The post positions for the 2011 Kentucky Derby will be announced around 5:00pm ET today. To be considered for a spot in the race you had to put your name in the entry box earlier this morning.
The Kentucky Derby runs a maximum of 20 horses, but today 22 horses entered their names. Louisville, we have problem.
Positions in the race are awarded based on earnings in graded stakes races. There are two likely horses that won't make the cut. Their only hope is if a other horses are withdrawn before the race, which nobody wants to see that happen because it likely means an injury.
Uncle Mo, Dialed In, Archarcharch, Comma to the Top, and Midnight Interlude are the top five horses in the race. Dialed In has become the favorite since the news of Uncle being treated for a gastrointestinal infection. He won't ride in the Derby if he hasn't fully recovered.
Other entries for the 137th Derby are Pants on Fire, Soldat, Brilliant Speed, Irish import Master of Hounds, Twice the Appeal, Nehro and Mucho Macho Man.
The rest of the entries are Decisive Moment, Animal Kingdom, Stay Thirsty, Santiva, Watch Me Go, Shackleford, Twinspired, Derby Kitten, Sway Away and Ruler On Ice.
Sway Away and Ruler on Ice are the two horses that are the least likely to make the field. It's possible Uncle Mo may not race which would open up a spot for one of them.
Are you going, Duchess, or watching from your club?
What's the house bourbon at Churchill Downs?
(05-04-2011, 05:57 PM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]
No, I'm not going, I'll be watching from home.
Are you entertaining any horsey folks?
(You know I'm really asking if you are cooking. haha)
Uncle Mo has been scratched from today's race. No surprise there.
My personal fav is Dialed In but I can find something to like about all of them.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Animal Kingdom sped past the leaders in the turn at Churchill Downs on Saturday and roared down the middle of the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby.
Jockey John Velazquez guided the 3-year-old colt, who finished ahead of Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. Favorite Dialed In was never a factor.
The horse I picked finished eighth. Bwahahaha!
Today is The Preakness 2011 right here on the East Coast. :B
The purse for this race is one million big ones. YeeHaw! The winning horse will claim 600,000 of that.
The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the ‘Triple Crown’ and is held every year on the third Saturday in May at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade 1 stakes race for three year olds contested over a dirt track 1 3⁄16 in length. Much in the same way that the Kentucky Derby is known as ‘The Run for the Roses’, the Preakness is often called “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” due to the garland of flowers awarded to the victorious horse. The Preakness is usually the second most attended horse race in North America, behind only the Kentucky Derby.
Animal Kingdom – The Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, had never run on dirt before the run for the roses on May 7th. Now he puts his perfect dirt record on the line in his quest to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner in over three decades. Animal Kingdom was the first horse in over ninety years to win with only four previous races and the first in over fifty years to win coming off of a six week layoff. Trained by Graham Motion, owned by Team Valor International, and jockey John Velazquez is expected to be back aboard in his quest to make it two in a row.
Dialed In – Dialed In had a disappointing eighth place finish in the Derby for owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito, but he looks to turn it around in the Preakness Stakes. Dialed In was the winner of both the Holy Bull and Florida Derby, and he stands to earn a massive $5.5 million bonus for sweeping both of those races plus the Preakness, should he emerge victorious. Starting at the back of the pack and finishing in eighth place, the Kentucky Derby was Dialed In’s only finish worse than second during his brief career. Dialed In will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.
Nehro – After breaking his maiden less than three months before the Kentucky Derby, Nehro went on to finish second in three consecutive graded stakes races: the Louisiana Derby (G2), the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Kentucky Derby (G1.) Nehro took a short lead at he top of the stretch, but he was unable to keep up with Animal Kingdom’s late run. Nehro is owned by Zayat Stables, trained by Steve Asmussen, and will be ridden by jockey Corey Nakatani.
Midnight Interlude – The Santa Anita Derby winner, Midnight Interlude, got off to a good start in the Kentucky Derby, only to fade and finish in 16th place. His 8+ length Santa Anita Derby win came over a wet-fast track, something to keep in mind if dark clouds loom on Preakness day. Trained by four-time Preakness winner Bob Baffert with Victor Espinoza as the likely jockey.
