Maidens in the Preakness??

[LaurieB]

According to an interview that Pioneerof The Nile owner, Ahmed Zayat, gave on HRTV this morning he and Mine That Bird's owner, Mark Allen, are planning to enter extra horses in the Preakness in order to keep Rachel Alexandra from getting a spot in the starting gate. The whole story can be found here:

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/usa-preakness-rivals-gang-up-to-bar-rachel-alexandra/185467/top/

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Seriously bad sportsmanship. However, this drama could be good for racing, generate a bit of buzz. You know Jackson will run with one in the media. I hope she gets in and stomps them into a mudhole.
So much for the feel-good-aw-shucks-cowboys-from-NM angle.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Hmmm, it might not be as cut and dried as Zayat and Allen think, check this out.....

Complicating matters for Rachel Alexandra is the potential size of the $1 million Preakness field, and how the language in the race conditions are interpreted if the race is oversubscribed.

The Preakness field is limited to 14 runners. If more than 14 enter, a convoluted, three-tiered process is used to make up the field, according to the posted race conditions. The first seven runners are determined by earnings in graded stakes, which is the only tiebreaker for the Derby. The next four Preakness runners are determined by earnings in non-restricted stakes, which includes races that are not graded. The final three spots go to the horses with the most lifetime earnings. "Should this preference produce any ties, the additional starters(s) shall be determined by lot," the race conditions state.

In the Derby, in which the maximum field is 20, the race conditions clearly state that a supplemental nominee cannot bump a horse originally nominated. The Preakness language is not as clear, and may impact Rachel Alexandra, because, since she was not an original nominee to the Triple Crown, she would have to be supplemented to the race for $100,000.

The Preakness conditions say nothing about original nominees having preference over supplements. It says the tiebreaker kicks into effect "in the event that more than fourteen (14) horses are properly nominated and pass through the entry box."

Just what is "properly nominated"? Is a horse who was supplemented any less "properly nominated" than an original nominee? Georgeanne Hale, the racing secretary at Pimlico, did not return a call on Thursday seeking clarification on that point.

The Preakness rules also state that "no horse which earns purse money in The Kentucky Derby shall be denied the opportunity to enter and start" in the Preakness. The first five horses in the Derby - Mine That Bird, Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man, Papa Clem, and Chocolate Candy - earned purse money. Mine That Bird, Musket Man, and Papa Clem are definite for the Preakness. Pioneerof the Nile is possible. Chocolate Candy has been sent to Belmont Park and will await the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

[Las Olas]

Wow, they should be ashamed of themselves. And, to put it in print. Not sure if there are any legal issues, but I wonder if Jess Jackson would have a case for collusion, and they just proved it for him.

[cloudyandcallie]

The legal term is "conspiracy" but I doubt it's a crime. Bad sportsmanship.
I just hope the filly gets in and wins. And that she doesn't get whipped in the face as Genuine Risk did. Of course if this filly runs as she did in the Oaks, there won't be a whip long enough to get near her.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

zayat just on TVG, cooled his jets somewhat, saying it's not for sure he will enter one to keep her out. Apparently he got a call from the Prez of the JC.
Then says that it would be doing it in the best interests of the filly, doesn't want her to get hurt, a la 8belles, Ruffian etc........ what an ass!

[Las Olas]

Nice backpedal! I'm sure Marzelli gave him an earful.

[Glimmerglass]

I cited this potential for "blocking" in the Preakness thread ;) Last week in the TB Times Zayat was clear he knew what he could do to derail RA's connections with the Preakness. He also said he wanted to defeat her with 'Nile'.

As for fillies in the Preakness they've not been terribly successful. However Rachel is a different animal and not really fair to compare :D

[LaurieB]

zayat just on TVG, cooled his jets somewhat, saying it's not for sure he will enter one to keep her out. Apparently he got a call from the Prez of the JC.
Then says that it would be doing it in the best interests of the filly, doesn't want her to get hurt, a la 8belles, Ruffian etc........

Yeah right. His motives were purely altruistic. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Linny]

No one told him about Zarkava, Dahlia, Winning Colors, Genuine Risk and many more.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Marylou Whitney was not involved in any of this shenannigans, says she will pull Luv Gov if it means that Rachel is kept out.
Good on her.

Full story on the Bloodhorse (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/50710/whitney-will-not-exclude-rachel-alexandra).

