Secretariat, the horse, also has a page at IMDb (www.imdb.com/.../bio)

If Disney does this right, and does not turn it into some sappy soap opera, it has the potential to be a big hit for them, juding by the early positive reaction to even the idea of doing the film.

As for the current movers and shakers in the horse racing industry, once again they demonstrate how clueless they are when it comes to promoting the sport. They should be proudly trumpeting the making of this film and even seeing if they could work out some promotional tie-ins. Instead, I don't think I've seen any mention of it in racing media, other than the news item you posted here.

I find it funny how there are some who don't even know or ignore Quality Road. But you will know him, barring further injury of course. This colt is built like Secretariat and has speed and power. Hopefully he goes in the Haskell which would be a good measuring stick against Musket Man. Hopefully his connections have guts and don't skip it for an easier spot. Unfortunately, this usually happens with New York based trainers.

D in C,

I don't know that running the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles is relevant or not to best 3 year old but l 1/2 miles is not.  That's what I was commenting about.  One poster                             stated you have to run in the Belmont to be considered.  As I recall, Lady's Secret didn't run in the Belmont and I'm not even sure she ran the classic distance, maybe she did but she sure didn't run in the Belmont but she did run against the boys and won and I don't really remember what those races were.  As for RA overheating, she was running some pretty fast fractions to get position, had she had a better post position she proably wouldn't have had to but that's neither here nor there.  Had she not had to run so fast I think  she could could have gone 1 1/4 miles.  There really aren't too many classic distance races these days if you think about it.  How many 1 1/2 mile races are there?  I know there are some long turf races even 1 3/4 to 2 miles but horses now are not bred for distance or stamina.  In closing, my remark was about the Belmont, not the classic distance which 1 1/4.

Pit bulls are always sweet to their owners.  Right up to the point where they eat them.

da3hoss

LOL I know it is Mine That Bird. I change that on purpose hoping people will MIND that bird.  Wish I would have minded that bird put a grand on him in the KD. :-)

This blog is really funny since Draynay has gone.  NO I don't miss him at all.  

That ticker cracks me up. LOL

Do you realize the accuracy of this list at the moment? I would only make one change to the top five and off form it's questionable moving Dunkirk ahead of Musket Man. After the top five I would change things around but that is not so important.

Do I think this will last the year? Not a chance except the top horse. I totally expect Big Drama to improve, Giant Oak turn out to be a good turfer of note, Munning, Mr. Fantasy to be good sprinters, especially Munning if his last was a real example. Quality Road and The Pamplemousse need to get their chances to show what they really have. I Want Revenge if he ever races again.

I saw a good article which I noticed reading this blog in previous topics it would address.

ON TRACK

BY: JOHNNY D.

NO ‘JOCK KNOCKIN’ ALLOWED

It’s easy to criticize the performance of any losing jockey. As simple as shootin’ fish in a barrel…with an AK 47. Fire at will. From the apron, the grandstand, the press box or, these days, online from the comfort of your home.

Take your pick from a laundry list of canned complaints: The jock moved the horse too early, too late, too wide. He got stopped along the rail. He checked, steadied, broke slowly, was too far back, or went too fast early. He didn’t whip the horse enough, didn’t go through a hole. And, the mother of all ‘jock knocks’--he stiffed ‘em!

To refine a standard: Winners tell jokes. Losers blame jocks and turn to the next race.

‘Jock knockin’ is a horseplayer’s inalienable right bestowed with the purchase of a mutuel ticket.

However, sometimes we take the easy way out and abuse the freedom.

Take the criticism leveled at Mike Smith for his piloting of Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes, or the Monday-morning quarterbacking that followed Calvin Borel’s handling of the same horse in the Belmont Stakes. In both cases, fault was found with the way Mine That Bird was ridden, pilot error blamed for defeat.

There was no way Smith and Mine That Bird were going to get a golden, rail trip at Pimlico. The Preakness is a completely different race than the Derby. First of all, it’s a shorter distance than the Derby so the field doesn’t string out like it does in Kentucky. There’s less separation between horses, less room for negotiation. In the Preakness Smith took the overland route and finished second, beaten one length by the extraordinary filly Rachel Alexandra. It’s exactly where they were supposed to end up.

