Horse Racing for 2009

[Maxflier]

Rachel Alexandra is a BEAST!

[classicman2]

She's so good that I would like to see her run against the boys in The Kentucky Derby.

I'm almost certain that's not going to happen.

[Maxflier]

So would I but she wasn't nominated unfortunately.
Guess we'll have to settle for watching her romp in the Oaks.

[classicman2]

Quality Road, considered among the top three candidates for the May 2 Kentucky Derby, has a quarter crack in his right hind foot, making his status for the Run for the Roses a bit uncertain.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Monday morning that he is "very concerned" about the situation but that it would be premature to say the horse can't make the Derby,

[Maxflier]

Shit, he was my Derby pick.....
Hopefully it heals up and he is still able to run.

[classicman2]

Saturday, 4/11/09, Arkansas Derby (G2)

1 1/8 Miles /3 Year Olds Stakes / Purse: $1,000,000


Post Horse Jockey Weight

1 Captain Cherokee, Gryder, 118

2 Papa Clem, Bejarano, 118

3 Flat Out, Garcia, 122

4 Poltergeist, Hamilton, 118

5 Ziegfeld, Court, 118

6 Flying Private, Ocampo, 118

7 Summer Bird, Rosier, 118

8 Old Fashioned, Thompson, 122

9 Win Willy, Berry, 122

10 Danger to Society, Velasquez C, 118


The Good Lord willing & the creek don't rise, I'll be there. I haven't missed one since 1991.

I still believe Old Fashioned is the horse to beat. He's got a new jockey.

The morning line is not set, and won't be until about noon on Friday, probably.

I see they've changed back to the 'old way.' There's one race, 12th, after the Arkansas Derby. It's a 1 3/4 miles

[classicman2]

Good news from New York - Quality Road galloped 1 3/8 miles at Belmont Park. No problems. I think the odds are very good he'll be running the first Saturday in May.

[classicman2]

Saturday, 4/11/09, The Bluegrass Stakes (G1) (I refuse to say Toyota..... )

1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $750,000

All horses carry 123 lbs.

Television: TVG exclusive


Post Horse Jockey ML

1 Patena, Albarado, 10-1

2 Join in the Dance, Velazquez J, 10-1

3 Theregoesjojo, Borel, 7-2

4 Cliffy's Future Castanon, 20-1

5 Mafaaz (GB) Hills, 12-1

6 Terrain, Leparoux, 6-1

7 Loch Dubh, Theriot H, 50-1

8 General Quarters, Coa, 15-1

9 Charitable Man, Garcia Alan, 4-1

10 Hold Me Back, Desormeaux, 3-1

11 Massone, Gomez G K 123, 12-1


The morning line hasn't been set - probably tomorrow afternoon.

The favorite will be Hold Me Back. If for no other reason, Desormeaux has been on fire at Keenland. I'm not a great fan of Desormeaux.

The second choice will probably be Massone. If for no other reason, Garrett Gomez, the Eclipse Award winning jockey for the past 2 years, will be aboard.

Correction: The morning line has been set - shown above.

It looks as if the man who sets the ML believes it's a wide open race.

Theregoesjojo, although 7-2, is probably a pretty good bet. He's a fast horse - or has been in the past.

[Red Dog]

I'm more interested in the Arkansas Derby this Saturday. My boy, Larry Jones, trains the favorite: Old Fashioned (9-5). It's a rematch of the Rebel Stakes where Old Fashioned was upset by 57-1 shot, Win Willy. His odds are a tad shorter this go-around. 7-2. Jones is switching riders: Terry Thompson over Ramon Dominguez.

If Old Fashioned wins this, Larry Jones will probably have 2 horses in the Derby: also Friesian Fire, winner of the Lecomte, Risen Star, and Louisiana Derby. Although I suppose he could hold Old Fashioned back for the Preakness.


2009 Arkansas Derby -- Grade 2
Race 11 at Oaklawn Park
Saturday, April 11, 2009 -- Post Time 6:41 p.m. ET
1 1/8 miles, for 3-year-olds
Purse: $1 million
TV: ESPN2, 6 p.m. ET

Captain Cherokee (20-1)
Papa Clem (6-1)
Flat Out (10-1)
Poltergeist (20-1)
Ziegfeld (12-1)
Flying Private (6-1)
Summer Bird (30-1)
Old Fashioned (9-5)
Win Willy (7-2)
Danger to Society (6-1)

[classicman2]

If Old Fashioned wins - he'll be in The Derby. He may be anyway. He's got sufficient graded stakes earnings.

Dominguez admitted publically that he gave Old Fashioned a 'bad ride.' He said he would change jockeys if he was the trainer.

Win Willy, IMO, is the most over-bet horse in the field. He's run his race in The Rebel.

[Red Dog]

Past Performances:
Blue Grass Stakes
Arkansas Derby

[classicman2]

The only Derby prep race with a 1 million dollar purse - out of the last 15 triple crown races, 5 have been Arkansas Derby winners - and, it's still a Grade 2.

It's called coast bias by the ranking committee.

The ranking committee is the only one in the racing world doesn't think it's a Grade 1 race.

[Red Dog]

The last time Maryland tried to use ED to keep sports within the state, it only served to hasten the departure. This doesn't bode well.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...21,print.story

Magna protests state bid to use eminent domain

Measure meant to save Preakness threatens its assets, company says
By Gadi Dechter | gadi.dechter@baltsun.com

8:17 PM EDT, April 8, 2009

Magna Entertainment Corp. and its bankruptcy attorneys criticized Gov. Martin O'Malley's bid Wednesday to assert eminent domain powers over the Preakness Stakes, saying passage of the legislation could lead to more litigation.

