HorseRacingNation.com NewsWire

2013 Preakness: Post Position the cause of Orb's Demise

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:46:30 GMT

Another year, another Triple Crown hope lost. Orb seemed like the best shot to dominate in 2013, and while he was able to overcome many curses and trends in the Kentucky Derby, he was unable to overcome the one post in the Preakness.

Did the horse just not fire, was the post his undoing? What went wrong? I said it before the race and I’ll say it after, the one post did him no favors. Orb is a big, strapping colt who needs a bit of time to get himself into gear. On the outside and in the clear he is able to do that. While was positioned in the one hole, in the Fountain of Youth, do remember, he was moved to the outside. He makes wide, sweeping, breathtaking, sustained runs, but is not known for his agility.

What does this mean? Nothing. This takes nothing away from Orb or his previous wins. Do not do this horse the disservice of saying he didn’t fire, when once he did get running, he closed for fourth. Do I mean to say he would have won had he been on the outside? No, but is his chances would have been greatly enhanced. The only thing this means is that while Orb is perhaps the best of h

2013 Preakness: From The Eyes of a Fan

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:19:29 GMT

My first look at Pimlico was a much anticipated one, and as I explored every inch of the track I can honestly say I was not disappointed. First off I’d love to say it was a pleasure meeting fellow blogger Matt Shifman. Having him show me around the track and chatting in the Press Box was nothing short of an amazing pleasure.

Our first visit was to the stakes barn, where I got to see Kentucky Derby winner, Orb. All I can say is wow. The horse does have the air, he has the look. He simply takes everything in as calmly and as nonchalantly could be. If his confidence is any indication of how he will perform then we should all be in for quite the show.

After getting all settled in, I spent most of the afternoon running from one floor to another, getting the best pictures possible, before scurrying back to my seats, to take more pictures of the actual races. The hyped race was easily the Black Eyed Susan. With Emollient and Fiftyshadesofhay facing off how could it not be?

Despite Emollient being the heavy favorite, there was no shortage of those who doubted her. Some said

Preakness 2013 - Giving the Play by Play

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:32:37 GMT

It’s a beautiful day here at Pimlico, as the Preakness field steps up to the gate. Number one is Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner and even money favorite. He enters the Preakness on a five race winning streak. Should he win, he will be only the third horse in the last 50 years to win from post number one. Second in line is the Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents. Like most of those here, returning from the Kentucky Derby, he is looking for redemption off that race.

Titletown Five is the first of the three new shooters, which also includes Departing and Govenor Charlie. Departing comes into today off a win in the Illinois Derby while Govenor Charlie exits a record performance in the Sunland Derby.

Next are Mylute and Oxbow. Both made menacing moves in the Derby, and at different points, looked like they may win. Oxbow could not sustain his run after tracking a hot pace while Mylute simply ran out of ground.

Rounding out the field are Will Take Charge and Itsmyluckyday. Will Take Charge finished a trouble eighth in the Kentucky Derby, while Itsmyluckyday wa

Deciphering the Draws

Wed, 01 May 2013 18:52:52 GMT

The Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby fields have been drawn and now the final stage of handicapping can begin.

First let’s start off with my initial reactions to the Oaks Draw. Dreaming of Julia, a filly with plenty of natural speed drew well in the now, 10 horse, field. She is outside of the main speed of Midnight Lucky and Beholder. Her stablemate, Unlimited Budget also has some speed, so it looks like she will get the perfect trip, stalking a solid pace.

Unlimited Budget, while next to the two main speed balls, still drew well. She is not a need the lead type, even though that is where she has been in her most recent starts. She will most likely apply pressure to the top pair or sit to Dreaming of Julia’s inside and stalk. Princess of Sylmar’s position won’t hurt her, as she likes to close. She can only benefit from a very likely speed duel.

The losers during the draw were Midnight Lucky and Beholder. Both are fillies who want the lead, both fillies who possess an overabundance of natural speed. If you own or train a horse like these two, a horse that needs the

Kentucky Derby 2013: She Said Itsmyluckyday

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:55:24 GMT

As Kentucky Derby 139 draws near everyone is asking themselves who is the top candidate, who has the best chance to get to the wire first. Many look at this year’s class and are not impressed with the speed figures thrown by many, as there are few horses who have even run a single triple digit Beyer, heading into this year’s Derby.

Even Orb, the top choice of many, including Chris Sorenson of The Dark Horse, has yet to even go above a 97 Speed figure. One horse, however, who has impressed with raw time and speed figures is Itsmyluckyday. The son of Lawyer Ron has run some of the fastest and most impressive races on the road to the Kentucky Derby, when he won the Gulfstream Park Derby and the Holy Bull. In the later he beat Shanghai Bobby, who at the time was the unbeaten juvenile champion, and did so in record time.

