Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Convene — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:04:03 GMT

UK Racing Fan - that's the long and short of it, isn't it! If she's good enough, she has the right to run. That's why it's not a restricted race. And what a tragedy it would have been if Zarkava, Goldikova and Oiuja Board too had been denied their chances to show how very good they were.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Convene — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:59:22 GMT

Stardusty Rose - No, I don't have a problem with his being a gelding but someone else apparently did. I read it in one of the Bloodhorse articles! Yes I agree more horses should be gelded - especially when I look at some of the horses listed in the Stallion Register. Some of 'em never won a single race! My point is - may the best horse win: colt, filly or gelding! Excluding her like that would have been very unsporting and suggests the kind of determination to win that sometimes leads to all kinds of bad stuff. It's a race and may the best horse win!

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

UK Racing Fan — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:12:49 GMT

You guys over there are obsurd, this is the single most piece of unsporting behaviour I have ever had the misfortune to hear of in Racing.

If a filly is good enough she should run, simple as!!

Do you remember our filly at last years BC - Goldikova? She beat everything put before her, male or female. As did the Arc winner Zarkava.

Are you going to tell me that they shouldnt have been running?

If you do then I will tell you that your a disgrace.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Miss_Cayenne07 — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:17:51 GMT

Although, regarding my last post, there are some rather nice colts in the field..I would love to see what Pioneerof the Nile and Friesan Fire can do also in this next start..they caught some bad luck in the Derby..this will be a great race!

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

MissCayenne07 — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:11:35 GMT

I was very disgusted when i heard this. A talented filly should not be in the Triple Crown because it is supposed to showcase stallions? The Triple Crown has always been prestigious races featuring the BEST 3 y/o s in the country. So, apparently they are trying to create a lame excuse that its a bad thing for horse racing to have non-stallions competing...even if the stallions that are competing are a weak field, because you know thats soo good for the sport. Come on, entering a horse that has never won a thing, earned practically nothing on the track, just to keep a superstar filly from kicking the crud out of the fluke Derby winner...unsportsmanlike, disappointing and low. well too bad, she's in baby, and Calvin Borel knew which one to pick!! Can;t wait to see it happen =)

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Householder — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:05:28 GMT

Matthew W. Smart man. RA being entered was a blessing. POTN will creep up to 6-1 or so...with Papa 12-1 or higher.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Jason Shandler — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:23:26 GMT

My Juliet: My opinion, and this is my opinion only, is that he could have raced again with time off. That opinion is coming after discussions with a few different people that I have talked to who might know.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

My Juliet — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:14:45 GMT

Jason, I am interested in your opinion on Smarty Jones retirement. I was a hugh fan and like many people was very disappointed he never ran after the TC races. Thanks.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

gw_bushwacker — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:35:32 GMT

draynay,

So now all of a sudden it's just fine and dandy to run "slow" fractions of 1:12 in 6 furlongs an be a winner? All spring you have railed against horses who ran those type of fractions. RA's best 6f fraction at 1 1/16th or longer has been "only" 1:11.8 and her average is "only" 1:12.33. For the record I think those are solid fractions at 1 1/16 or longer but that's not the point I'm making. You are never going to be credible when your argument changes every race that comes up.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

HLLIKINS — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:13:08 GMT

As if I needed another reason to root for RA: her post position draw is my favorite number.

Here's hoping the track comes up the best it can with the best weather, and conditions etc. Hope the break is clean for every starter. Looking forward to seeing this. Good luck all!

Cheers,

Heather

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

jukojoe — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:02:00 GMT

The beyer speed figures leading up to the derby were out of line because of the AW tracks in california and the BEYER speed figures for the derby seem to be taking a subjective bent instead of being objective the winner is rated so much better than the second and third horses Oh pioneer of the nile came in second Beyer in his almost disdain for AW tracks stated that if pioneer of the nile came in the money he would lose all his bets on DRF I hope pioneer of the nile wins the preakness not only because he IS the most accomplished COLT in the field but he will finally PROVE that this is nonsense assigning such slow speeed figures to california AW tracks by the way colonel john was the horse coming out of california last year didnt he win the travers anyone who is sharp has already caught on to this nonsense

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Karen2 — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:51:39 GMT

Ranagulzion: Sitting bulls visions were spot on before the derby. If he calls this one, I'm a believer. Just for fun I may tell my friend to put some money on PapaClem and Musket Man.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Crushed fan — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:37:42 GMT

I'm on the middle ground here.

Didn't want her to run in the Preakness because of the timing -thought Belmont would be better because that (time wise) was what she was being pointed to.

Also like to see trainers on the cautious side (Baffert recently w/ Indian Blessing). But they do need to run

This made me post again - to those who on the previous discussion wanted Rachel to just be a broodmare - this in BH -“Mackie… was euthanized March 18 because of foaling complications while delivering an offspring by Any Given Saturday". I loved her. A half sister to Derby winner Sea Hero she was out of Glowing Tribute from a wonderful Rokeby broodmare family. Hate to hear it. Makes me think of Bsndhee Breexe.

