Six Kentucky Derby winners in the past nine years have captured the Preakness, four by 1½ lengths or more.
That’s a good omen for Barbaro, who crushed the opposition, winning the 132nd Kentucky Derby and ending a 50-year losing streak by 3-year-olds resting five weeks or longer after their final prep.
Needles was off six weeks before his triumph at Churchill Downs in 1956. Both had won the Florida Derby. However, Needles was edged out by Fabius in the Preakness.
Barbaro is likely to face 14 fewer horses than he defeated at Louisville when he won by 6½ lengths; this was the largest margin since ’46 when Triple Crown champ Assault scored by 8 lengths at the 1¼ miles.
Only two Derby also-rans will try him in the 131st Preakness: Brother Derek, who rallied from 10th after a mile to dead-heat for fourth with Jazil, and Sweetnorthernsaint, who pressed the pace in third until the stretch when he tired and finished seventh.
The Preakness has had fewer than 10 starters just once in the last 15 years when eight ran in ’00. Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, who scared away all by seven challengers, was upset at 1-5 by Red Bullet, who skipped America’s Race.
Bernardini, Hemingway’s Key, and Like Now will try to become the second horse to win the Preakness after skipping the Derby since ’83, when Deputed Testimony performed the feat.
Bernardini won this year’s Withers. Like Now ran second in the Lexington, while Hemingway’s Key placed eighth.
Two other horses being considered for the Preakness are more likely to run in stakes on the undercard.
Trainer Bob Baffert decided against entering any of his Derby horses. Baffert said Point Determined, ninth, and Bob and John, 17th, would be pointed toward the Belmont Stakes on June 10.
Bluegrass Cat, the Derby runner-up, and Steppenwolfer, third, are also expected to run in the Belmont.
The largest winning margin in the Preakness came in ’04 when Smarty Jones cruised to an 11½-length victory, besting Funny Cide’s record of 9¾ lengths in ’03.
Most of the previous races since Silver Charm triumphed by a head in ’97 were closer. In fact, only three horses had shared the one-time record of 8 lengths: Little Current, ’74; Bold, ’51; and Buddhist, 1889.
This year’s Preakness should be tighter. I like the undefeated Barbaro despite the shorter layoff.
Sweetnorthernsaint and Brother Derek should bounce back and be tougher at 1 3/16 miles. Either could win.
Ironically, the largest margin of 10 lengths stood for 130 years after the inaugural Preakness in 1873. The aptly named Survivor set that record.
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Here is the Top 10 list of what to do or when handicapping the 132nd Kentucky Derby Dave Letterman style, so pay attention:
10. Don't wait until Derby Day to decide what you can afford to wager and the kind of bets you will make. Set a total dollar amount and stick to it, win or lose, unless one of your selections is scratched.
9. Don't try to assimilate so much information that you become confused. Stay with the handicapping formula that works best for you.
8. Thoroughbreds that did not race as a 2-year-old have not smelled the roses since the 19th Century. Apollo did it in 1882. Other winners of Triple Crown races that year: Vanguard in the Preakness and Forester in the Belmont.
7. No runner with only four career outings has won since Exterminator in 1918. There were so many horses (26) in that year's Preakness, it was run in two divisions. The winners: War Cloud and Jack Hare Jr.
6. Avoid horses with a pedigree that does not display both stamina and speed. In 19 of the past 131 derbies, 13 horses with Buckpasser in their bloodline finished first or second. Ironically, quarter-cracks kept him off the Triple Crown trail, but he won 13 in a row after running second in his 3-year-old debut. His victories in 1966 included the Travers, the American Derby, the Woodward, the and Jockey Gold Cup.
5. Only one horse has visited the winner's circle without taking a stakes race during his or her early career since Proud Clarion in 1967: Giacomo last year.
4. The last winner after running fifth or worse in the final prep was Iron Liege in 1957. Only two horses that were fourth in their last prep since the 1950s won: Thunder Gulch in 1995 and Sea Hero in 1993, both in the Blue Grass.
3. Since 1947, only Sunny's Halo won off two preps - the 1983 Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. Forget about horses with one or no stateside preps.
2. Don't waste your money betting the post time favorite to win. Since Spectacular Bid lived up to his odds in 1979, only two have done the same: Smarty Jones in 2004 and Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. Trifectas offer much bigger returns even when one or two low-priced horses hit the board.
1. Forget about the horse-for-the-course angle. In the past decade, no 3-year-old that had one or more starts at Churchill Down repeated in the Run for the Roses. The average finish of nearly 50 runners, including 21 that had previously won over the main track, was well off the board.
