May 2009 Archives

Latest update on Belmont favorite Mine That Bird, direct from the Churchill Downs publicity office:

OWNERS DROP IN TO CHECK OUT MINE THAT BIRD - Mine That Bird's entourage grew a bit Sunday morning as Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach, the New Mexico-based co-owners of the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner, made a quick stop in Louisville en route to New York for Saturday's Belmont Stakes (GI).

"We're leaving later today for New York so we can get settled in and ready for everything," said Allen, who never has been to Belmont Park where Mine That Bird will try to take down the 1 ½-mile final jewel of the Triple Crown.

Sunday marked the first time Allen had seen Mine That Bird since the gelding's runner-up finish to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes (Grade I) on May 16.

"It looks like he has put on a little weight," said Allen, whose first Belmont Stakes recollection was Secretariat's 31-length romp in 1973 when he was 15 and grooming horses at Santa Fe. "For as hard as he has run and the shipping, I am real happy with the way he looks."

With regular exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up, Allen led Mine That Bird to the track around 7:30 a.m. Figueroa backtracked Mine That Bird to the paddock runway and then galloped 1 ½ miles.

"He was a little more into the bit today," trainer Chip Woolley said. "That should set him up for his breeze tomorrow. He'll work a half-mile and gallop an eighth past the wire with Calvin (Borel) on him right after the break.."

Woolley leaves for New York early Tuesday morning and Mine That Bird flies out the next day.

Also scheduled to work Monday is Rachel Alexandra, who went twice around the main track early Sunday morning with exercise rider Dominic Terry up.

Here's a brief question-and-answer session, courtesy of Churchill Downs' publicity office, with Chip Woolley Jr., trainer of Mine That Bird, and jockey Calvin Borel that was held after it was announced Friday that Rachel Alexandra will not race in the Belmont Stakes on June 6:

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."

Today's $250,000 Grade I Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park appears to be a wide-open race on paper, with Bobby Frankel holding a pair of aces as he tries for a record ninth victory in the stake.

Frankel will saddle both Toque de Queda and Visit, the latter of whom finished fourth and was moved up to third via disqualification in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall at Santa Anita. I like Toque de Queda the best of the two as she's coming off a third-place effort, beaten only three-quarters of a length, in the Grade II Santa Barbara at Santa Anita on April 18.

Here's the way I see the race:
Toque de Queda -- Sitting on her first win in the U.S.
Black Mamba -- Unlucky to lose Santa Barbara
Diamond Diva -- Loves this turf course
Magical Fantasy -- Got up to win Santa Barbara by a nose
Visit -- Hasn't duplicated effort she gave in U.S. bow

I wrote shortly after the Preakness Stakes that I'd be surprised if Rachel Alexandra ran in the Belmont Stakes on June 6, and earlier today it became official that the fabulous filly will not run. That means Calvin Borel will ride Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Belmont.

Here's the statement released by co-owner Jess Jackson on behalf of Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick:

"Rachel Alexandra is an incredible thoroughbred who has proven to be
the best three year old in racing today. We are elated by all the
attention her wins in the Oaks and Preakness has garnered the sport.
The many letters and emails we have received from young girls and racing
enthusiasts lets us know that many fans are proud of Rachel. When we
purchased Rachel, our goal was to restore the sport's vitality and
grow its fan base by extending the racing careers of its stars.

After careful consideration, we have decided not to run Rachel
Alexandra in the Belmont Stakes next weekend. We have advised Calvin
Borel, 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.

Rachel, her owners, her trainers and her fans can continue to
anticipate an exciting campaign. All major races will be considered as
we look to the rest of Rachel's racing career."

OK, three horses caught my eye on tonight's eight-race card at Hollywood Park -- Something Sonic in the second, Sky Marni in the sixth and Denizen in the nightcap.

Something Sonic, 6-1 on the morning line, is trained by the red-hot Doug O'Neill, who is making a mockery of the Hollypark trainer standings. He leads runner-up John Sadler by 10 wins, 19-9, heading into tonight's program. The 5-year-old gelding finished second for a $8,000 claiming tag at Hollywood on May 15 and O'Neill puts him in for $10,000 tonight. I like the jump in class, as small as it is. He's ready to fire.

Sky Marni, 9-2 on the morning line, has run third, third and second in her past three starts and has the Beyer to be ultra competitive in this spot. The capable Martin Garcia sticks with this 3-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa and I think she'll be rolling in the stretch.

Nothing better than wrapping up the night with a win, and Denizen -- 9-2 on the morning line -- has the speed to wire this group and send all his backers home with thicker bankrolls. The 3-year-old gelding, who'll be ridden by Rafael Bejarano, finished second in his debut against $25,000 maiden claimers on April 24 at Hollypark before running sixth against $40,000 stock on May 13. He's back with the $25,000 brigade tonight and should prove tough to catch.

Good luck tonight!!

A young star in the making will be racing at Hollywood Park in tonight's seventh race, a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer ($80,000) for 3-year-olds. His name is Zensational, and he's possibly got as much speed if not more than any horse on the grounds.

The Unbridled's Song colt, a $700,000 purchase by Ahmed Zayat in February 2008, will face nine rivals, including the highly regarded Dark and Deep, who broke his maiden by 4 1/4 lengths for trainer Brian Koriner on May 6 at Hollywood Park. Also in the field is the Eoin Harty-trained Best Mon, who won at second asking by 1 1/2 lengths at Hollywood Park on May 2.

Zensational, who'll be ridden by Victor Espinoza, finished fourth in his career debut on Aug. 6 at Saratoga under the tutelage of Bill Mott. He was then shipped west and put under the care of Bob Baffert, who watched as the speedball sped to a 3 3/4-length maiden score at Santa Anita on Feb. 21, running the six furlongs in a swift 1:08 3/5.

Wanting to find out just what he had and to see how far Zensational would carry his speed, Baffert tried him in a one-mile, $80,000 optional claimer at Santa Anita on March 27. It didn't work. He opened an early 10-length lead down the backside, eventually blowing a five-length lead in the stretch and finishing second as the 1-5 favorite.

Baffert says he's been able to harness the colt's speed somewhat since then and has cut him back to 6 1/2 furlongs tonight. How high is Baffert on the colt? Well, the man who saddled Midnight Lute for back-to-back victories in the Breeders' Cup Sprint told the Daily Racing Form he could be one of the best sprinters in America this year.

Could Zensational give Baffert three consecutive Breeders' Cup Sprint victories on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita? Well, it's a little early to predict something like that. But the colt has the bloodlines, the talent and the trainer to make it happen. It will be interesting to see how he performs tonight.

When I first started in this business, I wrote a column about how some fans heckle and verbally abuse jockeys after a losing race. I'm sure it's probably the worst in New York or Philly (surprise, surprise, huh?), but there were some instances at Santa Anita that surprised me. I've heard retired riders like Eddie Delahoussaye and Chris McCarron bark back at hecklers on the way back to the jocks' room, but most times the riders will just quietly walk away.

Racing's most recent tragedy, the terrible spill involving veteran jockey Rene Douglas at the top of the stretch in last Saturday's Matron Stakes at Arlington Park near Chicago, left Douglas with broken bones in his neck and damage to his spine that could render the 42-year-old rider paralyzed for the rest of his life. He currently has no feeling in his feet or his legs, but reports are that that does not necessarily mean he will remain paralyzed. Doctors won't know for days until swelling goes down.

What this accident does is again point out how jockeys put their lives and good health on the line each and every time they ride in a race. Yes, they are paid well in many instances to perform their duties, but that doesn't give us the racing public the right to just lay into these guys because we didn't think they made the right riding decision during the course of a race.

I've heard people say their horse would have won if "Stevens had done this, or Bailey had done that!" but the fact of the matter is, these professional riders have to make split-second decisions on animals that weigh between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds and in many cases they have to make the decisions while in very tight quarters. Some times the decisions pan out, many times they don't. But I'll tell you, I wouldn't want their job for all the money in the world. I admire the work they do, their strength in steering these powerful horses in one way or another. It's a dangerous job, and oftentimes they take abuse that is not deserved.