Would Mine That Bird have whipped Rachel Alexandra if Smith had somehow, someway reproduced Borel’s rail-skimming Derby sojourn? Maybe. But that would have been an occurrence more consistent with television’s Lost than real life.

If you recall, even Bo-Rail himself couldn’t duplicate Derby rail-riding magic with Street Sense in the Preakness when they failed against Curlin three editions ago.

It’s true that when a jockey rides a masterpiece, as Calvin Borel did in the Kentucky Derby, twice, he gets an inordinate amount of credit. So, doesn’t it also make sense that when he rides a so-so race he should get an inordinate amount of blame?

Not exactly. And here’s why:

In an important race like the Kentucky Derby it’s relatively easy for a jockey aboard a 50-1 shot to execute a loosey-goosey plan; take back to last in a 19-horse field, ride the rail and see what happens. On the other hand, when that same horse is a short-priced favorite in an equally important race—like Preakness or Belmont--it’s impossible to implement a similar strategy.

In subsequent races, like with Mine That Bird in the Belmont, the Derby winner has a bulls-eye as large as the Belmont grandstand on his back. The other jocks are looking for him. They’d love to see the ‘horse to beat’ attempt to ride the rail home from start to finish.

Trapped favorites like that usually don’t see running room until sometime Sunday morning.

In the Belmont Stakes the shoe was on the other foot, sort of. Now, Kent Desormeaux was ‘hanging loose’ and saving ground along the rail with 11-1 chance Summer Bird. Borel, aboard the heavy favorite with the Calvin Crown at stake, couldn’t afford to be caught inside.

What made matters worse is that Mine That Bird acted differently for Borel in the Belmont. This time, instead of settling into a comfortable gallop, he pulled at his jockey and fought for his head early in the race. Borel had no choice but to let his mount cruise up to the leaders on the outside.

Mine That Bird made up ground with such ease that, coming off the sweeping Belmont turn, Borel must have felt the Calvin Crown already resting upon his head. He had no clue that his partner, who had won the Kentucky Derby with plenty in reserve and had gobbled up ground voraciously in the Preakness, would run out of gas in the last 100 yards.

But that’s what the Triple Crown campaign does to horses--good horses. It knocks them off their games. Dulls the blades. Lands them short of the green.

We’ve seen it so often in the past we ought to anticipate it just like we do spring.

C’mon, spare Borel. Hate the game, not the player. Put blame where it actually belongs; squarely on the shoulders of that tag-team combination of Derby, Preakness and Belmont—undefeated for 31 years. The Triple Crown pulled the rug out from under Mine That Bird, not Calvin Borel making a premature move.

Technically Mine That Bird wasn’t alive to win a Triple Crown in the Belmont. But he might as well have been. He ran in all three races and was just one-length away from bagging the first two legs. He hit the wall in the Belmont stretch. No shame in that. He’s got plenty of company.

Want some good advice? Give up ‘jock knockin’ as your first excuse for a losing wager. Delve deeper into each race to see if there isn’t some other possible explanation for your losing wager.

Often you’ll find that the hole your jock didn’t hit was moving faster than the horse he was riding.

After all, they still call it horse racing, not jockey racing.

Race On!

1. Rachel Alexandra (18) F  5 5-0-0 189  1

2. Mine That Bird (1)       G  5 1-2-1 171  2

3. Summer Bird                C  5 2-0-1 140  -

4. Musket Man                 C  6 3-0-3 124  3

5. Dunkirk                          C  5 2-2-0  90  -

6. Quality Road                C  3 2-1-0  89  4

7. Pioneerof the Nile      C  4 3-0-0  63  5

8. I Want Revenge           C  3 2-0-1  61  6

9. Charitable Man            C  3 1-0-0  34  8

10. Papa Clem                   C  5 1-2-0  31  7

Others: Munnings 17; Friesan Fire 6; Chocolate Candy 5; Capt. Candyman Can 4; Flying Private 4; Giant Oak 3; Justwhistledixie 3; The Pamplemousse 3; Mythical Power 2; Stardom Bound 2; Big Drama 1; Kelly Leak 1; General Quarters 1; Mr. Fantasy 1.