10. Don't wait until Derby Day to decide what you can afford to wager and the kind of bets you will make. Set a total dollar amount and stick to it, win or lose, unless one of your selections is scratched.
9. Don't try to assimilate so much information that you become confused. Stay with the handicapping formula that works best for you.
8. Thoroughbreds that did not race as a 2-year-old have not smelled the roses since the 19th Century. Apollo did it in 1882. Other winners of Triple Crown races that year: Vanguard in the Preakness and Forester in the Belmont.
7. No runner with only four career outings has won since Exterminator in 1918. There were so many horses (26) in that year's Preakness, it was run in two divisions. The winners: War Cloud and Jack Hare Jr.
6. Avoid horses with a pedigree that does not display both stamina and speed. In 19 of the past 131 derbies, 13 horses with Buckpasser in their bloodline finished first or second. Ironically, quarter-cracks kept him off the Triple Crown trail, but he won 13 in a row after running second in his 3-year-old debut. His victories in 1966 included the Travers, the American Derby, the Woodward, the and Jockey Gold Cup.
5. Only one horse has visited the winner's circle without taking a stakes race during his or her early career since Proud Clarion in 1967: Giacomo last year.
4. The last winner after running fifth or worse in the final prep was Iron Liege in 1957. Only two horses that were fourth in their last prep since the 1950s won: Thunder Gulch in 1995 and Sea Hero in 1993, both in the Blue Grass.
3. Since 1947, only Sunny's Halo won off two preps - the 1983 Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. Forget about horses with one or no stateside preps.
2. Don't waste your money betting the post time favorite to win. Since Spectacular Bid lived up to his odds in 1979, only two have done the same: Smarty Jones in 2004 and Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. Trifectas offer much bigger returns even when one or two low-priced horses hit the board.
1. Forget about the horse-for-the-course angle. In the past decade, no 3-year-old that had one or more starts at Churchill Down repeated in the Run for the Roses. The average finish of nearly 50 runners, including 21 that had previously won over the main track, was well off the board.
The total purses for the Breeders’ Cup World Championship have been raised to $20 million, $6 million more than last year. Seven of the eight Breeders’ Cup races have increased their purses.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic which is powered by Dodge has increased its purse to $5 million that means $1 million more than last year. The horse race will take place on November 4th, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Breeders’ Cup races have doubled their purses since its beginning in 1984, when they started with a $10 million purse. Last time purses increased was before the 2003 Breeders’ Cup when the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were increased to 1.5 million dollars.
This situation is turning the Breeders’ Cup into the richest race of all, giving its property even more value than ever. It is formed by eight races: the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint, the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile, the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff, the John Deere Breeders' Cup and the Turf Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge.
This race is a determining factor in Horse of the Year honors. The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships is a series of thoroughbred horse races sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. It is a one-day event that takes place every year at a different location. It has always taken place in the United States; the one year that was in another country was in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.
The horse racing event was created as a championship for North American thoroughbred racing, but it also attracts top horses from other parts of the world, especially Europe and during recent years, the Middle East.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic which is powered by Dodge has increased its purse to $5 million that means $1 million more than last year. The horse race will take place on November 4th, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Breeders’ Cup races have doubled their purses since its beginning in 1984, when they started with a $10 million purse. Last time purses increased was before the 2003 Breeders’ Cup when the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were increased to 1.5 million dollars.
This situation is turning the Breeders’ Cup into the richest race of all, giving its property even more value than ever. It is formed by eight races: the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint, the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile, the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff, the John Deere Breeders' Cup and the Turf Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge.
This race is a determining factor in Horse of the Year honors. The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships is a series of thoroughbred horse races sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. It is a one-day event that takes place every year at a different location. It has always taken place in the United States; the one year that was in another country was in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.
The horse racing event was created as a championship for North American thoroughbred racing, but it also attracts top horses from other parts of the world, especially Europe and during recent years, the Middle East.
The winner of the Kentucky Derby won’t be able to participate in the Belmont Stakes Race, since he’s been victim of an accident during the second competition for the Triple Crown: the Preakness Stakes.
Barbaro is recovering from an injury suffered a couple weeks ago in a career- ending breakdown at the Preakness. Barbaro shattered his right rear leg. The 2006 Kentucky Derby winner is under a 24/7 watch in a 12 by 12 foot stall. Three resident veterinarians are taking good care of the champion.