The governor and lawyers for the state said the proposed law - which has the backing of legislative leaders -- is necessary to ensure that the Preakness does not go the way of the Baltimore Colts in the wake of bankruptcy proceedings that began in Delaware last month. Hearings on the emergency bill are scheduled for Thursday morning.

"We are disappointed by the introduction of the legislation and the threat to our assets," Greg Rayburn, Magna's interim chief, said in a statement. Brian S. Rosen, a New York bankruptcy attorney representing the company, sent O'Malley and legislative leaders a letter asking them to "cease and desist all activity" with respect to the bill "immediately."

Maryland officials meanwhile emphasized that the measure -- which would authorize the state to acquire the Preakness, Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park and the Bowie Race Course Training Center by eminent domain -- is to be employed only if necessary.

"Our hope is that we might not have to resort to these powers," O'Malley said.

The governor and other Democratic leaders repeatedly invoked the Colts' abrupt 1984 move to Indianapolis as a cautionary tale they are determined not to repeat with the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

"This is a very bold step," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. "The state is stepping in almost heavy-handed and saying, 'Look, we don't care how much money you've got or where you want to go with these properties. The state of Maryland has an interest.'"

Under the bill, the state could seize the tracks as well as the Woodlawn Vase and Preakness-related trademarks, copyrights and contracts, if doing so prevents "the loss of the historically, culturally, and economically important" horse racing legacy.

Legal experts say the bankruptcy filing by the tracks' owner could prevent the state from exercising that power.

The last-minute legislation was prompted in part by reports that Pikesville developer Carl Verstandig was interested in razing Pimlico and turning the Northwest Baltimore property into a shopping center. He has since said he would prefer to keep the Preakness at Pimlico, as have other potential bidders.

Despite the interest from bidders, O'Malley said "it wouldn't be proper to presume there will be a private market solution to this."

John C. Murphy, a Baltimore attorney who specializes in eminent domain issues, said the passage of the legislation could lower the value of Magna's Maryland assets.

"Once the authority to condemn is adopted, the property in effect becomes unsalable," Murphy said. "All you're buying is a potential lawsuit."

But Gregory A. Cross, a Venable LLP bankruptcy attorney retained by the state, said he didn't think the bill would decrease the tracks' value or make their auction less likely.

Also Wednesday, the state's highest court agreed to hear an appeal by Magna-owned Laurel Park in its suit over the disqualification of the track's slot-machine gambling license bid. Oral arguments are scheduled for June.

Why do I have a feeling that we'll be seeing the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown (even if it ain't called the Preakness) at a Florida track or Arlington or Delaware Park next May.

[classicman2]

I vote for Arlington Park.

I don't believe it'll happen though. They're not going to move a triple crown race to the midwest.

[Red Dog]

Originally Posted by classicman2

I vote for Arlington Park.

I don't believe it'll happen though. They're not going to move a triple crown race to the midwest.

I don't see why not. L'ville is more midwest than east coast. Chicago is much closer to L'ville than Baltimore is. Then you got plenty of time to ship to NY.

[Red Dog]

Nice win for General Quarters in the Blue Grass, moving on to the Derby. I was impressed with Hold Me Back to finish 2nd what with how wide he was off the last turn. Both those horses would seemingly have no problem with 1 1/4.

[Red Dog]

I was going to bet a 7-8-9 tri box and wheel Old Fashioned in the Ark Derby, but unfortuntely I'm having technical problems and can't get the bet in. Bet the farm on them.

[Red Dog]

Damn - and Hank likes Papa Clem.

[Red Dog]

Hank hit it (the exacta). I can't believe it. I can live with that since I would have lost my bets (even with the long shot in my trifecta).

[Maxflier]

Kudos to Hank for actually getting a pick right!

[Maxflier]

Not that it matters since he would only be a lamb to the slaughter if he ran in the Kentucky Derby, but Old Fashioned is off the Triple Crown trail with a slab fracture.

[classicman2]

It was a mad house today at Oaklawn. The traffic is always bad - especially on Arkansas Derby today. The crowd, I believe, was announced at 56,000. If you've ever been to Oaklawn you'll know. It's a track that's virtually down town.

I was shocked that Thompson immediately took Old Fashioned to the front. That's exactly the opposite thing I heard Larry Jones say he would do. I thought he would run along with Papa Clem. Instead he goes to the front and runs a 23 & change first quarter. The slab fracture probably ends Old Fashioned's racing career.

If times mean anything, and Quality Road is healthy, he should win the Kentucky Derby - assuming he doesn't get a really bad trip. He ran the 1 1/8 miles in about 2 seconds less than what the other winners won the major prep races.

[Red Dog]

Originally Posted by Maxflier

Not that it matters since he would only be a lamb to the slaughter if he ran in the Kentucky Derby, but Old Fashioned is off the Triple Crown trail with a slab fracture.

Damn - I didn't hear that.

[classicman2]

The real winner of The Blue Grass & The Arkansas Deby was Dunkirk.

It assures him a spot in the Kentucky Deby.

Not to worry - Jon White (HRTV analyst) has said Pioneer of the Nile will win the Triple Crown. Of course Jon also said that Giacamo was a better horse than Afleet Alex.

[Maxflier]

Old Fashioned has been retired.