Early List for the Preakness

[austique]

Here's what the Bloodhorse has so far:

Going:
Barbaro
Brother Derek (lost shoe in Derby Post Parade)
Sweetnorthernsaint
Lawyer Ron
Like Now
Bernardini

Probables:
Simon Pure

Possibles:
Sinister Minister
Point Determined
Jazil
Bob an John

Unlikely:
Bluegrass Cat
Flashy Bull

Definitely Not:
Steppenwolfer
Showing Up
Keyed Entry
Sunriver

[Keith]

Showing Up would have have been a fresh horse for the Preakness and could have give them a one two punch in the Preakness. It was too soon to run him in the Kentucky Derby because he only had three races under his belt. The Triple Crown is breaking down too many horses and why don't they space each race a month apart. I think you would see more competitors in the second two legs. A lot of potentionally good horses either break down trying to get to the Triple Crown races. You see alot of horses winning too legs because other horses either drop out or break down in getting to the Triple Crown races. I think a point system would be a better way to get in the Derby and should start from the Breeder's Cup Juvenile on. The race could be limited to twelve starters and the prep races would count more. Graded earnings could mean a horse won alot as a two year old and could be burned out by the time he gets to the Derby. A horse wins a million dollar race puts him atop the list. Wouldn't it be something to have a playoff system and if you win certain races you automatically get in the Derby and if you are Horse of the Month or earn the most points for the month you earn a spot in the Derby so a horse who blossoms in March and April also have a chance to run in the Derby. There are lots of things that can be done to improve horse racing. A cluttered field often costs the best horse from winning the race. There is no doubt Barbaro was the best horse but in years past the best horse ofton did not win because of a cluttered field. Showing Up served his purpose as a rabbit for Barbaro. Maybe he was not used as a rabbit but that is the way I see it.

Keith

[Betsy]

I just read the Blood Horse article/recap of the Derby with quotes from trainers; per Tom Albetrani, they are still pondering the Preakness for Bernardini (or the Peter Pan/Belmont). The Preakness is not definite......thank goodness. That race would be too much, too soon for him.

[Playwithfire]

I'd be interested to see if Baffert enters Da Stoops into the Preakness off his win at Hollywood park at 9 furlongs a week ago. he looked pretty impressive.

[louis finochio]

Da Stoops didnt beat the class of TB that he would face in the Preakness.

By leaving DS at Hollywood Pk. to pick up the $$ before the big horses arrive from the TC races would be a feather in DS cap.

Brother Derek came out of the Derby in good condition and will go on to the Preakness.

[austique]

Updates:

Bernadini is a definite

Jazil is unlikely

Simon Pure is probably going

Lawyer Ron is awaiting outcomes of tests and x-rays, but if he's clean he's going

[Heidilady]

Talk of limiting the Derby field always makes me angry. That's part of what makes the Derby what it is. It's even more incredible than training for an Olympic games because it's not only once after 3 years but never again in that horse's life. And that trainer or owner may never have another shot. If the best race of their entire career comes on that day, wow what an amazing event. It would've most certainly kept horses like Giacomo out of the race and look who won. Now they'd include the Oaklawn series in the serious Derby contender watch area and Illinois too but back in the day, they'd have laughed if you said a horse who won the Wood had the same credence on the Derby trail as a horse who did the Southwest--Rebel--Arkansas Derby. Or even farther back when they snorted with derision at Seabiscuit and the horses of California.

I found it fascinating that the top 3 finishers of major preps all made it to the race. So basically this year they got in fair and square and if someone else wants to enter a race where the large field has yet to cause massive wrecks, so be it. Horses absolutely fall all over each other in 6 or 8 horse fields so I don't blame it on size. I figure it's nothing more than sour grapes when people go 'well the best horse didn't win so let's just discount the result'... If a horse's meant to win the Derby, they do. It's not just a horse race, it's the epic drama in these people's and horses' lives. Deciding who deserves to get the fewer spots would just be open to industry and regional manipulation to keep the little guy out of it and all the Cinderella stories would find it even more of an uphill battle. It's those stories that make the race worth running. It's why the Derby is more than the Haskell or Pacific Classic. And hey, at least they paired it down from 23 so give'em credit from that lovely high point. I figure we whine a lot about all the small fields in racing nowadays. I'm not going to begrudge them one great big one. If people don't like how many horses are in the race and feel it'd damage their horse's chances, don't enter. If you want a smaller field, there's this race I heard about at Pimlico called the Preakness. You can get directions off of Google Earth.