When Rene Douglas rode in the Southland many years back, I'm sure I made some losing bets on him. But you know what? He was trying as hard to win on those horses as I was rooting for him to succeed. If he made a bad decision, oh well. He's human, folks. And there's no way most of us would have made a better decision or done half as well given the opportunity.

These athletes are well-conditioned, much more so than some of their baseball and football counterparts. They have to be. They don't have the luxury of carrying around extra baggage like C C Sabathia, Bartolo Colon and many NFL linemen who are not nearly in the shape these riders are.

I admire their work and I'm glad I'm a fan of a sport that allows me the pleasure of watching them in action four or five days a week. It's too bad it takes a tragic accident like the one Douglas was involved in to make us realize just how truly dangerous their job is.

Say a prayer for Rene Douglas tonight before you go to bed. Hopefully, he'll walk again and give us all another example of just how courageous these jockeys are.

Here's a link to a story on the Daily Racing Form's Web site, detailing the updated condition of Douglas:

http://www.drf.com/news/article/104119.html

Here's some updated news on a few of the probables for the Belmont Stakes on June 6, courtesy of Belmont Park publicity official Jenny Kellner:

Belmont Stakes contender Mr. Hot Stuff worked a bullet five furlongs over Polytrack at Keeneland Race Course Tuesday morning in preparation for a start in the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million "Test of the Champion" on Saturday, June 6 at Belmont Park.

The son of Tiznow was caught in 1:01.00, the fastest of 12 at the distance. It was Mr. Hot Stuff's third work at Keeneland since finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby (May 2), which was his first start on dirt.

"He went very well, easy enough, and there was plenty left in the tank" said trainer Eoin Harty from California. "He's fit and ready to go."

Mr. Hot Stuff, owned by WinStar Farm, will have the services of Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado in the 1½-mile Belmont Stakes. Prado won the Belmont in 2002 aboard Sarava and again in 2004 on Birdstone.

Harty said he and Mr. Hot Stuff will most likely arrive in New York on June 3.

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Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Belmont hopefuls Flying Private, fourth in the Preakness, and Luv Gov, who was eighth at Pimlico, will work at Churchill Downs this week before a final decision is made whether to run in the $1 million race.

"I haven't decided yet whether they will go in the race," said Lukas from Louisville. "They'll work midweek and then we'll decide."

Lukas has saddled 19 Belmont Stakes starters, with four wins - Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor's Note (1996) and Commendable (2000). Lukas has not had a Belmont Stakes starter since A.P. Arrow ran fifth in 2005.

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Summer Bird, sixth in the Kentucky Derby, continues to train forwardly for the Belmont, trainer Tim Ice reported Tuesday.

"He had a good gallop this morning," said Ice, who brought the Birdstone colt to New York early last week from Louisiana to prepare for the race. "The difference between him last week and this week is noticeable in the way he's moving over the track."

Summer Bird will have his final serious move for the Belmont on Saturday, going five furlongs with his new rider, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, up for the work. Ice originally had named Joe Talamo aboard Summer Bird, but changed plans and chose a rider more familiar with Belmont Park.

"The more I talked with people, the more important it seemed to have someone who really knows this track," said Ice, who worked as an assistant with Desormeaux's brother, trainer Keith Desormeaux, in Louisiana for five years. "I'm just glad Kent wanted to ride him in the Belmont."

Desormeaux has had six Belmont Stakes starts, with two seconds, including a nose loss to Victory Gallop in 1998 that cost Real Quiet the Triple Crown. Desormeaux's second Triple Crown chance was thwarted last year when his mount, Big Brown, did not finish the Belmont Stakes.

Midway through the 2009 season, I know my early pick for Horse of the Year. I'll reveal it in my Friday column. But I want to know who you pick:

Despite owner Jerry Moss' apparent eagerness to raise the bar for his unbeaten mare Zenyatta, it appears trainer John Shirreffs will choose the safe route and keep racing the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry against other distaffers for the time being.

After Zenyatta returned from a seven-month absence to win the $150,000 Grade II Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday, Moss told reporters in the winner's circle that he was more willing to race against males this year, that last year they tried to protect Zenyatta in an effort to earn the Eclipse Award for top older female that she ended up winning.

But Moss lets Shirreffs make the decisions, and why not? There are few trainers around the Southland with better win percentages than the former marine, who is not fond of racing females against males. Shirreffs does not believe it's a good idea to race Zenyatta against males at a mile and one quarter in only her second race back. Can't blame him there.

But some point this season, if the Zenyatta camp wants its brilliant mare to be mentioned with the best distaffers of all time, they are going to have to raise the bar and try the boys. Personal Ensign did it, winning the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga in 1988, and finished her career 13-0. Lady's Secret did it too, defeating the boys four times in 1986 at age 4 en route to Horse of the Year laurels and is regarded as one of the best of all time.

For Zenyatta, it won't be the Hollywood Gold Cup. It won't be the Pacific Classic at Del Mar because Shirreffs does not like the Polytrack surface. It looks like the only two options would be the Goodwood Handicap during the Oak Tree meet or the Breeders' Cup Classic a month later. Problem is, Moss also owns Tiago, one of the best older handicap stars on the West Coast, and he figures to be a candidate for those two races as well.

They could ship east and try the Whitney at Saratoga during the summer or the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park about a month before the Breeders' Cup. The latter option probably is not a viable one because Shirreffs does not want Zenyatta traveling that close to the Breeders' Cup.

So it's entirely possible that Zenyatta's 2009 campaign, one that would include the Vanity, the Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar, the Lady's Secret at Oak Tree and the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic to round out her career, will not feature a race against the boys. My guess? If she does race against the males, it will be the Whitney, which is far enough out from the Breeders' Cup to suit Shirreffs.

So what do you think? If Zenyatta never races against the boys, will it harm her legacy even if she finishes her career undefeated?

Here is a statement issued by co-owner Jess Jackson after Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra breezed four furlongs in 50.20 seconds Monday morning over a sloppy sealed track at Churchill Downs:

"We watched her work this morning. She is progressing well but we still can't make any decision on her next start. If anything we will have to hold her back a little because she is so eager to run. The Belmont Stakes is still under consideration but no decision will be made this week."

The latest on the Derby and Preakness winners, thanks to the folks in the Churchill Downs publicity office:

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 ½-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 ¾-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.

Jockey Rene Douglas, injured in a spill during the Grade III Matron Handicap at Arlington Park on Saturday, underwent seven hours of surgery at Northwestern Hospital and did not have feeling in his lower extremities. After the surgery, doctors said the 42-year-old rider may never walk again.

The Blood Horse is reporting that Douglas' agent, Dennis Cooper, said doctors won't be 100 percent sure until after the swelling goes down in 10 days to two weeks.

"But it doesn't look good," Cooper told Blood Horse. "It's devastating."

Cooper said Douglas will remain in intensive care for two weeks at Northwestern until he's moved to rehab.

A team of specialists made efforts to repair compressed vertebrae and damage to Douglas' neck. But the main concerns involved the jockey's spinal cord, which may have been damaged by a fragment of splintered bone, according to Cooper.

This is very sad news. Good rider and classy individual. Please keep him in your prayers, folks, and let's hope the doctors are wrong.

Some updated news on three of the most notable horses in training, courtesy of the Churchill Downs publicity staff:

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.

EINSTEIN RETURNS TO WORK TAB WITH DRILL FOR FOSTER - Midnight Cry Stable's Einstein (BRZ) worked a half-mile in :49.40 with jockey Julien Leparoux up before the renovation break over a fast track on Sunday morning. It was Einstein's first work since winning the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade I) on May 2.

"He was ready to do something," trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi said. "This was perfect this morning. He'll work again next Sunday."

