American Pharaoh takes the 2015 Kentucky Derby
And the Preakness!
http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/BelmontStakes15.pdf
And the Preakness!
Comments from the official Preakness chart:
“AMERICAN PHAROAH was shoved to the lead soon after the break, set the pace removed from the rail, turned back challengers entering the far turn, responded when asked for run in upper stretch, drifted out slightly leaving the eighth pole and eagerly increased his advantage while hand ridden and shown the whip. TALE OF VERVE, well back for the opening five furlongs, had a mild advance along the rail on the far turn, eased out entering the stretch, drifted to the four path under left hand whipping in upper stretch, altered to the inside of DIVINING ROD near the sixteenth pole and rallied. DIVINING ROD, close up three wide the first turn, angled in approaching the five eighths pole, advanced along the rail mid way on the far turn, eased out to the three path turning for home, chased the winner, weakened and drifted out near the sixteenth pole.
DORTMUND rated back soon after the break, angled out to the three path approaching the wire the first time, moved to the inner rail entering the first turn, eased out entering the backstretch, advanced four deep entering the far turn to reach a striking position, came under a ride soon after, remained a presence to upper stretch then faltered.
MR.Z pressed outside the winner the opening quarter mile, allowed that one to open up entering the backstretch, advanced to reach contention three wide between horses entering the far turn, failed to keep pace past the five sixteenths pole, shifted to the inner rail entering the stretch and tired in upper stretch. DANZIG MOON steadied in close quarters along the rail entering the first turn, saved ground around the first turn, failed to be a factor and was three wide turning for home.
FIRING LINE stumbled and splayed his front legs leaving the starting gate, was four deep the first turn, circled the far turn three wide and was eased through the stretch. BODHISATTVA showed some speed, was two wide the first turn, asked for his run entering the backstretch, gave way on the far turn and was eased through the stretch.”
Click “May 16” on the calendar to find the rest of the chart:
http://www.pimlico.com/race-info/charts
FIRING LINE prompted the pace three wide under rating, came under a ride and engaged DORTMUND three furlongs out, gained a brief lead while between rivals departing the five sixteenths, relinquished command to the determined DORTMUND entering the lane, dug in between rivals dueling to mid stretch, drifted out late under left handed rousing brushing the winner and gave way grudgingly.
DORTMUND established command in the opening sixteenth, set the pace towards the inside, felt initial pressure from FIRING LINE leaving the five eighths pole, got caught up in a spirited duel with that one three furlongs fromhome, remained a solid presence to the final furlong, kept on willingly and doggedly held the show.
FROSTED, a bit rank when rated back leaving the gate, dropped well off the early pace while removed from the inside, angled further out into the track past the three quarter pole, commenced a sweeping five widemove departing the far turn, sustained nicely past the eighth pole and churned on from there.
DANZIG MOON steadied while exchanging bumps with BOLO when in tight between rivals heading towards the first turn, recovered to take closer order two wide, moved out a path and gained under a ride mid way on the finalturn, continued willing pursuit to mid stretch then wilted.
MATERIALITY hesitated at the break to be away last, dropped well off the early pace, lost ground four wide down the backstretch, remained four wide to the head of the lane, angled to the inside of a tiring MR. Z in upper stretch, flashed some interest gaining to mid stretch but failed to seriously sustain.
KEEN ICE dove to the rail in the initial sixteenth and settled far back, moved off the inside down the backstretch, progressed between runners leaving the three eighths pole,was stalled awaiting room from the head of the lane to almost mid stretch, altered out late bumping FRAMMENTO and improved his position with a willing finish.
MUBTAAHIJ (IRE) was rated back from between rivals passing the wire the first time, angled in soon after, hugged the rail pursuing the leaders down the backstretch, was put to strong pressure past the five sixteenths and failed tomake an impact.
ITSAKNOCKOUT was steadied in the jam up under the wire the firsttime, angled out and raced three wide between foes to the half mile marker,shifted out wider for the drive but lacked a rally.
CARPE DIEM raced under a firm hold along rail tracking rivals into the first turn, moved out a path and chased down the backstretch, edged up slightly near the half mile pole, remained in range under a ride into the lane then faded.
FRAMMENTO lagged well off the early pace, made a bit of headway seven wide into the stretch, was bumped byKEEN ICE in deep stretch and failed to threaten.
BOLO was jostled around racing between horses to the first turn, recovered to chase off the inside, remained in range to upper stretch, faded and steadied when in tight late.
MR. Z checked repeatedly off rivals' heels passing the wire the first time, leveled into stride past the seven eighths, was caught four to five wide pursuing the pace,failed to go on leaving the far turn and dropped back.
