- Flashy Bull got the head bob over Hesanoldsalt in the race before the Preakness, and that one could be a textbook example of 'stirring stretch drive' - they hooked up soon after turning for home, and neither one gave an inch in a....well, a stirring stretch drive. Alan Garcia was on board the winner for Kiaran McLaughlin, and he's winning at a 35% rate for the barn. He had a bit of a buzzzzz going on at Belmont last weekend, and he's second in the jockey standings with 19 wins. It was a rousing ride, with Garcia switching the whip from his left to right and back to his left in deep stretch, and getting the nod over Prado.
Nice to see these two three-year olds improve as they have at four; they got a 107 Beyer for their efforts. Hesanoldsalt has now run second three times in a row, albeit all in graded stakes, and most recently his close loss to Corinthian. That puts Flashy Bull, a Derby Trail survivor winning his first-ever stakes, in pretty good company.
Corinthian is being pointed for the Met Mile next Monday, and Memorial Day at Belmont still has a special feeling even if the crowds of 40,000 that once regularly attended on that day are long in the past. So I have the day marked prominently on my calendar. Sun King, Keyed Entry, Lawyer Ron, Latent Heat, and Godolphin's Utopia are amongst the other nominees.
- Did you know that it cost at least $45 just to park at the Preakness? The prices actually ranged up to $85....and as much for $150 for "VIP" parking. Just think - you could have been Very Important enough to pay 150 bucks just to park your car. It's only been a couple of years now since NYRA finally hiked Belmont day prices, which for years were the same as any other day. General parking will be $10; $25 for preferred, and I guess VIP's can park without extra charge. General admission is a mere five bucks, and $10 for the clubhouse.
And oh, by the way, Curlin got a 111 Beyer in the Preakness if you care. It was one race that we didn't really need a number to know just how good it was.
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Monday, May 21, 2007
Notes - May 22
Posted by Alan Mann at 9:42 PM
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2 Comments:
Memorial Day is one of my favorite race days on the calendar, will be in the picnic area hopefully enjoying the beautiful spring weather.
There was a nice commentary piece in Blood Horse print edition calling the current wave of trainers "Charmin trainers", always babying there horses.
I for one am very happy none of the top three are trained by Charmin trainers or owned by commercial stud farms, providing hope that we can see some more stirring stretch duels. All three trainers like to run their horses and since they are not NY or CA based are less likely to simply aim for those mid summer Derby's.
I love Asmussens comment that these horses are meant to run, not to stand around the barn and be admired.
I do include Hard Spun in my Big 3, he ran a huge race in the Derby and I thought Preakness also.
He is going to be heard from in the future races, without the ego driven entrants screwing with the pace. He will be tough to down in the Belmont if he gets away with a 47 half.
there are more dealer cars parked in storage in belmont lots than there are patrons cars. I guess that's why the parking is cheaper than Pimlico! Where would they put us all for a triple crown contender day?!
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