The work, the first of three in preparation for the June 13 Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I), was the highlight of the weekend for Pitts-Blasi, who celebrated a birthday Saturday and nearly got a victory in the final race when Fundy ran second in a maiden special weight race.

So, Helen, which was the most exciting aspect of the weekend: celebrating her birthday or watching Einstein work?

"Watching him work," Pitts-Blasi said without hesitation.

In the Foster, Einstein will be trying to achieve a unique feat of sweeping three consecutive Grade I events on different surfaces. He won the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 over a synthetic surface and took the Derby Day race on turf. The Stephen Foster is run on the main track.

That first-ever sweep of consecutive races on the different surfaces would also make Einstein only the second horse to collect Grade I victories on traditional dirt, turf and a synthetic surface. Lava Man is the only horse to achieve that feat.

Einstein finished second to two-time "Horse of the Year" Curlin in last year's Foster and returned in November to win the $500,000 Clark Handicap (GII) on dirt.

Pretty impressive comeback, huh? I mean, Mike Smith was as cool as a cucumber and didn't even have to get into Zenyatta in the stretch while she easily defeated Life Is Sweet, a very nice filly in her own right who was coming off three consecutive graded stakes victories, including the Grade I Santa Margarita at Santa Anita.

So what's next for the unbeaten queen of racing? The $300,000 Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 27? The $700,000 Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup against the males on July 11?

Whatever Team Zenyatta decides on, it's becoming quite apparent that she's going to need to take on the boys and beat them at some point this year in order to be considered for Horse of the Year. If Rachel Alexandra hadn't taken on the boys and beaten them in the Preakness, Einstein would be the early favorite for Horse of the Year. But since Rachel tackled the males, stepped out of her comfort zone and beat them, she's the frontrunner for Horse of the Year today.

I think with the way the handicap division appears to be down in Southern California right now, the Hollywood Gold Cup would appear to be a perfect spot for Zenyatta to try the boys. She loves the Cushion Track, where she's 5-0, and Einstein is going to run in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 13. I think that probably eliminates him from the Gold Cup, and Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed is being pointed for a return at Del Mar and Tiago seems a ways out from returning.

What do you think? Time for Zenyatta to give it a whirl against the males?

Garrett Gomez and Edgar Prado lost out to John Velazquez for the mount on the Todd Pletcher-trained Dunkirk in the Belmont Stakes on June 6. Velazquez won the Belmont for Pletcher aboard Rags to Riches in 2007. Gomez will ride Chocolate Candy for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Gomez was in New York on Monday to work Chocolate Candy and he reportedly told his agent, Ron Anderson, that he liked how the Candy Ride colt finished.

Charitable Man, who impressively won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 9, is now a definite for the Belmont Stakes and that's my early favorite to win the race. He's already won twice over the sandy dirt course, a track some horses don't take a liking to. And, he's a son of Lemon Drop Kid, who won the 1999 Belmont Stakes, thus denying Charismatic the Triple Crown.

On a related note, it mystifies me why Joel Rosario, who has proven himself on the toughest jockey circuit in the country, has not landed any Triple Crown mounts. I know I wouldn't hesitate to put him on a talented 3-year-old in the Derby, Preakness or Belmont. The kid can flat out ride, folks.

I really like Philly Slew, a 3-year-old gelding trained by William Gregory, in tonight's fourth race at Hollywood Park. I think he's sitting on a huge effort following a third-place finish against similar on opening day of this spring-summer meet.

Philly Slew had a wide trip last time and still held third under Tyler Baze, who thinks enough of the gelding to climb back aboard. Philly Slew's top Beyer of 73 makes him a major player in this spot. He's already negotiated tonight's tricky seven-furlong distance, finishing third at Santa Anita on Feb. 14.

The only horse that scares me in here is the Jorge Gutierrez-trained Warren's Tony R., who switches to Rafael Bejarano and is dropping from a maiden special weight into a $40,000 maiden claimer. One drawback -- he's raced twice against $32,000 maiden claimers, once at Fairplex and another time at Del Mar, and couldn't find the winner's circle.

I'll bet win money on Philly Slew, who's a generous 6-1 on the morning line, and box him in an exacta with Warren's Tony R.

Who do you like tonight?

So much for unbeaten Zenyatta easing back into action, huh? First race back in seven months Saturday and she's gotta go up against stablemate Life Is Sweet, who not only most likely holds an edge in conditioning but comes into the $150,000 Grade II Milady Handicap off three consecutive graded stakes victories, including the Grade I Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita on March 14.

This will be the first time the two John Shirreffs-trained distaffers will have faced each other, and it's one of two intriguing stakes races at Hollywood Park this Memorial Day weekend. On Monday, Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Ventura will take on the boys again in the $250,000 Shoemaker Mile over the Hollypark turf course. Thorn Song, one of the best turf milers in the U.S., is scheduled to ship in from Kentucky today to run in the Shoemaker, which is scheduled to also include Hyperbaric, Whatsthescript, Dixie Chatter and U S Ranger.

Mike Smith, who's ridden Zenyatta in her past six starts, has the assignment again Saturday as the 5-year-old Street Cry mare tries to extend her record to 10-0 with a second consecutive victory in the Milady. It won't be easy, though. She's carrying two pounds more (126) than she's ever been asked to carry, and Life Is Sweet will be a tough customer with Garrett Gomez aboard. Life Is Sweet, a 4-year-old daughter of Storm Cat, has won 5 of 10 lifetime for earnings of $540,810. Zenyatta, who hasn't raced since her memorable victory in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 24, has earnings of $2,144,580.

The only one in the nine-horse field I can see possibily giving Zenyatta a run for her money is her stablemate, who will carry second high weight of 122 pounds. What do you think?

They're both back on the track. To me, the fact the Mine That Bird camp is pushing back its jockey decision is a clear indication they'd like to have Calvin Borel back aboard for the Belmont so they're waiting to see if Rachel Alexandra is going to run in the final leg of the Triple Crown. I don't think Rachel is going to run, which means Borel could switch back and ride The Bird and win the Triple Crown on two different horses. This has been a very intriguing Triple Crown, to say the least.

Here's the latest, fresh from Churchill Downs publicity officials:

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 ½-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 ¾-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.

The latest on 3-year-old stars Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird, courtesy of the Churchill Downs publicity folks:

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 ½-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.

It's shaping up as an eight-horse Belmont Stakes right now, assuming Preakness champ Rachel Alexandra skips the final leg of the Triple Crown and is freshened for a summer campaign at Saratoga. If she does skip the Belmont, I am guessing there will be more than eight horses in the race.

I would be surprised at this point if Rachel goes in the Belmont, at 1 1/2 miles the longest of the three Triple Crown races. Trainer Steve Asmussen admitted to reporters on Sunday that he doesn't feel the urgency to run now that the spectacular daughter of Medaglia d'Oro has beaten the boys. The Preakness, in which she set swift fractions of 23.13 and 46.71 seconds and still held on to win, may have taken too much out of Rachel for her to return in three weeks.

Owner Jess Jackson said another meeting with the boys is in Rachel's future, but that race may be the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey (Aug. 2) or the Travers Stakes at Saratoga (Aug. 29). No filly has won the Travers in 94 years. Or maybe the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga against fillies and then the Lady's Secret at Santa Anita as a tuneup for a possible showdown against Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 6.

So this morning, here are the probables for the Belmont Stakes on June 6:
Mine That Bird
Flying Private
Chocolate Candy
Dunkirk
Mr. Hot Stuff
Summer Bird
Charitable Man
Miner's Escape

I like Charitable Man, the ultra-impressive winner of the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 9. He's fresh, he's already proven he likes the track and the son of Lemon Drop Kid is bred to go a mile and a half. His sire won the Belmont in 1999.

