Hard to Predict - by Dan Liebman

re: Hard to Predict

nyfalcon — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:01:10 GMT

it was fantastic!! it reprisented all sexes and aspects of breeding , a gelding, a filly and a colt ... how can you beat that. so no one can complane!!

re: Hard to Predict

Rowner — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:24:35 GMT

I agree with needler, I would rather see a triple crown that the winner is heads and shoulders above rest. Than a series of races that are geared down so we see more frequent winners but inferior horses. We should take this triple crown series and remember it for the great individual performances by both horses and rider and be thankful that we might be able to see these horses run longer than their 3 year old year I.E. MTB.

re: Hard to Predict

needler in Virginia — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:59:00 GMT

It's been a wonderful ride this year; when Rachel won the Preakness, the TC was forgotten and we got on with the series.... but getting to see her strut her stuff was terrific. We followed the intrigue moment by moment and some were heart-stoppers! Loved Bird One in the Derby, and Bird Two in the Belmont. Not bad for two "unknown" trainers and their "unknown" horses from Birdstone. Actually, I'd bet Bird, Sr really didn't care about his kids' accomplishments, but that's OK -- the point is proven pretty well.

While I REALLY, REALLY would like to see one more (at least) Triple Crown winner, I'd rather that winner be head and shoulders above all the rest; I'd rather look at the winner and say "there he (she....OK, let me dream just a little) stands; there's no question who is the best. I don't want any dq's, or drugs, or flim flam going on. I want to see the real deal. Maybe we'll all get lucky enough to see that again. But in the interim (and it's becoming generations!) I'm going to enjoy every minute of every TC series, and this year could very well be THE most unusual we've seen a a looooooong time.

AND how soon we forget.......Borel moved too soon? Probably, but the winning jock THIS year pulled up his horse LAST year, and NO WAY do I say what I really think about THAT! The Belmont is a deceptive race; looks pretty easy, wide turns, long run to the wire, small field this year, so no really dramatic traffic problems until Dunkirk interfered with Charitable Man, but this race is stunningly difficult to win. Borel was unfamiliar with the track AND the surface... fair enough. He probably should have ridden it a couple of times just to get the feel of the place. But if you remember, Desormeaux guaranteed a mortal lock for Big Brown last year and that didn't wok out so well, either! All that said, I usually don't second guess jockeys, 'cause they're out there doing it and I'm just watching.

Relax and enjoy the ride we had this year; I hope we get to see The Birds a lot this year and that Bird One goes on and on and on and on ............I LOVE that little horse.

Cheers, and safe trips for all.

re: Hard to Predict

BlueHen — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:45:26 GMT

Great idea, Rob! I'm counting the days 'til Saratoga opens (that's my local track). It's so much fun to go there and see the top 2-year-olds and wonder who's going to be in the following year's Triple Crown races.

re: Hard to Predict

RobfromBMore — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:27:38 GMT

Another great and thrilling Triple Crown Series. Just look at the last seven years of the Triple Crown and what fascinating stories!

Another great and unpredictable racing series. Kudos to hard working Calvin Borel and now being recognized as one of the great jockeys. Shame on me for not having MTB in my KY Derby exacta box. R.A. was exciting in her race against the boys. The t.v. ratings for the Preakness and the KY Derby were higher this year. Little talk about how fast the Belmont Stakes was. 2:27 and 2 was the fastest time since Summer Bird's daddy ran in 2004. Summer Bird's time was the sixth fastest in the last 20 years. I had Summer Bird in a healthy double with Gio Ponti. It may be sometime before we have a triple crown winner. Too many good horses being produced and trained by top flight trainers. I hope that we can see Dunkirk, Quality Road, The Pamplemouse eventually return back to the races. MTB is the real deal...look, he did 2:01 and change for the mile and a quarter in the Belmont. I look forward to seeing Mine That Bird in the Travers, The Breeders Cup Classic, The Donn Handicap, The Steven Foster next year. He is a gelding so we can enjoy him for the next few years. Another side note to fans is that the Kentucky Derby is the only annual U.S.A. sporting event that attracts more women to watch the event than men.

Also, get off Calvin Borel and his ride on MTB in the Belmont. Calvin made his move but Summer Bird was the best on this day. Congrats to Dunkirk on a great second in the Belmont and I hope Dunkirk does fine after his surgery. Can't wait to start getting excited about the Triple Crown Series for 2010. I start my watch in October of the previous year. Everyone, go out and enjoy your local track soon. Take some friends with you!

re: Hard to Predict

da3hoss — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:43:09 GMT

I love Cb and so respect him, so this is not meant sindely at all, but my memory of the Belmont, besides my saying "a bird in the race is worth two in the Belmont" was when CB moved on MTB I just turned to my husband and said "CB just doesn't know how long that stretch run is"...

re: Hard to Predict

Scott — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:20:15 GMT

People don't really show the importance of the Triple Crown. In every sport, there is a champion. Every year there is a Super Bowl Champion, World Series Champion, etc. Horse racing just shows us, a real champion is seldom seen. And when it does happen, what a thrill to see.

re: Hard to Predict

CRob87 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:34:55 GMT

Yes...it was a pretty Interesting year.

But, NO...it was really NOT that "Hard To Predict" the winners of the Preakness and the Belmont. The Derby Maybe, as it usually is, but not the Preakness and the Belmont.

Everyone pretty much knew that Rachel would be the better horse (On That Day) after seeing her 20 length Romp in the Oaks. And knowing that the Preakness WAS a distance that she could handle vs. the Belmont which she could Not. And knowing that MTB now had a slight Disadvantage with a new Jockey who didn't know the horse (Yet).

And you should've known that Summer Bird was about to have his own break-out day knowing his breeding and the fact that he was Fresh and Rested.

While MTB was going to get tired in the last couple of hundred yards in the Toughest and Longest race of his 4th race in 10 weeks.

I think it's funny that (Most) people when talking about the Triple Crown seem to overlook All of these horses Prep races and Not take them into consideration by the time the Belmont rolls around.

In my mind, the number 1 thing that makes Winning the Triple Crown so Tough is that it really is a 4 race series and Not just a 3 race series when you factor in their Prep races.

re: Hard to Predict

mike williams — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:24:39 GMT

The Triple Crown series was all Calvin Borel.He exemplified his horsemanship by reiterating that it was all about the horse, and nothing else. I believe that he rode the best race possible considering the quality of the horses ahead of him, Dunkirk and Charitable Man.Even though there was no Triple Crown winner,Mine That Bird's Derby, Rachel Alexandria's Preakness,and Summer Birds' Belmont will be remembered for a long time.Mine That Bird's running style will ensure that we should see some exciting come from behind finishes.