2011 BC Rundown

                                Drosselmeyer

This years Breeders' Cup brought excitement, upsets and continued chaos in the run for Horse of the Year as well as three-year-old champion. The stage was set for Havre De Grace, Flat Out and Game On Dude to take down this years Classic as well as leave Churchill with a lock on the Eclipse Award. All three left with disappointment instead as 14-1 Drosselmeyer came charging down the stretch to edge Game On Dude and capture his first graded stakes win since last years Belmont Stakes. It is now anyone's guess who will claim the award this year.

With Horse of the Year honors up in the air, the three-year-old division isn't any closer to naming a champion after they were outclassed by their older competition in the Classic. If Stay Thirsty, Ruler On Ice or Uncle Mo could have pulled out a victory, they certainly would be be crowned three-year-old champ. Now, Animal Kingdom is back in the picture and could take home the award since none of his foes stepped up and separated themselves in his absence.

The two-year-old champ is down to Hansen and Union Rags, with Hansen most likely leading the race by a nose after that exciting Juvenile race.

As the 2011 racing season comes to a close we are left with more questions than answers. What if Uncle Mo would have had a healthy three-year-old campaign? What if Animal Kingdom wouldn't have gotten clipped at the start of the Belmont? It is going to be interesting to see who claims Horse of the Year honors and who will emerge as three-year-old champion.

Marathon - Afleet Again


*Had Birdrun and Giant Oak as both finished in the money. A.U. Miner pulled up and Meeznah did not take to the dirt well at all. 


Sprint - Amazombie


*Had Amazombie and Jackson Bend as they went 1-3. Euroears and Giant Ryan just didn't fire. 


Dirt Mile - Caleb's Posse


*Hit the exacta with Caleb's Posse and Shackleford. Just missed the Tri as Trappe Shot came in fourth.


Juvenile - Hansen


*Hit the Trifecta with Hansen, Union Rags and Creative Cause. 


Turf Mile - Court Vision


*Had Turallure, Gio Ponti and Goldikova as they all finished 2-3-4. Court Vision spoiled the ex and tri.


Classic - Drosselmeyer


*Had Drosselmeyer. Havre De Grace and Flat Out came up short finishing 4-5. Stay Thirsty couldn't compete.

Breeders' Cup Picks

The end of the 2011 horse racing season is all but coming to a close this weekend as the Breeders' Cup has finally arrived. There are two full days of horse racing as the top horses take to the turf and dirt at Churchill Downs. Come Saturday we will know who the best turf/dirt, sprint/mile horses are as well as who the winter-book favorite is as the top two-year-old's go head to head in the 1 1/16 mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The Championships close out Saturday night under the lights with the famed 1 1/4 mile Breeders' Cup Classic. There are several three-year-olds that will try their luck against the older competition as one looks to come away as three-year-old champion. Horse of the Year honors will most likely also be determined as Havre De Grace looks to make history and become the third female in a row to win the award. The Classic usually lives up to its billing and certainly should be an instant horse racing classic.

Saturday, Nov. 5th


Marathon: 1 3/4 Miles


11.) A.U. Minor 3-1

1.) Birdrun 7-2

5.) Giant Oak 9-2

3.) Meeznah 12-1

Sprint: 6 F

5.) Jackson Bend 7-2

1.) Euroears 4-1

2.) Giant Ryan 8-1

7.) Amazombie 5-1

Dirt Mile: 1 Mile

2.) Shackleford 7-2

9.) Trappe Shot 3-1

5.) Wilburn 4-1

8.) Caleb's Posse 5-1

Juvenile: 1 1/16 Mile

7.) Creative Cause 7-2

10.) Union Rags 2-1

5.) Hansen 10-1

4.) Drill 8-1

Cup Mile: 1 Mile

1.) Goldikova 7-5

5.) Gio Ponti 4-1

6.) Get Stormy 15-1

13.) Turallure 8-1

Classic: 1 1/4 Mile

2.) Flat Out 6-1

3.) Drosselmeyer 15-1

10.) Havre De Grace 3-1

9.) Stay Thirsty 12-1

*Make sure to Box all your Exotics....