As this NBC press release shows, give the horse racing fans a good product or a reason to watch and they will not disappoint. Not many people knew who Rachel Alexandra was four weeks ago, but now she's known by just the most casual of racing fans or fans who only watch the races twice a year --- during the Triple Crown series and/or Breeders' Cup day:

Overnight Ratings up 27% from '08, Highest since '04 and Second Highest in 19 Years

NEW YORK - May 17, 2009 - The NBC Sports broadcast of the Preakness Stakes in which Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the race as she held off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird by a length, had the highest overnight rating since 2004 and the second highest rating in nearly two decades. For the Preakness, NBC Sports continued its broad promotional effort to reach casual fans that led to the most watched Kentucky Derby in 20 years.

The race portion (6:00-6:45 p.m. ET) earned an overnight rating of 7.9/18 a gain of 27 percent over last year's race (6.2/14) when the much-hyped Big Brown won to take the first two legs of the Triple Crown. The overnight rating for yesterday's race portion was the highest since 2004 (9.2/20).

All of the segments of NBC Sports' broadcast yesterday showed significant ratings gains:

- The total program (5-6:45) received an overnight rating of 6.3 and a share of 15 up 24 percent from last year (4.7/12), the highest since 2004 (7.2/16) and the second highest since 1990 (7.8/20).

- The Preakness Stakes special (4:30-5 p.m. ET), which featured an extended look at the story of Mine That Bird, posted an overnight rating of 2.7 and a 7 share up 42 percent from last year (1.9/5).

- The prerace (5-6 p.m. ET) produced a 5.1/12 up 46 percent from last year (3.5/9).

- The rating peaked from 6-6:30 p.m. ET at an 8.6/19.

With the Preakness and its "Girl vs. the Boys" storyline, NBC Sports continued the broad promotional effort designed to reach the casual fans that led to the most watched Kentucky Derby in 20 years. There were stories about the Preakness on Friday and Saturday on the TODAY show as well as jockey Calvin Borel's appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last Tuesday.

Promo spots for the Preakness Stakes, which included the voice of a 10-year old girl as Rachel Alexandra, aired throughout NBC Primetime, the TODAY show and Late Night with Jay Leno as well as across the many cable networks of NBC Universal.

Top Twenty Markets for the Preakness (Race Portion):

1) Baltimore 25.1/51

2) Louisville 21.3/38

3) Ft. Myers 17.3/32

4) West Palm Beach 14.8/27

5) Columbus 13.3/26

6) Buffalo 13.0/25

7) Dayton 11.7/24

8) Providence 11.5/27

T9) Tampa 11.2/23

T9) Orlando 11.2/22

11) Albuquerque 10.9/24

12) Richmond 10.8/21

13) Pittsburgh 10.7/20

T14) Indianapolis 10.5/22

T14) Hartford 10.5/21

16) Nashville 10.4/20

17) Knoxville 10.0/18

18) Memphis 9.6/18

T19) Cincinnati 9.3/18

T19) Greenville 9.3/17

Well, the Preakness Stakes is now yesterday's news. Time to decide what's next for racing's newest super star. Tell us what you think Rachel Alexandra's connections should do next. Leave a comment too and let us know what you thought of the Preakness Stakes. I thought it was an extraordinary performance.

Well, Rachel Alexandra sure proved she's the real deal, becoming the first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years. And the thing is, she did it while pressured the whole way and without a breather. She stared the boys in the eyes and withstood their best shots, prevailing by a length after setting some swift fractions.

I wrote earlier that I thought she could take this field gate to wire, but that if Big Drama wanted the lead she could lay second like in the Kentucky Oaks and then make her move turning for home. This time, Calvin Borel took the lead and set splits of 23.13 seconds and 46.71 seconds -- all while being pressured the whole way by Big Drama, the colt a lot of people in the know thought had a shot to win the race. But it was Big Drama who blinked, finishing fifth as Rachel Alexandra opened a four-length lead in the stretch and held off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird for the victory -- her sixth consecutive stakes win.

Some observations:
(1) Mine That Bird might just be a better horse than I and many of my contemporaries were willing to admit going into the Preakness. I didn't think he'd hit the board, much less run the game second that he did. But somewhere between Sunland Park and Churchill Downs, this guy found his stride. He's earned my respect now.
(2) Pioneerof the Nile ran like a tired horse. Fourth after the first quarter mile, he was fifth after four furlongs and then faded to finish 11th. He was eased by jockey Garrett Gomez in the late stages, beaten about 26 lengths. I'd be surprised if trainer Bob Baffert tries the Belmont in three weeks.
(3) In a TVG interview about three hours before the race, trainer D. Wayne Lukas told Ken Rudolph and Matt Carothers that bettors should include his horses, long shots Luv Gov and Flying Private, on the bottom half of superfectas. Well, viewers who listened might have been rewarded when Flying Private, at 25-1, closed from 10th to finish fourth and complete a $2,903.80 super. If you liked Mine That Bird to follow his Derby shocker with another big effort, that was not a difficult super to tab if you included Lukas' colt on the back end.
(4) Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem was a threatening fourth after six furlongs but had nothing for the stretch and finished sixth. I'd be less surprised if trainer Gary Stute runs the colt in the Belmont than I would be if Baffert runs Pioneerof the Nile, but I still don't think he'll run.
(5) Will Rachel go in the Belmont? Before the race, owner Jess Jackson said it all depended on how taxing the Preakness was on the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro. Jockey Calvin Borel said she didn't even like the track and still won, that he felt he had it all the way, even with Mine That Bird closing well on the outside, but the official chart says she was all out to win. Still, Gary Stevens said on NBC immediately after the race that she didn't look tired in the winner's circle.
(6) If Rachel skips the Belmont, you might want to get an early bet down on Charitable Man, an impressive winner of the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park last weekend. He already showed he likes the track, he's fresh, he's bred to go 1 1/2 miles and he's talented enough to win.
(7) After today, it's my guess that Mine That Bird, Musket Man, Flying Private, Big Drama, Terrain, Luv Gov and Charitable Man are good bets to run in the Belmont, along with some other assorted newcomers. If Rachel doesn't go, well, it looks like a wide open Belmont and there will be a few other fresh faces who will try the final leg of the Triple Crown series.

Gary Stute, 52-year-old trainer of Papa Clem, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, said earlier this week he'd like to win today's Preakness Stakes for his dad, 81-year-old Mel Stute. Mel won the 1986 Preakness with Snow Chief after a disappointing 11th-place finish as the Derby favorite. Gary was there, and he remembers both races well. Of course, he has far more fond memories of the Preakness than the Derby.

"When I came out on the track (for the Derby) and they played 'My Old Kentucky Home,' that was pretty good," he said. "Snow Chief, to be honest, all I kind of have is bad memories. I got a lot of good ones about the Preakness, but the Derby I've kind of tried to erase from my mind a little. To this day, I've never had an excuse. I know a lot of people tried to talk my dad into thinking that Alex Solis laid too close to a hot pace, but I just think for whatever reason he didn't fire that day, to be honest."

Snow Chief sure fired on Preakness day, though, when he beat Derby winner Ferdinand to the wire. Stute is hoping Papa Clem can do the same today, and he's got a good shot to do just that. Take away Mine That Bird, one of the most unlikely of Derby winners, and Papa Clem was right there with the rest of the Derby field, narrowly missing second behind Pioneerof the Nile and Musket Man.

The Stutes are such class people, it's tough not to root for Papa Clem today. He's a must use in the exotics for sure, and it's not a stretch at all to picture Gary Stute in the winner's circle with that trademark cigar.

Rachel Alexandra, the brilliant filly who crushed her Kentucky Oaks foes by a record 20 1/4 lengths on May 1, will try to become only the fifth filly and first since Nellie Morse in 1924 to win the Preakness Stakes today at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Let's face it, she didn't beat much in the Oaks, but the way she did it was truly outstanding and she deserves a shot at the boys in the 134th Preakness. If she wins today, it will trump her Oaks victory, even if she wins by only a nose. It might be every-day stuff for fillies to beat males in Europe, but it doesn't happen often in the U.S., especially in races like the second leg of the Triple Crown.

