Big Brown Draws Post Position 7 For Preakness

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From The Blood Horse:
The post positions and morning-line odds are:
Horse/Trainer/Jockey/Owner(s)
1--Macho Again/Dallas Stewart/Julien Leparoux/West Point Thoroughbred
2--Tres Borrachos/Beau Greely/Tyler Baze/Beau Greely, John Greely IV, and Phil Houchens
3-- Icabad Crane/Graham Motion/Jeremy Rose/Earle Mack
4--Yankee Bravo/Patrick Gallagher/Alex Solis/Richard Duggan, Bienstock and Winner Stables, and Harlequin Ranches
5--Behindatthebar/Todd Pletcher/David Flores/ Padua Stables, Michael Shustek, and Don Stanley
6--Racecar Rhapsody/Kenny McPeek/Robby Albarado/Jerry Carroll, Stan Kaplan, Ronald Plattner, and Mark Guilfoyle
7--Big Brown/Rick Dutrow/Kent Desormeaux/IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.
8--Kentucky Bear/Reade Baker/Jamie Theriot/Bear Stables
9--Stevil/Nick Zito/John Velazquez/Robert LaPenta
10--Riley Tucker/Bill Mott/Edgar Prado/Zayat Stables
11--Giant Moon/Rick Schosberg/Ramon Dominguez/Albert Fried Jr.
12--Gayego/Paulo Lobo/Mike Smith/Cubanacan Stables
13--Hey Byrn/Eddie Plesa/Chuck Lopez/Beatrice Oxenberg

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/45220.htm

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1. Big Brown And Seven Others Arrive At Pimlico

From Preakness.com:
Accompanied by two United Parcel Service vehicles, Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown arrived and entered the Preakness stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course this evening to begin his quest for the middle jewel of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the police escort which had guided the van carrying Big Brown from the airport dispersed and the horse calmly took up residence amid a host of TV cameras and reporters.

Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., who rode in the van, said there were "no problems" with the transport from Kentucky. "This was clockwork."

Dutrow, who grew up in the racing business around Pimlico while learning from his father, Dick Dutrow, said "We used to be stalled just a few barns away from here and I used to come over (to the stakes barn) when all the big horses came in. I dreamed a lot about having one here."

http://www.preakness.com/NewsEvents/FeatureStories/Details/Baltimore051408BBAp.htm

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2. Andy Beyer: Getting a Handle On a New Horse Power

From The Washington Post:
Whenever a young horse displays special talent, agents will besiege the animal's owner, making offers on behalf of potential buyers who have visions of winning the Kentucky Derby. Only the very rich can afford to get into such bidding, but even the very rich regularly find themselves overmatched against two of the players in this game. An agent sometimes involved in such negotiations said: "You can't compete with Sheikh Mohammed. And you can't compete with IEAH. They're both willing to pay more than anybody else."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai has been the world's most prominent horse buyer for nearly three decades, but IEAH -- International Equine Acquisitions Holdings -- was virtually unknown two years ago. Now it occupies the sport's biggest stage, as the majority owner of Big Brown, winner of the Kentucky Derby and the overwhelming favorite for Saturday's Preakness. IEAH also owns the nation's top turf runner, Kip Deville, and the top sprinter, Benny the Bull, according to the Daily Racing Form's rankings.

Its recent successes may represent just a beginning, because IEAH is about to embark on a bold and innovative venture that will give it even more resources with which to buy thoroughbreds. Yet despite all the publicity that IEAH has received, many industry insiders are mystified by this new power in the sport.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/14/AR2008051403889.html

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3. David Cassidy wins Black-Eyed Susan with Sweet Vendetta...

From DRF:
When discussing a possible start in May for Sweet Vendetta, co-owner David Cassidy and trainer Gary Contessa at first thought small, examining the Bouwerie Stakes for New York-breds on May 4 at Belmont Park. But then Contessa convinced Cassidy to aim higher. On Friday at Pimlico Race Course, Cassidy probably wanted to tell Contessa, "I think I love you."