The full physical that he is submitted to every day includes temperature, heart and blood checks, examination of his feet, a look at the fiberglass cast and specially designed left hind shoe, the doling out of medication and walks around his new home. Every six hours Barbaro undergoes an abbreviated physical practiced by a veterinarian, a nurse or a medical student.
Barbaro was expected to become the next Triple Crown Champion, after his performance on May 6 in the Kentucky Derby. Two weeks later, he would suffer an awful accident and broke his leg. Barbaro was transported to the University of Pennsylvania’s Hospital at New Bolton Center in a horse-ambulance.
The next day, Barbaro underwent to a five hour surgery to repair three broken bones with a metal plate and 27 screws.
The winner of the Preakness Stakes: Bernardini won’t be able to run the Belmont Stakes race either since the owner has decided the horse needed a break. This is the first time since the year 2000 that the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the winner of the Preakness Stakes miss the Belmont Stakes eliminating any chance to have a Triple Crown winner.
Barbaro is recovering from an injury suffered a couple weeks ago in a career- ending breakdown at the Preakness. Barbaro shattered his right rear leg. The 2006 Kentucky Derby winner is under a 24/7 watch in a 12 by 12 foot stall. Three resident veterinarians are taking good care of the champion.
The full physical that he is submitted to every day includes temperature, heart and blood checks, examination of his feet, a look at the fiberglass cast and specially designed left hind shoe, the doling out of medication and walks around his new home. Every six hours Barbaro undergoes an abbreviated physical practiced by a veterinarian, a nurse or a medical student.
Barbaro was expected to become the next Triple Crown Champion, after his performance on May 6 in the Kentucky Derby. Two weeks later, he would suffer an awful accident and broke his leg. Barbaro was transported to the University of Pennsylvania’s Hospital at New Bolton Center in a horse-ambulance.
The next day, Barbaro underwent to a five hour surgery to repair three broken bones with a metal plate and 27 screws.
The winner of the Preakness Stakes: Bernardini won’t be able to run the Belmont Stakes race either since the owner has decided the horse needed a break. This is the first time since the year 2000 that the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the winner of the Preakness Stakes miss the Belmont Stakes eliminating any chance to have a Triple Crown winner.
“Oh boy, is this great?” That’s what Kent Dorfman said in “Animal House” many years ago. And that same question could be said right now about the eye-popping and heartwarming performance put up this past Saturday at Churchill Downs when Barbaro, the Florida Derby Champion, found his way to the winners circle in the 132nd Kentucky Derby.
His gritty and romping performance will be remembered for years to come. He simply toyed with the field at the top of the stretch and drew away under only mild encouragement from jockey Edgar Prado, who won his first Derby as well.
This three-year-old son of Dynaformer, whose offspring are royally bred for the turf, has shown how athletic and versatile he is by winning three races on turf and now three on dirt. He has won at distances ranging from a mile to a mile and a quarter and has never been seriously challenged with the exception of Sharp Humor in the Florida Derby.
The real question is: can he do it? Can Barbaro become America’s first Triple Crown Winner since Affirmed accomplished the feat some 28 years ago? Everyone, including jockey Edgar Prado, seems to think it could very well happen.
“All along I had great confidence. When I turned him loose, he took off running,” Prado said after Barbaro’s crushing of the Derby field. “Hopefully, we can get a Triple Crown.”
I recall a poll that was put up on the Daily Racing Form website that asked what could benefit horse racing the most. Some of the options were: get rid of drugs such as bute and lasix, install more poly-track surfaces, or have more incentives for breeding programs. But the fourth option was, “have a Triple Crown winner.” After the results were tallied, it was overwhelming how many fans, bettors, and handicappers agreed that having a Triple Crown winner is what this sport needs. It was some 60% who made the claim.
So judging from Barbaro’s performance this past Saturday in Louisville, can it really happen this year? Many of the experts on TVG, the Daily Racing Form, and other publications are under the impression it could really happen. Was Michael Matz, the trainer of Barbaro, playing with everyone while giving him 5 weeks from the Florida Derby to the Kentucky Derby? Was he giving him all that time because he knew that this next month is going to be a physically demanding whirlwind?
One thing is for certain, other horses and trainers don’t want to have to face him. Trainer Todd Pletcher, last year’s Eclipse Award-winner for best trainer, has admitted as much. His horse, Bluegrass Cat, ran a terrific race but was still a distant 2nd to Barbaro, and Pletcher will be skipping the Preakness because he is afraid to face the colt again.
“He showed today what we thought all along,” said Pletcher of Barbaro. “I knew we (Bluegrass Cat) were in a good position, but unfortunately for us, Barbaro kicked it in and ran his race.”
