A Case for Greeley's Galaxy?

- It’s funny that after the Derby, Greeley’s Galaxy’s jockey Kent Desormeaux said of his trip: ``The only incident I had was breaking a little flat-footed, but it put me in perfect pace scenario spot. Tactically, I thought I was in a better situation than if he broke running…… I liked where I was. It was a nice spot.'' [Yahoo sports] Yet, a review of the race shows that his start was distinctly sluggish, he was very wide both turns and got stopped in the stretch after making a big move. That trip is cited by some who are making a case for him in the Preakness, including Steve Crist (for 2nd), Ray Kerrison of the NY Post, and Steve Haskin of Bloodhorse, who goes on to point out:

Approaching the top of the stretch, he pulled to within four lengths of the leaders, having made up close to 10 lengths, but was fanned way out to the middle of the track, getting hung 8-wide turning for home.

…..But he kept trying, and it wasn't until he got squeezed badly and was forced to take up at the three-sixteenths pole that Desormeaux decided to stop riding him and save him for another day. Although he finished 11th, beaten a respectable eight lengths, he was being virtually eased the entire final furlong, and no doubt would have been closer had Desormeaux persevered with him. [Bloodhorse]

Ray Kerrison, noting his poor start, says:

In the next six furlongs, he made up 11 lengths to get within four lengths of the leader, while the field was running the second-fastest six furlongs in the Derby's 131-year history.

"Greeley" must have run his 6 furlongs in about 1:07 and change. No wonder he tired a little in the stretch. [NY Post]

1:07 and change? I don't think so! Mr. Kerrison is simply misreading the chart. It wasn’t until the mile mark, not 6 furlongs, that Greeley got within 4 lengths, made possible in no small part by the fact that they were already slowing up front. He gained 11 lengths from the half mile to the mile mark in a half that went :50.50 and he wasn’t the only one gaining ground at that point – Noble Causeway, Wilko, Buzzard’s Bay to name three. And Giacomo gained even more ground during that time, yet he was able to sustain that rally despite being wide and changing paths in the stretch.

So I'm hard pressed to rate him over the Derby winner, who I don’t rate on top for the Preakness. Nonetheless, it was only his 5th start, the bad break put him in an unfamiliar position – he’d always been close to the lead – and the fact that Desormeaux stopped pushing him, and his subsequent 5f work in 1:00 1/5 indicates that he may be one Derby horse who came out of that race with something in reserve. So I have him under consideration for exotic tickets.

- One person who will be betting him is trainer Glen Stute, deputizing this week for his father Warren.

We took a whack at this horse, at that big price in the Kentucky Derby, yessir, and we're not finished yet. The higher the price, the better for me, and if his price is big again in the Preakness on Saturday, we'll send it in again." [NY Post]

- Have you yet seen anyone make a case for Afleet Alex?

- The Preakness is taking place against the backdrop of the Republicans' attempt in nearby D.C. to place the future of the nation’s judiciary firmly under the control of the radical religious zealots to whom they are beholden by abolishing the minority’s right to filibuster the most extreme of the president’s judicial appointments. I can only hope that whoever I end up betting is half as tough as Fighting Senator Harry Reid, who is steadfastly leading the Democrats’ resistance to this downright frightening gambit by the GOP to pervert the rules of the Senate and give the religious nuts a virtual blank judicial check. Reid delivered a passionate and eloquent address on the Senate floor today.

It is clear that the President misunderstands the meaning of the Advice and Consent Clause.  The word "Advice" means "Advice." President Clinton, consulted extensively with then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Hatch.  Senator Hatch boasts in his autobiography that he personally convinced President Clinton to nominate Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer to the Supreme Court instead of more controversial choices.  

In contrast, this President has never ever sought or heeded the advice of the Senate.  But now he demands our consent.  

That's not how America works.  The Senate is not a rubber stamp for the Executive branch. Rather, we're the one institution where the Minority has a voice and the ability to check the power of the Majority.

Go baby go. For those of you so inclined, please read the full text here, via Daily Kos.