Preakness thoughts anyone?

[Justpat]

I can't get too excited about it this year.

I'm going to go with Scrappy T just for the hell of it.
I watched him run here in NY and think he is a tough,
game little guy.

Giacamo would be a surprise if he won.
Frankel's horse was last in the Derby and Frankel
thinks blinkers will move him up. I don't think so.
I throw these thoughts out there admitting that
although I have worked in the industry for 35 years
I am one of the worst handicappers that ever lived.

[Anywho6]

1. My prediction...

Afleet Alex by six lengths! No handicapping formula, just a guess! I will be happy to cheer on Scrappy T for you!

[Justpat]

3. I love Afleet Alex.

And I'm hoping that his Derby race didn't take too much out of him.

[MuseRider]

2. I never decide until

the day of the race when I see the horses. I know horses but nothing at all about racing so I just do it for fun. I sucked at the Derby this year so I hope to guess a little better at the Preakness. lol

[ridgerunner]

4. I haven't decided yet what to bet

but I will put Malibu Moonshine in my exotics. It seems a local horse with long odds always hits in the money in the Preakness.

http://www.preakness.com/RacingInfo/Contenders.htm

[northzax]

5. yeah, actually

isn't it absurd to watch horses run around in a circle? wouldn't it be better as a steeplechase? I think so.

[jakefrep]

6. I'll take Giacomo...

...and I'm sure it will be at relatively handsome odds, since nobody seems to be giving him any respect. He only won THE FREAKING KENTUCKY DERBY!!!!

[Justpat]

7. The handicappers have him picked 4th right now.

His trainer says he has come out of the Derby in great shape
and seems to like the Pimlico surface.

[u4ic]

8. Who isn't rooting for Afleet Alex?

Though I'd like to see High Fly up there, and Wilko. The latter bled quite badly in the Derby, and still managed a very credible 6th.

My gut is also telling me not to discount High Limit, who might hold on for a piece of the pie. I don't see the suicidal pace of the Derby here.

[aaronbees]

9. tough one to handicap

I'll take:

1) Afleet Alex
2) Greeley's Galaxy
3) Giacomo

[Justpat]

10. OK here we go..

1. Noble Causeway
2. Alfeet Alex
3. Scrappy T

[two gun sid]

11. You're obviously from the NY circuit....

what the hell happened to Galloping Grocer? Last year I thought he might become something, did he just not train on as a 3YO?

Good call on Srappy T. I threw him out and totally screwed my Exacta and Tri bets. I saw him blow the turn in NY and I didn't think he was that good a horse or maybe sore. Hell, you can't blow those turns at Pimlico and finish in the money. Shows how much I know.

[Justpat]

12. You are right. We are based at Belmont.

Galloping Grocer and Rockport Harbor were both sent to the limit
late in their two year old year when they met in the Remsen going
a mile and an eighth. Old time horseman believed that you should
never run a two year old more than a mile. The extra sixteenth
of a mile guts them up just enough to affect them at a time when
two year olds are going through a growth sprut. I think time and
the so called jinx of the juvenile breeders cup race have proven
them right. Neither Galloping Grocer or Rockport Harbor were the
same afterwards. Maybe they will be in time, but it took a lot
out of them then.

Also, most A P Jets don't train on at three. They have so far been
almost like Allen's Prospects who broke their maiden, won a non
winners, then fell off the face of the earth. Galloping Grocer was
one of the better A P Jets.

[two gun sid]

13. I did not know that about the AP Jet's....

thank-you for the info. I don't know a helluva a lot about the NY State Stallions.( Just that The Bid stood at Milfer when he was alive).


I hear what you're saying about the old-time horsemen but, I don't know. I just think we have so many foals born each year and some stallions like Storm Cat get such precocious 2YO's but, maybe they are not the soundest of horses.

I think that BC Juvenile jinx is gonna be broken and soon. We are due for a bunch of good horses. It always seems to run in cycles and come in bunches.

Thanks again. I love talking race horses.

[Justpat]

14. There is one good AP Jet in tomorrow in open allowance

but he is the exception to the rule. He's a pretty good sprinter.

