Surprises at Pimlico

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Stanley Marcinkowski, Plowville,Pa — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:27:28 GMT

The biggest Preakness surprise was Mrs Lunger won the Bluegrass at Keeneland and would have had the Ky Derby favorite BUT opted to pass the Derby in attempt to win Preakness with Bill Shoemaker{?}

re: Surprises at Pimlico

bill — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:13:14 GMT

Thinking back, Louis Quatorze had to be one of the more surprising winners of the Preakness. Hansel, Pine Bluff and Snow Chief bounced back from less than stellar efforts in the Derby to win the Preakness. One of the best horses to ever win the Preakness was Secretariat's greatest son, Risen Star. That horse would have a tTriple crown winner with a better trip. Same goes for Little Current. There have been plenty of surpises in the Preakness although lately the Derby winners have had uncommon success in the race. Saving ground is very important at Pimlico due to the relatively sharp turns. It's tough to make a 3 or 4 wide move around the final turn and be able to outrun horses which have saved ground around the turn. The track is not nearly as speed favoring as it once was. It really plays very fair most of the time.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

joe — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:22:06 GMT

Riva Ridge was the first horse I followed via the tube; I was stunned at his loss. I am still proud and fortunate to have seen Swale at the Belmont Stakes. The middle jewel of the crown has offered some odd and memorable outcomes.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

G Man — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:21:41 GMT

Really don't understand why Strike The Gold wasn't included.If there was a Preakness surprise loss it was him.

After coming 2nd in the Florida Derby,he won the Bluegrass ,then the Kentucky Derby.Seemed a shoe in for the Preakness but...

re: Surprises at Pimlico

da3hoss — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:45:08 GMT

Fire slam, I felt bad about Fupeg, too, I always thought his temper kept him from being what his talent said he should be...

Whatever: A P Indy missed the first two legs...had his reasons, as do all of them...Man O'War was deliberately not run by his owner in the Kentucky Derby...pretender?

re: Surprises at Pimlico

da3hoss — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:31:28 GMT

rwph: Foolish Pleasure just a "nice" horse?

26 starts 16 wins 4 places 3 shows

Inducted into Hall of Fame

Won:

Champagne Stakes (1974)

Hopeful Stakes (1974)

Tremont Stakes (1974)

Cowdin Stakes (1974)

Dover Stakes (1974)

Sapling Stakes (1974)

Flamingo Stakes (1975)

Kentucky Derby (1975)

Wood Memorial (1975)

Donn Handicap (1976)

Arlington (1976)

Suburban Handicap (1976)

Place:

Preakness

Belmont

Governor's Stakes (grI)

Show:

Florida Derby

Brooklyn H.

Bel Air H.

You mean you have to do more than that in order to be more than "nice"? LOL;-)

So sad about his last days, the pain he was in, breaks my heart every time.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Rick S — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:03:49 GMT

L. Muchesi... As of now, thunder storms this weekend in Baltimore. Also, Churchill and Pimlico are two totally different tracks when it rains. CD is like peanut butter and Pim. is like soup.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

democraticjack — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:45:39 GMT

In 1972 I remember watching the horses in the paddock area and wondering at the "presence" exuded by Bee Bee Bee that day. I had just watched his stablemate, Chateauvira, romp in an allowance race and that sealed the deal for me. I took that $5.00 and bet it all on BBB. I watched the race hanging from one of the steel rafters and almost fell off because I got so excited when the field emerged from the turn with my pick still on the lead. It was a big, big upset.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

L. Muchesi — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:53:16 GMT

I don't like to really read the comments because even though people are entitled to their opinion,there are some real inaccurate,goofy things usually posted.

1)Bernardini was far from a pretender.As a 3 year old he won the Preakness,Jim Dandy,Travers & Jockey Club Gold Cup. Plus came second to powerhouse Invasor in the BC Classic.

2)Borel is and should be more loyal to Rachel Alexandra than MTB a horse which he has just started to ride.

3)To the person who doesn't get Foolish Pleasure(my pick),he was on the board in 23 of 26 starts,was undefeated as a 2 year old and won the Flamingo(when it meant something)& the Wood Memorial.He was a great horse!

4)People can root for MTB but he won't win the Preakness unless it is an off track.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

JCRobinson — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:58:35 GMT

Trey, (and others of that thought process),

Which is "cheesier", giving up a horse that you have ridden their entire career or giving up the one you have ridden once? If MTB were the winner of ANY other race than the Derby, this would be a non-issue! And thank you to Jackson & Asmussen for keeping Borel up.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Twostep — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:51:52 GMT

To you guys (Whatever & Trey) that can't respect a triple crown race winner that doesn't race in all three races, what should I do with this Woody Stephens plaque on my wall commemorating 5 Belmont winners, '82, '83, '84 ,'85, &'86? You guys just don't get it...how can you be a champion w/o taking on all customers. It's the test of champions, afterall. And, no, Linkage does not belong on the list of surprises - that was a very weak derby field, and Linkage was simply the Preakness favorite by default....and for Trey & Whatever, Alomas Ruler was targeted for the derby, but turned an ankle in FL, should he not be allowed in? And what about Deputed Testamony, he could never get the Belmont distance, should he not be allowed to run in the Preakness? Makes no sense to me to stop him from entering (tell the MD racing circuit to cancel their prep series, while you're at it.