OCHO OCHO OCHO was taken firmly in hand to rate off the heels of CARPE DIEM heading towards the firstturn, continued towards the inside making a mild run to the three eighths, came out a bit in the drive and gave way through the final three sixteenths.
FAR RIGHT, unhurried early while off the inside, moved out to be very wide for the drive and had little to offer.
WAR STORY steadied when caught in close early on, dropped to the rail and failed to make an impact.
TENCENDUR saved ground chasing the pace and began a retreat after seven furlongs.
UPSTART was four wide around the first turn, stopped after a mile, was eased through the lane and walked off.
The inside gate was left open.
Owners-
1, Zayat Stables LLC; 2, Arnold Zetcher LLC;3, Kaleem Shah Inc;4, Godolphin Racing LLC;5, Oxley John C;6, Alto Racing LLC;7, Donegal Racing;8, Essafinaat Limited;9, Starlight Racing;10, WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC;11, Mossarosa;12, Golden Pegasus Racing Inc and Mack Earle I;13, Zayat Stables LLC;14, DP Racing LLC;15, LaPenta Robert V and Rosenblum Harry T;16, Loooch Racing Stables Inc Ellis Glenn K and Dunn Christopher T;17, Birsh Philip S;18, Evans Ralph M and WinStar Farm LLC Lessee Trainers- 1, Baffert Bob;2, Callaghan Simon;3, Baffert Bob;4, McLaughlin Kiaran P;5, Casse Mark;6, Pletcher Todd A;7, Romans Dale;8, de Kock Michael F;9, Pletcher Todd A;10, Pletcher Todd A;11, Zito Nicholas P;12, Gaines Carla;13, Lukas D Wayne;14, Cassidy James;15, Moquett Ronald E;16, Amoss Thomas;17, Weaver George;18, Violette Richard A Jr Scratched - El Kabeir, Stanford, International Star, Tale of Verve.
When I first read it I thought someone was calling 0bama a horse ... yes and I thought that as well.
Having watched all of the races since Canonero II, I observed the following. For the 1.5 mile race the jockey/owner/trainer thought that the horse was invulnerable and pushed the horse too hard for a mile-and-a-half stretch. This jockey should probably hold the horse back until the last quarter-mile or so. All of the horses who had a chance at a Triple Crown faded toward the end of the race.
Conquest Curlinate is another horse that will be in the Belmont. War story is out. Dallas Stewart is high on tale of verve ...I watched a post Preakness interview he did and he likes that horse a lot ...said the Preakness was just a prep for the Belmont.
AP is training hard it would appear. They had him out in the rain yesterday and then again today.
1932 Burgoo King - Did not start (unknown reason)
1936 Bold Venture - Did not start (injury)
1944 Pensive - 2nd to Bounding Home
1958 Tim Tam - 2nd to Cavan
1961 Carry Back - 7th to Sherluck
1964 Northern Dancer - 3rd to Quadrangle
1966 Kauai King - 4th to Amberoid
1968 Forward Pass - 2nd to Stage Door Johnny
1969 Majestic Prince - 2nd to Arts and Letters
1971 Canonero II - 4th to Pass Catcher
1979 Spectacular Bid - 3rd to Coastal
1981 Pleasant Colony - 3rd to Summing
1987 Alysheba - 4th to Bet Twice
1989 Sunday Silence - 2nd to Easy Goer
1997 Silver Charm - 2nd to Touch Gold
1998 Real Quiet - 2nd to Victory Gallop
1999 Charismatic - 3rd to Lemon Drop Kid
2002 War Emblem - 8th to Sarava
2003 Funny Cide - 3rd to Empire Maker
2004 Smarty Jones - 2nd to Birdstone
2008 Big Brown - DNF to Da’ Tara
2012 I’ll Have Another - Did not start (injury)
2014 California Chrome - 4th to Tonalist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Thoroughbred_Racing#Near_Misses
Carpe Diem is not running the Belmont on Saturday. AP looked good this morning and yesterday in his final workouts.
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Source: Daily Racing Form
(note: it should be clearer on your own download of the pdf. I simply took screen shots of it --ETL):
http://www1.drf.com/formulator-web/FreeRace.do?trackId=BEL&country=USA&raceDate=20150606&dayEvening=D&raceNumber=11#past-performance-race/11
Big day today!!!
I went with Frosted and Mubtaahij ...same horses I had in the Kentucky Derby. I was initially just going to go with Frosted but after reading a few “expert” opinions favorable to mubtaahij, I decided to give him another shot. I hope he doesn’t disappoint.
I did 4 superfectas with different combos of frosted, AP, materiality and mubtaahij ...none have AP winning. I wish him the best of luck but there is of course no value in betting him and maybe I’ve been conditioned to think this but I don’t think he will win.
Spoilers could be anyone really but ToV & madefromlucky are my two biggest question marks.
BTTT