Posted by Howie on May 17, 2009, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Kentucky Derby: Exclusive for the PATTAYA TIMES"
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THE PREAKNESS MAY 22, 2009 BY Howie Reed
LADY DAY AT THE PREAKNESS
Exclusive for the PATTTAYA TIMES
Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra took on the boys in the second jewel of horse racings triple crown. She led from gate to wire to win The Preakness by a decreasing length over fast closing Kentucky Derby winner Mind That Bird with Musket Man third.
The last time a filly won the Preakness, 1924, Americans were saying “keep cool with Calvin” a referenced to President Calvin Coolidge and Nellie More showed her hindquarters to the boy’s at the Preakness. Rachel Alexander became the first ever to win from the 13 post.
Just moments before the horses were loaded into the starting gate a steady rain began which had no effect on a fast race track. Rachel Alexander with Calvin Borel aboard battled for the early lead with Big Drama who delayed the start when he unseated his jockey Jr. Velazque. Alexander lead through the first half mile in 46.3 on a track that favors speed. In race track parlance it was a ‘merry-go-round” first ¾ of a mile with Rachael Alexander leading with Big Drama inside with Friesan Fire, Papa Clem and Pioneer of The Nile in that order. Mind that Bird as usual was way back.
Turning for home “the lady” opened up a four length with Musket Man taking second while Mind That Bird came charging with his usual late race run. In the end the lady prevailed but just barely. After the race Jockey Borel said, “She didn’t really like the track.” Mike Smith, who inherited the mount on Derby winner Mind That Bird thought, “I’d have had her in another 16th. I wanted to come up the rail but it was closed throughout.” The final jewel in the triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at a mile and one-half.
The days leading up to the 135th edition of The Preakness, the second jewel in American’s Triple Crown, was a play written for the stage. It had it all. Betrayal, Intrigue with just a dash of sexism tossed in for good measure. Like England, American’s Triple Crown of horse racing consists of three races restricted to 3 years of either sex. For those that may be in a quiz league the three races that make up Great Britain’s triple crown are The Epsom Derby, the St. Leger Stakes and the 2,000 Guineas which most Yanks think is a meeting of a The Son’s of Italy.
The day before the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks was run. That race is restricted to 3 year old fillies. Rachel Alexandra won the Oaks by an astonishing 20 open lengths. There had been some talk about Rachel Alexandra running in the Derby but her owners did an “ixnay” on that idea. The week following the Derby Rachel Alexandra was sold for upwards of $10 million dollars to Jess Jackson of Kendall-Jackson wine. He would pay a $100,000 dollar supplemental entry fee to run against the boys in the Preakness. The Preakness is limited to 14- 3 years old with those nominated to the three Triple Crown races getting first shot. There in was the rub because Rachel Alexandra wasn’t nominated for the Triple Crown.
Derby winner Mind That Bird’s owner, Ahmed Zayat of Zayat Stables, stated that he would enter one or more of the 20 horses he had nominated for the Triple Crown to keep the Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness. That threat lasted one day. Zayat pulled in his horns, changed his tune and issued the following statement, “We are only going to run Pioneer of the Nile in the Preakness. If [Rachel Alexandra is] in there, she's in there, if she's not, she's not."
Jockey Calvin Borel had ridden Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks and opted off the derby winner Mind That Bird for a return engagement with Rachel Alexandra. Never had a Derby winning jockey opted off for another mount in the Preakness.
When Mind That Bird was running as a 2 year old in Canada he won the prestigious Swynford Stakes. His jockey that day was Ms. Chantal Sutherland one of the best on either side of the border. For Mind That Bird it would make sense that Sutherland would return for the mount in the Preakness. Didn’t happen as Mike Smith from the southern California circuit got the call. Mike Smith just happens to be the boyfriend of Ms. Sutherland. “Mike you got some explaining to do.”
The Pattaya Times racing expert also has some explaining to do. On 91.5FM radio in Phuket the day before the race he said, “Rachael Alexandra has no chance.” So much of experts in horse racing.
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