D. Wayne Lukas, who saddled the filly Winning Colors when she won the Kentucky Derby in 1988 and then watched her finish third in the Preakness, told TVG that a filly needs four factors in her favor in order to beat the boys:

(1) She has to have dominated members of her own sex, which she obviosuly did in the Oaks.
(2) She needs to have tactical, stalking-type speed. Rachel has won three of her past five starts in gate-to-wire fashion, winning the other two after stalking the leader from second.
(3) She must go into the race off soft preps. How much softer can you get than a 20 1/4-length victory during which jockey Calvin Borel never asked her in the stretch.
(4) She must have the breeding to be able to go a distance, which Rachel obviously does. She's by Medaglia d'Oro, who finished second in the 2002 Belmont Stakes and is proving to be a very nice stallion.

Looking at the Preakness field, I see two colts -- Big Drama and Tone It Down -- who might try to challenge Rachel early on. I wouldn't be surprised if Big Drama takes the lead out of the gate and Rachel sits second, much like she did in the Oaks before her big move turning for home. Of course, if they let her have the lead, Rachel can certainly set a reasonable pace and just keep right on going. She set realistic splits in the Grade II Fantasy Stakes on April 5 at Oaklawn Park, running the first quarter in 23.2 seconds and the half in 47.2 before drawing off to win by 8 3/4 lengths. She did the same the race before, the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks on March 14, over a sloppy race track. So if it rains today -- and there is only a 30 percent chance, according to the latest forecast -- she should have no problems handling it.

I'm picking her to win today, not only because I think with her speed that she's going to be tough to beat, but because I think it would be great for the sport. Mine That Bird made the cover of Sports Illustrated the week after the Derby, and you can bet Rachel Alexandra will be one of the best-looking cover girls since Christie Brinkley adorned the magazine's covers in the '70s if she takes the Preakness. Racing needs that type of positive exposure these days.

Hollywood Park, which has had trouble filling its fields since the meet began on April 22 because of a dwindling horse population in California, e-mailed the following press release early Friday night. I think it's a positive move. Hopefully, it will lead to larger fields the remaining four days of the week. I've maintained for years now that there is an oversaturation of horse racing in Southern California, and this may help alleviate the problem.

INGLEWOOD -- Hollywood Park has been granted approval by the California Horse Racing Board to adopt a four-day racing week through Sunday, June 14.

As a result, the following changes have been made to the schedule:

There will be simulcast wagering only on Wednesday, May 20; Thursday, May 28; Wednesday, June 3, and Wednesday, June 10. Wednesday, May 27 was originally a dark day and remains a dark day.

Live racing will be conducted Thursdays through Sundays with the exception of a special program MemoriaI Day week on Monday, May 25.

"Hopefully this will result in a better product for our patrons," track president Jack Liebau said. "Due to the tough economy, the number of horses available to race has been reduced as evidenced by the entry box."

Hollywood Park will continue to offer free general admission on Thursdays with live racing as well as $1 hot dogs, sodas and beers (12 noon until 3 p.m.).

The CHRB will re-consider Hollywood Park's request to maintain a four-day live racing day week for the remainder of the Spring/Summer Meet at its June 5 board meeting.

The changes were supported by the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the California Thoroughbred Trainers.

So which camp do you belong? Was Mine That Bird's Derby win for real? Did the 3-year-old gelding just begin to live up to his Canadian 2-year-old horse of the Year laurels, or was his Derby victory one of the biggest flukes you've ever seen in a big race? Weigh in on our poll and then leave some comments on why you do or don't think Mine That Bird will run big in the Preakness:

Hmmm, I guess I'm not the only one who thought Mine That's Bird's victory in this year's Kentucky Derby was a total fluke. I mean, it was a neat story and everyone roots for the underdog -- well most everyone, unless they didn't include him in their exactas -- but there was just no rhyme or reason for that horse winning. None whatsoever. Andrew Beyer of the Washington Post wrote that in more than 40 years of covering horse racing, Mine That Bird was one of the two most illogical winners of a big race that he'd ever witnessed.

So is it just me, is it just Andrew Beyer ... is it just many members of the media ... or does Mine That Bird have any sort of chance to win the Preakness and go on and do what Big Brown couldn't do last year -- win the Triple Crown? I know, I know. Stop laughing. Heck, even Larry Jones, trainer of Friesan Fire, says he wants to see Mine That Bird do it again before he dismisses the gelding as a total fluke.

Calvin Borel is going to become the first jockey in history to get off the Derby winner and ride a different horse in the Preakness. Other jockeys have gotten off Derby winners before, but they didn't ride a different horse in the Preakness trying to beat the horse that won the Derby two weeks earlier.

So I ask you ... can any of you remember a year when the Derby winner got such little respect heading into the Preakness? Giacomo in 2005 maybe?

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Rachel Alexandra drew the outside post in a 13-horse Preakness field when post positions were drawn this afternoon for Saturday's race. She was installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite, with Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird the second choice at 9-2 and Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile the third choice at 5-1.

Rachel Alexandra's new owner Jess Jackson was on a conference call shortly after the draw and touched on a few subjects:

(1) He chose the Preakness rather than waiting for the Belmont because of how easily she won the Kentucky Oaks. "She devastated a field, but they had to send the outrider most of the way down the backstretch just to help pull her in," Jackson said. "She has stamina and distance, and she's an athlete. She has good recovery and she didn't burn herself out in the Oaks. I think she's just as good in the Preakness as well as the Belmont."
(2) Jackson said the Belmont is still a possibility for Rachel, depending on how things go in the Preakness. "That will depend on how she recovers out of this race and whether she was stressed or not," he said. "I don't think she's been really tested in any race she's run. Now she's going to be tested, and this is going to determine whether we consider the Belmont or other filly races."
(3) He said Rachel has the strength and endurace to compete against and beat the boys. He said you always worry whether a filly is good enough to beat males, but he cited many examples overseas where it's done on a regular basis. "The champion of Japan last year was a filly," Jackson said. "Who won the Arc de Triomphe? A filly. Fillies race in the rest of the world all the time against males. This thing that is an old horseman's tale about fillies being weaker is somewhat true, but it doesn't mean that they're slower or don't have more endurance."
(4) If all goes well the rest of the year, Jackson intends to race Rachel as a 4-year-old and then breed her to his brilliant two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. He said her first breeding "date" would in all likelihood be with Curlin when she is retired."We've got a long way to go. I'd see her in five or six races this year and we'll have to watch her and she'll tell us if she's able to campaign next year."

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It's no secret that California horse racing is hurting big time. Owners are leaving the state to seek riches elsewhere, leaving a severe shortage in horses and short fields as a result.

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Wow ... let me see if I've got this right, OK?
(1) The Preakness Stakes, one of the high-profile days of the sport, is right around the corner
(2) A stupendous filly, Rachel Alexandra, is probably going to attempt to do something no distaffer has done in 85 years -- win the Preakness
(3) California is losing race horses by the bunches because owners are sending their horses out of state to run for bigger purses
(4) Hollywood Park can't fill one of its race cards a couple of weeks back because of a shortage of horses
(5) Trainers are still bending the rules with drugs and getting away with it because the penalties are a joke
(6) Some trainers are complaining that the synthetic surfaces are causing more injuries than before
(7) Purses in California are declining all the time, and even some stakes races at Hollywood Park were canceled as part of a budget crunch
(8) The other day at Hollywood Park, the first race consisted of four horses and the second and third races included whopping six-horse fields. It's a trend that's happening more and more frequently these days
(9) Del Mar, the most popular meet in Southern California, has cut back from six to five race days per week this summer. That might actually turn out to be a positive, but still, if the ship was running smoothly, the captain wouldn't be on shore an extra day a week.
(10) Many jockeys are being forced to consider the option of going elsewhere because there just aren't as many mounts to go around anymore. The top jocks get the vast majority of the mounts.

