Barbaro Updates: 865

Posted May 29, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5095: A cool article regarding a piece of horse racing history: The Fillies of 1924.

A fun afternoon spent at the races. We had a couple of third place finishes. The Plate Trial, a major prep for the Queens Plate, was won by Eye of the Leopard in a tight finish with Southdale: Eye of the Leopard Gets Up For Plate Trial.

Update 5094: NYRA update on two workers today for The Belmont:

DUNKIRK, CHARITABLE MAN WORK FOR BELMONT

ELMONT, N.Y. - Charitable Man and Dunkirk, who could be the second and third choices behind Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in Saturday's 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, turned in their final works this morning for the 11/2-mile race at Belmont Park.

Charitable Man covered a half-mile in 49.00 with exercise rider Renzo Morales aboard, not long after Dunkirk went the same distance in 49.57 under jockey John Velazquez.

"Last week he went off a little fast for our liking, so in coaching him, he went off better today and therefore, a little slower, but we were very happy with it," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan here on May 9. "We believe he's a fit horse, happy and healthy, and he doesn't need those :46 works. We're ready to go."

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren, Jr., Charitable Man won both his starts at age 2, including the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont Park, and finished seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes over PolyTrack at Keeneland in his 3-year-old debut.

"We feel we've got the horse to beat," added McLaughlin, who won the 2006 Belmont with Jazil. "Mine That Bird we have a lot of respect for, Dunkirk, and other horses, but I wouldn't trade places with anyone. We've got a fresh horse, he's 2-for-2 on this racetrack, just won impressively here four weeks ago and he couldn't be training any better. We're very confident."

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was happy with Dunkirk's maintenance move, accomplished in company with Monba, the 4-year-old who won last year's Blue Grass Stakes.

"He did it very easily," said Pletcher of Dunkirk, who won his first two starts this year, finished second to Quality Road in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and was then 11th over a sloppy, sealed track in the Kentucky Derby. "He's got terrific action, a smooth, fluid strike. I feel he's a top-quality horse, and has run well in three of his four races. The Derby, to me, I have to put a line through that race. I felt he didn't handle the surface at all in that race."

Pletcher said he thought Charitable Man was the horse to beat in the Belmont Stakes.

"At this point, Charitable Man is going to be on an uncontested, easy lead," said Pletcher, winner of the 2007 Belmont Stakes with the filly Rags to Riches. "That's my biggest concern, aside from the fact he's probably the horse to beat to begin with, and now he's got a pace advantage. He's coming off a Peter Pan win, he's 2-for-2, and basically he's never been beaten on the dirt ... it's going to be hard to catch a quality horse like Charitable Man if he gets a half in :49."

Although remote, the trainer did not rule out the possibility of entering a "rabbit" to ensure an honest pace in the Belmont, which last year was won in wire-to-wire fashion by longshot Da' Tara.

"I might talk to (owners) Mrs. John Magnier, Mr. Michael Tabor and Mr. Derrick Smith, and see what their thoughts are, but at this point, we haven't talked about it," said Pletcher. "Probably not."

Update 5093: Five sets this morning for Steve at Woodbine. And it was cold, again! All mine galloped nicely, so a pretty straightforward morning. There were a couple of loose horses running around. Likely the chilly weather had something to do with that! Two runners this afternoon so I will head back to the races.

Update 5092: A fun day at the races yesterday. We had a winner from three runners. And the Nassau Stakes was a great race to watch: Rutherienne Outslugs Nassau Stakes Foes.

The Top Bunk list has one new addition, Prince Slew. Pay Attention has now been retired: Retiring Pay Attention - Top Bunk horse.

Update 5091: My take on the decision to not run Rachel Alexandra in the Belmont: Rachel Was Ready.

Update 5090: Paragallo, who faces 22 charges of animal cruelty, is dispersing his stable. His trainer no longer works for him and he suggests his daughters will sue the racing and wagering board: Paragallo stable disperses its racing stock, excerpt:

The licenses of Kristen and Jennifer Paragallo are "under review," according to Mahoney.

Paragallo said Thursday that the family decided to disperse its horses after it became obvious the state would not let the stable run horses.

"They weren't letting my daughter run the horses," Paragallo said. "My daughters will follow the proper legal channels."

Asked if that meant suing the racing and wagering board, Paragallo said, "Definitely."

Update 5089: An easy morning for me this morning at Woodbine for Steve. We only had five sets. All mine went out before the break. And they all galloped nicely. There was a lot of chatter in our barn this morning about the decision not to run Rachel Alexandra in the Belmont next weekend. All fun stuff.

Update 5088: John Asher on Borel and Woolley after the news of Rachel's withdrawal:

BOREL, WOOLLEY LOOK AHEAD TO BELMONT AFTER RACHEL ALEXANDRA BOWS OUT OF RACE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 29, 2009) - With firm knowledge that the Preakness (Grade I)-winning filly Rachel Alexandra would pass on a possible run in the third jewel of the Triple Crown, trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. and jockey Calvin Borel are both enthusiastically looking forward to the Belmont Stakes and a bid to take two-thirds of the crown with Kentucky Derby (GI) winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird.

Owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra with Harold McCormick, announced Friday afternoon via press release that the winner of the Preakness and the Kentucky Oaks (GI) would skip the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at New York's Belmont Park. Jackson's statement said that the filly was "healthy," but "deserves a well-earned vacation." Jackson's statement freed Borel, who had ridden Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby but chose to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, to return to the saddle aboard the Derby winner for the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" next week at Belmont Park.

Woolley was signing autographs in a gift shop Churchill Downs and Borel was riding at the Louisville track when each received the news. Woolley got a personal telephone call from Jackson, while the news was relayed to Borel by agent Jerry Hissam after he talked by telephone with Jackson.

"It showed a lot of class on Mr. Jackson's part," said Woolley. "We really appreciate him letting us known and letting us make our decision. Now we're just looking forward to going on to the Belmont."

"Whatever Mr. Jackson wanted to do, I was a hundred and ten percent behind," said Borel. "But I think he did the right call. I think Mr. Jackson is all about the horse, not the races. It's not money - it's his horse. I think he has more confidence in his horse and he wants to keep her safe and make sure she's healthy and everything. She run hard the other day. She struggled a lot, like I said when I come back (from the Preakness). I think he did it for the horse."

Woolley said the call from Jackson was not a complete surprise. He thought there was a chance the Steve Asmussen-trained Rachel Alexandra would pass on the Belmont.

"You know it's grueling to put these races back-to-back," said Woolley. "She run one day earlier than I did in the Derby, but it's hard to put these races back-to-back and even harder on a filly. So that really didn't surprise me and it's one reason I've held out for Calvin, thinking possibly that she might not run."

Borel worked Mine That Bird last Monday and said he was very happy with the effort by the Kentucky Derby winner. He will be the saddle again when Mine That Bird has his final pre-Belmont Stakes work on Monday.

"With three races back-to-back like that, you just want him to go into the race happy and I think Chip's got him happy," Said Borel. "So we're to hope for the best and have a good trip and, like I said, I want to thank them for putting me back on the colt and giving me this much time, and thank Mr. Jackson for announcing it today."

Woolley said the gelded son of Birdstone would work after the break for track maintenance on Monday, June 1. Mine That Bird is scheduled to fly to New York on Wednesday, June 3.

BENNIE "CHIP" WOOLLEY JR. - trainer of MINE THAT BIRD
"Mr. Jackson called me personally prior to releasing it to the media to inform me that they had decided not to run Rachel in the Belmont, and that would release Calvin from any conflict. So, when he called me I called Jerry Hissam (Calvin Borel's agent) and he'd already talked to Jerry. He was going to release it to the media, so we gave it a little while before we told anybody else to give him the opportunity. It showed a lot of class on Mr. Jackson's part. We really appreciate him letting us known and letting us make our decision. Now we're just looking forward to going on to the Belmont."

Q: Chip were you surprised to hear that Rachel wouldn't run and that you'd get Calvin back for the Belmont?

"I actually wasn't too surprised. I wondered whether she would go on and run the mile and a half. You know it's grueling to put these races back-to-back. She run one day earlier than I did in the Derby, but it's hard to put these races back-to-back and even harder on a filly. So that really didn't surprise me and it's one reason I've held out for Calvin, thinking possibly that she might not run."

Q: Let's talk about your horse and having Calvin back in the saddle for the Belmont...
"You know, we're tickled with that. Calvin's done us a great job. He won us a Derby and we were committed to letting him ride for us, if possible. So we're really glad to have him back."

Q: Was it a relief to get the call today...would it have mattered to wait three or four more days?
"It wouldn't really have mattered to wait two or three more days. One thing that was for sure was the people that were open today would have been open in two or three days. So, that wasn't so much of a problem. We're just tickled to have Calvin and tickled to have this behind us and move on to the Belmont."

Q: Your horse just seems to look better and better in the mornings...
"You bet. He's looking super. I actually thought this morning was probably the best day he's had on the racetrack since he's been here. We're real tickled with him. He's just marchin' around there and feelin' good."

Q: You still plan to work him Monday after the maintenance break?
"We'll work him after the break on Monday, then we’ll ship him Wednesday on an airplane to Belmont. Calvin will work him Monday right after the break."

CALVIN BOREL – jockey on MINE THAT BIRD
Q: How did you get the news?
"Jerry was the one that told me. Mr. Jackson got in touch with him. First of all, I want to thank Chip and the owners of Mine That Bird for hanging in there. I want to thank Mr. Jackson for coming out as soon as he did, because I didn't think we'd get an answer until next Monday and I probably would have sat out the race. I just want to thank Mr. Jackson for coming out as early as he did with the announcement, and thank Chip and the owners for an opportunity to ride the colt back. We're gonna get the job done."

Q: You had said before that you would like to ride Mine That Bird...did you think you'd be able to do it again?

"It was just a matter of timing. Chip loves the way I fit the colt. I couldn't see why he wouldn't let me ride the colt back, because I fit him a hundred and ten percent. I love the filly - she's the greatest thing in the world, I think. And I just want to thank Mr. Jackson for making the decision this early so I can give chip an answer at the right time."

Q: What about Mine That Bird in the Belmont - it's a different kind of race, a mile and a half, big turns, big racetrack...

"I'm just going to ride it like it comes up, you know. It's nothing different - just turn left when you get in the turns. It's like any other racetrack. I'll tell you what, the colt worked really good the other morning. I was very happy with his work. I worked him real easy and he was bouncin' - he was a happy camper. That's all you want. With three races back-to-back like that, you just want him to go into the race happy and I think Chip's got him happy. So we're to hope for the best and have a good trip and, like I said, I want to thank them for putting me back on the colt and giving me this much time, and thank Mr. Jackson for announcing it today."

Q: Were you disappointed that Rachel is not going into the Belmont?
"Whatever Mr. Jackson wanted to do, I was a hundred and ten percent behind. But I think he did the right call. I think Mr. Jackson is all about the horse, not the races. It's not money - it's his horse. I think he has more confidence in his horse and he wants to keep her safe and make sure she's healthy and everything. She run hard the other day. She struggled a lot, like I said when I come back (from the Preakness). I think he did it for the horse."

Q: Was it a relief to get the call today:
"It was a big relief. You know, for Chip and them, to let them know because they sat chilly. They've been good to me and I've just got to thank 'em again."

Update 5087: NYRA Notes: Rachel Alexandra out of the Belmont:

"RACHEL" OUT OF BELMONT STAKES; BOREL TO RIDE "BIRD"

ELMONT, N.Y. - Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra will skip the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6, freeing jockey Calvin Borel to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the 11/2-mile "Test of the Champion."

"After careful consideration, we have decided not to run Rachel Alexandra in the Belmont Stakes next weekend," Jess Jackson said in a statement issued late Friday afternoon on behalf of Rachel Alexander's co-owners, Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick. "We have advised Calvin Borel, (Mine That Bird's trainer) Chip Woolley and Belmont of our decision. We thank them, the media, and the fans for their many courtesies and patience while we pondered.

"We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes -- we feel the same. But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation. Since March 14, Rachel has won four graded races with just two weeks rest between her last two victories. We will always put her long-term well-being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh."

While Jackson declined to specify a next start for the three-year-old filly, he did say that she would make a start at Belmont Park this season.

Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to a stunning upset in the May 2 Kentucky Derby at odds of 50-1, took off the mount to ride Rachel Alexandra in the May 16 Preakness, in which Mine That Bird, under Mike Smith, finished second. With the filly skipping the final leg of racing's Triple Crown, and Smith committed to ride in California next Saturday, Borel will now ride the Derby winner as he tries to become the first jockey in history to win the Derby, Preakness and Belmont aboard different horses.

Although he had received calls from a number of jockeys expressing interest in riding Mine That Bird in the Belmont, Woolley said he wanted Borel to ride the gelding and was willing to wait until the last minute.

"Now that this decision is made, I am excited to come to New York and ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes," said Borel. "I would like to thank Chip Woolley, and (owners) Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach for being so gracious and allowing us to wait for this decision. We also thank Mr. Jackson for letting everyone know earlier than anticipated about the decision whether to run Rachel Alexandra."

Mine That Bird currently is training at Churchill Downs, and is scheduled to breeze there on Monday, June 1, before flying to New York on Wednesday as he attempts to become the 12th horse in history to win the Derby and the Belmont. Thunder Gulch in 1995 was the last horse to win both races.

Lining up to challenge the Derby winner in the Belmont will be Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Miner’s Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff, Summer Bird and possibly Nowhere To Hide.

Update 5086: From NYRA Notes: Weather impacting final Belmont works:

ELMONT, N.Y. - Continued wet weather in the New York metropolitan area has left the final serious works of several contenders for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 6 up in the air.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith's Dunkirk and Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren's Charitable Man, who were both scheduled to breeze Saturday morning, may instead have their final moves at Belmont Park on Sunday.

"Right now, Dunkirk is likely to breeze on Sunday after the break," said trainer Todd Pletcher of the gray son of Unbridled's Song, 11th in the Kentucky Derby. "That may change depending on the condition of the track, but Sunday will be fine. John Velazquez will be aboard."

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, might wait until Sunday or even Monday to breeze.

"We always leave a window of a day or so," said McLaughlin, adding: "In 2006, it rained for two weeks leading up to the Belmont Stakes and the day Jazil was supposed to breeze, the track was sloppy, and I walked out on the track and said, 'You know what? He's fit. He doesn't need to work.' So he doesn't work the week leading up to the race, and he wins."

As well, Robert V. LaPenta's duo of Miner's Escape, winner of the Frederico Tesio, and Brave Victory, third in the Peter Pan, will work for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather.

Summer Bird, sixth in the Derby, will have his final work on Saturday as scheduled, said trainer Tim Ice.

"As long as the track is safe, he'll go after the break," said Ice. "Kent Desormeaux will be aboard."

Chocolate Candy, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Mine That Bird, Mr. Hot Stuff, and possibly Rachel Alexandra are also being pointed toward the 11/2-mile "Test of the Champion." Nowhere to Hide, also trained by Zito, is questionable.

Update 5085: Today's entry on The Rail: The Dangers of Mornings at the Track.

Update 5084: Railbird here, with your weekly update.

On Saturday at Belmont, seven 3-year-old fillies meet for the Sands Point Handicap, which is headlined by back-to-back stakes winner Gozzip Girl and Magical Affair, 2-for-3 since switching from dirt to turf. At Hollywood, 11 older fillies and mares will go to post in the Gamely Stakes, which drew Santa Barbara Handicap winner Magical Fantasy and runner-up Black Mamba, as well as lightly-raced upset possibility Lemon Chiffon and Diamond Diva, making her second start following a 10-month layoff. Meanwhile, at Woodbine on Saturday, stakes winner Rutherienne, on a seven-race losing streak, ships in for the Nassau Stakes, where she'll face local favorite Callwood Dancer, who has six wins over the track's turf course.

Next weekend is the Belmont Stakes, preceded by five undercard stakes races, all of which are attracting superb fields. Already declared for the Woody Stephens are undefeated Hull, Hello Broadway, and Regal Ransom (making his first start since finishing tenth in the Kentucky Derby). Justwhistledixie, scratched from the Kentucky Oaks due to mild lameness caused by a shoe problem, is expected in the Acorn, veterans Better Talk Now and Grand Couturier in the Manhattan. More on all those races next Friday.

Update 5083: Eight sets this morning for Steve at Woodbine. All mine galloped nicely. Four also went to the gate for a little gate schooling. There was a loose horse galloping along the outside rail, the wrong way, during th first set. It could have caused quite a few problems as the first set is always busy. But it appears all was well. A bit of a damp start to the day, but it seems to be brightening up a little now.

Update 5082: Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley, will wait until Jess Jackson has made a decision on whether to run Rachel Alexandra in the Belmont before making a rider decision: Woolley Will Wait For Jackson's Decision.

Kentucky Derby favorite Friesan Fire has been sidelined: Top 3-Year-Old Friesan Fire Sidelined.

You can follow morning updates through training hours on twitter: AlexBrownRacing.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:51 AM | Comments (95)

Barbaro Updates: 864

Posted May 28, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5081: Earlier today I reported apprentice jockey Natasha Sihota was fine after her spill last night. This was not accurate, it was based on the word this morning on the backside at Woodbine. Natasha remains in hospital. She might be out tomorrow and has sustained some injuries the extent of which I am not sure but assume have no long term consequences. I visited briefly.

Update 5080: Some interesting insight into Mine That Bird's trainer: Woolley: A Horseman's Horseman.

Update 5079: And this morning I sat down with David Cotey to ask him about the decision to geld Mine That Bird. Here is the interview: Why Mine That Bird Was Gelded.

Update 5078: My latest contribution for The Rail: We All Fall Off.

We had seven sets this morning at Woodbine. And it was a damp and grey morning. All my horses galloped nicely. The barn was in pretty good humor this morning despite a late night last night. We had a winner and a second at the races. All in all a very pleasant morning's work, without incident.

Update 5077: A new veterinary center has now been opened close to the Belmont Park backstretch: Ruffian Equine Medical Center opens near Belmont Park. Found on Paulick Report.

Apprentice jockey Natasha Sihota took a nasty spill last night at Woodbine. I will get confirmation later as to her status, but I heard that she was OK. Her horse rolled over and got back up and appeared OK too.

You can follow morning updates through training hours on twitter: AlexBrownRacing.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:48 AM | Comments (41)

Barbaro Updates: 863

Posted May 27, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5076: Off to the races tonight at Woodbine. We have a couple of runners, so lets hope for a little luck!

Update 5075: My OLEX report from yesterday's visit is included in this link: OLEX May 27th 2009.

Update 5074: In lieu of going to Woodbine this morning, I headed out to the slaughter house in Ontario. This was my fourth trip to the slaughter house, and I have yet witnessed slaughter first hand. I chose to go today because there was a buyer at OLEX yesterday competing with the main kill buyer, and he bought 31 horses. It was suspected he was a kill buyer for the Ontario slaughter house. And it made sense. Buying kill horses, and able to pay a little more than the main kill buyer, who buys for a Quebec slaughter house. More travel, more expenses. Anyway, when I arrived at the slaughter house today a couple of guys were hanging around outside. I chatted with them. One guy I knew from my previous visits. I asked for the owner. He was not there. I reminded the one guy I knew I was asking about horses to be slaughtered and so forth. They were just cleaning up. I don't know if they clean up before "processing", or after ""processing". And I don't absolutely know if they are slaughtering horses, although it does seem the case.

Update 5073: A morning off from galloping at Woodbine!

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 11:48 AM | Comments (54)

Barbaro Updates: 862

Posted May 26, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5072: My latest contribution to The Rail: More on What Makes a Good Exercise Rider.

Update 5071: My weekly contribution to Eclipse Magazine (UK): Alex Brown 26 May 2009.

Update 5070: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

The long holiday weekend we've just exited was a case study in the highs and lows of the sport. It's impossible not to be excited by victories like Zenyatta's in the Milady or old warhorse Brass Hat's in the Louisville; however, the sobering accident at Arlington involving Rene Douglas was the flip side of that otherwise-bright coin.

First, the good news; Zenyatta's delayed 5-year-old debut showed that the big mare has not lost any conditioning - she's still doing her own little dressage competition in the post parade and then dawdling at the back of the pack before blowing by the field. It seems that every race really is the same for the undefeated champ. As impressive and effortless as her acceleration is, it would be so much more interesting to see her hook up with a true peer. Despite some encouraging comments after the race that she could face some stiffer competition, it seem that she will rather be pointed toward (to put it in 'American Idol' parlance) safe places.

Like Dana, I'm hoping to see something a little more unexpected in the long run - more people deserve to know who Zenyatta is, but beating up on SoCal mares isn't the way to achieve wider recognition. A Breeders' Cup showdown with Rachel Alexandra could be great indeed, but it would be even better to see them meet up on neutral ground first. Certainly new owner Jess Jackson wasn't particularly interested in taking Rachel Alexandra to Santa Anita (given Curlin's lackluster effort on Pro-Ride) unless it meant a crack at Einstein, Well Armed and the other big boys. (And I must confess that if Rachel Alexandra were to pull a Zarkava and beat older males, I'd be forever in awe).

Speaking of Rachel Alexandra, there's still no word as to whether or not she will be Belmont-bound; given the way she is working it sounds as though she wants to go. Some have argued that in recent years a Belmont victory spells career doom, although I would argue that there's a world of difference between a horse like Rachel Alexandra and, say, Sarava or Da'Tara. Afleet Alex was likely injured in the Preakness yet won the Belmont anyway and Empire Maker was rushed off to stud after the Jim Dandy (although you could probably also make the 'rush to the breeding shed after minor injury' argument about Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones - even Rags to Riches). Jazil had the breeding, but he probably still falls into the 'freak longshot win' category. While it's true in recent years that Belmont winners have not, on the whole, done much beyond perhaps participating in the Travers, that seems to be due to a combination of two factors - early retirement when the horse is at its perceived peak financial value (these are, usually, stallions we are speaking about, after all) and fewer legitimate winners with distance pedigrees. Whether Rachel Alexandra goes or not, we can at least take heart that Mine That Bird won't be shipping directly from Belmont to a stud farm.

And thus back to my favorite hard-knocking gelding - Brass Hat finally proved that he can win on turf (with a little help from the seemingly ever-present Calvin Borel). Unlike many of the horses mentioned above who were spirited off to retirement with injuries that would have earned them a little rest and a subsequent return in the past, Brass Hat continues to demonstrate that it takes more than a few potentially life-threatening injuries to keep him down. Just think - when Brass Hat was foaled in 2001, Rachel Alexandra's sire, Medaglia d'Oro had yet to make his 2-year-old debut - and Mine That Bird's sire, Birdstone, had just been born a week earlier. In horse racing career lifespan terms, Brass Hat practically has his own TARDIS - he's even got a year on fellow time traveler Einstein. Long may he continue.

There was still more high-quality racing over the weekend - Bribon won the Met Mile at Belmont and Thorn Song took the Shoemaker Mile in California, but a pall was cast over events by the injury to veteran jockey Rene Douglas. This article explains the accident in some detail, while this somewhat unfortunately-titled Thoroughbred Times article, 'Theriot suspended, Born to Be euthanized' fills in the blanks about the filly involved.

I recommend a read of the Paulick Report commentary about the role of the stewards in these sorts of incidents; it's an overdue discussion in my opinion and while it acknowledges the part played by jockey Jamie Theriot in the accident, it's evident there is plenty of blame to go around elsewhere. One hopes something positive may come out of that.

While those efforts are not going to help Rene Douglas walk again, you can get involved in a number of activities being organized to assist his family via a Facebook group or you might consider a donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Hopefully Douglas will not be joining their ranks, but it's certainly a worthy cause.

Update 5069: Off to OLEX, and will add updates via twitter while there.

Update 5068: Wow, it was chilly this morning at Woodbine! I had five to gallop, so a nice and easy morning this morning. A change from the last couple of days which were more busy! All mine galloped nicely for an uneventful morning. We had a few workers, and Luis came in for the workers. I think they worked well, but I missed them today!

Update 5067: Here is this week's Facebook Group e-mail: E-mail 26: Birdie, Rachel, Zenyatta, Rene Douglas, OLEX and NYTs, Woodbine.

Jamie Theriot, who was involved in the incident that led to the accident of Rene Douglas has been suspended: THERIOT GETS 30 DAYS FOR ROLE IN DOUGLAS ACCIDENT.

And Autism Awareness got back to winning a Graded Stakes race yesterday: Autism Awareness Springs Berkeley Shocker.

You can follow morning updates through training hours on twitter: AlexBrownRacing.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:50 AM | Comments (54)

Barbaro Updates: 861

Posted May 22, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5066: Bribon, an improving 6yo gelding, won The Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park this afternoon: Bribon Uses Late Kick to Score Met Mile Win.

Update 5065: From NYRA:

RACHEL'S BELMONT STATUS UP IN AIR; "BIRD," "CANDY" ALSO WORK

A decision on whether Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra will start in the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 6 won't be made until early next week, majority owner Jess Jackson said this morning at Churchill Downs after the filly breezed in her first serious move since winning the second leg of racing's Triple Crown.

Under exercise rider Dominic Terry, Rachel Alexandra went a half-mile in 50.20 through a steady rain over a sloppy track, while Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird covered the same distance a couple of hours later in 51.00 under jockey Calvin Borel, also in Louisville. Meanwhile, at Belmont Park, Chocolate Candy, fifth in the Derby, breezed seven furlongs in 1:27.34 with exercise rider Lindsey Molina aboard as he continued prepping for the 11/2-mile "Test of the Champion."

"She's recovering nicely and I think, for the time that's elapsed, only nine days, she's right on _ but we can't make a decision until we know," Jackson told reporters at Churchill Downs. "My concern is her attitude. She thinks she can run through a brick wall, so her attitude has to be monitored. If anything, we have to hold her back a little bit because she's so eager to run."

"We have to monitor her and make sure that we preserve her because she's so special; the principal concern is the horse herself keeping her sound and letting the public enjoy her," he said, adding that the filly will work again early next week. "It's not necessary that she go in the Belmont, she's got a whole season ahead. She's been running the whole year so we have to monitor that very carefully."

Jackson said that if Rachel Alexandra does not run in the Belmont Stakes, he would consider running her in the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going nine furlongs at Belmont Park on June 27.

"It might not be as soon as you'd want but we're still considering the Belmont," Jackson said. "The Mother Goose would give her a little extra time if she needs it. The Belmont would be a full (effort) for her right now."

Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to a 6 3/4-length victory in the Derby, took off to ride Rachel Alexandra to victory in the Preakness. Mike Smith rode the Derby winner to a second-place finish in the Preakness, but is committed to ride in California on June 6.

Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley, who said he was happy with the gelding's move, told reporters he was extending the deadline for Borel to decide which horse he'll ride in the Belmont.

"He won me a Derby, he deserves the time it takes for him to make the conscious, right decision," said Woolley, who originally had set a Memorial Day deadline for Borel. "And nobody knows really if that filly's going to be running in the Belmont, so it could work out where that's not even a decision for him. I think a little bit of time's not too much to ask."

In New York, Chocolate Candy, who will enjoy the services of Garrett Gomez in the Belmont Stakes, was caught in splits of 24.63, 48.87 and 1:14.02 shortly before 6 a.m.

"We wanted the workout to be nice and steady, which is what he got" said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who flew in from the left coast to supervise the move and then immediately left to saddle a horse this afternoon at Hollywood Park. "It was his second-to-last work. I'm going to blow him out a half-mile or five-eighths either Monday or Tuesday, and maybe Garrett will go up on him."

Hollendorfer said he was happy with his decision to ship the son of Candy Ride in early to prepare for the Belmont. Monday's move was his third over the main track, having gone a half-mile in 47.84 on May 11 and six furlongs in 1:13.44 on May 18, with Gomez up for the second work.

"It was suggested to us to train over at Belmont for a while before you run," said Hollendorfer. "I didn't want to leave him on the road that long, but it's worked out OK so far. He's been very happy here."

Update 5064: From John Asher at Churchill Downs:

DERBY WINNER 'BIRD', PREAKNESS WINNER RACHEL ALEXANRA WORK; FILLY'S BELMONT DECISION PENDING

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 25, 2009) - The stars of the 2009 Triple Crown season ignored rainy weather at Churchill Downs on Monday as Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner and Preakness (GI) runner-up Mine That Bird and the Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra turned in workouts over a "sloppy" track.

Mine That Bird had jockey Calvin Borel, his pilot in the "Run for the Roses", in the saddle as he breezed four furlongs in :51 in his first serious training move since the Preakness. Rachel Alexandra cruised a half mile in :50.20 under exercise rider Dominic Terry, with a steady rain pelting the filly during much of her first work since her historic triumph in the second jewel of the Triple Crown on May 16 at Pimlico.

Two major questions remained without answers following the Memorial Day works. Will Rachel Alexandra run in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (GI) and attempt to become the first filly to win two legs of the Triple Crown? And, if she does not run in the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion," would Borel have an opportunity to ride Mine That Bird in the Triple Crown's final jewel?

Majority owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables said a decision of the Belmont Stakes status of Rachel Alexandra would not be made until next week at the earliest. Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to work then and her camp would know more after that effort...

"She is recovering nicely from the Preakness," Jackson said. "The key thing is her attitude. She thinks can run through a brick wall. We have to pull her back because she wants to run."

Trainer Steve Asmussen said he was pleased with the work, which came under unusual conditions. A brief, but heavy, rain shower started to pelt the track as Rachel Alexandra entered the far turn, about an eighth of a mile into her work.

"She looked beautiful, like Rachel does," said Asmussen. "The weather was not exactly cooperating this morning. We a pretty good shower right in the middle of her breeze, but she handled it well, like she does everything else. She came back very relaxed and looked good."

Jackson huddled after the work with Borel, who has ridden Rachel Alexandra throughout her winning streak of six consecutive stakes races, and Jerry Hissam, Borel's agent. Jackson said that Robby Albarado, the rider of his two-time "Horse of the Year" Curlin, could be called on to ride Rachel Alexandra if the decision was made to run the filly in the Belmont and Borel had another Belmont riding commitment.

Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. said he was happy with the easy move by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Serte Equine's Mine That Bird, which came shortly after the mid-session break for track maintenance.

Woolley said he and co-owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach would wait a few more days before making a decision on a rider for the Belmont Stakes. The left the door open for Borel to return to the saddle aboard the Kentucky Derby winner if Rachel Alexandra's camp decides against a Belmont bid.

Borel was in the irons for the 6 3/4-length romp by the Birdstone gelding in the Kentucky Derby, but chose to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Mike Smith was aboard the Derby winner at Pimlico, but a previous commitment will keep him from riding Mine That Bird in the Belmont.

Update 5063: A busy morning this morning for Steve at Woodbine. I had ten sets. All galloped nicely. And it was a beautiful morning too to be galloping.

Update 5062: Steve Haskin looks at the merits of the classic distances in light of comments made by trainer Wayne Lukas: Haskin's Belmont Report: Leave Crown Alone.

Update 5061: Latest entry on The Rail: Tuning Up for the Belmont.

A fun afternoon spent at the races at Woodbine with Wendy and Keith. We had a second. But the highlight of the day was watching the feature race, the Connaught Cup. Both horses Sterwins and Rahy's Attorney ran terrific races. A very exciting finish: Sterwins Nips Rahy's Attorney, Sets Turf Mark.

Update 5060: Pictures from training at Woodbine this morning: Woodbine Morning 5/24.

Update 5059: Jockey Rene Douglas may not walk again after a spill yesterday from Born to Be, who clipped heals. Born to Be was back at the barn after the incident: Jockey Douglas Paralyzed in Lower Extremities.

Update 5058: From John Asher's Churchill Downs notes:

WOOLLEY EAGER TO TAKE NEXT STEP WITH MINE THAT BIRD - The countdown to the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) is on for trainer Chip Woolley and his Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Mine That Bird.

"I am definitely looking forward to it," Woolley said of the June 6 Belmont Stakes. "He is starting to bloom already again. He is going to stretch his legs in the morning, working an easy three-eighths."

Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby, could be aboard for the work. Mine That Bird is scheduled to work after the mid-morning break for track maintenance.

After his Kentucky Derby victory, Mine That Bird ran second to Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness in an effort that validated his Derby score to many.

Woolley already was convinced the Derby victory was no mirage.

"It was not a fluke in my mind," said Woolley, sporting a huge new belt buckle acknowledging the Derby victory. "He got past 18 super horses in a quarter of a mile. That validated him to me. That was not impossible, but right next to it.

"The only other trainer I heard say it was not a fluke was Bob Baffert. He said flukes don't win the Derby."

Woolley is comfortable with Mine That Bird's conditioning heading into the Belmont and not feeling any pressure.

"(Owners) Mark (Allen) and Doc (Leonard Blach) told me that at this point it is just a race at a time," Woolley said. "Everything is gravy from here on out and just enjoy it."

PREAKNESS, OAKS WINNER RACHEL ALEXANDRA SET FOR MONDAY WORK - Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick's Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Preakness (GI) and Kentucky Oaks (GI) in her last two starts, is scheduled to work for the first time since her May 16 Preakness victory on Monday at Churchill Downs.

The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro is scheduled to head to the track with the second set of horses for trainer Steve Asmussen around 6:15 a.m.

Rachel Alexandra galloped early Sunday morning under exercise rider Dominic Terry.

The filly's status for the June 6 Belmont Stakes has not been decided. She has won six consecutive races. All of those wins came in stakes events in a string that started with last fall's Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs.

Update 5057: Short video clips of me galloping at Woodbine this morning: alex brown galloping at woodbine.

Update 5056: A busy morning for me this morning at Steve's at Woodbine. We had nine sets. Lovely weather. All mine galloped nicely. The last one was on the "AE" list for a race today, which meant that if there were any scratches in her race, she would run. There were no scratches so she went out, late!

I talked briefly to Dominic Terry, he galloped Rachel Alexandra this morning. She is doing well. Dominic is scheduled to work her tomorrow at Churchill Downs.

Update 5055: Undefeated Zenyatta remained perfect after notching her first victory of 2009 in the Grade 2 Milady. She went from last to first around the final turn to win by a little under 2 lengths: ZENYATTA ... A PERFECT 10, WINS THE MILADY.

YouTube: Zenyatta triumphant in 2009 debut.

Update 5054: Belmont Stakes notes from NYRA:

CHARITABLE MAN, SUMMER BIRD, DUNKIRK WORK FOR BELMONT

ELMONT, N.Y. - It was a busy morning at Belmont Park for contenders for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6, with Charitable Man, Summer Bird, and Dunkirk all breezing on Belmont Park's main track.

Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, went a half-mile in 47.88 under exercise rider Renzo Morales; Summer Bird, sixth in the Kentucky Derby, worked seven furlongs in 1:26.47 with Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado aboard, while Dunkirk, 11th in the Derby, went five furlongs in 1:00.77 in company with stablemate Munnings under former jockey and Hall of Famer Angel Cordero Jr.

"He went very smoothly," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of Charitable Man, who is 3-for-3 on dirt and 2-for-2 at Belmont Park. "He went off a little quick, but that's a good sign."

The work was the second-fastest of 39 at the distance for Charitable Man, a son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid, who will work again next Saturday as he preps for the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion."

"It's great to think he's by Lemon Drop Kid, who won a mile and a half race here," said McLaughlin, who saddled Jazil to victory in the 2006 Belmont Stakes. "We'll keep our fingers crossed for the next two weeks. We've always had a lot of confidence in this colt; it's a shame we weren't ready for the first Saturday in May, but he'll be ready for the first Saturday in June.

"It was great to see the Derby winner, Mine That Bird, come back and run so well against Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness," he added. "Hopefully, they come here and run well and finish second and third behind Charitable Man."

Summer Bird, the only horse to work seven-eighths over the main track, was caught in splits of :24 3/5 and :48 3/5 in his first work over the Belmont Park main track.

"I was happy with it," trainer Tim Ice said of the son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone. "It looked like he wasn't handling it 100 percent, but that's why we're here early, to let him get a feel for it. It looked like he was spinning his wheels a little bit through the lane, but he came back in great shape."

Ice said Summer Bird, owned by Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, will walk Sunday and return to the track on Monday.

Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Dunkirk had been scheduled to breeze Monday morning, but with an eye on the weather trainer Todd Pletcher "called an audible" and moved up the work.

"The forecast calls for a chance of rain tomorrow or Sunday, and I didn't want to get into a situation where I was backed up," said Pletcher. "This was his most important breeze leading up the Belmont.

"He went very well," added Pletcher of the move, the seventh-fastest of 23 at the distance. "He's a solid work horse. He's enthusiastic, but not overly aggressive. Angel said he went very well and handled the surface well."

Pletcher said Dunkirk, a son of Unbridled's Song, would work again next Saturday or Sunday.

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito sent one of his three potential Belmont Stakes starters out for an easy breeze this morning at Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma training track.

Nowhere to Hide was clocked going a half-mile in 49.84. Stablemates Miner's Escape and Brave Victory breezed on Thursday, May 21 in 48.56 and 48.52, respectively.

Update 5053: My interview with Constant Montpellier, Mine That Bird's first jockey: Mine That Bird's First Jockey Sings His Praises.

And Melissa Hoppert writes about Nicanor's first race: A Full Report on Nicanor's First Race.

Update 5052: Some pictures from this morning's training at Woodbine: Alex Brown at Woodbine. Note, I did not fall off the loose horse!

Update 5051: A very pleasant morning's work this morning at Woodbine. We had eight sets. Five before the break and three after the break. Two of mine after the break did some gate schooling. They stood very well and relaxed. Nice weather for galloping horses too!

After I was finished I sat down with jockey Constant Montpellier. He is a jockey here and rode Mine That Bird in his first two starts. Cool interview which will hopefully be on The Rail later.

Update 5050: You can listen to Calvin Borel on Talkin' Horses: Calvin Borel Podcast - Listen Now!. And submit questions for Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley.

Update 5049: The Rail: Barbaro and the Foxhounds.

Update 5048: From John Asher at Churchill Downs:

DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD COULD WORK MONDAY - Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's Kentucky Derby Mine That Bird galloped two miles before the renovation break under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.

Trainer Chip Woolley said Mine That Bird may work Monday, "something light, like three-eighths. If he works, I'll probably wait until after the break."

Also scheduled to work Monday is Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, who galloped early Friday morning with Dominic Terry up.

Woolley plans to give Mine That Bird his serious Belmont tune-up the following Monday, June 1, and send the gelding to New York by plane on Wednesday, June 3.

Originally sold as a yearling for $9,500, Mine That Bird was purchased by his current connections for $400,000 last fall. His Derby victory and runner-up showing in the Preakness have attracted more interest.

"We have had a couple of inquiries," Woolley said.

In recent Kentucky Derby lore, the highest price paid for a gelding was $750,000 by J.E. Jumonville Sr. for Real Dare in 1982. A sensation in his home state of Louisiana, Real Dare finished last in the Derby won by Gato Del Sol.

Update 5047: Nicanor and Fans of Barbaro from the New York Times: Barbaro's Brother Steps Into His Own.

And we had a nice winner at Woodbine: Mommie Whiz!

Update 5046: Belmont Park notes:

ELMONT, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes contenders Summer Bird, sixth in the Kentucky Derby, and Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, are both scheduled to breeze Saturday morning on the main track at Belmont Park in preparation for the 11/2-mile "Test of the Champion" on June 6.

Summer Bird, owned by Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, will breeze seven furlongs after the break under Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, said trainer Tim Ice. Charitable Man, owned by William K. Warren, will also work after the break, going a half-mile with exercise rider Renzo Morales aboard.

"We have Joe Talamo to ride Summer Bird in the Belmont, but Edgar said he didn't mind working him," said Ice Friday morning. "I've known Joe since he was 14 years old, hot-walking in Louisiana. I think the rider change (from C.R. Rosier) will help him."

Ice also said Summer Bird will be equipped with blinkers for the first time in the Belmont.

