Post by Peter Gross on May 13, 2010 4:40:14 GMT -5
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver has been installed as the 5-2 favourite for Saturday's running of the Preakness Stakes at a mile and three-sixteenths. What's very intriguing about the second jewel of the Triple Crown is that only 5 of the 20 three year-0lds that ran on the first Saturday in May will be gunning at Pimlico. So what happened to the other 15.
In all likelihood, many of them are sore. It's tough sledding to run a mile and a quarter in the mud, with 126 pounds of jockey and lead aboard and many of the horses in the Derby are probably still suffering bruises from the roller derby type trip they endured. Ice Box, who was a very impressive late running second in the Derby isn't coming to Pimlico. He had a brutal trip, his momentum completely stopped on two occasions and his people are probably being wise not to bring him back just two weeks later. Paddy O'Prado is hoping to parlay his third place finish at Churchill Downs and the other three horses re-upping are Dublin ( 7th in the Derby), Jackson Bend ( 12th) and Looking at Lucky (6th). Looking At Lucky drew post 7 for Saturday's race, which means he's assured of a much cleaner trip than he got in the Derby. Looking At Lucky was the 6-1 favourite two weeks ago, but coming out of post one was deadly. He was squeezed at the start and severely bodychecked into the rail about an eighth of a mile in. Still, Looking At Lucky was running strongly at the end and rallied from 18th to pass a dozen rivals. Calvin Borel has been boasting that Super Saver will win the Triple Crown, but I would put money on Looking At Lucky if that one has longer odds.
Seven fresh horses will enter the fray in the Preakness..Todd Pletcher, training of Super Saver has entered Aikenite. Dale Romans, trainer of Paddy O'Prado has also submitted First Dude, whom I would bet, if I were President Obama. Also in the Preakness, Schoolyard Dreams, Pleasant Prince, Northern Giant, Yawanna Twist and Caracortado. It tells you just how much the chase for the Triple Crown can take out of a three year-old horse when you see that only 12 have been entered for the second leg.
And looking at last night's results from Woodbine, it was nice to see 2008 Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon and Jono Jones teaming up for another win. Not Bourbon ran off from the field in the 7th last night winning a $75,900 allowance race at six furlongs in the fine time of 1:08. Sprinting was always Not Bourbon's game; before the 2008 Plate, trainer Roger Attfield wondered aloud if Not Bourbon could last the ten furlongs. He did under a terrific ride by Jones, lost the Prince of Wales Stakes, then captured the $125,000 Overskate Stakes at 7 furlongs by a widening four lengths. After that, Not Bourbon clearly needed a lot of time to recover from some infirmities and last night's race was the first appearance by him in in about 20 months.
In all likelihood, many of them are sore. It's tough sledding to run a mile and a quarter in the mud, with 126 pounds of jockey and lead aboard and many of the horses in the Derby are probably still suffering bruises from the roller derby type trip they endured. Ice Box, who was a very impressive late running second in the Derby isn't coming to Pimlico. He had a brutal trip, his momentum completely stopped on two occasions and his people are probably being wise not to bring him back just two weeks later. Paddy O'Prado is hoping to parlay his third place finish at Churchill Downs and the other three horses re-upping are Dublin ( 7th in the Derby), Jackson Bend ( 12th) and Looking at Lucky (6th). Looking At Lucky drew post 7 for Saturday's race, which means he's assured of a much cleaner trip than he got in the Derby. Looking At Lucky was the 6-1 favourite two weeks ago, but coming out of post one was deadly. He was squeezed at the start and severely bodychecked into the rail about an eighth of a mile in. Still, Looking At Lucky was running strongly at the end and rallied from 18th to pass a dozen rivals. Calvin Borel has been boasting that Super Saver will win the Triple Crown, but I would put money on Looking At Lucky if that one has longer odds.
Seven fresh horses will enter the fray in the Preakness..Todd Pletcher, training of Super Saver has entered Aikenite. Dale Romans, trainer of Paddy O'Prado has also submitted First Dude, whom I would bet, if I were President Obama. Also in the Preakness, Schoolyard Dreams, Pleasant Prince, Northern Giant, Yawanna Twist and Caracortado. It tells you just how much the chase for the Triple Crown can take out of a three year-old horse when you see that only 12 have been entered for the second leg.
And looking at last night's results from Woodbine, it was nice to see 2008 Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon and Jono Jones teaming up for another win. Not Bourbon ran off from the field in the 7th last night winning a $75,900 allowance race at six furlongs in the fine time of 1:08. Sprinting was always Not Bourbon's game; before the 2008 Plate, trainer Roger Attfield wondered aloud if Not Bourbon could last the ten furlongs. He did under a terrific ride by Jones, lost the Prince of Wales Stakes, then captured the $125,000 Overskate Stakes at 7 furlongs by a widening four lengths. After that, Not Bourbon clearly needed a lot of time to recover from some infirmities and last night's race was the first appearance by him in in about 20 months.
