Great Preakness -- hopefully the start of a great seasonal rivalry
 

I'll Have Another and his jockey didn't take the bait and ruin their chances by trying to apply early pressure to Bodemeister.

Bodemeister didn't have to deal with heavy pressure early.

The fractions may appear way slower than the Derby -- but this was a ridiculously slow track today with a deep rail. Horses stalking and making that 3-to-4 wide far turn move won everything.

It was a Grade 1 pace. Smith was smart enough to keep Bodemeister at least a little bit off of the rail.

The track was tiring, but it was as clean as this race could have been run...and the top two finishers put a city block on the field, but the gamer horse won.

Here's the Kentucky Derby after 9.5 furlongs (picture at the 1/16th pole)




It was a veritable replay again with Mario G. riding another smart race aboard the winner.

The track was ridiculously fast in Kentucky and slower than par today -- but Bodemeister had no pressure excuse this time.

Anyone who doesn't think I'll Have Another and Bodemeister are the two best dirt males at 9 furlongs in the entire country outside of maybe the Charles Lopresti barn...

Go back and watch the Arkansas Derby and Oaklawn Park Handicap (run 30 minutes apart) again --- Alternation went more than 7 lengths slower than Bodemeister early and couldn't outfinish him by even 0.01 seconds late. He's a subsquent Pimlico Special winner now is Alternation ... and he couldn't warm these two up.

Great race, even though I got splattered by I'll Have Another's stretch heroics.

I totally agree...Poor Bodemeister, a great colt in his own right and they run this race 100 times and he loses 90 of em...maybe all of em, (from this distance and longer of course)

There's these two...and like you said, a city block from the rest of em, regardless of age

Yeah....wasn't a believer...Figured Bode would crush the field. Good for I"ll have another and his connections. A Triple Crown would be pretty cool!

Trefreakinmendous!

Belmont is going to be packed. TV ratings should be great. I'll Have Another is for real. Great ride, great timing. Can't articulate how excited I am!

He had the outright highest last out Beyer in the entire field coming into today.

The Matz camp or the Roman's camp can't be too thrilled with what they saw today

I like(d) bodes chances much more in the Belmont than today.

If they both go, that is the time to play him.

I've opposed I'll Have Another for a variety of reasons having nothing to do with the horse himself and certainly won't support the horse in the Belmont. That being said, that was a really fun race to watch.

He's has beat me twice now. Only way to insure he loses and Drug O'Neil is denied a triple crown (I shudder at the thought) is for me to bet I'll Have Another in the Belmont. Not a prayer in the world he wins then.

I applaud your selflessness.

Doubt bode runs Belmont. I'll have another should win tc but thought that about funny cide

Why? Seemed to have it his way today and couldnt hold off iha. How could he going even longer than in the last two?

Bode's not going...Baffert's quoted "The bus stops here" for him...?#@?

....that was the quote

More important...Bode's NOT going

Stop and Smell The Roses!
 

I certainly hope I'll Have Another wins the Belmont Stakes!
At this point it is redicules to say he will be the bet or the horse to beat other than the sure fact that he'll be the favorite!
But all you nimrods and mind farts that can't see this is good for the sport,and most of all you shoot from the hip mindless people who start Questioning the trainer or his love for horses.
What is your problem?
None of Douge O'Neals infrations have been for perfomance enhancing drugs and the worst thing you can say is he has drop a sore horse to a low claiming level to get rid of him through the claim box
Every trainer alive has done this in some sort of fashion or level!
Look lets hope I'll Have Another comes out of the race sound and ready to run in 3 weeks and hopfully he beats all comers(especialy the one that skiped the Preakness for all the same reasons you guys bash horses for not running)
Wins the triple crown and becomes part of racing legend.
California rules!:D

LeBrodemeister.

Now that Andy revealed who I think you are, I have immense respect for you. However, how can you say that milk shaking is not performance enhancing?

What does the region a horse comes from have to do with their ability and talent? I would like to see him win regardless of his connections, but based on pure talent. The last time I checked the horse didn't pick his connections. I never understand why people would wager their money based on those factors.

Kev I'm with you. I'm so messed up in the head over this. I would LOVE for IHA to win the TC, but the trainer being O'Neil? Oh please. Lord help us all. PHWUCK. :eek: NOOO.:zz: Why him?:rolleyes:

Also, I'm thrilled for NY, Belmont and NYRA.:$:

Hopefully, the Belmont runs more smoothly this year than in 2008. I'm sweating just thinking about that day.

This is the first year I've missed all three Triple Crown races since 2003. Figures there'd be a winner this year.

i also have issues with the connections...but what can you do?