I love talking race horses too and I have been in the business
since '69. Never get tired of it.

[jakefrep]

15. Are you referring to Jet Prospector?

Who just ran 1:08 4/5 at Monmouth?

I spend as much time at drf.com as I do at DU lately.

[Justpat]

16. Yes. He's a pretty nice horse.

He's the favorite tomorrow.

[two gun sid]

17. I envy you being in the Thoroughbred game....

I breed and race Standardbreds. Have you been at Belmont since '69?

[Justpat]

18. I've been all over the place.

I worked at Monmouth, Gulfstream, and Belmont. At Belmont since
'97, but my husband has been here since the 60's. Its a great place
to train a horse.

[two gun sid]

19. I've been to Monmouth and Gulfstream....

but never to any NY track. Is it true that the buildings get a lot taller once you cross the East River? I heard Woody Stephens say that.


Maybe we need to start a weekly thread here in the Sports forum dedicated to racing. Update it with all the weekly news.

[Justpat]

20. I like the idea. The few people here interested in racing

seem really knowledgeable. I could fill in the news from the NY
tracks.

Send me a pm if you think others would be interested.

[u4ic]

21. Great idea!

[aaronbees]

22. Awesome idea...

I remember that Woody Stephens quote. And it's so true ... He trained one of my faves of all time ... Swale.

[Justpat]

23. OK. Let's do it.

[two gun sid]

24. Old Broad....

I am not ignoring you after making a suggestion about a weekly racing post. My best mare had a foal last night and he is a big dummy. He is not figuring the whole nursing concept out. He is extremely long legged and he is really struggling getting himself up. I am gonna be busy for the next few days trying to get the little fella through this. I will get back to you when I can.

[u4ic]

25. Good luck with your foal, sid

I hope everything works out ok.

[Justpat]

26. Let me know how it goes.

I have two mares myself.

[two gun sid]

27. Hey, he ain't such a dummy after all....

He finally figured it all out last night/early this morning. Started nursing better, getting stronger. I'm just glad the mare is such a good mother. I know she was getting frustrated and sore.

Our trainer was able to turn the dam and foal out this afternoon for a few hours for some sunlight and grass. I talked with him when I got out of work and he felt everything was going well. Looks like a nice big colt. Really strong suspensories. Long legs. Kinda flashy with two white socks behind and a star. A little bit thin though. He's a future Little Brown Jug winner! (He's got as much of a chance as any foal born this year, right?).

My business partner, our trainer and I had a long night last night. I am going to get some sleep now. ( I went to work today.) Our Big Horse jogs tomorrow and gets trained 3 trips Sunday.

Thank-you all for the concern. It is appreciated. Old Broad, I'll get with you on the post idea. u4ic, I hope you'll get involved with the grass racing and pedigree news.

Again, let me say thanks to you all.

[Justpat]

29. I'm glad he came around.

We'll have to swap baby picutures... as soon as I get smart
enough to figure out how to do it.

I had a great looking Real Quiet colt this year. I reserved the name
Monastic for him. I figured a Monastary is about as quiet as you can
get.

Again, glad the little guy is OK.

[u4ic]

31. LOVE the name & good luck with your colt!

Let us know when any of your other horses are running.

:hi:

[u4ic]

32. Great news, sid!!

Let's hope he just keeps getting bigger and stronger. And good luck with getting that Little Brown Jug! Do you breed to race or sell?

I did see Niatross when he came to Greenwood 25 years? or so ago. I was barely a teen, but boy that was a great day for me. I still have a few lousy pics of him (we couldn't get too close to the track and I didn't have a zoom lens) - and I often wonder how much my "I saw Niatross at Greenwood" t-shirt would have been worth today if I didn't wear it out so soon!

How did Niatross do as a sire? I remember Nihilator, but don't know if he was a success or not.

I don't follow standardbred racing that much any more, but I've heard some great names. Eternal Camnation! (I take it Cam Fella was in her pedigree?) And keep us up to date on your own horses. :-)

I did see the standardbreds jogging here at Northlands in -25C weather (maybe around -15F). They're tough!!