"I think it will help him be more focused down the lane," he said. "Maybe he won't drop so far back."

Summer Bird, a chestnut son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone who was third in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby, has been doing "very well" since arriving at Belmont Park Tuesday from Louisiana, Ice said.

"He came out of the Derby really good," said the trainer. "He's put on weight and he's blossoming at the right time. What I really liked about the Derby was the way he galloped out. I think the distance will suit him."

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Belmont hopeful Dunkirk out Monday morning as he continues preparations for the Belmont.

The gray Unbridled's Song colt breezed a half-mile in a bullet 47.24 last Monday in his first move since finishing 11th behind Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby.

Update 5045: Railbird here, with your weekly update.

This weekend is all about Zenyatta, making her 2009 debut in the Milady Handicap at Hollywood on Saturday. The mighty undefeated mare was to have returned to racing on Kentucky Oaks Day, but then trainer John Shirreffs scratched when the weather came up wet (even though by post-time for the Louisville Handicap the track was in fine shape), leaving fans -- in some cases -- feeling pretty frustrated. In the Milady, she'll meet stablemate Life Is Sweet, 3-for-3 this year and coming off two straight graded wins, for the first time (perhaps that should be turned around -- Life Is Sweet is meeting Zenyatta for the first time, potentially a big challenge for the talented 4-year-old sister to champion Sweet Catomine). Also entered is Valentine Dancer Handicap winner Bel Air Sizzle, who finished fifth as the favorite in her last start, the Fran's Valentine Stakes.

Distaffers also headline Belmont on Saturday. Darley homebred Criticism, winner of the Very One and La Prevoyante this year, meets Backseat Rhythm, 3-for-3 at the track, in the Sheepshead Bay Handicap, a race that also drew Mushka, coming off an excellent third-level allowance win at Keeneland.

Monday is Memorial Day -- Met Mile Day for racing fans. Belmont entries are not yet up, but the race is expected to draw as many as 15 starters. Two notable names missing from the past performances will be Commentator -- trainer Nick Zito is seeking an easier spot to prep the 8-year-old gelding for the Whitney -- and This Ones for Phil, out with a cough. Bribon, winner of the Westchester on opening day, and Smooth Air, who took the Gulfstream Park Handicap in his last start, "figure to vie for favoritism." Imperial Council, a familiar name from this year's Derby Trail, is also expected to start.

Update 5044: Eight sets for Steve this morning at Woodbine. Not to bad a morning's work with decent weather if a little grey. All mine galloped nicely. We had a couple of jocks in to work a pair after the break. Slade Callaghan, one of those jocks, gave me some grief for not mentioning him in my piece about riding at Woodbine yesterday.

We have three runners this afternoon, so hopefully we will have a little luck.

My The Rail article on Kill Auctions: The Path to Slaughter at a Horse Auction was printed today in the New York Times' Sports section, titled: At Auctions, Fit Horses Sought For Slaughter. Very cool!

Update 5043: The one horse this year, who could be as exciting to follow as Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, is the 5yo Zenyatta, who makes her seasonal bow this weekend and is undefeated: Zenyatta Makes Belated Seasonal Bow in Milady.

You can follow morning updates through training hours on twitter: AlexBrownRacing.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:49 AM | Comments (128)

Barbaro Updates: 860

Posted May 21, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5042: NYRA update on The Belmont:

ZITO PAIR WORKS FOR BELMONT STAKES

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Robert V. LaPenta's Brave Victory and Miner's Escape breezed a half-mile in company on the main track at Belmont Park Thursday morning as they prepped for a start in the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6.

With Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito looking on, Brave Victory went four furlongs in 48.55, according to Equibase clockers, while Frederico Tesio winner Miner's Escape went in 48.56 under jockey Jose Lezcano. Eddie Cruz was up on Brave Victory, third in the Grade 2 Peter Pan to Charitable Man at Belmont Park on May 9.

The works were the fourth- and fifth-fastest of 23 at the distance.

"Brave Victory is a better work horse than the other horse," said Zito, who has named Rajiv Maragh to ride in the Belmont. "Brave Victory has always been an exceptional work horse. Miner's Escape has never been a good work horse, ever, but that's OK.

"I told Jose that [Miner's Escape] is kind of quirky, mentally. Most Mineshafts are. They could be tough to train, but we're willing to take the time with them. And it looks to me like [Brave Victory] will go the distance."

Zito, who won the 11/2-mile Belmont in 2004 with Birdstone and in 2008 with Da' Tara, also owned by LaPenta, has saddled a total of 20 horses in the race. He has finished second six times and third three times, including Anak Nakal's dead-heat for third last year.

"We've done well in the Belmont, been consistent, so why not," he said. "I don't have Secretariat with these two, but I don't have to. You never know. Mine That Bird is definitely the horse to beat, no one can say he's not. Anyway, there will be a lot of birds."

Miner's Escape and Brave Victory, a son of Lion Heart, could be joined in the Belmont by another Zito horse, Nowhere to Hide, who was 17th in the Kentucky Derby.

Also possible for the Belmont are Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird, Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Mr. Hot Stuff and Summer Bird.

Update 5041: From John Asher's notes at Churchill Downs today:

WOOLLEY'S WONDERFUL RIDE ENTERS SECOND MONTH - On April 21, Chip Woolley was a little known trainer from New Mexico who came to Churchill Downs with modest expectations for a Kentucky Derby hopeful named Mine That Bird.

One month, a Kentucky Derby (GI) victory and runner-up finish in the Preakness (GI) later, life has totally changed for Woolley.

"I wouldn't change a thing," Woolley said as he watched Mine That Bird gallop twice around the main track before the renovation break Thursday morning. "When we came here, we had planned on going on to the Belmont after the Derby."

But what Woolley did not count on was an extended stay personally in Kentucky and tending to one horse instead of 25, which are being overseen by Woolley's older brother Bill in New Mexico.

"Bill can gallop and do everything and if I stay here after the Belmont, I might let him come in for a while and I'll fly home for a week," Woolley said.

Despite all the notoriety from the Triple Crown run, Woolley yearns a bit for the regular routine of a full barn.

"With 25 head, there is something new every day," Woolley said. "There are a lot of things going on. This (watching Mine That Bird gallop) is the highlight of my morning right now and with my leg, I can't do a lot of stuff."

In addition to Mine That Bird, all other Churchill Downs-based Preakness runners were on the track Thursday morning headlined by Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, who galloped under Dominic Terry.

Returning to the track for the first time since their Pimlico excursions were Flying Private (fourth) and Luv Gov (eighth) for D. Wayne Lukas, seventh-place finisher Terrain for Al Stall Jr. and ninth-place finisher General Quarters for Tom McCarthy.

Update 5040: Today's entry for The Rail: A Day in the Life of an Exercise Rider, excerpt:

I arrived at Barn 30 at 5:30 a.m., as usual. The grooms and hotwalkers are already there, and busy. Hotwalkers are busy washing the poultice off the horses' front legs. The grooms are busy mucking stalls and taking care of their horses. I set my tack for my first two horses. The track opens at 6 a.m. for training, and once the tack is set the grooms for the horses with the tack get their horses ready.

Update 5039: Very cool. Harper's Magazine has a link (under Links) to my Rail piece on kill auctions: BEASTS OF THE EARTH.

Update 5038: A busy morning this morning at Woodbine. I had nine sets. It was a gorgeous morning so riding the nine sets was a pleasure. I just wrote up the morning's work, along with some additional "tidbits", for The Rail. I am hoping they will publish it and I will link it here.

The article I wrote for The Rail yesterday has garnered quite a lot of feedback, which is very cool: The Path to Slaughter at a Horse Auction.

Update 5037: A nice write-up on our recently completed video contest: YouTube Video Contest Focuses on Thoroughbreds Rescued from Slaughter.

You can follow morning updates through training hours on twitter: AlexBrownRacing.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:52 AM | Comments (52)

Barbaro Updates: 859

Posted May 20, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5036: My latest contribution for The Rail: Not Just Any Horse Will Do for Slaughter.

A result of this week's trip to OLEX.

Update 5035: NYRAs Belmont Stakes notes:

ELMONT, N.Y. - William K. Warren's Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan, will start in the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Wednesday.

"I spoke with Mr. Warren this afternoon, and we're running," said McLaughlin. "The pros outweighed the cons, and there were very few cons. I have nothing but respect for Rachel Alexandra, if she comes, and Mine That Bird, but Charitable Man is doing great. He's bred to go a mile-and-a-half, he's two-for-two on the track, and he's a fresh horse."

Charitable Man, a son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid, finished seventh in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in his first start as a three-year-old and won both his starts in 2008 including the Grade 2 Futurity.

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito and owner Robert V. LaPenta, who teamed to win last year's Belmont Stakes with Da' Tara, will have two starters in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont - Miner's Escape and Brave Victory.

"They'll both work either tomorrow, Friday or Saturday," said Zito, who also won the 2004 Belmont with Birdstone.

Brave Victory, a son of Lion Heart, most recently finished third in the Grade 2 Peter Pan behind Charitable Man and Imperial Council. Earlier this year, he won an allowance at Gulfstream Park, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Swale, also at Gulfstream, and then seventh over an artificial surface at Keeneland in the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes.

Miner's Escape, a son of Mineshaft, most recently won the Frederico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on May 2 after having broken his maiden in his previous start on March 14 at Gulfstream Park.

WinStar Farm LLC's Mr. Hot Stuff, considered a possible starter for the Belmont Stakes, on Saturday, June 6, breezed a half-mile in 49.80 this morning on the fast PolyTrack at Keeneland.

Possible starters for the Belmont Stakes now are Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird,
Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Miner's Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff and Summer Bird.

Update 5034: John Asher's report from Churchill Downs:

RACHEL ALEXANDRA BACK ON TRACK FOR A GALLOP; MINE THAT BIRD GALLOPS,
JOCKEY CHOICE PUSHED BACK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 20, 2009) - It was a day for racing royalty at Churchill Downs on Wednesday as Preakness (Grade I) and Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra returned to track for a gallop and Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and a fast-closing runner-up in the Preakness, continued to show his spirit during his first gallop since Saturday's race.

Rachel Alexandra, the first filly in 84 years to win the Preakness and the second Kentucky Oaks winner in three years to defeat males in a Triple Crown race in her next start, galloped a mile over a "fast" track for trainer Steve Asmussen. It was her first trip from the track since her dazzling victory in Saturday's Preakness at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course and her return to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi said Rachel Alexandra would stand in the starting gate before she gallops on Thursday, so she will go to the track around 7:15 a.m. (all times EST). She normally heads to the track with Asmussen's second set of horses around 6:15 a.m.

Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to work on Monday, May 25.

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's Mine That Bird galloped 1 1/2-miles in his second trip to the one-mile oval at Churchill Downs since he returned to the scene of his greatest triumph Monday evening. Exercise rider Charlie Figeuroa was in the irons as the Birdstone gelding went through his energetic gallop and appeared to be none the worse for wear after huge efforts in the first two races of the Triple Crown.

"The horse is just doing super - he's on his game," said trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. "We're really surprised that he's as fresh as he is after two good, hard races. The fortunate this for us is he only runs three-eighths of a mile, so he doesn't use himself as hard as a lot of horses. So we're pretty happy with where we're at."

Mine That Bird has been playful in both trips to the track since his return from Baltimore and Woolley said the Derby winner clearly loves his surroundings at Churchill Downs.

"Yesterday we just jogged him backwards and he was fresh and bright-eyed," said Woolley. "But today he was really froggy out there, wanting to buck and play. And that's kind of unlike him, because he's more of a laid-back kind of horse. But I think he's just really on his game right now and feels good. So we'll figure out this week, and let him be the judge, and set up a work here pretty soon."

Woolley said Mine That Bird would not work before early next week.

Regarding his search for a rider for the June 6 Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown, Woolley said he and co-owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach have decided to wait until early next week before they make that choice. Calvin Borel was aboard for his 6 3/4-length romp in the Kentucky Derby, but chose to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Mike Smith rode Mine That Bird in the Preakness, but has a previous commitment on June 6 that will knock him out of the Belmont.

Mine That Bird is set to return to the track for a gallop on Thursday. He usually heads to the track between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m., which would put him on the track at approximately the same time as Rachel Alexandra during Thursday's training.

Update 5033: A straightforward morning's work this morning for Steve at Woodbine. I had seven sets. Four before the break and three after the break. Two of those three went to the gate for some gate schooling. All mine galloped nicely. A gorgeous day here too, perhaps summer is finally arriving!

Update 5032: Steve Haskin on last weekend's Preakness: Haskin's Preakness recap: Remarkable Rachel.

You can follow morning updates through training hours on twitter: AlexBrownRacing.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:47 AM | Comments (61)

Barbaro Updates: 858

Posted May 19, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5031: Update on the Paragallo abuse case: Paragallo faces two years in jail if convicted.

Update 5030: John Asher update from Churchill Downs:

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD PLAYFUL IN JOG; RACHEL ALEXANDRA
SET FOR RETURN TO THE TRACK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 19, 2009) - After two days off and a 9 1/2-hour van ride from Baltimore, Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird returned to the track at Churchill Downs for a light jog on Tuesday.

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's gelded son of Birdstone had regular exercise rider Charlie Figueroa in the saddle as he headed to the track around 7:15 a.m. (all times EDT). It was Mine That Bird's first trip to the track since his runner-up finish to the Kentucky Oaks-winning filly Rachel Alexandra in Saturday's Preakness.

Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. said Mine That Bird jogged one mile the wrong way over a "fast" surface.

"He went good, he looked good," Woolley said. "He was bucking and playing a little, so we're in good shape I think."

Woolley said Mine That Bird would on gallop on Wednesday as the Kentucky Derby winner continues his preparation for the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI), the third jewel of racing's Triple Crown. There is no set schedule for Mine That Bird's next work.

The trainer's phone continues to ring with offers from agents of jockeys who hope to pick up the mount on Mine That Bird for the Belmont Stakes. Mike Smith, who rode Mine That Bird in the Preakness, cannot ride because of a previous commitment in California. Calvin Borel, who was aboard for his 50-1 upset in the Derby, is committed to ride Rachel Alexandra, but her status for the Belmont Stakes (GI) has not been decided by majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Woolley said he would discuss the issue with Mine That Bird's owners and they hope to have a decision in "a couple of days."

The runner-up finish in the Preakness improved Mine That Bird's career record to 5-2-0 in 10 races and lifted his earnings to $2,011,581.

Meanwhile, Rachel Alexandra walked under Asmussen's shedrow on her second day back at Churchill Downs following her historic win in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to return to training on Wednesday. Asmussen said the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro would go to the track with his second set of horses around 6:15 a.m.

Her Preakness victory marked the sixth consecutive win for Rachel Alexandra, who has a record of 8-2-0 in 11 races with earnings of $1,618,354.

Update 5029: NYRA notes for The Belmont:

BELMONT PARK NOTES

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said this morning that a final decision will be made Wednesday on whether Charitable Man, winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan, will start in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 6.

Other possible starters for the Belmont Stakes are Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Love Gov, Miner's Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff and Summer Bird.

"I will have a conversation with his owner (William K. Warren) and then we will make a final decision," said McLaughlin. "We are pointing that way."

In addition to his victory in the Peter Pan on May 9, Charitable Man, a son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid, won both his 2008 starts including the Grade 2 Futurity, and finished seventh in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in his first start as a three-year-old.

McLaughlin said the colt will work this weekend, most likely Saturday, and again next weekend as he points towards the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion." Jockey Alan Garcia, who won last year's Belmont aboard longshot Da' Tara, has the call.

"If Mine That Bird and/or Rachel Alexandra come back, I like our chances, having a fresh horse," said McLaughlin. "I think the right horses were 1-2 in the Preakness. It was fabulous to see the filly win, and to have the Kentucky Derby winner validate his victory at Churchill Downs. Overall, I think the industry was a big winner."

Should Charitable Man start in the Belmont Stakes, he will be trying to become the first colt since A.P. Indy in 1992 to complete the Peter Pan-Belmont double. His sire, Lemon Drop Kid, finished third in the 1999 Peter Pan.

Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman's Summer Bird arrived safely at Belmont Park this morning at approximately 5:30. The Belmont Stakes contender was third in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby, beaten a length and a quarter by Papa Clem.

"We kind of broke the trip up for him," said trainer Tim Ice. "We left Louisiana about 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and got to Louisville (KY). He got a good 10 hours of sleep and we left Louisville around 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon. I brought his gallop boy with him, but I'll probably look for someone local to breeze him."

Ice said the son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone will likely work Saturday or Sunday on the main track after the mid-morning break. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.00 last Friday morning on the fast track at Louisiana Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Tuesday that William Mack and Robert Baker's Flying Private, fourth behind Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, and Marylou Whitney Stable's Luv Gov, who was eighth, were likely to start in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

"I will be conferring with William Mack and Bob Baker and we will be making a decision in a couple of days," said Lukas, who has won the Belmont Stakes with Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor's Note (1996) and Commendable (2000). "As well, I have yet to sit down with Marylou Whitney Stables. Both are under strong consideration for the race."

Both Flying Private and Luv Gov returned to Churchill Downs following the Preakness.

Lukas has not had a Belmont Stakes starter since A.P. Arrow ran fifth in 2005 to Afleet Alex.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out some of his stable stars on the main track on Monday morning.

Let's Go Stable's Ready's Echo, prepping for Monday's Memorial Day feature, the 116th running of the Grade 1, $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap at a mile, breezed a half-mile on the fast main track in 47.82

The fastest time of 63 runners at that distance on Monday morning was recorded by Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Dunkirk, who went in 47.24, breezing. The Florida Derby runner-up to Quality Road, who was 11th in the Kentucky Derby, is being pointed toward the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes. The 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" for three-year-olds at a mile and a half will be Saturday, June 6.

Munnings worked in company with Dunkirk.

Craig Family Trust's Chocolate Candy, also expected for the Belmont Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:13.44, breezing on the fast main track on Monday morning under jockey Garrett Gomez.

"(Gomez and agent Ron Anderson) are undecided as to who they will ride, but they have first choice on Chocolate Candy," said Hollendorfer, who came in for the workout and headed right back to California. "He galloped out in (27.20) and he really seems to like the track. He's super fit, and I have been hard on him this year. I gave him nine days out after the Kentucky Derby and I think I'll keep him on a seven-day work schedule leading up to the Belmont Stakes."

The Candy Ride colt, whose dam, Crownette, is a daughter of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seatttle Slew, was second by a length to Pioneerof the Nile in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April, then ran fifth in the Kentucky Derby.

New York fans will remember Hollendorfer, as the trainer of rap singer M.C. Hammer's Lite Light back in 1991.

Lite Light's rivalry with champion Meadow Star was one of the great ones in the sport's history. Meadow Star won their first meeting in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, Fillies at Belmont Park. At 3, Lite Light came to Belmont Park to rematch Meadow Star in the Grade 1 Mother Goose. Hall of Famer Leroy Jolley, who trained Meadow Star, deemed the race "The Mother of All Gooses," and Meadow Star won in a photo-finish so tight that it took officials six minutes to determine the winner.

Lite Light came back for an authoritative victory in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, setting a stakes record (2:00) for the race which was then run at a mile and a quarter.

Update 5028: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

Like Val, I believe that this year's thrilling Preakness result was the best the sport could have possibly hoped for; even before the race, I had colleagues and friends who otherwise never notice racing asking me about 'the filly and the Derby horse' - and even asking me to take money to Pimlico to bet on Rachel Alexandra for them.

I am still very glad I had the good fortune (for that's certainly all it was at the time) to bet an Oaks/Derby exacta and was ecstatic about the outcome of the race, not just for Rachel Alexandra and the vindicated Mine That Bird, but also for hard-knocking Musket Man who finished third again (and rewarded me with a second show bet on him). While the Belmont distance is clearly not his cup of tea, he should be very interesting to watch later in the season - the Haskell is his next probable start.

Whether Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird will meet again in the Belmont remains to be seen (and while I definitely want a rematch, I'd be equally content to wait for the Travers if that's a better spot for both - I think the Belmont is going to be a great race even if only one of them is there), but there has been no shortage of drama in the jockey department for Mine That Bird. Mike Smith has a prior commitment in California on Belmont day, and it's possible Calvin Borel will get the mount back on Mine That Bird if Rachel Alexandra bypasses the race. There's much speculation in the Twitterverse that perhaps the vacancy might be reclaimed by his previous jockey, Chantal Sutherland - Animal Planet would certainly be pleased about that.

And in case you were wondering why Mike Smith is skipping a classic to run in the Whittingham, Green But Game has it right - he's keeping a good relationship going with Team Zenyatta. Speaking of Zenyatta, she fired off a reminder to everyone that she's ready to roll, working a bullet on Preakness eve. She is aiming to be the first repeat winner of the Milady since Azeri (who foaled a Ghostzapper filly on Sunday) - and one hopes we will see her take on Rachel Alexandra down the line. I hope Zenyatta goes against the boys at some point as well - she would be well-matched against another big, dark horse like Einstein, but the sight of her next to little Mine That Bird would be a treat unto itself.

It's still a long way away at this point, but we already have all the ingredients for a fantastic Breeders' Cup - let's hope everyone stays happy, healthy and in training.

Update 5027: An easy morning's work for me this morning at Woodbine as I only had three to gallop. All galloped very nicely. We had a bunch of horses working so I spent the remainder of the morning helping out with that and going up to watch them work. And they all seemed to work well. A very uneventful day under pretty decent weather.

I am now off to OLEX to check on the price of horse meat. I will also be "tweeting" the sale: AlexBrownRacing.

Update 5026: Alex Brown Racing's weekly Facebook e-mail: Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird, Chantal Sutherland, Belmont Media Credential ?, Nicanor, OLEX, Hooh Why, it begins:

By now, unless you have been hidden under a rock, you know the result of the Preakness Stakes and you know it was a terrific day for horse racing! Rachel Alexandra defeated Mine That Bird by a rapidly diminishing margin. Musket Man was third. Both Rachel and Mine That Bird justified their lofty reputations. Or at least Rachel justified her reputation and Mine That Bird proved to all his naysayers that his terrific Derby performance was no fluke. An assumption many people had made and was clearly illustrated by the number of Derby horses who came back to take him on in The Preakness.

You can follow morning updates through training hours on twitter: AlexBrownRacing.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:40 AM | Comments (40)

Barbaro Updates: 857

Posted May 18, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5025: John Asher from Churchill Downs:

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS TO PREPARE FOR BELMONT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2009) - Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird, a gallant runner-up to the brilliant filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (GI), is off of the road and back in his stall at Barn 42 at Churchill Downs following a road trip from Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course, Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's son of Birdstone will return to the track on Tuesday to begin his preparation for a run in the Belmont Stakes (GI), the third jewel of racing's Triple Crown that will be run on June 6 at New York's Belmont Park.

Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. rolled his truck and the trailer that carried the Derby winner to halt in front of the barn at 6:30 p.m. (EDT). The gelded son of Birdstone stepped off the van following the nine and a half hour and into the barn, where he took a few rounds to stretch his legs. Mine That Bird then relaxed by grazing in the lush grass behind the barn.

"The trip was great it, it went smooth as silk," said Woolley. "He looks good. He come off the trailer pretty relaxed and looks all right, so we're pretty happy with where he's at right now."

The journey from Baltimore was less eventful that Mine That Bird's journey through the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. The Derby winner ran into some traffic problems and had to swing wide for the run down the stretch with a furious rally under jockey Mike Smith that erased all but one length form his early deficit to the victorious Kentucky Oaks (GI)-winning filly Rachel Alexandra.

"You've got to give a lot of credit to that filly," Woolley said. "She run huge and deserves all the respect. She run a great race and we just come up a little short."

Mine That Bird won't get much time to relax on his return to the track where he notched his 6 3/4-length victory at odds of 50-1 in the May 2 Kentucky Derby. Woolley said Mine That Bird would head back to the track on Tuesday to resume his training for the Belmont.

"We'll just maybe jog him a couple of rounds backwards tomorrow and then go back and gallop the next day," Woolley said. "We don't know when we'll work him. We'll let him decide that. He's run two hard races and we'll let him freshen up a little bit. When he starts to showing he's a little too fresh, he'll stretch his legs. But we'll make that decision later."

As he returned to Churchill Downs, Woolley and co-owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach found themselves in the unusual position of again looking for a jockey to ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont. Calvin Borel gave up the mount after the Derby to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Mike Smith was aboard for the Derby winner's big effort in the Preakness, but he is committed to ride Madeo for trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss in the Charlie Whittingham Stakes (GI) at Hollywood Park on Belmont Stakes Day.

Smith rode Giacamo to victory in the 2005 Kentucky Derby for the Mosses and Shirreffs, and is the regular rider for their unbeaten champion mare Zenyatta. So Smith will honor an earlier commitment to ride Madeo in the Whittingham.

"I don't know," said Woolley. "It's kinda funny. You'd think if you get a horse this good, you'd keep one, but apparently not. So we'll deal with that here in a couple of days and we'll see what happens."

Woolley said he's heard from the agents of several riders who are interested in the mount on the Derby winner in the 1 1/2-mile third jewel of the Triple Crown. He has not made up his mind, but indicated that he won't wait to see whether Rachel Alexandra goes on to the Belmont. If the filly stays in trainer Steve Asmussen's barn, it would free Calvin Borel to ride the horse he piloted to the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history.

"We're going to make a decision pretty quickly, so we'll see what happens," said Woolley. "Patience is probably the number one concern. Is somebody patient and will they wait and see how things develop. We'll just have to see how it goes."

While Mine That Bird will be in familiar surroundings at Churchill Downs as he prepares for the Belmont Stakes, Woolley said his Derby winner could have a different ride when he makes the trip to Belmont Park. Woolley said Mine That Bird would probably fly to Belmont in the days before the race rather than travel in his trailer because of concerns about traffic on the trip to the Elmont, N.Y. track.

The runner-up finish in the Preakness improved Mine That Bird's career record to 5-2-0 in 10 races and lifted his earnings to $2,011,581.

Update 5024: My weekly contribution to Eclipse Magazine (UK): Alex Brown 19 May 2009.

Update 5023: Due to a prior commitment in California, Mike Smith will not be able to ride Mine That Bird in the Belmont: Smith takes off Mine That Bird for Belmont.

Update 5022: Ray Paulick: DEEP PREAKNESS THOUGHTS BY PAULICK.

Update 5021: My latest entry on The Rail: Now for the Popularity Contest.

Update 5020: Who is more popular, Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra or Derby winner Mine That Bird. Currently Rachel Alexandra leads 1076 to 839!

Update 5019: Another chilly day here in Canada, but bright sunshine so I assume it will warm up. I had six sets for Steve. All mine galloped nicely, one of which also went to the gate for some gate schooling. One rider got hurt I think. Just before the break they closed the track. There was no word on how and who that person is. Hopefully it was not too serious.

Dominic Terry texted me that Rachel Alexandra was in good order after her race on Saturday, she was walking the shedrow at 5:40 am today. He then called later, and he remains on a Preakness high! I also got to chat with David Cotey about Mine That Bird's performance in the Preakness. He thought Mine That Bird had run a terrific race, no arguing on that point for sure. We discussed jockey issues. Cool stuff.

Update 5018: Check out twitter for training hours updates: AlexBrownRacing

Update 5017: A great Preakness Stakes over the weekend with the perfect result. We now have pages for Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird that include many articles, videos and photographs. Enjoy, and add any content you wish.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:47 AM | Comments (35)

Barbaro Updates: 856

Posted May 16, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5016: John Asher's Churchill Down's notes on Rachel Alexandra:

CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTE
Sunday, May 17, 2009


RACHEL ALEXANDRA BACK HOME AT CHURCHILL
WIGGINS PROUD OF RACHEL, HIS BARN STAFF

RACHEL ALEXANDRA BACK HOME AT CHURCHILL DOWNS - Stonestreet Stables and Herold McCormick's Preakness Stakes (Grade I) and Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra returned to trainer Steve Asmussen's Barn 38 at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning following a flight from Baltimore.

Scott Blasi, Asmussen's chief assistant, accompanied the 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro on the flight. Blasi led her off the van at 10:20 a.m. (all times EDT) and back to barn, where she was walked and bedded down in Stall 24.

"She traveled great," Blasi said. "She'll be left alone the rest of the day; that's what she wants. She'll definitely walk for three days so the earliest she'd go back to the track would be Wednesday. We'll just continue to evaluate her and keep our options open.

Rachel Alexandra, ridden again by Calvin Borel, defeated Kentucky Derby winner Mine that Bird by a length in the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown.

"We're very pleased with how she ate last night and her attitude is good and she's physically in good shape. We're just very fortunate to be in this position. She's all class and all heart. All of the credit goes to her."

The Preakness marked Rachel Alexandra's first start for Asmussen, and the victory over males lifted her career record to 8-2-0 in 11 races with earnings of $1,618,354. The Preakness victory came just shy of a year after her career debut on May 22, 2008 at Churchill Downs, when she finished sixth in a field of nine 2-year-old fillies in the only poor effort of her career. She has now won six consecutive races, a string that started in late November with a 4 3/4-length romp in the Golden Rod (GII).

Rachel Alexandra became the second Kentucky Oaks winner in three years to defeat males in a Triple Crown race in her next start. Rags to Riches won the 2007 Oaks and returned to defeat the Asmussen-trained Preakness winner and eventual two-time "Horse of the Year" Curlin in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

Asmussen was due back in Louisville Sunday afternoon and was scheduled to saddle horses in Churchill Downs' Races 8 and 10. Meanwhile, winning jockey Calvin Borel had six mounts, starting with Race 4.

WIGGINS WATCHES PREAKNESS AT CHURCHILL, BEAMS OVER RACHEL AND STAFF - She had been out of his barn for just over a week, so it was clearly a bittersweet experience for veteran trainer Hal Wiggins as he watched Rachel Alexandra, his horse of a lifetime, become the first filly in 84 years to win Saturday's Preakness, the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Wiggins had just saddled Lucky Trio Stable's Betty Bye to finish fourth in the 11th race at Churchill Downs - a race won by the Steve Asmussen-trained Girls Do Rule, which should have been the "Omen of the Day." Then Wiggins settled into the Horseman's Service Center adjacent to the paddock to watch Rachel Alexandra's bid for history.

"When the gates opened, I was pulling for her," Wiggins said. "Down the backstretch I was expecting her to be behind a horse or two, but she just bounded out of there. Where she was, I just thought she was in perfect position.

"I'm just really, really proud of her and Calvin. Racing is real fortunate to have him out there like that. There's nothing phony about him - it's all genuine. People see that and they realize that, and I'm just tickled for him. I'll tell you, if anyone deserves it he does."

Wiggins was also impressed by Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who closed strongly to lose by only a length to Rachel Alexandra.

"I'll tell you what, I was really proud of that Derby horse," Wiggins said. "Some of those guys were saying he might be a one-race wonder and that the wet track (on Derby Day) might have had something to do with it, but he showed he was legitimate. He really did."

Rachel Alexandra's new trainer, Steve Asmussen, has praised Wiggins' work in the development of Rachel Alexandra, whose final race for Wiggins was her record-smashing 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1. Asmussen did so again on NBC Sports' national telecast of the Preakness on Saturday.

"I appreciate that," Wiggins said. "It's a tribute to the crew here at the barn. I appreciate that, I really do."

Update 5015: Great win for Hooh Why!

Update 5014: Mike Gathagan's Sunday Preakness report:

RACHEL ALEXANDRA GETS RAVE REVIEWS SUNDAY A.M.; MINE THAT BIRD ON COURSE FOR THE BELMONT STAKES

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - At 6 a.m. Sunday, just under 12 hours after her impressive victory in the Preakness, Rachel Alexandra left Pimlico for the return trip to trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Asmussen said the filly owned by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold T. McCormick, would go back to the track on Wednesday and would probably have her first post-Preakness work on Monday, May 25. Since Jackson and McCormick purchased the filly about 10 days before the Preakness, Asmussen and his staff are still getting to know her. She had one workout between the purchase and the race, where she became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness. "This time, we have something to measure it to, as far as how she feels and how she's acting," Asmussen said. "It's our first comparison, so to speak. We're not going to tell her how she's feeling. She'll tell us how she's feeling." Asmussen did not rule out the filly running in the Belmont Stakes, but he didn't commit to it either. He said he will relay information about how Rachel Alexandra recovers from the race and performs in the breeze to Jackson and his wife, Barbara Banke. "I personally think she's proven what he set out to prove with her immediately, which doesn't eliminate anything," Asmussen said. "But I think it does take a tad of the urgency off it." Asmussen smiled at a question about the need to win two-thirds of the Triple Crown with a filly. "The reason she ran in the Preakness is because she was doing extremely well," he said. "If you're doing extremely well, what are you waiting for? I think if they're doing well, you ought to run them. We're just going to pet on her and tell her how great she is for a little while and see where that leads her." With her front-running victory, Rachel Alexandra validated the decision to run her against males just over two weeks after she crushed the field in the Kentucky Oaks. It was Asmussen's second win the Preakness in three years. Curlin gave Asmussen his first classic in 2007, rallying to regain the lead from Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. "I've spent a lifetime trying to get into this position," Asmussen said. "The overwhelming feeling is pride."

MINE THAT BIRD - Trainer Chip Woolley reported that his Kentucky Derby winner was feeling fine on the morning after his runner-up finish in Saturday's Preakness Stakes. Mine That Bird failed to duplicate his last-to-first Derby performance Saturday, but his last-to-dangerously close-second-place finish behind Rachel Alexandra at Pimlico was still mighty impressive.

"Nobody can question his ability. Like I said: in the Derby, he passed 18 horses in a quarter of a mile - 18 of the best horses around in a quarter of a mile. There's no fluke in that," Woolley said. "He did the same thing (Saturday). He made a huge move and ran hard. We just didn't get there."

Mine That Bird dropped back to last again Saturday before picking up the chase on the far turn. Yet, unlike the circumstances in his rail-hugging Derby run under Calvin Borel, the little gelding's new rider, Mike Smith, was forced to swing wide to circle a wall of horses in front of him on the turn into the homestretch. Mine That Bird made a strong wide run through the stretch, cutting Rachel Alexandra's lead from four lengths to one at the finish of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

"Any time you have a horse that lays last in a 13-horse field, you've got a big chance of having traffic trouble. This track, the way it was set up, I was really concerned about getting a good trip around there. Sure enough, the horses stacked up on the turn and hurt us," Woolley said. "We couldn't get one smooth run through there and we had to check a few times and were in tight. Mike did a great job riding the horse. I'm thrilled to death. I couldn't ask more from the rider. Things didn't quite set up like you'd like. That’s horse racing."

Woolley plans to van his gelding back to Churchill Downs on Monday to prepare him for a start in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

"My horse will be much more suited to the Belmont - big wide track, big wide sweeping turns. It should play a little better to my horse. It'll probably be a shorter field, which eliminates some of the traffic," the New Mexico-based trainer said. "We're excited about going. As long as he's good the next couple days, like he looks this morning, that'll be the plan."

Woolley revealed that Smith will have the mount aboard Mine That Bird in the Belmont, even if Rachel Alexandra bypasses the third leg of the Triple Crown, leaving Borel free.

"Like I kept telling people, the key to him was getting him back. He'd never been taken back and sat on like that before, and that's what I'd been trying to make happen," Woolley said. "I, finally, in Calvin, found a guy who would lay him back there and do it like I wanted to do. Then, of course, Mike followed suit very well (Saturday) and did a super job for us."

Woolley credited Smith, a fellow New Mexican, for giving Mine That Bird a heads-up ride, especially during a traffic build-up on the final turn.

"If Mike stays on the fence any longer than we did, we'd have ended up in real trouble," he said. "They were just stacked up on us, and if we'd have stayed on the fence, we sure would have been in trouble."

Woolley continues to have great admiration for his hard-trying gelding.

"You've got to be super proud of him. The horse runs through his bridle," he said. Everything you ask of this horse, he just does it, lays it on the line."

The emergence of Mine That Bird as a star on the Triple Crown trail has been a rewarding experience for his trainer.

"You spend a lifetime working to get here. It's kind of a stamp on your career when you win that first one. Then, you come back and re-stamp that same stamp on the next on," Woolley said. "There's no doubt we got him where we wanted him."

Mine That Bird, a 50-1 Derby long shot who was sent to post Saturday as the 6-1 third betting choice, is expected to have a presence in the East this year.

"Hopefully, we'll run well in the Belmont. Then, we'll probably spot him again here somewhere. It's such a long, hard trip from where we are that we'll keep him out here," Woolley said. "As long as we've got spots were aiming at, we'll stay in this vicinity, somewhere within a decent hauling distance."

In the short term, Woolley will concentrate on getting Mine That Bird ready for the Belmont Stakes and a possible rematch with Rachel Alexandra.

"I'm not sure what their plans are, but if she comes, I guess we'll see her," said Woolley, perhaps not as much in awe of the filly as the other trainers of Preakness starters. "It would make for a great horse race."

BIG DRAMA - Owner/breeder Harold Queen dropped in on Big Drama Sunday morning at the Preakness Stakes Barn, reporting that his fifth-place Preakness finisher was doing well, except for "a couple of nicks."

Big Drama, who bobbled at the start after being fractious in the gate, prompted the early pace from the inside while lapped on by pacesetter Rachel Alexandra.

"If he doesn't stumble out of the gate, we'd probably have been second." Queen said. "He stumbled out of the gate, and it was all over for us. We'd never be able to catch that filly. What an amazing filly she is. Unbelievable. They could have gone around there again and they weren't catching that filly. Our colt wasn't handling the track, but neither was she. That filly wasn't handling the track. She strided out so much better at Churchill Downs."

David Fawkes will ship Big Drama to Monmouth Park, where the Calder-based trainer has a division of horses. He ruled out a start in the Belmont Stakes. The ultimate goal for the son of Montbrook is the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park.

FLYING PRIVATE/LUV GOV - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Sunday morning that the fourth-place Preakness finisher Flying Private may go on to the Belmont Stakes June 6 at Belmont Park. He wasn't sure where Luv Gov, who finished eighth Saturday, would run next.

"Flying Private was going around here playing and raising hell," Lukas said. "He really was full of himself. He's as sharp as a tack."

Lukas said that he brought Flying Private to Baltimore even though the colt finished last in the Kentucky Derby because Derby also-rans sometimes return to form in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. Flying Private did perform much better at Pimlico, finishing four lengths behind Rachel Alexandra and earning $66,000 for owners William Mack and Robert Baker.

Flying Private and Luv Gov are scheduled to be shipped back to Churchill Downs on Monday morning.

In the days leading up to the Preakness, Lukas said he was impressed with Rachel Alexandra and predicted that she would run well.

"She is extraordinary," Lukas said Sunday. "That was a nice effort. She did everything I thought she'd do. I watched her all winter. That didn't surprise me a bit."

FRIESAN FIRE - Trainer Larry Jones, as gracious in defeat as he is in victory, said Sunday that he couldn't explain why the colt dropped out of contention coming off the second turn and finished 10th in the Preakness.

"Everything we ran looks good and Friesan Fire looks just fine," Jones said. "No major complaints. We ended up scoping him later Saturday and there was nothing. We don't see any excuses that he could have this time other than the fact that he didn't come down the lane as fast as he should have. He was sitting in a good spot at that point. Actually, I loved the way he was sitting early in the race. I can't blame it on anything. The pace was apparently what it should be because the horse that we were following won the race. I wish I could come up with a real good excuse, saying I know how to keep that from happening next time, but there are no reasons that we can see right now."

Friesan Fire was shipped back to Jones' barn at Delaware Park Sunday morning.

"We'll sit down and regroup and see what's next," Jones said. "I'm sure we're not headed for the Belmont, but we'll see what happens. We'll find him a spot he'll fit in."

