The Preakness Stakes ended up being a race for the ages. Rachel Alexandra is as fleet as she is beautiful, and despite breaking from post position 13, she was able to control the pace until she was ready to take command to the finish. The gritty little Mine That Bird was heroic in defeat, and the race leaves us thinking many things.
I often write about the multitudes of ways there are to become a fan of
racing and of certain horses. Many of you will remember my accolades to
Steve Asmussen and how much I appreciated Jess Jackson's recognition of
the things that horsemen need to consider in order to keep people
invested in our sport. The development of Curlin into a two-time Horse
of the Year was a great ride for all of us. However, on Saturday, I was
rooting for Mine That Bird. I have not jumped ship from the
forementioned connections, but I felt that the best cure for the blues
presently facing racing was for the long-shot Derby winner to head to
Belmont with a shot at the Triple Crown.
Too, it's a special treat that I have a long affiliation with the breeders of MTB. It would have been great to be spending these three weeks leading up to the Belmont making more and more people aware that you do not have to be born a 'Rockefeller' to participate on racing's biggest days. I loved it that Mine That Bird brought due credence to his Canadian accomplishment (he was the 2008 Sovereign Award 2-year-old colt/ gelding). I loved it even more that he forced many racing elitists to look beyond the obvious when handicapping or giving kudos in the press.
An unheralded son of Birdstone presented one of racing's heroines due rewards for her perseverance in the stewardship of racing. Dear Birdie, the dam of Birdstone was foaled from Hush Dear, one of the mares Marylou Whitney tracked down to buy after her former husband 'Jock' Whitney had sold the breeding stock. He did not think running of a racing/breeding operation was a proper business for a lady. Thankfully, the Lady from "Cady Hill" thought otherwise.
Marylou and her present husband/racing manager, John Hendrickson, retained the ownership of Birdstone when he was retired to stud. The little horse that denied Smarty Jones a Triple Crown and later won the Travers was not a hotly-sought-after investment by the stallion syndicates. John and Marylou believed in the horse and sent him to the prestigious Gainesway Farm to stand. They also set his stud fee at a reasonable level ($10,000). The rest is history.
Sunland Park has finally earned respect. Advice finished 5th in the Sunland Derby and went on to win the Bluegrass Stakes. Then Mine That Bird vaulted from his 4th place finish to the winner's circle in front of the Twin Spires. On May 9, Mythical Power, who was 2nd in
the New Mexico Classic, further issued credence to the small oval outside of El Paso, TX. The Bob Baffert-trainee cruised home 7 1/2 lengths ahead in the Lone Star Derby.
It pleases me greatly to finally see some of the other stops I've made on my magical journey receive hard-earned credits in the annals of racing. It lends hope to know that an inexpensive yearling purchase could fulfill so many dreams. Thank-you Marylou and John for having the prescience to do what you did with Birdstone, and hats off to the horsemen of New Mexico who had the guts to enter in the Run for the Roses. And to the folks at Sunland Park-my vote is for your near-million dollar Derby to receive well-earned graded status.
Too, it's a special treat that I have a long affiliation with the breeders of MTB. It would have been great to be spending these three weeks leading up to the Belmont making more and more people aware that you do not have to be born a 'Rockefeller' to participate on racing's biggest days. I loved it that Mine That Bird brought due credence to his Canadian accomplishment (he was the 2008 Sovereign Award 2-year-old colt/ gelding). I loved it even more that he forced many racing elitists to look beyond the obvious when handicapping or giving kudos in the press.
An unheralded son of Birdstone presented one of racing's heroines due rewards for her perseverance in the stewardship of racing. Dear Birdie, the dam of Birdstone was foaled from Hush Dear, one of the mares Marylou Whitney tracked down to buy after her former husband 'Jock' Whitney had sold the breeding stock. He did not think running of a racing/breeding operation was a proper business for a lady. Thankfully, the Lady from "Cady Hill" thought otherwise.
Marylou and her present husband/racing manager, John Hendrickson, retained the ownership of Birdstone when he was retired to stud. The little horse that denied Smarty Jones a Triple Crown and later won the Travers was not a hotly-sought-after investment by the stallion syndicates. John and Marylou believed in the horse and sent him to the prestigious Gainesway Farm to stand. They also set his stud fee at a reasonable level ($10,000). The rest is history.
Sunland Park has finally earned respect. Advice finished 5th in the Sunland Derby and went on to win the Bluegrass Stakes. Then Mine That Bird vaulted from his 4th place finish to the winner's circle in front of the Twin Spires. On May 9, Mythical Power, who was 2nd in
the New Mexico Classic, further issued credence to the small oval outside of El Paso, TX. The Bob Baffert-trainee cruised home 7 1/2 lengths ahead in the Lone Star Derby.
It pleases me greatly to finally see some of the other stops I've made on my magical journey receive hard-earned credits in the annals of racing. It lends hope to know that an inexpensive yearling purchase could fulfill so many dreams. Thank-you Marylou and John for having the prescience to do what you did with Birdstone, and hats off to the horsemen of New Mexico who had the guts to enter in the Run for the Roses. And to the folks at Sunland Park-my vote is for your near-million dollar Derby to receive well-earned graded status.
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