The 40 Year Old Jealous Guy

O. K. I admit it, I am jealous, yes jealous. The reason for my immature feelings right now is a simple one: reading blogs like Brooklyn Backstretch and The Bug Boys about the fantastic day had by all on Monday at Belmont. The weather was perfect, everybody was happy Grade I racing, the only thing that would have made it better would have been free beer. GOD, IF YOU WHERE THERE I HATE YOU RIGHT NOW! Thanks, I feel a little better.

I know a grown man should not be jealous but I really cant help it. I live in Metro Detroit (Stop laughing) and thoroughbred racing finally returned to the area after a ten year hiatus in 2008. Pinnacle Race Course opened in July of last year and had a fairly successful first season. Unfortunately due to the state of the economy in Michigan the state racing commissioner is purposing cutting racing dates by about 65% to 25 live race dates. Several groups have gotten involved and it looks like some of the dates will be restored. ( for more on this check out Michigan Bred Claimer , Joe does a great job and has tons of information).

The status of live racing in Detroit aside, the media coverage of any thoroughbred racing other than the Triple Crown races, is non existent. Even the Triple Crown races only receive limited coverage. Last years Breeders Cup races on Saturday were not shown on the local NBC affiliate.

Even though I may be jealous and hate other bloggers at times, please keep up the good work for those of us who don't have the opportunity to have such great days.

Curlin + Rachel Alexander = "Superhorse"?

Listening to and reading quotes from Jess Jackson over the past few week's the ultimate plan with the filly is to bred her to Curlin. I'm all for that, and think it was one of the motivating factor's in the purchase of Rachel. I think it is a little premature to refer to the potential foal as a "Super horse" which is what happened during the Preakness coverage, I do not recall if Jess himself made the claim or if it was Bob Costas during an interview.

I am confident as the time gets closure for the "interlude" between Curlin and Rachel, I'm guessing sometime in early April of 2010, possible a romantic weekend in Napa at the vineyard, the deed will get mentioned in the Form, Bloodhorse, etc. If Rachel continues her winning ways at The Belmont, a victory in a match up against Zenyatta and possibly even a Breeder's Cup Classic win, her eggs may begin to feel the pressure of producing a "Super horse". The foal upon it's birth will receive press to the point of annoyance, not "Jon and Kate plus Eight" annoying, but annoying enough.

Jess need only look and his colleagues at Lael Stables, since the tragic death of Barbaro the Jackson's have bred Dynaformer and La Ville Rouge four times. Barbaro now has three full brothers and an undetermined full sibling on the way. The first full brother, Nicanor, is not even close to the talent that Barbaro was at the age of three. Nicanor was unraced at two and broke his maiden at Delaware Park in his fourth race on May 13th. Four races into his racing career, Barbaro was undefeated with two Grade III wins, a little more impressive wouldn't you say.

There is no way to predict the next great "Super horse". If things would have worked out differently at Pimilico, Mine That Bird would be one victory away from being a "Super horse". I doubt that anyone mentioned that before he was even conceived.

Preakness Thoughts

O.K. I will admit it that I was one of the many that thought the Derby victory of Mine That Bird was a total and complete fluke. Let me issue an apology to Bernie Wooley and the Owners of Mine That Bird, I thought the entry into the Derby was just an ego trip by owners and trainers bringing colts to the Derby who have no business being there. i.e Liquidity in the 2007 Derby. Rachel Alexandra aside, I think Mine That Bird was the story of the Preakness on Saturday. The betting public sent Mine That Bird off at $6.60 -$1, third choice behind Rachel and Pioneerof The Nile ( possibly more on Pioneerof the Nile in a later post, but can people please stop talking this horse up, average speed on synthetic tracks is all he has....and Bob Baffert, but enough of Pioneer). Back on track, Mine That Bird proved to the doubters, me included, that he is the best 3yr old colt in the country on Saturday. If someone would have told me on Derby Day the Mine That Bird would be the front runner for an Eclipse Award in two weeks I would have called to have them commited.

Even though I owe Bernie Wooley an apology regarding Mine That Bird, I still find something unlikeable about the guy, maybe it's me but I find him to be pompous and unrefined, not exactly the face that the NTRA wants in the lime light I feel.

I am a big Calvin Borel fan, I enjoy his unscripted enthusiasm when being interviewed after the Derby in 2007 and this year, some find it annoying I know. I find his "rags to ritches" story very inspiring in this day and age, however the finger waging and showboating even before crossing the finish line is getting on my nerves. Act like you've been there before Calvin because you have. To compare this to baseball the next time Calvin stepped in the batters box he would get drilled for sure.

And finally D. Wayne Lukas. One question D. Wayne, why bother. Seriously Luv Guv and Flying Private. First, Flying Private should not have even been in the Derby or The Preakness this year, see above D. Wayne. Secondly, Luv Guv, it took this guy ten tries to break his maiden, on Derby Day by the way, and now you expect him to beat the best three year old's in the country. D. Wayne I want to remember the glory days, I want to remember you as the trainer of four Derby Champions, five Preakness and four Belmont's, and to me the most impressive stat is six consecutive Triple Crown wins. That's the D. Wayne I want to remember not the currant one, it's like Willie Mays as a Met, Joe Montana as a Chief, O. J. Simpson in an orange jumper.