Breeders' Cup Week

                                                        Headless Horseman

It's Halloween Eve and parents are getting ready for all the trick-o-treaters that will flood the streets tomorrow night while the kids are making last minute preparations to their costumes that they will be wearing to school and door to door throughout the neighborhood. It just so happens that it is also the eve of the Breeders' Cup post-position draw that will be held tomorrow afternoon, 1:00 EST at Churchill Downs.

The week for the "Super Bowl" of horse racing has finally arrived. The best of the best come together from all over the world on the two-day card with $26 million in purses on the line. An exciting element this year is that this will be the first time in Breeders' Cup history that both days of the Championships will finish under the lights. The Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic will cap off the card on Friday night, while the Breeders' Cup Classic will cap off the Championships Saturday night. 

Along with the large purses on the line, there are also honors to be won as the Horse of the Year, Eclipse Award is still up for grabs. The three-year-olds look to close out their triple crown year and be named three-year old champion, while the two-year-olds look to claim top honors as the one chase after as they get ready for the Derby prep races and their triple crown run in the year to come. This week is filled with anticipation and excitement and should lead us up to two exciting days of racing in Louisville on Nov. 4th and 5th. 

*Check back mid-week and i'll have my picks for many of the Breeders' Cup races.

Keeneland

Summer has come and gone. The leaves are turning and starting to fall. There is a cool breeze in the air across the Bluegrass. The month of October has arrived and tomorrow, Keeneland opens for their fall meet in its 75th anniversary year. 


Keeneland is considered Lexington's pastime, just as much as baseball is America's pastime. Founded in 1935 and open for racing since 1936, this race track holds a rich history and is only open two months out of the year, which makes it one of the most prestigious tracks in the country. As stated on Keeneland's website and many would agree, this is "a place that now ranks among venues such as Augusta Golf Course, Wrigley Field and Madison Square Garden as one of the finest sporting locales in the world."


Keeneland is in itself its own island. The atmosphere and landscape that are enough to satisfy. Keeneland is a place where you can go to get away. A place where you can go to relax. A place where you can go to party. A place where you can go that brings back memories and will bring you new ones. A place where you can spend time with family and friends. A place where you can see magnificent animals. A place where you can see thoroughbred racing at its best. A place where you can dream of cashing in and leaving with more than what you came in with. A place, win or lose, where you walk away with a sense of enjoyment. Words cannot do this place justice as you have to experience it for yourself. Horse racing fan or not, you will certainly not walk away disappointed. 


The aura of this race track is only one of the reasons that make this place so special. Opening weekend of the fall meet brings a handful of Breeders Cup prep races as well. The new class of top two-year-olds are ready to showcase what they have as they are preparing for next year's Triple Crown. Saturday brings the Breeders' Futurity which is another "win and you're" in for the (G1) Breeders Cup Juvenile, as these young horses vie to be crowned two-year-old champ. The field is full as fourteen horses will load the gate this Saturday in the Breeders' Futurity and two alternates are in place barring any late scratches. 


Check out HRN for the current Top 250 Two-Year-Old Males: 2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders


Breeders' Futurity Exotics:


5) Majestic City 7-2
Only horse in field that has posted triple speed figures(not once, but twice).  


 7) Shared Property 4-1
Took down the large (G3) Arlington Washington Futurity field on poly by coming on down the stretch. 


11) Take Charge Indy 5-1
Barely beaten out in the (G3) Arlington Washington Futurity. Pedigree suggests distance not an issue.


4) Motor City 15-1
Came from well back in the (G3) Arlington Washington Futurity to finish in the money. 


12) Optimizer 8-1
Only has raced on the turf so will be interesting to see how he moves over to the poly. Can never count out a D. Wayne Lukas horse.


*This field is loaded with talented two-year-olds, so anything can happen. Tough to peg as this is the first time for many of these horses going 1 1/16 mile. 