Jones said he expected the A.P. Indy colt would be back in action within a month. Friesan Fire won the Louisiana Derby on a muddy track and ended up as the 7-2 betting favorite in the Kentucky Derby, which was run over a sloppy sealed track. He finished next to last and came out of the race with cuts on his legs. He healed quickly, though, and turned in a sharp work for the Preakness.

"It's quite a humbling experience working with these things," Jones said. "It's not that we had a horrible day racing yesterday. We ran five horses across the country yesterday. We won two of them. So we won 40 percent of our races, but we still go home feeling like we've had a bad day. That's what it boils down to."

Jones was a believer in Rachel Alexandra long before she wowed the nation with her stunning performance in the Preakness.

"What a magnificent filly she is," he said. "I've run against her three times and I see that same thing all the time. I keep looking for tail lights to come on and they don't ever come on. She just keeps on rolling. We've chased her three different times and I think the closest I've come to her is 11 1/2 lengths. And I've taken the best ones I've had and run at her. She's special."

GENERAL QUARTERS - Trainer Tom McCarthy walked the son of Sky Mesa in the shed row Sunday morning just before 8 a.m. and said he would return to Churchill Downs Monday with his one-horse stable.

"He came out of it real well, but somebody went down the side of his (left front) leg," said the 75-year-old retired high school principal, whose colt finished ninth. "It didn't go deep; it just took the hair off. We got hit on the other side also, and that was just a little deeper. I think it happened when he hit the top of the stretch."

The son of Sky Mesa appeared to be making a threatening rally and was sixth heading into the stretch.

"Just as he started making his move right where we wanted him to at the quarter-pole, he got hit," McCarthy said. "I'll be damned, that's the second time he got hit in a stake (Tampa Bay Derby). I think it took the breath out of him."

McCarthy said he'll give General Quarters some time off (this was his 13th career start), then may look to either the Ohio Derby or the Indiana Derby for his next start.

"I'm going to look for something that will be a little easier," he said. "We've been going against the best horses in America. I just want to back off a little bit and let him regroup and get a confidence builder."

MUSKET MAN - The son of Yonaguska extended his streak of in-the-money finishes to 8-for-8 by running third in the Preakness, but that's the end of the Triple Crown trail for the Derek Ryan-trained colt.

"He came out of the race good, no problem," said Ryan, who stayed around for the sale at nearby Timonium on Sunday. Musket Man vanned back to his base at Monmouth Park Saturday night.

"No Belmont, definitely," Ryan said. "He's going home and we're going to freshen him up and get him ready for the Haskell (Sunday, Aug. 2, Monmouth)."

Musket Man ran third in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, finishing only 1 1/2 lengths behind Rachel Alexandra in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. He is now 5-for-8 lifetime with three thirds, earning $893,600 for owners Eric Fein and Vic Carlson.

PAPA CLEM - Trainer Gary Stute and his sixth-place finisher were headed back to California Sunday morning after competing in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, and the son of Smart Strike will get some time off from a campaign that has been going virtually since November.

"He came out of the race fine," said Stute, who was attempting to match the feat accomplished by his father Mel in 1986, when he won with his first Preakness starter (Snow Chief). "He needs a little rest right now. We don't have anything specific in mind for him; we'll just kind of play it by ear."

Papa Clem was a close-up fourth approaching the three-sixteenths pole, but didn't threaten in the late running. Still, Stute said his entire Preakness experience was an enjoyable one.

The elder Stute was at the track Saturday to see if Papa Clem would become the second Preakness winner for the family.

"He didn't say much after the race," Gary said. "He seemed to be more interested in (betting) the 13th race."

PIONEEROF THE NILE - Ahmed Zayat's homebred colt left Pimlico early Sunday morning for a flight that would take him back to trainer Bob Baffert's stable at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Pioneerof the Nile, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby, ended up 11th in the Preakness.

TAKE THE POINTS - Starlight Partners' colt trained by Todd Pletcher was shipped back to Belmont Park Sunday morning. He came out of the race in good shape. Wearing blinkers for the first time, Take the Points was sitting a stalking trip about five lengths behind Rachel Alexandra for the first half of the race. He was caught six wide on the second turn, was eased in the stretch by jockey Edgar Prado and finished last in the field of 13.

TERRAIN – Trainer Al Stall Jr. reported that Terrain "cooled out well" after his seventh-place finish in the Preakness Stakes. Terrain, who was shipped back to his Churchill Downs base early Sunday morning, ran into traffic on the turn into the homestretch.

"He ran into a wall of horses and lost his momentum," said Stall, who confirmed that Terrain will not run in the Belmont Stakes. "It looked to me that the track was a little deep, and he didn't pick it up again."

Although disappointed in Terrain's finish, Stall was impressed with Rachel Alexandra.

"I think she was as advertised. Besides showing her talent, she showed some grit. It looked like she was struggling a little bit," he said.

TONE IT DOWN - Trainer Bill Komlo, a Maryland backstretch fixture for years, will look for more competitive spots for Deborah and Michael Horning's son of Medaglia d'Oro after finishing 12th in the Preakness.

"He seems to be recuperating fine," said the 73-year-old conditioner, who trains Tone It Down for his daughter and son-in-law. "He doesn't look too much worse for the wear. We'll walk him three or four days and give him a chance to get back to himself. We're going to give him a little vacation and then look for some races where we can rekindle his mind, so he can get back out there and make some money for us. We knew going in that we were either going to be happy or sad because of the competition in there."

It was an otherwise enjoyable Saturday for Komlo, who got a visit from Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and finished in the money in three races on the undercard.

"He stopped by," Komlo said. "He knew the Horning family because he was from that area and went to Georgetown Prep. He stayed quite a while with us."

Update 5013: My latest entry for The Rail: Horsemen's Opinions Divided.

Off to the races!

Update 5012: Five sets for Steve at Woodbine this morning. And it was chilly. Long johns were needed! All mine galloped nicely.

After I was done I rode Hooh Why, who shipped in to run in the Woodbine Oaks this afternoon. She seemed in good spirits. Since I last rode her she has been to Florida, California, Kentucky and Illinois and is now a Grade 1 Stakes winner! Lets hope she runs well this afternoon.

Opinions were devided this morning over the outcome of the Preakness Stakes. Many were impressed with Rachel Alexandra's win and as many thought that Mine That Bird was unlucky and with a little more ground could have won. Some thought that the race was over once Calvin Borel determined who he was going to ride. Others thought Chantal Sutherland would have done at least as well on Mine That Bird as Mike Smith did. Lots of chatter. The univeral opinion was, though, that the Preakness was an awesome horse race and that Mine That Bird's win in the Kentucky Derby was no fluke.

The question now is if we will see both these stars back for the Belmont. Now that would be a terrific match up.

Update 5011: Thanks Wendy for the terrific job of bringing the Preakness to life for everyone here!

And here is my assessment of Rachel Alexandra's win in the Preakness: A Spectacular Victory.

Update 5010: There is a big party in the parking lot outside the stakes barn. Everyone is very happy!

I just saw rachel alexandra, mine that bird and musket man. They were all munching on hay and looked good. I even snagged a musket man hat.

Thanks for letting me blog from pimlico. I'm off to celebrate with my friends!

Update 5009: Rachel Alexandra is back in her stall in good order. The flowers are hanging on the rail of the shedrow.

I ran into Dom, his Uncle and brother. Dom said today was the greatest day of his life. He's floating around on cloud nine. It's so cool!

Update 5008: Here are some photos I've quickly put up. There will definitely be more in the coming days! Preakness race photos.

Update 5007: That was the perfect finish! What a race! What a horse! After the race Rachel Alexandra was paraded in front of the clubhouse and grandstand crowds. Everyone cheered loudly for her. Calvin was responding to everyone cheering his name. I still have chills. Just so exciting. I'm busy pinching myself to make sure I really did get to be here in person. What a privilege to see it.

Update 5006: The perfect result, Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird!

Update 5005: 6:08 and everyone looks good. The crowd cheering after the call to post got a few of the horses wound up! It was loud!

Update 5004: 5:28pm I heard 15minutes till we start the walk. The skies look ominous. Let's hope it holds off.

Update 5003: 5:23pm. The ponies have come back to the stakes barn for the walk over. This is a production!

Update 5002: 5:15pm everyone is preparing for the walk over. It's getting close to what we've been waiting for!

Update 5001: 4:57pm NBC is hanging around the stakes barn now and the trainers are near their horses. Nobody is napping now!

Update 5000: At around 4:15pm Larry Jones was napping in a folding chair in the shedrow near Friesan Fire's stall. Cindy Jones was napping in the office. Dom Terry walked by with the exercise rider for Pioneerof The Nile who turned to me and said "See! No matter what happens today we will still be friends!" Great stuff!

Friesan Fire was brought out of his stall for a bath. According to Brad Hennegan (who was sitting with me), giving the horse a bath a couple hours before the race is Larry's regular raceday routine.

Update 4999: Rachel Alexandra galloping yesterday: Rachel Alexandra gallops through fog - video.

Update 4998: 3:15pm The sun has come out! I went back to the Stakes Barn to grab an apple from the hospitality area. On the way over I saw Musket Man hanging his head out taking in the sites.

In the hospitality tent, I saw Steve Haskins talking racing with Jeannine Edwards while they watch the races on tv. The hospitality tent has a BEAUTIFUL cake which will be served to the winning connections of The Preakness. Of course I took a photo of it and it will be up later tonight.

It seems that everyone is just doing their thing waiting for the race.

Update 4997: 2:30pm. The Navy parachute team gave a cool show. They dropped out of the clouds and landed at the finish line of the turf course. My friends have reported that the infield concerts were awesome!

Time for the Hirsch Jacobs Stakes!!

Update 4996: I just saw Chip Woolley in the Grandstand watching the monitors. Everyone is wishing him well today. William Komlo was also there grabbing a bite to eat.

I saw Dominic Terry just after he was interviewed by HRTV. He seemed nervous in a good way. He told his brother who flew in from Florida, that he can't talk to him 49 minutes before the race. We laughed and he ran back to be with his family.

I also met another Dakota. He's a cool paint that his rider simply uses a rope in mouth instead of a bit and bridle. He has one blue eye, loves the camera and is a huge begger for treats. He's a cool outrider pony!

Update 4995: 11:57am. I noticed the trainer for musket man brought a grill and lawn chairs to hang out in while they wait. Both musket man and general quarters were relaxing and munching hay. Rachel Alexandra was playing with the chain across her stall door. Her neighbor, Dakota, was just hanging out too. Mike Smith walked by after his interview with Jeannine Edwards.

Now I'm going to head to the track. I can hear a band playing. Pretty cool!

Update 4994: 11:20am I went out to the stakes barn to check things out. Mine That Bird is munching on hay while his neighbor Papa Clem is flat out snoozing hard. I'm envious of Papa Clem.

The wind has picked up and it is spritzing rain just a little. The infield didn't look too crowded. Maybe the weather has changed peoples mind about hanging in the infield.

Update 4993: The weather at Pimlico is HUMID! It's already 70 and if the sun comes out it will be a cooker out here. So far it's only been overcast and the forecast is for storms tonight. Let's hope they are right!

I have posted photos from this morning around the shedrow on Preakness day. You have to see Chip Woolley's belt buckle!

Update 4992: My latest for The Rail: An Exercise Rider's View.

Update 4991: 9:23am Mine That Bird went back to his stall just before 9 because the gnats were getting bad. The shedrow is getting quiet as we prepare for the day of racing. I asked William Komlo, trainer for Tone It Down, if he was nervous and all I got was a laugh. Now I'm heading over to upload photos. I'll have them up soon but in the meantime, I added more photos from yesterday afternoon.

Update 4990: 8:40am Things are settling down. Mine That Bird is enjoying a pick of grass and Chip is still near him. I noticed his very cool belt buckle and asked if I could take a picture of it. Everyone laughed as he jokingly said "watch where you aim that lens!" Everyone of Mine That Bird's connections seem happy to be here. I asked one of them if he was nervous and he said "yes ma'am, in a good way."

Update 4989: 8:15am: Mine That Bird came out for his bath just before 8. Now he's heading to the shedrow to walk. Chip Woolley quietly stood by. Baffert and Lukas have been hanging out most of the morning chatting it up about the antics they've heard about the infield. Gary Stute seems to always have a cup of coffee in his hands. I just passed by Steve Asmussen heading over for coffee too. While everyone is smiling and getting their work done you can tell they are feeling the pressure of the big race.

Update 4988: Chip Woolley arrived a little bit ago. The local media is interviewing him. Tone It Down arrived around 7:15. I just said hi to Brad Hennegan who is following Larry Jones. Larry is bathing payton d'Oro right now - the winner of The Black-Eyed Susan! It's 7:40 and it is hopping around here!

Update 4987: Rachel Alexandra just finished walking the shedrow with her tongue hanging out the whole time. That seems to be a habit of hers. Pioneerof the Nile was showing occasional disco moves during his bath. Take The Points just arrived and is currently getting a bath. All looks well!

Update 4986: wendyinmi here at Pimlico. Musket Man arrived at 5:40 and looks good walking the shedrow. He is in the stall next to General Quarters. Rachel Alexandra is about to walk the shedrow and be bathed. The Lucas horses were going to the track for a jog. All looks good on the backside.

Update 4985: The middle leg of the Triple Crown includes the Derby winner, Mine That Bird, the Oaks winner, Rachel Alexandra, the three horses who finished closest to the Derby winner, and the Derby favorite. It looks to be a terrific race. Here are some media previews:

'Bird' not the word on all lips
Rachel Alexandra Heavy Preakness Choice
Borel, Rachel Alexandra set for Preakness

I will be on air at 10:45 am to discuss the Preakness: Cyril Quinn: Sports Talk and Pop Culture.

Posted by Alex at 9:45 AM | Comments (135)

Barbaro Updates: 855

Posted May 15, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4984: And today was the Black-Eyed Susan: Jones Filly Wins Black-Eyed Susan.

Update 4983: Mike Gathagan's Friday Preakness report:

MIKE SMITH MEETS MINE THAT BIRD FOR THE FIRST TIME; RACHEL ALEXANDRA GALLOPS; PAPA CLEM BREEZES A BIT

MINE THAT BIRD - Jockey Mike Smith dropped in on Mine That Bird at the Preakness Stakes Barn Friday morning, thrilled to be tabbed by the Kentucky Derby winner's connections to replace Calvin Borel for Saturday's 134th running of the Preakness Stakes.

When Borel, who masterminded a rail-hugging, last-to-first victory aboard Mine That Bird at Churchill Downs nearly two weeks ago, opted to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, Smith won the assignment to ride the Derby winner.

"It's pretty cool. Everyone is asking if there's extra-added pressure. Honestly, to me, I'm just excited to get this opportunity," said the New Mexico native, who has known the gelding's co-owner Dr. Leonard Blach for many years. "Hopefully, we can go out there and make the most of it and show people that it wasn't a fluke."

Smith will climb aboard the son of Birdstone for the very first time in the infield saddling area Saturday just prior to the Preakness post parade.

"I think he's an extremely easy horse to ride. He's so laid-back. I've watched about every race he's run. He's really rider friendly, it looks like. He doesn't have any quirks," the Hall of Fame rider said. "He seems to love the rail. He seems to love the middle of the track. I saw him swing six, seven wide one time in Canada and win. It doesn't seem to matter where he's at. Getting him to relax is the key."

Trainer Chip Woolley said he had no concerns that Smith hadn't gotten the opportunity for a get-acquainted gallop on Mine That Bird.

"He's a great rider. He's got great instincts. He'll be all right. We know what we're going to do," the New Mexico-based trainer said. "Our plan will be to lay back and come from off the pace. Mike's great at it. He's patient. It'll work out fine."

Neither Smith nor Woolley expects Mine That Bird to be given the opportunity to duplicate his Derby dream trip in the 1-3/16-mile Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

"There's nothing like Churchill and the Derby: you're going a mile-and-a-quarter; it's grueling; it's hard on them there; so horses are done a little earlier there," Smith said. "(Speed) will carry a little farther here. They don't get done nearly as quick as they do in the Derby. It's going to be a little different here.

"Our strategy is going to be similar. I mean, we're not going to be 20 out of it behind the last horse. But it's going to be: take him back and, hopefully, get him into that rhythm and see if he'll punch like that again."

Woolley concurs.

"At Churchill we were the winner at the eighth-pole, so (the slight cutback in distance) doesn't concern me. What concerns me more is the kind of trip I get around there. I need a good clean trip," he said. "Chances of getting the rail trip like we got at Churchill are a little slimmer here."

Smith has had success with deep closers in the Triple Crown, having ridden Giacomo for a fast-closing triumph in the 2005 Derby and guiding Prairie Bayou to a 1993 Preakness win from far off the pace. But he knows the task of coordinating a good trip from far back aboard Mine That Bird likely won't be easy.

"I have the same concerns that I have on any horse that I'm going to ride that's coming from back," he said "You're hoping that you get back and don't get knocked around. You hope when the time comes and you do pull the trigger that there's somewhere to go. You just gotta hope for a good trip."

Smith said he was amazed by Mine That Bird's performance in the Derby.

"It was just an incredible move. People want to say that it was a fluke, but he didn't just get up and win," he said. "If you watch the blimp (overhead) shot, he was running by horses in one jump. I'm hoping to get that run out of him again."

Mine That Bird demonstrated great energy while finishing his morning gallop under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa Friday morning.

"We let him stretch out a little bit down through there. He looked pretty good. It looks like he gets over the racetrack good." Woolley said. "He got over the track good, looked good and we were really happy with the way he went. He came back and couldn't blow out a match."

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - Jockey Calvin Borel made it clear Friday that he is very confident that filly Rachel Alexandra belongs in the Preakness, for which she is the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

"Right now, I'm glad," he said. "She's got a lot to prove and I've got a lot to prove for the people and show the public why I think she's the best horse in the country right now. And this is the time to do it."

Borel won the Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird, but decided to take the unprecedented step of giving up that mount in the Preakness to stay with the filly, whom he has ridden to five consecutive victories. That decision came about when Stonestreet Stables and Harold T. McCormick purchased the filly a week ago and pointed her to the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

While Borel complimented Mine That Bird and said he expects the gelding to turn in a good performance, the veteran jockey believes he will ride the winner.

"I think he'll run a good race," Borel said. "I don't think he can run with my filly, but he'll run a good race."

During the telephone interview, Borel expanded on his view of how Mine That Bird and the rest of the field stack up against Rachel Alexandra, who won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths on May 1.

"He'd have to run the race of his life to beat my filly," Borel said. "I think all the other (12) are going to have to run the race of their lives or me fall off or something stupid happen."

During his career, Borel has become well known for his fearless rides up the rail, a strategy that worked perfectly in his Derby-winning rides on Street Sense in 2007 and Mine That Bird two weeks ago. He laughed when asked how he would handle starting from the outside post, No. 13, in the Preakness.

"I'm not worried about that," he said. "If she's as good as I think she is, we'll overcome that. We're not worried about that. That's the least of my worries. I think I've just got to point her in the right direction and she'll get me there."

Rachel Alexandra was sent out to gallop under exercise rider Dominic Terry early Friday morning.

"She was relaxed and seemed happy to be out there and went great," said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen.

Blasi said he is pleased with the way the filly is coming into the race.

"She's loose and she's happy," Blasi said. "I feel comfortable with how she's doing. Her weight looks good."

BIG DRAMA - Trainer David Fawkes sent Big Drama to the track Friday morning for exercise that included a mile jog and a mile gallop. The South Florida-based trainer, who will have a division of horses at Monmouth Park this year, may not be thrilled with the No. 1 post that was drawn for Big Drama, but he's not going to lose any sleep over it, either.

"It doesn't necessarily bother me. You have to see. The break is everything. After the break we'll see," he said. "It's not like he's just got moderate speed, where you break and get covered up - and you're dead. He has enough natural ability to be where he needs to be. If he needs to be close, he'll be close. If he needs to tuck in behind, he'll tuck in behind. Where he needs to be, he'll be."

Fawkes has decided to take the blinkers off Big Drama, hoping the move will help his speedball relax. After coming up just short in his debut, Big Drama has finished first in his last six races, including a track-record shattering victory in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park, from which he was disqualified for bumping second-place finisher This One's for Phil.

"It's like watching your kids grow. It's really neat," Fawkes said. "In our situation, they're our family. I mean, we have a daughter, but you live this every day. You go to bed at night, it's horses. You get up in the morning, it's horses."

John Velazquez will be aboard Big Drama for the first time Saturday.

FLYING PRIVATE/LUV GOV - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who holds the record for Preakness starters with 32, paused for a second Friday morning before describing the mood on the eve of this year's race.

"Uncertain. That's the best choice of words," he said. "People are having trouble getting a handle on it this year more than any other year. If the filly wasn't in here, it would be totally upside down, because we're still trying to validate the Derby winner . The filly gives us some stability because she is such a talent. There is a gray area, her first time facing boys, but the uncertainty and the confusion of trying to get a handle on it is pretty tough."

Lukas said he couldn't settle on who the top seven contenders were in the Kentucky Derby and is having the same trouble with the Preakness.

Lukas' colts galloped over the track Friday morning. Alan Garcia will ride Flying Private and Jamie Theriot has the mount on Luv Gov for breeder-owner Marylou Whitney.

FRIESAN FIRE - Trainer Larry Jones was aboard his Kentucky Derby beaten favorite Friday morning for a five-furlong jog and five-furlong gallop at Pimlico. Jones, who will retire from training his public stable at the end of the year, admitted that he's already feeling a little nostalgic.

"Every time we do something we realize that it could very well be the last time it's done. We're trying to enjoy everything as we go through it," said Jones before turning to humor to describe his mood. "Some of it we're going through, thinking, 'Thank God, we don't have to do this again.'"

Jones, though, will hardly withdraw from the thoroughbred world.

"We're still going to be involved. My wife (Cindy) still has a horse or two, and we still have a few horses in partnership with other people. Those people, we're going to be connected with, not training them the way I am right now. I'm hoping I'm their exercise boy, and I'll find someone to train them," he said. "I'll still get to work around the barn in some capacity. But we have stallion seasons. We'll be focusing more on our own private stable."

Jones is looking forward to the change of pace.

"I would like to sleep late a morning or two, but the biggest thing I want to make happen is: when one of the grandkids has a birthday, I want to be there to watch them open their birthday presents," he said. "And come Christmas morning, we're going to try to get them all together where we can watch them open their Christmas presents - something that we haven't got to do that everyone takes for granted."

Friesan Fire, who faded to 18th in the Derby after getting bumped at the start and encountering heavy traffic, will be ridden by Gabriel Saez.

GENERAL QUARTERS - If the son of Sky Mesa happens to win the 134th Preakness, 75-year-old trainer/owner/groom/hot walker Tom McCarthy may have to give an assist to Hall of Fame colleague D. Wayne Lukas. The Blue Grass winner galloped about 1 1/2 miles Friday at Pimlico, again with an exercise rider (Taylor Carty) borrowed from Lukas, and all seems in good order the day before the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

"He really likes this track," said McCarthy, who has taken his one-horse stable from Florida to Kentucky to Maryland in search of his first Triple Crown race win. "He's doing great; so far, so good."

Julien Leparoux has the return mount on General Quarters, who finished 10th in the Derby.

MUSKET MAN - The hard-trying son of Yonaguska was given a soft day of exercise at his home base at Monmouth Park by trainer Derek Ryan in preparation for an early-morning van ride to Pimlico.

"He just did an easy mile today," Ryan said Friday morning. "He's doing good, no problems. We'll be leaving around 2:30 in the morning and should be there by 5:30."

The Preakness will be Musket Man's eighth career start on six different race tracks. He brings in a solid record of five wins and a pair of thirds, including the show finish in the Kentucky Derby. Eibar Coa has the mount.

PAPA CLEM - Mel Stute stood at the rail Friday morning shortly after 7, watching his son's colt blow out on the day before the Preakness, much like his own Snow Chief did just before winning the 1986 edition of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

"Snow Chief worked 33 1/5 (seconds) that Friday and the owner (Carl Grinstead with Ben Rochelle) was pretty upset with me," said the 81-year-old Stute, who is hoping to see his son, Gary, match his feat of saddling a winner with his first Preakness starter. "They'd have hung me in effigy if he got beat. He (Grinstead) had made a statement to the press that I'd ruined the Preakness like I ruined the Derby with my fast workouts."

Grinstead was wrong and Mel Stute was right, atoning for the defeat as the Kentucky Derby favorite two weeks earlier. It turned out to be the only Preakness starter Mel Stute would ever have. He recalled Friday that his confidence level took a hit after Snow Chief finished 11th in Louisville, but it was back two weeks later. The trainer bet $400 on his own horse and had a $50 exacta with friendly rival Charlie Whittingham's Ferdinand, the colt who had beaten him in the Derby.

"I've still never won a race in Kentucky," Stute said. "I've tried a lot of times, so I thought maybe Gary could get it done (with Papa Clem), but it didn't happen. Maybe we can get lucky again here. It would be something."

Snow Chief beat Ferdinand by four lengths in the Preakness, a day Mel Stute still calls "his greatest day in racing." His eyes lit up as he recalled that memorable afternoon of May 17, 1986.

"Charlie had his horse right here," he said pointing to the traditional stall 40 in the Pimlico Stakes Barn. "We went out together to the track. It was kind of a day in your life. Us younger guys really liked Charles. He handled himself so well. Charlie's the one that got me to come here. His filly had gotten beaten at 1-9 in the Kentucky Oaks, and he told me that kind of stuff happens at Churchill Downs and we better come over to the Preakness. I think he just wanted somebody to drink with. We ended up beating him, so he said he'd never do that again. I've been living off Snow Chief a long time."

The elder Stute said he believes his son can make a little history of his own.

"I've got a lot of confidence in him (Papa Clem)," he said. "I really believe he should have been second the other day. I'm pretty close to him because I bought his grandmother for Clement Hirsch. I have a little connection to him (Papa Clem is owned by Bo Hirsch, Clement's son)."

The elder Stute has been a fixture in western racing for six decades, training champions like Very Subtle and Brave Raj. They've even named the clubhouse bar at Hollywood Park for him. Gary, 52, had served as his chief assistant for more than 20 years before going on his own. This is his first Triple Crown runner.

Papa Clem looked much sharper Friday than he did earlier this week (1:05 for five furlongs). The "work" began near the top of the stretch and was clocked unofficially by some observers from the eighth-pole home in 10-plus seconds.

"It was exactly what I wanted," Gary said. "I don't want him not having focus when they turn for home. I want him to know at that eighth-pole you need to be running all out. It was exactly like the Derby; two days before was exactly what I wanted. The works before (them) weren't exactly what I wanted. If he gets beat tomorrow, it's nobody's fault but mine - or his."

Rafael Bejarano will be back on Papa Clem, whom he rode to a fourth-place finish at Churchill Downs.

PIONEEROF THE NILE - When trainer Bob Baffert said Friday that he would prefer that Rachel Alexandra not be in the Preakness field, the reporter he was talking with seemed startled. Baffert quickly explained that his remark had nothing to do with a filly competing against males.

"Why? Because she's so tough," he said. "She's really fast. If her style was coming from off the pace and she had to weave her way through, it would be more difficult for her. That's not her style. She has tactical speed and she's got a beautiful long, fluid stride. She's a really good filly. But we have a really good horse, too. A lot of things can happen in these races."

Baffert said that Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile looks good to him coming into the Preakness. The Empire Maker colt bred and owned by Ahmed Zayat galloped at Pimlico Friday morning.

"The Derby didn't take anything out of him," Baffert said. "The horse is getting better with age. He was a late foal and wasn't 3 until after the Derby. I expect a big improvement throughout the year. I'm really hoping that we can get a good race into him. I hope he breaks cleanly. That's the main thing. I'll probably be sitting right behind them. I want a good spot. He likes competition. He likes to have a target to run at. Turning for home (in the Derby) the target disappeared and he was out there by himself. Mine That Bird went by him too fast to really engage with him. One good thing about having Rachel Alexandra in there is she is a great target. I just hope we can catch that target."

Baffert said Mine That Bird really loved the wet sealed track in the Derby and benefitted from a great ground-saving trip by jockey Calvin Borel. The newly elected Hall of Fame trainer is hoping that Pioneerof the Nile can take another step forward in the Preakness.

"He's a really good horse," Baffert said. "I really thought I could win the (Derby) race. It didn't happen. You've got to forget about it and move on to the next race. Maybe my theory is right. Maybe I'll get a better chance. Now you've got the filly in there, a new factor. She's very, very tough. She's coming in there sort of semi-fresh because she didn't have to run against any colts. She's somebody that you have to reckon with, and the pace is going to be a big factor this year. We don't know what the track is going to be like. I hope it doesn't rain too much. I'd love to see the track we had today. It's still going to be a very interesting race. There's going to be a lot of questions that are going to be answered. That's what the Preakness is about. Maybe my horse ran his race in the Derby, maybe he didn't. I think everybody feels that way going in. This is like, I want revenge. Fortunately, our horse looks fantastic coming into the race. It looks like he's going to run another big race. Rachel Alexandra and the other horses look great. It's going to be a tough race."

Garrett Gomez has the return mount on Derby runner-up Pioneer of the Nile.

TAKE THE POINTS - The Starlight Partners' colt completed his preparations for the Preakness Friday with a 1 3/8-mile gallop at Belmont Park. The son of Even the Score is scheduled to be shipped from trainer Todd Pletcher's barn to Baltimore at 2 a.m. Saturday. Wearing blinkers in a race for the first time, Take the Points could find himself attending the pace with the filly Rachel Alexandra, the 8-5 morning-line favorite. In 2007, Pletcher prepared the filly Rags to Riches for her victory over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes.

"At the end of the day, you have to decide when you get fillies of that quality, and they can only accomplish so much running within their gender," Pletcher said. "Rags to Riches was a very specific situation because she was truly bred to run a mile and a half. Being a half to Jazil and by A.P. Indy, she was bred to do that. We analyzed it closely and there were a lot of reasons to running. At the time, she was doing very well and we didn't feel like waiting around three more weeks to the Mother Goose - you never take for granted that they're going to be doing as well as they are at the moment - so it felt like everything was coming together to take a shot."

Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will ride Take the Points in the Preakness.

TERRAIN - Al Stall Jr., a prominent trainer at Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds for several years, looks forward to saddling his first starter in a Triple Crown event in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

"I'm kind of glad it's the Preakness. I've been around the Derby fanfare for 30-something years. I enjoy it, but this is much different. It's exciting," he said Friday morning after sending Terrain to the track for a 1 1/2-mile gallop and a schooling session at the starting gate. I'm kind of glad it's here, because this place here is really focused on the Preakness horses. The Derby is just a three-week Mardi Gras type thing. I'm very comfortable, happy to be here."

Terrain, a gelded son of Sky Mesa, will be making his third start of the year after finishing third in the Louisiana Derby and fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes.

"We're happy with the horse. The draw fell into place. We just need one more thing to fall into place - the race," he said. "The horse is doing well. He acts like a fresh horse. He's eating well; he's bright. I'm looking forward to leading him over there, because you know he's going to try."

Jeremy Rose, who rode Afleet Alex to victory in the 2005 Preakness, will be aboard Terrain for the first time.

TONE IT DOWN - Bill Komlo brought a van with four runners aboard to Pimlico Friday morning, but Tone It Down was not one of them. He will arrive Saturday morning from Laurel, where he simply walked the shedrow Friday morning.

"He had a lot of training the last two or three days, so we backed off on him today," said Komlo, one of three septuagenarians training in this Preakness (Tom McCarthy and Wayne Lukas being the others). "The plan for tomorrow is to leave about 6 o'clock and we should be over there by quarter to seven."

The son of Medaglia d'Oro will occupy a stall at the front end of the stakes barn traditionally occupied by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, who won the Preakness from there with Louis Quatorze in 1996.

Upon arriving at the track Friday, Komlo headed for the jockeys' room for a meeting with the new rider of Tone It Down, Kent Desormeaux.

"We're going to have a discussion about what we’re going to do tomorrow," he said.

Update 4982: WendyinMI reporting in from Pimlico.

It has been a very humid and FOGGY morning. Not great for those of us into photography. Rachel Alexandra went out just before 6am when the fog was so thick you could hardly see your hand in front of your face. From what we could see she looked good.

The stakes barn area has much more people traffic around it as more and more media arrive. The tension seems to be increasing a little more as we get closer to the big day. But overall it seems that everyone is doing well and taking in the excitement in good order. Mine That Bird was having fun with his handlers while he was being bathed. He seemed relaxed and happy. In fact all the horses seem to be handling things well.

The Hennegan Brothers are here filming Larry Jones, some rock singers who will be playing later on in the infield were hanging out around the barns as well. Gary Stevens, Jeannine Edwards and other people covering the race were talking with the handlers and gathering information. There's truly a lot of bustling activity going on.

I've posted some photos from today onto Flickr for your viewing pleasure. I hope to post more later on this afternoon so please check back!

Update 4981: Railbird here, with your weekly update.

I'll confess, like many other racing fans, I'm having trouble looking past the Preakness on Saturday. There are other races on the Pimlico card? I hardly noticed. That's what happens when you have the longshot Kentucky Derby winner not only meeting the beaten Derby favorite and the second, third, and fourth place finishers for a rematch, but the phenomenal filly Rachel Alexandra, quite possibly the best 3-year-old of either sex in training. That would make for an exciting storyline on its own, but Triple Crown season is never that straightforward, and the run up to the Preakness has been enlivened by stories of Jess Jackson's swiftly negotiated purchase of the filly following her Oaks rout and the dastardly scheme of rival owners to exclude Rachel Alexandra from the field. It's great racing meets great gossip.

But there are other races -- seven stakes, six of those graded, on the Preakness undercard, which kicks off early Saturday with first post at 10:15 a.m. The Dixie Stakes, which precedes the day's main event, comes up a 13-horse headscratcher. Among the entered are Monba, making his turf debut for trainer Todd Pletcher, Proudinsky, coming off a sixth in the Turf Classic at Churchill two weeks ago, and Parading, winner of the Ben Ali at Keeneland in April. And let's not overlook Strike a Deal, making his first start since winning the Red Smith Handicap last November, or Lauro, who finished behind Strike a Deal in that race and now ships in from Germany for this one.

Earlier on the card, two dominant Maryland sprinters -- Ah Day and Ravalo -- meet in the Maryland Sprint Handicap, and Dynaforce -- winner of the 2008 Flower Bowl, second to Forever Together in the Diana -- makes her 2009 debut in the Gallorette, which also drew import All Is Vanity, third in the South Beach at Gulfstream, and Royalties, 2-for-2 at Pimlico.

As for Preakness picks, Rachel Alexandra, of course (love what exercise rider Dominic Terry texted Alex earlier today), then Friesan Fire, who worked spectacularly over the Pimlico surface earlier this week, and General Quarters. Yes, I am dismissing Mine That Bird (again), although if he gets a sloppy track and a perfect trip, I won't be surprised (this time) to see him flying down the stretch.

Update 4980: Horserace Insider with Preakness selections (including mine): 2009 Preakness Stakes Media Selections.

Update 4979: Dominic Terry, new exercise rider for Rachel Alexandra, texted me this about Rachel this morning:

She skipped over the surface beautifully. She was plenty keen yet extremely relaxed for her first day galloping here at Pimlico. Scott and I absolutely loved her (the way she went).

Dominic then called me to make sure I got the text message. I can tell he is very excited, and somewhat nervous!

Update 4978: Barbaro's mum, La Ville Rouge, is back in foal to Dynaformer: La Ville Rouge Back in Foal to Dynaformer.

Update 4977: Great coverage of Nicanor's win and his fan following in the USA Today today: Horse racing fans follow Barbaro's brothers.

An easy morning this morning at Woodbine for Steve. I had five sets. Two of which went to the gate for a little gate schooling. All galloped nicely. A gorgeous morning this morning too, although the weather is supposed to deteriorate over the weekend!

Update 4976: We have now started wiki pages for both Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra. While both these pages are a work in progress, they contain news articles, photographs and video links. One more day to The Preakness!

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 10:03 AM | Comments (44)

Barbaro Updates: 854

Posted May 14, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4975: Hi everyone WendyinMI here with an update from Pimlico. I've been giving an opportunity to shoot photos this week which I'm happy to share with you.

It was a rainy morning and it's threatened to rain this afternoon but has thankfully held off. Due to the rainy weather, Rachel Alexandra did not leave the Pimlico Stakes Barn this morning but was taken out this afternoon to do paddock schooling during the 4th race. She looked to be in great form - enjoying the sights and sounds. The announcer introduced her as she walked by the crowd who in turn gave a good applause. She simply looked fantastic.

This morning is also the day of the "Alibi Breakfast" where journalism and photography awards for Maryland horse racing are handed out followed by interviews with the connections of the horses entered in The Preakness race. It was a great experience! First of all, I was with some great and fun company at my table. I sat with Maggie Kimmett, Shawn Faust and Lydia Williams who are all fantastic talents besides being fun people. They showed me the ropes of attaining my souvenir Black Eyed Susan glass, explaining the media people in attendance, and how the program would go. Evidently, it's named the "alibi" breakfast because the trainers are there to give their alibis. It was very amusing and D.Wayne Lucas was in rare form as was Bob Baffert. They had everyone laughing out loud. I haven't had time to read the Paulick Report's "live blog" from the breakfast but I did see him in action as I waited in line for the buffet. He was busy putting up a photo of his souvenir glass at the time.

Overall, I spent today getting the lay of the land to prepare for the upcoming races for the week. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the Inaugural Jockey Challenge .

Update 4974: Mike Gathagan's Preakness report for Thursday:

MINE THAT BIRD GETS HIS FEET WET DURING GALLOP; 'RACHEL' JUST WALKS ON FIRST MORNING AT PIMLICO

MINE THAT BIRD - Early morning rains did nothing to alter training plans for Mine That Bird, who galloped his customary two miles under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa Thursday at Pimlico in preparation for Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

"The track looks super to me," trainer Chip Woolley said. "It looks like it could be a little laboring, but overall, it looks good to me. It looks like a little moisture is just the ticket for it."

Moisture in the Churchill Downs racing surface on Derby Day certainly didn't hold back Mine That Bird, who skipped over the sealed sloppy track to close from last to score by nearly seven lengths. Woolley said he is still amazed when he watches video of his gelding's 50-1 shocker under jockey Calvin Borel.

"It was the moves he made and the trip he got. Calvin just gave him a super, super trip. He never second-guessed himself and got through there at just the right time. That was probably the most amazing thing. I could watch it right now and it's like it's Derby Day," said the New Mexico-based trainer, whose Derby winner is rated at 6-1 in the Preakness morning line, co-third choice with Friesan Fire behind Rachel Alexandra (8-5) and Pioneerof the Nile (5-1).

"When you look at it from the overhead (view) it's even more astounding than it is watching it from the regular pan view."

Calvin Borel will not produce a repeat performance aboard Mine That Bird, having chosen to stick with Rachel Alexandra, whom he rode to victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1 by more than 20 lengths.

"This is a business, and Calvin has to watch out for himself. It was his choice and I respect his choice. It was a hard choice for him to make and I appreciate the fact that he and his agent were really upfront with us from Day One, as soon as they knew the prospect was out there (to ride Rachel Alexandra). They came and told us and gave us the opportunity to get the best rider we could."

Mike Smith will be aboard the son of Birdstone and will be given the same instructions to drop back early that Woolley had given Borel before the Derby.

"If he dropped back at Sunland, he'd have won them all," said Woolley, whose gelding set the pace while finishing second in the Borderland Derby and made a premature move while finishing fourth in the Sunland Derby. "That's the problem. He doesn't need to be up there. He needs to drop back. That's the only way to win races like these with him. He's not as versatile as his form makes him look like he is."

Although Borel has probably received more credit for the Derby victory than Mine That Bird, Woolley said he recognized a special quality when he joined his stable following his last-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last fall.