Trainer Bob Baffert, who had three Derby horses in Sinister Minister, Point Determined, and Bob and John, echoed the sentiments of the others.
“We weren’t going to beat Barbaro. He was awesome!”
May 20th marks the date of the Preakness Stakes and Barbaro should be a heavy favorite. It’s not sure yet who will come east to rival him, but as of now we know of a few. Brother Derek, Lawyer Ron, and Sweetnorthersaint will all be headed for Baltimore. The question is… can anyone inch any closer to this monster? My guess is…absolutely not!
His gritty and romping performance will be remembered for years to come. He simply toyed with the field at the top of the stretch and drew away under only mild encouragement from jockey Edgar Prado, who won his first Derby as well.
This three-year-old son of Dynaformer, whose offspring are royally bred for the turf, has shown how athletic and versatile he is by winning three races on turf and now three on dirt. He has won at distances ranging from a mile to a mile and a quarter and has never been seriously challenged with the exception of Sharp Humor in the Florida Derby.
The real question is: can he do it? Can Barbaro become America’s first Triple Crown Winner since Affirmed accomplished the feat some 28 years ago? Everyone, including jockey Edgar Prado, seems to think it could very well happen.
“All along I had great confidence. When I turned him loose, he took off running,” Prado said after Barbaro’s crushing of the Derby field. “Hopefully, we can get a Triple Crown.”
I recall a poll that was put up on the Daily Racing Form website that asked what could benefit horse racing the most. Some of the options were: get rid of drugs such as bute and lasix, install more poly-track surfaces, or have more incentives for breeding programs. But the fourth option was, “have a Triple Crown winner.” After the results were tallied, it was overwhelming how many fans, bettors, and handicappers agreed that having a Triple Crown winner is what this sport needs. It was some 60% who made the claim.
So judging from Barbaro’s performance this past Saturday in Louisville, can it really happen this year? Many of the experts on TVG, the Daily Racing Form, and other publications are under the impression it could really happen. Was Michael Matz, the trainer of Barbaro, playing with everyone while giving him 5 weeks from the Florida Derby to the Kentucky Derby? Was he giving him all that time because he knew that this next month is going to be a physically demanding whirlwind?
One thing is for certain, other horses and trainers don’t want to have to face him. Trainer Todd Pletcher, last year’s Eclipse Award-winner for best trainer, has admitted as much. His horse, Bluegrass Cat, ran a terrific race but was still a distant 2nd to Barbaro, and Pletcher will be skipping the Preakness because he is afraid to face the colt again.
“He showed today what we thought all along,” said Pletcher of Barbaro. “I knew we (Bluegrass Cat) were in a good position, but unfortunately for us, Barbaro kicked it in and ran his race.”
Trainer Bob Baffert, who had three Derby horses in Sinister Minister, Point Determined, and Bob and John, echoed the sentiments of the others.
“We weren’t going to beat Barbaro. He was awesome!”
May 20th marks the date of the Preakness Stakes and Barbaro should be a heavy favorite. It’s not sure yet who will come east to rival him, but as of now we know of a few. Brother Derek, Lawyer Ron, and Sweetnorthersaint will all be headed for Baltimore. The question is… can anyone inch any closer to this monster? My guess is…absolutely not!
Are you a Brit who loves their sport? Are you looking forward to the Fifa World Cup? Are you a tennis fan? Do you love the cricket? If you are fan of sport then this could be a summer to saviour and remember. I personally have been looking forward to this summer for many months and am very excited at all of the sporting events that are forthcoming. I am from England and really believe that my national team have a real chance of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
As well as the World Cup there are many more sporting events taking place that should make this summer one of the best in years.
The World Cup itself is only a week away and I can not wait for the tournament to commence. I am a massive football fan and even if England are knocked out in the group stages, I will still continue to watch and enjoy the matches.
I can not really see this happening as for the first time in many years England have a realistic chance of winning the trophy. There are some real winners in the team, John Terry, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard are three that spring to mind with little thought. I know for a fact that the players believe and that countries such as Brazil do not scare them. They of course have respect for these teams but have an inner confidence that this could be England's year.
If England can lift this trophy, can you imagine the response that will take place in the UK? The ashes heroes and the successful English World Cup rugby team have been treated like gods. Football is one thousand times more important and popular in England than these sports and these players lives will be changed forever. The country will party for months!
As well as football, there is the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, the cricket, the Derby in flat racing and many other sports such as athletics to wet the appetite of the British sports fan.