Post "Super Saturday"

                                                           

 Stay Thirsty                                                                                   Uncle Mo: Kelso


"Super Saturday" set everyone up for a very enticing Breeders Cup next month. Flat Out took the 1 1/4 mile Jockey Club Gold Cup by holding off Drosselmeyer. Game On Dude was able to hold off a late charging eight-year-old, Awesome Gem in the Goodwood. Uncle Mo proved he is back by beating the older horses easily in the Kelso. Havre De Grace, the promising and dangerous filly blew out the rest of the field in the Beldame. Creative Cause beat favored Drill in the Norfolk, most likely setting up a so-called rubber match  in the Breeders Cup Juvenile.

While the Breeders Cup Classic field will begin to form over the next few weeks, it certainly doesn't look promising for this years three-year-old class. Going up against their elders for the first time, Stay Thirsty and Coil both finished third in their races this weekend. They were able to finish in the money but were not a challenge for win or place. Now heading to the Breeders Cup, there will only be more talented horses to contend with. While Stay Thirsty still would have to be considered the favorite for three-year-old champion, he certainly does not have a lock on the award. With the resurgent Uncle Mo, if he chooses to run in the Classic were to somehow upset the expected loaded field, he would be back in the picture for top three-year-old. Don't forget about To Honor and Serve either, who came back from injury to take the Pennsylvania Derby a couple of weeks ago.

As these next few weeks begin to unfold, there certainly will be anticipation leading up to the many showdowns that are going to be watched at Churchill Downs the first weekend in November. In the meantime, check out Keeneland in Lexington, Ky as they open their fall meet this coming weekend.

*Hit the exacta and trifectas dead on in both the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Goodwood this past weekend.

Super Saturday

                                           Stay Thirsty: Top Three-Year-Old

This Saturday might as well be considered the playoffs for the Breeders Cup. We are only one month away from the "Super Bowl of Horse Racing" and this coming weekend brings us some exciting graded stakes races that should give a good preview of what is in store come the first weekend in November. Belmont has a loaded card on Saturday, as well as Santa Anita, as it opens for its fall meet. There are ten graded stakes races that are considered "win and you're in" for the Breeders Cup, if that tells you anything about Saturday's line-up.

The most anticipated race is probably the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. The mile and a quarter race is the biggest prep for the Breeders Cup Classic. Although it will be a rather small field it is loaded with talent. Stay Thirsty gets his first crack at the older horses and is eager to show he belongs. While it will be a tough race for him, he certainly doesn't have to worry about losing any ground to any of the rivals in his division.

The rest of the three-year-old class has chosen to go in different directions to prepare for the Breeders Cup. Uncle Mo, who is still coming back from injury has chosen to run in the Mile, G2 Kelso, also at Belmont. Shackelford, will be competing in the G2 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park. Coil, after his disappointment in the Travers, is heading back to the West Coast for the G1 Goodwood at Santa Anita. Ruler On Ice finished second last weekend in the G2 Pennsylvania Derby to one of the early Derby favorites, To Honor and Serve. It is going to be interesting to see how each of these horses fare and who will eventually meet up in the Breeders Cup Classic.

While the three-year-olds are winding down their season, a new crop of two, soon to be three-year-olds have already begun preparing for their Triple Crown Run. At Santa Anita the G1 Norfolk is another one of those "win and you're in" races for the Breeders Cup Juvenile. These two-year-olds will be tested as they look to go around two turns for the first time. Look for Drill and Creative Cause to give each other a run for their money again as they went 1-2 in the Del Mar Futurity back in September.

*More on the two-year-olds next week as Keeneland opens its fall meet and other top two-year-olds load the gate in the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity.

Exotics:


Jockey Club Gold Cup

1/1a) Flatout/Birdrun 7-5:

Finished 2nd in both the G1 Whitney and Woodward, but was coming on down the stretch. If you have to find a concern about this horse it would be that this is his first race at 1 1/4 mile.

Has traded jabs with Drosselmeyer recently and shown that the distance is certainly not an issue here. With Flatout and Birdrun being paired in the betting, can't go wrong with these two at the window.

