Is it a big deal, yes. Is it suprising, no.

Again, I think Borel said MTB wont repeat and they can cruise to a nice G1 check in the preakness. No other reason to run her back this quick. Regardless of how easy you think she won, she runs hard and rest is needed. The question in my mind is can she win at 80%? I would say...easily.

Hey, Yadda Yadda - what is the benefit of running her on two weeks rest after that effort. I agree take on the boys, but why not wait for a tired bunch of colts in the Belmont?

Forget the Preakness and the Belmont, why not have her ready for the Travers? I have no idea on this but how many times has a filly even tried the Travers, let alone won it, it can't be very many...

Now that would be historic (Given I am right about fillies not contesting the Travers)

http://www.nyra.com/Saratoga/Stakes/Travers.shtml

Link is a historic view of the Travers, are there any fillies on there?

I vote Talamo

Are you a franchisee in Carolina BBQ? You pushing for a big gate for the boss man.

While I am serious, anything to help the boss man is a ok also :)

That 8 pt top was in switching surfaces so is irrelevant. There is no way to know if the horse was exerting himself anymore running 8 pts faster on the dirt than he was spinning his wheels on the Pro-Ride. Had he jumped to an 8 point top on the same surface then it would be significant. Either way, there is no way you skip getting the Wood on your stallion resume (no pun intended).

In last year's Belmont Stakes, three horses were exiting the Preakness, while three others were exciting the Derby. The Derby horses outperformed the Preakness horses. The tired horses / Belmont angle is overplayed in my opinion.

We know Rachel Alexandra can handle 9 furlongs no problem, and judging by the way she finished, 9.5f should be no issue either. Her 108 Beyer in the Oaks is more than 10 points better than the runner-ups in the Derby. She didn't have a grueling race, the colts are weak, the purse is $1 million, it's a grade one, it's an American classic... it's a go in my opinion. If she flops, you can re-group for the fillies in the Acorn.

Furthermore, there are still some ?'s about who could re-surface in the Belmont which could make it a more difficult race than the Preakness.

I have a feeling it's one and done with the boys..Unless she is the best filly ever?

Vomit is official - Rachel has been transfered to the Assman. Shame on you, Jess Jackson.

Who? Quality Road? I doubt Jerkens would enter him off the injury and long break.

I think there's a chance we see him on Belmont Day.

In the Woody Stephens.


12F off the injury would probably be too much to ask, even for the best 3YO in America.

if this was at 4.5f he would be my top choice, hands down

-bt-

Rachel Alexandra??

She's with the Assman now so Phil will refuse to acknowledge that she had any talent prior to going to him and will blame everything on the Assman juicing her.

Ok... 3YO Colt.

Been on her train since last fall. Assman can't move this one up.

This was a minor point in my whole argument but yeah, though unlikely, QR... and don't laugh at me, but if Dunkirk heals-up (he stumbled really bad coming out of the gate) because like him or not, he ran one of the best preps this spring, Friesan Fire if he waits and heals-up. Regardless, the Preakness field is nothing to be scared about.

For MTB? I would go with Ramon Dominguez but I have no idea who Wooley will pick or who he has been associated with in his past. Ramon mostly because I see some similarities between MTB and Better Talk Now.

I think the bottom line to all this is Jess Jackson and co. did not spend $10 million to sit on her and watch her train.

I can't help but laugh at Dunkirk. He's a p.ussy and always has an excuse.

Friesan Fire...don't think he goes.