I am quite interested to see how the English tennis supporters treat Andrew Murray at Wimbledon. Murray has stated that he will be supporting every team at the World Cup who play England. He is Scottish of course. I hope he has a lack of support as this is a very childish attitude from a chap who has one very little thus far. I like the way he plays tennis but think he should keep his mouth closed as I now have very little time for him. When the Scottish team play in the World Cup I hope that they win, I surely would rather a team from the UK do well than a team from South America. He is of course very young and no doubt upset that his national team have not reached this years World Cup Finals.
This summer is a time to relax, drink a few beers and to enjoy what will be a great summer of British sport.
As well as the World Cup there are many more sporting events taking place that should make this summer one of the best in years.
The World Cup itself is only a week away and I can not wait for the tournament to commence. I am a massive football fan and even if England are knocked out in the group stages, I will still continue to watch and enjoy the matches.
I can not really see this happening as for the first time in many years England have a realistic chance of winning the trophy. There are some real winners in the team, John Terry, David Beckham and Steven Gerrard are three that spring to mind with little thought. I know for a fact that the players believe and that countries such as Brazil do not scare them. They of course have respect for these teams but have an inner confidence that this could be England's year.
If England can lift this trophy, can you imagine the response that will take place in the UK? The ashes heroes and the successful English World Cup rugby team have been treated like gods. Football is one thousand times more important and popular in England than these sports and these players lives will be changed forever. The country will party for months!
As well as football, there is the Wimbledon Tennis Championship, the cricket, the Derby in flat racing and many other sports such as athletics to wet the appetite of the British sports fan.
I am quite interested to see how the English tennis supporters treat Andrew Murray at Wimbledon. Murray has stated that he will be supporting every team at the World Cup who play England. He is Scottish of course. I hope he has a lack of support as this is a very childish attitude from a chap who has one very little thus far. I like the way he plays tennis but think he should keep his mouth closed as I now have very little time for him. When the Scottish team play in the World Cup I hope that they win, I surely would rather a team from the UK do well than a team from South America. He is of course very young and no doubt upset that his national team have not reached this years World Cup Finals.
This summer is a time to relax, drink a few beers and to enjoy what will be a great summer of British sport.
Sandown opens the month on February 4 with an excellent card and another set of possible Cheltenham clues. In recent seasons the Agfa Diamond Chase has suffered through small and uncompetitive fields but that worrying trend has started to change of late and this year’s renewal is sure to be a competitive one.
Alan King’s tough stayer Fork Lightning may well be among the entries for the ‘Agfa’, and given his preference for racing right-handed and his fine run behind Joaaci in a strong heat last time, he is likely to be among the more fancied runners.
Some of the season’s smarter novice chasers will be in action in Sandown’s Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase, a contest that was won last year by Henrietta Knight’s El Vaquero and it’ll be interesting to see whether Ms Knight decides to let her rising chase star Racing Demon take his place in the select field.
Over at Wetherby on the same day the staying novices strut their stuff in the Grade 2 Totty Construction Towton Novices’ Chase where the accent is firmly upon stamina in what is always a gruelling contest. Northern trainer Sue Smith won this race a couple of years ago with smart stayer Royal Emperor and may have another similar candidate in Rebel Rhythm, who has already won a novices’ event around the West Yorkshire track.
A week later sees Newbury stage the totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle</b>, Europe’s richest handicap over timber, on February 11. On a day of cracking action the pulsating two-mile contest takes pride of place and is always won by a good horse.
Finding the winner is never easy but the bookmakers seems to think that Martin Pipe’s talented novice Acambo is the one to beat and he heads the ante-post market with most firms. Pipe has won the race a couple of times in recent years courtesy of Copeland (2002) and Make A Stand (1997) and Acambo is sure to figure highly in Pipe’s plans for Newbury.
Local handler, Nicky Henderson, has also been a trainer to watch out for in this valuable event, saddling no less than four of the last ten winners and the stable’s main hope in 2006 looks to be Grand Jete, a one-time Champion Hurdle hope who looked like winning at Aintree last April until he went lame approaching the last.
Twelve months ago Ireland’s Essex justified favouritism to give the Emerald Isle its second winner in three seasons. One year later there’s a strong Irish challenge once again with the Jessica Harrington-trained Studmaster bidding to follow Essex’s footsteps by winning at Newbury after landing Ireland’s prestigious Pierse Hurdle one month earlier. Significantly, Mrs Harrington landed this valuable pot with Spirit Leader in 2003.