BTW,

    This from Steve Haskin on Stardom Bound, "Stardom Bound (who is doing well on the farm and expected back to the track in several weeks)...

An interesting Travers between MTB and SB. "Summer" is heading to the Haskell; it would be great to see a 3 year old tackle the Haskell and Travers, like Coronado's Quest, Skippy or Forty-Niner.  Recent trainers have made these a one or the other proposition.  A Jockey Club with MTB would seem unlikely; didn't Chip W. indicate only two pre-BC races with 3-year olds, only?  (The Haskell, Travers, Super Derby, Jerome, etc...)  Rachel has nailed down 3 year old  championship honors with her Preakness "one for the ages" win, a la' Genuine Risk's Derby win.  

GREG J. thank you for the update on Stardom Bound!

Lady Ruffian,

    Your quite welcome, It is good to hear she is doing well...

For Big Red,

    A friend of mine E-mailed this to me, Thought you would be interested, but you probably have everything relating to Secretariat!, But if not, Check this out, pretty cool...

cgi.ebay.com/Secretariat-Photo-1973-Belmont-Stakes-%22The-Photo%22-Signd_W0QQitemZ220429554495QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20090610

Maggie thanksd for that interesting information! :)

Jason, is there any word on the champ MIDSHIPMAN or on Vineyard Haven, the two best two year olds of last year only to suffer the consequences from their new owners hard headedness to continue to take the best colts and ruin them in Dubai like Street Cry, Wordly Manner, Rulers Court, etc.

Ghostzapper said "This colt is built like Secretariat and has speed and power".

I like Quality Road because he's a local horse but no one can ever compare him to Secretariat.

What made Secretariat one of the worlds great equine champions (if not the greatest)of all time was not only his accomplishments on the track but the fact that he was DURABLE.

Secretariat was built to LAST, not to make a nice showing in a couple of races and then head to the stud barn to pass on his defects to another generation.

Secretariat could easily have run and produced championship efforts into year four and beyond, and almost certainly would have done so if old man Chenery had been alive and his estate not saddled with tax problems.

As much as I'm rooting for horses like Quality Road and I Want Revenge and Dunkirk to recover and be able to return to the track, my hope for them is not so much that they'll be able to pull out a championship effort or two, but that they'll be able to finish their careers alive.

All good horses that are exciting to watch WHEN they're healthy, but hardly the stuff of Scretariat.

Greg J.  

Who in the world are they gonna get that is remotly close to Secretariat?  This I have to see.  :)  Thanks.....

Who is this Sea of Stars horse?? I know it sounds dumb but I have never heard of him except for on this blog...  I have heard of a lot of horses but just not this one!!

Matt H.,

Her name is Rachel Alexandra, not Rachel Alexandrea. She's named after her previous owner's grand-daughter, if I got that straight.

Draynay's Better Half, you are too funny!!

Greg J,

Thanks for the update on the Secratariat movie. Can't wait for it to come out. You can be sure that whoever plays the part of the great one it won't be big brown although he might be the one carrying the water bucket. My moneys on Curlin.

The astounding thing about the 2009 running of the Preakness Stakes, the thing that takes the winner Rachel Alexandra to new heights untouched and clean, was that after she put away a very talented graded Stakes sprint record holder whose obvious intent was to mix it up with her right from the starting gate, and despite setting blistering early fractions, she then held on to polish off the Kentucky Derby winner, a horse known for tremendous late run. She was tested every step of the way and bested all to become the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes since 1924.

Post race analysts that simply listed Rachel Alexandra with other fillies that have won Triple Crown Races missed a couple of important points. The fact that she is the only Oaks winner to attempt the Preakness, much less win it, and that she won from a post position that has never previously taken the race, puts her out there all by herself in a league of her own because there is nobody on that list but her.