Sad to see her name get dragged into all this.

[Las Olas]

Thank's for posting that. It's good hear, as it sounded a bit out of character for her operation.

[DickHertz]

I've long been a proponent of 1 trainer per race when races overfill as this sort of thing happens all too often in claiming races, now it's just going to be spotlighted because it's the Preakness. I believe only Mountaineer has this policy and it should be adopted everywhere.

[farmgirl88]

it may not be the best of sportsmanship but i dont blame them. Although rachel alexandra may the best hors ein the world right now, jess jackson isnt much better either. hes racing her becuase he wants to be on top and spoil the fun for everyone. just the way that man operates. i have no respect for him whatsoever. i think he should do right by the horse and stick to the original plan the old owners had for her right now.

[Carol Ames]

:no:

[Hunters Peak]

Why dont they just tell the truth for once. They are both AFRAID of her, just say it to the media and be honest. I could not believe it when I heard about this blocking scheme. One owner wants the race for stallion making, the other wants his rider back. You would have your rider back if your horse was the BEST. I hope the filly kicks the crap out of those want to be stallions. I even liked Pioneer of the Nile, but I wont route for him again. That kind sportmanship will kill racing.

[LaurieB]

A new development from the Paulick Report:

For immediate release (Sunday, May 10, 1015 p.m.)
Indy Express out of Preakness

Mark Allen, owner of the 135th Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, will not enter Indy Express in the 2009 Preakness Stakes.

Early this morning Allen was delivered a message to contact another owner “Our conversation consisted of congratulating me on our win in the Derby and talking about a rematch, wanting a chance to hook us on a fast surface. We laughed and joked about what a race that would be,” said Allen.

“When it comes to Rachel Alexandra, I personally don’t think any filly should be in a race against colts at this stage of their careers. I don’t believe in running fillies against the colts. But Rachel Alexandra is a superior filly and could be the exception. Mr. Jackson has a great trainer in Steve Asmussen and I’m sure they will make the right decision and Lord help us all if she does get in.”

“And yes, it’s true that I would like to have my jockey back. Calvin Borel is great and did a great job for us. I also respect him and I completely understand his love for Rachel Alexandra. If the filly gets in we have a commitment from Mike Smith. We have a lot of confidence in Mike, he’s from our part of the country and he’s got some Cowboy in him too, I’ve seen his boots,” said Allen.

“Additionally, my decision to enter Indy Express in the Preakness was strictly business but after consulting with my Dad and Doc Blach, I have decided to withdraw Indy Express to prevent any further miss understandings. They’re advice to me was just to do what’s right, because arrogance and greed isn’t right. Indy Express is a good colt and showing a lot of potential. I’ll just have to look forward to running him later on down the road. The bottom-line for me is that we came here to race and enjoy our win here in Louisville. So, we’ll meet everyone in Baltimore, ready to run,” said Allen.

[Glimmerglass]

Actually Sports Illustrated for a rare change broke the news (at 8:23 pm EST) (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tim_layden/05/10/Allen.Preakness/?eref=sircrc) that Mark Allen would not enter another into the Preakness a few hours before Ray Paulick's report :)

I'd still say the damage is done to Allen and MTB's reputation (the people, not the horse) in terms of smearing the "image" of being just a few good guys who happen to win the Derby by this stunt.

[Mara]

Absolutely not the way to win fans and support in racing.

I love MTB and would like to see a TC winner. However, I hope the filly kicks his butt. Mark Allen needs to be brought down a notch. Too bad horses cannot have a say in these sorts of things.

And how friggin' stupid was he IF he thought this wasn't going to get out and generate considerable controversy?

[ravenclaw]

“Additionally, my decision to enter Indy Express in the Preakness was strictly business but after consulting with my Dad and Doc Blach, I have decided to withdraw Indy Express to prevent any further miss understandings.”
Consulting with the lynch mob probably helped with his decision, too. :lol:

[jolise]

Well alls fair in love and war. I think the poor sportsmanship was on the part of Jess Jackson. Mark Allen entering an extra horse to keep RA out is small potatoes compared to Jess Jackson spending millions to buy this filly one week before the Preakness, firing her trainer and stealing Mark Allens jockey. Hell, I'd enter extra horses if it meant I got my jockey back on my horse.