"The main thing about him is that he's so professional, goes out there and just does his work and comes back and rests, eats and comes back and does it again the next day. Right away you could see he was something special. I was really disappointed the way things worked at Sunland, but you could tell he was something special and had more than most to give you."

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - Preakness morning-line favorite Rachel Alexandra had a very quiet day Thursday, walking the shedrow the morning after she was shipped to Pimlico from Kentucky.

"We got in late, about 3:30 p.m." said trainer Steve Asmussen's assistant, Scott Blasi. "She ate up great. The main thing is just keeping her happy. We'll take her over to the paddock and that will be her exercise today. She'll gallop tomorrow."

Blasi said it is standard procedure in the Asmussen operation to have horses school in the paddock at a new track. Unless they ask to use the indoor paddock, Preakness horses are saddled on the turf course in front of the grandstand.

"It's just for her to relax and be comfortable where she's at," Blasi said. "It's something we always do with our horses. She's shipped before and run. We don't want her to be nervous or unaware of where she is."

Blasi said that Rachel Alexandra's new owners and trainers are pleased that jockey Calvin Borel decided to stay with the filly and will ride her in the Preakness.

"Calvin knows her as well as anybody and has been a big part of her success in her works up to her races and her development in Hot Springs this winter," Blasi said. "We're very comfortable."

Borel made the highly unusual move of getting off the horse on which he won the Derby to ride the filly.

"That's the regard he has for her, and we've all seen her races and have been awed by her," Blasi said. "We're glad to have him on board with the amount of respect that we have for her."

BIG DRAMA - The Florida-bred colt has finished first in his last six races and would be seeking his seventh straight victory in the Preakness had it not been for a disqualification in his most recent start. Big Drama ran seven furlongs in a blistering 1:20.88 to win the Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, but was placed second for bumping runner-up This One's For Phil in the stretch. Owner/breeder Harold Queen, who visited his homebred in the Preakness Stakes Barn Thursday morning, said the DQ was not the fault of his horse.

"What happened was: the rider got his whip caught between the bridle and the blinkers. When he pulled it out quickly, the horse ducked out and hit the other horse," said Queen, bemoaning the loss of Grade 2 victory on his colt's resume. "Gulfstream Park sent me the picture with what exactly had happened."

Big Drama jogged a mile and galloped a mile under exercise rider Celia Fawkes, wife of trainer David Fawkes, after the renovation break at Pimlico Thursday morning. The son of Montbrook, who drew the No. 1 post position, has demonstrated brilliant speed in his seven races, but his owner said all the 1's on his past performances were not registered by a headstrong, one-dimensional colt.

"He has always been laid back. A lot of horses have talent, but the unfortunate thing is they don't take care of themselves in the stall," Queen said. "They self-destruct. From Day One, from when he was weaned, he was always laid back, took care of himself."

FLYING PRIVATE/LOV GUV - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas' Preakness horses, Flying Private and Luv Gov, galloped over the Pimlico track early Thursday morning. Lukas said the colts have made a smooth transition to their temporary new homes in Pimlico's Preakness Barn.

"It's good. We really have settled in good," he said. "No problems at all. We're very content where we're at."

Though much has been made about Preakness favorite Rachel Alexandra drawing the outside post in the field of 13, Lukas said it's an ideal spot for the standout filly.

"The best horse in the race drew the best," he said. "Everything has kind of fallen in line for her. The rest of them, I don't think it made a lot of difference, but it did with her. She was the one who needed to draw good and she did."

Lukas said leaving from post 13 will help the filly avoid trouble.

"If you ask these trainers and they bared their souls," he said, "they'll tell you what they'd like to see is her have some pressure, have horses around her, dirt in her face, something like that. Now she's out there and can kind of cruise out there and maybe go right to the lead."

Lukas has a record-tying 13 victories in Triple Crown races, but hasn't been a prominent player in the last few years. The 73-year-old Hall of Fame trainer isn't fading into retirement, though, currently training 87 horses in New York and Kentucky and thinks he has some great young talent in the system.

"People are just starting to realize that Bill Young and Bob Lewis had passed away," he said. "When I lost those two, that was a giant hole in our program and we hadn't been in the sale ring. Our program has always been predicated on being in the sale ring and buying quality horses. That's how Baffert and I have survived. I didn't get into the sale ring for about two years and, consequently, I just had some of the homebreds from Marylou Whitney.

"But our business has just gone bananas here in the last year. People are calling from everywhere and we've been pleasantly surprised. The bottom line is we got in the sale ring last fall and bought some serious race horses. Our 2-year-olds are awesome - maybe as good as I've had since the mid-80s - and lots of them. We're deep."

FRIESAN FIRE - Trainer Larry Jones sang the praises of his colt's recuperative powers that heeled the cuts he suffered to his legs in his troubled 18th-place Kentucky Derby finish as the beaten favorite.

"You'll have this situation two out of 10 times when a horse heals up this fast out of it. The other times you keep working and doctoring and hoping," said Jones after galloping Friesan Fire a mile at Pimlico Thursday morning. "Everything went well for him. I think it was just a sign of how well he is doing physically and health-wise. I think it was just that he's extremely healthy that got him to heal up this fast."

Jones reported that the healing process was aided by Eclipse, a cream that was created for diabetic patients with wounds that are slow to heal.

Friesan Fire, who had swept all three Kentucky Derby preps at Fair Grounds prior to his Derby disappointment, has encouraged his trainer by his spirited behavior in recent days.

"Hopefully, he's going to rebound. He wasn't the Derby favorite for no reason," Jones said. "Hopefully, he had the credentials to earn that spot. Hopefully, he's going to live up to it and do what he's supposed to do."

GENERAL QUARTERS - Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy dropped in on Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at the Preakness Stakes Barn Thursday morning to borrow an exercise rider for General Quarters' morning gallop. Despite the recent success of his Blue Grass winner, there's still not a lot of pomp and circumstance in the former high school principal's operation. The one-horse stable operates primarily with McCarthy doing most of the hands-on work. He's been getting a little help from part-time groom Billy Bass and former student Jerry Hills, a retired chemist who latched onto his former mentor after the Blue Grass and has been hanging around the barn ever since.

"I know I probably won't have another one like him," the 75-year-old McCarthy said of the son of Sky Mesa, whose $460,000 purse in the Keeneland stake more than doubled the earnings of all McCarthy's previous winners combined. "This is a pretty special time for me, and I'm enjoying it."

McCarthy claimed General Quarters for $20,000 nearly a year ago and he’s already earned $641,735. But this isn't about money, as McCarthy is quick to point out. In fact, he turned down a number of seven-figure offers for the colt before the Kentucky Derby. General Quarters ran 10th on a sloppy track he disliked and was pinballed around more than once.

"He loves this track; it's just like Tampa," McCarthy said after General Quarters galloped 1 3/8 miles over a damp Pimlico surface Thursday as light rain fell. "He just skipped over it. To see him gallop here and having watched him gallop at Churchill on the cuppy track there, you don't get hold of it very well without some type of a toe grab. They limit us now, so you have no toe grabs more than a quarter of an inch there. On a track like that, especially in mud, you can't get a hold of it."

McCarthy said he's tossing out the Derby performance, in which his colt was banged a couple times before the first turn and later came back with a sizeable clog of mud under an eyelid and a blockage in one nostril.

"My goodness, it was terrible," McCarthy said before heading back to the barn to cool out his star.

Track oddsmaker Frank Carulli made him 20-1 for the Preakness from post No. 8. He was sent off at 10-1 in the Derby, the first time jockey Julien Leparoux was aboard. Leparoux will have the mount again on Saturday.

MUSKET MAN - The son of Yonaguska galloped a mile and a half at Monmouth Park Thursday morning and appears to be on edge for another solid performance, according to trainer Derek Ryan.

"He's doing great," said Ryan, who plans to ship to Pimlico early Saturday for the race. "We'll leave around 2-2:30. It should take two and a half or three hours."

The procedure will be a little different from his Derby routine, where Musket Man was sent to Churchill Downs shortly after his victory in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. The colt had a pair of workouts in Louisville before the Run for the Roses.

"First one to the Derby, last one to the Preakness," Ryan said. "I'll be following the van in my car."

Musket Man drew post 3 for the Preakness and was listed at odds of 8-1, which was somewhat of a surprise to Ryan despite his third-place finish in the Derby.

"I'm good with it (the post)," he said. "There's good speed to the inside (Big Drama) and good speed to the outside. We'll just let them go, drop over to the rail, sit chilly and wait. I thought we'd be higher, 10 or 12-1. It doesn't matter, whatever it takes to get it done. That's the bottom line."

Musket Man has never been worse than third in seven career starts, five of them victories. His only defeat other than in the Derby came in the Sam Davis at Tampa Bay on March 14, when he was third to Preakness opponent General Quarters.

PAPA CLEM - Not unlike his father before him, trainer Gary Stute plans to send his first Preakness runner out for a final tune-up the morning before the big race.

"We'll probably blow him out an eighth of a mile, let him gallop to the eighth-pole and then let him roll," said Stute, hoping to get a better reaction than the 1:05 five-furlong work on Tuesday. "The other day he was a little lackadaisical down the lane. I want him to know when he hits that eighth-pole it means business."

Stute said exercise rider Emundo Cedeno will be aboard, unless jockey Rafael Bejarano arrives in time. Papa Clem galloped 1 1/2 miles Thursday morning.

"I've had a lot of morning glories in my life," Stute said. "This is the first horse that's just the opposite. He runs 10 times better than he works. Every once in a while he'll put in a good work, but usually if there isn't a horse in front of him he just loses interest. In the afternoon he always surprises me."

Stute said father Mel worked Snow Chief twice between the Kentucky Derby and his winning Preakness in 1986. Gary hadn't planned on it, but he was simply never comfortable after this week's move over the Pimlico strip. Mel Stute was due to arrive later Thursday from California with his wife and will be at the barn on Friday with his son's first Triple Crown runner.

"He would send him three-eighths and let him roll," Gary said, recalling that Snow Chief blew out in "33 and change" the morning before his convincing Preakness victory. Gary Stute, 52, was working as an assistant when his father won the Preakness with his first and only starter. As for this edition, Stute believes he has a solid chance with the colt named for the late racing icon Clement Hirsch, bred and owned by his son, Bo.

"I see it just about the same as the Derby," Stute said. "I think maybe Big Drama and her (Rachel Alexandra) will go out and, hopefully, I'll be laying third or fourth."

Stute said he's committed to completing the Triple Crown series as long as all goes well on Saturday.

"Even if I run second to her (Rachel Alexandra) and win the Belmont - that's the good thing about her being a filly - I should still get 3-year-old of the year, 3-year-old colt."

PIONEEROF THE NILE - After a five-year absence, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert returns to Pimlico with his ninth Preakness starter, Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, bred and owned by Ahmed Zayat. Baffert has won the race four times, Silver Charm in 1997; Real Quiet, 1998; Point Given, 2000 and War Emblem, 2002.

"I love coming here because in the stakes barn everybody is relaxed. The Derby is over," Baffert said. "You get to see everybody and then you get to get a good look at the horse that beat you."

This year, that is Mine That Bird, the New Mexico-based gelding who finished nearly seven lengths in front of Pioneerof the Nile. Baffert served up a play-by-play of his reaction as jockey Garrett Gomez was moving Pioneerof the Nile to the lead at the top of the stretch in the Derby.

"He sets him down, he's coming," Baffert said. "I'm starting to get excited about it, I'm starting to feel it and I go, 'this is mine...That Bird.' It took the air right out of us."

Pioneerof the Nile was shipped from Louisville to Pimlico Wednesday afternoon. Baffert sent him out to gallop over the track Thursday morning. The colt was scheduled to school in the paddock before the first race.

"The horse went well today," Baffert said. "The track is nice. We've got to keep the weather. I still want to see what my horse does on dirt. I've seen him on sticky mud. I want to see what he does on dirt. He went well today. He looked good out there."

A few days before the Derby, Baffert said he had prepared the colt to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown. He said Thursday that Pioneerof the Nile has handled the demands of running 1 1/4 miles in the Derby and is ready for the Preakness.

"He's really bounced out of it well. I've had horses that I've run there that you can tell it really took a lot out of them, and I really didn't want to bring them. But I sort of had to bring them to take another shot at it. He came back like the ones that won it. He's going to run a big race."

Baffert said that Mine That Bird deserves respect and his losses in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and in two races at Sunland Park are not indicative of his ability.

"I think he's a good horse," Baffert said. "He was the Canadian champ. He went to Santa Anita and just didn't run. He went to Sunland Park, which is a speed-biased track; you've got to be up close. I think he's rounding back into form. A lot of people don't give (trainer Chip Woolley) credit for getting him back to form. He wants to be ridden a certain way and Calvin was a perfect fit for him. He's the only one who could have won it for him, the way he rode that horse. He rode him with confidence. He rode him to get a piece of the pie and he got the whole pie. A bad horse does not win the Kentucky Derby."

Baffert said it makes sense that Rachel Alexandra's new owners are planning to start the star filly in the Preakness.

"I would have taken a shot at the Derby with her," he said. "There wasn't a lot of speed in there. I saw her work the Monday before the Derby - incredible. I watched all the Derby horses work and I said, 'man, I'm glad she's not in the Derby.' She’s a tremendous athlete. I would have taken a shot."

Baffert has run some of his standout fillies against males and understands the decision to enter Rachel Alexandra.

"She's a good filly," he said. "These classics are huge. There's not a lot of money to run for with fillies. There is a lot of prestige to win the Triple Crown of the fillies, but numbers-wise and everything else, she fits with these boys. I don't blame them for taking a shot."

TAKE THE POINTS - The Preakness entries show that Starlight Partners' colt will have an equipment change - blinkers on - for the seventh start of his career.

"In the Santa Anita Derby, Alex Solis felt like he was a little bit intimidated by horses surrounding him," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "We took that into consideration; put some blinkers on him in one of his breezes; and we thought we saw a little bit of improvement. Maybe that's all we need, just a little bit of improvement. We felt like there were no negative parts to it. He wasn't too rank or anything like that, so we felt like it could possibly help us."

Take the Point had enough graded stakes earnings for a spot in the Kentucky Derby field, but Pletcher and the owners decided to skip the Derby with the fourth-place finisher in the Santa Anita Derby and wait for the Preakness. The Preakness has drawn what appears to be a strong, deep field of 13 runners, but Pletcher said that the composition is not out of the ordinary.

"You expect the winner to come back and sometimes the horses that are second, third and fourth take a pass and wait for the Belmont," he said. "Other times they run back. So I can't say it's dramatically different, but I'm still happy. With the little bit of extra time I think our horse has improved. The Santa Anita Derby form held up pretty well for the Derby itself and now we're catching those horses back on two weeks rest when we've had six weeks rest. That could swing the pendulum in our favor and we're trying to pick up a couple of lengths on those horses. Hopefully, the blinkers will contribute to that and hopefully the additional time between races and catching those horses on short rest will be in our favor.

Take the Points galloped at Belmont Park Thursday morning. He will be shipped to Baltimore early Saturday morning. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado has the mount in the Preakness.

TERRAIN - Trainer Al Stall Jr. was happy with Terrain's 1 1/2-mile gallop Thursday morning, but no happier than his Preakness contender was to sink his feet into the traditional dirt track at Pimlico.

"The most important thing for him is that he's getting back on a preferred surface. He's the tale of two horses, if you look at his "Poly" (form) and if you look at his dirt (form)," said Stall, whose gelding finished a deep-closing fourth in the Blue Grass over Keeneland's Polytrack surface last time out. "It's unbelievable. He's last, second last (early) in every "Poly" race and on the dirt, he's in the bridle wanting to rock, so we're looking forward to getting him back on his preferred surface."

Jeremy Rose will ride Terrain for the first time in the Preakness.

"I've met him, but I don't know much about him except - like everyone else, being a degenerate watching races all day long - that I know he rides a very good race," Stall said. "You've got to be confident, he's got a lot of wins at this race meet and he's won this race. He rides for (trainer) Graham Motion, and that's good enough for me. Graham ships him around the country. He won a stake for Graham on Oaks Day."

TONE IT DOWN - Trainer Bill Komlo decided not to put a work into the show finisher from the Federico Tesio before the Preakness, while scheduling a 1 1/2 mile gallop and a visit to the starting gate Thursday morning at Laurel Park.

"We had a request from (Pimlico and Laurel starter) Bruce Wagner to bring the horse over to the gate and stand him," Komlo said. "I guess that's a prerequisite for all the horses running in the Preakness, so we galloped around one time and went over and stood him in the gate and then took him back to the barn."

Tone It Down was one of three Preakness runners listed at odds of 50-1 in the morning line, but Komlo is confident he will be able to outrun the prognostication with new rider Kent Desormeaux in the saddle. Mario Pino had been aboard for the Medaglia d'Oro colt's first six starts, but Komlo felt he was too close to the pace in the Tesio at Pimlico on May 2.

"I haven't talked to him (Desormeaux) yet, but we've got four horses in tomorrow,” Komlo said. "He rides a horse for us in the third race (Riddles and Rhymes), so I'll try to get over to the jocks' room before we run."

Desormeaux has won the Preakness twice, including last year's edition with Big Brown. The former Maryland riding champion also took the 1998 Preakness with Real Quiet.

Tone It Down was a $100,000 purchase by Komlo's daughter Deborah and son-in-law Michael Horning at Timonium's 2-year-old in training sale last May.

Update 4973: My latest contribution to The Rail: Fans of Barbaro Can Smile.

Update 4972: Ray Paulick at the Preakness blogging the Alibi Breakfast: CHICKEN 'N' EGGS: PAULICK LIVE BLOGS THE ALIBI BREAKFAST.

Update 4971: Seven sets for Steve this morning at Woodbine. And not a bad morning's work. Four sets before the break and three sets after the break, each of which went to the gate. There was one loose horse flying around the track at one point. And then the weather turned rainy, windy and some lightening. But all in all not so bad.

Update 4970: More on Nicanor's easy win yesterday:

Barbaro's Brother Wins
Nicanor Breaks Maiden in Stunning Fashion
Nicanor powers to 15 1/4-length romp in turf debut.

I spoke to Peter Brette after the race. He was understandably very happy, and just pleased for the horse. He does wonder, though, if he learned anything from the experience. Winning so easily really did not teach him too much. Mrs. Jackson was also thrilled. She noted how cool it was to see FOBs out there in support!

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:45 AM | Comments (45)

Barbaro Updates: 853

Posted May 13, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4969: Rachel Alexandra drew the 13th post position and is the 8-5 favorite for Saturday's Preakness Stakes. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is the 6-1 joint third choice and has post position number 2: Rachel Alexandra Is Early Preakness Favorite.

Update 4968: Nicanor's win on YouTube: Nicanor - Maiden Special Weight Win @ Delaware Park 5/13/2009.

Update 4967: Wow! Nicanor won in a terrific wire-to-wire performance this afternoon at Delaware Park. Very cool!

Update 4966: Mike Gathagan's Preakness report for Wednesday:

MINE THAT BIRD GETS ACQUAINTED WITH PIMLICO TRACK


MINE THAT BIRD - The Kentucky Derby victor pleased his trainer Wednesday during his first morning of exercise at Pimlico in preparation for Saturday’s 134th running of the Preakness. Mine That Bird, who shocked the thoroughbred world while scoring at 50-1 odds in the Derby, had arrived at Pimlico Tuesday evening following a one-stop van ride from Churchill Downs.

"He made the trip really good. He was bouncing. (Exercise rider) Charlie (Figueroa) said, over on the backside, he was really bucking and playing, so it looks like he made the trip good," said trainer Chip Woolley, who drove the pickup towing Mine That Bird's van during the trip that took less than 10 hours. "We stood him; backtracked him about a little more than a half-mile to the gates; stood him and loped him a full round, then backtracked him back. So he did almost two miles. He looks super."

Although he soundly defeated his rivals by nearly seven lengths at Churchill Downs, Mine That Bird might not be taken seriously by some bettors who regard his Derby as more of a fluke than a true measure of his talent.

"Horses fire big races, and I'm not saying he didn't run over his form, but they do fire big races, and hopefully he'll fire back like that this week," Woolley said. "If he does, that's wonderful, if he doesn't, we'll regroup and aim him for the Belmont and see what happens."

Mine That Bird's dominating performance in the Derby will always be appreciated by his trainer.

"He passed 18 head of Grade 1 horses from the three-eighths pole to the wire, so it's not like he stole an easy lead and just got away from them," Woolley said. "The horse had to work for it and earned it. That speaks for itself."

Jockey Calvin Borel, whose rail-skimming ride has received much of the credit for the last-to-first victory at Churchill, will not be aboard Mine That Bird, having opted to ride Rachel Alexandra, whom he rode to a 20 1/4-length triumph in the Kentucky Oaks. Mike Smith has been named to replace Borel.

"Calvin did a great job, but he also gave Mike, if he rides him, something to go by, because that's the trip we've been looking for all along," said Woolley, who has maintained that Borel will ride his gelding in the unlikely event that Rachel Alexandra defects from the Preakness. "Now, they see that he's fired his very best races when he's run that way, so it gives him something to gauge by going into this race."

Like Mine Than Bird, Woolley seems to be handling the pressure of the Triple Crown well.

"It's been a whirlwind. At first, it was a little overwhelming and hard to get your head around. But now, I'm starting to relax," he said. "You realize you got the Derby and you get to keep it and whatever happens after that is just gravy."

(Chip Woolley will be available to the media at 8 a.m. on Thursday and Friday)

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - The Kentucky Oaks winner spent some time standing in the starting gate Wednesday in what was a quiet morning at Churchill Downs before being shipped to Baltimore. Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said the filly was fine before boarding a charter flight to Maryland for the 134th Preakness.

Rachel Alexandra was formally entered in the Preakness Wednesday morning. The ownership group of Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable and Harold T. McCormick paid the $100,000 supplemental entry fee to make her eligible for the Triple Crown races. She will be the 53rd filly to run in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, the fifth in the last 70 years and the first since Excellent Meeting in 1999. Four fillies have won the Preakness: Flocarline in 1903; Whimsical, 1906; Rhine Maiden, 1915; and Nellie Morse, 1924.

BIG DRAMA - Trainer David Fawkes and owner Harold Queen didn't succumb to Derby Fever, even in the aftermath of Big Drama's track record-shattering first-place finish in the Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 28.

"We just kind of felt like it wasn't the right thing to do," said Fawkes, whose colt was disqualified from his short-lived sixth-straight victory for bumping after running seven furlongs in a dazzling 1:20.88.

The connections of Big Drama did develop a passion for the Preakness in the immediate aftermath of Mine That Bird's stunning upset in the Kentucky Derby.

"When they crossed the wire, I was already on the phone to Mr. Queen and said, 'I think we need to go to the Preakness," said Fawkes, a Calder-based trainer. "Knowing the connections of the filly, I was fine with going to the Preakness. Now….."

Rachel Alexandra, whose former owner was opposed to running fillies against colts in the Triple Crown, has made the Preakness a far more difficult assignment, said Fawkes. Big Drama, who stood in the starting gate and galloped a little more than a mile Wednesday, hasn't been beaten to the finish line in six starts since setting the pace and fading to third in his debut at Calder last July.

"We liked him first time," Fawkes said. "It was just too quick - a first-time starter going 6 ½ (furlongs), that's a stretch for a first-time starter going 6 1/2 at Calder."

FLYING PRIVATE/LUV GOV - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has started many fillies against males in major races - including a victory in the Kentucky Derby with Winning Colors - said Wednesday that he supports the decision to run Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Rachel Alexandra has won five consecutive races and seven of her 10 career starts. In her last start, she won the Kentucky Oaks, by 20 1/4 lengths.

"Believe me, if I had Rachel Alexandra, she'd have been in the Derby," Lukas said. "Are you kidding me? That would have been a no-brainer. I'd have led her over there and said, 'Boys, just get in the gate, you're in deep crap."

Lukas said she is a good fit for the race because she has dominated her races with fillies; has a running style that will keep her forwardly placed; has a pedigree for the distance; and the field doesn't appear to include any superstars, like Triple Crown winners Secretariat or Seattle Slew.

"I don't think she'll get intimidated," he said. "She's not some little violet prancing around. When she gets off the van you'll see.

"She's got all the equipment to get the job done. She's no little thing. She's not going to be intimidated. She might be as big as any horse in the race. Not bigger than my two colts weight-wise, but she's tall and rangy and scopey. The only thing wrong with the deal is that I don't have her."

Lukas had his Preakness horses, Flying Private and Luv Gov, jog around Pimlico early Wednesday morning. The pair shipped in from Churchill Downs Tuesday, a van ride that took about 12 hours.

"They'd been on that van for a long time, so I just jogged them today," he said. "I'll give them a good gallop tomorrow."

Lukas said the colts handled the ship "remarkably well."

"Their energy was excellent today," he said, "in fact, better than I had even hoped."

Flying Private has made four straight starts in stakes, including a last-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, but Luv Gov will be trying stakes competition for the first time. The homebred colt owned by Marylou Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson, broke his maiden on the Derby Day program on May 2 in the 10th start of his career.

"He's one of those horses that we thought a lot of and then he made us wonder a little bit," Lukas said. "He's such a big, growthy horse. His pedigree is just screaming distance, and the light bulb kind of went on for him lately. That son of a gun is starting to do good. He ran a bang-up race to Summer Bird in Hot Springs and he came back on Derby day and his numbers for that race are pretty darn good in relation to ones who ran a little later in the Derby. A horse that is improving at this time of year is always dangerous.

"My ultimate goal for him, and I told John and Marylou that right from the get-go is the Belmont. I think he's truly a mile-and-a-half horse. He could make a little noise here. We don't have grandiose ideas that he's going to jump up and beat all these horses, but he might figure in the superfecta."

Flying Private will be ridden by Alan Garcia. Jamie Theriot has the mount on Luv Gov.

FRIESAN FIRE - After working five furlongs in a sharp 58 2/5 seconds Tuesday morning, Friesan Fire walked the shedrow of the Preakness Stakes Barn Wednesday.

"He ate up all his food and he's feeling good this morning," said groom Cory York, who has worked for trainer Larry Jones for nearly five years.

Although Friesan Fire suffered several cuts on his legs during a troubled trip that resulted in an 18th-place finish in the Derby, York said the son of A.P. Indy is a relatively fresh horse for the Preakness.

"The best thing (jockey) Gabe (Saez) could have done was coast him on home. He never really got tired in the Derby. Oh, he got a little tired, but not a typical mile-and-a-quarter winded, blowing tired," the Louisville, Ky. native said.

GENERAL QUARTERS - Trainer/owner Tom McCarthy walked from nearby Barn D, where his colt has the living quarters all to himself, over to the racing office Wednesday morning to enter his one-horse stable in the Preakness. McCarthy sent the son of Sky Mesa out onto the track earlier, cooled him out and walked him in the shedrow before grabbing a small bite to eat outside the Preakness Stakes Barn.

"We just galloped a slow gallop, about a mile and three-eighths," said the 75-year-old retired school teacher and principal. "I love that track; it's the type of a sandy track that we had in Tampa. I could just tell by the way he was going that he enjoyed it."

McCarthy arrived at Pimlico early Tuesday afternoon, but a missed turn by the van driver and a subsequent minor traffic accident delayed the colt's arrival by more than an hour.

"I was a little concerned because he was in the accident yesterday, and I thought he might be just a little stiff today," McCarthy said. "But there doesn't seem to be any aftereffects whatsoever."

McCarthy is hoping General Quarters gets the opportunity to show what he can do on a fast track Saturday. He didn't care much for the surface at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, despite being on his home course. The Blue Grass (G1) winner finished 10th after encountering traffic and footing problems.

"That was horrible," said McCarthy, who has lived in Louisville with his wife and family since 1962. "It was one of the worst Derby tracks I've seen in 20 years. He got slammed pretty good in there, too."

General Quarters, a $20,000 claim by McCarthy off his debut race (a win at Churchill last May), is the most experienced runner in this year's Preakness field. He has raced 12 times with three wins, three seconds and a third. His other stakes score came in the Sam Davis (G3) at Tampa, where he beat Musket Man by 6 1/2 lengths.

MUSKET MAN - The only two-time derby winner (Illinois, Tampa Bay) in the Preakness field took "an easy hack (gallop)" around the track at Monmouth Park, where he will remain until race day.

"He's out grazing right now, doing good," trainer Derek Ryan said by phone shortly after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Musket Man, who drew only $15,000 out of a Keeneland yearling sale, was subsequently purchased privately by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson. He didn't make it to the races until October of his juvenile season, but the colt rewarded his connections for their patience by winning his first three races.

"That's my method of training," Ryan said. "Don't rush them; horses will tell you when they're ready to go. You've got to take your time. He's never run a bad race."

Musket Man started his 3-year-old campaign by winning an ungraded stake at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 17, but tasted defeat for the first time at the hands of Preakness opponent General Quarters in the Sam Davis a month later.

Ryan said he was bumped in that race, and when he came back to win the Tampa Bay Derby and Illinois Derby, he became a contender the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. Despite having trouble handling the sloppy track and encountering some bumping, Musket Man finished third in the Kentucky Derby.

Ryan said he was undeterred by the entrance of Kentucky Oaks winner in the Preakness field of 13.

"The more, the merrier," he said. "I'm not worried about anybody else in the race."

PAPA CLEM - Trainer Gary Stute, the subject of a daily diary in the New York Post, had his Arkansas Derby winner walk the shedrow Wednesday, the day after his final work. Stute planned to do little more than walk the colt again Thursday, but said he has changed plans and will take the Smart Strike sophomore out for a gallop.

"Usually I walk two days, but as slow as he worked yesterday (1:05 for five furlongs), I'll take him to the track again tomorrow," Stute said. "I heard them (media) all before the Derby, too. They said it was the worst work in Derby history (1:29 for seven furlongs). He didn't finish, he was in distress. I'm not worried about it."

Papa Clem ran a creditable fourth in the Derby. But Stute has had his eyes on this race for a long time, maybe more than two decades after his father, Mel, won the 1986 Preakness with Snow Chief.

"To win this race 23 years after my father won it would be pretty special," Stute said. "I don't know how many years I've got left with him and I'd like to do something (special) while he's alive rather than later. Hopefully we can win this race and he'll be here to see it. Pimlico is definitely a special place for the Stute family."

Stute, who grew up in the business with his father and late uncle Warren in California, has been on the phone with his dad all week. Mel Stute and his wife will be here for the race.

"He was a little disappointed with the work, but I told him it wasn't my fault," said Stute, accompanied by an ever-present laugh and cigar.

Stute said he may also give his colt some schooling before Saturday.

"I at least want to stand him in the gate once," he said. "He's never been bad in the gate, but I think it's always good for the handlers to see him once before the race."

PIONEEROF THE NILE - Trainer Bob Baffert said Ahmed Zayat's homebred colt Pioneerof the Nile stood in the starting gate and Churchill Downs and galloped Wednesday morning before boarding a charter flight to Maryland. Pioneerof the Nile, a son of Empire Maker, has won five of nine career starts. He had won four straight since being moved to Baffert's barn late last year before his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Two-time Eclipse Award winning jockey Garrett Gomez will ride Pioneerof the Nile in the Preakness.

TAKE THE POINTS - The Starlight Partners' colt turned in a routine gallop at Belmont Park Wednesday. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Take the Points will he shipped from New York to Baltimore Saturday morning, with the van scheduled to leave at 2:30 a.m. Pletcher, who won his first Triple Crown race with the filly Rags to Riches beating males in the Belmont Stakes in 2007, said he is looking forward to seeing Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra face a similar test in the Preakness on Saturday.

"Obviously, she's a filly of the highest quality and she brings a lot of pizzazz to the race," Pletcher said. "I'll find it very interesting to see how she handles a step up in class because this field is greatly different than the field she faced in the Oaks. I think it's great for the sport and it's going to be very exciting to see how she performs."

Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will ride Take the Points in the Preakness.

TERRAIN - Adele Dilschneider's Terrain galloped 1 1/2 miles at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning before boarding a charter flight bound for Baltimore in the early afternoon. Terrain, who will be ridden by Jeremy Rose, most recently finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes over Keeneland's Polytrack surface.

TONE IT DOWN - The only horse in the Preakness field with a race over the Pimlico track was jogged the wrong way and then galloped nine furlongs the right way at nearby Laurel Park Wednesday morning. Trainer Bill Komlo is hoping that race only two weeks ago is a bit of an advantage when he returns to the scene of his third-place finish in the Federico Tesio.

"I would think so (it's an advantage)," the 73-year-old Komlo said. "Any time you can get over the track and nobody else has been there, it's a step in the right direction."

Komlo said he wasn't as concerned about post positions for the Preakness as he is about getting his Medaglia d'Oro colt off the pace and back to his preferred style. To that end, he has enlisted the services of Kent Desormeaux to ride for the first time.

"I don't think it matters too much," he said of the draw. "We're not going for the lead in this race. We have to come from off the pace; that's our strong point. We're going to change tactics a bit here."

Komlo seemed comfortable with the added presence of Rachel Alexandra, who should help assure a better pace for Tone It Down and the other closers.

"It's just a horse race and the best horse wins, that's the way it is," said Komlo, "We're going to go in there hoping for the best, let our horse try to run his race and see what happens."

Update 4965: Getting ready to watch The First Saturday in May (again) at the Jake Howard Centre, here on the backside at Woodbine.

Update 4964: Here is my report from yesterday's visit to the OLEX auction: OLEX May 14th, 2009/ Carson's Sale May 9th.

Update 4963: Nicanor is running today in the 6th race at Delaware Park. A maiden special weight on the Turf. 3:30 pm east coast time.

Another quiet morning this morning for Steve at Woodbine. We only had four sets, all before the break. All mine galloped nicely. And it looks like it is warming up to be a nice day. Night racing here on Wednesday evenings. We have a couple of runners so it will ultimately be a long day, but lets hope for a little luck!

Update 4962: Mike Gathagan on the arrival of the Preakness contenders who vanned up from Churchill Downs yesterday:

DERBY HERO MINE THAT BIRD ARRIVES AT PIMLICO

BALTIMORE, 05-12-09 - Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird arrived at Pimlico ahead of schedule Tuesday with a Baltimore City Police escort at 6:44 p.m. after leaving Churchill Downs at 9:06.a.m.

"I called a friend on the way and said it's the first time I've had the police leading me instead of chasing me," quipped Woolley, who drove all the way in the Ford F-450 Lariat that towed the gleaming white van carrying his Kentucky Derby winner.

The Baltimore City police met Mine That Bird, Woolley and groom Charlie Figueroa, at the intersection of Interstate 70 and the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), clearing the way for a non-stop finish to the trip that took less than 10 hours.

The New Mexico-based trainer, who saddled Mine That Bird for a stunning 50-1 upset by nearly seven lengths in the Run for the Roses on May 2, reported that the van ride went "as smooth as silk" for the son of Birdstone, who will return to action in Saturday's 134th running of the Preakness Stakes.

"He was calm all the way; ate his feed, cleaned up good; drank all his water," said Woolley, a first-time visitor to Maryland.

The 45-year-old trainer allowed Mine That Bird to pose for photographers and cameramen for 15 minutes outside the Pimlico Stakes Barn only minutes after arriving. The Kentucky-bred horse stood calmly, unfazed by the frantic chorus of clicking camera shutters. Woolley seemed as relaxed as his colt just 10 days after running off with the Derby and four days before an attempt to add the Preakness on his unlikely Triple Crown campaign.

"I'm having a lot of fun now," Woolley said. "It took a little while after the Derby to sink in, but now I'm starting to really enjoy it."

Mine That Bird will bedded down in Stall 40, the traditional stall reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner in the Preakness Stakes Barn.

(Woolley will meet with the media at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)

General Quarters had an eventful journey that began at 5 a.m. from Churchill Downs and concluded an hour past schedule at 4:45 p.m. due to his van's involvement in a minor traffic accident near Pimlico. Van driver Maurice Poe missed the stable gate and was heading for the entrance to Interstate 83 when his van was clipped on the driver's side by another vehicle as he attempted to find his way back to Pimlico. Fortunately, Poe, groom Billy Bass, General Quarters and another unidentified thoroughbred passenger were uninjured.

"He's fine," said owner/trainer Tom McCarthy, who left the track to investigate. "I think I'm more upset than he is. There was hardly any damage to the van."

"It was pretty scary," Bass said. "But he held all right. It didn't throw him around, just the feed."

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained duo of Flying Private and Luv Gov arrived at Pimlico 40 minutes later following a less stressful van ride from Churchill Downs.

And please keep HREF="http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Horse_slaughter#STRATEGY">calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:45 AM | Comments (88)

Barbaro Updates: 852

Posted May 12, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4961: My latest post on The Rail, reviewing today's work-outs: A Speedy and a Not-So-Speedy Workout.

Update 4960: Mine That Bird gets very little respect in the Paulick Preakness Index: PAULICK PREAKNESS INDEX by AmWest Entertainment: ALEXANDRA THE GREAT?

A traffic accident near Pimlico racecourse involving the van that was carrying General Quarters left the horse unharmed. He has arrived: General Quarters unharmed after minor accident..

Update 4959: Mike Gathagan's Preakness report from Pimlico:

FRIESAN FIRE SIGNALS HIS READINESS WITH 5F. BULLET; MINE THAT BIRD, 3 OTHERS, HIT THE ROAD TO PIMLICO

MINE THAT BIRD - Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley got behind the wheel of his Ford F-450 Lariat and drove through Gate 6 at Churchill Downs Tuesday shortly after 9 a.m. with a van carrying his Kentucky Derby winner in tow.

"I think he is ready," Woolley said. "If we make the trip up there good and he eats good, I couldn't ask for anything better."

Mine That Bird, who closed from last to score by nearly seven lengths in the Derby, was expected to arrive at Pimlico 10 or 11 hours later in the day.

"I have about 115 gallons and hauling the trailer I get about 8 1/2 miles a gallon," said Woolley before hitting the road. "This will be about like our first day coming here when we went from El Paso to Lone Star Park (in suburban Dallas). We won't need to stop for gas. When we stop to eat, I'll open the top of the window and let him look out and take things in. He's a good shipper. Nothing bothers him."

Woolley, a New Mexico-based trainer who'll be making his first visit to Pimlico, is obviously enjoying his first Triple Crown experience.

"It's getting exciting; things are starting to build and I am eager to run again," Woolley said. "I came here as the underdog with no pressure. Things have changed slightly."

Calvin Borel, who gave Mine That Bird a thrilling rail-skimming ride to victory at 50-1 at Churchill Downs, has committed to ride Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, leaving the mount aboard the Kentucky Derby winner to Mike Smith.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - The Medaglia d'Oro filly, owned by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick, returned to the track Tuesday morning and galloped once around Churchill Downs under exercise rider Dominic Terry. The Kentucky Oaks winner worked four furlongs in 48 2/5 seconds Sunday morning and walked the shedrow at trainer Steve Asmussen's barn Monday morning.

"She came out of her work in good shape," said Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi.

Rachel Alexandra was purchased last week and transferred to Asmussen from trainer Hal Wiggins' barn. Blasi said the transition has been pretty easy.

"I think we're all getting used to each other, but it's been really smooth so far," he said. "We're just trying to keep her happy and she's responding to everything that we're doing."

Blasi and one of Wiggins' assistants, Brett McClellan, are very good friends and that connection has helped shorten the adjustment period.

"Mr. Hal and the whole team has been very cooperative," Blasi said. "They want nothing but the best for the filly and have been very supportive and helpful."

According to Blasi, Rachel Alexandra has reacted well to the barn change.

"It's like being around a great horse," he said. "She's just very classy and kind of takes in whatever you want to do with her."

And for a horse who clearly relishes getting out for her exercise, that includes accepting the standard day away from the track following a work.

"It was her walk day yesterday," Blasi said. "She felt good but she wasn't out of hand or anything. She walked, went in the house and went to sleep like she always does."

