Horse Racing

Perfect Shower, a 46-1 longshot, captured a stunning win in the 119th running of the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes on Sunday, giving trainer Attfield a record-setting eighth victory in the third and final jewel of Canadian thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.

"No, I don't bet," a beaming Attfield said with a chuckle when asked if he had put any money down on his horse.

That's unfortunate because Perfect Shower became the longest-priced winner in Breeders' Stakes history, easily surpassing Social Wizard, which won in 1981 as a 20-1 longshot and paid $43.70.

Perfect Shower paid a whopping $95.30, $34.80 and $13.60 in winning the 1 1/2-mile event in 2:29.39 on a firm turf. Second-place finisher Guipago, a 29-1 longshot who was 1 3/4 lengths behind, returned $23 and $11.90. Reservoir took third in the 13-horse betting field, paying $5.90.

"Roger told me this morning he can't lose," Jones said, tongue firmly in cheek. "I saved him until the end.

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Horse Racing Picks and Odds June 28th 2009: Churchill Downs free play for Sunday: 6th Horse racing Plays- #6 Yikes- Won here last out for her third win over this track and was coming off a 4 month layoff. She always brings her best and is hard to beat at this level. Horse racing picks and Odds 6-3-4.

Arlington Park Race 9: #2 Officer Frank- Came in from SA to run back with ILL bred runners. He won his career debut here by 9 in hand before trying tougher on the west coast. He will make an easy lead and should coast in coming off a good stake effort. Horse racing Picks and Odds 2-5-3.


Hollywood Park free play Race 3: #4 Souvenir Slew- Won his first start of the year for 16k beating today's favorite #3. He then moved up to allowance company and after breaking slow finished a good second. He drops 10lbs with the good apprentice rider and the weight will make the difference. Horse racing Odds and Picks 4-3-1

Belmont Park Race 5: #4 Barbie Girl looks to be a player in this turf dash on the stretchout, first race off the claim, and first trip on the grass. She should be a player even if this event is moved to the main track. She has been heavily bet in her first two career tries. Horse racing Picks and Odds 4-7-10-3.

As we close the book on another scintillating Triple Crown season, let’s take our hats off one more time to the courageous little gelding Mine That Bird. He made fools of all who so easily dismissed his Kentucky Derby chances, and on that day and over the next five weeks he demonstrated what guts and determination really are. He gave us an overpowering reminder that nothing is guaranteed in racing, even with horses that (seemingly) can’t possibly win. Those of us who gave him absolutely no shot the second day in May were seriously humbled. The few who did have faith in Mine That Bird at the KentuckyDerby looked like geniuses that day, and should be commended.

The time span in which this horse was transformed in people’s minds from one that had no business running in the Derby, to the solid favorite for the Belmont Stakes Betting just five weeks later, has been astounding.

And as Mine That Bird lagged some thirty lengths behind the leader early in the Derby, not many could have been surprised. But suddenly, into the far turn, a dirt-spattered little horse was scurrying up the rail and inhaling runners so fast that they didn’t seem to even be on the same track with him. The enigma seemed to scoff at a hole barely the width of himself between the rail and another horse, and plowed through without hesitation to culminate his assault on the leaders. “Who is that?” everyone seemed to shout at once. As the pint-sized Pegasus continued skipping over the track, struck the front, and broke the hearts of horses battling on so bravely in his mighty wake, television viewers received no help. It seemed he traveled so quickly that NBC announcer Tom Durkin didn’t even catch the move, and when he did the great commentator scrambled and fumbled to discern who it was himself. When he finally did utter Mine That Bird’s name, some thought he must be mistaken. But as the bold number eight became visible on the winner’s saddlecloth, fans looked down at their programs and discovered to their shock that the name had not been miscalled. By some mischievous whim of the racing gods, the 50-1 throwout had not only won the Derby, but had demolished the field.



By the time the Belmont rolled around five weeks after the gelding made his presence known to the world, he was doing so well that Calvin Borel guaranteed a victory. And many people believed he was justified. But, win or lose, Mine That Bird had produced the most dramatic rise from perceived goat to highly respected racehorse in memory. Things didn’t quite work out at Belmont, but he put in another fantastic effort, and cemented his newfound reputation of outstanding competitor.

Mine That Bird and his team have been far and away the greatest story and characters of the 2009 Triple Crown season.

Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Preakness betting Stakes, remained in first-place as the votes were tabulated for the final NTRA three-year-old poll of 2009.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird finished second with Belmont Stakes champ Summer Bird in third.

Undefeated in five starts this year, Rachel Alexandra received 18 of 19 first- place votes for a total of 189 points.

The filly had been a unanimous selection since her victory in the Preakness.

Mine That Bird garnered one first-place vote in the final poll with 171 points following his third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes Betting to Summer Bird.