I didn't have anything against Jackson before this, but that was disrespectful, poor sportsmanship and greedy to boot. Love RA but hope MTB kicks his butt.

[DLee]

Well alls fair in love and war. I think the poor sportsmanship was on the part of Jess Jackson. Mark Allen entering an extra horse to keep RA out is small potatoes compared to Jess Jackson spending millions to buy this filly one week before the Preakness, firing her trainer and stealing Mark Allens jockey. Hell, I'd enter extra horses if it meant I got my jockey back on my horse.

I didn't have anything against Jackson before this, but that was disrespectful, poor sportsmanship and greedy to boot. Love RA but hope MTB kicks his butt.

She didn't HAVE to be sold. Why is the buyer the poor sport? Makes no sense.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Well alls fair in love and war. I think the poor sportsmanship was on the part of Jess Jackson. Mark Allen entering an extra horse to keep RA out is small potatoes compared to Jess Jackson spending millions to buy this filly one week before the Preakness, firing her trainer and stealing Mark Allens jockey. Hell, I'd enter extra horses if it meant I got my jockey back on my horse.

I didn't have anything against Jackson before this, but that was disrespectful, poor sportsmanship and greedy to boot. Love RA but hope MTB kicks his butt.

i) People pay big money for horses, even right before races, always have, always will.

ii) He didn't fire her trainer, the filly went to his trainer, a perfectly normal occurance. He pays the bills, I think he gets to choose who trains his horses.

iii) He didn't steal anyone's jockey, the jock made a desicion to stay with the horse he WAS MOST FAMILIAR with... i.e the horse he had ridden the MOST. He had sat on MTB all of 2 times, once in the Derby, and once when he galloped him a couple of days before. On the other hand, Borel has been riding Rachel Alexandra since Nov of last year.
Besides, Borel made the decision, no one held a gun to his head.

iv) Entering the filly in the Preakness was hardly LACK of sportsmanship, on the contrary paying $100k to supplement her shows a good deal of sportsmanship. Maneuvering to keep her out on the other hand because you are afraid of her and don't want your horse to be beaten shows a decided lack of sportsmanship and an unwillingness to take on all-comers and let your horse prove his true worth.

[Mara]

it may not be the best of sportsmanship but i dont blame them. Although rachel alexandra may the best hors ein the world right now, jess jackson isnt much better either. hes racing her becuase he wants to be on top and spoil the fun for everyone. just the way that man operates. i have no respect for him whatsoever. i think he should do right by the horse and stick to the original plan the old owners had for her right now.


???? Do you think Jackson should be in racing with a strictly altruistic intent? That he's spending money at the backside, sales ring, and breeding operations only to "spoil everyone's fun"? I assume by that you mean that his #1 goal is to prevent MTB from winning the Preakness and thus stopping the chance that we get a Crown winner this year.

Not to say it hasn't happened before (Woody Stephens sacrificing Forty Niner in the '88 Preakness solely to wreck Winning Colors' Triple Crown aspirations comes to mind), but I think the majority of people who enter a horse in a Grade I stakes do so with the hope the horse will win, or at least make a good showing. I can't see Jackson standing there rubbing his hands together, cackling and saying, "heh, can't wait till May 16. I'm gonna disappoint millions of people I don't even know."

Even if Rachel Alexandra isn't in the Preakness, there's still no guarantee that Mine That Bird comes home the winner.

[Acertainsmile]

For goodness sake... the last time I checked this was a free country, you can purchase what you can afford and what someone is willing to sell you. You can run your horse in a race that they are eligible for, I just dont understand the bashing of Jackson.

[LaurieB]

i) People pay big money for horses, even right before races, always have, always will.

ii) He didn't fire her trainer, the filly went to his trainer, a perfectly normal occurance. He pays the bills, I think he gets to choose who trains his horses.

iii) He didn't steal anyone's jockey, the jock made a desicion to stay with the horse he WAS MOST FAMILIAR with... i.e the horse he had ridden the MOST. He had sat on MTB all of 2 times, once in the Derby, and once when he galloped him a couple of days before. On the other hand, Borel has been riding Rachel Alexandra since Nov of last year.
Besides, Borel made the decision, no one held a gun to his head.

iv) Entering the filly in the Preakness was hardly LACK of sportsmanship, on the contrary paying $100k to supplement her shows a good deal of sportsmanship. Maneuvering to keep her out on the other hand because you are afraid of her and don't want your horse to be beaten shows a decided lack of sportsmanship and an unwillingness to take on all-comers and let your horse prove his true worth.