Mucho Macho Man – One of the more “heart”warming stories of Kentucky Derby day, Mucho Macho Man ran a hell of a race to capture third and was beaten only a neck for place by Derby runner-up Nehro. A consistent horse, Mucho Macho Man has never finished worse than fourth in any of his nine career starts. Trained by Kathy Ritvo and ridden by jockey Rajiv Maragh.
Shackleford – The runner up in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Shackleford followed up his performance at Gulfstream with a fourth place finish in the Kentucky Derby, giving way late in the race to Animal Kingdom, Nehro, and Mucho Macho Man. Leading from the first strides, Shackleford may be well suited to the slight cutback in distance in the Preakness. Trained by Dale Romans with jockey Jesus Castanon aboard.
Astrology – One of the new shooters for the Preakness is Astrology, another horse trained by Steve Asmussen with jockey Mike Smith expected in the irons. The Preakness will be Astrology’s first attempt in Grade 1 company, having previously finished 2nd in three consecutive Grade 2 & 3 stakes races.
Santiva – After hitting the board in his first five starts, Grade 1 company has been hard on Santiva, as the colt finished 9th in the Blue Grass Stakes and 6th in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Eddie Kenneally and Shaun Bridgmohan is expected to be in the irons.
King Congie – Excluded from the Kentucky Derby for insufficient earnings, both King Congie and his likely jockey, Robby Albarado, who was bounced from eventual Derby winner Animal Kingdom, have scores to settle. King Congie finished third in the Blue Grass stakes and would already have a pair of ungraded stakes wins, except he was disqualified and placed third in the Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Tom Albertrani.
Flashpoint – Flashpoint will be making only his fourth career start in the Preakness Stakes, following a maiden win and a win in the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park, prior to finishing fourth in the Florida Derby. Owned by Peachtree Stable, Flashpoint is trained by Wesley Ward and will be ridden by Cornelio Velasquez.
Mr. Commons – To date, Mr. Commons has not raced outside of California, but that will change when the colt leaves the starting gate in the Preakness Stakes. Mr. Commons has only one attempt in stakes company, a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby back in early April. Trained by John Shirreffs with no jockey yet named to ride.
Norman Asbjornson – How often does a horse that finishes ninth in a maiden race at Penn National finish second in a graded stakes less than four months later. This horse has done that. He then went on to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial a month later. Now, with a month and a half off, Norman Asbjornson is stepping up again, this time in the Preakness at Pimlico. Trained by Christopher Grove with no jockey listed at this time.
Ruler On Ice – Ruler On Ice has raced six times on six different tracks, but that will change when he makes his second career start at Pimlico in the Preakness. The son of Roman Ruler, this gelding unleashed a nice run to capture third in the Sunland Derby, a Grade 3 race, but the Preakness will be a tall order. Trained by Kelly Breen and likely to be ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr.
Dance City – The third place finisher in the Arkansas Derby, Dance City is the horse that trainer Todd Pletcher has chosen to enter into the Preakness. Prior to the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, Dance City had won two races in a row, including an allowance race. Likely to be ridden by jockey Ramon Dominguez.
Other possible entrants in the Preakness Stakes: Stay Away, Concealed Identity, Isn’t He Perfect and Saratoga Red.
I'm sticking with Dialed In for today's race. If he wins, he'll claim another 5.5 million as a bonus. Horses aren't motivated by money though.
If Dialed In wins today he will have the biggest payday in North American horseracing history! As I said, his bonus is 5.5 million & his trainer gets 500,000 of that. Yowza!
Shackleford wins it... he was so hot going into the gate, i knew he'd win! it took 6 people to get him in. hahahaha
BALTIMORE -- Shackleford was sweating profusely, bucking and kicking until six crewmen finally shoved him into the No. 5 gate at the Preakness.
One ton of horseflesh all but screamed, "Get me out of here."
Less than two minutes after the gate sprang open, the nervous colt was a cool classic winner.
They must have been so frightened.
It really hurts me to think of animals in distress...screw the people.
i like this so far: Master of Hounds.
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