With his victory in the Belmont Stakes, Summer Bird entered the poll in third- place with 140 points.

Rounding out the final three-year-old poll are Musket Man, Dunkirk, Quality Road, Pioneerof the Nile, I Want Revenge, Charitable Man and Papa Clem.

Santa Anita Handicap winner Einstein edged Rachel Alexandra in the ongoing general poll of thoroughbreds. Einstein received four first-place votes for 161 points, five points more than the filly, who got five first-place votes.

Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed is third with three first-place votes and 156 points. Reigning female champion Zenyatta received 154 points for the fourth spot while topping all with seven first-place votes.

Mine That Bird remained in fifth-place with 95 points.

Completing the top ten are Bribon, Gio Ponti, Fabulous Strike, Forever Together and Summer Bird.

Two days before the running of the 141st Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, jockey Calvin Borel was given the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Borel, along with Kentucky Derby winning trainer Chip Woolley, was at the NYSE Thursday morning in honor of Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes. Also in attendance were Mark Allen and Dr.

Leonard Blach owners of Kentucky Derby champ and Belmont hopeful Mine That Bird, three-time leading New York trainer Gary Contessa and representatives of the New York Racing Association.

While this will be the first Belmont Stakes that Borel will compete in, he is quite familiar with the 1 1/2 mile oval.

Never in the history of horse racing has a jockey won the Triple Crown on two different horses. Calvin Borel could claim that distinction if Mine That Bird wins the Belmont Stakes.

Borel piloted the 50-1 longshot to victory in the Kentucky Derby, but chose to ride the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Some folks thought it was an odd choice since it's extremely rare for a jockey to get off the Derby winner in racing's second leg of the Triple Crown. However, it should be pointed out that Borel was not Mine That Bird's regular rider.

When Jess Jackson purchased Rachel Alexandra and entered the filly in the Preakness, it was almost a forgone conclusion that the two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey would stay with her. After all, he had ridden Rachel Alexandra in her previous five efforts going all the way back to November of 2008.

Rachel proceeded to win the Preakness by a diminishing length, with Mine That Bird (with Mike Smith aboard) rallying for second. The public clamored for the rematch in the Belmont Stakes.

Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra will not run in the Belmont Stakes on June 6, co-owner Jess Jackson said Friday in a statement.

Jackson said in the statement that the three-year-old filly deserved a rest, havingwon fiveraces -- the Preakness, the Kentucky Oaks, Fantasy Stakes, Fair Grounds Oaks and Martha Washington Stakes -- this year.

"We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes -- we feel the same. But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her," Jackson said in the statement, issued on behalf of the horse's co-owners, Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick. "While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation." As a result, jockey Calvin Borel, who rode Rachel Alexandra to the win at the May 16 Preakness, is free to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes.

Borel guided Mine That Bird, which had 50-1 odds, to an upset victory at the May 2 Derby before riding Rachel Alexandra. Mike Smith rode Mine That Bird to a second-place finish at the Preakness, but is committed to ride elsewhere on the day of the Belmont.

Lexington, KY - Until only recently, Keeneland has held the issue of expanded gaming at arm's length, its officials readily expressing concern about the increasingly perilous state of the horse racing industry, but refraining to take a public position in favor of gaming as one solution.

Then came the recession and with it, a tipping point. In an interview with Tom Martin, Keeneland president Nick Nicholson cited a litany of threats to the industry, ranging from the bankruptcy of key tracks and declining trends in attendance to a shortage of Thoroughbreds. But none, he said, compare with the peril posed by increasingly aggressive competition from states enhancing racetrack purses with revenues generated by expanded gaming.

Bennie chip woolley took the long road to success in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.

Despite a broken leg sustained in a motorcycle accident, Woolley loaded up his Ford pickup truck and Turnbow trailer and drove cross-country with a little gelding named Mine That Bird to contest the Run For the Roses. Overlooked by the media during Derby week, Mine That Bird paired with Churchill Downs-based jockey Calvin Borel to post one of the most stunning upset victories in Derby history, winning by 6 ¾ lengths. The payoff of $103.20 was the second-highest in the 135 runnings of the classic.

The win, and especially the brilliant ride by Borel, generated a whirlwind of publicity for Woolley, who was a rodeo rider before migrating into training Quarter Horses in New Mexico. He has recently been transitioning into training Thoroughbreds, although there are still some Quarter Horses among his stable that totals about 25 horses.

For more details check out Horse racing picks.

He won the 2009 Kentucky Derby with Mine That Bird, then the 2009 Preakness Stakes atop Rachel Alexandra. A win at the Belmont Stakes will make jockey Calvin Borel the first jockey to win the Triple Crown since Steve Cauthen in 1978.