Thanks Drvmb1ggl3, you saved me a lot of typing. :yes:

[Rubyfree]

???? Do you think Jackson should be in racing with a strictly altruistic intent? That he's spending money at the backside, sales ring, and breeding operations only to "spoil everyone's fun"? I assume by that you mean that his #1 goal is to prevent MTB from winning the Preakness and thus stopping the chance that we get a Crown winner this year.

Not to say it hasn't happened before (Woody Stephens sacrificing Forty Niner on the '88 Preakness solely to wreck Winning Colors' Triple Crown aspirations comes to mind), but I think the majority of people who enter a horse in a Grade I stakes do so with the hope the horse will win, or at least make a good showing. I can't see Jackson standing there rubbing his hands together, cackling and saying, "heh, can't wait till May 16. I'm gonna disappoint millions of people I don't even know."

Even if Rachel Alexandra isn't in the Preakness, there's still no guarantee that Mine That Bird comes home the winner.

Agree, and :lol:

[linquest]

Mara- I third your post! Besides, it's not like racehorses get to choose their owners/trainers :rolleyes: I'm looking forward to seeing her run in mixed company!

[farmgirl88]

i just have something to say about someone who has more money than they know what to do with. It just erks me that someone would go out and pay that kind of money for a great horse...just to demise the plan they oroginally had for her. it doesnt make sense to me to come in and change this filly's entire routine including trainer (so ive read on another thread) just so she can run against the boys. cant she run in another grade I elsewhere. Do you really thikn jess Jackson thinks hes going to lose? I mean...really. hes a guy with more money than God who wants to swoop in with this stellar filly and rake in as much cash with her as he can. I think shes very well cared for but simethimes, with these connections, i start to wonder if the best interest is actually in the horse.

I think Calvin made an idiotic decision too. while he does get the first choice to ride a remarkable filly, he was also riding the wicked longshot in the derby. if he was really that wanted by other trainers, he wouldn't be riding the longshot fro mnowhere in the first place. MTB's connections' gave him the chance to ride in the derby when other trainers didnt choose him, and a jockey being a businessman, is going to grab any ride he can get, especially in a race like that.

MTB's trainers and owners gave him the opportunity to ride in the derby, for the tripe crown, and he won. For some reason i think MTB's connections are far more concerned about their horse's well being than jess jackson but i wont continue to rant about that.

People are talking about rachel alexandra and saying that shes the greatest racehorse who has ever walked the earth. lets be real here. while the filly has won the respect of many, and won a lot of races, she's a powerhouse, and a freak in her own right...i dont think she should be granted that title. Shes gorgeous, a freak, and mindblowing to watch but when we really sit down and think about it here...the 3 yr old crop this year honestly sucks almost as much as last year. A lot of the big namers had to scratch out of the derby, but who is she really proving herself against here? I think she'd be better off continuing to prove herself against another freak of nature called Zenyatta.

Im going to continue to root for the one that everyone applauded but now, no longer believes in...Mine that Bird. I think the trainer, the owners, the groom, the exercise jockey, and the horse deserve it. Even if he doesnt win, and finishes in the top ill be proud of him, as that is quite an accomplishment for that little horse and all of his connections. Run baby..Run

[farmgirl88]

Absolutely not the way to win fans and support in racing.

I love MTB and would like to see a TC winner. However, I hope the filly kicks his butt. Mark Allen needs to be brought down a notch. Too bad horses cannot have a say in these sorts of things.

And how friggin' stupid was he IF he thought this wasn't going to get out and generate considerable controversy?


he's an owner and this is a game. he wants his horse to win, and avoid having outsiders come in and spoil the chances, especially since she didnt race in the derby and she could've.

MTB's trainer is going to do whatever he's paid to do. MTB is healthy, happy, and bounced right back from the race. they said if the horse told them he was ready to go, they were ready to go (onto the preakness). They want to give the triple crown a shot. and i dont blame them at all. they certaintly have a chance. MTB is not just a fluke either and it honestly upsets me to hear people say that. A horse doesnt come from the back of the pack like that, especially at the gallop that was show, to pass horses in that manner at that rate of speed and stride...and be called "a fluke". Something like what was shown at the derby by MTB is not a fluke. espcially when the 3 yr olds in the derby are the best of what this country has to offer right now.

