BloodHorse.com

While it may not have been rocket science to pick out the winner, you could have had yourself the Trifecta in the Preakness Stakes if you had merely boxed the five horses that were A++ rated by TrueNicks (link to Alan's post). With Macho Again and Icabad Crane filling the place and show, a $2 box for the five horses would have cost you $120 for ...

First, some old business.  The results of last week's poll (''We Are Family'') asked if/when a horse's female family influences your purchase decisions.  Not surprisingly (you're reading a pedigree blog, after all), most of you said the family affects all purchase decisions, and the rest said it affects decisions on specific types of ...

Big Brown just blew away the competition once again and it was amazing to watch. Viewing Big Brown's race at the 134 Kentucky Derby was just as impressive as this win, when he pulled away in the 133 Preakness. With two wins, I have to root him on for a triple crown win, though there are several horses racing in the third race of the crown that I ...

For what it's worth (probably not much), here are my late Pick 4 selections for the Preakness day card. With Big Brown seemingly a ''free'' selection on the back end, it seems like a tantalizing Pick 4 to play. Because most of you seem to play on a budget similar to mine, I limited myself to a ticket under $100. This $1 bet will cost ...

Sorry about the delay, but it has been busy since the crew and I returned from Derby Day.To read part 1 and catch up with my Derby experiences from the rail, during the Derby race, and to read about my experiences surrounding Eight Belles, click here. Photo: Robert Bolson Einstein Solves the Problem: Photo: Amanda DuckworthI am a turf fan, if ...

By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY BALTIMORE — When jockey Kent Desormeaux and undefeated Big Brown spring into action in the 133rd Preakness Stakes on Saturday, their bid to move to within one win of a Triple Crown will be accompanied by a rush of sights and sounds. The jockeys' bright, shimmering silks will form a montage of colors after the starting ...

Twelve contenders will go to the post for the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Let's see how they're rated by TrueNicks. A++ BIG BROWN (Boundary - Mein, by Nureyev) - Went into the history books by winning the Derby on only his fourth start, but is also there as one of the most closely inbred Derby winners of all time: with Northern Dancer 3 x ...

By Joe Drape, NYTimes.com Rick Dutrow doesn’t mince words. “I think that it’s our race to lose,” Dutrow said. “I think that he is the best horse in the race and I think if he breaks with the field, he’ll win the race.” He also is right. I’m rooting for Big Brown to pull into Belmont with a shot at a Triple Crown and immortality. Still, there ...

[image url=''http://cdn.bloodhorse.com/images/content/jsquires_large.jpg'']Jim Squires[/image] Jim Squires is the breeder of five graded stakes winners, including Monarchos, winner of the 2001 Kentucky Derby. He is an owner of Two Bucks Farm, Versailles, Kentucky and manager of Two Bucks Stable, which has 8 horses in training. In a previous life ...

Just last week we commented on the ''deadly duo'' of Kingmambo and Sadler's Wells mares and the success that this nick has had, despite the fact that these two stallions stood in separate countries. On the weekend there was another example of a potential ''mega-nick,'' this one certain to be tried an awful lot more given that it is one for the ...