5) Drosselmeyer 6-1:
After two disapointing starts following his 2010 Belmont Stakes win, has come back strong trading 1st and 2nd with Birdrun. The win was at 1 1/4 mile.

4) Stay Thirsty 8-5:
On fire the last three races, finishing 2-1-1. Can he continue his torrid pace in his first attempt against the older and more experienced horses.

6) A.U. Miner 10-1:
Using this race as a prep for the Breeders Cup Marathon. Long shot that would not surprise if he snuck in the money. Beat Birdrun last race out in July at 1 1/2 mile.

Goodwood Stakes

8) Game On Dude 5-2
7) Awesome Gem 3-1
2) Coil 4-1

NY Stays True to Stay Thirsty

Travers Stakes - Stay Thirsty

Stay Thirsty continued his dominance at the New York tracks in the Travers Stakes on Saturday. Winning for his fourth time in four tries on New York tracks, Stay Thirsty now has a Grade 1 win to add to his resume. Whether it's running in the state of NY or just being a late bloomer on the track, the three-year-olds finally have a leader of their division that has put some distance between himself and the rest of the field. By no means is he a lock for the Eclipse Award, but he definitely is the heavy favorite heading into the fall.

Summer is all but over and fall is right around the corner. The races for just the three-year-olds are dwindling down and the Breeders' Cup is almost two months away. October 1st is the next anticipated stakes race and it should be very intriguing indeed. Stay Thirsty and the rest of his age group will be running against the four, five and six-year-olds for the first time in their careers in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He also will look to go an impressive five for five on New York tracks as the next race is back at Belmont.

*Stay Thirsty was the only horse that finished in the money who was pegged for the exotics. Ruler On Ice would have completed the super, finishing fourth. Shackelford faded earlier than expected, all the way back to eighth. Coil never fired, finishing a disappointing last. 

Midsummer Classic

                                                      Travers Stakes

Summer is slowly starting to wind down, but before it bids farewell, Saratoga brings us the famed Midsummer Classic this weekend. Ten horses enter the gate this coming Saturday and one will either emerge as the leader of the three-year-old class or make this unpredictable class even that more unpredictable.

Coil, Ruler On Ice, Shackelford and Stay Thirsty have the stage set for one of them to come out on top heading into the fall. This might be the last prime opportunity for one of them to put some distance between them and the rest of the class, because the next time you see these horses take to the track, it will most likely be against older, more experienced horses. It definitely sets up be an exciting race and lets hope one of these colts finally steps up and takes the lead in this deadlock division.

Exotics:

Coil 3-1:

Late bloomer showing he can run with the best after running down Shackelford in the Haskell. Bred for the distance, so 1 1/4 mile shouldn't be a problem. 

Ruler On Ice 6-1:
Proved he can handle the distance with a win in the Belmont. Got beat in the Haskell, but might prefer the longer distance.

Stay Thirsty 5-2:
After lackluster performances in the Florida and Kentucky Derby, has come back to impress in the Belmont and Jim Dandy. Tough horse to peg other than he loves to run in NY. If he continues the trend, will be tough horse in this race.

Shackelford 9-2:
This horse keeps hanging around and will just not go away. Heart of a champion that gives it his all every race. This distance is stretching his limits, but definitely not writing him off.

Up Next: The Travers

Haskell Stakes

Move Stay Thirsty and Coil to the top of the list. The winners of both the Jim Dandy and Haskell Stakes races this past weekend, showed that they are serious contenders in this years three-year-old crop. Both colts took home their second stakes win of the year and look to separate themselves from the rest of the pack here in a few weeks as they square off in the Travers Stakes.

With many of the top colts out this summer due to injury, it allows the likes of Stay Thirsty, Ruler on Ice and Coil to capitalize on their opportunity. A win in the Travers by any of these three colts would certainly put them in the lead for the Eclipse Award that will be given out at the end of the year.