Rachel Alexandra, who will carry a five-race winning streak into the Preakness, is scheduled to stand in the starting gate and gallop Wednesday morning before being flown from Louisville, Ky. to Baltimore. She will be ridden in the Preakness by her regular jockey Calvin Borel.

BIG DRAMA - After working five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 at Pimlico the day before, Big Drama jogged a mile and galloped a mile Tuesday morning.

"He came out of the work great. He galloped really well," said trainer David Fawkes, whose wife, Celia, was aboard for the morning exercise.

Big Drama has blossomed since arriving at Pimlico last week, said Fawkes, an Illinois native who has been training in South Florida for 11 years.

"It does a lot for them. It helps to build their blood up. They get sharp and happy. They like that climate change. I've had a lot of luck shipping out of Calder," he said. "It's 90 (degrees) in Florida right now and 48 (degrees) here. You move a horse out of that into cool weather and it makes a huge difference."

Big Drama, who will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez, has finished first in his last six starts but was disqualified and placed second after running a brilliant seven furlongs in 1:20.88 in the Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park last time out.

FLYING PRIVATE/LUV GOV - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said jockey Jamie Theriot will ride Luv Gov in the 134th Preakness Saturday at Pimlico. Theriot, who replaces Miguel Mena, has ridden the Ten Most Wanted colt three times. Flying Private and Luv Gov were loaded on a van at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning for the trip to Pimlico. Lukas said they were scheduled to arrive at approximately 4 p.m.

FRIESAN FIRE - Showing no ill effects from his troubled journey in the Kentucky Derby, Friesan Fire fired a "bullet" at Pimlico Tuesday morning. The beaten favorite in the Run for the Roses prepped for the Preakness with a sensational five-furlong workout in 58 2/5 seconds under jockey Gabriel Saez.

"All went well. He warmed up really good for it; he broke off very relaxed as far as not trying to send him away from there; but anytime you put the blinkers on him, he gets focused and wants to start rolling; he finished up well," said trainer Larry Jones, whose colt worked shortly after the track reopened from the renovation break at 8 a.m.

Friesan Fire had turned in a blistering five-furlong workout in 57 4/5 seconds a few days before the Kentucky Derby.

"We really meant to work him well that day, and he did," said Jones, whose colt had a six-week layoff between the Louisiana Derby and the Derby. "This one here was just to let him stretch his legs and see if he came out of the Derby well. I know when I galloped him the last two days, he sure seemed like he was doing well. We're very happy, very pleased. He's cooling out good, so all's well. Right now we will push on and run Saturday."

Saez echoed Jones' satisfaction with the workout.

"I think this work was kind of better than the last time," he said. "The main thing is: the horse is sound and handled the track really well."

Friesan Fire had suffered cuts all over his legs, particularly in his left front foot, during his eventful run in the Derby, in which he was bumped around at the start and raced in heavy traffic before fading to 18th.

"We wound up having to walk him four days, but one of the days was a ship day. Then we went back and jogged a little bit. We couldn't do a lot with that foot; we had to keep a patch on him while we were training him to prevent him from irritating it," Jones said. "Today (Tuesday) is the first day we've been able to go and not have to put a patch on it, and he came back really well. I'm very pleased with the way it's healed up. You sure couldn't feel anything when I rode him the last couple days. If you didn't know he'd had an issue, you wouldn't know it."

When Jones had a chance to examine Friesan Fire following the Derby, he discovered strips of bandages lodged between the hoof and the shoe of the left front foot.

"When we first saw it, we thought it was part of his hoof that had peeled up in there," he said. "But when we got to checking it, we could see that it was some kind of material. So we took a couple nails out of his shoe where we could get it pried out, and it was a bandaging material."

The mystery of where the bandage came from was solved the next morning at the nearby Cracker Barrel, where he bumped into Bennie "Chip" Woolley, trainer of Derby winner Mine That Bird, and Bob Baffert, who saddled Pioneerof the Nile for a runner-up finish in the Run for the Roses. While they traded war stories of Derby 135, Baffert mentioned that one of Pioneer of the Nile's bandages had a round piece missing after the race.

"I asked him, 'You didn't have on black bandages, did you?' He said, 'Well, yes, I did.' I said, 'Well, I know where it is,'" Jones recalled. "So, apparently, we got close to Pioneerof the Nile someplace, sometime."

GENERAL QUARTERS - The one-horse stable of 75-year-old owner/trainer/groom/hot walker Tom McCarthy left the friendly confines of Churchill Downs around 5 a.m. Tuesday for the long van ride to Pimlico.

The son of Sky Mesa, who was claimed by McCarthy for $20,000 less than a year ago, worked four furlongs in 50 1/5 seconds on Monday before leaving Louisville Tuesday.

McCarthy was a long-time teacher and principal in the Louisville school system before retiring in 1990 to return to the horse business. A native of Connecticut, McCarthy spent several years around New England tracks before serving in the Army during the Korean War. He attended college in Kentucky and settled there after the war.

MUSKET MAN - The third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby worked a bullet four furlongs in 46 3/5 seconds Tuesday morning at Monmouth Park under exercise rider Daniel Centeno, one of the top jockeys at the current meeting at Oceanport, N.J. Eibar Coa, who was aboard for Musket Man's last two starts, will ride him in the Preakness.

"It went perfect, just what I wanted," said Ryan, who will ship his colt on race day. "I haven't run any horses at Pimlico in quite a while, but it's a similar track to Monmouth. I've won a couple stakes there."

Musket Man went to Kentucky off back-to-back derby wins at Hawthorne and Tampa Bay Downs, but Ryan said he wasn't as sharp on the sloppy, sealed surface at Churchill Downs.

"All that rain and it never dried out," said Ryan, who will saddle his first Preakness runner. "He's got a good turn of foot, but on a sloppy track you don't have that turn of foot you would have on a dry track."

Still, Musket Man missed second money by only a nose.

The weather forecast for the Baltimore area is much more promising the rest of the week than it was Derby week in Louisville, with only a chance of scattered showers on race day.

Musket Man, overlooked at 19-1 in the Derby, has won three of his five starts as a 3-year-old. The son of Yonaguska was 2-for-2 at age 2.

PAPA CLEM - The fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby worked a leisurely five furlongs in 1:05 under exercise rider Emundo Cedeno shortly after 7 a.m. over a fast Pimlico main track Tuesday morning in his final breeze for the Preakness.

"I was hoping for a faster time, but I'm not worried about it," said affable trainer Gary Stute after watching the move from the clubhouse box area. "The track may have been a little slow if you look at the earlier works. All his workouts before the Derby were bad except for the last one. Coming back from the Derby in two weeks, I just mainly wanted him to get a feel for the track."

The Kentucky-bred colt's first quarter-mile was accomplished in 25 seconds with a half-mile in 51 4/5 seconds. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:22 3/5. The son of Smart Strike bred and owned by Bo Hirsch has only run once on a fast dirt surface when he upset Old Fashioned in the Arkansas Derby (G2) in his final Derby prep.

"I never really thought of him as Derby horse because he never really trained like one, but every time he's run, he's run a lot better than he trained," said Stute, who will walk the colt Wednesday and possibly get him a visit to the gate Thursday or Friday. "He's always kind of shocked me how good he ran off the way he worked."

Stute was here with his dad, Mel, 23 years ago to witness his Preakness victory with Snow Chief, when the beaten Kentucky Derby favorite took the measure of Ferdinand, Broad Brush, speedball Groovy and the favored D. Wayne Lukas entry of Badger Land and Clear Choice.

"I can remember about four jumps from the wire and he was about four (lengths) in front and I jumped on my dad and said, 'we did it,'" Stute recalled. "It was the maddest I've ever seen him, and I've done a lot of things to make him mad. He looked at me like we haven't crossed the finish line yet. Two seconds later he crossed the wire and it was all better. He's pretty superstitious."

Stute said his father and mother will be coming to Baltimore to see if their son can match his father's feat of winning with his first Preakness starter.

"Originally, he was trying not to come, but I kind of insisted," Gary Stute said. "I thought I was going to win, but that was before the filly (Rachel Alexandra) entered. I still wanted him here just in case."

Stute said that he has mixed feelings about the new shooter on the Triple Crown scene.

"Personally, for me, I think it's a little disappointing, but for racing I think it's great," he said. "I figure it should bring 20-30,000 extra fans here on Saturday. And when the husbands are watching the race at home, the wives will be watching, too. It's going to be great for racing. Racing is in kind of a downward spiral right now, and this can only help it in the long run."

PIONEEROF THE NILE - Newly elected Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said that he was impressed with the appearance of Mine That Bird as the Kentucky Derby winner was loaded on the van Tuesday morning for the trip from Churchill Downs to Pimlico.

"He looked great," Baffert said. "He's going to be tough, that horse. He looks good. It looks like the Derby didn't take a lot out of him."

Baffert said the expected entry of the standout filly Rachel Alexandra adds to a deep Preakness field that is likely to have 13 starters.

"There is going to be a lot of excitement with that filly in there," Baffert said. "She's a wonderful filly. She's an incredible athlete. She's got the right style. She's going to be forwardly placed, so she'll be out of the way. She's got a beautiful fluid stride and a great turn of foot. She's dangerous.

"But Mine That Bird is a good horse. Big Drama is a good horse. Any time a horse has got a lot of ones in the win column, that's a good horse. Traffic is going to be a huge factor with 13 horses in there."

Big Drama has finished first in his last six starts.

Rachel Alexandra will be the first filly to start in the Preakness since the Baffert-trained Excellent Meeting competed in 1999. Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks in her last start and will be facing males for the first time.

"If she's in there, she's in there," Baffert said. "I've done it. I've run fillies there before. She's a good filly. She's so popular, she'll probably go off as the favorite. She really brings a lot to the race. It's good for Pimlico."

Pioneerof the Nile walked the shedrow at Baffert's barn at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning. The Kentucky Derby runner-up, who breezed a half-mile in 47 3/5 seconds Monday, will be flown to Baltimore Wednesday. He will be ridden in the Preakness by Garrett Gomez.

TAKE THE POINTS - The Starlight Partners' colt will be trainer Todd Pletcher's fourth Preakness starter. Pletcher made his Preakness debut in 2000 with Impeachment, who finished third. In 2007, Pletcher saddled Circular Quay, who finished fifth, and King of the Roxy, the sixth-place horse. Take the Points, a son of Even the Score, remains at Pletcher's barn at Belmont Park. He brings a record of 2-2-0 from six starts into the Preakness, where he will compete in blinkers for the first time. In his last start, Take the Points finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Pioneerof the Nile.

TERRAIN - Trainer Al Stall Jr. sent Terrain to the track at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning, when the son of Sky Mesa jogged a half-mile and galloped a mile under exercise rider Jimmy Valdez. Stall is looking forward to running Terrain over the dirt track at Pimlico after watching him struggle over the Polytrack surface at Keeneland during his fourth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes. Terrain won his first two career starts on the dirt surfaces at Churchill Downs and Mountaineer Park last year and finished a solid third at Fair Grounds while coming off a long layoff in the Louisiana Derby. He ran respectably in his four synthetic-track appearances, but he runs far more aggressively on dirt.

"He gets into his races on dirt," Stall said. "He wants no part of 'Poly.' On 'Poly' he drops back under absolutely no resistance."

Terrain, who'll be ridden by Jeremy Rose Saturday, is scheduled to accompany likely favorite Rachel Alexandra and Pioneerof the Nile on a 1 p.m. Baltimore-bound flight from Louisville on Wednesday.

TONE IT DOWN - The lightly tested son of Medaglia d'Oro galloped 1 1/2 miles at Laurel Park Tuesday for trainer Bill Komlo, who indicated he may give the colt a three-eighths breeze on Wednesday morning.

"He seems to be right on target," Komlo said. "We went pretty good today. We'll just see how he's feeling tomorrow."

Kent Desormeaux will be aboard the third-place finisher in the Federico Tesio for the first time, and he may not see the horse until Saturday when Komlo vans him in.

"He's an experienced rider," Komlo said. "I would certainly like to have him get on the horse, but it's going to be what it is. I can't do much about it."

Update 4958: Latest entry for The Rail: Mine That Bird's Early Education.

Update 4957: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

While the Preakness draw won't take place until tomorrow, we have a reasonably good idea of the field at this point. Rachel Alexandra should be in (after Sunday's brush fire of idiocy) and Friesan Fire is now definitely a go as well. Derby victor Mine That Bird had a surprise workout the other day and is now on his way (yes, in the trailer) to Pimlico, where he is expected to be ridden by Mike Smith.

(In case you 'Jockeys' fans were wondering how that went down with Chantal Sutherland, who had ridden Mine That Bird to a number of wins in Canada, The Rail has that covered for you. Apparently she was very understanding that her boyfriend got the call instead.)

As for other likely Preakness starters, Musket Man worked a bullet at Monmouth Park and looks like he will be a serious contender (and probably an underbet one, if Rachel Alexandra does make the field). I have yet to cash my Derby ticket on him - I may wait until the weekend when I have more than one. Papa Clem worked out at Pimlico in a slightly slower-than-expected time, but it was suggested that the track surface was not at its best. Big Drama, whose running style seems ideally suited to the Preakness, is also in town and ready to go.

The connections of Hull have opted to send him to the Woody Stephens instead (and I think the undefeated colt has a great future ahead of him as a sprinter), and while Terrain is getting little notice, he has managed to score the services of Preakness-winning jockey Jeremy Rose, who certainly knows the mid-Atlantic circuit well. The only locally-based horse who will contest the race is Laurel Park regular Tone It Down, although his record is not awe-inspiring - he seems rather overmatched here.

Back at Churchill Downs, Pioneerof the Nile had a very speedy workout indeed, with General Quarters posting a more middling number. Flying Private was a bit faster than General Quarters, but I'm afraid I still can't see exactly what he adds to the Preakness field. I'd say the same of Take the Points.

And speaking of Pioneerof the Nile, he will be taking the same Wednesday flight to Baltimore as Rachel Alexandra; hopefully he lets her enjoy a quiet trip.

Before we go, let's have one final note regarding the Mother's Day Mortification; Gary Stute, trainer of Papa Clem, may have proven himself the smartest person in the sport by staying in silent running mode:

"I was in my hotel room and a few people called me to tell me about it," Stute said. "I'm glad I was laying low."

A wise decision indeed.

Finally, the long-range weather forecast for Baltimore is showing possible thunderstorms on Saturday; I'll be making my final decision about heading to the race that morning (allowing for late scratches), but if I am there, it essentially guarantees at least a downpour or two - I've only made it through one Triple Crown race (last year's horribly hot Belmont) without requiring serious rain gear. If my presence does turn the track into soup, I'll be expecting my cut of Rachel Alexandra's winnings in the form of a saddle cloth or similar...

Update 4956: Friesan Fire goes 24 lengths faster than Papa Clem in their works this morning at Pimlico: Papa Clem, Friesan Fire work at Pimlico.

Update 4955: Mine That Bird is on the road to Baltimore: Twitter.

Update 4954: A quiet morning for me this morning at Steve's. We only had three sets, all before the break. All mine galloped nicely. After the break we had a few workers, so I went over to the track to watch them work. Just a gorgeous morning here at Woodbine.

Update 4953: Here is the weekly Facebook e-mail: Rachel Alexandra, The Rail, OLEX, Nebraska Mustangs, ABR YouTube Contest.

And my weekly contribution to Eclipse Magazine (UK): Alex Brown 12 May 2009.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:48 AM | Comments (42)

Barbaro Updates: 851

Posted May 11, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4952: Work schedules and travel schedules tomorrow from Pimlico (Mike Gathagan):

Papa Clem will work at 7 am
Friesan Fire scheduled for 8 am work. Trainer Larry Jones to decide on Preakness after breeze
Big Drama has been here since last Tuesday. He has been going to the track at 6:30 am

D. Wayne Lukas' horses (Flying Private & Luv Gov) leaving Louisville at 4 am
General Quarters scheduled to leave Churchill at 5 am
Mine That Bird will leave Kentucky at 9 am

Van drivers tell us it is 10-11 hours from Churchill to Pimlico. Derby winner will get a police escort from Route 70, prior to the Baltimore Beltway into Old Hilltop.

Update 4951: My latest entry for The Rail: Mine That Bird Works Out.

Update 4950: Mike Gathagan's Preakness report:

MINE THAT BIRD WORKS UNEXPECTEDLY IN KENTUCKY; RACHEL ALEXANDRA NOW LIKELY FOR HISTORIC START; HULL OPTS OUT OF RACE

MINE THAT BIRD – Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley altered Mine That Bird's training schedule at Churchill Downs Monday morning, when he sent his Kentucky Derby winner to the track for an impromptu half-mile workout in preparation for a start in Saturday's 134th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

"The horse looked good. I hadn't planned to work him, but he was getting pretty high. He bounced back from the Derby a little quicker than I thought he would," Woolley said. "He was getting a little rattled, he was feeling so good. We just wanted to let him stretch his legs."

Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to a 6 3/4-length victory in the Kentucky Derby, was aboard for the breeze that was timed in 49.20 seconds, ranked 17th of 48 workouts at the distance. The 50-1 bomb galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.80. Barring any surprises before entries are taken Wednesday for the Preakness - which was expected Monday to attract a field of 13 - Borel will not be aboard Mine That Bird for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

Borel has committed to ride Rachel Alexandra, the Kentucky Oaks-winning filly who will only be able to run in the Preakness if no more than 13 Triple Crown nominees are entered and her owners pay a $100,000 supplemental fee to make her eligible for the series. On Sunday, Mine That Bird's owner Mark Allen had indicated an intention to enter maiden Indy Express in the Preakness, a move that potentially could have excluded Rachel Alexandra from the field, but he scrapped that plan later in the day.

"Calvin will have the call on my horse right up to the time entries are taken. If the filly is entered, then Mike Smith will have the mount," Woolley said. "We've had talks with Mike and we decided it was the best move to have Mike on our horse if the mare is in the race."

Smith, a New Mexico native, will fit the stretch-running Mine That Bird, said Woolley.

"Mike watched the Derby. He saw how the horse ran and knows the kind of running style he has," the New Mexico-based trainer said. "We're confident that he'd do his job well."

Woolley, who vanned Mine That Bird during a 21-hour trip from New Mexico to Kentucky, said he plans to get behind the wheel again at 9 a.m. Tuesday for a 10-hour trip from Churchill Downs to Pimlico.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - After breezing on Sunday, Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra had a quiet Monday morning while walking the shedrow at trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Oaks winner tuned up for her planned debut in the Triple Crown series with a half-mile breeze in 48.40 seconds.

"She came out of her work in good order," said Scott Blasi, a top assistant to trainer Asmussen. "Physically she looks beautiful."

Rachel Alexandra is now poised to be officially entered in the Preakness Wednesday morning and would be the first Kentucky Oaks winner to compete in Maryland's signature race. Sunday evening, the owners of the top two Derby finishers - Mark Allen, who co-owns the winner Mine That Bird, and Ahmed Zayat, breeder and owner of Pioneerof the Nile - said they had nixed plans to enter additional horses in the Preakness. Those decisions created an opening in the field and the announcement Monday that Hull would not be entered added yet another position in the starting gate. The filly's new owner, Jess Jackson, said he intends to pay the supplemental fee of $100,000 to enter her in the race.

Blasi said the filly, who has won five consecutive races, is scheduled to be shipped from Louisville to Baltimore Wednesday on a charter flight.

If Rachel Alexandra is entered in the Preakness, she will be ridden by Calvin Borel, who has decided to give up the mount on Derby winner Mine That Bird. Borel is scheduled to appear on the NBC program Tonight with Jay Leno on Tuesday.

BIG DRAMA - Jockey John Velazquez and Big Drama got acquainted at Pimlico Monday morning during a four-furlong workout that was timed in 50 seconds. The pair galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.60 in preparation for the Preakness Stakes.

Although the clocking wasn’t eye-catching, Velazquez was suitably impressed with the son of Montbrook.

"He did everything very, very easy. I just wanted to get a little feel for him. He was going to the pole a little bit strong, so I wanted to be a little cautious with him. The race is pretty close right now," the New York-based jockey said.

"The reason I started slow was because he was going strong to the (half-mile) pole. I didn't want him to do too much. If I let him go too fast the first part, I'd have no control of him. I wanted to have control of him to have him do what I wanted him to do, not him controlling me," added Velazquez, who inherited his Preakness mount when Eibar Coa opted to stick with Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Musket Man.

Big Drama, who made a little jump over a spot in the track at the top of the stretch that had different harrow marks than the rest of the track, otherwise appeared to move well over the Pimlico racing surface.

"He didn't want to leave his race on the track. I'd rather have (50 seconds) than go out there and go 46 (seconds) and get sick to your stomach," trainer David Fawkes said. "He galloped out good. He's fit. It was just maintenance."

Velazquez said he was "shocked" that Calvin Borel made a commitment to ride Rachel Alexandra instead of Mine That Bird in the Preakness, but that he could identify with him. Velazquez made a switch to Rags to Riches before her historic victory in the 2007 Belmont Stakes.

"I know the feeling that he has," said Velazquez. "I jumped off another horse to ride her, because of the quality of horse that she was. So I already did it once. I didn't win on that horse before, but I was committed to another horse. I just think he knows the filly has the quality to win this race. She's showing the potential to do what Rags to Riches did."

FLYING PRIVATE/LUV GOV - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said any number of superlatives could be used to describe his reaction to Flying Private's half-mile breeze Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Working in company with stablemate Sea Admiral, Flying Private breezed a half-mile with jockey Jamie Theriot up in 48.20 seconds. The fractions were 12.80; 24.80 and 36.20 seconds while finishing about seven lengths in front of his workmate.

Flying Private, who finished last in the Kentucky Derby, will be ridden by jockey Alan Garcia.

Lukas said Marylou Whitney's colt Luv Gov was still on course for the Preakness. However, Lukas said the colt will not be entered if his presence would have an impact on Rachel Alexandra being able to compete in the race. He said it was never his intention to enter a second horse to block the filly from being in the field.

"Let me make this crystal clear, there is no controversy," Lukas said. "We entered and I told Coley Blind, the stakes coordinator, that we would enter only if there was no controversy with the filly and we did not exclude her. If in any way, shape or form she is excluded because of our entry, then we will not enter. We are not trying to keep the filly out.

"We're only entering if there is a hole open in the 14th gate. We are not trying to keep the filly from running. If she is excluded by Luv Gov, he will not run. Marylou Whitney, with her status in racing and what she has meant to the industry, has no interest in causing a controversy in the Preakness.

"If we make the 14th horse, we'll enter. If for some reason between now and Wednesday's draw, if somebody else enters and it eliminates the filly, we will not enter."

Luv Gov walked the shedrow Monday, the morning after he worked a half-mile.

"He had a nice breeze Sunday, probably one of the best of the spring for him," Lukas said.

No rider has been named for Luv Gov. Lukas's two Preakness horses and three other horses pointed toward Pimlico races are scheduled to be shipped from Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

FRIESAN FIRE - Friesan Fire arrived by van at Pimlico Monday shortly before 2 p.m. The Louisiana Derby winner was accompanied by his groom, Cory York, who reported that all went well during the short van ride from trainer Larry Jones' Delaware Park barn.

Friesan Fire, who suffered cuts in his left front leg while finishing 18th as the Kentucky Derby favorite, is slated to work out at Pimlico with jockey Gabriel Saez aboard Tuesday morning.

GENERAL QUARTERS - The Blue Grass Stakes winner put in his final work at Churchill Downs Monday morning for owner Tom McCarthy, who said he got exactly what he was looking for from the son of Sky Mesa.

Clockers caught the 10th-place Kentucky Derby finisher in 50.20 seconds for a half-mile with exercise rider Justin Court aboard. The breeze ranked 28th of 48 recorded at the distance. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.60.

"Perfect," said McCarthy, the retired school principal-turned-trainer. "He started off a little slow, but he finished up better than he started. That was pretty much what we wanted."

McCarthy, who claimed General Quarters for $20,000 out of his winning maiden debut, plans to load the gray colt onto a van Tuesday morning at around 6 a.m. for the trip north to Pimlico. He is expected to arrive around 2 p.m.

"It was the first time I had worked the horse, and I was impressed with him," Court said. "I had a lot of horse, and I think he will do well over there (Pimlico)."

General Quarters has already earned $641,735 for McCarthy's meager investment. The only horse in McCarthy's stable also won the Sam Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs en route to the Kentucky Derby.

HULL - The connections of the least-experienced prospect for the Preakness decided on Monday to withdraw the son of Holy Bull from the Preakness field.

"When I committed to run in the race, I liked the way it was setting up," said co-owner Barry Irwin of Team Valor International. "I think the pace is going to be too hot. I don't like the way it's shaping up for our horse. It's going to be our horse's first time around two turns, and I just think there's too much speed in there and I'm not comfortable."

The unbeaten son of Holy Bull won the Derby Trial in his last start, only the third of his career. Irwin said they would run Hull in the Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard on June 6.

"I'd like to be able to run him in the Preakness, but I don't want to screw the horse up," Irwin said. "He's only run three times, so I don't want to mess him up."

MUSKET MAN - Trainer Derek Ryan sent out the Illinois Derby (G2) for a 1 3/4-mile gallop Monday morning at Monmouth Park, where he'll get a final half-mile workout on Tuesday morning.

"He's doing fine," said Ryan, a native of Ireland and a former assistant to Joe Orseno. "He seems to be doing pretty good since the Derby (third behind Mine That Bird and Pioneerof the Nile)."

Eibar Coa has been aboard for Musket Man's last two starts, which included the victory at Hawthorne that preceded the Kentucky Derby. Coa elected to ride Musket Man in the Preakness over Big Drama.

"He's ridden a lot for us in New York and we've had a lot of success with him," Ryan said. "He decided to go to Illinois with us and he gave him a great ride there."

Coa was the fourth rider for Musket Man in seven career starts, five of them victories. The son of Yonaguska won his first three career starts before finishing third in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay, his only other defeat besides the Derby.

Musket Man, a $15,000 yearling who sold for considerably more at 2 when he was purchased privately by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson, will remain in New Jersey until race day and van in for the Preakness.

PAPA CLEM - The Arkansas Derby (G2) winner, one of only two Preakness candidates in the Pimlico Stakes Barn, galloped over the track for the first time Monday and will be sent out for a five-furlong breeze on Tuesday.

Trainer Gary Stute will try to duplicate the feat accomplished by his father, Mel, who won the Middle Jewel with his first starter (Snow Chief, 1986). When asked if he and any of his colleagues should be concerned about the now-likely prospect of running against superstar filly Rachel Alexandra, Stute didn't hesitate.

"There should be 13 of us (concerned) to be exact," Stute said. "She changes the whole race in my opinion. She's an exceptional filly. I've kind of been following her around and she's impressed me a lot. If I could change places in the race, I probably would."

Papa Clem, a son of Smart Strike who ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby, might have deserved a better fate in his first Grade 1 outing.

"I thought I was a little unlucky not to finish second," Stute said. "Bob's (Baffert) horse (Pioneerof the Nile) came out and bumped me. In a normal race there might have been an inquiry, but I've heard the Kentucky Derby is like Game 7 in the NBA finals. They're gonna let them play. They better mug you before they call a foul. I was real proud of him."

Stute also had high praise for the ride of Calvin Borel aboard Derby long shot winner Mine that Bird.

"He's the new 'Iceman,' " Stute said. "He was 50-1, but (Borel) also rode the Derby favorite (Street Sense) that way. He made it look like we were all standing still."

PIONEEROF THE NILE - Following the colt's solid four-furlong work in 47.60 seconds at Churchill Downs Monday, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed that the Derby runner-up will compete in the Preakness.

Under rider Joe Steiner, Pioneerof the Nile turned in consistent split times of 12:20, 24.40 and 36.20 seconds, then galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.20 and six furlongs on 1:14.80.

"He worked great and went over the track really well," Baffert said. "We finally got a nice track. He bounced out of the race great and I don't see any effects from the Derby; he looks strong. It looks like he's sitting on another great performance."

Pioneerof the Nile is scheduled to be shipped to Pimlico on Wednesday. Garrett Gomez, the leading rider in the U.S., will ride the colt in the Preakness.

TAKE THE POINTS - The Starlight Partners' colt jogged a mile Monday morning at Belmont Park, a day after he completed a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.09.

"We were very happy with his breeze," said Jonathan Thomas, an assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "It was a standard breeze and he appeared to come out of it pretty well."

Shipping plans from New York to Baltimore have not been finalized. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will ride the speedy colt, who will compete in blinkers for the first time.

TERRAIN - The connections of Terrain decided Monday to offer Jeremy Rose the Preakness mount on the son of Sky Mesa. Trainer Al Stall Jr. said he was looking for some "local knowledge" while zeroing in on Rose, who has enjoyed considerable success on the Maryland circuit and visited the Pimlico winner's circle with Afleet Alex following his victory in the 2005 Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown..

"Jeremy rides well and he's won the race," Stall said.

Terrain walked the shedrow at Churchill Downs Monday morning after working five furlongs in 1:02.60 the day before.

The Kentucky-bred colt didn't make a start this year until March 14, when he finished third behind Friesan Fire and Papa Clem in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. Terrain finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes over Keeneland's Polytrack surface in his most recent start.

"He's set up for a good effort," Stall said. "He's fit now and he's fresh."

Terrain is scheduled to gallop at Churchill Downs for the next couple of days before a scheduled flight from Louisville, Ky. to Baltimore on Wednesday.

TONE IT DOWN - The son of Medaglia d'Oro galloped 1 1/2 miles at trainer Bill Komlo's home base at Laurel Park. Komlo said he is mulling the possibility of a final workout Tuesday or Wednesday.

"He's perfect right now," said Komlo, whose daughter Deborah and son-in-law Michael Horning own the colt under the name of M and D Stable. They purchased him at Timonium as a 2-year-old for $100,000.

Komlo is a native of Pennsylvania, but has spent most of his adult life in Maryland. This is his second go-round as a horse trainer beginning in the 1960s. He left racing for several years to coach his sons in football and returned nearly a decade ago. This is Komlo's first Triple Crown entrant.

"I guess it would be the epitome of happiness, being in the horse business and having an opportunity to run in it (Preakness)" he said. "We're Maryland people, excited about it. It would be a great thing."

Tone It Down's only prior stakes experience came in the Federico Tesio (G3) here at Pimlico two weeks ago, when he finished third in a field of eight.

Update 4949: John Asher's report from Churchill Downs on Monday:

CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES
Monday, May 11, 2009

BOREL UP AS MINE THAT BIRD WORKS HALF-MILE
PIONEEROF THE NILE ZIPS FOUR FURLONGS, BAFFERTANTICIPATING MINE THAT BIRD REMATCH, 'RACHEL'
GENERAL QUARTERS, FLYING PRIVATE BREEZE

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD WORKS SURPRISE FOUR FURLONGS WITH BOREL IN SADDLE - Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. waited until after the renovation break to send Kentucky Derby 135 winner Mine That Bird to the track Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

That signaled the trip was not business as usual - no two-mile gallop under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.

"Are you working?" Woolley was asked upon arrival at a viewing stand.

"No. I'm just going to let him stretch his legs for a half-mile and let him finish the last eighth with Calvin (Borel) on him," Woolley said.

As Mine That Bird back-tracked to the paddock runway, Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile appeared on the scene heading in the same direction.

"Are they going to work together?" one onlooker queried.

"They better not be," Woolley said with a laugh.

Soon after, Mine That Bird came into view and went about his business, which was duly recorded as a half-mile work in :49.20 with fractions of :12.80, :25.20, :37 and out five-eighths in 1:02.80. The move ranked as the 17th fastest of 48 at the distance.

"That was no work for him," Woolley said. "He didn't flare a nostril coming back. Calvin did a great job."

Woolley had intended to jog Mine That Bird in the morning before leaving for Pimlico.

"This way, I'll be able to walk tomorrow and then get back on the track Wednesday at Pimlico," Woolley said. "I would have possibly missed a day, so it worked better this way to do what we did."

Borel, who won his second Kentucky Derby aboard Mine That Bird, would ride Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra if she runs in the Preakness, leaving Woolley without a rider.

"Calvin has first call," Woolley said. "Mike Smith has agreed to be the backup and he will be there to ride him (if Rachel Alexandra runs)."

Smith, who rode Chocolate Candy to a fifth-place finish behind Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby, won the 1993 Preakness on Derby runner-up Prairie Bayou.

Woolley said he hopes to have everything loaded and ready to go for a 9 a.m. departure Tuesday for Pimlico.

Mark Allen, who along with Dr. Leonard Blach owns Mine That Bird in the partnership of Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, said that Indy Express, who he owns as part of Fourteen Enterprises, would remain at Churchill Downs and point for a race Friday.

Trained by Joe Merrick, Indy Express had been considered as a possible Preakness starter by Allen, who nixed the idea Sunday night. Indy Express, a well-bred son of A.P. Indy, is winless in nine starts. Indy Express worked five furlongs in 1:02 under Joe Johnson about the same time Mine That Bird went through his paces.

PIONEEROF THE NILE ZIPS, BAFFERT LOOKS FORWARD TO PREAKNESS AND MEETING WITH RACHEL ALEXANDRA - Zayat Stables LLC's Pioneerof the Nile, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and winner of the Santa Anita Derby (GI), was sharp in his final major training move for Saturday's Preakness (GI) as he worked four furlongs in :47.60 on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Joe Steiner was aboard for the move, which was the fourth-fastest of 48 at the distance. The 3-year-old son of Empire Maker covered the distance over a "fast" track in fractions of :12.20, :24.20 and :36.20, then galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.20 and six furlongs in 1:14.40. The clocking of Pioneerof the Nile's gallop-out for five furlongs would have tied as the fastest work of the day at that distance.

Trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and four-time Preakness winner, watched the work from the Churchill Downs clubhouse with Zayat Stables owner Ahmed Zayat

"I liked what I saw," Baffert said. "He bounced out of that race well. He was full of himself and he really wanted to work...He looked great. I look for him to come back and run another big race."

Baffert said he is looking forward to saddling Pioneerof the Nile for a rematch with longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and a first meeting with Rachel Alexandra, the brilliant Kentucky Oaks (GI)-winning filly who is expected to be made a supplemental entry to the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown.

"I think it's going to be a really exciting race," Baffert said. "She's a great filly, but I think we have a great horse. There's some other horses in there that are pretty good - Musket Man, Papa Clem and the Derby winner.

"There are going to be a lot of questions answered in the Preakness and that's what it's all about. We'll just see what happens, but we looked great today. I really liked what I saw."

Baffert downplayed Sunday's controversy over the prospect that some owners, including Zayat, might enter other horses in the Preakness in an effort to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the race.

"That's no issue - that was something that was just being mulled around and never really got any legs," he said. "I think it stems from Calvin Borel - I've never seen a jockey take-off a Derby winner. So that's where it all started. But it's dead - it's a dead issue, so we won't even talk about it."

Baffert does have experience running a high quality filly against colts in the spring classics. He saddled Golden Eagle Farm's Excellent Meeting for a fifth-place finish behind Charismatic in the 1999 Kentucky Derby, and then sent out Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Silverbulletday in that year's Belmont Stakes (GI). Silverbulletday will join racing's Hall of Fame this year with her trainer, but she faltered in the homestretch of that running of the Belmont Stakes to finish seventh behind the victorious Lemon Drop Kid.

"I was mad at myself for doing that," Baffert said of Silverbulletday's classic run against colts. "It just takes a lot out of them. The classics are so tempting. That's probably why they (former owner Dolphus Morrison and trainer Hal Wiggins) never nominated Rachel Alexandra."

But Baffert said the talented Rachel Alexandra could have some advantages against males that could set her apart.

"With her style of running she probably has a better chance because she's out there away from the action," he said. "If she was a come-from-behind type, it's harder on them. I think the Belmont would probably suit her. She'd get out there with that long stride and cruise around there. But it (Rachel Alexandra's presence in the Preakness) brings a lot to the race. It's gonna be exciting, it's gonna be big. It's gonna be just as big as the Derby, having a great filly like that run with these colts. You've got the Derby winner and you've got all these horses, so it's gonna be a big field - but you still need a lot of luck. But I'm really excited about it and it's gonna be a great day for racing.

"Now that we can't go for the Triple Crown, we're running for glory now and that's what it's all about. There's no shame in running second in the Derby, but there's no glory. Now we get a chance to redeem ourselves."

GENERAL QUARTERS WORKS EASY HALF-MILE - Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy was looking for something in the 50- to 51-second range for a half-mile from General Quarters on Monday morning and he wasn't sure he got it.

"I'll say 52," McCarthy said. "He started off a little slow."

"Fifty and one (fifth)," came the report.

"Perfect. Looks like he finished up better than he started," McCarthy said. "That was just enough to put him on the van and go on over (to Pimlico)."

Clockers caught General Quarters in splits of :12.60, :25, :37.40 and out in 1:04.60 under exercise rider Justin Court in the move accomplished before the 8 a.m. renovation break. The move was the 28th best of 48 at the distance.

"It was the first time I had worked the horse and I was impressed with him," Court said. "I had a lot of horse and I think he will do well over there."

General Quarters, the 10th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to leave Churchill Downs on Tuesday before training hours begin at 6 a.m.

FLYING PRIVATE WORKS IN COMPANY FOR PREAKNESS - Robert Baker and William Mack's Flying Private tuned up for his expected engagement in Saturday's Preakness Stakes by working a half-mile in :48.20 in company with stablemate Sea Admiral after the renovation break Monday morning.

With jockey Jamie Theriot aboard, Flying Private clicked off fractions of :12.80, :24.80 and :36.20 en route to the :48.20 clocking that was the ninth best of 48 at the distance. Flying Private left his workmate seven lengths behind at the wire.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he was satisfied with the move and that Flying Private and four other horses from his barn would leave for Pimlico at 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

Alan Garcia has the Preakness mount on Flying Private, who finished 19th in the Kentucky Derby.

EASY MORNING FOR SUNDAY PREAKNESS WORKERS - The three Preakness possibles who worked Sunday morning at Churchill Downs remained in the barn Monday morning.

Terrain, who worked five furlongs in 1:02.60, is scheduled to return to the track in the morning as is Hull, who worked five-eighths in a bullet :59.40. Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra had worked a half-mile in :48.40.

Update 4948: La Ville Rouge & 09 Barbaro full brother (VIDEO).

Update 4947: The first running of the ABR YouTube contest about Horse Slaughter is now final. Video 4 (End Horse Slaughter) is the winner, and we will donate $1,000 to CANTER NE.

"Honorable mention" has to go to Video 2 (Please Stop Horse Slaughter), which led for a long way in what turned out to be a two horse race.

In total the videos have garnered close to 31,000 page views to date and 1,800 comments. So far!

Congratulations to all who participated.

Update 4946: Wow! A version of this story that I wrote for The Rail last week: How Mine That Bird Got His Name is on the front page of the Sports section of today's New York Times. Very cool!

At Steve's we had five sets today. An easy morning's work. I had four before the break and one after the break, which did some gate schooling. All my horses galloped nicely. A chilly start to the morning, but it looks like it is warming up to a nice day.

Update 4945: Mark Allen, Mine That Bird's co-owner, has now withdrawn Indy Express from the Preakness. Indy Express was being considered, at least in part, to make it more difficult for Rachel Alexandra to run in the Preakness. From Mike Gathagan at Pimlico:

Indy Express out of Preakness

Mark Allen, owner of the 135th Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, will not enter Indy Express in the 2009 Preakness Stakes.

Early this morning Allen was delivered a message to contact another owner "Our conversation consisted of congratulating me on our win in the Derby and talking about a rematch, wanting a chance to hook us on a fast surface. We laughed and joked about what a race that would be,"
said Allen.