If the owners want to enter another horse in the derby to try and keep RA out, go ahead. If the horse is ready to do, they have the right to do it. The trainer is going to tell them no. he would if the horse wasnt ready, but hes getting paid to do this.
Everyone is entilted to their own opinion about the RA saga at the preakness, especially the owners of MTB who just want a shot at the tripe crown. why would rachel alexandra need to come to the preakness in the first place...even though she lost out on her chance for the TC

[Acertainsmile]

She has the same "right" to run in the Preakness, just as Rags to Riches had that "right" to run in the Belmont.

[akrogirl]

No one told him about Zarkava, Dahlia, Winning Colors, Genuine Risk and many more.

I remember Winning Colors' valiant effort in the Preakness all too well, and the bumping she was subjected to in an effort to make sure she didn't win. I would hate to see the same thing happen to Rachel Alexandra.

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/22/sports/horse-racing-risen-star-outruns-filly-in-preakness.html

[linquest]

Please, no horse "needs" to run in any race. I've got an idea-- just to make sure we get a TC winner, why don't we only allow the winner of the Derby and the last five placers to finish the series. Or better yet, why make them run 3 races at all? We should just "crown" whoever wins the Derby as the best 3 y/o in the country and leave it at that. And while we're busy changing the rules of the game, why don't we make it mandatory that all racehorses stay with their original owner in order to maintain their Jockey Club registration?

C'mon people, the Triple Crown is what it is because it's HARD. 3 races of different lengths in just a few weeks, against the best 3 year-olds in the country (no matter what sex, as far as I'm concerned), it takes a superhorse to win it all. Horseracing is about competition, we should be encouraging it, not minimizing it.

[Las Olas]

i just have something to say about someone who has more money than they know what to do with. It just erks me that someone would go out and pay that kind of money for a great horse...just to demise the plan they oroginally had for her.


If you are so concerned that Mr. Jackson isn't spending his money in the right places, then why do you go out and bust your butt to make your own millions, like he did? Then, you can decide what your priorities are and where to put your money instead of bashing someone in public that you don't even know.

Why does it 'irk you that someone would pay that kind of money for a great horse?' What are you supposed to pay for one?

[Filly85']

You know, I wasn't going to say anything. I really, really tried not to say anything, but I just can't help it any longer and I'm going to be very blunt as usual....

WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME OF YOU PEOPLE!!!?????

Jess Jackson is one of the BEST things that could have ever happened to this sport. You better thank your lucky stars that he was the owner of Curlin, or you most likely wouldn't have ever seen Curlin race as a 4 yo. He won't send Rachel right off to the breeding shed if she's still sound at the end of this year either. When Jess Jackson is the owner, you get to actually see them RACE. He is a very sporting person and is helping point horse racing in the right direction. He does very right by his horses and does very right by this sport. When someone good actually happens to come along in horse racing, the general public is so freaking quick to condemn them. Maybe some of you didn't want Curlin to race all over the world as a 4 yo? I thank and applaud Jackson for giving me the opportunity to see that wonderful horse race as a 4 yo on three different surfaces in which he ducked no one.

Also, HAL WIGGINS SOLD THE HORSE. Jess Jackson just happened to be the one that bought her.

Calvin Borel is riding Rachel because he said that she is THE BEST HORSE that he has been on in his 30 years of being a jockey. He was also her regular jockey.

YOU ALL GO GAGA OVER LARRY JONES AND DISS STEVE ASMUSSEN. However, has Steve Asmussen broke down two awesome GI caliber horses in the last year? NO!

With this being said, I have no personal connection to Jess Jackson, Calvin Borel, Steve Asmussen, or Rachel Alexandra whatsoever. I'm glad I got that off my chest. Have a nice day.

And yes, this post was meant to be funny in a round about way.

[Glimmerglass]

Also, HAL WIGGINS SOLD THE HORSE. Jess Jackson just happened to be the one that bought her.

Actually Hal didn't own even a single strand of hair on her tail ;) Mike Lauffer and Dolphus Morrison ("L and M Partners") owned her, however your point wasn't based on that.