Top weights boast a good record too and Irish trainer John Queally believes his stable star Al Eile will go close to winning the totesport Trophy off 11st 12lb. Queally’s gelding didn’t hurt his Newbury chances by winning at Haydock the other day because he incurs no penalty for that success and has to be on any one’s short-list.
The same is true of the Venetia Williams-trained Chief Yeoman, who looks terrific value at 14-1 with most bookmakers. Connections have been pleased with his two runs so far and he has been aimed at this race since returning to action behind Acambo at Windsor before Christmas. Expect hi to step up on what he’s done so far this season.
The main attraction on Newbury’s supporting card is the Game Spirit Chase, a two mile and a furlong conditions chase that is often used as a final preparatory race by trainers for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
This year’s race is likely to be won by the current Queen Mother favourite Kauto Star, who will be using the Newbury event as a stepping-stone to Festival glory. Over at Warwick course specialist Voy Por Ustedes will be treading a similar path as he bids to earn a place in the Arkle Trophy line-up at the Festival by running well in the coralpoker.com Kingmaker Chase at Warwick on the same day.
On the following weekend – February 18 – all eyes will be on Champion Hurdle aspirants in the Axminster Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. Trainer Alan King may well let Penzance, his Triumph Hurdle hero of 2005, take his place in the line-up at the West Country venue after a series of disappointing efforts so far this season.
Who knows, maybe even the elusive Lingo will return to action for Jonjo O’Neill. He won easier than most horses do at Cheltenham in November and following good support for the Champion Hurdle in March would be a fascinating runner.
Up at Haydock on the same day Grand National hopefuls will go on trial in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, a punishing test of stamina over Haydock’s big drop fences in a contest that has sometimes exerted a strong influence upon the outcome of the world’s most famous race at Aintree in April.
Trainer Ginger McCain, a four-time winner of the Grand National courtesy of Red Rum and Amberleigh House, looks to have another leading Grand National candidate in the guise of Ebony Light, a surprise winner of January’s Peter Marsh Chase from the joint Gold Cup favourite, Kingscliff. McCain plans to run Ebony Light in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup before going to Aintree for a crack at the Grand National.
The best of February’s action closes on the weekend of February 25 with Racing Post Handicap Chase day at Sandown Park. The betting is often a strong guide to the outcome of this classiest of chases and well-fancied runners boast a good record.
Take note too of the winner and placed horses because this influential contest has frequently yielded a winner or two at next month’s Cheltenham Festival. Among the more potent contenders this season are likely to be the well treated Ladalko, who has been talked about as a possible for this prize by his trainer, Paul Nicholls, and Lacdoudal from the Philip Hobbs stable that has sent out three winners of this race in recent years.
On the same day at Newcastle there’s the four mile and a furlong Tote Northern National, a marathon chase in which shock winners are a rarity. Stamina is of the essence here and the locally-trained Ossmoses, who relishes racing over long-distances and has long looked a natural for this race and will be a name to note among the entries later in the month.
Alan King’s tough stayer Fork Lightning may well be among the entries for the ‘Agfa’, and given his preference for racing right-handed and his fine run behind Joaaci in a strong heat last time, he is likely to be among the more fancied runners.
Some of the season’s smarter novice chasers will be in action in Sandown’s Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase, a contest that was won last year by Henrietta Knight’s El Vaquero and it’ll be interesting to see whether Ms Knight decides to let her rising chase star Racing Demon take his place in the select field.
Over at Wetherby on the same day the staying novices strut their stuff in the Grade 2 Totty Construction Towton Novices’ Chase where the accent is firmly upon stamina in what is always a gruelling contest. Northern trainer Sue Smith won this race a couple of years ago with smart stayer Royal Emperor and may have another similar candidate in Rebel Rhythm, who has already won a novices’ event around the West Yorkshire track.
A week later sees Newbury stage the totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle</b>, Europe’s richest handicap over timber, on February 11. On a day of cracking action the pulsating two-mile contest takes pride of place and is always won by a good horse.
Finding the winner is never easy but the bookmakers seems to think that Martin Pipe’s talented novice Acambo is the one to beat and he heads the ante-post market with most firms. Pipe has won the race a couple of times in recent years courtesy of Copeland (2002) and Make A Stand (1997) and Acambo is sure to figure highly in Pipe’s plans for Newbury.
Local handler, Nicky Henderson, has also been a trainer to watch out for in this valuable event, saddling no less than four of the last ten winners and the stable’s main hope in 2006 looks to be Grand Jete, a one-time Champion Hurdle hope who looked like winning at Aintree last April until he went lame approaching the last.