[speedandfade]

I love to see 20 horses run each and every year at the derby, so many trainers, horses and owners would love to be there. 30.000 horses are born each year, only twenty have earned the right to run in north americas prestigious race. I am proud as a horse handicapper to see 20 come outa the gate every first weekend in may, im lucky to follow all the horses from the first may till their last race, i can always say that i see him run in the derby.
we all know that jan 1 all horses in the northern hemisphere have universal birthdays, so some horses MAYBE only 2 yr olds when running in the derby, it this to hard on the horse, yes, they are still improving with each workout, schooling gate work and race. 2 - 4 furlongs races are prep races for these 2 yr olds.
I do agree people who say that majority of horses cannot take the rigorous triple crown campaign, but remember these are considered the top field after earnings, good paying race schedules, horses maturity, capabilities to improve, and trainers putting them in good racing spots, staying healthy, and having some training and racing luck.
are all the horses running at this level good enough, i dont know, but they all have past the screening (if you will) process.
POINT DETERMINED improved with each race, bad trips, going wide into corners, wet track, and still finished 1st or second, this is going to be good horse, they all will be assuming they stay healthy. (Watch this one) he just need bigger field experience along with brother derek.
i would say only 4-5 horses will peak after this race...........and become racing stars, did barbaro and others all peak already? time will tell. some horses may have peaked already and we wont hear about them anymore.
imperialism, rock hard ten and borrego are all still running and winning, its good to see these horse today............

[Keith]

Horses are not as tough as they use to be. Horses are bred for speed speed speed because that is what sells and there are very few real long distance races that go a 1 1/4 miles and further. Look at all the horses that break down trying to get to the Derby. Breaking down horses to try to get the Derby should not be at the expense of the horse for trying to get prestige and fame of running in the Kentucky Derby . Almost all sports have playoffs and harness racing has elimination heats. Look how much a tounament does for college basketball. I just think the best horses should run in the Derby. If The Derby is the championship race of the Triple Crown why is it the other two races are consolation prizes. I am just throwing ideas out there because horse racing should be out there competing with the other sports for popularity. Horse Racing needs to be more than that first Saturday in May. Horses are not as tough as they use to be and maybe two weeks is too soon for the next leg. For a championship race the Belmont Stakes often winds up being a short field because the horses we breed today can not seem to run a mile and a half. We breed for what sells and and are losing the bloodlines that are not so popular that bring stamina to the pedigree. We shy away from breeding turf horses and El Prado is one of the best sires out there as he improves his mares. Dynaformer is another one who has been bred to alot of cheaper mares and had to work his way to the top as a sire. El Prado is out of a Sir Ivor mare. Dynaformer is out of a His Majesty mare. We need stamina in our bloodlines for toughness. Dynaformer is considered a turf sire and he sired a Derby winner. Look at Danehill as he is by Danzig and out of a His Majesty mare. I think what makes Weekend Surprise so influential is her linebreeding of Somethingroyal who is a daughter of Princequillo. Just look at her influence through Secretariat's daughters Terlingua, Weekend Surprise and Six Crowns as well as her other very influential son Sir Gaylord. Lord Avie a grandson of Sir Gaylord is turning to out to be a nice broodmare sire. Look at what Princequillo and Ribot has done to add stamina to pedigrees. It is a nice to have a combintion of speed breeding with some stamina in a pedigree. The sport is in great need of a super horse to carry the sport and fans continue to be disappointed to see there super horse retire right after the Belmont Stakes the last two years.

Keith

[Kari]

imperialism, rock hard ten and borrego are all still running and winning, its good to see these horse today............

Uh, the only place RHT is running is in a paddock at Lane's End. He's been done for a while.

[austique]

Borrego is also finished

[austique]

Lawyer Ron is now unlikely for the Preakness due to inflammation in a hind ankle.

[StrawberryFelidos]

I sense Lawyer Ron's retirement party is imminent

Unless, of course, he clears up fast enough to run in the Belmont. In which case, he will be retired after that race because either he wins it and is too valuable to race anymore, or he loses and can not afford to have any more "embarrasing marks" on his racing record.

[HR LLC]

The human lawyer Ron should get the 2006 "dealmaker of the year" award. I doubt if they retire him officially this early. If he misses the Belmont they will do the "he is coming back song and dance until the fall racing season". Then they will announce an "official" retirement due to injury.

I wonder what his fee will be. I assume Stonewall will price him somewhere in between his sire(20K) and Wando(10K).

[speedandfade]

im just saying that its good to horses run well after their respective derby appearences, i wish to see the longevity in horses, ireally do. i wanted to see afleet alex on grass, smarty against older horses, declan's moon with lost in the fog. i am just respecting horses that can come out the derby and win other high paying races the year after, but i do really enjoy seeing them run again.
i cant wait to see steviewonderboy or other derby hopefuls for 2006 run agains this year (later this year).

who do you think is the best horse never to run in the derby? in any year.

Ive been watching horse racing for one ful year and the horse to really imprss me was Tatsuji, i was sure hed be in at least one of the tc races.
I was knew to the racing and i wanted to pick a horse to win in the 2004 derby and dont get mad caught my eye (wicked closr). i wish that horse the best with his offspring (steviewonder boy's half brother)