Well - may all come home safe on Saturday - wish for everyday of course.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Crushed fan — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:19:02 GMT

Thank You - Mat – “How can ANYONE say that Smarty Jones was retired prematurely when he is not able to be ridden like all the rest of the stallions at Three Chimneys?”

I was at 3 Chimneys 2 weeks ago and asked – He is not ridden – could you even imagine if Smarty had broken down.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Matthew W — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:51:31 GMT

Householder I AM taking POTN right back!--if Papa C is 12-1, oh baby! I like them both to beat the filly.....

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

StardustyRose — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:47:25 GMT

Beth

VERY good point! :)

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

StardustyRose — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:42:47 GMT

Mike Relva

Did you hear about Nicanor? What a impressive win. Ignore these naysayers. They are NOT worth your time. :)

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

longwaytomay — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:03:27 GMT

For Big Red,

Maybee I don't see what you saw because of wishfull thinking. I would love to see FF and LJ win a TC race. What are your thoughts on Big Drama? I feel the distance could be his biggest obstacle. If you watch his other races, he refuses to let a horse pass him coming down the stretch. I think he is fresh, fit, tough, and won't get a crappy ride from Johnny V. I also think people are not giving any love to MTB. Might be a big mistake. I'm looking forward to wagering on this race.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Draynay — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:15:10 GMT

Some of you make no sense. We will be watching history Saturday when RA does something NO HORSE has ever done. Winning the Oaks and the Preakness ? Unreal. I am just happy that the best 3 year old is being given the chance to show how much better she is then the rest of this group. Big Drama is the real deal but will not want to run the last 200 yards. 1 1/16th is all Drama wants... Rachel will run him down and be forever considered one of the greatest fillies ever.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Monica V — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:02:27 GMT

Regarding MTB being a fluke, he could well be but he could also be coming into his own. He may just be unbeatable from now on. It could happen. His Derby win was amazing and there could be other amazing races ahead for him. We will see in the Preakness and the Belmont. Even if he doesn't win both, winning one of them will give him two legs of the Triple Crown and that would make him a special horse.

Look at Cigar, he didn't really learn to run until he was past 4, yet another reason to keep these horses around.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Speedball — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:25:55 GMT

Ranagulzion- I've never seen Big Drama run so I'm anxious to see him. I also think MTB is a horse that will be fabulous in the coming years if he stays healthy.His pedigree screams so. Can't wait for the race. Good luck!!

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

For Big Red — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:58:01 GMT

TO longwaytomay: Like I said, I could be very wrong. I want to be wrong, because I'm nuts about Friesan Fire. Nothing would please me more than to see him storm to the front and win the Preakness.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

ghostzapper — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:40:52 GMT

these 3 year olds are weak, rachel stacks up very well to them if not better. POTN best beyer is a 96 when he meets real horses he will get crushed, good horse not great. The best thing for this sport is rachel running whether she wins or loses she will draw attention to the tv on saturday. As far as Borel he should stick with the derby winner i know rachel is awesome but one bad ride they kick him off rachel and then he has nothing. A deby winner is a sacred thing fluke or not. Cant wait to see the pps and hopefully win some money good luck to you all

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

longwaytomay — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:34:30 GMT

For Big Red,

Went to Baltimore Sun and watched the clips. I don't know if I see the same thing as you as far as FF looking sore but I definitley see Big Drama as looking very well indeed. By the way, thank you for all you post. You are very informative. I read the Louisville paper every day and for some reason did not think to check out the Baltimore paper.

re: Rachel Alexandra Excluded From Preakness? It Could Happen

Ranagulzion — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:31:10 GMT

DRAYNAY: "Rachel" can certainly win this one. I wouldn't be surprised BUT she will certainly not have things all her own way. Maybe you haven't thought through the likely pace scenario but perhaps you should think about it and come back here and tell us at what stage in the race is she going to shake off Big Drama. Consider also if indeed she can outrun him by open lengths up the lane. You are in for a rude awakening my friend.

SPEEDBALL: I have a great respect for MTB's chances. In my opinion his Derby win was a breakout performance. Irrespective of the weather or track conditions I expect that "Bird" to be flying at the death on Saturday. He is a versatile horse that doesn't have to lay as far back as in the Derby to have a shot but he can run and win. His pedigree tells the story. My fancy however is Big Drama and if the track is fast he could at least threaten the Stakes Record, if not the track mark. Rachel Alexandra and Friesan Fire will keep him honest (and vise versa). This is gonna be a really spectacular race. Enjoy my friend.

BTW Sitting Bull does add a pecuilar "visionary" angle to the fun of handicapping on this blog ...even if it makes him a "sitting duck" for my shots ...hope he doesn't mind.