- Picks in the Jim Dandy did not pan out as we went against the favorite Stay Thirsty.

- Had Shackelford in the Haskell, but he couldn't hold off Coil down the stretch.

Summer Classics (Con't)

                                                                          heatwave.jpg

The middle of summer is upon us and the three-year-old races are heating up once again. The two stakes races this weekend are going to give us a clearer picture of who belongs in next month's Midsummer Classic as well as the Breeders Cup Classic.

Jim Dandy (G2)


Exotics:

Alternation: Did not run in any of the triple crown races. Showed promise by coming from behind and taking the G2 Peter Pan after running a disappointing 5th in the Arkansas Derby. Look for him to step into the spotlight, finish in the money and upset the ML favorite, Stay Thirsty.

Brilliant Speed: Has finished in the money 5 out of his 6 starts. The only race that eluded him was the Kentucky Derby. Likes to come from behind as well and should add another finish in the money to his resume this coming Saturday.

Haskell (G1)


Exotics:

Shackelford: With a see-saw year for the three-year-olds, it's his turn to be the front runner of the group again. The Kentucky Derby and Belmont proved to be too much for this gritty horse, but the mile and an eight distance seems to be right in his wheelhouse. With a spot in the Breeders Cup Classic on the line, look for Shackelford to capitalize on the opportunity this coming Sunday.

Pants On Fire: Another horse that has talent who skipped the final two legs of the triple crown races after finishing a disappointing 9th in the Kentucky Derby. Already has proven he can run with the best by beating the runner-up in the Derby, Nehro back in March at the Louisiana Derby. Look for him to step back into the spotlight Sunday and don't be surprised if he comes away punching a ticket to the Breeders Cup Classic in November.

Summer Classics

                                                                          heatwave.jpg

It has now been over a month since the shocking results at Belmont Park. The heat wave is sweeping across the east coast and summer is in full force. Not only have some two-year-olds already begun their quest on the long, unprecedented Derby trail, but the three-year-olds are ready to take to the track again. Unfortunately, the latest news from the track is that long shot Derby winner, Animal Kingdom has been ruled out for the year due to his disastrous start at last month's Belmont. So, if the race for three-year-old of the year was not wide open before I don't know what you want to call it now.

This coming weekend brings two anticipated stakes races to set us up for the Midsummer Classic or as most know as the Travers Stakes at the end of August. Saratoga will host the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday followed by the G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

This year it seams like each horse that is ready to step into the gate and take the reins of the rest of the field, something goes wrong. Will Ruler On Ice prove that he was no fluke on the muddy track at Belmont, is Alternation ready to step up in class and contend with the best of the best, or will one of the early contenders be able to come back and reclaim this unpredictable class of three-year-olds? It is anyone's guess as of what will happen between now and that cool night in November under the lights.

*Check back mid-week and I will have my picks for the two stakes races this weekend.

Post New York Monster

Looks like the race for top three-year-old just got blown wide open after that race yesterday. The favorites entered the ring and looked like they couldn't even compete with the New York Monster. The anticipated heavyweight fight between Shackleford and Animal Kingdom looked more like a featherweight fight as Animal Kingdom never had a shot after stumbling out of the gate and Shackleford faded down the stretch once again. It was the 24-1 shot, Ruler On Ice who came out on top, being only the second gelding since 1985 to take the Belmont Stakes.


Emoticons

So, here we are the day after the race, puzzled, confused, mystified, or you can just fill in the blank with your own adjective. Looking back at the past performances, I'm left scratching my head as to how the top two finishers (abysmal speed ratings heading into this race) overcame the monster and the rest of the field.

Does past experience on a sloppy track really come into play that much (if yesterday taught us anything then definitely)? If Animal Kingdom had not of stumbled out of the gate and almost thrown his rider would he have taken the race with ease (probably so)? You can play the what if game all you want and question your picks till you drive yourself crazy. All you can do is try to learn from the race, forget about your loses and move on to the next one. Like I told my friend who was heckling me for my blown picks this past race, "You can't win 'em all or I wouldn't be having to go into work on Monday morning."

