Editor’s Note: Be sure to purchase Anthony Stabile’s winning horse selections on a daily basis, including Saturday's Preakness Stakes. Click to win!
Part I - Part II
As expected, thirteen three-year-olds were entered for the 134th running of the G1 Preakness on Wednesday, led by the fantastic filly Rachel Alexandra who was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite. While she is one of six new shooters, today we’ll focus on the seven who contested the G! Kentucky Derby a little less than two weeks ago. And what better place to start than with the upset winner, Mine That Bird.
We all know his somewhat crazy story by now. Trainer Chip Woolley was hobbling around Churchill Downs on crutches, the result of a motorcycle accident that occurred earlier this year; Woolley drove Mine That Bird by van from New Mexico to Kentucky, a 21 hour drive; a co-owner was involved in a political mess up in Alaska; the connections gave the roses from the winning Derby blanket out in front of the Derby museum the day after the race. And, of course, Calvin Borel’s amazing rail-skimming ride that has somewhat overshadowed the horse himself.
Like Rachel Alexandra, the human aspect of the story seems to have taken away from what this horse accomplished. HE WON THE DERBY!!! Only 134 others have been able to say that and it’s something you can never take away from him. Not bad for a horse who was winless on dirt prior to the Derby, in races at Sunland Park that weren’t even graded. What was taken away from him was his jockey, who decided to stay with Rachel Alexandra. Hall of Famer Mike Smith will replace Borel in the saddle on Saturday.
Almost seven lengths behind the winner, Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man and Papa Clem, in order, finished in a three horse blanket finish for second. As if the Trail needed more controversy, many feel that Pioneerof the Nile should have been disqualified from second, but it’s the Kentucky Derby and short of bloodshed, no horse is getting DQed. It may not be right but it’s just how it is.
A bit closer than most expected, Pioneerof the Nile actually grabbed the lead turning for home and appeared to be handing his trainer Bob Baffert Derby win number four before the winner flew in from out of the clouds. In spite of drifting through the stretch and brushing with his photo finish partners, Pioneerof the Nile fought bravely through the lane to hold the place in what was his conventional dirt debut. Earlier this year, Pioneerof the Nile won a pair of G2s and the G1 Santa Anita Derby in his final prep for the Derby. Regular rider Garrett Gomez returns.
Musket Man put in his usual solid showing in the Derby with his third place finish. He’s now won 5 of 7 career starts, including the G3 Tampa Bay Derby and G2 Illinois Derby, finished third in his other two starts at five different racetracks. Jockey Eibar Coa stays here over Big Drama for trainer Derek Ryan.
G2 Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem is another who’s given good accounts of himself since switching from the synthetic surfaces of Southern California. In fact, the Arkansas Derby was his only race over a dry track as his second place finish in the G2 Louisiana Derby and fourth place finish in Kentucky both came over sloppy courses. Rafael Bejarano rides for trainer Gary Stute.
General Quarters is one of those horses that got lost in the shuffle once the gate opened for the Derby, something that happens to several horses every year. After steadying twice, General Quarters never really got involved and wound up finishing tenth for the Cinderella story going into the Derby, trainer Tom McCarthy, a Louisville native. McCarthy reported after the race that his colts’ eyes and nostrils were full of mud and that it probably affected his performance greatly. Julien Leparoux, who rode him for the first time in Kentucky, will be back aboard.
The Larry Jones trained Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire returns for the Preakness after running off of a 7 week layoff in the Derby. Combine that with a terrible start and horrendous trip overall that resulted in a minor foot injury and it’s easy to see why people are willing to draw a line through his Derby performance in which he beat just one horse Jockey Gabriel Saez smartly wrapped up on him through the stretch when he was hopelessly beaten and it was obvious he wasn’t going to be in the money.
Finally, last place Derby finisher Flying Private will join stablemate Luv Gov in the starting gate for trainer d. Wayne Lukas. Just 1 for 11 in his career, Flying Private broke from the outside post 19 in the Derby and raced wide throughout before stopping. Alan Garcia rides.