"When it comes to Rachel Alexandra, I personally don't think any filly should be in a race against colts at this stage of their careers. I don't believe in running fillies against the colts. But Rachel Alexandra is a superior filly and could be the exception. Mr. Jackson has a great trainer in Steve Asmussen and I'm sure they will make the right decision and Lord help us all if she does get in."

"And yes, it's true that I would like to have my jockey back. Calvin Borel is great and did a great job for us. I also respect him and I completely understand his love for Rachel Alexandra. If the filly gets in we have a commitment from Mike Smith. We have a lot of confidence in Mike, he's from our part of the country and he's got some Cowboy in him too, I've seen his boots," said Allen.

"Additionally, my decision to enter Indy Express in the Preakness was strictly business but after consulting with my Dad and Doc Blach, I have decided to withdraw Indy Express to prevent any further miss understandings. They're advice to me was just to do what's right, because arrogance and greed isn't right. Indy Express is a good colt and showing a lot of potential. I'll just have to look forward to running him later on down the road. The bottom-line for me is that we came here to race and enjoy our win here in Louisville. So, we'll meet everyone in Baltimore, ready to run," said Allen.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:45 AM | Comments (35)

Barbaro Updates: 850

Posted May 8, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4945: Now it looks like Rachel Alexandra's bid to run in the Preakness is back on: Whitney to Rachel Alexandra's Rescue.

Update 4944: Mike Gathagan's Preakness report from Pimlico:

'RACHEL' WORKS SHARPLY IN KENTUCKY FOR MIDDLE JEWEL; TWO NEW SHOOTERS COULD EXCLUDE FILLY FROM FIELD

BALTIMORE, 05-10-09---Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra turned in a strong workout Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, but a full field of 14 Triple Crown-nominated horses could stymie plans to enter the standout filly in Saturday's 134th running of the Preakness.

Pimlico officials had been expecting a field of 13 runners - including Rachel Alexandra - to be entered in the Preakness, but late Sunday afternoon it appeared that the filly who captured the Oaks by more than 20 lengths might be excluded from the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown by the prospect of two new shooters being entered.

Rachel Alexandra was not nominated to the Triple Crown, but she could be eligible to compete in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown if her new owner, Stonestreet Stables, owned by Jess Jackson, pays a $100,000 supplemental entry fee and one of the 14 positions in the starting gate is available. Nominated horses have preference, however, and the probable Preakness field suddenly swelled Sunday to 15, including 14 Triple Crown nominees and Rachel Alexandra.

Ahmed Zayat, the owner of the Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile said in an interview on the HRTV (Horse Racing Television) program RaceDay America Sunday morning that he had been called by Mark Allen, the co-owner of Derby winner Mine That Bird, and discussed entering other horses to exclude Rachel Alexandra. If Rachel Alexandra did make it into the Preakness field, Allen would be forced to find a replacement for Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel, who has made a year-long commitment to ride Stonestreet's star filly. Mike Smith would likely get the assignment.

Zayat, who nominated 22 horses to the Triple Crown, said in the interview that he agreed to enter a second horse. Allen also told HRTV that he intends to enter Indy Express, a maiden owned by Fourteen Enterprises, in which he has an interest. Indy Express is winless in nine career starts and has earnings of $12,618.

Late Sunday afternoon, Zayat told Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas that he intended to enter only Pioneerof the Nile.

At mid-day Sunday, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced that he planned to enter a second colt, Marylou Whitney's Luv Gov, who broke his maiden on the Derby Day program, in addition to Flying Private, who finished last in the Derby. Whitney owns Birdstone, the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.

Jackson purchased Rachel Alexandra early last week and transferred her from trainer Hal Wiggins to Steve Asmussen's stable. In her first work for Asmussen Sunday, she covered four furlongs in 48.40 seconds. Following the breeze, Jackson confirmed that he planned to enter Rachel Alexandra in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

"Rachel Alexandra had an impressive workout today and she is ready to run in the Preakness," Jackson said in a statement. "Since it's Mother's Day, I wish I could announce to all mothers everywhere that this incredible filly is entered to take on the boys, but Triple Crown rules may prevent us from sending her to Pimlico. I want the fans to know that we are prepared to enter here and I'm hopeful that her entry will be accepted. I know that we all want the thrill of seeing her race next weekend."

The first four finishers in the Kentucky Derby (Mine That Bird, Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man and Papa Clem) automatically make the Preakness field because they earned purse money in Louisville. The next three in the field, based on graded earnings are General Quarters, Friesan Fire and Big Drama. Terrain, Flying Private, Take the Points and Hull qualify in the next category (earnings in all non-restricted stakes). The final three spots are currently filled by Luv Gov, Tone It Down and Indy Express (total lifetime earnings). All 14 were pre-nominated to the Triple Crown prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Rachel Alexandra would rank fifth on the list and bump all the others down one notch.

MINE THAT BIRD - The Kentucky Derby winner galloped a little more than two miles at Churchill Downs Sunday morning in preparation for his start in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

"He's doing super, as good as ever," exercise rider Charlie Figueroa said. "I know he hasn't backed off. There is no regression at all."

Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley echoed Figueroa's assessment of his gelding who shocked the racing world to score by nearly seven lengths at 50-1 in the Derby.

"The horse has been training super," he said. "We've been tracking him just about every day and he's really doing well."

Woolley has been enjoying a return to relative normalcy in recent days.

"It's been a little hectic, but things have settled down a little, so we're actually able to enjoy it," said the New Mexico-based trainer. "It got pretty wild, but we've getting time to reflect on everything that's happened."

Things will be getting considerably more hectic beginning on Tuesday, when he puts his Derby winner on a Pimlico-bound van.

BIG DRAMA - Trainer David Fawkes scheduled a leisurely morning for Big Drama at Pimlico Sunday. The Florida-bred colt was sent to the turf course following training hours to get acquainted with the grassy area where Fawkes will saddle him for a start in the134th running of the Preakness Stakes.

Big Drama, who arrived at Pimlico on Wednesday morning from South Florida, impressed his Calder-based trainer with his appearance.

"Coming into the cooler weather has been great," Fawkes said. "He's doing super. He's coming into himself right now. He looks great; his color's good; his weight is good; I have no complaints the way he is right now."

Big Drama will get back to work Monday, when jockey John Velazquez is scheduled to be aboard for a half-mile workout after the renovation break (8:30 a.m.).

Big Drama has finished first in his last six races since finishing third in his debut last summer. The son of Montbrook swept the Florida Stallion series last year before capturing the Delta Jackpot (G3) to conclude his productive juvenile season. In his only start this year, he ran seven furlongs in a blistering 1:20.88 to finish first in the Swale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream, only to be disqualified and placed second.

"He's one of those super hard-trying horses. He always gives you 110 percent. In his works in the morning, if you ask him to work good, he works good. If you don't want him to work fast, he'll do what you want," Fawkes said. "In the afternoon, he always gives you 110 percent."

Fawkes has saddled only one horse at Pimlico, where Hidden Tomahawk finished off the board in the 1992 Maryland Breeders' Cup.

FLYING PRIVATE/LUV GOV - Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent Marylou Whitney's colt Luv Gov out for a four-furlong breeze in 48.20 seconds Sunday morning Churchill Downs. Flying Private is scheduled to work Monday morning at Churchill.

"I think I'll just go an easy half with him," Lukas said. "He doesn't need much. That two-week span between the Derby and Preakness is a concern of getting the energy back, so I don't have to do a lot with him. He's had plenty of racing."

Flying Private has three seconds in seven starts this year. He finished last in the field of 19 in the Derby over a sloppy sealed track that Lukas said may have affected many of the runners in the field.

"I've got a nice horse. He's a very good horse," Lukas said. "He didn't show up in the Derby, granted, so tell them to bet on somebody else. Having said that, he's a well-bred horse, he'll go a mile and three sixteenths. He's got a top rider in Alan Garcia, who just won the Peter Pan (Saturday at Belmont Park). There's a lot to like."

Lukas also said Sunday that he intends to enter Luv Gov, a colt bred and owned by Marylou Whitney, in the Preakness. After running second in three consecutive races, the son of Ten Most Wanted broke his maiden on the Kentucky Derby Day program at Churchill Downs. The colt turned in a solid breeze Sunday morning.

"We think he's our Belmont Stakes horse and we are looking for another spot to get a good one in," Lukas said. "He's truly a mile-and-half, a mile-and-three-sixteenths horse. And he ran a huge race on Derby day. He actually ran better than most of the horses in the Derby. We're going to give him a shot to go."

Lukas said that both horses will ship to Pimlico on Tuesday. He has not named a rider for Luv Gov.

FRIESAN FIRE - The Louisiana Derby winner is scheduled to be vanned from Delaware Park to Pimlico Monday morning.

Trainer Larry Jones plans to send Friesan Fire to the Pimlico track Tuesday morning for a five-furlong workout that will determine the Preakness status of the Kentucky Derby's beaten-favorite. The son of A.P. Indy returned from his 18th-place finish at Churchill Downs with cuts in all four legs, believed to be suffered in bumping incidents shortly after the start.

Should he pass the test, Friesan Fire will be ridden by Gabriel Saez, who'll be aboard for Tuesday's workout.

GENERAL QUARTERS - The Blue Grass Stakes winner galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Justin Court Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Trainer Tom McCarthy plans to ship his one-horse stable to Pimlico on Tuesday.

"He's doing great, so far," said the 75-year-old former school teacher and principal. "I'll give him a real easy maintenance breeze tomorrow, about a half-mile."

The son of Sky Mesa, while ridden for the first time by Julien Leparoux, had a litany of issues when finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby. Leparoux will also ride McCarthy's first Preakness starter.

"He came out of the race pretty good the next day, but right after the race he had one nostril completely closed or clogged," McCarthy said. "(Atomic Rain) must have hit him right there in one eye. It was closing pretty fast when we got to it and got all the dirt out from under the lid. He took a pretty good knock."

It was also the first time the Sam Davis Stakes winner had raced on anything other a fast track or a firm turf in his 12 career starts.

"He just couldn't get a hold of the track more than anything," McCarthy said. "He's got a great big Size 7 foot on him and he got hit a couple times. It was just kind of a rough Derby. There were some very nice horses that finished behind me."

HULL - The lightly raced unbeaten winner of the Derby Trial worked five furlongs in a "bullet" 59.40 seconds Sunday at Churchill Downs under regular rider Miguel Mena.

Trainer Dale Romans said the owners of the son of Holy Bull are still undecided about running, but their decision may have a lot to do with the entry of the filly Rachel Alexandra.

"She changes the dynamics of the whole race," Romans said. "She's true speed that keeps on going. She's real quality. It makes it a tougher decision to go. We're going to sit down and talk about it on Tuesday and see if we want to go up there and run against her. Right now, I still think we're going to go, but we'll see what happens."

Hull didn't get to the races as a 2-year-old, but has gone undefeated in three starts in a career that began on Feb. 7 at Fair Grounds. Owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Team Valor and Gary Barber, Hull has won his three starts by a total of 16 lengths at three different race tracks.

MUSKET MAN - One trainer who seemed more than comfortable with the possible addition of Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness field is trainer Derek Ryan, whose late-running colt might benefit from more pace up front.

"I'm glad she's in there," Ryan said Sunday from Monmouth Park, where his colt will remain until race day. "Why not? She’ll keep Big Drama pretty honest on the lead and if you get beat by her, you'll be getting beat by one of the best (fillies) of all time. If you beat her, you've beaten one of the great ones of all time - plus, plus."

Ryan said he's comfortable staying in New Jersey for all of Musket Man's prep work. The son of Yonaguska has won five of seven career starts with two thirds. This year, the Kentucky bred is 3-for-5 with a pair of thirds.

"He just galloped a mile and a half today," Ryan said. "There's no rush to get there; we're only about three hours down the road. He shipped for his first three races (all wins), so it's no problem."

Ryan said he plans to work Musket Man on Tuesday and then gallop up to the race. Musket Man won the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Illinois Derby (G2) before finishing a troubled third in the Kentucky Derby.

"He ran his race, but he probably should have been second," Ryan said. "He came out of it good."

PAPA CLEM - The Kentucky Derby must have seemed like a walk in the park compared to the fourth-place Derby finisher's van ride from Louisville to Baltimore, a journey that began at 10:30 a.m. in Kentucky and ended at 1:10 a.m. Sunday morning.

"He looked fine this morning," said trainer Gary Stute, who will be saddling his first Preakness runner. "We just walked him today, I don't see any problem."

The Arkansas Derby winner was only a nose and a head from finishing second in the Derby at odds of 12-1 with some traffic issues in the stretch. Stute's father, Mel, won the Preakness with Snow Chief in 1986.

PIONEEROF THE NILE = Ahmed Zayat's Kentucky Derby runner-up is scheduled to work Monday morning at Churchill Downs. The son of Empire Maker galloped 1 1/2 miles Sunday morning.

"It was great to gallop on a fast track," trainer Bob Baffert said.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - Just over a week after her 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1, Rachel Alexandra tuned up for a planned run in the Preakness with half-mile breeze in 48.40 seconds Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Exercise rider Dominic Terry was in the saddle as Rachel Alexandra turned out fractional times of: 12.40 and: 24.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 over the fast track. The move ranked 13th among 81 works at the distance.

"I thought it went beautiful," Asmussen said. "I'm surprised the racetrack dried out so well considering they cancelled (races) two days ago.

"She's a beautiful filly. I think she's doing extremely well. Every sight of her has been impressive and I'm just very happy to get this light move in this morning under very good conditions."

Asmussen won the Preakness in 2007 with eventual "Horse of the Year" and 3-year-old champion Curlin, who rallied to edge Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Street Sense in that race. He declined to speculate where Rachel Alexandra fits among the males being pointed toward Saturday's race at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course.

"I think it's like all races - you only worry about what you can take care of," he said. "The filly has proven what a tremendous mare she is. Mr. Wiggins has done a remarkable job with an amazing filly and we're just very fortunate to be around her."

Rachel Alexandra's win in the Kentucky Oaks was her fifth consecutive victory - all in stakes competition - and lifted her career earnings to $958,354. Her career record stands at 7-2-0 in 10 races.

TAKE THE POINTS - The Starlight Partners' colt Take the Points, turned in a very good five furlong work in 1:00.09 Sunday over the training track at Belmont Park. It was the second fastest of 38 at the distance on that track.

"He worked in company with Monba, who we're also running on Preakness Day on the turf," said Don Lucarelli, one of the principal owners in the stable. "According to Angel Cordero, who was aboard Monba, Take the Points outworked Monba a little bit."

Take the Points finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby and did have enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, but the owners and trainer Todd Pletcher decided to aim for the Preakness instead.

"Since we added the blinkers after his last race in California, he has really stepped up," Lucarelli said. "That's what gave us the encouragement to potentially bypass the Derby to go on a track that favors speed a little more. Not that you'll see us on the lead, but that track should lend itself to his style of running. He galloped out real strong and they were very happy with the work."

TERRAIN - Trainer Al Stall Jr. sent Terrain to the Churchill Downs track Sunday morning for a five-furlong workout in company with Map of the World. The gelded son of Sky Mesa was clocked in 1:02.60 while finishing on even terms with his stablemate, who broke off two lengths ahead. Jamie Theriot was aboard for the workout, which ranked 19th of 35 at the distance.

"I had worked a few horses earlier in the morning and the track was fast. I didn't want any lights out work," said Stall, who reported that he'll name a rider for Terrain on Wednesday morning. "He is ready to run. He got dialed in today. I told Jamie just to sit behind him and when he chirped to him, he was right on him and they finished heads up. Jamie was happy with him."

Terrain is scheduled to fly from Louisville on Wednesday.

TONE IT DOWN - Sunday was "walk day" at nearby Laurel according to 73-year-old trainer Bill Komlo for the third-place finisher in the recent Federico Tesio (G3), who will likely be the only Preakness runner to have ever raced over the Pimlico surface.

"(The Preakness) was kind of always in the back of our minds when we got the horse in the Timonium sale last May," said Komlo, a former University of Maryland football player. "When he ran second in his first start going a mile, we thought maybe we've got a distance horse here."

That first start came with only four days left in his 2-year-old season, and the son of hot young sire Medaglia d'Oro has since won twice going longer in five starts at age 3. Komlo said jockey Mario Pino probably had the colt too close to the lead in his last two starts and has replaced him with former Maryland champion Kent Desormeaux.

"I think he wants to come from off the pace," said Komlo, who said he may not give Tone It Down another work since the Tesio was only two weeks ago. He will ship in to Pimlico on race day.

Update 4943: It looks like some pretty underhanded dealings are brewing with the intent to make sure Rachel Alexandra cannot run in the Preakness: Owners plot to keep Oaks winner out of Preakness.

Update 4942: The Rail on Rachel this morning: Rachel Alexandra Rearing To Go.

Update 4941: I spoke to Dominic Terry after we finished work this morning. There are simply no superlatives appropriate to describe how well Rachel Alexandra worked this morning. How easily she got her 48.4 half mile work. Galloping. Dominic has worked a lot of horses, and good horses.

And for me, six sets at Woodbine, four before the break and two after the break. All mine galloped nicely. It was chilly here though, very cold really after the ridiculous weather system we had pass through yesterday.

We have four runners this afternoon, so it will be a busy day all around. But so cool to learn about Rachel's effortless work-out.

Update 4940: Rachel Alexandra worked a half mile in 48.4 under Dominic Terry this morning.

Update 4939: Chantal Sutherland on Mine That Bird: No Shortage of Love for Mine That Bird.

We will see a few of the Preakness contenders putting in their Preakness work this morning.

Update 4938: The lightly-raced Charitable Man took the Peter Pan Stakes today after a dull effort in the Blue Grass Stakes: Peter Pan: Charitable Man Lives Up to Praise.

My latest contribution to The Rail: Preparing for the Preakness Stakes.
Update 4937: John Asher's report from Churchill Downs:

CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES
Saturday, May 9, 2009

WOOLLEY TO NAME BOREL ON KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD FOR PREAKNESS
TERRAIN, HULL WORKS POSTPONED UNTIL SUNDAY
LUKAS NAMES GARCIA TO RIDE FLYING PRIVATE
EVENTFUL MORNING FOR GENERAL QUARTERS

BOREL TO BE NAMED ON MINE THAT BIRD - The "$64,000 question" for trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley is who will ride Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird in next Saturday's Preakness (GI) at Pimlico.

"Calvin Borel will be on the (entry) card," Woolley said Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. "I do have a backup, but I am not ready to release it."

On Friday, Borel agreed to ride Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra for the rest of the season and the filly is being considered as a possible supplemental entry into the Preakness, which would leave Woolley looking for a rider in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

With a sloppy track greeting Mine That Bird for a third consecutive morning, Woolley altered the morning exercise program for the Derby winner from two trips around the track to a back-track to the paddock runway followed by a once-around gallop with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up.

"The track was a little chewed up yesterday, a little heavy," Woolley said.

Heavy rain Friday afternoon forced cancellation of the final five races on the 10-race card and left the track "off" Saturday morning.

Woolley also said Saturday morning that if Mine That Bird ran well enough at Pimlico to merit a trip to the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) on June 6, he would bring the Birdstone gelding back to Churchill Downs.

"That's the plan, to come back here if he runs well," Woolley said. "The horse likes it here and gets over the ground well."

Woolley said he would stay here with the horse and not make a quick trip back to his home base in New Mexico while Mine That Bird preps for the Belmont.

WORKS BY PREAKNESS CANDIDATES TERRAIN, HULL POSTPONED - Adele Dilschneider's Terrain galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break under exercise rider Jimmy Valdez as trainer Al Stall Jr. opted to wait a day to work the fourth-place finisher in the Toyota Blue Grass (Grade I).

"The track should be fine tomorrow at 8:30 and after a day of racing," Stall said. "Either Jamie (Theriot) or Julien (Leparoux) will work him."

Stall has not confirmed a rider for the Preakness.

Trainer Dale Romans moved a scheduled five-furlong work for Derby Trial (Grade III) winner Hull to Sunday morning because of track conditions.

"He galloped today and will work tomorrow," Romans said of the undefeated colt, who is owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Team Valor International and Gary Barber. Jockey Miguel Mena is slated to be aboard for the work

Romans said he would "decide probably by Tuesday" whether Hull goes to Baltimore or waits for the June 6 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park.

LUKAS NAMES GARCIA TO RIDE FLYING PRIVATE - With exercise rider Taylor Carty up, Robert Baker and William Mack's Flying Private galloped in the first set that trainer D. Wayne Lukas brought to the track.

Lukas confirmed that Alan Garcia would have the mount on Flying Private, who finished 19th in Kentucky Derby 135. It will mark Garcia's second Preakness starter, having finished seventh on Mint Slewlep in 2007 behind Curlin.

GENERAL QUARTERS HAS EVENTFUL MORNING - It was an eventful return to the track on Saturday for Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner General Quarters. Just before completing his mile and a half morning exercise under Justin Court, a horse dropped a rider between and six- and five-furlong poles and ran loose toward the mile chute.

"He (General Quarters) had to check a little bit when he came around the turn," owner/trainer Tom McCarthy said. "You never know what they (loose horses) are going to do. If he had gone to the seven-eighths (pole), we'd have been in trouble."

McCarthy kept his colt in the barn on Friday because of track conditions.

"It was still deep, muddy this morning," McCarthy said. "He went well over it, but racing in it is a little different."

McCarthy plans to ship General Quarters by van to Pimlico on Tuesday.

"I have never been there," he said. "I am eager to get over there and see it."

RACHEL ALEXANDRA, PIONEEROF THE NILE GALLOP; PAPA CLEM HEADS EAST -- Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick's Rachel Alexandra galloped once around a sloppy racetrack with exercise rider Dominic Terry up before 6:30 on Saturday morning for trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Kentucky Oaks winner, who would have to be supplemented to next Saturday's Preakness Stakes (Grade I), would be ridden by Calvin Borel if she starts.

The Borel-Asmussen tandem would be seeking their first win together since July 6, 2007, when Borel rode Wundelia to victory at Churchill Downs.

Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to work Sunday or Monday.

A couple of hours after Rachel Alexandra was on the track, Zayat Stables' Pioneerof the Nile galloped a mile and a half.

"He couldn't be doing any better," exercise rider George Alvarez reported after the exercise over a track designated as "muddy" after the morning renovation break.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who was saddling two starters in Saturday's Lone Star Derby (Grade III) in Texas, is expected to return to Louisville on Saturday night.

Pioneerof the Nile may work Monday and is scheduled to ship to Pimlico on Wednesday.

Bo Hirsch's Papa Clem completed the Churchill Downs phase of his Preakness training early Saturday morning by galloping a mile and a half under exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez.

The Gary Stute trainee left Churchill Downs at 10:30 a.m. by van for Pimlico.

Update 4936: Mike Gathagan's Preakness update:

RACHEL ALEXANDRA SCHEDULED TO FLY TO BALTIMORE BUT DECISION TO ENTER IN THE PREAKNESS IS NOT FINAL

BALTIMORE, 05-09-09---The prospective field for next Saturday’s 134th Preakness Stakes received a boost in star power when assistant trainer Scott Blasi informed Maryland Jockey Club director of horsemen's relations Phoebe Hayes that Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to fly into Baltimore next Wednesday for next Saturday's $1 million classic. A decision on whether she actually gets on the Tex Sutton plane in four days will not be made until the filly works.

The Maryland Jockey Club expects a field of 13 for the 1 3/16th mile, $1 million classic at Pimlico Race Course after Laurel Park-based trainer William Komlo announced today that Tone It Down will run, while Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey told the Maryland Jockey Club that Conservative will not.

"We are excited at the prospect of seeing the first four finishers from the Kentucky Derby and the superstar filly in the Preakness," said Maryland Jockey Club president and chief operating officer Tom Chuckas. "We could be looking at one for the ages."

Rachel Alexandra, who won the May 1 Oaks by a record 20 1/4 lengths, was purchased earlier this week by Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick from L and M Partners, LLC and transferred from the barn of Hal Wiggins to that of Steve Asmussen. Asmussen trained 2007 Preakness winner Curlin for a partnership that included Stonestreet.

"If she continues to be in perfect condition," Jackson said in a statement yesterday, "our intention will be to run her in the Preakness."

A Stonestreet spokeswoman said Saturday that no decision has been made to run Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness and a final decision would not happen until after the filly works, which will happen at Churchill Downs Sunday or Monday.

Rachel Alexandra is not nominated to the Triple Crown and can only get into the middle jewel of the Triple Crown if less than 14 pre-nominated horses are entered and her connections pay a $100,000 supplementary nomination fee.

If she runs, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro would be the first Oaks winner ever to run in the Preakness. Fifty-two fillies have competed in the Preakness with four crossing the finish line first: Flocarline (1903), Whimsical (1906), Rhine Maiden (1915) and Nellie Morse (1924). The most recent filly to run in the middle jewel was Excellent Meeting ten years ago and only three have raced here since 1939.

Pimlico oddsmaker Frank Carulli confirmed that he would make Rachel Alexandra the morning line favorite. Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988), who both came to Baltimore as Kentucky Derby winners, went off as the betting favorites in the Preakness two weeks later.

Rachel Alexandra has won seven of 10 lifetime starts for $958,354, including five straight stakes with jockey Calvin Borel. Jackson announced yesterday that Borel would remain the rider on Rachel Alexandra. This would be the fourth time in Preakness history that a rider of the Kentucky Derby winner did not retain the mount in the middle jewel, but the first time that rider took a call on another starter.

The $64,000 question for trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley is, "who is going to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in next Saturday's Preakness?"

"Calvin Borel will be on the (entry) card," Woolley said Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. "I do have a backup, but I am not ready to release it."

Industry sources say among those being considered are Hall of Famer Mike Smith, a New Mexico native like Woolley and owners Mark Allen and Leonard Blach, who won the 1993 Preakness aboard Prairie Bayou, and Chantal Sutherland, who rode he gelding four times as a two-year-old, winning three stakes at Woodbine.

With a sloppy track greeting Mine That Bird for a third consecutive morning, Woolley altered the morning exercise program from two trips around the track to a back-track to the paddock runway and then had him gallop once around with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up.

The son of Birdstone will leave Louisville via van on Tuesday morning and arrive at Pimlico sometime after the afternoon rush hour. The Maryland Jockey Club has arranged a police escort for Mine That Bird and his connections from Interstate 70, prior to the Baltimore Beltway, into Pimlico.

In his final day as the only horse stabled in the Preakness stakes barn, Delta Jackpot winner Big Drama galloped around the Pimlico oval at 6:30 a.m. with exercise rider and assistant trainer Celia Fawkes. The son of Montbrook, who is five-for-seven lifetime, has been at Pimlico since early Wednesday morning. Trainer David Fawkes plans on breezing Big Drama four-furlongs Monday morning at 8:30, after the renovation break. Celia Fawkes has been in Baltimore since Tuesday night with her husband arriving tonight. Their 11-year-old daughter, Natalie, will join them Friday.

"She wouldn't miss this for the world," said Celia Fawkes.

Papa Clem left Louisville at 10:30 a.m. Saturday via van and is headed to Pimlico. Trainer Gary Stute said the Arkansas Derby winner will walk the shedrow Sunday, gallop Monday and work five-furlongs Tuesday morning. The son of Smart Strike finished fourth in the "Run for the Roses".

Larry Jones will ship Friesan Fire into Pimlico Monday afternoon and plans on breezing the son of A.P. Indy, who suffered cuts in his left front foot while getting bumped shortly after the start of the "Run for the Roses" and finished 18th as the betting favorite, five-furlongs with jockey Gabriel Saez Tuesday morning and then make a final decision.

In addition to Mine That Bird, two other Preakness starters, General Quarters and Flying Private will leave Churchill Downs Tuesday and van to Pimlico. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas named Alan Garcia to ride Flying Private. While Lukas has saddled 32 Preakness starters, hoisting the Woodlawn Vase five times, General Quarters owner/trainer Tom McCarthy, the 75-year-old former principal has never been to Old Hilltop.

"I am eager to get over there and see it," McCarthy said.

Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, Terrain and Hull are expected to be on the plane with Rachel Alexandra Wednesday, which is scheduled to leave Louisville at 12:30 p.m. All four are scheduled to work before heading to Baltimore.

Trainer Todd Pletcher scrapped a work for Take the Points this morning due to inclement weather in New York. The son of Even the Score is now scheduled for a Sunday morning breeze either at Belmont Park or the training oval at the Long Island track.

Trainer Derek Ryan plans on working Musket Man three-furlongs on Tuesday at Monmouth Park and shipping the third place finisher in last week's Kentucky Derby to Pimlico the morning of the race. Musket Man has won five-of-seven lifetime, including the Grade II Illinois Derby and the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby.

Tone It Down will also ship into Pimlico the morning of the race. The son of Medaglia d'Oro has won two-of-six races and finished third in last Saturday's Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico. Hall of Fame rider Kent Desormeaux, who won five riding titles at Pimlico from 1987-1989, will ride. Desormeaux has two Preakness victories-Real Quiet (1998) and Big Brown (2008) and has finished in the money five times in 11 tries.

"We felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime deal," Komlo said. "We are Maryland people and he is a Maryland horse. We feel we have not seen the best of this horse just yet. We have been very patient and he is a nice horse. We don't know if we can compete but we are willing to try."

McGaughey said Conservative is "not running" and will be pointed to the Grade III Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont.

Update 4935: My latest entry for The Rail, and I am sure some will disagree: Borel Makes the Right Call.

A straightforward morning this morning for Steve at Woodbine. I had six sets, and all galloped nicely. Not so for everybody, and I sat and watched one of the outriders doing a marvelous job catching a loose horse breezing along the inside rail.

Thankfully we were finished riding before 9 am. We then experienced the strangest weather i think I have ever experienced. It changed from a reasonably decent morning to thunder, lightening and rapid hale! Riders who were caught up in the weather came back with whelts. Bleeding. Just bizarre. This lasted for about fifteen minutes. I could hear the siren going off on the track. Just crazy stuff!

Update 4934: Calvin Borel on Talkin' Horses.

And Curlin now has a baby full brother: Full Brother to Curlin is Foaled (with Video).

Today's Peter Pan at Belmont has traditionally served as a prep race for the Belmont: Scorewithcater set for Peter Pan.

Update 4933: John Asher's notes from Churchill Downs:

CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES
Friday, May 8, 2009

BOREL WILL CONTINUE TO RIDE RACHEL ALEXANDRA
WOOLLEY, NAFZGER COMPARE DERBY NOTES
PAPA CLEM HEADING TO PIMLICO ON SATURDAY
TERRAIN, FLYING PRIVATE NEEDS PREAKNESS RIDERS

BOREL TO CONTINUE TO RIDE KENTUCKY OAKS WINNER RACHEL ALEXANDRA- Jockey Calvin Borel has reached an agreement with the new owners of Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra to ride the 3-year-old filly through the "current racing season."

Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables, majority owner of Rachel Alexandra, and partner Harold McCormick announced in a press release issued Friday that Borel would continue to ride the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, who was purchased for an undisclosed price in a private transaction earlier this week. Rachel Alexandra is unbeaten in five races under Borel, a string that started in November in the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs and continued in her record 20 1/4-length victory in the Oaks under the track's historic Twin Spires on May 1.

"It came down the fact that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her and he knows how to win," Jackson said in the press release. "We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse."

"We're very happy to have the opportunity to continue to ride Rachel Alexandra," said Borel. "I've had the chance to ride some great horses, but she is one of the most special horses I've ever been around. I appreciate the faith that Mr. Jackson and Mr. McCormick have shown in me, and we can't wait to be there wherever she runs next."

Borel's agent, Jerry Hissam, said his rider would have no further comment on the agreement.

The victory aboard Rachel Alexandra was the first by Borel in America's top race for 3-year-old fillies. He followed that one day later with a victory aboard Double Eagle Stables and Buena Suerte Thoroughbreds' Mine That Bird at odds of 50-1 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). The Derby victory was the second for the 42-year-old Borel, who won the race in 2007 aboard James Tafel's Street Sense.

Borel's sweep of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks was the seventh in the 135-year history of the two races, and the first since Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey won the Derby with Sea Hero and the Derby with Dispute in 1993.

Borel ranks third in the Spring Meet jockey standings with nine wins.

WOOLLEY, NAFZGER COMPARE DERBY-WINNING NOTES - Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's Mine That Bird galloped a little more than two miles over a sloppy Churchill Downs racing surface Friday morning under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.

"Everything has fallen into place since the Derby," trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. said as the Birdstone gelding walked back to Barn 42. "He is doing good. He is eating good. He hasn't lost any weight, not that he could afford to lose any. The only thing I could without is some of this rain."

Heavy overnight rain left the track sloppy for a third consecutive morning. Since his Kentucky Derby victory last Saturday, Mine That Bird has only seen a fast track in the morning two days and more rain is expected overnight into Saturday.

Woolley, who had lunch and dinner Thursday with two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer and Hall of Famer Carl Nafzger, plans to keep Mine That Bird on his twice-around routine until Tuesday.

"Maybe Tuesday morning before we leave I will just jog him and we'd have to go before 7 if we do that," Woolley said.

PAPA CLEM TO SHIP TO PIMLICO ON SATURDAY - Bo Hirsch's fourth-place Kentucky Derby finisher Papa Clem galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break with exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez up.

Trained by Gary Stute, Papa Clem has been stabled in trainer Cody Autrey's barn at Churchill Downs since arriving in Louisville on April 14 after his victory in the Arkansas Derby (Grade II). That stay will come to an end Saturday.

"We are leaving tomorrow," said Gonzalez, who serves as Stute's main exercise rider.

"I would imagine he would train in the morning," Autrey said. "He is scheduled to leave (by van) about 10 a.m."

SLOPPY TRACK KEEPS GENERAL QUARTERS IN BARN - Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy kept Toyota Blue Grass (Grade I) winner General Quarters in the barn Friday morning because of track conditions.

"I woke up at 2 and saw all the lightning and then the rain," McCarthy said. "The first thing I did when I got here was check the track and it looked terrible. I would rather be safe than sorry."

With more heavy rain in the forecast for later Friday and overnight into Saturday, McCarthy was asked if he could skip another day.

"I will have to gallop him or do something in the morning," McCarthy said.

McCarthy plans to have General Quarters leave by van early Tuesday morning, which gives the Sky Mesa colt three more days of training at Churchill Downs.

NO PREAKNESS RIDERS CONFIRMED FOR FLYING PRIVATE, TERRAIN - Robert Baker and William Mack's Flying Private galloped early Friday morning under Taylor Carty and then took a brief stroll into the mile chute accompanied by trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who was alongside on a pony.

Lukas has not confirmed a rider for Flying Private in the Preakness.

"I should have one by this afternoon," Lukas said. "I have one thing I have to tie up."

Adele Dilschneider's Terrain galloped a mile and a half under Jimmy Valdez before 7 a.m. Trainer Al Stall Jr. plans to work Terrain on Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather.

Stall has not named a rider for Terrain.

"We are going to wait and see what happens," Stall said. "But there will be somebody in white pants waiting to get on the horse."

WEATHER COULD POSTPONE HULL WORK - Trainer Dale Romans had undefeated Derby Trial (Grade III) winner Hull out for a mile and a half gallop before the renovation break.

Hull is supposed to work five furlongs after the renovation break on Saturday with jockey Miguel Mena up, but Romans may push the move back a day because of weather.

"If I have to, I can wait," Romans said.

Owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Team Valor International and Gary Barber, Hull may bypass the Preakness if Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra is supplemented.

Romans said if Hull does not run in the Preakness, the son of Holy Bull would point to the $250,000 Woody Stephens (Grade II) at seven furlongs on June 6 at Belmont Park.

PIONEEROF THE NILE GALLOPS; "RACHEL" GOES AROUND ONCE- Zayat Stables' Pioneerof the Nile galloped a mile and a half after the renovation break with exercise rider George Alvarez up.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who has yet to commit the Kentucky Derby runner-up to the Preakness, is due back in Louisville on Saturday night.

Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick's Rachel Alexandra made one trip around the sloppy Churchill Downs oval before 7 a.m. with exercise rider Dominic Terry up.

Update 4932: More on Borel's decision to ride Rachel Alexandra if she runs in the Preakness: 'Rachel' Aimed at Preakness With Borel Up.

And if this does happen, I am hoping Chantal Sutherland returns to ride Mine That Bird.

Update 4931: This morning I asked David Cotey how he named Mine That Bird: How Mine That Bird Got His Name.

Update 4930: Preakness update from Mike Gathagan at Pimlico:

DECISION ON RACHEL ALEXANDRA'S PREAKNESS STATUS EXPECTED AFTER THE SUPERSTAR FILLY WORKS FOR NEW BARN

BALTIMORE, 05-08-09---A decision as to whether Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra will be supplemented into the field for the 134th Preakness Stakes could be made Sunday or Monday after the filly works for her new trainer, Steve Asmussen. The $1 million Preakness will be held on Saturday, May 16 at historic Pimlico Race Course.

The Preakness field currently has nine confirmed starters: Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Musket Man, Papa Clem, General Quarters, Flying Private, Big Drama, Take the Points, Terrain and Hull.

The status of two other likely Preakness starters, Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile and Derby favorite Friesan Fire, will be made Monday and Tuesday respectively after both work.

Conservative and Tone It Down are also under consideration for Maryland's marquee race. The Preakness is limited to 14 starters.

Rachel Alexandra, who was purchased by Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick two days ago and transferred to Asmussen, made one trip around the sloppy Churchill Downs oval before 7 a.m. with exercise rider Dominic Terry up. Yesterday Asmussen, who conditioned 2007 Preakness winner Curlin for a group that included Stonestreet, indicated his new star, who won last week's Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths, would work Sunday or Monday at Churchill Downs.

Rachel Alexandra is not nominated to the Triple Crown and could only get into the middle jewel of the Triple Crown if less than 14 pre-nominated horses are entered and her connections pay a $100,000 supplementary nomination fee. If she runs, Rachel Alexandra would be the first Oaks winner ever to run in the Preakness. Fifty-two fillies have competed in the Preakness with four crossing the finish line first: Flocarline (1903), Whimsical (1906), Rhine Maiden (1915) and Nellie Morse (1924). The most recent filly to run in the middle jewel was Excellent Meeting ten years ago.

The lone Preakness starter in the Pimlico stakes barn, Delta Jackpot winner Big Drama, jogged a mile and then galloped under exercise rider and assistant trainer Celia Fawkes, who said the son of Montbrook would have the same routine Saturday and Sunday leading up to Monday's breeze. Big Drama has won five-of-seven lifetime starts and saw his five-race win streak end in the March 28 Swale Stakes (Grade II) at Gulfstream Park despite setting a track record at seven-furlongs when he was disqualified for interfering with the runner-up.

"I think a fresh horse has an advantage going into the Preakness, that's why we've seen so many spoils in the Triple Crown," said trainer David Fawkes. "The horse hasn't done anything wrong. He's always gotten the distance we've asked him to get. First time at a mile and a sixteenth over a deep racecourse at Calder he did it. Went to a bullring at Delta Downs, he did that."

Papa Clem, the fourth place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will be the next Preakness starter in the Pimlico stakes barn when the Gary Stute trainee arrives Saturday evening. The Arkansas Derby winner is expected to leave Louisville at 10 a.m. Stute's father, Mel, won the 1986 Preakness with Snow Chief.

"You only get one chance with the Derby, Preakness and Belmont and with my stable I don't know if I'll get too many more opportunities," Stute said. "Most of my horses are claiming horses and most of them are used to running back in two weeks so to be honest I'm kind of anxious to run this horse back in two weeks. I thought the Preakness would be the perfect distance for my horse and my dad's two for two, he won the Preakness and the Dixie (Kadial-1988) there so far at least at Pimlico the Stutes are undefeated."

Stute plans on walking Papa Clem Sunday, galloping Monday and working the son of Smart Strike five-furlongs on Tuesday morning.