As much as I enjoyed Mine That Bird's Kentucky Derby win, and celebrate how valiantly he showed up in the Preakness, I do not agree that he could have gotten to the filly if he didn't have to go wide around the field in his late run. He was the beneficiary of those blazing early fractions while he lay comfortably off the pace dead last for the first 3/4 of the race, and he got to make his move exactly when it suited him. It just wasn't good enough. First Rachel Alexandra was compromised by her post position, and then she was forced wide around the first turn, so neither horse was permitted to take the shortest route around ol' Hilltop. Only Rachel Alexandra was tested every step of the way, and still got home in front. If they had both gotten a perfect trip I think the order of finish would have been exactly the same, but the winning margin would have been considerably wider.

I love Mine That Bird, and always will, but I stand in complete and utter awe of Rachel Alexandra. I think that Chip Woolley must have felt the same way or he wouldn't have done his level best to try to keep her out of the race. And I will always wonder if trying to keep her out of the race simply morphed into the appearance of a very talented graded Stakes sprint record holder whose obvious intent was to mix it up with that freak filly right from the gate while Chip makes nice with the press. Hmmmm.

It was the greatest horse race I have ever seen, and I will never forget it as long as I live. I will be talking about it to my great grandkids, and telling them that I was alive then, and that I saw her. For me it was the benchmark against which all others aspiring to greatness will be measured. You don't dare even dream of horses doing stuff like this. What more can a flesh and blood horse do? Maybe nothing.

Mary, safe to say on this blog, you're barking up the wrong tree.

It was Mark Allen's idea. Truthfully it's been done before and will be done again. It's strategy. Mark was actually going to run the colt he was going to enter, as a 'rabbit' so to speak. A colt not even trained by Chip.

Thankfully the class and wisdom of co-owner Doc prevailed. This is another rumor, just like the one that Lukas was entering Luv Gov to block Rachel.

When all else fails, and the true inside story isn't known, Make it UP?

Just saw that on the new blog.

Shameful.

Calling it the greatest ever? While I admire Hal immensely, the new connections who I also know, not so much and think the filly is fabulous, by no means was it the greatest race. Unless you've not seen too many.

Jason, Iv'e been away earning $$, (fair is in town), are you sure the Draynay ban clock is working correctly? I could have sworn there were more days than posted!

Draynays Better Half, I don't think things are as dire with your Cheeto boy. There were some rumors of him creating havoc on other blog sites, unless they have banned him also!

I think Mine That Bird will be the 2009 3 yr. old of the year. His electrifying turn of foot is amazing. His ability to turn on the speed & pass one top level 3 yr. old after another and zip in & out of traffic is something that I never get tired of watching. Not only is he incredibly gutsy, he also is a very sturdy horse. So many of the other 3 yr. olds seem so fragile & who knows how many will still be racing in November. Mine That Bird strikes me as having long term stamina to be front & center in every race. Another horse I believe we will be seeing a lot of thru out the rest of the year is Musket Man. He was right there coming in 3rd in both the Derby & the Preakness. Another gutsy horse. I was wondering though if he has raced on synthetic before. We already know that Mine That Bird can run & win on both dirt & synthetic. So, he is definately my pick for top 3 yr. old. It is sure going to be an exciting rest of the year!!

Colette

What did you guys think of the Stephen Foster and the other races yesterday? We were treated to some exciting stuff weren't we?

Katsan, Ok. If you say so, it was Mark Allen's idea to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness. I thought I remembered Chip Woolley's voice in that recording played on HRTV. But does that negate my point, or prove it? By your admission, a team Mine That Bird member tried to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness. Guess they knew where the heat was going to come from. Even if it was technically legal, it was still a shabby thing to do. That back room finagling is what America has hated about horse racing for as long as I've been alive. We want everything to play out in front of us fairly. And we don't want to hear that possibly the best horse was froze out.

<>And yes, I stand by the'09 Preakness being the greatest race I have ever seen. I saw history. You can dispute that if you want to, but you can't dispute these facts; she was only the 11th filly to ever win a Triple Crown race, she was the first favored filly since 1915 to win a classic, the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924, she is the only filly to try the Preakness after winning the Oaks, and she is the only horse to have won the race from that post position ever. It would be interesting to know what notable horses started from pp #13 over the years. Since she did something they couldn't do, she can be measured against them as well.