As of Monday, jockey Calvin Borel has yet to decide on whether he will ride Mine That Bird or Rachel Alexandra at the 2009 Belmont Stakes on June 6th at Belmont Park. Borel's indecision comes as little surprise as it has not yet been determined if the Preakness Stakes winner will be running in the Belmont.

Mine That Bird's co-owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach are being patient with Borel and are holding off on their decision as to who will ride the Derby winner at the Belmont.

"We will hold off on naming a rider out of respect for Calvin," said trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. “He won the Derby for us. He deserves the time it takes to make the right decision."

Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird hardly had flashed under the wire in their stirring Preakness showdown, before Birdie's trainer Chip Woolley announced he was heading straight for the Belmont.



All the evidence indicates a horse needs a strong foundation of racing, preferably across two seasons, to withstand the hard demands of the Triple Crown chase. In that regard, no horses came to the Preakness as well equipped as Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra.

But at the Pimlico barns last week, D. Wayne Lukas, the legendary trainer, promoted again his long-held opinion that the distances and timing of the Triple Crown races need to be changed.

Rachel Alexandra became the first filly since 1924 to win the second jewel in US horse racing'

Triple Crown holding off a charge by Kentucky Derby-winner Mine That Bird.

Calvin Borel had piloted +5000 favored Mine That Bird to the Kentucky Derby triumph, but elected to switch to Rachel Alexandra for the one million dollarPreakness when new owner Jess Jackson decided to test her against colts.

This time Mine That Bird's charge fell short by one length.

Rachel Alexandra went off as the +180 favorite in the 13-horse field, and became the first horse to win the Preakness from the number 13 post.

She paid $5.60, $4.60, and $3.60. Mine That Bird returned $6.60 and $4.80, while Musket Man paid $5 to show.

The winner earned US$660,000 from the purse of $1.1 million.

Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird both hit the track at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning. The three-year-olds galloped at the historicracetrack.

Rachel Alexandra galloped for a mile in her initial work since becoming the first filly in 85 years to capture the Preakness Stakes. Scott Blasi, chief assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said Rachel Alexandra would stand in the starting gate before she gallops on Thursday. She will go to the track around 7:15 A.M. (et). The filly is scheduled to work on Monday, May 25.

Mine That Bird was playful during his Tuesday trip to the track.

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Rachel Alexandra Basking In Glory Of Win

BALTIMORE - Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird, the first two finishers in a thrilling, historic Preakness Stakes on Saturday here at Pimlico, are headed back to Churchill Downs in the same order, but the order of their next starts may be reversed.

Rachel Alexandra, who added the Preakness to her Kentucky Oaks win 15 days earlier, left Pimlico early Sunday morning for a flight to Kentucky. After seeing her off from the stakes barn, her trainer, Steve Asmussen, said he would consult with majority owner Jess Jackson before deciding where to run the filly next.

Asmussen said no decision had been made on whether to run Rachel Alexandra on June 6 in the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown. But Asmussen did allow on Sunday morning that he didn't "feel the urgency" to run her in the Belmont like he did the Preakness.

"That thought crosses my mind," Asmussen said. "I like the sound of 'front-runner for Horse of the Year.' "

Asmussen said Rachel Alexandra had come out of the Preakness well. He expected her to return to the track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, and have her next workout on May 25.

"I'm very pleased with her," Asmussen said. "She's very special."

By contrast, Mine That Bird is a definite for the Belmont. After winning the Kentucky Derby, Mine That Bird turned in another strong effort in the Preakness. He was scheduled to travel by van with his trainer, Chip Woolley, back to Churchill Downs on Monday. Woolley said he was eager to run in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

"I don't know if it's as much the distance as it is the track," Woolley said. "It has wider, sweeping turns. This track, with his running style, it doesn't set up as well for him. Once he got into the stretch and got clear he came running. But on the turn, horses stack up."

Woolley said Mine That Bird's legs were "clean as a whistle" despite him having to check sharply to avoid traffic at the quarter pole.

"If he'd have had a little cleaner run, he might have had a chance of beating her," Woolley said. "But with a horse who comes from last, there's always a concern you're going to hit traffic. And we can't change his running style, because then he won't finish. He didn't get the trip. My horse ran a great race. He just got beat."

Woolley said he likely would leave Churchill Downs for Belmont Park the Monday or Tuesday of Belmont week. He said he was leaning toward vanning to New York, but said there was a chance he could fly "because it's a little longer trip."

Of the remaining Preakness runners, only fourth-place finisher Flying Private is certain to come back in the Belmont.

Big Drama, who was fifth, is going to Monmouth Park, where his main summer goal will be the Haskell Invitational, trainer David Fawkes said.

The Haskell also has been the next major objective stated by trainer Derek Ryan for Musket Man, who finished third in the Preakness. Ryan said after the Derby that Musket Man would run in the Preakness or the Belmont, but not both.

