Pedigree Query

Here's the official entries for this years Preakness Stakes. PP's below. TJ

13th RACE. Post 6:48PM
The 142nd Running of THE PREAKNESS STAKES (Grade I)
PURSE $1,500,000 Guaranteed 1 3/16 Miles FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS.

1 MULTIPLIER (L) Walsh, B Rosario, J 126
2 CLOUD COMPUTING (L) Brown, C Castellano, J 126
3 HENCE (L) Asmussen, S Geroux, F 126
4 ALWAYS DREAMING (L) Pletcher, T Velazquez, J 126
5 CLASSIC EMPIRE (L) Casse, M Leparoux, J 126
6 GUNNEVERA (L) Sano, A Smith, M 126
7 TERM OF ART (L) O'Neill, D Ortiz, J 126
8 SENIOR INVESTMENT (L) McPeek, K Hill, C 126
9 LOOKIN AT LEE (L) Asmussen, S Lanerie, C 126
10 CONQUEST MO MONEY(S) (L) Hernandez, M Carreno, J 126
Blinkers On: Term of Art
(S) Supplemental Nominee

Click on Always Dreaming: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... ummary.htm

I've changed my mind a hundred times.

Classic Empire
Always Dreaming
Gunnevera
Cloud Computing

Doesn't look like a lot of speed in here (certainly no cheap speed to ramp up the pace) so I will go with the logical pace horses:
1) #4 Always Dreaming
2) #2 Cloud Computing
3) #10 Conquest Mo Money
4) #5 Classic Empire

The longshot among these will probably be Conquest Mo Money, and although he has the least likelihood of winning, he'd be my straight selection (Win & Place).

I am curious as to why Javier Castellano elected off Gunnevera, who went into the Derby as a logical threat, to wide Cloud Computing ...
Maybe I am making too much of that, and Mike Smith is certainly a more than qualified replacement, but there must be some reason (other than his relationship with Chad Brown) !?

I think the horse is a live shot, and also - wouldn't you ride for Chad Brown in this race and in future races???

Always Dreaming
Classic Empire
Gunnevera
Hence

Box:

Always Dreaming
Classic Empire
Hence
Cloud Computing

Don't see Looking at Lee getting the hot pace to run at again. Hence and Classic Empire can't be as unlucky as they were in the Derby, can they?

Classic Empire, Lookin At Lee, Always Dreaming

I boxed Classic Empire, Looking At Lee and Always Dreaming.
And decided to put a win/place/show on Hence, as I hope he has a better race than he did in the Derby.

(I changed my mind a bunch, too)

I'm a penny ante bettor with horrible luck, but I have fun trying!

What a great race Classic Empire ran, Always Dreaming will dream another day....but Chad Brown got his Classic win today. Congrats Chad!
Cloud Computing
Classic Empire
Senior Investment
Lookin At Lucky

Nice exacta box, Cree, Aug and Altanbarr

Mixed feelings... always a bummer when the Derby winner doesn't win the Preakness. But, I put a last-minute win bet on Cloud Computing. Disappointed in Hence, was hoping he would show up today.

No Triple Crown this year.
Congrats, Cree, Aug27 and Altanbarr!

Here's the replay of the Preakness...the winning beyer was 102, that figure being the same as the Derby winner's beyer.
http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?tra ... ountry=USA

After the smoke cleared here's how the Preakness connections were thinking. TJ

13th RACE. (C13) Post 6:48PM STAKES The 142nd Running of THE PREAKNESS STAKES (Grade I) $1,500,000 Guaranteed PURSE $1,500,000 Guaranteed 1 3/16 Miles FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS.

1 MULTIPLIER (L) Walsh, B Rosario, J 126

Left Pimlico this morning, trainer Walsh said a Belmont run was possible?

2 CLOUD COMPUTING (L) Brown, C Castellano, J 126

Left for Belmont Park this AM. Chad Brown said his Preakness winner is possible for the Belmont Stakes. Brown was also planning on running Peter Pan 4th place finisher, Take Your Guns in the Belmont Stakes as well.

3 HENCE (L) E136 Asmussen, S Geroux, F 126

Asmussen said they will regroup with Hence and not go on to the Belmont Stakes.

4 ALWAYS DREAMING (L) Pletcher, T Velazquez, J 126

Pletcher reports his Derby winner came out of the race in good order and had no real excuse other than the drying out track? They returned to Belmont Park this morning and no plans will be made race-wise until AD is further evaluated at his home base.

5 CLASSIC EMPIRE (L) Casse, M Leparoux, J 126

Casse was proud of his horses race, but said if he could do anything differently, he would have run CE without blinkers. Thinking his horse was beaten because he didn't see the winner coming? He is expected to run back in the Belmont Stakes.

6 GUNNEVERA (L) Sano, A Smith, M 126

Trainer Antonio Sano said Gunnevera bled for the first time in his career and will not run in the Belmont Stakes. He will ship to Florida, get a rest and return to Saratoga for the Summer Meet.

7 TERM OF ART (L) O'Neill, D Ortiz, J 126

No word on the Preakness last place finisher.

8 SENIOR INVESTMENT (L) McPeek, K Hill, C 126

McPeek said Senior Investment left this AM for Belmont Park and is a likely starter for the Belmont Stakes.

9 LOOKIN AT LEE (L) Asmussen, S Lanerie, C 126 10

Lee left Pimlico for Belmont Park this morning. Asmussen expects to run back in the Belmont Stakes

10 CONQUEST MO MONEY (L) Hernandez, M Carreno, J 126

Trainer Miguel Hernandez said Mo is being considered for the Belmont Stakes. They are expected to train locally at Fair Hill Training Center, as they make their final decision.

Gee, Brown looks like a genius. That was a nice win, and a nice 2nd. This crop continues to make me scratch my head.

Too bad about Gunnevera, and probably a good plan for Hence. Hopefully he'll regroup and come back in better form.
Do you think Cloud Computing simply beat Classic Empire because he was the fresh horse?

I think the jockey switch was the primary reason ... Castellano is a much stronger and tactically-savvy rider than Leparoux ... in my opinion.

Here's a great story for any of you guys and gals that like knowing more about who these people are, where they came from and how things shake out in the jockey musical chair game. Bottom line it's just business and jock switches go on all the time. What I just found out...thanks to this article, is that Castellano's agent is now Mike Lakow (a very sharp guy in the race business) and one time racing secretary for NYRA. As well, Mike was general manager for the farm owned by John Sikura (Hill 'n' Dale) that stands Macleans Music and bred and sold Cloud Computing for $200,000 as a yearling...so the rider switch kind of was in the cards:>) Enjoy the story by one of the great racing writers in the business (Steve Haskin). TJ
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-ra ... e-way.aspx