I watched an interview with an official from Pimlico who spoke of a racing historian who watched the race from the Press Box, and has watched every Preakness for 60+ years. Apparently, this historian is a 'go to' source when sportswriters want to harken back to days gone by. The Pimlico official reports that the historian thought it was the deepest Preakness field that he had ever seen.

More than any of that, it was the way the race unfolded that just skewered my heart, polishing of a sprint stakes record holder early and then holding off the Derby winner's late charge. They reminded me of a tag team trying to take her down.

Maybe the '09 Preakness will eventually grow on you, too. <g> You often hear the talking heads on these horse racing channels refer back to a race having more significance than was immediately obvious on the day because so many of the starters go on to distinguish themselves in their next race. One race often mentioned in this light is the $900,000 Sunland Park Derby in which MTB finished fourth. Both he and others have gone on to G 1 wins from that race. As this year's other Preakness contestants go on to prove what they are made of, that too will all reflect backward on the filly that beat them.

I don't think of race horses in terms of who owns them, even if I am aware of it. What purpose does that serve?

A jockey(CALVIN BORREL) that is a danger to himself.DID you see ride on MISS ISELLA.

Mary...I always like to do research. So I did a little on your question about post 13 in the Preakness. Here ya go...First of all there haven't been many fields with 13(or more) runners, just 16 out of 134. For 1894 I don't have post positions just the final order of finish. 1917- #13 Fruit Cake(finished 4th). 1921- #13 Star Voter(9th). 1923- Goshawk (last). 1924- Mad Play(3rd, to Nellie Morse). 1926- Banton (last). 1928- Don Q (10th of 18, largest Preakness field ever). 1970- Plenty Old (13th). 1974- Destroyer (11th). For 1981, 1992 and 1999 I do not have detailed results. 2002 was Equality (last) and in 2005 Giacomo was #13 and finished 3rd. And of course 2009 Rachel Alexandra, winner. Not exactly a who's who list of great horses.

 Katsan, on the subject of greatest race ever I agree. This wasn't even the greatest Preakness(1989, 1997, 1978, 1973 those were GREAT Preakness'). If I were to choose the greatest "filly beats the boys" race it would have to be Rags in the Belmont,(stumbled at the break, beat the HOY in the "Test of the Champion" in a thrilling stretch battle). Tho I sure loved Winning Colors in the SA and KY Derbies. And I was very happy with RA's Preakness. I was too young for Genuine Risk, but I love her in retrospect.

Barb, Thank you for the historical record. The only horse I recognize from pp #13 is Giacomo, who won one of the Classics that year. BTW, one of his get recently got some very good press on one of the racing channels. While they did mention that they hadn't previously noticed any of his get burning up the tracks, they were very definitely salivating over the one who raced that day.

Since you are something of a researcher or historian yourself, do you know how to find out the name of the historian that sat in the press box at the Preakness, who was reported to have said the field was the deepest he had seen in 60+ years of viewing that race? It would be nice to see if he has written anything on the race so that we could have it first hand, instead of through the filter of the Pimlico official whose job, I assume, includes promoting that track and it's biggest race, or even my recollection of what he said.

Mary...I don't know who was at Pimlico, but there is probably someone you could contact on their website who could give you that info. I am just a big fan of racing with alot of books(over 200 racing related). And I like to answer questions, lol. People often make comments on these blogs that send me to the bookshelves. I always like to learn something new so I'm glad I could help. And do you know the name of the son/daughter of Giacomo? BTW, he won the Ky Derby (over Afleet Alex who ran a stellar Preakness).

Barb, No. Sorry. I wish that I did recall the name of the Giacomo get that had an impressive race. but I don't. I would have added him/her to my Virtual Stable just to follow along for a while. Guess I will have to put pen & paper handy to the tv because I have forgotten a few that I wanted to remember.  

Hurts to get old. : D

I will check the Pimlico website for contact info to ask about the historian.

One last thought on this blog.  If Mine That Bird is as tough and hearty as he appears to be, then, for me, he wins hands down.