Larry Jones will ship Friesan Fire into Pimlico Monday afternoon and plans on breezing the son of A.P. Indy, who suffered cuts in his left front foot while getting bumped shortly after the start of the "Run for the Roses" and finished 18th as the betting favorite, five-furlongs with jockey Gabriel Saez Tuesday morning and then make a final decision.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird galloped a little more than two miles over a sloppy Churchill Downs racing surface Friday morning under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.

"Everything has fallen into place since the Derby," trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. said. "He is doing good. He is eating good. He hasn't lost any weight, not that he could afford to lose any."

The son of Birdstone will leave Louisville via van on Tuesday morning and arrive at Pimlico sometime after the afternoon rush hour. The Maryland Jockey Club has arranged a police escort for Mine That Bird and his connections from Interstate 70, prior to the Baltimore Beltway, into Pimlico.

D. Wayne Lukas (Flying Private) and Tom McCarthy (General Quarters) plan on vanning their Preakness starters from Churchill to Pimlico on Tuesday.

Terrain, Hull, Pioneerof the Nile and Rachel Alexandra, if the latter two run, will fly into Baltimore Wednesday, May 13, the day of the post position draw.

Trainer Derek Ryan told Maryland Jockey Club officials that Musket Man, the third place finisher in the Derby, will remain at Monmouth Park until the morning of the Preakness, with a scheduled arrival at 6:30 a.m., the morning of the middle jewel.

"We've been on the road for a long time and we want to be able to stay home for as long as we can," said Ryan. "Plans remain the same, to work the horse 3/8ths on Tuesday if the rain cooperates. We seem to be coming in under the radar, but were used to it. We knew we had a big horse coming into his first start."

Take the Points will put in his final Preakness work on Saturday or Sunday, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. The connections skipped the Derby for the son of Even the Score to compete in the Preakness.

Trainers Shug McGaughey and William Komlo informed Maryland Jockey Club officials that a decision would be made tomorrow on the Preakness prospects of Conservative and Tone It Down respectively.

"We got together last night and after discussing the race, decided to sleep on it some more," said Komlo of the third place finisher from last Saturday's Tesio Stakes at Pimlico. "We'll get together again later today and try to come up with a decision."

Update 4929: Rachel is pointed to the Preakness with Calvin Borel: Borel to ride Rachel Alexandra, excerpt:

Jess Jackson, whose Stonestreet Stables purchased Rachel Alexandra this week in partnership with Harold T. McCormick and turned over the filly to trainer Steve Asmussen, said in the release that retaining Borel "came down to the facts that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her. We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse."

Today I had lunch with Paul and Gemini Caine who run Pine Valley Training Centre. They provided the early education for Mine That Bird.

Update 4928: Railbird here, with your weekly update.

The New York sky is cloudless this morning, but races will be run off the turf at Belmont this afternoon. That's bad news for fans of Grand Couturier. The 6-year-old, whom trainer Robert Ribaudo has kept primed and waiting for a just-right turf race this spring, was to have made his 2009 debut in the Three Coins Up Stakes (race eight) today. The Man o' War and Sword Dancer -- which Grand Couturier has won twice -- are the races to which Ribaudo is pointing the horse this year, which gives him plenty of time to come back, but an appearance can't come soon enough for those of us who enjoy following veteran campaigners on the grass.

On Saturday, possible Belmont Stakes contenders prep in the Peter Pan. Among the seven starters are three names familiar from the Derby trail: Imperial Council, second to I Want Revenge in the Gotham, then a poor finisher in the Wood after flipping out in the paddock; Hello Broadway, coming off a Keeneland allowance win; and Charitable Man, making his second start off a layoff after a troubled trip in the Blue Grass Stakes. Also entered is closer Scorewithcater, winner of the Borderland Derby. You may recognize the name of the runner-up in that race -- it's none other than Mine That Bird, otherwise known as the longshot victor of the 135th Kentucky Derby.

In his final Derby prep, Mine That Bird finished fourth in the Sunland Derby, a race that has now turned out two next-out stakes winners (Advice, winner of the Lexington Stakes, is the other). Will there be a third? Three other starters from the Sunland are entered in the Lone Star Derby on Saturday: likely favorite Mythical Power, who finished second in that race, Mayor Marv, winner of the Turf Paradise Derby, and Dumar. Another trio starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, who has yet to win the Lone Star Derby. He'll get his best shot with Uno Mas, repeatedly tested against Louisiana Derby winner and Derby favorite Friesan Fire at the Fair Grounds this winter.

At Hollywood on Saturday, the Mervyn Leroy Handicap drew six, including the undefeated front-runner Rail Trip, making his graded stakes debut. On Sunday, the Railbird Stakes attracted an intriguing field of nine topped by Carlsbad, facing her toughest test yet, despite being the sole graded stakes winner in the bunch.

Update 4927: A very pleasant and relaxing morning's work this morning at Woodbine for Steve. We had six sets, two of which went to the gate for a little schooling. All mine galloped nicely. The weather too is gorgeous today, which makes work that much more pleasant!

Update 4926: I had long hoped Rachel Alexandra would have her chance to proove she is the best 3yo in North America. Her recent purchase has created a firestorm across the internet, which in of itself has got more people talking about the Triple Crown. Certainly she should make the Triple Crown more exciting if she does compete in either the Preakness or the Belmont: Filly could elevate '09 Triple Crown.

Found on Paulick Report.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:51 AM | Comments (135)

Barbaro Updates: 849

Posted May 7, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4925: Pioneerof The Nile will run in the Preakness, which makes the list of confirmed starters 10. Friesan Fire is also under consideration: 'Pioneer' Will Run in Preakness.

Update 4924: Preakness update from Mike Gathagan at Pimlico:

THE PREAKNESS FIELD CONTINUES TO TAKE SHAPE NINE DAYS BEFORE THE MIDDLE JEWEL OF RACING’S TRIPLE CROWN

BALTIMORE, 05-07-09---The story continues to develop as the field for the 134th Preakness Stakes continues to take shape. The $1 million classic is the headline event of a 13-race card at historic Pimlico Race Course next Saturday, May 16.

Trainer Larry Jones said he will ship Friesan Fire, the Kentucky Derby favorite, to Pimlico Monday, May 11 with plans to work the Louisiana Derby (Grade II) winner five-furlongs at Old Hilltop on Tuesday morning then decide if the son of A.P. Indy will run in the Preakness. The colt suffered cuts in his left front foot while getting bumped shortly after the start of the "Run for the Roses".

"He is healing up very quickly," Jones said. "He has gone back to the track and is doing well. If he works well and the foot continues to do well we plan on running. It is probably healing faster than I expected but not any faster than I was hoping for."

At Pimlico this morning (6:30), Big Drama jogged two miles the wrong way under exercise rider and assistant trainer Celia Fawkes. A winner of five-of-seven races, including four stakes races as a two-year-old, the son of Montbrook set a track record for seven-furlongs at Gulfstream Park in the Grade II Swale Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second for jockey interference.

"We have been fortunate enough to have some pretty decent horses with us," said Celia Fawkes. "We had Take The Tour, who won a Grade I and Forty One Carats, who set two track records and still holds a track record going three-quarters. But this is a different ballgame. How many three-year-olds make it this far?"

Big Drama is expected to breeze Monday morning. John Velazquez has accepted the mount from trainer David Fawkes.

"He is a competitive horse," added Celia Fawkes. "He likes competition. He's funny in the morning. Half the reason why I like to train him when its quiet is that he hunts them down. He'll clock a horse and take them on and head on to the next one. He can get aggressive but he is very focused in the afternoon. He has made just shy of $900,000 and he certainly didn't do that without any talent."

Edgar Prado has been named to ride Take the Points for Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Prado won 24 riding titles at the major Maryland tracks during the 1990's but he has yet to hoist the Woodlawn Vase in Maryland's signature race in 11 tries. Take the Points has two wins in six career starts, both with Prado aboard, including an entry-level allowance at Gulfstream Park on January 31. Pletcher indicated the son of Even the Score will breeze either Saturday or Sunday at Belmont Park in his final prep for the Preakness.

In Kentucky, Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick's new purchase Rachel Alexandra began her new life in the care of trainer Steve Asmussen on Thursday morning by galloping once around a sloppy Churchill Downs main track under exercise rider Dominic Terry. The dominating, 20 1/4-length winner of last Friday's Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), Rachel Alexandra was sold by the L and M Partners of Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer on Wednesday. Rachel Alexandra was transferred from trainer Hal Wiggins' barn to Asmussen's at 5:15 Thursday morning.

Jess Jackson, who campaigned two-time Horse of the Year and 2007 Preakness winner Curlin under his Stonestreet Stables colors, was asked what he thought of the latest addition to his stable after her morning exercise.

"She is a graceful athlete; she moves like a ballerina and has the size of some of the colts," Jackson said. "I am looking forward to seeing her compete."

Jackson was asked when the "ballerina" might run next.

"The ink is not even dry yet," Jackson said. "The only decision was to bring her to Steve's barn. No decision has been made on any race or a rider. Basically the same team is in place as we had with Curlin, and like Curlin, we will let her decide when she runs and where she runs."

Asmussen, who saddled Curlin to his Preakness victory, indicated that like most of his runners nine to 10 days after a race, Rachel Alexandra would have her first recorded workout on Sunday or Monday.

Pimlico was contacted by a representative of Stonestreet Stable on Tuesday inquiring about a supplement for an unspecified horse but has not heard from the camp since. Rachel Alexandra, who was not nominated to the Triple Crown, would have to be supplemented into the Preakness. She is not nominated to the Triple Crown and could only get into the middle jewel of the Triple Crown if less than 14 horses are entered and her connections pay a $100,000 supplementary nomination fee.

If she runs, Rachel Alexandra would be the first Oaks winner ever to run in the Preakness. Fifty-two fillies have competed in the Preakness with four crossing the finish line first: Flocarline (1903), Whimsical (1906), Rhine Maiden (1915) and Nellie Morse (1924). The most recent filly to run in the middle jewel was Excellent Meeting ten years ago.

Kentucky Derby 135 winner Mine That Bird galloped two times around the main track at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning before the renovation break with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up. Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. expressed satisfaction with the morning activity and remains on track to bring Mine That Bird to Pimlico on Tuesday. Pimlico has arranged a police escort into Pimlico from Interstate 70 prior to the Baltimore Beltway.

"He is doing good and I am surprised how he has bounced back because he had to run hard," Woolley said. "But he is pretty easy on himself and doesn't pound the ground."

But the overriding issue Thursday morning was the possibility that Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra could be supplemented to the Preakness and Woolley could possibly lose the services of jockey Calvin Borel, who swept the Oaks and Derby last weekend.

"I hope they go to the Acorn (on June 6 at Belmont Park) with that mare," Woolley said. "I told people that day that I was glad she was not in the Derby."

Woolley was bracing for the prospect of maybe losing his rider.

"It's a possibility; it could happen," Woolley said. "But I don't think I will have a hard time finding a rider if it happens."

Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile galloped a mile and a half after the renovation break at Churchill Downs with exercise rider George Alvarez up. Trainer Bob Baffert is scheduled to return to Louisville Saturday night and Pioneerof the Nile is tentatively slated to work Monday before shipping to Maryland on Wednesday if Baffert decides on a Preakness bid.

Papa Clem galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break under exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez. The fourth-place Kentucky Derby finisher is scheduled to gallop again Friday and will leave for Pimlico Saturday. Trainer Gary Stute said the son of Smart Strike would work five-furlongs Tuesday morning at Old Hilltop.

Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy was happy with the mile and a half morning gallop from General Quarters before the renovation break, but he had a question for a bystander as exercise rider Julie Sheets brought the colt off the track.

"What are they doing with that filly?" McCarthy asked, referring to Rachel Alexandra.

Rachel Alexandra could be supplemented to the Preakness, but McCarthy is planning to head to Baltimore on Tuesday.

"I would hate not to go and have her not get in," McCarthy said. "I went back and looked over the Oaks field and it didn't look like she was facing the quality of competition that she will face in the Preakness."

McCarthy plans to gallop General Quarters the next five days, including next Tuesday before vanning to Baltimore.

"I'd like to train here that morning if at all possible and then be able to jog Wednesday morning at Pimlico to allow him to get a feel for the track," McCarthy said.

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard in Kentucky Derby 135 in which General Quarters finished 10th, retains the mount for the Preakness.

Flying Private galloped shortly after the track opened Thursday morning at Churchill Downs with Taylor Carty up. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he likely would name a rider for Flying Private on Friday. The Hall of Famer has saddled a record 32 Preakness starters, with five victories.

Asked about the prospect of facing Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, Lukas said: "I don't like the idea at all. I'd like to run against the third-place finisher in the fifth at Beulah!"

Terrain galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break with exercise rider Jimmy Valdez up. Trainer Al Stall Jr. plans to work Terrain on Saturday or Sunday.

"Looks like Sunday may be the work day," Stall said as he monitored a Weather Channel forecast that called for rain the next three days in Louisville. "But we are in no rush. We have the luxury of time with five weeks (between the Toyota Blue Grass and the Preakness)."

Trainer Dale Romans sent undefeated Hull out for a gallop after the renovation break. Asked if the presence of the speedy Rachel Alexandra might alter his Preakness plans for Hull, Romans said, "She might." Hull is scheduled to work five furlongs on Saturday. The Derby Trial winner is expected to ship to Pimlico Wednesday, May 13.

In New Jersey Musket Man, who finished third in Saturday's Kentucky Derby is scheduled to breeze three-furlongs for trainer Derek Ryan on Tuesday. The Illinois Derby (Grade II) and Tampa Bay Derby (Grade III) winner, who has never finished off the board in seven lifetime starts, will ship to Pimlico late next week.

Others still considering the middle jewel are Tone It Down and Conservative.

Laurel Park-based Tone It Down, who finished third in last Saturday's Tesio Stakes at Pimlico, is two-for-six lifetime.

"We're going to have a meeting tonight and right now we're kicking around the idea of the Preakness, but I guess you could say at this point in time we're still on the fence", trainer William Komlo said. "We want to discuss all the options as well as who would ride the horse if we decide to run in the Preakness."

In New York, Hall of Fame conditioner Shug McGaughey told Pimlico stakes coordinator Coley Blind the status of Conservative, who was second in the Grade II Lexington Stakes on April 18, is "up in the air". The son of Unbridled's Song has finished in the money in all four starts during his three-year-old campaign.

Agent Jamie McCalmont informed Pimlico Director of Horsemen's Relations Phoebe Hayes that European Invader Sky Gate is no longer considered for the Preakness.

Update 4923: Barn notes from John Asher at Churchill Downs:

CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES
Thursday, May 7, 2009

RACHEL ALEXANDRA GALLOPS FOR NEW BARN
WOOLLEY MULLS POSSIBLE LOSS OF BOREL ON 'BIRD'
PREAKNESS PROBABLES GALLOP ON SLOPPY TRAC

RACHEL ALEXANDRA MOVES TO NEW BARN - Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick's new purchase Rachel Alexandra began her new life in the care of trainer Steve Asmussen on Thursday morning by galloping once around a sloppy Churchill Downs main track under exercise rider Dominic Terry.

The dominating, 20 1/4-length winner of last Friday's Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), Rachel Alexandra was sold by the L and M Partners of Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer on Wednesday. Rachel Alexandra was transferred from trainer Hal Wiggins' barn to Asmussen's at 5:15 (EDT) Thursday morning.

Jess Jackson, who campaigned two-time Horse of the Year,2007 Preakness (GI) winner and 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) winner Curlin under his stable colors, was asked what he thought of the latest addition to his stable after her morning exercise.

"She is a graceful athlete; she moves like a ballerina and has the size of some of the colts," Jackson said. "I am looking forward to seeing her compete."

Jackson was asked when the "ballerina" might run next.

"The ink is not even dry yet," Jackson said. "The only decision was to bring her to Steve's barn. No decision has been made on any race or a rider. Basically the same team is in place as we had with Curlin, and like Curlin, we will let her decide when she runs and where she runs."

Asmussen, who saddled Curlin to his Preakness victory, indicated that like most of his runners nine to 10 days after a race, Rachel Alexandra would have her first recorded workout on Sunday or Monday. Terry would be her regular exercise rider and she would go out in the second set, around 6:15, each morning.

"She's a tremendously fast filly," Asmussen said. "Hal (Wiggins) and his team did a tremendous job with her. We just got her today and we have no timetable or any plans to announce at this time."

For Wiggins, Thursday was anything but business as usual.

"They came and got her at 5:15," Wiggins said. "I didn't know anything about it (the sale) until Tuesday night. I hope I see her in the winner's circle many more times."

Racing for Wiggins, Rachel Alexandra compiled a record of 10-7-2-0 with earnings of $958,354. In addition to the Kentucky Oaks triumph, Rachel Alexandra scored Grade II victories in the Fantasy, Fair Grounds Oaks and Golden Rod plus added runner-up finishes in the Grade III Pocahontas and Debutante at Churchill Downs.

"It was pretty tough (this morning)," Wiggins said. "When a horse is injured, that's tough, too. As a trainer, you never know what you will find (in the morning). We will get over it. We were blessed to have her and experience the joy of winning the Oaks here.

"It will be a little hard walking by that stall," Wiggins continued, knowing he will still see her on the track. "It will be a joy to see her. I'll have a smile on my face and a good feeling. I wish the new owners nothing but the best. I know she is in good hands and they will do right by her. I will be pulling for her every time she runs."

MINE THAT BIRD CONTINUES PREAKNESS PREPARATIONS - Kentucky Derby 135 winner Mine That Bird galloped two times around the main track at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning before the renovation break with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up.

Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. expressed satisfaction with the morning activity and remains on track to bring Mine That Bird, owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, to Pimlico on Tuesday.

"He is doing good and I am surprised how he has bounced back because he had to run hard," Woolley said. "But he is pretty easy on himself and doesn't pound the ground."

But the overriding issue Thursday morning was the possibility that Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra could be supplemented to the Preakness and Woolley could possibly lose the services of jockey Calvin Borel, who swept the Oaks and Derby last weekend.

"I hope they go to the Acorn (on June 6) with that mare," Woolley said. "I told people that day (Derby Day) that I was glad she was not in the Derby."

Woolley was bracing for the prospect of maybe losing his rider.

"It's a possibility; it could happen," Woolley said. "But I don't think I will have a hard time finding a rider if it happens."

PREAKNESS PROBABLES GALLOP ON "SLOPPY" TRACK -- Zayat Stables' Pioneerof the Nile galloped a mile and a half on a "sloppy" track after the renovation break with exercise rider George Alvarez up.

Trainer Bob Baffert is scheduled to return to Louisville Saturday night and Pioneerof the Nile is tentatively slated to work Monday before shipping to Maryland on Wednesday if Baffert decides on a Preakness bid.

Bo Hirsch's Papa Clem galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break under exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez. The fourth-place Kentucky Derby finisher is scheduled to gallop again Friday and may leave for Pimlico later in the day or Saturday.

Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy was happy with the mile and a half morning gallop from General Quarters before the renovation break, but he had a question for a bystander as exercise rider Julie Sheets brought the colt off the track.

"What are they doing with that filly?" McCarthy asked referring to Rachel Alexandra. "She's an awfully good filly."

Rachel Alexandra could be supplemented to the Preakness, but McCarthy is planning to head east on Tuesday.

"I would hate not to go and have her not get in," McCarthy said. "I went back and looked over the Oaks field and it didn't look like she was facing the quality of competition that she will face in the Preakness."

McCarthy plans to gallop General Quarters the next five days, including next Tuesday before vanning to Baltimore.

"I'd like to train here that morning if at all possible and then be able to jog Wednesday morning at Pimlico to allow him to get a feel for the track," McCarthy said.

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard in Kentucky Derby 135 in which General Quarters finished 10th, retains the mount for the Preakness.

Robert Baker and William Mack's Flying Private galloped shortly after the track opened Thursday morning at Churchill Downs with Taylor Carty up.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he likely would name a rider for Flying Private on Friday.

Asked about the prospect of facing Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, Lukas said: "I don't like the idea at all. I'd like to run against the third-place finisher in the fifth at Beulah!"

Adele Dilschneider's Terrain galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break with exercise rider Jimmy Valdez up.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. plans to work Terrain on Saturday or Sunday.

"Looks like Sunday may be the work day," Stall said as he monitored a Weather Channel forecast that called for rain the next three days in Louisville. "But we are in no rush. We have the luxury of time with five weeks (between the Toyota Blue Grass and the Preakness)."

Trainer Dale Romans sent Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Team Valor International and Gary Barber's undefeated Hull out for a gallop after the renovation break.

Asked if the presence of the speedy Rachel Alexandra might alter his Preakness plans for Hull, Romans said, "She might."

Hull is scheduled to work five furlongs on Saturday.

Update 4922: Just heard from Dominic Terry, who also works for Steve and we have worked together in Arkansas and Woodbine last year. He galloped Rachel this morning. Very cool. I told him to let me know if they need me!

Update 4921: A straightforward morning this morning for Steve at Woodbine. We had seven sets. Four before the break and three after the break, all of whom went to the gate for a little schooling. All mine galloped nicely. It was a bit damp here this morning, but the temperature was good for a pleasant morning's work.

Update 4920: Media reports on the sale of Rachel Alexandra:

Rachel Alexandra Is Sold
JESS JACKSON AND PARTNER BUY RACHEL ALEXANDRA
Jess Jackson buys Rachel Alexandra
Rachel Alexandra Sold
Jackson buys Ky. Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:45 AM | Comments (67)

Barbaro Updates: 848

Posted May 6, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4919: Thoroughbred Times, on twitter, reports Jess Jackson has purchased Rachel Alexandra.

Update 4918: My latest entry for The Rail: Mine That Bird Gallops; Preakness Field at 9.

Update 4917: Mike Gathagan's Preakness notes:

MUSKET MAN, GENERAL QUARTERS AND TERRAIN ADDED TO PREAKNESS FIELD AS BIG DRAMA FIRST TO ARRIVE AT PIMLICO STAKES BARN

BALTIMORE, 05-06-09---The prospective field for next Saturday's 134th Preakness Stakes grew by three confirmed starters when the connections of Musket Man, General Quarters and Terrain committed to the middle jewel of racing's Triple Crown. The $1 million race now has nine definite starters with Big Drama the first to arrive at historic Pimlico Race Course.

Trainer Derek Ryan told Maryland Jockey Club officials that Musket Man, who finished third in Saturday's Kentucky Derby would be Preakness bound. The Illinois Derby (Grade II) and Tampa Bay Derby (Grade III) winner has never finished off the board in seven lifetime starts.

"We've decided on the Preakness," Ryan said from Monmouth Park. "We plan to work him between now and then, maybe 3/8ths next Tuesday. We will not be coming to Pimlico early. We want to stay here as long as possible."

Eibar Coa will have the mount.

Just after noon, owner/trainer Tom McCarthy contacted Maryland Jockey Club stakes coordinator Coley Blind from Kentucky with the news that General Quarters will be making his way to the Preakness. The son of Sky Mesa galloped a mile and a quarter under exercise rider Julie Sheets Wednesday morning.

"I knew I couldn't walk him another day and Julie couldn't stop him," McCarthy said. "He came out of this race better than any race yet."

General Quarters, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) before finishing 10th in Kentucky Derby 135, returned to the track Wednesday for the first time since the Run for the Roses.

"You never know until they gallop if there is anything wrong. You can see it right away," McCarthy said. "But he did so well this morning."

General Quarters will leave Louisville Tuesday morning via van.

"That would give us Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to gallop over there," McCarthy said.

Julien Leparoux has the riding assignment.

Terrain galloped a mile and half at Churchill Downs under exercise rider Jimmy Valdez rather than boarding a plane to Texas for Saturday's Lone Star Derby (Grade III).

"We are not exactly sure what we saw last Saturday," trainer Al Stall Jr. said of Mine That Bird's upset victory in the Derby and the decision to go on to Baltimore.

Fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) in his most recent start on April 11, Terrain vanned to Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon from Keeneland where he's had two works since the Blue Grass after a little break.

"He is right where he needs to be," said Stall, who plans to work Terrain Saturday or Sunday and ship to Baltimore next Wednesday.

No rider has been confirmed for Terrain.

Delta Jackpot winner Big Drama arrived at Pimlico at 6 a.m. after a 19-hour van ride from Calder Race Course. The son of Montbrook has won five-of-seven lifetime starts, including a rare sweep of the three races that comprise the Florida Stallion Stakes as a two-year-old. In his last start he broke the seven-furlong track record at Gulfstream Park in the Grade II Swale but was disqualified and placed second.

Trainer David Fawkes said John Velazquez will have the Preakness mount.

"So far he's proven that he can do anything you've asked him to do and handled everything very well," said Celia Fawkes, exercise rider and assistant to her husband. "There's no reason why he can't compete against these horses."

Celia Fawkes indicated Big Drama would jog around the Pimlico oval at 6:30 Thursday morning. David Fawkes said his star will breeze Monday.

Papa Clem will be the second Preakness starter to arrive at Pimlico. Trainer Gary Stute said Wednesday morning that the fourth place finisher in the Derby will leaving Churchill Downs for Pimlico on Friday or Saturday.

"My alternate plan was to breeze him five-eighths at Churchill Downs on Friday, then check his legs on Saturday and wait to ship," Stute said. "But I am thinking now that I will go on to Baltimore and meet the horse there, gallop him a few days then breeze five-eighths either Monday or Tuesday."

Longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird galloped twice around Churchill Downs through a light drizzle Wednesday morning with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up. Mine That Bird is scheduled to ship to Pimlico next Tuesday.

"He looked super and switched leads perfectly," trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. said. "I was happy with him yesterday (when Mine That Bird galloped a mile). He tried to run off a little bit and that surprised me. I will let him do a little bit more tomorrow."

Woolley said he does not feel any extra pressure going into the second leg of the Triple Crown to quiet naysayers who viewed the 50-1 Derby victory as a fluke.

"He had a great run and came out on top," Woolley said. "We are going to train him the way we trained here and hope things go well again. I don't expect us to be the favorite. Pioneerof the Nile, if he runs, rightfully so. He may have stumbled a little bit in the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness is a sixteenth of a mile shorter and that is in his favor."

The aforementioned Pioneerof the Nile, who is not a confirmed Preakness starter, was one of the first horses on the track Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, jogging once around accompanied by a pony.

"Everything is looking good this morning," said Jim Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert of Pioneerof the Nile's first day back at the track since his runner-up finish in Kentucky Derby 135.

The son of Empire Maker is expected to breeze Monday and if all goes well ship to Baltimore on May 13. Garrett Gomez will have the mount. Baffert lifted the Woodlawn Vase four times from 1997 to 2002.

Undefeated Hull galloped after the renovation break Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. Now three-for-three after winning the Grade III Derby Trial on April 25, Hull is scheduled to have his first work since that victory on Saturday before heading to Pimlico on May 13. Trainer Dale Romans, who never has had a Preakness starter, was asked what the deciding factor was in opting for the Preakness for the son of Holy Bull.

"It looks like a wide-open race," Romans said.

Miguel Mena, who rode Hull to his Derby Trial victory, has the Preakness mount.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas had Flying Private gallop Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs before the renovation break with exercise rider Taylor Carty up. The son of Fusaichi Pegasus returned to the track for the first time since running 19th in the Kentucky Derby on Tuesday to jog. Lukas said no rider has been confirmed for Flying Private, who is scheduled to ship to Pimlico on May 12.

Lukas also will be bringing Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) runner-up Stone Legacy to Pimlico for the May 15 Black-Eyed Susan (Grade II), plus Jazz Nation (Jim McKay Turf Sprint).

Lukas has saddled 32 starters in Maryland's signature race since 1980, the most of any conditioner. He tasted victory with Codex (1980), Tank's Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995) and Charismatic (1999).

Former Lukas protege Todd Pletcher plans on running Take the Points in next's Saturday's $1 million race. The son of Even the Score is two-for-six lifetime and finished second in the Grade III Sham Stakes and fourth in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby in southern California. Pletcher will breeze Take the Points Saturday or Sunday at Belmont Park.

Update 4916: Pictures and an update, from a visit with La Ville Rouge and her latest foal: A Visit with La Ville Rouge and Her Colt.

Update 4915: Bill Talon (Daily Racing Form) on David Cotey and Chantal Sutherland and their reaction to Mine That Bird's Derby win: No longer involved, but still thrilled.

Update 4914: Six sets this morning for Steve at Woodbine. And all mine galloped nicely for a very straightforward morning's work. The weather was very pleasant too.

I left work early to head out to Dundalk to visit the slaughter house there. About five miles north of Dundalk on Route 10. This was my third time I have visited and I have not see any horse slaughter. It is a long drive, but very pretty drive.

Update 4913: It appears the injury to I Want Revenge, discovered on the morning of the Derby, is worse than at first feared: I Want Revenge has career-threatening injury.

Here is my latest entry for The Rail: How Trainers Manage a Two-Week Gap.

And my report from OLEX yesterday: OLEX May 5th 2009.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 9:46 AM | Comments (52)

Barbaro Updates: 847

Posted May 5, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 4912: Mine That Bird is happy at Churchill Downs: Mine That Bird Nesting in Churchill.

Update 4911: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

Yesterday, I suggested we wait and see where Mine That Bird will fit in Kentucky Derby history; today, however, it's time to recap the weekend's racing and in that context, his Derby victory is still something to puzzle over.

It goes without saying that there was no greater spectacle in racing than Rachel Alexandra's utterly dominant (and utterly effortless) performance in the Kentucky Oaks. Her twenty-and-a-bit length victory was all the more awe-inspiring since she looked like she was out for a stroll - there was never the least sign of exertion, and Calvin Borel had plenty of time to pat her neck and celebrate in the stretch. Imagine what she could be capable of if actually asked to run - it's an exciting thought. While her owner has ruled her out of other Triple Crown races (despite the fact that those showcases for 'future stallions' are now headlined by a gelding), I wonder if we could perhaps see her in the Travers or the Whitney - I've already said I'd love to see her face Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic (although that's also the goal for my beloved Einstein).

And so to Einstein - his repeat victory in the Woodford Reserve on Saturday was thrilling - why NBC couldn't show that rather than a trickle of D-list celebrities is beyond me (and for some reason the Guardian is praising their coverage, which veered from 'nothing special' to 'downright irritating'). What they missed out was a fabulous stretch duel between Einstein and Cowboy Cal - Einstein clearly didn't love the soft turf, but he was equally clearly not going to let Cowboy Cal pass him. It was yet another memorable performance - if it's still the legal issues keeping him in training, may the litigation long continue. After the race, trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi remarked:

"I'm not going to say he's the best horse in the country," Pitts-Blasi said. "I'll let you know on Nov. 6. The Breeders' Cup Classic is a possibility. He loved that track at Santa Anita, and with the Breeders' Cup being there, it's worth a shot."

Sounds like a plan.

Finally, there was the Kentucky Derby itself. We attended a Derby party that involved fantastic tacos, newborn foals (including a filly born early that morning to former reality TV star Sharp as a Fox) and a betting pool. We'd placed actual bets on horses including Musket Man, Friesan Fire, Pioneerof the Nile and Papa Clem, but also took turns picking some for the aforementioned pool. By about the second time around the room, pickings were looking a little slimmer, so Mr. Superfecta started going by jockeys - and picked Calvin Borel.

While everyone agrees the call was not Tom Durkin's finest hour, we weren't doing much better - we all spent the last 40 seconds or so of the race shouting, 'but who is that on the rail?!?'

Stunned, we took home the pool.

As I've mentioned already, I'm going to wait to see how the Preakness and Belmont turn out for Mine That Bird before making a decision about where he 'belongs' - but there were certainly plenty of excuses to go around. Desert Party came out of the race with an ankle injury that should keep him out until next year and Friesan Fire grabbed a quarter while getting his legs sliced up a bit - but he could be back in time for the Preakness. For the top finishers, including Pioneerof the Nile, Papa Clem and Musket Man, the surface is the obvious go-to - but it's likely we will see all three of them in Baltimore on the 16th. Late scratch I Want Revenge may appear at the Travers, but that would be the earliest he might rejoin the fray.

And as for Mine That Bird himself, I've always had a soft sport for the little horses (like his daddy Birdstone, or speedy mare Megahertz) who prove you don't need to be a 17 hand monster to win in this game - if you want to get in on the action, his half-brother is a late addition to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale.

So it seems all roads lead to Baltimore (or at least Timonium)...

Update 4910: Preakness update from Mike Gathagan at Pimlico:

FIVE-TIME WINNER D. WAYNE LUKAS WILL RETURN WITH HIS 33RD PREAKNESS STARTER

BALTIMORE, 05-05-09---Only Robert Wyndham Walden, who trained seven Preakness winners, including five straight from 1878-1882 has hoisted the Woodlawn Vase more times than D. Wayne Lukas, who has won five middle jewels. The Hall of Famer will attempt for his sixth victory in the 134th Preakness Stakes on May 16 with Flying Private.

Flying Private, who finished second in the Grade II Lane's End Stakes in March, finished last in Saturday's Kentucky Derby. The Equibase chart indicated the son of Fusaichi Pegasus was five wide into the first turn and within striking distance but faded after five furlongs.

"We didn't get what we expected to get in the Derby," Lukas said. "It wasn't him, but we were optimistic about getting it done in the Derby so we are hopeful the real Flying Private will show up in the Preakness."

Lukas has saddled 32 starters in Maryland's signature race since 1980, the most of any conditioner. He tasted victory with Codex (1980), Tank's Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995) and Charismatic (1999).

"We have been successful at Pimlico and the hospitality is second to none," added Lukas. "The Derby has a niche in our industry but so does the Preakness. Pimlico is the place to be in the middle of May. Not only do the owners and trainers get treated well but the help is also taken care of in a first class manner. We enjoy the experience."

However it appears the Preakness field will not include a starter from Hall of Fame conditioner Nick Zito for just the fourth time since 1991. The Zito stable initially thought last weekend's Tesio Stakes winner Miner's Escape would represent the barn. Just a Coincidence, who had back-to-back wins at Gulfstream Park this winter, was on the Preakness radar screen before a disappointing third in the Grade I Wood Memorial.

"It looks like we will not make the Preakness at this stage of the game," said Zito's longtime assistant Tim Poole. "It is a little too close for the Tesio winner. He had not run in six weeks (March 14) and we want to give him time. Just a Coincidence has had a rough campaign. Nick is probably going to give him some time."

Zito will start Strike Tomisue in the Grade II Allaire duPont Distaff on the Preakness undercard.

The Preakness field could include Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, with Pioneerof the Nile. Baffert tasted victory in the $1 million "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" four times from 1997-2002. Pioneerof the Nile will return to the track Wednesday morning for the first time since his runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Meanwhile in Louisville, Kentucky Derby 135 winner Mine That Bird back-tracked to the paddock tunnel and then 'loped' once around a fast Churchill Downs main track Tuesday morning before the renovation break. Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. is still finalizing travel plans.

"We will leave Monday or Tuesday, probably Tuesday (May 12). He may jog the morning we leave. Woolley said. "I'd like to leave about 9 and get into Pimlico around 7 that evening."

The Maryland Jockey Club has arranged for a police escort to meet the son of Birdstone (who will appear on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated) and his connections on Interstate 70 prior to the Baltimore beltway and accompany them to Pimlico.

The magnitude of pulling off the second-largest mutual shocker ($103.20) still has not sunk in on Woolley.

"The whole thing is still a whirlwind," Woolley said. "It is hard to get a grip on it that it really happened. Eventually you'll get used to the fact that it really did happen. Sunday I was in the paddock getting ready to do an interview and looked up at the sign 'Kentucky Derby 2009, Mine That Bird' and I almost started crying. I couldn't believe it."

Two confirmed Preakness starters based at Churchill, Papa Clem and Hull, were on the famed Louisville oval this morning. The former jogged the wrong way around accompanied by a pony, while the latter galloped.

The fourth definite Preakness starter Big Drama is "on his way" to Pimlico from south Florida according to trainer David Fawkes. The Delta Jackpot winner is expected to arrive sometime Wednesday morning. The son of Montbrook has won five-of-seven lifetime starts, including a rare sweep of the three races that comprise the Florida Stallion Stakes as a two-year-old. Fawkes will give his star the day off Wednesday and expects Big Drama to be on the track Friday morning "at the latest". Fawkes plans a Monday morning breeze at Old Hilltop.

Others considering the Preakness include Kentucky-based General Quarters and Terrain.

Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy walked General Quarters on Tuesday morning and plans to return the 10th-place Kentucky Derby 135 finisher to the track in the morning.

"The Preakness is a possibility, but I want to see how he gallops and go from there," McCarthy said. "He is doing so well. I'd like to get him over there (Pimlico) and get a few turns around the track. He ships so well, I may van him up."

The decision as to whether Terrain goes to Lone Star Park for Saturday's Lone Star Derby or remains in Stall 7 at Barn 47 at Churchill Downs and trains for the Preakness will be made today.

"We've got a decision to make," trainer Al Stall Jr., said Tuesday morning. "The plane for Texas leaves at 7 o'clock in the morning. We are not 100 percent for the Preakness. He is at Keeneland and is coming over here this afternoon. If he does not go to Texas, he will work here this weekend and fly to Baltimore next Wednesday."

Terrain ran fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) at Keeneland on April 11 in his most recent start.

"We gave him a little time off after the Blue Grass and he has had two works since," Stall said of Terrain, who worked a half-mile in :50.40 at Keeneland on Sunday. "He has done real well since the Blue Grass."

Terrain has run twice this year, opening with a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (Grade II) on March 14. Fourth in last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade I), Terrain closed 2008 with a fifth-place finish in the Grade III Delta Jackpot behind possible Preakness rival Big Drama.

In New York, high profile trainers Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin are plotting moves involving four colts.

Prior to the Derby, Pletcher announced Take the Points, would be pointed to the Preakness and the Starlight Partners ownership group has made hotel plans with Pimlico Director of Horsemen's Relations Phoebe Hayes.

"Take the Points is training very well," Pletcher said. "We plan on breezing him Saturday or Sunday at Belmont Park."

The Eclipse Award winning trainer said that Join in the Dance, who finished seventh in the Derby, is no longer under consideration for Maryland's signature event.

It appears that McLaughlin could be running Grade II Futurity winner Charitable Man but not Withers winner Mr. Fantasy as previously expected.

"We would love to come back to the Preakness because we have had good luck down there the last three or four years," said West Point Thoroughbred president Terry Finley, who co-owns Mr. Fantasy and owned 2008 Preakness runner-up Macho Again and 2007 William Donald Schaefer winner Flashy Bull. "The colt ran so hard in the Withers and we feel he can benefit from a little bit more time between races."

Charitable Man was undefeated as a two-year-old, including a victory in the Futurity at Belmont Park, where he beat Kentucky Derby favorite Friesan Fire. In his lone start this year, the son of Lemon Drop Kid finished a disappointing seventh in the Grade I Bluegrass at Keeneland.

Musket Man, who was an impressive third place finisher Saturday in Louisville is back home at Monmouth Park. The Illinois Derby (Grade II) and Tampa Bay Derby (Grade III) winner has never finished off the board in seven lifetime starts.

"The race is under consideration," said trainer Derek Ryan. "Our thinking is to go next in either the Preakness or the Belmont, but not both."

Other potential Preakness starters are Friesen Fire, Lexington runner-up Conservative and European invader Sky Gate.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. Fourteen of the last 17 years have seen double-digit starters.

Update 4909: Steve Haskin on Mine That Bird's win and some back-story: Haskin's Derby Recap: Rare Bird Sighting.

Update 4908: My weekly contribution to Eclipse Magazine (UK): Alex Brown 5 May 2009.

Update 4907: OK, this site is experiencing problems. I am working with Host My Site to get a good solution.

