HORSE BETTING

• Horse Racing: Preakness Stakes Review

  Posted on Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT by GetChalk

  
  

  If there’s one thing that the Triple Crown delivers every year, it’s drama. The surprise addition of Rachel Alexandra to the Preakness Stakes turned into Triple Crown history after she held off the boys to become the first filly to win the second jewel in 84 years. If that wasn’t dramatic enough, her victory may have robbed horse racing of its first Triple Crown winner in 31 years. There’s also the story of the horse that just won the Kentucky Derby, and finished second in the Preakness Stakes, that can’t seem to keep a jockey interested in riding him.

  Rachel Alexandra proved to the world that she is truly a once in a lifetime animal. The magnificent filly showed that her 20 ¾ length victory in the Kentucky Oaks was no fluke, and even if she doesn’t run in the Belmont Stakes people are already using the word Secretariat when they talk about this horse. Her historic run in the Preakness started when she broke awkwardly from the 13 post and went right to the lead before they entered the first turn. She ran in the lead for the rest of the race, finishing one length ahead of the streaking Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird.

  After her work on Monday, May 25 a decision is expected to be made on whether she will be entered in the Belmont Stakes. Her presence in the Preakness elevated television ratings of the race by 10.9 million viewers, up 38% from the Preakness that Big Brown won last year. The ratings for the race portion of the broadcast were the biggest since 2004, a hike 28% higher than the ratings for 2008.

  Mine That Bird’s improbable 50/1 longshot victory in the Kentucky Derby may very well have been followed by a similar win in the Preakness had the filly not been purchased by Jess Jackson and entered into the race. Mine That Bird would have been one of the most compelling Triple Crown contenders to ever try to win the final jewel at Belmont Park. Either way, horse racing wins.

  Mine That Bird has been abandoned by another jockey and a replacement for the Belmont will likely be named early next week. Calvin Borel opted to ride the star filly for the Preakness, and his replacement Mike Smith has another commitment on June 6 that will knock him out of the Belmont. The Kentucky Derby champion is set to gallop on the morning of the 21st.

  The two horses will face a different type of competition in the Belmont Stakes. There will likely be some names returning from the first two races of the Triple Crown, but the Belmont is a longer race than the Derby and the Preakness. Expected to run in the Belmont are Dunkirk, Chocolate Candy, Luv Gov, and Flying Private. Other probables would include Mr. Hot Stuff, Summer Bird, and Miner’s Escape. Confirmed for June 6 is Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) winner Charitable Man. He was one of last year’s most promising two-year-olds after breaking his maiden by 11 1/2 lengths and then winning Belmont’s Futurity Stakes (gr. II), where he defeated Flying Pegasus and Friesan Fire. He was sidelined with a saucer fracture to his shin, but has since had successful surgery. The son of Lemon Drop Kid looks poised to put in a good effort in the Belmont.

  “He’s three-for-three on the dirt and we’re really looking forward to the Belmont” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “The way we’re looking at it, there’s no reason not to run. If Rachel Alexandra comes, it’s hard on her running three races in 37 days. Mine That Bird is a nice horse and he’d probably be the favorite if Rachel Alexandra doesn’t run, and we’d be second choice. Our horse will get the mile and a half, he’s doing great, and he’s two-for-two at Belmont Park. So, we feel everything is in our favor going into the Belmont.”

  If Rachel Alexandra has a good workout and her owners decide to run her in the Belmont we could see a drastic rise in the handle for the final race of the Triple Crown. Fuelled by the stories of Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, the all-sources handle on May 16 jumped 30.7% to $59,726,342 for the Preakness and up 18% to $86,684,470 on the entire 13-race card.