Twelve months ago Ireland’s Essex justified favouritism to give the Emerald Isle its second winner in three seasons. One year later there’s a strong Irish challenge once again with the Jessica Harrington-trained Studmaster bidding to follow Essex’s footsteps by winning at Newbury after landing Ireland’s prestigious Pierse Hurdle one month earlier. Significantly, Mrs Harrington landed this valuable pot with Spirit Leader in 2003.
Top weights boast a good record too and Irish trainer John Queally believes his stable star Al Eile will go close to winning the totesport Trophy off 11st 12lb. Queally’s gelding didn’t hurt his Newbury chances by winning at Haydock the other day because he incurs no penalty for that success and has to be on any one’s short-list.
The same is true of the Venetia Williams-trained Chief Yeoman, who looks terrific value at 14-1 with most bookmakers. Connections have been pleased with his two runs so far and he has been aimed at this race since returning to action behind Acambo at Windsor before Christmas. Expect hi to step up on what he’s done so far this season.
The main attraction on Newbury’s supporting card is the Game Spirit Chase, a two mile and a furlong conditions chase that is often used as a final preparatory race by trainers for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
This year’s race is likely to be won by the current Queen Mother favourite Kauto Star, who will be using the Newbury event as a stepping-stone to Festival glory. Over at Warwick course specialist Voy Por Ustedes will be treading a similar path as he bids to earn a place in the Arkle Trophy line-up at the Festival by running well in the coralpoker.com Kingmaker Chase at Warwick on the same day.
On the following weekend – February 18 – all eyes will be on Champion Hurdle aspirants in the Axminster Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. Trainer Alan King may well let Penzance, his Triumph Hurdle hero of 2005, take his place in the line-up at the West Country venue after a series of disappointing efforts so far this season.
Who knows, maybe even the elusive Lingo will return to action for Jonjo O’Neill. He won easier than most horses do at Cheltenham in November and following good support for the Champion Hurdle in March would be a fascinating runner.
Up at Haydock on the same day Grand National hopefuls will go on trial in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, a punishing test of stamina over Haydock’s big drop fences in a contest that has sometimes exerted a strong influence upon the outcome of the world’s most famous race at Aintree in April.
Trainer Ginger McCain, a four-time winner of the Grand National courtesy of Red Rum and Amberleigh House, looks to have another leading Grand National candidate in the guise of Ebony Light, a surprise winner of January’s Peter Marsh Chase from the joint Gold Cup favourite, Kingscliff. McCain plans to run Ebony Light in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup before going to Aintree for a crack at the Grand National.
The best of February’s action closes on the weekend of February 25 with Racing Post Handicap Chase day at Sandown Park. The betting is often a strong guide to the outcome of this classiest of chases and well-fancied runners boast a good record.
Take note too of the winner and placed horses because this influential contest has frequently yielded a winner or two at next month’s Cheltenham Festival. Among the more potent contenders this season are likely to be the well treated Ladalko, who has been talked about as a possible for this prize by his trainer, Paul Nicholls, and Lacdoudal from the Philip Hobbs stable that has sent out three winners of this race in recent years.
On the same day at Newcastle there’s the four mile and a furlong Tote Northern National, a marathon chase in which shock winners are a rarity. Stamina is of the essence here and the locally-trained Ossmoses, who relishes racing over long-distances and has long looked a natural for this race and will be a name to note among the entries later in the month.
This Saturday, I’ll be back at the same sports bar where I watched the Kentucky Derby.
This Saturday, I’ll be back at the same sports bar where I watched the Kentucky Derby. If you read my Derby column, I told you to throw out a couple of favorites (Lawyer Ron and Brother Derek), and keep Barbaro, despite history being against him. Unfortunately, I also told you that I like America’s favorite bet, the exacta. The exacta always seems do-able, and offers a chance to win some real dollars. And in a field of 20, what were the chances of hitting the Trifecta? Sad to say, that darn Bluegrass Cat spoiled my day. This was a horse that, by all reports, was “the bust of 2006.” That’s why it’s called gambling. But Triple Crown races are events, and, if you are a sports fan, you’ve got to bet the Preakness.
This time, it’s all about value. Sure, Barbaro looked great in the Kentucky Derby, but is he the sure thing that many analysts and bettors make him out to be? Well, maybe. Which is the reason you’ll never get value betting on him this Saturday. At best, he’ll go off at even money. Keep in mind, until Smarty Jones won in 2004, it had been 25 years since an odds-on-favorite won the Preakness Stakes. You’ll hear a lot about “The Bounce Factor,” which says that horses tend to regress after particularly strong races, especially when they are coming back on short rest. And Barbaro is a horse that has never run with fewer than five weeks of rest.