And what are we talking about in California today? Are we trying to fix these problems and get horse racing back on the right track? Uh, no. What we are forced to talk about is owner Jerry Jamgotchian accusing former CHRB head Richard Shapiro of keying his car on April 24 during a CHRB meeting at Hollywood Park. Shapiro allegedly left the meeting early, went out and keyed Jamgotchian's car, got back in his own car, thought some more about it, and got out and keyed Jamgotchian's car again. There are reportedly eight track security cameras -- EIGHT!!! -- that got all of this on film.

If this is true, if in fact Shapiro -- a respected man in the industry who quit his post on the CHRB in recent months and was holding down a position that reportedly pays $350,000 per year to help California racing when this alleged incident happened -- committed this act against a man who, granted has been a thorn in the man's side for years now, well, it just shows why California horse racing is in the shape it's in. Folks, we have no leadership in the state. Will somebody please stand up and end all this nonsense before this great sport of our's fades away?

I'm getting tired of writing about stuff that I shouldn't have to write about. I want to write about the great people in this game, the great horses, the great storylines that abound during Triple Crown season. Instead, I have to waste precious minutes writing about childish acts because it's news that needs to be reported. I thought all these guys graduated from high school 20 or 30 years ago.

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Here are my rankings for the top 10 horses scheduled to run in Saturday's Preakness Stakes that I submitted to the Paulick Report this morning:

1. Rachel Alexandra -- she'll win if two-week layoff is not too short for her
2. Pioneerof the Nile -- most consistent of the 3-year-old males
3. Friesan Fire -- can he go from 18th in Derby to first in Baltimore?
4. Papa Clem -- Gary wants to win one for his dad, Mel Stute
5. Musket Man -- will be closing, just like in the Derby
6. Big Drama -- newcomer could be a major player here
7. General Quarters -- deserves a second chance after finishing 10th in Derby
8. Mine That Bird -- if it's muddy and the rail parts like Red Sea again, he could win
9. Take the Points -- fresh horse could be dangerous
10. Terrain -- candidate to help complete the superfecta

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I'm surprised we can't bet on how many commercials NBC will air before the Preakness, or the overs-unders on the scheduled post time. Anyway, here are some of the betting props for Saturday's second leg of the Triple Crown courtesy of bodog.com:

If Rachel Alexandra wins the 134th Preakness Stakes, what will her winning margin be?

Over/Under 4.5 Lengths

If Rachel Alexandra wins, will Calvin Borel celebrate before Rachel Alexandra has crossed the line?

Yes -140

No EVEN

Will Jockey Calvin Borel have to use his whip on Rachel Alexandra during the running of the 134th Preakness Stakes?

Yes EVEN

No -140

What position will Rachel Alexandra be in at the 1st quarter pole?

1 or 2 -120

3, 4 or 5 Even

6 or worse 7/1

Will Rachel Alexandra better the time set in 1924 of 1:57:20 by Nellie Morse, the last filly to win the Preakness Stakes?

Yes -1000

No +500

Will NBC better the 9.8 Nielsen Rating it received for the 135th Kentucky Derby?

Yes +2000

No -5000

Will NBC better the 6.2 Nielsen Rating it received for the 2008 Preakness Stakes?

Yes -250

No +170

Which winning margin will be greater?

135th Kentucky Derby Margin of Victory (6 ¾ lengths) -1000

134th Preakness Stakes Margin of Victory +500

Head to Head

Rachel Alexandra -200

Mine That Bird +150

Odds to win the 134th Preakness Stakes

Rachel Alexandra 7/4

Mine That Bird 7/2

Pioneerof The Nile 6/1

Musket Man 8/1

Papa Clem 8/1

Friesen Fire 8/1

General Quarters 9/1

Hull 18/1

Big Drama 20/1

Flying Private 20/1

Take the Points 22/1

Terrain 25/1

Luv Gov 30/1

Tone It Down 35/1

Will any horse win the 134th Preakness Stakes wire to wire?

Yes +450

No -900

Will the Pimlico track record for 1 3/16 miles of 1:52:20 be broken at the 134th Preakness Stakes?

Yes +2000

No -5000

What position will Mine That Bird be in at the 1st quarter pole?

1 or 2 5/1

3, 4 or 5 3/2

6 or worse -180

Who will be the Jockey for Mine that Bird during the 134th Preakness Stakes?

Mike Smith 11/10

Calvin Borel 6/5

Chantel Sutherland 8/1

Joe Talamo 15/1

Ramon Dominguez 15/1

Field (Any Other Jockey) 3/1

Will the all sources handle for the 134th Preakness Stakes exceed the $45,689,562 which was wagered in 2008?

Yes +350

No -700

Will the attendance for the 134th Preakness Stakes exceed the 2008 total of 112,222?

Yes +550

No -1100

Will the 134th Preakness Stakes record an attendance of 100,000+ for the 9th straight year?

Yes -130

No Even

Who will Gary Stevens pick to win the 134th Preakness Stakes?

Rachel Alexandra 2/1

Mine That Bird 3/1

Pioneerof The Nile 3/1

Musket Man 11/2

Papa Clem 6/1

Field (Any Other Horse) 5/2

The two most dominating performances I've witnessed during my time in horse racing -- Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont and Rachel Alexandra in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks. Enjoy two magnificient performances:

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Some owners are now backtracking and saying they won't enter horses solely to block Rachel Alexandra from running in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

That's great to see, but such a swift turnaround makes you wonder just how intense the negative backlash was for, most notably, Mine That Bird co-owner Mark Allen. It was Allen who earlier Sunday told The Thoroughbred Times that he would enter a maiden colt who has failed to win in nine attempts in an effort to deprive the record Kentucky Oaks winner a chance to race in the Preakness.

I know we live in a messed-up world right now, but boy, sometimes people are incredible with the stunts they pull. If Rachel Alexandra is sound and deemed ready to go by her new connections -- owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen -- she deserves the opportunity to run in the Preakness for the good of the sport. Anyone who tries to keep her out by way of a cheap trick is looking out only for themselves and not taking into acount what a great day it could be for an industry that needs all the great days it can get.

So I hear the owners of Mine That Bird and Pioneerof the Nile are going to enter multiple horses in the Preakness in an attempt to keep Rachel Alexandra out of next Saturday's second leg of the Triple Crown. Only 14 horses are allowed to race in the Preakness and 3-year-olds that were nominated to the Triple Crown series receive first priority. Rachel Alexandra is not nominated and new owner Jess Jackson must pay a $100,000 supplementary fee to enter the filly. As of Sunday morning, 13 were planning to enter, meaning that Rachel Alexandra would be the 14th. Well, until some greedy horsemen stepped in with an idea on how to keep the filly out.

Just another example of people in this industry thinking only of themselves and not the sport. What could be better than watching a brilliant filly take on the boys in the Preakness? I mean, it would only add to the buildup and the television ratings if the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro runs. But Mine That Bird's co-owner, Mark Allen, and Ahmed Zayat, owner of Pioneerof the Nile, don't want that. They know how good the filly is and they're hiding behind the excuse that they don't want to see a filly run against the boys because it could result in another Eight Belles incident.

Let's be honest, here. No one knows why Eight Belles broke down at the end of last year's Derby. She could have gone wrong if she'd run in the Oaks the day before or it could have happened during a morning workout or gallop. There is no proof whatsoever that Eight Belles was injured because she ran against colts. I mean, come on ... Rachel Alexandra is as big or bigger than most of the colts. She's strong enough and fit enough to run in the Preakness.

Allen is talking about entering a maiden in the race to keep Rachel Alexandra out. A horse that is winless in nine lifetime races. What a great sportsman. He says he guarantees the maiden will not finish last. The colt, Indy Express, does not belong in a Triple Crown race, plain and simple. Zayat appears to have softened his stance, telling The Thoroughbred Times that any horse that he enters other than Pioneerof the Nile will be scratched. He told the magazine he's been receiving calls from other owners and breeders urging him to do all in his power to keep the filly out.

