Borel, Rachel Alexandra set for Preakness

Thoroughbred Times ^ | May 15, 2009 | Jeff Lowe

[flintsilver7]

Great race,this Rachel looks awesome, even more so considering Borel said he felt she wasn’t handling the track very well, but won anyway.

Great point. This in my opinion marks Borel's status as a good jockey. The sign of a great horse is that they can win when they aren't on their game. Rachel Alexandra held on pretty much wire to wire, which is impressive given she wasn't 100%. This is in sharp contrast to the Belmont last year, when Big Brown wasn't 100% yet easily could've won had the jockey not ruined him by the half-mile marker.

[mickie]

I don't think Rachel can do mile and a half.
Sounds like Jackson wants to breed her.

I love MTB.

[Proverbs 3-5]

If the horse that wins the KY Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont wins Triple Crown, even with different riders, is there an honor for a jockey that wins all three races even if on different horses?

[ETL]

I had $300 to bet on the race. So I put $200 to win on RA (the winner, #13). She returned $5.60 to win for a profit of $360.00. I also bet five $20 exactas with the winner on top. Mine That Bird (#2) cost me $520 by running second! I had a $20 exacta with RA and the horse that ran third (Musket Man, #3). The exacta would have paid 52.00. That's $520 on a $20 bet! But I can't complain, I'm still up $260 on the race.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Here is a replay of the Kentucky Derby when MTB won. Just got to “Mine That Bird Gallery” on the right and click on the right play button.

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/racing-information/contenders/mine-bird

[ETL]

Rachel Alexandra held on pretty much wire to wire, which is impressive given she wasn't 100%.

They went the first quarter in a very quick 23 seconds flat. That's normally way too fast for a long race like the 1-3/16th mile Preakness. Yet she held on anyway. She also didn't like the track surface very much. Early speed is a big plus for the 1-1/2 mile Belmont Stakes. Everyone thinks late runners have the advantage, however, most Belmonts have been run by quality speed horses like RA.

[Proverbs 3-5]

Borel made it clear that he was going to ride the filly in the Preakness BEFORE he won the Derby.

I'm no horse racing expert so I could be mistaken here but from all the pre race chatter I saw on NBC this afternoon they showed an interview with the filly's FIRST owner (and Calvin was standing there) who said the filly would not be raced in the Preakness as it was his belief that female horses shouldn't compete with male horses (or something to that effect). Then in the last two weeks that owner sold the filly who and THAT owner did decide to run her in the Preakness. It was then that Calvin had his first opportunity to consider riding her in the Preakness. Or did I miss something?

[sheikdetailfeather]

Here is the video replay of the Preakness today:

http://www.fandome.com/video/112201/Rachel-Alexandra-Wins-The-Preakness-Stakes-Race-Replay/

[ETL]

Source:
http://magna.equibase.com/eqbPDFChart.cfm?tid=PIM&dt=05/16/2009&ctry=USA&day=D&STYLE=PIM&RACE=A&BorP=B

[ETL]

Thanks.

[gate2wire]

Well, nice race by the filly. Mine the Bird proved me wrong again. Guess he’s for real.

Lost my butt today. Can’t remember such a bad one. Oh well. Still have a couple races tonight and back to work for tomorrow.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Thanks... it feels SWEET to get my Derby cash back....

I had $75 to win, at $10 exacta ticket, and hit a $3 tri-wheel... :-) The tri ticket alone paid $324! YEA!!

Today, what SHOULD have happened in the Derby, did happen... when you try to come from last place, behind THAT many horses... you SHOULD have a rough trip. MTB got freaking lucky in the Derby, and cost me $$$.

But, he did run well today. And, I’d have to put him as a fave in the Belmont.

What a great filly this is.. Rachel. What a shame she didn’t run in the Derby....

[SomeCallMeTim]

I also hit a nice one in the third at Belmont today.. Blow Up! Went off at 5-1, and I had the exacta too...

Only two races I bet today.... MUCH better than derby weekend.

[spectre]

Oh wow!!! Good for you!!

Maybe before the Belmont, you could do a little handicapping for your favorite FReepers?!!!

I won't hold you accountable if we (I) lose. LOL.

sw

[Eagles2003]

“Borel didn’t do much today, which I think is good. Big Brown last year suffered from a terrible ride in the Belmont because Desormeaux tried to do too much.”

If you know where to look (youtube?) there’s a video of Big Brown as his shoe loosened from the back of his hoof after about 1/4 mile from the starting gate. Remember he had foot problems and shoeing issues.

I just went and dug up the link you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUC_NxTu_Sc

They call it a “sprung shoe” and the video is only 1:21. Worth the time.

Big story here in Baltimore is the lack of attendance at the race, particularly the infield. No alcohol allowed from outside for the first time this year. Attendance numbers aren’t out yet but no way are they even close to the record.

And ZZTops was appearing for free (to the crowd) in the infield.

[flintsilver7]

I remember seeing some stills last year where BB’s shoe had loosened. I also remember the quarter-crack issue, though I’m not sure that was much of a factor. I don’t know quite enough about racing to know how common sprung shoes are and how much they affect the horses, but I have to assume that was a problem.

My main problems with Desormeaux’s ride were how much he held back BB early on. He tried to rate him early, but failed badly. Big Brown wasn’t facing particularly tough competition and if the first two races were any indication, he could’ve easily led wire-to-wire without tiring. Still, Desormeaux tried to rate him early to the point of fighting him. He also tried to swing him out twice before succeeding (I believe he bumped both Tale of Ekati and Anak Nakal). He went out way too wide.

I remember sneaking to the bar to watch it as I was at a wedding. To a person, everybody in there asked me why Desormeaux was not letting him run. This is probably a common question for relatively untrained observers. I can see why they would ask that. However, after the clubhouse turn, I thought Desormeaux was ruining him. We’ll never know, but I really wish we could know. Big Brown won every race he was ever in besides the Belmont, even when he clearly was not interested in running (like the Monmouth Stakes).

I’m surprised the attendance was so low. This race in particular had been pretty hyped, and it turned out to be a good one.

[grellis]

You didn't miss anything, that's essentially how it played out. Borel has ridden RA to wins a number of times now--I think it's six total, counting today's race. When asked why he chose to ride RA over MTB, he basically said he's never ridden a horse with her talent. Clearly, he chose well.

I don't think she'll fare as well at Belmont, if she runs it. She's an amazing sprinter. She didn't run her best today and was still able to pull off a win. The Belmont is no sprint, though...I'm looking forward to an amazing run by MTB in a couple of weeks...

[SomeCallMeTim]

Thanks.... It was good to get my Derby money back! ;-)

“Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn’t”.

That’s one of my favorite movie quotes... anyone know it?

Just for the record.. I posted my Preakness bet quickly, to get it on the record before the start... But, I didn’t wheel RA with ALL... just 3 horse for second, and 4 horses for 3rd.... It was a good hit.

Unless we get an interesting new entry for the Belmont, I think I’ll have to bet on Mine That Bird. Unless I Want Revenge, or Quality Road, or one of a couple of others comes back... it’s hard to see how anyone could beat him. He seems to have a HECK of a kick!

[SomeCallMeTim]

I’m surprised the attendance was so low. This race in particular had been pretty hyped, and it turned out to be a good one.

The attendance was down because they banned all "brought in" alcohol for the first time ever. The 30,000 or so people in the infield were missing. Funny, at the Derby, they allowed coolers this year for the first time since 2001. Despite having lower attendance in the corporate village, and clearly lower in the grandstands.. ( I saw EMPTY boxes for the first time since I started attending in 2001).... overall attendance was pretty high.