The Triple Crown races are over, which will give me and my wallet a breather for a month or so. There is still an exciting summer ahead as most of these three-year-olds prepare themselves for the $1 million Travers Stakes, also known as the famed Midsummer Classic at the end of August. Not to mention, NBC teams up with Saratoga starting at the end of July to televise seven weekends of horse racing coverage all the way through Labor Day. Check back in July and I will have my picks for some stakes races this summer leading up to the Travers.

The New York Monster

                               Source: www.belmontstakes.com


Well, the kids are out of school and the temperatures are already climbing into the 90's in most parts of the country. Which means that Summer is upon us and the Belmont Stakes is only a few days away. A dozen horses take the post this coming Saturday to take on the monster trip in New York. Out of the twelve, the top seven finishers in the Derby are back for a rematch (the first time this has ever happened).

Many are dubbing this a rubber match between the Derby winner, Animal Kingdom and the Preakness winner Shackleford. Even AK's owner Barry Irwin and Shakleford's trainer, Dale Romans have already taken verbal jabs at each other this week. With the Triple Crown out of the picture, this is shaping up to be a heavyweight prize fight, with the winner holding a slight edge of being the top three-year-old heading into the Summer.

2011 Belmont Stakes Picks:


Exotics:
Animal Kingdom: 2-1 ML favorite, just as he was in the Preakness. Since this horses first race on dirt he has taken off and not looked back.

Nehro: Finished second in his last three races. Improved speed ratings each time out. Coming in fresh off a five week layoff.

Mucho Macho Man: He was Mr. Consistency until the Preakness three weeks ago but threw a shoe. Finished third in the Derby and was closing on Nehro.

Master Of Hounds: First race on dirt was the Derby and worked his way through traffic coming from 15th to finish fifth. He is also fresh after skipping the Preakness.

Winner:
Animal Kingdom: Has shown that he is a step above the rest of the field. Closing in his last two races, he was pulling away from the field in the Derby and just ran out of room in the Preakness. Bred for the distance, the Belmont should pose no problems for the Derby winner.

This race is a monster at 1 1/2 miles and has a history of craziness. While I will be confident heading to the window this coming Saturday, I would not at all be surprised to see any of the top seven Derby finishers take this race based on the history of the Belmont. Good luck to all and feel free to leave your comments....

33 and Counting...

Slow break out of the gate left the Derby winner facing a daunting task of picking off 13 horses at a track they say favors the speed horses. Animal Kingdom was out to prove his doubters wrong, that he was no fluke just two short weeks ago. Heading into the far turn, it was time, weaving in and out of traffic, one by one he started picking off his foes. Coming down the stretch, bursting through the field and closing fast, only one horse to pass, that same horse that faded down the stretch in the Derby. It just wasn't meant to be as Animal Kingdom ran out of real estate and ran into a horse named Shackleford that was not willing to give in this time around as he showed he had just enough gas left in the tank to hold on and take the Preakness.

So, here we are, another year, another heartbreak for the horse racing world. While Animal Kingdom did what he set out to do and prove that he was no fluke, it wasn't enough to please the racing fans as they are left disappointed yet again. We now have another long year to wait and see if and when that next three-year-old will emerge and capture that elusive Triple Crown that was last won 33 years ago.

Time still goes on as does the sport of horse racing. The Belmont is the next big stakes race on the card for these young horses and they will have a $1,000,000 purse to chase after. Assuming the top horses come out healthy from the Preakness, lets hope that large purse is good enough reason for the likes of Shackleford, Animal Kingdom, Dialed In and Mucho Macho Man to give us racing fans another exciting race to anticipate in less than three weeks. With Nehro, who placed in the Derby and Jaycito, who was a top Derby contender before he got sidelined with a minor injury, pointing toward the Belmont, it still could shape into another interesting race with a nicely stacked field.

Pegged 3 out of the top 4 in the Preakness. Astrology probably kept some from hitting the super or tri but hopefully you took my suggestions and hit the exacta or better yet had a winning ticket on Shackelford. Check back in a couple of weeks and I'll have my picks for the Belmont.

