March to the Black Eyed Susan

Welcome to Preakness Week! Often known as the ugly stepsister, the Preakness believe it or not, is a key race when it comes to the Eclipse Awards. Since 2001, the winner of the Preakness has been named 3yo Champion Colt/Gelding. Of course there is one exception to this rule of thought and that's because last year's winner was a filly. However, I think she turned out to be an okay horse in the long run (wink wink). Seriously though here is the list and what they've done/did after their Preakness wins.

2001: Point Given (Wins in the Belmont, Haskell and Travers, named HOY as well as 3yo Colt/Gelding)
2002: War Emblem (Win in the Haskell)
2003: Funny Cide (3rd in the Belmont, 3rd in the Haskell)
2004: Smarty Jones (2nd in the Belmont)
2005: Afleet Alex (Win in the Belmont)
2006: Bernardini (Win in the Jim Dandy, Travers and JCGC, 2nd in the BC Classic)
2007: Curlin (Wins in the JCGC and BC Classic, 2nd in the Belmont, 3rd in the Haskell, named HOY as well as 3yo Colt/Gelding)
2008: Big Brown (Wins in the Haskell, Monmouth Stakes)
2009: Rachel Alexandra (Wins in the Mother Goose, Haskell and Woodward, named HOY as well as 3yo Filly)

If Super Saver where to following in these lovely boys and girl's steps, he'll have to win the Preakness. The good news is that Calvin Borel will be riding Black Eyed Susan day and in the BES to get used to the track. All the pressure in the World is on him in the Preakness, however I think more pressure is on Todd Pletcher to try to grab the only TC race he hasn't won yet.

The big reason being... Aikenite. It's a bit of a risk entering another horse when you have the Derby winner for a different owner (Aikenite is owned by Dogwood Stable) but it has happend before. In matter of fact, Todd's former boss Wayne Lukas was the last one to do it. He entered Overbrook's Cat Thief, even though Charismatic owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis had won the Derby. That's how loaded Todd is this season, now the mile and 3/16 may still be too long for Aikenite, but like Super Saver he wasn't that bad of 2yo. He beat Ice Box in his first start, and went on to finish third behind Dublin in the Hopeful and 2nd behind Noble's Promise in the Breeders Futurity. Of course those three went on to the Derby finishing 2nd, 5th, and 7th (Ice, Noble, Dublin) respecitvly. His two bad beats where this year in Holy Bull and Bluegrass. Holy Bull winner Winslow Homer was injured and Bluegrass winner Stately Victor didn't show in the Derby, however runner up of that race Paddy O' Prado finished third. Aikenite is coming off a second place finish to Hurricane Ike in the Derby Trial, and although he had enough earnings to go, his connections decided to skip. I do think he's up against it in the Preakness, especially with his Derby winning stablemate, but I think he'll do well in Saturday's race.

I do want to appologize for not doing a Weekend Preview and Recap, I hadn't felt that great on Friday, so I just skiped this past weekend. A few notes about upcoming chats, I haven't decided yet when the next chat will be. One more thing, I'm pleased to announce the Horse Racing Bloggers Awards, these are awards given out to the best horse racing blogs wether it's TB, QH, Arabians or SB. Nominations open next week, but you cna check out the catagories now!

It's a Girl's World! (and the boys are just living in it)

When you look back in the record books at the Woodward in a few years you'll see legendary names: Kelso, Forego, Seattle Slew, Damascus, Buckpasser, Spectacler Bid, Affirmed, Alysheba, Easy Goer, Saint Liam and Curlin are just a few of the horses to win the Woodward. Rachel Alexandra added her name to this list fighting off Macho Again in the final few yards.



First off I gotta give some love to Macho Again, as his connections took a chance and almost upset Rachel. Bullsbay showed that his Whitney win was no fluke as well, Asiatic Boy pretty much showed that while he was the best in Dubai, he's not tops here. Also can Da' Tara please retire with grace, this is the second race in a row he was eased. Maybe he's just not interested in racing anymore.

Now of course Rachel will have her detractors, but lets look at who she has beaten.

KY Derby winner Mine That Bird
Belmont and Travers winner Summer Bird
Tom Fool winner Munnings
Victory Ride winner Sara Louise (the last horse who has beaten her)
Silverbulletday winner War Echo
Eight Belles winner Four Gifts
Susan's Girl winner Bon Jovi Girl
Acorn winner Gabby's Golden Gal
Test winner Flashing
Secretriat winner Take the Points
Monmouth Oaks winner Just Jenda
Whitney winner Bullsbay
Stephen Foster winner Macho Again
UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy
Belmont winner Da' Tara

A pretty nice list considering that the older males and 3yo male class has taken a slight hit. More then likely she is done for the year, unless Zenyatta comes over from California and runs in the Beledame. However, this is extreamly unlikely and we'll have to wait and see if this happens.

More history was made today as Linda Rice became the first female trainer to win a major training title in the US. She defeated Todd Pletcher by 1 win. Also Dancing Brook Gal defeated the males in the All American Futurity. So the girl power rages on!

I'll have another post either Weds or Thursday!

Rags foals, Proud Spell returns, a legendary race is supended (again) and no Derby for 'Drama'

Rags to Riches (AP Indy x Better Than Honour) had her first foal, a filly by Giant's Causeway. (Link) The 2007 Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes winner will be bred back to Henrythenavagator. I'm really excited to see this girl run in two years. She'll have a ton of pressure on her, because of who her mother is.

Meanwhile, last year's Oaks winner Proud Spell (Proud Citizen x Pacific Spell) will prep for the Apple Blossom on Thursday at Oaklawn. (Link) She could face defending champion Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom.

Meanwhile, this year's Derby's prospects got thinner, when it was announced that Big Drama will skip this Derby, because he is not quite ready to return from his injury. (Link)
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Last but not least, the Pimlico Special has been suspended again. (Link) It's really a shame to see a race like this to be suspended for the second time in three years. This is the race that is most known for being the match race of Seabiscuit vs War Admiral.