If Allen has such a hot-shot colt, if Zayat is so sure he's got the best 3-year-old in the country, then take on the best. Don't keep the filly out just because you're afraid of her. Don't hide behind the excuse that fillies are not supposed to race against the males. That's weak ... really, really weak. If she is kept out of the Preakness, the winner's legacy will be tarnished. Let's play fair, guys, and do what's right for the sport, not what's right just for your fat wallets.

I mean, could this sport get any more messed up than it already is?

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Rail Trip suffered his first loss in six career starts in Saturday's $150,000 Grade II Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park, but it might have been the 4-year-old gelded son of Jump Start's most impressive race to date.

Ball Four, trained by Patrick Biancone, went gate to wire to post a 1 1/4-length victory under Joe Talamo over Rail Trip, ridden again by Jose Valdivia Jr. The 8-year-old gelded son of Grand Slam traveled the 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in a swift 1:41.58 to win the 30th running of one of the major preps for the $700,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 11.

Rail Trip's trainer, Ron Ellis, thought his horse was ready to go by the winner turning for home, but Ball Four, who went postward at 16-1 after finishing ninth in the San Pasqual Handicap at Santa Anita in January, had enough left in the tank to turn away both Rail Trip and third-place finisher Dakota Phone, who was a half-length back of Rail Trip.

"I thought he had that horse anytime he wanted around the turn -- it looked like it to me -- but obviously (Ball Four) had something left," Ellis said. "The winner ran a great race, I underestimated him a little bit. I wasn't going to go out there and put a lot of pressure on him, but we were tracking him perfectly . . . there were no excuses."

But Ellis had to be happy with his gelding's effort, considering it was his first graded stakes try and he ran his heart out. Ellis said he will consider the major prep for the Gold Cup -- the $250,000 Californian on June 13 -- for Rail Trip's next start.

"It's the first time he kind of got in a dog fight at all," Ellis said. "It's probably a new thing for him. He was finishing. Time-wise, they were coming home faster than they started out. The winner ran a really nice race. Biancone's done a great job to turn him around because he hasn't been running that good."

If he continues to improve the way he did Saturday, Rail Trip figures to be one tough customer in the Gold Cup.

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Here's the latest on a trio of hopefuls for next Saturday's Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, courtesy of the Churchill Downs publicity crew:

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.

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Here's a press release that was just e-mailed to the media. Good move by Jackson by keeping Calvin Borel on the filly, and it's good to see she'll go in the Preakness if all is well. If she's not ready, she won't go:

LEXINGTON, KY (May 8, 2009) -- Stonestreet Stables, majority owner of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, and partner Harold T. McCormick announced today that Calvin Borel has agreed to ride Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra for the current racing season.

"It came down to the facts that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her and he knows how to win,'' said Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables and proprietor of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates. "They were an amazing team at the Kentucky Oaks--winning by over 20 lengths. We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse.''

Jackson said Rachel Alexandra will continue her workout schedule under trainer Steve Asmussen.

"If she continues to be in perfect condition, our intention will be to run her in the Preakness," Jackson said, adding that the final decision would be made next week.

Borel, a Louisiana native, rode the victorious mounts in both the 2007 and 2009 Kentucky Derbys. His Derby win last week aboard Mine That Bird was the second biggest upset in Derby history. The day before, Borel won the Kentucky Oaks aboard Rachel Alexandra, only the second time since 1993 that a jockey has won the Oaks-Derby combo. He was just the seventh jockey ever to do it in the same year.

Like Randy Romero, Kent Desormeaux and Shane Sellers, Borel began racing horses on the bush tracks near his hometown of Catahoula. Calvin is known for his Cajun accent and bubbly personality, both of which were on display during his post-victory interview after both Kentucky Derby wins.

Over a 25-year career, Borel has become known for his tireless work ethic as well as an ability to slip up the rail to gain ground.

Right now racing fans everywhere want to read all they can about Rachel Alexandra, the Kentucky Oaks winner who was recently sold to Curlin owner Jess Jackson for a reported $10 million and might run in the Preakness against the boys on May 16. Here's an update on her, courtesy of the Churchill Downs publicity folks:

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 ¼-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."

It was announced early this afternoon that Jess Jackson, owner of two-time Horse of the year Curlin, has purchased the brilliant 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra and reports are that he might run her in the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.

What a shot in the arm that would be for racing. The sport needs its stars running in these big high-profile races, and after her 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1, Rachel Alexandra is certainly one of those stars. She proved in the Oaks that she's more than capable of running against the boys, much like Rags to Riches when she beat the males, including Curlin, in the 2007 Belmont Stakes.

Calvin Borel is the regular rider for Rachel, and he also rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Hmmmmm. Wonder which horse he'd choose if they both go in the Preakness. One guess, huh?

Here's the Associated Press story that moved on the wire today:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)--Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra has been sold to Stonestreet Stables, opening the possibility for the filly superstar to run in the Preakness.

Jess Jackson, owner of Stonestreet Stables, announced the sale on Wednesday. The purchase from Dolphus Morrison and Mike Lauffer comes less than a week after Rachel Alexandra posted a record 20-length victory in the Oaks.

Morrison said after the Oaks he had no plans to enter Rachel Alexandra into either of the remaining Triple Crown races. He would have to pay a $100,000 supplement to put Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness on May 16.

Stonestreet also owns 2007-08 Horse of the Year Curlin, who retired last fall as racing's all-time money winner. Jackson said he plans to breed Rachel Alexandra to Curlin once her racing career is over.

Zenyatta, the unbeaten 5-year-old mare who was scratched last Friday from the $350,000 Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs when the track came up sloppy, is now scheduled to make her 2009 debut in the $150,000 Grade II Milady Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race over Cushion Track, at Hollywood Park on May 23.

Trainer John Shirreffs told The Daily Racing Form of his plans Monday, only three days after the daughter of Street Cry was withdrawn from the Louisville Distaff. Shirreffs and owner Jerry Moss originally wanted to run Zenyatta in the Hawthorne Handicap, but that Grade III race was canceled before Hollywood Park's spring-summer meet began as part of management's purse cuts.

Zenyatta, a finalist for 2008 Horse of the Year and the Eclipse Award winner as top older filly and mare last year, is 9-0 in her career with earnings of $2,144,500. She capped a 7-0 campaign last year with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita on a day when the brilliant mare received a standing ovation from many in the crowd while on her way to the winner's circle under jockey Mike Smith.

When I talked to Shirreffs two days before the start of the Hollypark meet, he said Zenyatta was training great.

"The rest did her, I think, a lot of good," he said. "She looks great, carrying good weight and training very well. She just looks like she's rounding into great form.
She'd had a long series of races, so she needed a little break. Obviously she was peaking for the Breeders' Cup so then there has to be a little letdown after that."

Shirreffs also trains Life Is Sweet, another top filly who is being pointed toward the Milady. The $300,000 Vanity Handicap on June 27 at Hollywood Park is also on the radar for Zenyatta. The Vanity is a 1 1/8-mile race.

Despite running an unnecessary 12 races on Kentucky Derby day, Hollywood Park still was able to fill its cards both Wednesday and Thursday with field sizes larger than the first two days of the meet, which were pathetic.

On Wednesday, 63 horses entered -- an average of 7.9 for the eight-race card. Thursday's races drew 57 horses, or 7.1 per race.

At a time when racing needs to maybe downsize a bit, why are they still running these 12-race cards? I mean, I understand the logic -- more people at the track to bet, let's run more races and get a bigger handle. But c'mon guys, sometimes less is better, and especially in this instance.

Del Mar did a smart thing, cutting back to a five-day race meet. Let's hope it works out, and let's hope the other tracks take notice.

Or maybe you'll want to just draw a line through them like I did Mine That Bird when handicapping the Derby.

4th -- Where's Scarlett has the tactical speed to control this race. Talamo is sitting in the garden spot.
7th -- Ventana finished third at Santa Anita at same level on March 11, beaten 5 3/4 lengths while fanned five-wide into the stretch. A better trip today and this guy will be tough.
9th -- Pat's Legacy is ready to stretch out to a mile and sixteenth after three sprint tries and he drops in for a tag for the first time against these maiden claimers. I think he'll be right there.