Round 2: Baltimore

Source: http://www.preakness.com/ 

The draw is done, morning line odds are set and the horses are busy eating hay in their stalls at Pimlico by now. Which means it's almost time for the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes. For only the second time since 1992, there will be a full field that goes to the post come Saturday night. It is sure to be an exciting run for the Woodlawn Vase as 13 horses go stride for stride and attempt to knock off Animal Kingdom from his short two week reign as King of the three year olds.

It's anyone's race as this is considered one of the weaker/uncertain classes of three year old's compared to years past. Although, this may make the race that more exciting as there are a handful of horses that I can see taking the Preakness this year. With five horses coming out of the Derby and nine newcomers trying to show that they belong, grab your popcorn or crab cakes as they are known for in Maryland and get ready for round two in Baltimore.

2011 Preakness Stakes Picks:


Exotics:
Animal Kingdom: 2-1 ML favorite as he should be. Won the Derby convincingly, was pulling away from the field and looked like he could have gone longer if needed to.

Dialed In: Derby favorite disappointed two weeks ago. He is a closer, comes from dead last and 19 horses were just entirely too many to round up that day. We find out if he is a contender or a pretender in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Mucho Macho Man: The owners of this guy are going to have to seriously start thinking of changing his name to "Mucho Money Man." That's all this horse has done as he has finished in the money 7 out of 8 of his lifetime starts. Enough said.

Shackleford: Almost took the Derby wire to wire. Did not start to fade until the last 1/16 of a mile and guess what, the Preakness is just a 1/16 of a mile shorter than the Derby. Does not have history on his side as Rachel Alexandra is the only horse in the last ten years to win this race wire to wire.

Winner:
Animal Kingdom: Been back and forth on this as I could see any of the above four horses taking this race. He only gets better each race he has run. It's tough to get off this horse as I had him pegged as my dark horse in the Derby.

Enjoy The Ride

English major? Nope. Expert Gambler? Not even close. Expert Handicapper? Well, not yet. Just a kid in his 20's who loves to watch the ponies run while trying to come up with a method to the madness (yes, I still consider myself a kid even though that big 30 is not too far around the corner). Growing up in the horse capital of the world I have always enjoyed those warm spring days in April and those crisp cool fall days in October at one of the most prestigious tracks in the country they call Keeneland. Whether it was skipping class back in high school or working my class schedule out in college so I didn't have late afternoon classes or those dreaded Friday classes, you could always find me out at the track come April and October to catch a glimpse of the ponies first hand.

Some say you could not have been born here and not like the sport of horse racing. Maybe it just runs in my blood since I have been told that the track was my grandfathers second home. My uncle has owned horses in the past and I remember going to Churchill Downs and Keeneland to watch them run. That first Saturday in May huddled around a TV to watch the most exciting two minutes in sports every year since I can remember. My dad teaching me how to read a racing program. Whatever it was, these past 2-3 years I have really gotten passionate about the sport (especially the 3 yr. olds). There you have it, that's a little taste about me. Now to what this blog is going to be about....

Source: isavesmart.com

If you are looking for those can't miss horses in maiden, maiden special weight, claiming and starter races then this blog is not for you. I will go ahead and tell you to save your time and look elsewhere. The past few years I have started studying those unpredictable 2-year-olds as they turn 3 and make their way along the Derby trail to try and compete with the best of the best on Derby day. I have not done too bad following these young horses as of late. I decided that I am going to document and share my picks with those who are interested as these amazing animals try and chase after that once forgotten Triple Crown, through the summer, leading up to the Breeders Cup Classic hoping to be named 3 yr. old champion.

I have learned that nothing is guaranteed in life, just like there are definitely no locks in sports. This all pertains to horse racing and this blog as well. I am not going to guarantee anything on here but I do hope to win you and myself some money along the way. So, saddle up and enjoy the ride.......

*Come back next week and I'll have my picks for the Preakness.