136th PREAKNESS STAKES NEWS

[mikemca]

watchmaker has ak at 2-1 ml for preakness

I agree AK is probably going to go off at around 2-1 ish but Watchmaker is the biggest bafoon in horse racing journalism.Whatever he says or picks is immediate fade material.His watch list has also been a joke for pretty much the last 5 years.

[TonyP]

I agree AK is probably going to go off at around 2-1 ish but Watchmaker is the biggest bafoon in horse racing journalism.Whatever he says or picks is immediate fade material.His watch list has also been a joke for pretty much the last 5 years.

HIs watchlist is hilarious, and agree with everything you said.

[dise-pa]

can't wait for the Preakness give me some more winners gus and steve!!!

[Rbyrne]

For the preakness il probly do $20 across the board on Shackleford, Mucho Macho Man, and Nehro. and do a trifecta box with those 3 horses and animal kingdom and maybe dailed in. what you think?

[Rbyrne]

i think shackleford def finishes top 3...he kinda reminds me of first dude from last year...a pace setter that everyone over looks but almost always finishes 2nd or 3rd after being passed late in the race.

[mikemca]

i think shackleford def finishes top 3...he kinda reminds me of first dude from last year...a pace setter that everyone over looks but almost always finishes 2nd or 3rd after being passed late in the race.

Shackleford was loose on the lead in the Derby and because of that he set the slowest pace in the Derby's last 20 years.If Dance City and Flashpoint go in the Preakness it will be much faster pace.

Shackleford was my derby key so I am a fan of his but in a 3 way speed duel the race doesn't shape up too well for him.

[Gremlin Lad]

THURSDAY MAY 12, 2011

Team Valor International’s Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom visited the track at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. for the first time Wednesday, May 11 as he began preparations for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) on May 21. Trainer Graham Motion sent the son of Leroidesanimaux out to the track at 8:30 a.m. EDT for his first piece of exercise since the colt captured the Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs. Animal Kingdom walked Sunday and Monday and spent much of Tuesday in a van on the trip from Kentucky to the Motion’s barn at the training center, which is about 60 miles northeast of Pimlico Race Course. “He went out and jogged one mile with the pony with my assistant Dave Rock,” Motion said. “He’s super. Really good.”

[foryourhandicap]

Shackleford was loose on the lead in the Derby and because of that he set the slowest pace in the Derby's last 20 years.If Dance City and Flashpoint go in the Preakness it will be much faster pace. Shackleford was my derby key so I am a fan of his but in a 3 way speed duel the race doesn't shape up too well for him.

Well I don't think they wanted Shackleford to get the lead in the derby, but since it was so slow they took advantage of it. I could definitely see it sitting off the speed in the Preakness. But either way, not too crazy about its chances since it wasn't able to do much with such an easy lead.

[Rbyrne]

Ok shackleford will do better in the preakness because i think he will get a firm lead and since the preakness is shorter in distance...he wont fade to 4th like in the derby. I think he will have enough in him to win place or show. He has looked good and has so much speed...weather he gets passed at the end by mucho macho man or another stalker could very well happen...thats why u bet him to win place or show.

[Gremlin Lad]

FRIDAY MAY 13, 2011


.......If more than 14 starters are properly nominated and pre-entered, the starters will be determined with the first seven horses given preference by the highest lifetime earnings in graded stakes.

The next four starters will be determined by the highest lifetime earnings in all “non-restricted stakes,” which means those stakes whose conditions contain no restrictions other than age or sex.

The remaining three starters will be determined by the highest lifetime earnings in all races.

Graded stakes earnings for the 20 Preakness candidates. The top seven qualify for a starting position in the race:

Animal Kingdom, $1,696,800, Dialed In, $840,000, Nehro, $800,000, Midnight Interlude, $600,000, Mucho Macho Man, $570,000, Shackleford $312,000, Astrology, $311,893, Santiva, $242,397, King Congie, $75,000, Flashpoint, $140,000, Mr. Commons, $120,000, Norman Asbjornson, $100,000, Ruler On Ice, $96,000, Dance City, $100,000, Sway Away, $111,500, Concealed Identity, $0, Casper’s Touch, $20,000, Isn’t He Perfect, $37,000, Harlan’s Hello, $2,000, Saratoga Red, $17,500.

Non-restricted stakes earnings for the 12 Preakness candidates who do not qualify for the field on graded stakes earnings. The top four qualify.

Santiva, $242,397, King Congie, $143,000, Flashpoint, $140,000, Mr. Commons, $120,000, Norman Asbjornson, $100,000, Ruler On Ice, $106,000, Dance City, $100,000, Sway Away, $111,500, Concealed Identity, $56,250, Casper’s Touch, $27,982, Isn’t He Perfect, $37,000, Harlan’s Hello, $2,000, Saratoga Red, $17,500.


Overall earnings for the remaining nine horses that do not earn positions in the field with graded stakes or non-restrictive stakes earnings. The top three qualify:

Norman Abjornson, $167,200, Ruler On Ice, $166,500, Dance City, $160,900, Sway Away, $126,600, Concealed Identity, $120,780, Casper’s Touch, $107,024, Isn’t He Perfect, $90,222, Harlan’s Hello, $43,094, Saratoga Red, $41,300.



