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| Rachel Alexandra |
The winner’s share of the purse was 85,155 pounds. The Dante Stakes was over one mile two furlongs and 88 yards and was run in 2 minutes 11.64 seconds. Three of the last five Dante winners have gone on to win the Derby. In 2008, Tartan Bearer won the Dante and lost narrowly at Epsom to New Approach.
It was the second time in seven days that the ‘wrong one’ from the O’Brien yard had won a Derby prep. On May 7 in the Chester Vase, Golden Sword, a 25-1 outsider, with Colm O’Donoghue, had beaten Masterofthehorse, John Murtagh in the irons, the 13-8 choice.
Now, jockey O’Donoghue has two horses who have won important Derby preps. I called O’Donoghue. He thanked me profusely. I joked that it was time that he won some big races and this may be the year when he rode a Derby winner.
“I am getting there. I do not know who will go in the Derby. I believe I will have a mount. Winning the Dante is an exciting thing. Mr O’Brien makes the decisions, “O’Donoghue said.
I told him that he was missed in India. “I miss India. I like being there. I like riding in India. If we get an offer, I will be there later this year. I look forward to seeing you in England and in Ireland when you visit,” he concluded.
Brian Meehan said that Crowded House needed the start and remains a Derby possibility. Jockey Spencer gave a laconic explanation. “He ran flat.”
A thought or two on Sariska, the Musidora winner on Wednesday at York. Michael Bell, Sariska’s trainer, saddled Motivator to win the Dante and the Epsom Derby in 2005. Ladbrokes now make Sariska the 3-1 favorite for the Oaks. Boylesports and Paddy Power, the Irish bookmaking outfits, make Sariska a 7-2 chance.
Trainer Bell spoke about his chances in the Oaks. “We have been to Epsom before with a good colt and we are going there now with a good filly, with a realistic chance. I have no doubt about the Oaks (2400 metres) trip.”
Jamie Spencer heaped praise on Sariska. “She’s a little sweetheart. I have always liked her. The ground was the issue today as there was no doubting her stamina. You need to travel at Epsom which is what she does and she goes there with a reasonable chance.”
Peter Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Star Ruby who was second, spoke. “I could not be happier and the winner is obviously a good filly. Alan (Munro) thought he should have kicked a little earlier but hindsight is a wonderful thing.”
Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Queen Elizabeth’s Enticement, had an excuse. “The ground was too fast for the filly.”
The field for the 134th Preakness Stakes to be run at Pimlico is set. Rachel Alexandra drew post 13 in the 13-horse field and was made the 16-10 favorite. Calvin Borel will ride the Steve Asmussen-trained filly.
Mine That Bird, the Derby winner, leaves from post two and is a 6-1 chance. Mike Smith will be aboard.
Pioneerof The Nile, second in the Run for the Roses, has post nine and is at 5-1. Garrett Gomez will ride.
Friesan Fire, beaten favorite in the Derby, is a 6-1 chance and has drawn post five. Gabriel Saez rides. In the Derby, Friesan Fire, winner of the Louisiana Derby in the slop, grabbed a quarter on his left front leg and came up with cuts in the right front leg. Trainer Larry Jones was pleased with the work his trainee did on Tuesday. “He cleaned up and healed fast. We are ready to go,” Jones said.
Big Drama, blinkers off, has post one with John Velasquez and is at 10-1. Big Drama is expected to set the pace.
Musket Man, third at Churchill Downs, has post three and will be ridden by Eibar Coa. Musket Man is listed at 10-1.
Papa Clem fourth at Louisville, gets post seven and is at 8-1. Rafael Bejarano continues the partnership.
Pundits say that Rachel Alexandra, as brilliant as she is, has a mountain to climb. She runs two Grade I races in two weeks. Her speed figures are not adequate. Preakness has not been kind to the fair sex. No filly has won in over 80 years.
There is a bill pending in the US House. It is Bill 2140. There has been a 28% federal withholding on winning wagers at odds of 300-1 or more. The Bill seeks repeal of the withholding rule. In recent years, straight win, place and show betting has accounted for only one third of the 18 billion annual handle. Proposition bets make up the rest. It is argued that hundreds of millions are not rebet because of withholding.
Peggy Hendershot, Vice President of Legislative Affairs at the NTRA, put the issue in perspective. “For the betting public, the 28% rule has meant a confiscatory and unfair loss of capital. The loss of reinvestment or ‘churn’ leads to reduction in overall wagering that in turn means less revenue generated for States, tracks and purse money. The amendment will lessen the burden of administrative compliance for pari-mutuel operators.”