Besides his speed there is plenty more to like about this strapping young colt, like his experience. Itsmyluckyday has started 10 times, which is almost unheard of at this point in a top standing, three year old’s career. He has raced at four different

Kentucky Derby 139 is Pletcher's to Lose

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:37:36 GMT

Over the years, trainer Todd Pletcher has started many horses in the Kentucky Derby, and over the years he has also proven that it is not quantity, but quality, that wins. Over his illustrious career the decorated trainer has only won the Derby once, after starting 31 horses in America’s most prestigious race. This year he is back again, but this time he holds his strongest hand ever.

Pletcher brings a total of five horses into Kentucky Derby 139, with a possible sixth, two of which will probably be among the top three post time favorites. Entering the Derby, none of his horses have finished worse than third in their final prep, while four are coming off of victories.

His top two are the unbeaten Verrazano and Louisiana Derby winner, Revolutionary. The former lacks the seemingly essential juvenile foundation to win the Derby, but has all the brilliance one could ask for. Verrazano began his career on New Year’s Day, romping by seven lengths in a Gulfstream maiden. He followed that up with a 16 length route in an allowance, before trouncing the Tampa Bay Der

Charles Town Clash of the Titans

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:04:24 GMT

In recent years the Charles Town Classic has become one of the most anticipated races of the year for the Older Male Division. It has steadily attracted more and more attention, luring more quality horses into its gates, and this year is no exception. The 2013 Charles Town Classic has to be one of the best fields in recent memory. Even though there is a lack in quantity there is none in quality as the field drew the defending champion Caixa Eletronica, the first and second place finishers in this year’s Big Cap, Game on Dude and Clubhouse Ride; and the Sunshine Millions Classic winner Ron the Greek.

What makes this year so unique is that it offers a rubber match between Ron the Greek and Game on Dude, who last met in the Santa Anita Handicap. The Dude reversed his BC Classic loss and came home in the top spot that day as much the best, but that was over his home track, Santa Anita, which favors his running style over the late running style of Ron the Greek.

In the Santa Anita Handicap, Game on Dude was allowed a clear lead and was never really pressured. He is dange

Violence Best in Fountain of Youth Defeat

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 10:14:39 GMT

Yesterday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes was a thriller. We saw two horses run amazing races, both looking like very solid, potential Derby threats. Orb surprised me, as I was never a fan of his. He received a perfect pace set up, but at the end he was the horse that closed the best, and came running like a freight train. He deserves any accolades thrown his way, as does his trainer Shug McGaughey, and jockey Johnny Velasquez. But make no mistake, the best performance of the race was run by none other than Violence.

The very game runner-up of the Todd Pletcher barn sat just a couple lengths off a wicked fast pace. Around the turn he was asked to pick up the pace and confront the leader. With Cerro just to his outside, he made his assault on the lead. After six furlongs in 1.08.85, Violence was abreast the leader, and as they turned into the straight, he surged to a commanding lead. The story was set for the son of Medaglia D’Oro to become the Derby favorite with an outstanding first win back. But, it was not to be as Orb came at him, charging for the lead.

For a split second it lo

The Unbreakable Rachel Alexandra

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:04:37 GMT

Magnificent, beautiful, powerful, courageous…. Those are the words that come to my mind when I remember Rachel Alexandra. Curlin, is by far, my favorite horse of all time, but not even he could compare to the fire that Rachel Alexandra sparked in 2009. The passion she stirred was incredible, and even in retirement, she still manages to bring forth love and compassion from her fans.

I remember, being a skeptic during her preps. I thought that her wins, while impressive, were due to a lack of true competition. I knew she would probably win the Oaks in a hand ride, but never did I expect a win by over 20 lengths, completely decimating the field. That was the day she turned me into a true believer.

I watched her win the Preakness, floated wide, after breaking from post 13, pressured on the lead by a future champion sprinter. I watched as she put him away and fought like a lion down the stretch, never giving an inch to Musket Man or the Derby winner Mine that Bird. I remember her decimation of the Mother Goose, her track record, and near 20 length victory again. I remembe

Pletcher Gambling Big with Verrazano in the Tampa Bay Derby

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:35:00 GMT

There is no other trainer in America who has a larger Kentucky Derby contingent than Todd Pletcher. There is raw talent, there is foundation, there is breeding... most of his contenders have seemingly have it all. But, with such power and numbers comes a plethora of trouble, and one of those troubles is finding a proper race to place your horse.

Todd Pletcher has roads mapped out for most of his top prospects from 2012, but some of the newer stars are left without any solid plans. One of those colts was the brilliant, unbeaten Verrazano. After a 16 ¼ length allowance route, Pletcher was undecided for a time, on where to send him next. He could send him to the Rebel, March 16th; the Tampa Bay Derby, March 9th; Or the Fountain of Youth, Feb 23rd.

All races have pros and cons, the Fountain of Youth was the least likely since it only gave Verrazano three short weeks to rest, before coming against another Pletcher heavy in Violence. Out of the other two, it was just announced today, as reported by Jay Privman on DRF, that Pletcher would be pointing his colt to the Tampa Ba