Preakness - after thoughts

[DonGuido]

Justify was pressured and headed by Good Magic around just before the final turn I believe which was a mistake on his part (finishing 4th). I hope Chad keeps him out of the Belmont. He did all he could but put in a disappointing race. It as good for Justify to feel that pressure in a big race, it will serve him well next race out. Mike did not panic at that point .. . hey he's been in big races on exceptional horses before.

This again was Justify's toughest race but to me it came at the right time. He felt the pressure early with Good Magic and prevailed and he felt the pressure at the end (so did Mike) and he/they dug in a prevailed. What more can you ask for, from a these superb athletes?

Justify is not American Pharoah and he doesn't need to be. Perhaps the 3YO competition is better than AP faced . . . you could argue that easily. What an awesome race exciting to the end (fog discounted). If Justy is lucky it will rain again on Belmont day. We know he can handle it. But that is a whole different kind of race as we all know. If he's as good as many of us think he is, we'll see another Triple Crown winner and if he's not first and the wire he'll be fitting for it al the way. He does not like other horses to be in front of him at all.


I hope Bob gives him a week and a half just to be a horse, running around in the field and napping and eating and being taken care of like a puppy . . . a champion puppy at that. He needs a break from racing so he can recharge his engine (and what an engine) and come back in the Belmont and show us how great he really is. So far all I can say is, WHAT A RACE HORSE!!!

The hype will be way too much and the day of the race will be filled with pins and needled, stomach churnings and nail biting . . . and 150,00 plus at the track. NYRA, your got your wish again. And you have to believe Lukas will be there to try and be a spoiler some how.

Way to go Justy . . . you are very special!!!

[JolyB]

The countdown to the Belmont has already begun. I'm sure that NYRA was cheering down the stretch, and praying that Justify could hold off the late charge.

Quite a day of racing, despite the rain, fog and track surface that played heavily to speed.

Chad Brown had already stated that Good Magic would not run in the Belmont under any circumstances. But there will undoubtedly be other challengers - Pletcher was noticeably absent at the Preakness but will have a platoon of fresh horses from which to choose for BEL. Others will say that Justify might be a tired horse from his campaign and could be vulnerably in another three weeks, so will give it a shot.

I know that it is still the state song, but doesn't the Naval Academy Chorus have an issue singing Maryland My Maryland? If you ever listen to the lyrics of the entire song, it is contrary to much of what the Academy stands for. After all, the song we written largely to induce Maryland to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy. Perhaps I'm biased, but as someone who was born in New York, grew up in New Jersey and spent most of my life in Connecticut, I take the reference to "spurning the Northern scum" personally.

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by JolyB

The countdown to the Belmont has already begun. I'm sure that NYRA was cheering down the stretch, and praying that Justify could hold off the late charge.

Quite a day of racing, despite the rain, fog and track surface that played heavily to speed.

Chad Brown had already stated that Good Magic would not run in the Belmont under any circumstances. But there will undoubtedly be other challengers - Pletcher was noticeably absent at the Preakness but will have a platoon of fresh horses from which to choose for BEL. Others will say that Justify might be a tired horse from his campaign and could be vulnerably in another three weeks, so will give it a shot.

I know that it is still the state song, but doesn't the Naval Academy Chorus have an issue singing Maryland My Maryland? If you ever listen to the lyrics of the entire song, it is contrary to much of what the Academy stands for. After all, the song we written largely to induce Maryland to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy. Perhaps I'm biased, but as someone who was born in New York, grew up in New Jersey and spent most of my life in Connecticut, I take the reference to "spurning the Northern scum" personally.

Yes, I am a New Yorker at heart (spent all of my formative years growing up in small town Upstate wonderfulness) but been in South Carolina and Texas so long, my slang has become way southern-Texas- friendly for sure. Too bad Frank's not around to sing New York, New York. Maybe Tony can muster up the energy this year.

As for Justy, if he comes out of this race well and is feeling his oats the week before (as Baffert and all will do there best to do), it's hard to believe even the best new comers take him down . . . but then again this is a whole different kind of race.

[moses]

I’ve got to think people will be looking long at Instilled Regard, My Boy Jack, and maybe Hofburg at the Belmont. It will be a very different race. Justify’s finish today doesn’t inspire me to believe he can handle the distance...but we’ll see how that field shapes up.

[ninetoone]

Awesome horse, but I'll be all in to beat him in the Belmont!

[DonGuido]

I see his odds much higher, maybe 3-1, 2-1 at best. Vegas has to set them higher. On the most important side of the horses, many trainers will stay up to all hours of the evening thinking of ways to beat him and getting owners to agree that they have a chance . . . but so far no body has stepped up to plate and hit a home run off him or better yet no body has knocked him out.

Many will bet against him and hope to hit a pay day. Let's see how the next couple of weeks develops with Justify and all those other underlings!!!

[RUFFIAN]

As he ran for the finish line to me he look like he was tired

Compare that to the derby race that was longer and more grueling
19 challengers and he ran away from them at the wire

Wishful thinking that we might see another Triple Crown
But reality seems To suggest he will not get the distance

HOPE IM WRONG