Did you know that 21of the last 22 Preakness Winners ran in the Kentucky Derby? So, what about Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint? Brother Derek, the morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby, had major positioning problems in the Derby, and spent most of the race trying to break through a crowded 20-horse field. He lost a shoe and still finished fourth. He could be primed to run in the Preakness the race that many had expected him to run in the Derby. Sweetnorthernsaint, who ended up as the Derby favorite after a lot of late money was bet on him, also is one to watch. His Beyer speed figures were consistently better than those of Barbaro before the Derby. At 4-1, he may be a good bet.
Only three horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby will run in the Preakness, the smallest number in the last quarter century. So, given that, the odds would be better that a horse would break that 21 out of 22 streak which I mentioned earlier. Which new horses are possible contenders? Most analysts think Bernardini is the best of the newcomers. The term “Speed Freak” has been used for Diabolical, and that always perks up my ears. Like Now likes to gun it from the start, so, maybe, he’ll take the lead and keep it. Nothing about the other new horses excites me.
So, I’ll be splitting up my $50 with a variety of bets. Right now, an exacta of Sweetnorthernsaint and Bernardini seems like good value, and not too outlandish. Scrappy T, the best fresh horse last year, came in second. Diabolical as a long shot to win might be worth a try. As long as Brother Derek doesn’t slip to worse than 3-1, put him in some exacta bets. And, if you just can’t bear not betting on Barbaro, put him in a couple of trifectas that include a long shot. Have a drink and enjoy yourself; there’s only one more to go after this one.
This Saturday, I’ll be back at the same sports bar where I watched the Kentucky Derby. If you read my Derby column, I told you to throw out a couple of favorites (Lawyer Ron and Brother Derek), and keep Barbaro, despite history being against him. Unfortunately, I also told you that I like America’s favorite bet, the exacta. The exacta always seems do-able, and offers a chance to win some real dollars. And in a field of 20, what were the chances of hitting the Trifecta? Sad to say, that darn Bluegrass Cat spoiled my day. This was a horse that, by all reports, was “the bust of 2006.” That’s why it’s called gambling. But Triple Crown races are events, and, if you are a sports fan, you’ve got to bet the Preakness.
This time, it’s all about value. Sure, Barbaro looked great in the Kentucky Derby, but is he the sure thing that many analysts and bettors make him out to be? Well, maybe. Which is the reason you’ll never get value betting on him this Saturday. At best, he’ll go off at even money. Keep in mind, until Smarty Jones won in 2004, it had been 25 years since an odds-on-favorite won the Preakness Stakes. You’ll hear a lot about “The Bounce Factor,” which says that horses tend to regress after particularly strong races, especially when they are coming back on short rest. And Barbaro is a horse that has never run with fewer than five weeks of rest.
Did you know that 21of the last 22 Preakness Winners ran in the Kentucky Derby? So, what about Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint? Brother Derek, the morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby, had major positioning problems in the Derby, and spent most of the race trying to break through a crowded 20-horse field. He lost a shoe and still finished fourth. He could be primed to run in the Preakness the race that many had expected him to run in the Derby. Sweetnorthernsaint, who ended up as the Derby favorite after a lot of late money was bet on him, also is one to watch. His Beyer speed figures were consistently better than those of Barbaro before the Derby. At 4-1, he may be a good bet.
Only three horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby will run in the Preakness, the smallest number in the last quarter century. So, given that, the odds would be better that a horse would break that 21 out of 22 streak which I mentioned earlier. Which new horses are possible contenders? Most analysts think Bernardini is the best of the newcomers. The term “Speed Freak” has been used for Diabolical, and that always perks up my ears. Like Now likes to gun it from the start, so, maybe, he’ll take the lead and keep it. Nothing about the other new horses excites me.
So, I’ll be splitting up my $50 with a variety of bets. Right now, an exacta of Sweetnorthernsaint and Bernardini seems like good value, and not too outlandish. Scrappy T, the best fresh horse last year, came in second. Diabolical as a long shot to win might be worth a try. As long as Brother Derek doesn’t slip to worse than 3-1, put him in some exacta bets. And, if you just can’t bear not betting on Barbaro, put him in a couple of trifectas that include a long shot. Have a drink and enjoy yourself; there’s only one more to go after this one.
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