I could concur that people likely need to relax a bit with the circumstances and just root for whichever horse you'd like to. I haven't jumped off being an RA fan as a I have been for a while. It doesn't make me warm up to Jess Jackson but racing is thankfully far, far bigger then just one wealthy owner and at the heart of it has zero to do with the actual owners.

[RedMare01]

I think Calvin made an idiotic decision too. while he does get the first choice to ride a remarkable filly, he was also riding the wicked longshot in the derby. if he was really that wanted by other trainers, he wouldn't be riding the longshot fro mnowhere in the first place. MTB's connections' gave him the chance to ride in the derby when other trainers didnt choose him, and a jockey being a businessman, is going to grab any ride he can get, especially in a race like that.

MTB's trainers and owners gave him the opportunity to ride in the derby, for the tripe crown, and he won. For some reason i think MTB's connections are far more concerned about their horse's well being than jess jackson but i wont continue to rant about that.


Without Calvin, it is highly unlikely that MTB would have won the Derby...it's not like he was a big favorite going in (or even mentioned in conversation by, well, ANYONE).

I'm not thrilled by the turn of events, but excited about Saturday anyway. Go filly!

Caitlin

[Filly85']

Actually Hal didn't own even a single strand of hair on her tail ;) Mike Lauffer and Dolphus Morrison ("L and M Partners") owned her, however your point wasn't based on that.

That is true...lol.

If I were Jackson, it would have been a hard call. I personally wouldn't have taken the filly away from Wiggins because I firmly believe in the "if it isn't broke, don't try to fix it" stance. He had done a wonderful job with her up until this point. However, Asmussen did such a wonderful job with Curlin and Jackson is very loyal to him.

Oh yes, and if Rachel goes to the Preakness, the play is going to be to single her in Pick 3s and Pick 4s;)

[farmgirl88]

You know, I wasn't going to say anything. I really, really tried not to say anything, but I just can't help it any longer and I'm going to be very blunt as usual....

WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME OF YOU PEOPLE!!!?????

Jess Jackson is one of the BEST things that could have ever happened to this sport. You better thank your lucky stars that he was the owner of Curlin, or you most likely wouldn't have ever seen Curlin race as a 4 yo. He won't send Rachel right off to the breeding shed if she's still sound at the end of this year either. When Jess Jackson is the owner, you get to actually see them RACE. He is a very sporting person and is helping point horse racing in the right direction. He does very right by his horses and does very right by this sport. When someone good actually happens to come along in horse racing, the general public is so freaking quick to condemn them. Maybe some of you didn't want Curlin to race all over the world as a 4 yo? I thank and applaud Jackson for giving me the opportunity to see that wonderful horse race as a 4 yo on three different surfaces in which he ducked no one.

Also, HAL WIGGINS SOLD THE HORSE. Jess Jackson just happened to be the one that bought her.

Calvin Borel is riding Rachel because he said that she is THE BEST HORSE that he has been on in his 30 years of being a jockey. He was also her regular jockey.

YOU ALL GO GAGA OVER LARRY JONES AND DISS STEVE ASMUSSEN. However, has Steve Asmussen broke down two awesome GI caliber horses in the last year? NO!

With this being said, I have no personal connection to Jess Jackson, Calvin Borel, Steve Asmussen, or Rachel Alexandra whatsoever. I'm glad I got that off my chest. Have a nice day.

And yes, this post was meant to be funny in a round about way.


saying that larry jones broke down his horses is just down right wrong. thats crossing the line. how about a string of bad luck?

[farmgirl88]

If you are so concerned that Mr. Jackson isn't spending his money in the right places, then why do you go out and bust your butt to make your own millions, like he did? Then, you can decide what your priorities are and where to put your money instead of bashing someone in public that you don't even know.

Why does it 'irk you that someone would pay that kind of money for a great horse?' What are you supposed to pay for one?

In all honesty- no horse is worth that money. im not saying he didnt bust his butt for his millions. at this time in this country in this economy, spending that much on horse, could be money well spent elsewhere. even if i had that type of pocket change, i wouldnt go and blow a few mill on a horse, no matter how good it is. i look at my horses as a part of my family, not a business, so perhaps thats where i draw the line.

