Rachel Alexandra
 

For once, she didn't run faster than all the males on the same card.

She got her 8.5 furlongs today in 1:43.55 with Borel up in the irons and showboating through the stretch.

Freisan Fire got his 8.5 furlongs in 1:43.46 while romping to a 7+ length win in the LA Derby.

They both ran a point or two faster than Macho Again - last years Derby Trial, Jim Dandy, and Preakness 2nd - who needed 1:50.21 to take the 500K NO Handicap.

Hal Wiggins was 0-for-32 with runners 2nd off the layoff dating back to Jan 1st 2008 - that streak now snapped.

How'd Patena do?

He ran too bad to be true.

Something likely went amiss. Total non-effort.

He's a slow plodder. Was before the juice, is with the juice.

The horses these trainers seem to move up, at least in my eyes, are ones that are already naturally fast, or at least have a good turn of foot.

A slow plodder who ran a final quarter in 24 and change in the Lecomte? Or went wire to wire breaking his maiden?

He may be a miler or may not have liked the slop, but something was obviously wrong today.

NT

A fast horse that closed in 24 and change off a blazing fast 1:14 maybe?

That's pretty incredible I guess.

I'm not to sure I'd use his 2yo form either to make a case for his speed. He was life and death to beat a pretty mediocre filly that has since lost in the Sunshine Millions and the Santa Anita Oaks.

I suppose we have different opinions of what a "slow plodder" is because Patena may have limitations but I just don't see him as a slow plodder. Giant Oak maybe, or Terrain, but Patena has some speed when he's right. I just don't think that was him today.

NT

Actually, I really just meant slow plodder in comparing him to the types these juice trainers typically move way up.

What does she close at tomorrow in the Oaks pool and given how Old Fashioned ran today, do they seriously consider the Oaks now?

Wiggins has to think about the Arkansas Derby now. The Fantasy purse is a quarter of the purse of the Ark Derby.

i would seriously consider it. she obviously likes the surface, and i don't think old fashioned is quite as invincible as everyone once thought. of course if hot springs was as nasty as it's been here, two hours southeast, he may not have liked the surface and could be given benefit of the doubt. i wasn't home all day, so i wasn't able to catch any of the action-so i don't know what the situation was at oaklawn.

I hope there is some information tomorrow about her, I am considering putting $500 on her to win the Oaks if I can get 5/1 but I am hesitant now that the Derby seems like a logical spot

it would be nice if they would transfer a bet on her from the one race to the other. hehe, like that would happen.

Hal Wiggins sounded pretty firm that the Oaks was still the target today on HRTV. She's 7/2 now and only figures to go down from there. Save the $500 for Oaks day at that price.

she was 150-1 at the Wynn for the Derby this week, so I think you could probably cover that bet if needed...

I don't think the Derby is the right spot given that the best horses in this 3yo male crop all have similar styles to RA.

I expect to see her go the sane route - the Fantasy and KY Oaks.

I think she might go up tomorrow for late money on hilarious Stardom Bound.

I am going to Byk's friend's hat store tomorrow to buy a fedora and will probably go to the OTB at 4:45 and keep an eye on the pool, 6/1 and I will push it through.

I consider her even money to win the Oaks right now which is why I am considering this.

Phil, you going to the Derby?

Since when is saneness around this time happen, someone will get into Wiggin's ear and **** me....

I hope you're drunk......as this is a " can you top this " series of dumb comments.

Fedoras are cool!