The Preakness and the Belmont are the two best races of the year. Looking for the sharp horse, suited for the distance, going against the popular derby horse is horseplayer heaven. Join in.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

steve from st. louis — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:13:21 GMT

Don't be too surprised if the gelding Mine That Bird is our next Triple Crown winner.After another romp in a sloppy Preakness, only then will everyone jump on that bandwagon. Just appears to me he's the only 3-year-old who truly wants nine furlongs much less a mile and three-sixteenths and a mile and one-half.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Fire Slam — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:00:02 GMT

Feel sorry for Fupeg. Kent-D is one of the most over rated riders.

By far, Calvin Borel is one of the most under rated. He will take hole, or make one!!!

I think him sticking with the filly is a good story to write about, if she wins. There is a bond there that gives you chills and makes your heart speed up.

Still think Pioneer of the Nile and Friesan Fire is the exacta.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

DANYLSON — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:09:26 GMT

WHATEVER, I BEG TO DIFFER ABOUT BERNARDINI, I DONT THINK HE WAS A PRETENDER, EVERYONE THROWS HIM OUT BECAUSE HE LOST TO INVASOR. LET'S REMEMBER THAT RACE, HE WAS RIDDEN BADLY BY CASTELLANO AND COMPRIMISED BY TAKEN THE LEAD TO SOON, IF HE WINS THAT RACE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BIG. THE JOCKEY LOST THE RACE PERIOD, IF THEY RAN AGAIN, INVASOR WHOM WHICH WAS A REALLY GOOD HORSE, BERNARDINI WOULD BEAT HIM 6 OUT OF 10 TIMES,

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Bill — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:34:26 GMT

Bee Bee Bee was one of the unlikliest winners of the Preakness. This horse, trained by the late Del Carroll, was best known for a victory at Timonium the previous summer. He not only beat Riva Ridge, but if memory serves, also beat Key To The Mint - a renowned off track influence on the breed. Another very unlikely result was Aloma's Ruler, trained by the late Butch Lenzini and ridden by Cowboy Jack Kaenel. The favorite that year was Linkage, trained by the late Henry Clark and ridden by the late Bill Shoemaker. The latter made what appears to be a tactical error in allowing Aloma's Ruler to set the pace. He couldn't catch Aloma's Ruler on what was then a notoriously speed favoring track. You just never know....

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Trey — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:32:17 GMT

Lets see Mine that Bird do it!!!! To me Calvin is a great jockey but it is extremely CHEEZY not to ride the derby winner!!!! I wanted to see Fusaichi do it he was my guy!!!! totally agree with the whatever person if your going to come in with a cape on and try and win the easiest race and than not show up for the belmont enjoy your weekend of fame!!

re: Surprises at Pimlico

rwph — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:33:21 GMT

I don't get all the attention to Foolish Pleasure. He was a fine horse, but no super-star. Master Derby was a very solid racer who was on the board in 28 of his 33 starts, including victories in the Blue Grass and the Oaklawn Handicap.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

berttheclock — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:19:10 GMT

So happy that a track buddy of mine is not posting here as he would be typing "Riva Ridge BOUNCED".

However, I still can't get that horrid picture of Pat Day, under instructions from Woody, for race riding Winning Colors out of contention. She should have just leaned over and bit Forty Niner and the "Preying" Day, as well.

But, where, oh where are those posters who were yelling that MTB would not pass the drug tests following the Derby? Kinda quiet, eh?

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Whatever — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:33:28 GMT

Fusaichi Pegasus, what a disappointment. Wonder why Red Bullet skipped the derby and Belmont.???? Most preakness winners are long forgotten, especially the ones that skip the derby and Belmont and weasel their way in for the one easy race and skip the two most testing races of a series. Who remembers Bernardini, i forgot all about him until I looked at some past fly by night wanna be pretenders as I call them and Red Bullet and Bernardini definitely come to mind. I have much more respect for a triple crown race winner when they run in all three. It shows their soundness, stamina, grit and durability, all the qualities of a true champion and sire, not a one-time pretender. Fans want to see who the best horse is, not who is the most rested.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

da3hoss — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:30:36 GMT

Poor Swale, he was my favorite Seattle Slew son...

re: Surprises at Pimlico

FourCats — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:52:19 GMT

I didn't see the 1st four so I have no opinion about them. Of the others, I feel that the only true upsets were the losses by Fusaichi Pegasus and Riva Ridge. But even Riva Ridge was not really unexpected as he was notorious in disliking an off track.

re: Surprises at Pimlico

Kevin — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:52:47 GMT

Hope this years upset goes to the winner of the Kentucky Derby.

May he continue to surprise the handicappers, the naysayers, and his previous jockey.

No, he was not my "Derby Pick". Yet I know a jockey is only as good as the horse under him/her, and can only give you a great ride, if there is a great horse.