2004 Preakness

[FishFan]

Who do you like?

I think the presence of a couple of other speed horses and horses that just sit off the pace, like WATER CANNON and SIR SHACKLETON, could set this race up for someone like IMPERIALISM or BORREGO (I would say THE CLIFF'S EDGE, too, but his bruised feet bother me). BORREGO nearly caught SMARTY JONES in the Arkansas Derby and with an extra 1/2 furlong, he may have enough track to beat the favorite. I also like EDDINGTON and ROCK HARD TEN who were shut out of the Derby due to a lack of winnings.

A preliminary tri ticket could look something like this for me:

IMPERIALISM, BORREGO
SMARTY JONES, IMPERIALISM, BORREGO, EDDINGTON
SMARTY JONES, IMPERIALISM, BORREGO, EDDINGTON, ROCK HARD TEN

I think LION HEART will fade in this one and I don't see any of the 30-1/50-1 shots hitting the board against this field.

[Franklinnoble]

Smarty Jones, all the way.

He hasn't lost yet... I'm not betting against him now.

Detract from his Derby win all you want... all 18 horses had to run on the same shitty racetrack that day, and it's not like he sat up front the whole trip with no mud flying in his face.

[QuikSand]

I might land on ROCK HARD TEN, as I think the Preakness crowd will break with their recent tradition, and give the Derby winner lots of respect this time around. I liked RHT as a Derby sleeper... and might end up using him for the Preakness. I like BORREGO here also, as a value play - I think he has been flattered by Smarty's recent doings.

[The Afoci]

Did Tapit drop out or does no one have faith in him. I try to follow horse racing, but don't really understand too much.

[Franklinnoble]

Did Tapit drop out or does no one have faith in him. I try to follow horse racing, but don't really understand too much.
I believe he was injured.

[CleBrownsfan]

SMARTY JONES, ROCK HARD TEN, IMPERIALISM, EDDINGTON

[Honolulu Blue]

CYA Disclaimer: For entertainment purposes only.

The pace scenario should be much the same as the Kentucky Derby - LION HEART saying, "Catch me if you can!", and SMARTY JONES eventually doing just that. There may or may not be others who catch SJ in turn.

SMARTY JONES is a fair bet at 3-1 or better, which I don't expect to see. LION HEART and IMPERIALISM are each bettable at 10-1 or better, which is probably asking too much. BORREGO, EDDINGTON, and ROCK HARD TEN look good at 15-1 or better; we'll see.

An exacta covering the first three on top of the other five should cover things at a reasonable price. Reverse for half if you can spare the change. The tri should pay off nicely; a pretender like WATER CANNON can finish third in this field, so hitting the ALL button is recommended.

THE CLIFF'S EDGE isn't right; he'll either be scratched or finish out of the money.

P.S. I am irrationally excited about PAWYNE PRINCESS, who will be running in today's Black Eyed Susan. No, I don't think she's going to win, but she'll be fun to watch. She'll be leading most of the way.

[FishFan]

TAPIT is fine, he's just being pointed toward the Belmont.

I don't know what to think about SMARTY JONES yet. I think the Derby was gift-wrapped for him and he may or may not receive the same trip this time around. He's obviously a very good horse, but I'm not jumping on the bandwagon just yet. I think there are several quality 3yo that can beat him, including a handful that did not race in the Derby like ROCK HARD TEN and EDDINGTON. And you can say that everyone ran on the same slop on Derby day but it's no secret that horses handle the slop differently from one another. Some like it, some don't. I think we'll see a different race tomorrow.

[rkmsuf]

CYA Disclaimer: For entertainment purposes only.

The pace scenario should be much the same as the Kentucky Derby - LION HEART saying, "Catch me if you can!", and SMARTY JONES eventually doing just that. There may or may not be others who catch SJ in turn.

SMARTY JONES is a fair bet at 3-1 or better, which I don't expect to see. LION HEART and IMPERIALISM are each bettable at 10-1 or better, which is probably asking too much. BORREGO, EDDINGTON, and ROCK HARD TEN look good at 15-1 or better; we'll see.

An exacta covering the first three on top of the other five should cover things at a reasonable price. Reverse for half if you can spare the change. The tri should pay off nicely; a pretender like WATER CANNON can finish third in this field, so hitting the ALL button is recommended.

THE CLIFF'S EDGE isn't right; he'll either be scratched or finish out of the money.

P.S. I am irrationally excited about PAWYNE PRINCESS, who will be running in today's Black Eyed Susan. No, I don't think she's going to win, but she'll be fun to watch. She'll be leading most of the way.


Yearly Report looks much the best in the Black Eyed Susan but the exacta with the two favorites is likely.

I wouldn't be surprised if Lion Heart turned the tables tomorrow.

[GoldenEagle]

I am going with Lion Heart.

[sooner333]

I'll be up at Arlington Park on Saturday, so I'll be able to bet on the Preakness, I haven't made up my mind just yet though.

[QuikSand]

Yearly Report looks much the best in the Black Eyed Susan but the exacta with the two favorites is likely.

I'll give SONG TRACK a real shot, and will be using her in some BES/Preakness double betting, a local favorite. It's always great to march around the infield at the Preakness with a live ticket from the winner the day before. And the Susan has been a doozy for some favotires in the past -- we had a monster show pool bridge jumper get cleaned out a few years ago - made for some monster show payouts, in the triple digits as I recall.

[rkmsuf]

I'll give SONG TRACK a real shot, and will be using her in some BES/Preakness double betting, a local favorite. It's always great to march around the infield at the Preakness with a live ticket from the winner the day before. And the Susan has been a doozy for some favotires in the past -- we had a monster show pool bridge jumper get cleaned out a few years ago - made for some monster show payouts, in the triple digits as I recall.

Song Track is in the mix as well but I'm guessing the pace will be too soft for her. Will get goods odds though for a competitive figure and is the likely winner if there is good action up front.