Then again im also not the type of person to encourage someone to go blow a few 100K on a yearling at a TB auction because it has good bloodlines but hasnt proved anything yet. Just seems silly to me. Then again i love horse racing (well most of it) and i think all aspects are interesting. it doesnt mean i have to agree with everything somone does, and in this case i am really pulling for MTB. While it would be just as nice to see such a gallant filly turn for home and blow them all away, it would seem so much more fitting to have the underdog that no one gave two craps about whoop some serious butt, and prove everyone wrong...again.
The reason why noone cared about him in the derby is because he had a no name trainer and basically a no name owner. his jockey was well known, but was also riding the "sore-looser" according to everyone. He hadnt truly prove dhimself as a 3 yr old this yr, but he also proved himself in his past as a canadian champion. just because it was canadian doesnt mean people should ignore it.

Maybe i just like rooting for the one who, i personally think, deserves it more.
i think shes a great filly, with lots of potential in the years to come. keep in mind that she is also a massive, leggy filly...just like eight belles. something just doesnt seem right to continually run a horse whos growing like a weed like that. I think eight belles woke me up on such an issue.

[Laurierace]

Who are you to judge anything's worth, let alone a horse that you have never even laid eyes upon? As with anything, she is worth what someone is willing to pay. Not a penny more, not a penny less. Seriously, get a grip and pick a real cause will you?

[HuntrJumpr]

He hadnt truly prove dhimself as a 3 yr old this yr, but he also proved himself in his past as a canadian champion. just because it was canadian doesnt mean people should ignore it.

:lol: I sincerely doubt the bettors and handicappers were discriminating about the fact that his championship was Canadian. I'm thinking it was more the fact that he ran a little more than 3 lengths back for a fourth place finish at a track that isn't considered as competitive as some of the others. And yes - the trainer didn't exactly have an outstanding record.

I guess I really don't get your point... On paper, it makes sense that MTB would go off at long odds. As one of the Derby trainers said - "That's why we run the race."

[LaurieB]

saying that larry jones broke down his horses is just down right wrong. thats crossing the line. how about a string of bad luck?

So saying anything about Larry Jones is "crossing the line" but all your Jess Jackson bashing is just fine? Way to hold onto a double standard. :rolleyes:

[Barnfairy]

YOU ALL GO GAGA OVER LARRY JONES AND DISS STEVE ASMUSSEN. However, has Steve Asmussen broke down two awesome GI caliber horses in the last year? NO!
Along that line of reasoning Michael Matz should have been tarred and feathered.

[jolise]

There is a lot of talk about how Jess Jackson has the "right" to run RA which I agree with. Yes it is a free country. And using that same train of thought, the connections of the other Derby contenders have the "right" to enter as many other nominated extra horses that they like to keep RA out and increase their chances.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

There is a lot of talk about how Jess Jackson has the "right" to run RA which I agree with. Yes it is a free country. And using that same train of thought, the connections of the other Derby contenders have the "right" to enter as many other nominated extra horses that they like to keep RA out and increase their chances.

Yes, both are perfectly legal.
However the former is running your horse in a race against the best to prove your horse's ability, and is what racing should be all about, and has been all about, going back to the dawn of time.
The latter is keeping someone else's horse out of a race because you are afraid they will beat you and is bad sportsmanship.
But yes, both perfectly legal.

[caffeinated]

Why does it 'irk you that someone would pay that kind of money for a great horse?' What are you supposed to pay for one?

They're supposed to be free. So now that everybody knows, please to be sending me RA? kthx.

[Acertainsmile]

There is a lot of talk about how Jess Jackson has the "right" to run RA which I agree with. Yes it is a free country. And using that same train of thought, the connections of the other Derby contenders have the "right" to enter as many other nominated extra horses that they like to keep RA out and increase their chances.

Yes, your correct... but only if they have eligible horses, which it's doubtful the connections of MTB do...RA will get in because of her earnings, not be turned away because she wasnt nominated to the TC.

IMO the connections of MTB look like bad sports (and ill informed ones), they should have gotten their facts straight before calling anyone trying to recruit horses.

[Las Olas]

I love how they think that fillies shouldn't run against colts this early in their career supposedly because the filly might push herself too hard. But, then it's ok to run a maiden against graded stakes winners??? Huh?

Ok, so maybe the lesson here is that if you win the KD, the first thing you should do is hire a PR agent and develop a good edit button.