Girl vs Boys, Oaks winner vs Derby winner, Unknown trainer vs High profile trainer, backup vs backup. This is the 2009 Preakness Stakes field
Post Horse Trainer Jockey Morning-line odds
1. Big Drama David Fawkes John Velazquez 10-to-1
2. Mine That Bird Chip Woolley Mike Smith 6-to-1
3. Musket Man Derek Ryan Eibar Coa 8-to-1
4. Luv Gov D. Wayne Lukas Jamie Theriot 50-to-1
5. Friesan Fire Larry Jones Gabriel Saez 6-to-1
6. Terrain Al Stall Jr. Jeremy Rose 30-to-1
7. Papa Clem Gary Stute Rafael Bejarano 12-to-1
8. General Quarters Tom McCarthy Julien Leparoux 20-to-1
9. Pioneerof the Nile Bob Baffert Garrett Gomez 5-to-1
10. Flying Private D. Wayne Lukas Alan Garcia 50-to-1
11. Take the Points Todd Pletcher Edgar Prado 30-to-1
12. Tone It Down William Komlo Kent Desormeaux 50-to-1
13. Rachel Alexandra Steve Asmussen Calvin Borel 8-to-5
Big Drama won the Swale Stakes, however was DQ'ed after interfering with the second place finisher This One's For Phil. He did win the Delta Jackpot last year and has Johnny V on, he'll figure into the early speed. The more I think about it, the more I think Mine That Bird is a one hit wonder, I really like him, but his connections have turned me off. And while he has the last jockey to win on a 50-1 shot in the Derby (Giacomo), he won't get that rail trip he got last time. Mike Smith is in the irons for the first time, replacing Calvin Borel. (And if Zenyatta and Rach do go in the Classic this year, you can be sure that Mine will get his old jockey (and Mike's girlfriend), Chantal Sutherland, back in the saddle (Mike is the jockey for Zenyatta)). Musket Man, I think is a poorman's verison of Afleet Alex, he came into the Derby quite under radar, and I really like his chances here, although I don't think he'll be in the top three. However, I won't be suprised if he and Eibar Coa find a way to win. Luv Gov, almost didn't run in the race, if he was going to keep out Rachel Alexandra. While I think he will do better in the Belmont, I really hope that he does extremly well here, unfortanlly I don't know alot Jamie Teriot, even though he has ridden some nice horses before. While I'm still on the Friesan Fire bandwagon, I rather see him in the Belmont. This may be a little too short for him, and he did have some excuses in the Derby. But now that Gabe Saez has two Derbys under his belt, I trust him and hopefully (if Rach can't win), the two of them gives Larry Jones his first Triple Crown race win. While I consider Musket a poorman's Afleet Alex, Terrian's jockey Jeremy Rose knows Alex well as he rode the 2005 Preakness and Belmont winner. I don't know how well Terrian will do here, although having a local is very helpful. Can Snow Chief help Papa Clem? Well if it's 1985 all over again, it could happen. Rafael Bajarano will have to channel his inner (and fellow Cali based jock), Alex Solis. Thankfully after a little accident yesterday, Julian Leparoux's mount, General Quarters, is fine. He's still this year's Cinderella to me. I really do not like Pioneerof the Nile's chances here, no matter what Garrett Gomez does. Why is Flying Private in this race? He has last year's TC spoiler jockey in Alan Garcia... and well that's it. I would love to see Pimlico give some love to Edgar Prado after what happend in 2006, and I see it happening this year. I've been following his mount, Take the Points since earlier this year. He's coming out of an okay proformance in the SA Derby where the winner and 2nd place finisher, where 2nd and 5th in the Derby. It's funny, last year Kent Desormeaux last year was on the top of the world with Big Brown, and this year he rides the longest shot on the board, Tone It Down. Ironicly his trainer's late son, is a former quarterback for the University of Delaware, my hometown college team (Although he was on the run from the law. But that's a story for another day). While Kent went from winner to longshot, Calvin Borel is going from longshot winner, to favorite. While her post isn't the greatest, Rachel Alexandra, will be fine out of the 13 hole. Horses won't crowd around her, and she will be able to just get outside of Big Drama and rate like she did in the Oaks. Not too thrilled they pointed her to the race, but this is the shot in the arm that the Preakness needed. She will be the first filly to run since Excellent Meeting ran in 1999, unfortnally she DNFed as Charismatic showed he was no fluke. (Ironicly, TC spolier that year Lemon Drop Kid has a good chance to win the Belmont as a sire with Charitable Man)
So that is your 2009 Preakness. Should be an exciting race!
Top three:
Rachel (duh!)
Friesan
Points
I'll preview the Black-Eyed Susan Day and the undercard tomarrow.
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