Horse Racing Blogs - Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes and more.

Yes, you guessed it.. The 2 Dubai horses I don't want to win America's race! I find the great joy in american horsmen beating Sheikh Mohammed and GoDolphin. Even with their money they can't buy the Derby and I sure hope it stays that way !!

With everyone pretty much holding form in the prep races the public and media are sure to be idolizing those winners while overlooking some real nice livestock.

Chocolate Candy took the scenic route from last place to second in the Santa Anita Derby but couldn't get to Pioneer of the Nile. He lost at least 4 lengths on the far turn with that wide move. Everyone talks about Dunkirk's move in the Fl. Derby, but i must say Chocolate Candy continued on closing while Dunkirk backed up.

Watch for Chocolate Candy's works to see if the dirt surface could be an issue. As for me, I'm going to the window with a "Fistfull of Dollars" looking for something sugary sweet!!

When handicapping the Kentucky Derby most people tend to lose all thought of handicapping principles. Many people(myself included) will typically jump on a horse from a month ago and back the horse at the window on the first Saturday in May when logical handicapping says otherwise.

This Derby field appears to be devoid of speed with stalkers and closers making up a very large portion of the field. This could result in trouble into the first turn(2003 Derby) as the herd is ganged up 5 wide going into the clubhouse left turn.

I'm not making any predictions at this point, but I am saying not to overlook the simple handicapping angles.

In a horse racing world where injuries are common place, 2008 so far seems
to be the picture of health. Many top horses have continued to train and race
on without losing many of them to injury. Alright, I know you're gonna say horses
of yesteryear ran 15 times a year and today's horses are bred to be fast but fragile, but let's consider some things.

Years ago there was NO Breeders Cup and No Dubai and Not as much money in purses. In reality most top horses are
relegated to an 8 to 9 month racing season at most. Take into consideration the amount of travel/shipping
required by today's top horses and consider that for most owners and trainers the end goal of the Breeders' Cup
is at the end of the season NOT the Middle. I actually consider a 6 to 7 race schedule for our top horses to be a
pretty stiff campaign for the year. See the below 2008 starts for some top horses and you can see that many
are right there.

Curlin 5
Big Brown 6
Ginger Punch 6
Commentator 4
Proud Spell 7
Colonel John 5
Go Between 5
Hystericalady 6
Kip Deville 3

In an effort not to forget our fallen heroes we have lost some great animals in 2008
The two biggest injury or losses this year were of course Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby by Yum Brands
and the ever popular Lava Man. Forgive me if I forgot any others.

For me, Big Brown is the greatest surprise as his breeding highly suggests a short racing career could have been looming for him.
Rick Dutrow has chosen races well in pacing Big Brown's starts and controlling his always present hoof issues.

How great will the Breeders' Cup be if everyone makes it to the big day(s) without any season or career ending injuries?
The Classic could be one of the best ever if Curlin, Big Brown, Commentator, Go Between, Colonel John and Mambo in Seattle make it into the starting gate.
The Ladies Classic looks to be a phenomenal field with Ginger Punch, Hysterical Lady, Proud Spell and Music Note.
Will Indian Blessing take on the boys in the Sprint?????

My fingers are crossed and I'm knocking on wood. Goin' back to Cali.

I'm so tired of the mainstream media that gets to cover theses triple crown races. When they talk to Rick Dutrow on Saturday, I wish he would just trash them. Tom Hammond, Bob Neumier and Bob Costas are awful and we do luck out by not having to listen to them on Saturday, but I'm sure ABC will be looking for some heart torn angle to WOW the once in a lifetime racing viewers that will tune in on Saturday for the Belmont Stakes and Big Brown. Nobody really cares if Rick Dutrow slept in a stall at Aqueducat and can they leave out Kent Desormeux's son PLEASE !! Now... Let's go hate on PETA!!!

Planning on wagering on the Preakness?

Big Brown will be one of the heaviest favorites since Spectacular Bid in 1979. So how do uou play this race as a bettor? It doesn't appear that there is a Mineshaft or Empire Maker lying in wait in this years Triple Crown races that are capable of beating him.

Show betting all the way

The only way i can think of playing this race is to wager show bets on 2 other horses in the race in the hopes that Big Brown steps on a safety pin (Spectacular Bid story) or he somehow throws Kent Desormeaux.

If Big Brown doesn't hit the board, you'll get HUGE show payouts and if he does win or hit the board you still have a decent shot at getting your money back while just sitting back and ejoying the race at Pimlico. How will you bet the Preakness??

Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. ~W.C. Fields

They don't make eye-popping moves. They don't run up front setting speedy fractions. With that said, the media can't find a reason to embrace Tale of Ekati or Big Truck. Both horses on paper appear to have the pedigree and capability to get the 1 1/4 mile distance of the Kentucky Derby. Both horses have proven to grind their stretch running foes into defeat. Tale of Ekati and Big Truck can handle the real dirt surface. When the real running starts at the top of the lane on May 3rd in Louisville, I expect the Tagg duo will be in with a shot when many other have already chucked the bit.