Papa Clem, who was sixth, is heading back to California and will be freshened until the summer, trainer Gary Stute said.

General Quarters, who was ninth, will return to Churchill Downs and not contest the Belmont, Tom McCarthy, his owner and trainer, said Sunday morning.

Friesan Fire, who finished 10th, also will get a brief vacation.

"We're not pushing Belmont way," trainer Larry Jones said Sunday.

The Belmont field is expected to include Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Mr. Hot Stuff, and Summer Bird - all of whom ran in the Derby and skipped the Preakness - as well as Triple Crown newcomers Charitable Man, Gitano Hernando, and Miner's Escape.

It’s that time of the year again with the Run for the Roses set for this Saturday at Churchill Downs.
“I Want Revenge” is currently the odds-on favorite at +250 for the Kentucky Derby.

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Calvin Borel was the jockey who rode Mine That Bird to victory at the Kentucky Derby but he won’t be riding the same horse at this weekend’s Preakness Stakes.



Borel will be atop odds-on fave Rachel Alexandra at Pimlico in Baltimore on Saturday and what is more intriguing than Mine That Bird vs. Borel?

You can wager on that matchup and other in the Preakness Stakes matchups section.

There will be 13 horses vying for the Preakness Stakes this weekend at Pimlico race course in Baltimore, Maryland and Rachel Alexandra is listed as the odds-on favorite.


The filly was listed at -125 yesterday before positions were drawn and is now listed at +150.

Rachel Alexandra drew post 13.

By Mike Gratton

Preakness Stakes Picks and Betting Advice:

As the field at The Kentucky Derby turned for home at the top of the stretch, Mine That Bird was still nothing more than a blip on the radar. In fact until the final lengths, his name had only been called once and it was more of token gesture than anything else. When the dust settled, though, at odds as high as 50-to-1, Triple Crown betting saw one of its biggest upsets ever on May 2 and it has given oddsmakers a lot to think about as The Preakness betting gathers steam.

Part II of the U.S. Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes is a 1 3/16 mile race run each year on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Nicknamed the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” – Maryland’s state flower, online sportsbooks are already reporting higher than average betting activity as race day draws near. At least a part of that has to be accredited to the unexpected finish at Churchill Downs.

The Preakness odds has a much different look to it than horse racing handicappers were projecting just a few weeks ago and as the trainers roll in for light workouts at the track, it’s worth circling a few numbers.

Listed as the early favorite, odds for Rachel Alexandra jumped Monday when Hull withdrew from the race. Paying 4-to-5, Rachel Alexandra would be the first filly to run in the Preakness in a decade and her track record in 2009 suggests this could be where she makes a name. Rachel Alexandra last ran on May 1 at the Kentucky Oaks, winning by more than 20 lengths!

Adding to the attraction is the fact that jockey Calvin Borel has signed on to ride Rachel Alexandra at Pimlico. Borel just happens to be the man that was aboard Mine That Bird on May 2 when it crossed the finish line at The Kentucky Derby. Worth noting is that the last filly to win the Preakness was Nellie Morse – in 1924.

Originally slated to skip this event, Mine That Bird’s (Preakness odds at 3-to-1) performance at The Derby made the colt’s trip to Baltimore a must. Trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. insists he is not thinking about the prospective Triple Crown, which wraps up June 6 when the third leg is run at the Belmont Stakes, but said it wouldn’t be fair to the horse to at least not take a shot.

Triple Crown bettors at SPORTSBETTING.com seem to agree. This sportsbook is reporting action on Mine That Bird “to win” is already high and win or not, it is expected that the colt will be involved in the majority of exactor betting. Jockey Mike Smith, winner of the Kentucky Derby in 2005 aboard Giacomo, will get the mount Saturday.

Other three-year olds near the top of the list are Musket Man (5-to-1) and Papa Clem (6-to-1). Handicappers are also keeping a close tab on Pioneer of the Nile, the horse that entered the Derby as the overall favorite and finished second.

A much smaller field of 19 than the Derby, it looks as if there will be 12 horses racing at Pimlico. While winning all three legs of the Triple Crown has not been accomplished since 1978, eleven horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in the past 30 years and with added pressure it will make Mine That Bird’s run an exciting one.

Odds for Triple Crown betting are up and matchups are being released at online sportsbooks daily. And just in case anyone was wondering about lightning striking twice, the longshot for the Preakness is Tone It Down. Currently SPORTSBETTING.com has the horse listed with odds of 50-to-1.

Author: Mike Gratton placed his first wager on a horse race in the mid-80s. It was a 2-1 horse to show… and it came in fourth. Mike has progressed to be a successful horse racing handicapper and sports betting mind over the years. He loves to impart the knowledge he has garnered over the years in his articles focused on helping others with their sports betting and horse handicapping.