Preakness - after thoughts

[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

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN-333

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

Mike Smith said he was a tired horse after the race , , , BUT HE STILL PUT DOWN ALL COMERS. That's a real race horse and he's had real campaign lately. . . he does not like to lose, obviously. He could have spit the bit earlier when challenged vigorously by Good Magic but he didn't. He's is excellent hands with Mike and Bobby. It will a grand event in 3 weeks!!! And I'd like to make a prediction but it's way too early.

BTW - I am so tired of hearing that this horse or that horse can't make the distance. It's been proved many times that "being able to get the distance" is a human analysis that the horses that get the distance don't even care about and they do it. AMAZING!

[moses]

Originally Posted by DonGuido

Mike Smith said he was a tired horse after the race , , , BUT HE STILL PUT DOWN ALL COMERS. That's a real race horse and he's had real campaign lately. . . he does not like to lose, obviously. He could have spit the bit earlier when challenged vigorously by Good Magic but he didn't. He's is excellent hands with Mike and Bobby. It will a grand event in 3 weeks!!! And I'd like to make a prediction but it's way too early.

BTW - I am so tired of hearing that this horse or that horse can't make the distance. It's been proved many times that "being able to get the distance" is a human analysis that the horses that get the distance don't even care about and they do it. AMAZING!

Certain horses are definitely not built to be distance runners. That probably doesn’t apply to any horse that has won both the Derby and the Preakness, but I think it’s fair to say a horse that’s never won a race over 5 furlongs probably doesn’t have a good chance to win the Belmont. I think all anyone is ever saying when they say a horse can’t get the distance is that there’s another horse out there who is better suited for the distance.

We’ll see. No one has beaten Justify yet. Hopefully he comes out of the Preakness doing well, gets some rest, and we can see what he’s made of in 3 weeks.