The post position draw will be held at Pimlico on Wednesday, May 18 at 5 p.m. and will be televised live on HRTV.

[Gremlin Lad]

SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2011

Santiva will skip Preakness

Grade 2 winner SANTIVA (Giant's Causeway), a rallying sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), is no longer under consideration for the May 14 Preakness (G1).

"The horse is doing great, but he is not running in the Preakness," trainer Eddie Kenneally said Saturday morning.

Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in his juvenile finale, Santiva opened 2011 with a runner-up finish in the Risen Star S. (G2). He finished ninth as the favorite in the Blue Grass (G1) in his final Derby prep.

[BBROBOZO]

Hello Gremblin

Just wanted to give you the most points that I can give , you know , give til it hurts .... LOL !!
It charged me 3 points to transfer 2 points , what's that about !
Hope you are well and that your picks are winning at the epfhl .
Knock em dead , ol buddy !!

[Gremlin Lad]

Thanks BBROBOZO.....

Been slaving away at my job, but trying to find current news on Preakness also....This second leg of triple crown races is more like a Chess Game than a Horse race challenge it seems to me.

Hope all is well with you.

[Gremlin Lad]

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011

A decision on whether to start Kentucky Derby (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Nehro in the Preakness or await the 143rd running of the Belmont S. (G1) on June 11 will most likely be made Monday morning, according to owner Ahmed Zayat.

"I am leaving for Louisville in a few hours and I will be there to watch the horse breeze at Churchill Downs at 6 a.m. Monday," Zayat said Sunday morning. "Right now I am 70-30 to run in the Belmont and 50-50 to run in the Preakness. He's had three good races in six weeks; if he goes in the Preakness it will be four races in eight weeks.

"However, he is doing very well. His coat, his energy level, his demeanor have all been excellent since the Derby. After he breezes Monday I will sit down with Steve Asmussen and make a decision as to where we go."

Zayat reiterated that he is "not without ammunition" for the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes, however.

"We have been pointing Jaycito (Victory Gallop) to the Belmont, as well," Zayat explained. "We are hoping he will have enough fitness in him."

[TonyP]

Animal kingdoms last 1/4 was 2nd fastest for any derby winner in history, who had the fastest?

[mikemca]

Thats really reaching trying to compare these two.If Animal Kingdom would have ran in Secreteriat's derby he would have lost by 18 lengths and finished in the bottom few of the 13 that ran that day.




Secreteriat........... Animal Kingdom
:25 1/5................. :24 1/5
:24 .......................:25 2/5
:23 4/5................. :24 4/5
:23 2/5.................. :23 3/5
:23.......................... :24

[TonyP]

Thats really reaching trying to compare these two.If Animal Kingdom would have ran in Secreteriat's derby he would have lost by 18 lengths and finished in the bottom few of the 13 that ran that day.




Secreteriat........... Animal Kingdom
:25 1/5................. :24 1/5
:24 .......................:25 2/5
:23 4/5................. :24 4/5
:23 2/5.................. :23 3/5
:23.......................... :24

LOL Im not comparing these two just a trivia question, yes ak and the rest of this bunch couldnt hold up to anyone of those old race horses.

[Gremlin Lad]

TUESDAY MAY 17, 2011


Here is a link to the Stakes races and horses entered on Friday May 20th and some minor comments......

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/05/16/black-eyed-susan-pimlico-friday.aspx

[Gremlin Lad]

TUESDAY MAY 17, 2011

Preakness Post Position Draw

Preakness Draw

Starting post positions for the 136th Preakness® Stakes will be drawn Wednesday afternoon, May 18, 2011. Pimlico racing officials will use a pill pull, which employs a small numbered ball in a blind draw, to decide post positions for the middle jewel of racing's Triple Crown.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. Fourteen of the last 18 years have produced double-digit starters.


LIST OF WINNERS POST POSITION SINCE 1909 (pdf)

[Gremlin Lad]

WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2011


Dialed In is shooting for a big paycheck in the 136th Preakness Stakes.

The bracket as to how he got the chance is at:

http://www.preakness.com/race-info/preakness-55

[Gremlin Lad]

SWAY AWAY (Afleet Alex) had a "brisk gallop" at Churchill Downs over a fast track Tuesday morning. He is scheduled to be aboard the first of two flights from Louisville to Baltimore on Wednesday morning.

"He's doing real well," trainer Jeff Bonde said by phone from Hollywood Park. "We're looking forward to the Preakness. We were obviously disappointed not to get into the Kentucky Derby, but this is a big opportunity for us."

Sway Away could be one of the contenders lurking under the radar off his fourth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby, but with Garrett Gomez back aboard there is bound to be some attention paid to the West Coast invader. Gomez, who rode the Kentucky-bred colt in his first two starts this year, replaces Pat Valenzuela, who rode him in the Arkansas Derby.