In the meantime:

I only galloped one this morning for Steve. A nice quiet day. I rode the pony for about four or five sets. We had a bunch of workers and they all worked nicely. I then left to head out to OLEX auction to catch up. I am now trying to fix this site!

Update 4906: Weekly Facebook E-mail: Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, knowledge@wharton, Montana, Paragallo, Nebraska Mustangs, YouTube contest, Jimmy McAleney, Salty.

More perspective from the Derby:

Out of the shadows
Biggest Derby Upset? Try Canonero II.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 6:18 PM | Comments (40)

Barbaro Updates 846

Posted May 5, 2009

Update 4906: Weekly Facebook E-mail: Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, knowledge@wharton, Montana, Paragallo, Nebraska Mustangs, YouTube contest, Jimmy McAleney, Salty.

More perspective from the Derby:

Out of the shadows
Biggest Derby Upset? Try Canonero II.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 11:21 AM

Barbaro Updates 845

Posted May 4, 2009

Update 4905: Preakness update from Mike Gathagan:

DERBY TRIAL WINNER HULL ADDED TO PREAKNESS LINEUP

BALTIMORE, 05-04-09---Unbeaten Derby Trial (Grade III) winner Hull has been added to the lineup for the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16.

The son of Holy Bull is a perfect three-for-three this year, breaking his maiden first time out at the Fair Grounds on February 7 then defeating allowance company at Turfway Park on April 2 before his Derby Trial victory at Churchill Downs on April 25.

Miguel Mena will have the Preakness mount for trainer Dale Romans. The colt will arrive on Wednesday, May 13.

Last week it was announced that Hull was going to be pointed to the Grade II Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

"The Kentucky Derby was a very hard, grueling race and any horse coming out of that will be compromised to a certain extent," said co-owner Barry Irwin, owner of Team Valor International. "I look at the Derby as like a heavyweight boxing match. It is tough enough under normal conditions but the way that track was Saturday it could compromise any of those horses headed to the Preakness."

Hull will breeze at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning.

"Our biggest fear has been we have never run around two turns and it sure would be nice if we had done it once so the horse could get the condition and experience but sometimes life is not ideal and you have to seize the opportunity when it presents itself," added Irwin. "I like the horse but it was the jockey who swayed me. The trainer is confident in the horse but the jockey is over the moon about how good the horse is. He says we have gotten nowhere near the bottom of him. That encouraged me to want to try the Preakness."

The Preakness now has four confirmed starters: Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Papa Clem, the fourth place finisher in Saturday's "Run for the Roses" and Big Drama, who is five-for seven in his career.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. Fourteen of the last 17 years have seen double-digit starters.

The Post Position Draw for the $1 million classic is Wednesday, May 13 on HRTV and ESPN 360 at 5 p.m.

Update 4904: Clear Admit (I am on extended sabbatical) blogged the ABR Knowledge @ Wharton interview: Knowledge@Wharton Spotlights Clear Admit's Alex Brown Using Social Media for Social Causes.

And here is the interview: Social Media for Social Causes: Alex Brown's Passion for the Welfare of Horses.

Update 4903: My latest entry on The Rail: Bound for Baltimore.

Update 4902: The ABR YouTube contest re: Horse Slaughter has moved into the final week. The winner will be the video with the highest total score, as of Sunday, May 10 at Noon. The prize is a $1,000 contribution to the horse welfare organization of choice of the winner.

Here are the current standings. Video 4, End Horse Slaughter is starting to draw away from Video 2, Please Stop Horse Slaughter.

In total so far, the videos have garnered 29,000 page views and 1,700 comments!

Update 4901: The day after the Derby: The Morning After: Basking in the Derby Glow.

Update 4900: An easy morning for me this morning at Woodbine. I only had four sets, all before the break. And all galloped nicely. We had a few horses breezing, so Luis, our jockey, was in to help out. All the breezers also seemed to go well.

We had a nice winner yesterday, "Salty"! His first start back after a long break. He ran a great race and because he is a Woodbine regular a lot of people seemed happy about his win this morning. Very cool. And he was the longest shot on the board, which is unusual for us!

And Jimmy McAleney rode is 2,000th winner here yesterday, a deadheat for Terry Jordan. Congratulations to Jimmy, and it's nice to see his win for one of his big outfits!

Update 4899: Joe Drape on The Rail takes a look at the next question for Mine That Bird - whether or not to enter The Preakness: Will Mine That Bird Run in Preakness

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 11:00 AM | Comments (110)

Barbaro Updates: 844

Posted May 1, 2009

Jpdates are now here

Update 4898: Our knowledge @ wharton interview: Social Media for Social Causes: Alex Brown's Passion for the Welfare of Horses is featured on Fugly Horse of the Day: The Internet and Horse Rescue - friend or foe?.

Update 4897: YouTube: KENTUCKY DERBY 2009 - MINE THAT BIRD.

Update 4896: From John Asher at Churchill Downs:

MINE THAT BIRD TEAM SALUTES BARBARO, GIVES ROSES FROM DERBY GARLAND TO FANS

LOUISVILLE, KY. (May 3, 2009) - Kentucky Derby fans who visited Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum on the day after the 135th "Run for the Roses" got a surprise gift from the team behind Mine That Bird, the 50-1 longshot that won America's greatest race on Saturday.


Trainer Chip Woolley Jr. suggested Sunday morning that the mantle of roses worn by Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby Winner's Circle after his victory be placed on the new sculpture of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro located at Churchill Downs' Gate 1 entrance. After consulting with co-owners Mark Allen with Double Eagle Ranch and Dr. Leonard Blach of Bueno Suerte Equine, the trio behind Saturday's surprise Derby winner decided to give the nearly 400 "Freedom Roses" that make up the garland to Derby fans who were visiting the Barbaro Memorial and the Kentucky Derby Museum on the day after the race.

The garland had been stored in refrigeration overnight in the museum, and at noon (EDT) was briefly placed over the rail of the Barbaro sculpture in tribute to the ill-fated 2006 winner of the Kentucky Derby. The garland was then removed and Woolley and Allen began handing out the roses, one-by-one, to fans who happened by the larger-than-life sculpture as they visited the museum and Churchill Downs.

"This is a tribute to a great horse," Woolley said. "I wanted everyone to have a little piece of the Derby. We wanted to give something back to the game. We just want to show how important horses really are. That's what this is all about. We want people to know just how important these horses really are to us. They're not just animals, they're a part of us."

A line of delighted fans formed in front of the Barbaro sculpture as they awaited their opportunity for a Derby rose won by Mine That Bird, and Woolley and Allen also posed for photos and signed autographs until the each rose had been distributed. The two men greeted fans in front of the Barbaro Memorial for more than an hour and a half until each rose from the garland had been handed out.

Update 4895: Sue McMullen reports from across the pond on today's first fillies Classic, the 1,000 Giuneas:

Another day and another great performance as the fillies took centre stage in their first Classic of the year. Royally bred, as with the victor of the boys equivalent yesterday, but with the most unconventional route to the Guineas, Ghanaati showed them all the way home. Trained by Barry Hills, one of the UK's longstanding characters of the sport and ridden by son Richard, Ghanaati gave an indication she will be a force to reckon with this year.

Daughter of Giants Causeway, the force of nature dubbed the 'Iron Horse' this side of the Pond for his bravery and irrepressible desire to win, the filly added millions to her value in just the few short minutes taken to stamp her authority over a classy field. Already a valuable broodmare prospect due to her regal breeding, Ghanaati has now taken that next step to superstardom in the Paddocks by bagging her first Classic. Not bad for a horse that has run only twice before, both runs last year on the All Weather surfaces, and making her debut for the year and the first time on Turf.

Out of Sarayir from the Height of Fashion line that includes Nashwan, Ghanaati could be a real force over a mile this year and if she has inherited an ounce of her father's courage she could be a very exciting prospect. A doubtful runner in the Oaks as owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has indicated he believes the trip will be a step too far for her, she will hopefully line-up in some of the most exciting mile races this season.

Longtime favourite Rainbow View didn't fire today but you can't take anything away from the winner and for one thing is for certain, Dad was a much loved horse here and all his fans root for his offspring, especially when they reach the top. It's early days yet but Ghanaati did the old man proud.

Update 4894: My interview with David Cotey: Mine That Bird's Canadian Connection.

Update 4893: An upbeat mood in Barn 30 this morning at Woodbine. We share a barn with David Cotey and he and his crew were thrilled to see Mine That Bird, who they had last year, win yesterday's Kentucky Derby! A couple of people had small wagers too so that helped the mood! I interviewed David after we were finished work. When the interview is written up I will send it in to The Rail!

We had seven sets at Steve's. All mine galloped nicely. A couple of new ones that had shipped in from Kentucky I guess. They enjoyed their first trip to the track. Three runners this afternoon, so a busy day! But fun!

Update 4892: Kentucky Derby media reports:

BOREL RIDES MINE THAT BIRD TO 50-1 KENTUCKY DERBY UPSET
Mine That Bird, a 50-1 Shot, Wins Derby
Borel, Mine That Bird Soar in Derby Shocker
Canadian champion wins American classic
Post-race video from the Kentucky Derby
Mine That Bird shocks Derby at 50-1
Disappointment on Jones's final Derby Day

Update 4891: My post on The Rail (note, David Cotey bought and trained Mine That Bird through his Canadian career): Watching the Derby in Woodbine's Kitchen.

Update 4890: Wow! Canadian Champion 2yo Mine That Bird romped to victory in the Kentucky Derby. He was last, and then he won galloping away! I watched the race in the track kitchen here with a couple of grooms who work for David Cotey. Lots of celebrations!

Update 4889: Oaks notes from John Asher at Churchill Downs:

KENTUCKY OAKS 135 NOTES
Saturday, May 2, 2009

EVERYTHING 'PERFECT' FOR RACHEL ALEXANDRA
LUKAS FILLIES COME OUT OF OAKS WELL
BAFFERT ON RACHEL: 'WE SAW GREATNESS'

RACHEL ALEXANDRA - It was easy to figure out where the winner of Friday's 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks was ... just follow the lilies.

The garland of lilies was draped over the wall in front of Stall 17 at Barn 30 where Rachel Alexandra was taking it easy after her jaw-dropping, 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks.

"She is good this morning," trainer Hal Wiggins said. "She maybe left one or two bits of feed and this morning she was dragging the groom around the barn."

Rachel Alexandra began her five-race win streak with a score in the Golden Rod (Grade II) here last fall. After that, Wiggins mapped out a plan to get to Friday's Oaks.

"You make plans and it is very nice to see things work out perfect," the 66-year-old Wiggins said. "She makes my job very easy. We still don't know how good she is."

For Wiggins, who saddled his first winner in 1977 and who has been a regular at Churchill Downs since 1993, Friday marked the highest of the highs.

"I have been in the game a long time. I had Chorwon (a three-time winner of the Louisville Handicap) and Morris Code (who earned more than $700,000) for Mr. (Dolphus) Morrison, but nothing like this at the top of the game," Wiggins said. "Mr. Morrison bred and owned the dam (Lotta Kim). I have been with him for 30 years and that makes it special."

Wiggins stayed at the barn until 8 last night and was back in his office early Saturday morning.

"We watched the race on the outside rail where I always watch and you miss a lot down there," Wiggins said. "I had no idea how much she won by. We did start celebrating a little early.

"We went to the directors room after the press conference and they were showing the race over and over. Then they showed the aerial shot and that was tremendous."

In all the euphoria of the victory, Wiggins was thinking about one filly that didn't make the race: West Point Thoroughbreds’ Justwhistledixie.

"My heart goes out to the Justwhistledixie people," Wiggins said of the filly who was scratched less than two hours before the race because of an abscess in her left front foot. "I really feel for them. They are a good group of guys. I hate it for anybody. Not to take anything away from the others, but she looked like the main competition. This was their big day."

The $300,000 Acorn (Grade I) at Belmont on June 6 at a mile is the next objective on Wiggins' radar for Rachel Alexandra.

"This gives her five weeks, which is what I like," Wiggins said. "She had only three weeks before the Fantasy, but it looks like she is fine. She was dragging the groom around the barn after she worked in (a minute and):10 five or six days ago. Maybe she is the monster people have been talking about.

"We walked her two days after she worked and Rudy (exercise rider Rudy Gallegos) said 'don't walk her two days again.' She was pulling him out of the saddle."

STONE LEGACY/BE FAIR/TWEETER - Hall of Fame trainer and four-time Kentucky Oaks winner D. Wayne Lukas said all three of his Kentucky Oaks participants were well on the morning after Friday's race. Stone Legacy finished second, Be Fair fourth and Tweeter was last in the field of seven.

"They were all fine," Lukas said. "I don't know where we'll go with any of them, but they were fine."

Earlier in the week Lukas had said the eventual Oaks winner could be the best 3-year-old filly in the United States since Eugene Klein's Winning Colors, the Hall of Fame filly who provided Lukas with his first Kentucky Derby victory when she turned back colts in the 1988 "Run for the Roses."

"That was something else," Lukas said of Rachel Alexandra's record 20 1/4-length win. "The best line was that she ran in the 11th race, we ran in the 12th."

FLYING SPUR - Trainer Bill Mott said Saturday morning that Flying Spur, who finished third in the Kentucky Oaks, was fine.

"She's good," Mott said. "She exited the race in very good order."
Mott said that he does not know when the filly will race next.
According to Mott, Rachel Alexandra's impressive 20 1/4-length victory will have an impact on the 3-year-old female division this season.

"I guess that at this point no fillies are going to run against her in the good races," Mott said. "They're all just going to go somewhere else."

NAN - Wally Dollase, father of trainer Craig Dollase, said that J. Paul Reddam's Nan came out of her fifth-place finish in the Friday's Oaks in good order.

"She's fine, she just got beat," Dollase said. "I'll call Craig tomorrow and see what he wants to do."

GABBY'S GOLDEN GAL - The Sunland Oaks winner Gabby's Golden Gal is fine after her sixth-place finish, trainer Bob Baffert said Saturday morning. Baffert said he did not have a plan for the next start for Gabby's Golden Gal, who led the race for about the first mile.

Baffert was impressed with the way Rachel Alexandra dominated the Oaks.

"We saw greatness," Baffert said. "You hate to get beat, but at least we can say we were the last filly who was in front of Rachel Alexandra turning for home. I wish he (Calvin Borel) could have waited a little bit longer and maybe I could have run second or third."

Update 4888: While we are focusing today on the Kentucky Derby and Rachel's emphatic performance yesterday in the Oaks, across the pond the 2,000 Guineas was run, the first UK Classic race. Remember the Jackson's-bred George Washington won this race hours before Barbaro's 2006 Derby win.

Sue McMullen reports on this year's race:

The first Classic of the UK Flat season and, without wishing to prejudice his chances with too many plaudits so early on, we may have witnessed the birth of a superstar as the aptly named Sea of Stars travelled the Rowley Mile at Newmarket like the wrath of God to bag the 2,000 Guineas. Fighting the finish with longtime antepost favourite Delegator, the John Oxx-trained Sea of Stars, half brother to duel Derby winner Galileo - no pressure there - looked every inch a horse that could be something very special.

An incredibly good looking colt, which doesn't necessarily count for much if you don't have the talent to match, but when they are that good and look the part it's often a sign of great things to come. This strapping, solid bay son of Cape Cross is bred in the purple and has that 'look of Eagles' so common in very good horses.

Bred by the owners of Urban Sea, otherwise known as 'mom' to Sea of Stars, they were so impressed with Cape Cross junior as a foal then as a yearling that they decided to keep him, rather than send him to the sales. This was a clear indicator of the faith they had in him as Cape Cross produced the global favourite and much loved Ouija Board and mom was no slouch as she showed the boys a clean pair of heels in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a huge feat for a mare and when a mare is that good they are awesome.

The biggest surprise to many at Newmarket was the starting price, with Sea of Stars leaving the stalls at 8-1. The quietly-spoken master trainer John Oxx, the embodiment of modesty who was responsible for the mighty Sinndar and a host of fabulous horses owned by the Aga Khan, doesn't send a horse across the Irish Sea for a weekend vacation and change of scene. Sea of Stars had been working well at home, which was widely reported and striding majestically around the parade ring he could have been a show horse but all the money was for the battalion from Ballydoyle, aside from the favourite Delegator was is trained at Manton, UK, by Brian Meehan.

Through Dad Sea of Stars has the speed and from mom he has the stamina and despite the many who thought he should have been 'wrapped up' for the Derby, John Oxx knew he should take his chance in the Guineas as he believes horses are categorised too often in terms of distance. Despite missing two weeks work due to a viral problem, Sea of Stars showed he was ready for the first big question in his career and demonstrated a really good attitude to the job.

One down and we have much to look forward to as we have most certainly witnessed the birth of a new star this side of the Pond. We wish him luck and offer the fervent hope he remains problem free and gets the chance to add this particular star to Flat racing's galaxy.

Update 4887: Here is Rachel Alexandra's win on YouTube, just incredible: Rachel Alexandra - Kentucky Oaks @ Churchill Downs 5/1/09.

Update 4886: Railbird here, with a look at today's races.

The Derby dominates Saturday, but Churchill offers a superb undercard that includes five graded stakes, on dirt and turf.

In the Churchill Downs Stakes (race six), Kodiak Kowboy, who's developed into an accomplished, if inconsistent stakes sprinter, is the 8-5 morning line favorite, coming off his Carter Handicap win. But the 'Kowboy has a weakness, and that's putting two wins together. This is a race to look elsewhere, perhaps to lightly raced Sok Sok, or The Roundhouse, who returned to racing in February with a third-place finish at Gulfstream, followed by a win at the track in March.

Race seven, formerly known as the La Troienne Stakes, renamed this year as the Eight Belles Stakes in honor of the 2008 Kentucky Derby runner-up, drew a field of 10 -- only one a last-out winner. No more than nine will start, though, since Laragh was scratched to run on the Oaks undercard in the Edgewood, which she won going wire-to-wire. Just Jenda, trained by Larry Jones, would be a sentimental winner here. She'd also be quite logical, coming off a third in the Fantasy Stakes (won by Rachel Alexandra) and a win in the Honeybee. But trainer Steve Asmussen sends out two -- Four Gifts and Auspicious -- both of which are serious contenders, and CS Silk, winless since last September, could be a new filly after eight weeks off and a return to the track over which she broke her maiden.

Someday, Visit will win again, and maybe -- if I keep pointing her out -- I'll actually have her when she does. The well-bred Bobby Frankel trainee starts in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (race eight), a race so evenly matched she's the 7-2 morning line favorite. Second favorite is Elusive Lady, second to Ballymore Lady (also entered) by a neck in the Endeavour Stakes at Tampa in February, then to Backseat Rhythm in the Hillsborough in March.

In the Humana Distaff (race nine), Informed Decision goes for her fourth straight win. In her previous start, the 4-year-old filly upset Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Ventura in the Vinery Madison Stakes; she starts here against eight others, the most threatening of which seems to be Game Face, coming off a win in the Inside Information at Gulfstream.

Venerable veteran Einstein, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in March, will attempt to become the first back-to-back winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (race 10), but he'll have to beat several others with decent credentials, including Court Vision, winner of the Hollywood Derby last November, and Cowboy Cal, winner of the Strub. Artiste Royal, third in the Woodford last year, enters this year off a third in the San Luis Rey, and Proudinsky off a nose victory in the Muniz Jr. Handicap. And then there's Zambezi Sun -- despite a couple of poor North American starts (for which he has excuses), his European form stands out, as do his improving works. I like him for the upset -- a surprise for an always surprising day.

Update 4885: Will be guest on the radio show, talking about the Derby, 10:45 am: Cyril Quinn, Sports Talk and Pop Culture.

Update 4884: Montana's horse slaughter bill became law on Friday: Montana horse slaughter bill becomes law.

Update 4883: So this morning's work at Woodbine was interrupted by the news of I Want Revenge's scratch. I was coming off the track at about 8:40 am and Danny, Jimmy Mac's agent, told me he had just received a text from Churchill about the news. Was it a hoax was the question. As soon as I got back to the barn I went to twitter and saw the news being reported. My last set I went to the gate. I tried to offer 6-1 I Want Revenge and nearly made $20!

All my horses galloped nicely. I had six sets. The chatter this morning was more about Rachel Alexandra's performance yesterday, than about the Derby today. And the Derby today is now looking more and more like a Grade 2 field of runners.

My picks, either of the Godolphin horses.

And I will be appearing on this show sometime between 10:30 am and 11:30 am eastern time.

Update 4882: I Want Revenge is scratched from today's Derby!

Update 4881: I still have chills over Rachel Alexandra's performance yesterday. Was it the most dominating performance in a Grade 1 Stakes race since Secretariat ? Who knows, but dominating it was.

This is what I wrote for The Rail: Rachel Alexandra Is Queen of Oaks.

And other coverage: Rachel Alexandra a Breathtaking Oaks Winner and Rachel Alexandra dominates Ky. Oaks - with video. And if you have not watched the race, please watch the video.

So today is the big day!

And here is some early coverage:

Friesan Fire Favored in Early Wagering
I Want Revenge not bucking Derby history
No shortage of story lines in Derby 135

Update 4880: Wow. Rachel Alexandra was unreal, again! She destroyed her field in the Oaks, and was never asked to run.

Discussion: Rachel Alexandra Wins Kentucky Oaks!!

Update 4879: John Asher's Derby report for Friday from Churchill Downs:

KENTUCKY DERBY 135 NOTES
Friday, May 1, 2009

PLETCHER HOPES TO AVOID MUDDY DERBY
JONES SEEKS TO PEN PERFECT SCRIPT FOR DERBY 135
STUTE TO AVOID 'FULL DISCLOSURE' ON WALK OVER

ADVICE/DUNKIRK/JOIN IN THE DANCE - The trio of Todd Pletcher horses was out and done with their leg stretching prior to 7 a.m. (all times EDT) Friday, each galloping approximately a mile and three eighths around the "sloppy" Churchill Downs oval that had been pelted with some fairly serious overnight rains.

Advice, the last of the barn's Derby contenders came off the strip just prior to 7 with Pletcher looking on near the six-furlong gap.

"If it is 'fast' or 'sloppy' tomorrow for the race, I think we'll be fine," Pletcher said. "Dunkirk went over this 'slop' a little earlier and he handled it well. He was good with it. But I don't think we'll want to see a 'good' or 'muddy' track. That won't help my horses. We'll hope we don't have to deal with that."

The third Pletcher runner, Join in the Dance, made his first racing appearance at Churchill Downs on May 14 last year on a "sloppy" racing surface and finished second in a straight maiden race. He also ran on a "sloppy" track at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Sept. 27 in the NATC Futurity, showing early speed, but finishing fourth.

Advice will be ridden by Rene Douglas on Saturday and break from post four. Dunkirk was assigned post 15 and will be handled by Edgar Prado. And Join in the Dance will have Chris DeCarlo up as they leave from post nine.

ATOMIC RAIN/WEST SIDE BERNIE - Trainer Kelly Breen waited until daylight hit the Downs to get West Side Bernie and Atomic Rain out on the track Friday morning.

"The track was sloppy, and I wanted to wait until there was enough light to see well before I took them out," Breen said.

West Side Bernie went out at 7 a.m., and Atomic Rain was on the track by 7:30. Both colts jogged one mile with Breen aboard. They were ponied to the track by George Hall, who owns the horses with his wife, Lori.

The 6-year-old pony Hall was aboard is a story of his own. He is a Thoroughbred named Fagan's Legacy and won the Grade III Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont as a 3-year-old. He's named in honor of Hall's grandfather, Larry Fagan.

"My grandfather took my brother John and me to the track at Belmont and Aqueduct when we were kids," Hall said. "He's the one that got us interested in racing."

Hall ponied one of his horses to the track for a race Thursday, but says he has no plans to repeat that in the Kentucky Derby.

"I thought about it," he said, "but the Derby is too big a race. I might get too nervous. Plus, I'm looking forward to the walk over there with family and friends.

"It was fun and exciting yesterday, and I'm glad I did it," Hall said. "The pony, being a racehorse, got excited about it, too. He got to the top of the stretch and I think he was expecting to go to the gate."

Breen, who has been smiling most of the week as he approaches his first Kentucky Derby, was coming back to the barn aboard West Side Bernie when he saw Michael Matz on the path.

"Got any pointers for me?" Breen said to Matz.

Barbaro's trainer just smiled and said, "You'll be fine."

CHOCOLATE CANDY - The bay son of Candy Ride was out for some 7 a.m. exercise Friday at Churchill Downs, moving over a racing strip called "sloppy" after some heavy overnight rains.

Exercise rider Lindsey Molina led Chocolate Candy through a drill similar to the one he'd gone through the day before - a short stand in the starting gate and a good gallop of about a mile and five-eighths.

"He's never run on an 'off' track," trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said back at Barn 42, "but he's handled it well the couple of times he's been on one here this week. This morning when he came around the second time on his gallop he was going even better than the first. Once he got a feel for the track he liked it even more. If it comes up 'off' tomorrow, I think we're going to be OK."

Mike Smith will handle Chocolate Candy for the first time Saturday and they'll leave from post 11. This will be the colt's fourth race of 2009 and his fourth Derby. He started the year back on Jan. 17 by winning the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in the Bay Area, then came back at that track on Feb. 14 to capture the El Camino Real Derby (Grade III). His most recent outing was a second-place finish (behind Pioneerof the Nile) in the Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) April 4.

DESERT PARTY/REGAL RANSOM - Trainer Saeed bin Suroor sent his Godolphin runners, Desert Party and Regal Ransom, out Friday morning to gallop a mile and three-eighths.

"They're looking good," bin Suroor said. "Happy. Fresh. Sound. Healthy. No problem at all. Now the job is done and we're looking forward to tomorrow. We're happy with them."

Bin Suroor is optimistic his colts won't be affected adversely by running over what is likely to be a wet track in the Derby.

"I think Desert Party will handle it. He's won on it before," bin Suroor said. "All week, Regal Ransom has handled the ground good, but in the race it could be different. It's hard to say."

Desert Party won the Sanford Stakes (Grade II) at Saratoga Race Course last summer over a track rated as "muddy."

Bin Suroor said he thinks Godolphin has the right horses prepared properly, with three races in Dubai, for the Derby.

"There is no excuse for them," he said. "If they are good enough, they are going to win."

FLYING PRIVATE - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent Flying Private to the track for a routine gallop with Taylor Carty up Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

The Hall of Fame trainer, who has saddled four Kentucky Derby winners, has always had an astute eye for the competition during Derby Week.

"Desert Party appeals to me in this race. They have quality horses, and that horse looks excellent to me. I think he's going to be a factor," Lukas said. "I like (Bob) Baffert's horse (Pioneerof the Nile). I think he's adjusted (to the dirt surface). I wasn't an I Want Revenge fan earlier in the week, but he's starting to come around, too."

Lukas views handicapping Derby 135 as a particularly tough endeavor.

"The only thing that's confusing about it are those horses coming from different areas with synthetic surfaces," he said. "It's hard to evaluate how good they are. Some of them could adapt to this beautifully and others bomb, so it makes it a nightmare to handicap. There could be a 50 or 60 dollar payoff pretty easy."

Robby Albarado will ride Flying Private, whom Lukas has compared favorably to two of his Derby winners: Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999).

FRIESAN FIRE - Louisiana Derby (Grade II) winner Friesan Fire visited the paddock and galloped five-eighths of a mile with trainer Larry Jones in the saddle.

"We just wanted to keep his legs fresh," Jones said. "I let him go to the paddock and look around and he was much more relaxed in there than the other day when he went to the gate."

Owned by Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farms, Friesan Fire enters Kentucky Derby 135 on a three-race win streak. Listed at 5-1 on the morning line, Friesan Fire will be ridden by Gabriel Saez and break from post position six.

Jones, who saddled Hard Spun and Eight Belles to runner-up finishes in the past two Derbys, was asked about his confidence level with Friesan Fire.

"There is no way you can get too confident, because it is a horse race," Jones said.

"He is coming into the race as good, if not better, than the last two. We have had no issues with him at all. Some others were battling quarter cracks and some other things, but everything has fallen perfectly in place for him."

Jones, who plans to retire from training after this year's Breeders' Cup, was asked if he could pen the perfect script for Derby 135, how it would read.

"That's easy. We win," Jones said with a laugh. "We win in Baltimore and then Belmont. What a way to go out!"

GENERAL QUARTERS - The eyes of Louisville will be on local owner/trainer Tom McCarthy as he saddles Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) winner General Quarters in Saturday's Derby 135. But don't look for McCarthy to be hobknobbing in the grandstand.

"I'll be sitting right there in that tack room and be with my horse all day," McCarthy said. "I don't get into all that other stuff. We're here to do a job, and he's the only one I really need to be with on Derby Day. I'm letting my son handle all the tickets and people and such."

General Quarters galloped 1 1/2 miles Friday morning under exercise rider Julie Sheets, and McCarthy loved what he saw on the sloppy track.

"Oh, boy, I think I'm hoping for rain now to be honest," he said. "He just skipped over the mud and loved it."

HOLD ME BACK - WinStar Farm's vice president and racing manager Elliott Walden checked on WinStar's three Derby starters, Hold Me Back, Mr. Hot Stuff and Advice on Friday morning.

Hold Me Back, handled by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, galloped a mile and a half. The Lane's End (Grade II) winner and Toyota Blue Grass (Grade I) runner-up will start from post five, while Lexington winner Advice is in post four and Mr. Hot Stuff, third in the Santa Anita Derby (Grade I), is in post three.

Walden acknowledged that is quite an accomplishment to get three horses into the Derby field.

"All three are coming off very good races, so you feel good about that," Walden said. "Hold Me Back is a horse that has developed very quickly with the last two races and he seems to be doing very well.

"Mr. Hot Stuff is a horse that is a little further behind, as far as his development is concerned. He's only won one race, but we feel that the X factor is that he'll love the mile and a quarter. He's galloped out his races extremely well and he is progressing physically and mentally. He's a little bit slower to come to the party than his full brother Colonel John, who had more of a 2-year-old career. We're excited about how he's coming in and we hope we're right, but we're guessing a little bit on that. Advice ran a big race and he's worked great over the dirt, so we felt like he deserved a chance, too."

Since all three colts have an off-the-pace running style, Walden said that WinStar officials were happy to see the speedy Join in the Dance, trained by Todd Pletcher, get a spot in the field this week.

"We had Advice sitting on the fence to run and a lot of that was because of the fact that he came to it late by winning the Lexington, but we also wanted the speed in the race from Todd's horse.

"When Todd's horse got in by another defection, that's when we decided to run Advice. We probably wouldn't have run Advice if he was 20 (on the earnings list) and Join in the Dance was 21. We would have let him run because of the speed. We do need speed for all three horses. So we would have probably held Advice back."

I WANT REVENGE - The Wood Memorial (Grade I) winner galloped a mile and jogged a mile under excise rider Joe Deegan on Friday morning at Churchill Downs. Trainer Jeff Mullins expressed satisfaction with I Want Revenge's preparation for his start in Kentucky Derby 135.

"The only thing I could ask for is better weather and a fast racetrack," the Southern California-based trainer said.

I Want Revenge will enter the Derby coming off an impressive victory in the Wood Memorial, in which he overcame a very late start and severe traffic in the stretch under jockey Joe Talamo.

Although Talamo will be riding in his first Derby, Mullins said that the 19-year-old jockey will be on his own without any instructions on how to get to the finish line first.

"I haven't given him any yet, so I don't think I'm going to start now," Mullins said. "I could have given him all the instructions in the world for the Wood and look what happened."

MINE THAT BIRD - While Tom McCarthy might be the most hands-on owner in this year's Kentucky Derby with General Quarters, Mine That Bird co-owner Mark Allen isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, either. The rancher and owner of Double Eagle Farm doubled as groom Friday morning, giving his pint-sized Kentucky Derby contender a sponge bath.

Allen and trainer Chip Woolley go back more than two decades and are making their first appearance on Thoroughbred racing's biggest stage. Mine That Bird galloped 1 1/2 miles Friday morning and impressed Allen with how he responded to the conditions.

"He handled the track really, really well," Allen said. "Chip could not have this horse doing any better."

Both Allen and Woolley have worked extensively with Quarter Horses over the years in New Mexico, and Allen said he has big dreams in 2009 for both breeds.

"How amazing would it be to have a horse in the Kentucky Derby and the All American Futurity in the same year?" he asked. "I'd call that a perfect year. That's what we're hoping for. We have four or five really quality 2-year-old Quarter Horses that we're aiming for at Ruidoso."

MR. HOT STUFF - WinStar Farm's Mr. Hot Stuff went trackside at 6:45 Friday morning and galloped a mile over a "sloppy" racetrack.

"A mile was enough," trainer Eoin Harty said. "I didn't want to chance any more."

The transplanted Irishman was asked how he thought his Kentucky-bred son of Tiznow might handle a possible "wet" surface in Kentucky Derby 135 on Saturday.

"Haven't a clue," the conditioner said. "He's never been on one, but I guess there's a fair chance we might find out."

Harty was asked if Mr. Hot Stuff's full brother - Colonel John, whom he trained and saddled to run sixth in last year's Derby - had any history of "off" track performance.

"No help there," he said. "Don't believe he was ever on a wet track."

Wet or fast, Mr. Hot Stuff will break from post three Saturday at 6:24 p.m. with John Velazquez doing the steering.

"We're ready for it now," Harty said. "We're as ready as we can be."

MUSKET MAN - Trainer Derek Ryan had Musket Man out early Friday morning for a one-mile gallop around the sloppy Churchill Downs oval.

After that, the colt by Yonaguska calmly munched grass behind Barn 41, looking the picture of a happy, healthy horse.

"He's doing great," Ryan said as he prepares for his first Kentucky Derby. "I'm doing OK, too. It's like all the other races - if you win, you celebrate; if you lose, you go home. Except this is the big one, so that makes it different."

Ryan has been able to celebrate five times in Musket Man's six-race career. The colt has lost only once, and comes into the Derby off consecutive victories in the Tampa Bay Derby (Grade III) and Illinois Derby (Grade II). Eric Fein and Vic Carlson own Musket Man, a $15,000 yearling purchase who already has earned $572,600.

NOWHERE TO HIDE - My Meadowview Farm's Illinois Derby (Grade II) fourth-place finisher walked the shedrow under tack Friday morning, one day after blowing out a quarter-mile in :25.20 for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito.

"Everything's good and he's ready," Zito said.

The two-time Derby-winning trainer is among a trio of multiple Derby winners in this year's cast, joining four-time winner D. Wayne Lukas and three-time winner Bob Baffert. But recent history indicates those three may not have an edge as six of the past seven Derby winners have been trained by conditioners making their debut in the Run for the Roses.

What does Zito make of the recent trend?

"It's terrific and great for the game, are you kidding me?" he responded. "It shows you how great this race is, and how hard it is to win and also how many people are trying to come here and win it.

"Everybody wants to win this race from the moment they look at a horse in a yearling sale. That wasn't always the case. When I bought Go for Gin for $150,000 in 1992, it wasn't with one race in mind like buyers are aiming for today. Things have changed. Almost everyone today is looking for a Triple Crown or Breeders' Cup winner, and that's about it. As a trainer, you know what they want and that's what you aim for."

PAPA CLEM - With his pre-Derby work completed Thursday after a three-furlong blowout in :34 flat, the Arkansas Derby (Grade II) winner walked the shedrow Friday morning and was feisty as trainer Gary Stute met him afterward in his stall. Papa Clem took a nip at his trainer, eliciting some laughter and the declaration, "I think that means he's ready."

Stute will stick to his plan and walk Papa Clem on Derby morning as well. The trainer reported that Papa Clem's legs were "ice cold" after the final breeze and that "he has not missed an oat this week, according to my barn foreman."

Saturday's famed Kentucky Derby walkover will be an exciting time, Stute said, as he makes the long journey from the stable area to the paddock with Papa Clem. He joked Friday morning that he hopes it goes better than the first time he made the trek in 1980 with his father, Mel.

"When my dad ran Bold n' Rulling, I wanted to walk over with the horse," he recalled. "But as I leaned to duck under the rail to go on the track, my pants split right down the seam! I had to run back to the barn and duct-tape them together. Let's just hope that doesn't happen Saturday on national TV."

PIONEEROF THE NILE - Trainer Bob Baffert said Friday morning he has tried to prepare Pioneerof the Nile mentally and physically for the grind of running three times in five weeks in the Triple Crown series of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

"He's filled out. He's carrying a lot of flesh," Baffert said. "I've worked on his mind pretty well. He's the kind of horse that is going to be able to handle the three races. I sort of brought him in here good enough to do this one but still have him for the next one. I didn't want to do too much here. I wanted to do enough to get him to win this one so he can go to the next one. I'm still trying to win that damn Triple Crown."

Pioneerof the Nile has won all four of his starts since being moved to Baffert's care late last year. The Empire Maker colt, to be ridden by Garrett Gomez, galloped a mile and a half Friday morning.

"He looks good. He had a good day," Baffert said. "Everyday has been a good day for him. You need that."

Pioneerof the Nile pulled Gomez to the lead early in what turned into a victory in the Santa Anita Derby (Grade I). The colt will be making his first start on dirt and Baffert chose post 16 in the starting gate in hopes that it will reduce the amount of dirt Pioneerof the Nile has kicked in his face. The key, he said, is for Gomez to get the colt to relax early.

"He didn't want to settle the last time," Baffert said. "That's why I didn't take a chance of putting him on the inside, especially with the wet. If it's wet and he's down on the inside and that mud starts hitting him, sometimes it can get to them."

SUMMER BIRD - Trainer Tim Ice had Summer Bird out very early Friday morning, and the Birdstone colt jogged two miles over the sloppy track with jockey Chris Rosier aboard.

"It was dark, I didn't even see him out there," Ice said. "But I wanted to get out early and get him back to his stall today. Chris told me he went good out there, which is what I wanted to hear."

Ice, who went out on his own as a trainer less than a year ago, has been the picture of placidity this week as he saddles his first Kentucky Derby starter.

"I'm trying to do everything like I normally do," Ice said. "I'm not approaching this like it's the world's greatest race - which it is, of course - but I'm trying to stay calm and just go through my routine. It'll probably all hit me Saturday.

"Chris and I were talking about that the other day," Ice said. "Chris said that he's ridden with all those jocks, so he has that experience to go with. Of course, when they play 'My Old Kentucky Home' that's when the butterflies will really start. If you don't get butterflies in your stomach at that point, you probably shouldn't be here."

Update 4878: Justwhistledixie has been scratched from the Oaks.

Update 4877: Paulick Report at the Oaks: LIVE BLOGGING KENTUCKY OAKS DAY.

Update 4876: Zenyatta and Ready Set scratched today: Champion Zenyatta scratched from 2009 debut.

Update 4875: Jen's Thoroughblog's entry today covers the Derby and Oaks AND mentions my Knowledge @ Wharton interview. Very cool: GREAT.

Update 4874: Twitter reporting Zenyatta scratched from her race today. More to follow.

Update 4873: Six sets this morning for Steve at Woodbine. Four before the break and two after the break. All mine galloped nicely for a very uneventful morning. A little damp, but no rain.

New York Times on horse slaughter: Ignoble Endings Far From Winner's Circle.

Update 4872: The day before the Kentucky Derby and we have some terrific horses running today at Churchill Downs, although the weather may play a role.

Rachel Alexandra runs in the Oaks: KY Oaks: Everyone Chasing Rachel Alexandra.

And Zenyatta is scheduled to run: Zenyatta May Not Run on Oaks Undercard, excerpt:

"For her first race back we would like to have a decent track, so we will see how it goes," said Shirreffs. "We are going to wait until the last minute to make a decision."

And here is an update on Top Bunk listed horse Lights on Broadway: For Dallas and Donna Keen, the mission is saving thoroughbreds.

And please call the Governor of Montana and request he veto the slaughter bill: 406-444-3111

Continue reading "Barbaro Updates: 844"

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