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The following was written by a racing blogger named "Bag O Donuts" on MySpace ... doesn't make me feel any better, my wallet is still lighter after the impossible long shot won the Derby, but at least I'm not sitting in the corner by myself now. I also took note on how he's also supremely confident in his dog's ability to beat some of those horses. Kind of reminds me of somebody else I know:

Mine That Bird (#8) - C'mon...let's be serious. Is it really that important to have your wife wear a big hat and have your name in the record books as having run a horse in the Derby if he is going to run 19th beaten a city block? My dog has as much chance of winning the Derby as this horse. My cat is more likely to hit the board. Just ridiculous.

Well, first off, my congratulations go out to the winner's connections. They made me and Joe look like morons, but that being written .... how in $%^&@# did that horse win? I mean, seriously folks. Couldn't win at Sunland Park, had the lowest Beyer in the field, hadn't won this year. After a full night's sleep, I'm still shaking my head.

Yes, it's true I wrote off Mine That Bird's chances in today's Kentucky Derby, claiming my 14-year-old dog had a better shot of winning America's most famous horse race. Well, by now most of you know that Mine That Bird became the second biggest long shot in the 135-year history of the Run for the Roses, running off to win by 6 3/4 lengths and returning $103.20. Donerail, a 91-1 outsider, paid a record $184.90 in 1913.

To tell you the truth, I'm still in a state of shock. I had runner-up Pioneerof the Nile hooked up in exactas with third-place finisher Musket Man and fourth-place finisher Papa Clem. But Mine That Bird jumped up and bit me big time. Kudos to Calvin Borel for a great ground-saving ride. It was a dream come true for the horse's connections and a nightmare for me. In fact, I just ran second at 8-1 in the 12th at Churchill Downs. I'll be glad when it's tomorrow.

Weren't convinced how good Einstein is after he won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7? Well, I hope you saw the $500,000 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs today. The 7-year-old son of Spend a Buck showed just how good he is by outlasting Cowboy Cal and winning the $300,000 first prize for the second consecutive year.

This is a guy who's now won stakes races on all three surfaces -- synthetic, dirt and turf. He's won 11 of 25 overall and banked $2,578,020 in lifetime earnings after winning for the seventh time in 17 tries on turf.

Southland racing fans could be in for quite a treat come November Breeders' Cup time if some of these horses stay sound and are able to run on World Thoroughbred Championship weekend. I mean, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, Einstein .... it's shaping up as a tremendous two days with a little bit of luck.

Two stand out in my mind ...
Pick Six in the fifth. He's my best bet of the day at Churchill.
Also, Honchis in Ponchis in the 12th ...

Shocking news!! Here's the story that appeared on bloodhorse.com:

By Ron Mitchell and Dan Liebman

I Want Revenge, the morning-line favorite for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), was scratched after a filling was discovered in an ankle on the day of the race.

It is the first time in Derby history (that anyone could research) that the morning-line favorite was scratched the day of the race.

The soft tissue injury was discovered the morning of the race. Dr. Foster Northrup watched as I Want Revenge jogged on the blacktop, and "he jogged fine," the equine practitioner said at a press conference. But, "the inflammation was there.

"He X-rayed normal and the ultrasound was normal," Dr. Northrup said. "There is no diagnosis at this time. More sophisticated tests will need to be done."

I Want Revenge is still on the grounds at Churchill Downs.

The son of Stephen Got Even had won his last two starts impressively, the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and Gotham Stakes (gr. I). He had a bullet work on April 28 but a physical problem has forced him to be withdrawn from the race.

Bred by David Lanzman, I Want Revenge is owned in partnership by Lanzman, IEAH Stables, Puglisi Racing, Charles Winner, Michael Dubb, and Steven Marshall. I Want Revenge is trained by Jeff Mullins and was to be ridden by 19-year-old jockey Joe Talamo.

"They (the veterinarians) gave me their opinion of what was best for the horse. At that point, there was no debate (about scratching)," Lanzman said. "I'm glad the horse is OK."

"Your biggest dream is to get here. Your biggest nightmare is to get here and scratch," Mullins said.

Less than two weeks ago, favoritism in the Derby appeared to be between Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Quality Road and I Want Revenge. Now, neither Quality Road nor I Want Revenge will run, with Quality Road battling quarter-crack problems.

This was an incredible performance by perhaps one of the best fillies we've seen in a long, long time. It's going to be fun watching her the rest of the year. Keep your fingers crossed she stays healthy so we can see her on Ladies Day in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita come November.

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Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher is 0 for 21 in the Kentucky Derby, and he'll have three horses this year, including many onlookers' wonder horse, Dunkirk.
The Churchill Downs publicity department checked in with Pletcher on Friday morning for an update on his trio:

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.

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Updated news on Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof the Nile, courtesy of the Churchill Downs publicity folks. The son of Empire Maker has never run on dirt in eight career starts, but he's certainly bred to like it:

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."

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Rachel Alexandra put on quite a show minutes ago in the Kentucky Oaks, winning by 20 1/4 lengths. Afterward, jockey Calvin Borel told former jockey Donna Brothers that she's the best horse he's ever ridden in more than 30 years as a jockey.

OK, so what's next? Does she take on the boys in the Preakness or Belmont? Well, if you heard one of the owners on the Bravo cable network immediately after the race, it doesn't appear it will happen. He told Bob Costas in the winner's circle that in the Triple Crown races, stallions should race against stallions and the fillies should race against the fillies.

So that leaves perhaps the Travers Stakes as her first shot at the boys at Saratoga in August. Well, it's apparent there are no other 3-year-old fillies in this gal's class, and perhaps the only distaffer that can give her a race is the unbeaten Zenyatta, who was scratched out of the Louisville Distaff today because of a sloppy race track.

How about this potential Breeders' Cup matchup -- Rachel Alexandra vs. Zenyatta? I mean, what kind of hype could that race command today? Let's hope they both stay sound the rest of the year and we can talk about it come November at Santa Anita.

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The brilliant 5-year-old mare Zenyatta, unbeaten in nine career races, was declared from today's $350,000 Grade II Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs because of a sloppy track. Trainer John Shirreffs did not want the daughter of Street Cry to make her first start of 2009 on a bad track.

Zenyatta would have made her season debut in the Hawthorne Handicap at Hollywood Park, but that race was canceled this year because of purse cuts before the season. Both Shirreffs and owner Jerry Moss did not want to have to wait for the $150,000 Grade II Milady Handicap on May 23 at Hollypark for Zenyatta's first start of the year because she's been training brilliantly and is ready to go, but it looks like they may have no choice.

The $300,000 Vanity Handicap on June 27 is also on the radar screen, but Zenyatta will definitely have a race under her belt before that Grade I event at Hollywood Park.

Some news on Chocolate Candy, courtesy of the Churchill Downs publicity staff:

CHOCOLATE CANDY - "Best morning I ever had with this horse."

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was upbeat Thursday morning at Churchill Downs after overseeing business with his Kentucky Derby contender Chocolate Candy. The tall bay by Candy Ride went trackside shortly after 7 a.m. under regular exercise rider Lindsey Molina, stood in the gate briefly, then galloped a good mile and five-eighths before coming off the six-furlong gap looking like a happy horse.

"I messed him up yesterday and he didn't like it," the Northern California-based conditioner stated. "I got him out there when all those people were around (after the 8 a.m. renovation break) and he got a little hot. But today we put him back in his usual routine and he was back to his old self. I'm really pleased with how it went today. He galloped strong and he's doing great."

The late-running colt was bred by the late Sid Craig and his wife, Jenny, who is, of course, the weight-loss queen. He currently races in the silks of Craig Family Trust and Saturday will break from post 11 with Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith aboard.

Chocolate Candy will be making the 10th start of his career in Derby 135. Six of those outings came during his 2-year-old season.

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