"It was nothing against anybody," Bonde explained. "It just worked out that way."

Gomez's first time aboard Sway Away was a fast-closing second to The Factor (War Front) in his three-year-old debut in the February 20 San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita. Sway Away ran twice as a juvenile, heading right to stakes company off his maiden win. He finished second in the Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar before going on the shelf to recover from successful arthroscopic knee surgery.

[Gremlin Lad]

WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2011 9:00 AM

PROSPECTIVE 2011 PREAKNESS FIELD

HORSE

TRAINER

LAST RACE

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Graham Motion

1st, Kentucky Derby
ASTROLOGY

Steve Asmussen

2nd, Jerome
CONCEALED IDENTITY

Eddie Gaudet

1st, Federico Tesio
DANCE CITY

Todd Pletcher

3rd, Arkansas Derby
DIALED IN

Nick Zito

8th, Kentucky Derby
FLASHPOINT

Wesley Ward

4th, Florida Derby
ISN'T HE PERFECT

Doodnauth Shivmangal

5th, Jerome
KING CONGIE

Tom Albertrani

3rd, Blue Grass
MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE

Bob Baffert

16th, Kentucky Derby
MR. COMMONS

John Shirreffs

3rd, Santa Anita Derby
MUCHO MACHO MAN

Kathy Ritvo

3rd, Kentucky Derby
NORMAN ASBJORNSON

Christopher Grove

4th, Wood Memorial
SHACKLEFORD

Dale Romans

4th, Kentucky Derby
SWAY AWAY

Jeff Bonde

4th, Arkansas Derby

(Also-eligible)

SARATOGA RED

D. Wayne Lukas

6th, Churchill allowance

[Dark Horse]

http://www.preakness.com/race-info has the riders as well.


So far the horses that I'm not throwing out are Dance City, Astrology, Dialed In, Animal Kingdom, and Mr. Commons.

[Gremlin Lad]

http://www.preakness.com/race-info

The 136 Preakness "Players" Post Positions.

[Gremlin Lad]

THURSDAY MAY 19, 2011


Finally, I located someone who posted a link for the 136th Preakness Stakes Past Performances of the contenders.

Here is the link...

http://www1.drf.com/tc/preakness/2011/profile-assets/PPs/2011-preakness-stakes-pps.pdf

[Gremlin Lad]

Some more coverage of 136th PREAKNESS STAKES

http://www.turfnsport.com/preakness-wagering-news.php

[Gremlin Lad]

Okay, I am going out on a limb here ...but I am going to watch the earlier races at Pimlico on Saturday to see about track conditioning.

If it plays like it has this past week, this is who I think will be in the hunt in no particuliar order.

Dialed In ....I see this horse slipping up the rail in the home stretch

Mucho Macho Man ..... Mid pack passing horses in the stretch

Shackleford .......... trying to get one more 1/16th of a mile on the lead

Midnight Interlude ...... pressing the pace setters

King Congie........... can he handle these caliber of race horses ?


My feeling is Animal Kingdom could win IF he can hold a tighter line going around the turns.

If he races wide, he will run "out of race track" and not be in the Winner's Circle.


Also using the Above horses in exoctic wagers .

[Gremlin Lad]

SUNDAY MAY 22, 2011


SHACKLEFORD

WINS THE PREAKNESS!


Order of finish ---- 5 /11/1/10/8

[Gremlin Lad]

I am still scratching my head as to why Mucho Macho Man did not have his usual run thru the stratch in the PREAKNESS.

Here is a link to the PREAKNESS race chart

http://www.equibase.com/yearbook/Chart.cfm?tk=PIM&rd=2011-05-21&rn=12&de=D&cy=USA

[Gremlin Lad]

MONDAY MAY 23, 2011

Mucho Macho Man loses shoe in Preakness

MUCHO MACHO MAN (Macho Uno), third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and sixth in Saturday's Preakness S. (G1) after losing a front shoe, headed back to Belmont Park Sunday morning

"He caught his left front shoe. I'm going to watch the replay over and over and over again; I need to find out what happened with it," said trainer Kathy Ritvo, whose colt also lost his right front shoe in a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

"He's got to be doing something. I haven't had a horse pull a shoe for three or four years and now I've got two in three races," she added. "I think he's snatching himself coming out of the gate. I think he's so excited to get out of the gate that he's springing before his front feet are gone. He's not a nervous horse. It's got to be something. I've got to figure out what happened and when he lost it."

Mucho Macho Man had some early traffic problems before racing four and five-wide under jockey Rajiv Maragh in the Preakness.

"Rajiv said he wasn't handling the track. When he got to the quarter-pole, he was just jumping up and down," Ritvo said. "He's got little cuts all over him, but no big deal."

Ritvo added that Mucho Macho Man appeared to come out of the Preakness in good shape and was doing well Sunday morning. She's going to continue to assess his condition before making a decision on whether to run in the Belmont S. (G1) on June 11.

"We have plans to run in the Belmont, and we want to run in the Belmont, but we have to see how he does," Ritvo said. "I just put him on a van and he'll be back there this afternoon."