And yes, I'll be happy to post news - I'll also post the results from some big Euro races. I'm moving next month, and may not post much in that time.

[two gun sid]

33. You saw the great Niatross?

He was a wonderful hoss. His stud career was disappointing at best. His first two crops produced the great Nihilator and Barberry Spur. Then, nothing. He was a good broodmare sire though.

I own a Nihilator mare. She looks just like her sire and is one of the most difficult standardbreds you ever want to handle. She doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do. My business partner hates her. I like her the best of all our broodmares. I told my partner, if she was a woman I'd marry her. I love her attitude. She gets good hard knocking foals. They get to the races and stick around. Her fillies act just like her. Her colts are more mellow. I guess my point was Nihilator was a better broodmare sire than a sire of sires. He did get some good race horses but, he died to early. My mare is from his last crop I think.

We breed for the market and racing. We sell our best and keep the rest.

And yes, those standardbreds are pretty tough. But for me, nothing gets my blood pumping more than to see thoroughbreds in flight.

[u4ic]

34. Thanks for the info about Niatross

such a shame he couldn't breed on. I was too young to see Secretariat at Woodbine, so I saw the standardbred equivalent! :-)

Fan Hanover was another fav around that time, but I never saw her race live.

As for the marriage...didn't someone marry their horse in Italy a few years back? :silly: Now wouldn't that be a compliment if you did find her human equivalent..."marry me, sweetie...you're just like my horse!"

I've only owned one horse, but I would have never married him if he were human. I figure he'd have be a chain smoker...lol.

Let us know how your horses are doing!

[two gun sid]

37. The foal is doing fine now....

has been turned out with his dam for a little while every day now.

You mentioned Eternal Camnation, have you heard about Rainbow Blue? She was HOY last year and she is an awesome race mare. Check out the USTA web site about her.

http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=6812&z=30

[u4ic]

39. No I hadn't heard about Rainbow Blue

Thanks for the link.

Glad to hear the little guy is doing well! :thumbsup: When you get some photos, please post them.

[aaronbees]

28. two interesting races this weekend...

Peter Pan Stakes - I suppose I'll take Chekhov, Reverberate and Mr. Sword. Not too familiar with the fellas in this field. I hope one of these horses steps it up and enters the Belmont, though.

Metropolitan Mile - Ghostzapper. But I hope Forest Danger gives him a run.

Good luck with your colt, Two Gun Sid. Sounds like a nice lil fella :)

[Justpat]

30. Ghostzapper making his 2005 debut.

He hasn't run since last October's Breeders Cup.

In your handicapping, keep in mind the new drug testing procedure
at NYRA. Every horse entered has to go to this new "monitoring
barn" six hours before the race. The state vet now give each horse
their lasix if they are on it and that is all they get. It has
changed things here in NY a bit already.

Paul Moran, who writes for LI Newsday sports, said in his column
yesterday that behind Dutrow, who is usually at the top of the standings, there are now trainers like Galluscio,
Donk, Tom Bush and a few others who are usually not at the top of
the standings.

My husband and I are based at Belmont. The new barn has been good
for leveling the playing field but it is a real financial hardship
on the trainer. Everyone had to hire an extra groom to fill in for
the one who has to go sit in the monitoring barn all day. But I
have to say that the new procedure gives the rest of us a fair shot.
I also admit to a taking a perverse delight in watching some trainers
who were using the milkshakes now unable to win a race.

Entries will be drawn today for Monday - so lets check out who actually shows up for the race after we look at the entries.

You can go later to www.equibase.com click on entries, then
click the right day and racetrack.
Later...

[u4ic]

35. Trivia Question:

Two deceased Alex Scott's have been tied in with Classic winning horses. One was Afleet Alex. Who's the other? (hint: not necessarily an American Classic winner)

[u4ic]

36. I guess I'll answer my own question lol

Another Alex Scott was the trainer of Lammtarra (who went on to win the 1995 Epsom Derby) before he was murdered.

[Justpat]

38. Good thing you answered it.

I didn't have a clue.