Sweet Vendetta, making her first start in a graded stakes race, ran down Shes All Eltish in the final yards to score a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Cassidy, the the one-time teen star of "The Partridge Family" who has been breeding and racing horses for three decades, said it was the biggest win of his career.

It also might have been his luckiest. Sweet Vendetta ($17.40) benefitted from the antics of Shes All Eltish, who ducked in badly a furlong from the wire in the 1 1/8-mile race. Garrett Gomez, who rode Shes All Eltish, said his filly was spooked by the starting gate, which was sitting parallel against the outside rail at the eighth pole.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/94651.html

I wonder if my oldest sister still has her David Cassidy posters from Tiger Beat magazine?

[aaronbees]

4. Okay, I pick Big Brown to win

and I hope someone else, anyone else, comes through with the win.

Trifecta: Big Brown, Gayego, Kentucky Bear.

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5. Big Brown over Ichabad Crane exacta for me...

I always like horses that have raced at Pimlico before. I've decided to focus on Big Brown the horse and forget his fucking connections. He's a damn good horse.

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6. Today at Pimlico

The Gallorette (G3) 1 1/16 on the Turf won by Roshani in 1:49 flat

The Barbaro Stakes 1 1/16 on the dirt won by Roman Emperor in 1:42 flat

Old Mutual Turf Sprint 5 furlongs on the dirt won by Hero's Reward in :59 flat

The Hirsch Jacobs (G3) 6 furlongs on the dirt won by Lantana Mob in 1:09 flat tying a track record set by Northern Wolf. Exciting race with Lantana Mob just getting up to nip Silver Edition at the wire.

[TZ]

7. I saw that last race

Looks like a fast track today. I really would be shocked if BB didn't win and in a pretty fast time.

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9. Pretty exciting...

I thought Lantana Mob was gonna hang at about the 1/8 pole. Then he came back and just got up. Great racing today!

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8. Results for the Dixie Stakes (G2)

Dixie S. (G2)

Off: 4:33 | 1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | 3 Year Olds And Up | Stakes | Purse: $250,000

# Horse Jockey Weight Win Place Show
5 Pays to Dream Castellano J J 118 40.40 15.40 7.60
6 Stay Close (GB) Napravnik A R 118 6.00 4.60
7 Ra Der Dean Karamanos H A 118 14.00

Finish Time: 1:54.74

Also ran: Distorted Reality, Shakis (IRE), Pick Six, Headsandtales, Buffalo Man and Salinja

Winning Trainer: Donk David - Owner: December Hill Farm

$2 Pick 3 (2/9/10/12-3/7-5) 3 Correct Paid $556.60 Pick 3 Pool $187,294

$2 Daily Double (3-5) Paid $126.60 Daily Double Pool $77,752

$2 Exacta (5-6) Paid $286.40

$1 Superfecta (5-6-7-2) Paid $16,389.50

$2 Trifecta (5-6-7) Paid $5,770.00

[HCE SuiGeneris]

10. I got nothing for this race...

Everyone is all over the map on trifectas and exactas :-(

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11. Cowboy Jones wins the Allaire DuPont Distaff with...

Buy The Barrel in 1:42.43 with Gabe Saez up. Lexi Star 2nd, Bear Now 3rd.

[RL3AO]

12. Wow. It might finally be the year.

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13. And it's Big Brown by open length...

That's a nice horse. Macho Again 2nd Icabad Crane 3rd.

[TZ]

14. As impressive as the race was...

I am astonished by how he looked afterward..He still looked fresh and energetic!

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15. Big Brown earns a Preakness Beyers fig of 100...

according to the blog Railbird. Look under the heading "Let The Hype Begin".

http://www.jessicachapel.com/railbird/

[TZ]

16. You gotta admit

A figure of 100 for a horse that only basically really ran for 1/16th of a mile is impressive. I would almost rather see BB race Curlin than win the TC...

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17. This years crop is slow...

Big Brown is a man among boys.

I'd like to see him win the TC because people will get psyched about racing again.