*Official Triple Crown Thread*

[johnnya24]

Horse racing has apparently become a women's sport in the US, as evidenced by the TV ratings.

It also used to be hugely popular when it was the only game in town to legally gamble on, but since the increase of casinos (from just Vegas & AC), less and less people play the ponies.

Women like to gamble as much as men ... quiz shows, bingo, slots etc ... maybe big racing events allow them a more socially acceptable way to have a flutter without feeling embarrassed?

When I was a kid my aunt used to like to have a bet on the big races, but would never be seen dead in a betting shop ... except on Grand National day, Gold Cup day, or Derby day.

Plus big race meets are often big events among high society.

[revo]

Here's the 16 contenders for the 137th Preakness Stakes:

I'll Have Another
Creative Cause
Went The Day Well
Teeth of the Dog
Tiger Walk
Isn't He Clever
Optimizer
Hierro
Bodemeister
Pretension
Hansen
Zetterholm
Cozzetti
Liaison
Brimstone Island
Guyana Star Dweej

14 starters are allowed.

[johnnya24]

We don't know how good Bodemeister is because of his lack of competitive racing, and because they went for broke in the Derby. Maybe the slightly shorter distance and a more sensible strategy will suit him?

[revo]

here's the draw for the 137th Preakness Stakes:

1. Tiger Walk/Sagamore Farm/Ignacio Cortreas/Kent Desormeaux/30-1
2. Teeth of the Dog/J. W. Singer Inc./Michael Matz/Joe Bravo/15-1
3. Pretension/Kidwells Petite Stable/Chris Grove/Javier Santiago/30-1
4. Zetterholm/Winter Park Partners/Rick Dutrow/Junior Alvarado/20-1
5. Went the Day Well/Team Valor International and Mark Ford/Graham Motion/John Velazquez/6-1
6. Creative Cause/Heinz Steinmann/Mike Harrington/Joel Rosario/6-1
7. Bodemeister/Zayat Stables, Mike Moreno and Tiffany Moreno/Bob Baffert/Mike Smith/8-5
8. Daddy Nose Best/Bob and Cathy Zollars/Steve Asmussen/Julien Leparoux/12-1
9. I'll Have Another/Reddam Racing LLC/Doug O’Neill/Mario Gutierrez/5-2
10. Optimizer/Bluegrass Hall LLC/D. Wayne Lukas/Corey Nakatani/30-1
11. Cozzetti/Albaugh Family Stables/Dale Romans/Jose Lexcano/30-1


Note that Bodemeister is the morning line fave at 8-5 over I'll Have Another.


Note that I changed the thread name to Triple Crown from Kentucky Derby....

[revo]

beautiful day on tap in Baltimore. 35,000 came for the Black-Eyed Susan and Pimlico Special yesterday, and they're expecting around 110,000 today, which may be a post anti-BYOB Preakness record.

If I was able to bet anywhere, I'd probably go with Creative Cause.

[johnnya24]

Bodemeister seemed like the class of the field at the Derby ... I can't see him being beat if they don't run him out early again ... plus not hte strongest field overall his year.

I don't think I'd bother betting on this one ... no value anywhere IMO.

Frankel won the Lockinge Stakes by 5 lengths this afternoon.

[revo]

Current odds, Bodemeister the heavy favorite:

1. Tiger Walk: 14-1
2. Teeth of the Dog: 15-1
3. Pretension: 30-1
4. Zetterholm: 23-1
5. Went the Day Well: 5-1
6. Creative Cause: 6-1
7. Bodemeister: 9-5
8. Daddy Nose Best: 11-1
9. I’ll Have Another: 3-1
10. Optimizer: 22-1
11. Cozzetti: 30-1

[GwynnInTheHall]

these are horses right?

[revo]

I'm mildly surprised that horse racing is still around at all.

As the Kentucky Derby draws more television viewers than the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup or the World Series....why?

[ManCalledFoot]

Couldn't make it to Yonkers, so no bet... but I would have thrown some caution to the wind and play 2 longshots: Zetterholm and Cozzetti. Plus a play-it-safe on Bodemeister.

[ManCalledFoot]

Wow! Why do I still ignore I'll Have Another? Now winner of the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in just the last 2 months.

Bodemeister won't last the length at Belmont, will he? Will Baffert even run him? As good a chance for a Triple Crown this year as any, looks like..

[revo]

That was as great a race as I've seen in 28 years of following horse racing.

When those two drew off in the stretch and I'll Have Another just made up ground with every step, it was simply unreal.

I agree, Foot -- as a front-runner, I don't think Bodemeister can get the distance. I'll Have Another seems perfectly suited for the Belmont with his stalking style. He seems to have another gear when he enters the stretch.

It's great to see another shot at a Triple Crown. I'm sure the Belmont folks were happy!

[johnnya24]

Well timed re-naming of the thread Revo

Exactly the same race ... Bodemeister's trainers are either stupid or he just doesn't have the raw speed at the finish.

[revo]

Bodemeister seemed like the class of the field at the Derby ... I can't see him being beat if they don't run him out early again ... plus not hte strongest field overall his year.

I don't think I'd bother betting on this one ... no value anywhere IMO.

Frankel won the Lockinge Stakes by 5 lengths this afternoon.

I watched this race on Blood-Horse.com -- Newbury has no turns?

[johnnya24]

I watched this race on Blood-Horse.com -- Newbury has no turns?

It does ... but it has a very long straight ... it's not one of the elite courses.

The major courses are: Ascot, Cheltenham & Newmarket ... then there are two other major meets at Aintree (Grand National) & Epsom (The Derby). The Goodwood meeting (Glorious Goodwood) has another "major" meet over the last few years ... the Sussex Stakes at this meet is the proposed race for Frankel and Black Caviar to meet over 1m.

I'm still hopeful ... but looking at Frankel when he's let loose ... I don't see any horse staying with that. His stride length and form when he's at full tilt is a thing of beauty. I reckon the Black Caviar team would be wise to avoid that clash, although the fame the horse would attain through the build up is probably worth it ... then again ... I've never seen Black Caviar do anything but stroll to victory, so who knows what she has in the tank if pressed hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpV82_Ct7kY