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2012 Preakness Stakes

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The 2012 Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course is a grudge match of sorts. Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another will seek to stay on a roll as he tries to advance to the Belmont Stakes with a shot at wearing the seemingly unattainable Triple Crown. Meanwhile, Bodemeister, who tired late to be second after setting a furious pace at Churchill Downs, will try to turn the tables on I’ll Have Another. Neither horse is my selection to win.

Tiger Walk  (Tale of the Cat x Majestic Trail by Kris S.) 30-1: This one was last seen passing tired horses in the stretch of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial to be fourth. Since then he has posted a sharp  four furlong move in :47 3/5 B over this track. Trainer Ignacio Correas will add blinkers for the first time as Kent Desormeaux gets the call to ride. The Hall of Fame rider won this race in 1998 with Real Quiet and 2008 with Big Brown, both of whom were much more horse than this one. Will need something strange to happen for him to win.

Teeth of the Dog (Bluegrass Cat x Deputy Reality by Deputy Minister) 15-1: I will catch a lot of heat for this statement, but he could be Michael Matz best three-year-old. The inexperienced horse rallied to be third at 53-1 in the Wood Memorial when last seen and before that was a maiden winner at Gulfstream. His routing ability is confirmed and his speed figures have improved with every race. This event figures to have soft fractions, so it is imperative that jockey Joe Bravo keeps him near the front. Clearly, this one is the best of the long shot contingent and the bay colt possesses a true chance of becoming the next Preakness winner.

Pretension (Bluegrass Cat x Main Streetin’ by Street Cry) 30-1: Won by a neck in the Canonero II Stakes against four other rivals over this track last out. He isn’t fast enough to win the Preakness, but he does have enough early zip to impact the pace. Backers of other horses will have to hope that Javier Santiago sends him to the front early on to ensure an honest pace. Christopher Grove is the trainer.

Zetterholm (Silver Train x Holy Wish by Lord at War) 30-1: NY-bred turned into a different animal after being sent to the barn of Rick Dutrow (big surprise, right?). His last time racing was a state-bred win where he easily cruised past the favorite in the stretch. This is an ambitious spot for him and he figures to have a lot to do in the stretch. Junior Alvarado retains the mount.

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Went The Day Well (Proud Citizen x Tiz Maie by Tiznow) 6-1: Graham Motion trainee was finishing best of all in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby after what could have been the worst trip in the race. With another jump he would have been third and a better set up would have had him in a photo with I’ll Have Another. The blinkers have clearly made him a better horse. John Velazquez would be wise to keep him closer to the front. If he can work out a trip similar to the one he had in the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes, then Team Valor International could have their first Preakness Stakes winner. In fact, we will call for him to pull the upset.

Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway x Dream of Summer by Siberian Summer) 6-1: He didn’t have much of an excuse while finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby. It was a sharp enough effort to remove my doubts about his progression. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him produce a better effort here, but I still wouldn’t count on it. Trainer Mike Harrington might want to consider throwing the blinkers back on. He seems to be a better horse with them.

Bodemeister (Empire Maker x Untouched Talent by Storm Cat) 8-5: It was surprising to see him stay on so well after setting a wicked fast pace in the Kentucky Derby. Try not to get antsy about playing him at such a short number though. His race wasn’t as good as it looked when you consider how fast the track was playing. Groupie Doll smashed a track record in the Humana Distaff and the fractions were lightning quick in almost every race.

Despite that, the race figures to set up perfectly for him. His chances are based on how much he’s got left in the tank. Essentially, you must ask yourself how much the Kentucky Derby took out of him. I’m not saying he doesn’t have a good shot at winning, because he does, but I cant bet him when I consider the circumstances. Handicapping aside, we wish the best of luck to our friends at Zayat Stables who own this bay colt. Bob Baffert trains and Mike Smith keeps the mount.

I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley x Arch’s Gal Edith by Arch) 5-2: The Kentucky Derby winner had a very good trip and benefited from a fast pace at Churchill Downs. However, you cant criticize him for winning the race, no matter how he did it. I love the gameness he exhibits and he should be ready to run a big race on two weeks rest given the light campaign he has had leading up to the Preakness. Mario Gutierrez has enough tactical speed to keep Bodemeister honest and it is important that he does so.

Historically, Kentucky Derby winners are very tough to handle in the Preakness Stakes. However, only four of the last 10 Derby winners have won the Preakness. Of the other six Derby winners three were second, one was third, one was off the board and the ill-fated Barbaro did not finish. In the end, I’ll Have Another has the stuff to win this race and will likely run a career best race. He deserves to be the favorite and is the horse to beat. Best of luck to trainer Doug O’Neill as he attempts to grab the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Optimizer (English Channel x Indy Pick by AP Indy) 30-1: Pretty much just ran around the track at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby to finish 11th. D Wayne Lukas will mix things up here by giving the mount to Corey Nakatani. That likely wont be enough to do the trick for this bay colt that is still eligible for a non-winners of two lifetime race.

Cozetti (Cozzene x Lemon Drop Cello by Lemon Drop Kid) 30-1: Rallied well to be fourth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby last out. His only win was over a wet main track against six other foes at Churchill Downs. It’s hard to see him impacting this race. Jose Lezcano will ride for Dale Romans.

My top selection to win the Preakness Stakes is Went The Day Well (6-1). He had a horrid trip in the Derby and was finishing best of all towards the finish. John Velazquez has enough early speed to stay within striking range and will be on a horse that figures to run the best race of his life.

Not far behind my selection is Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another (5-2). It appears that he is also sitting on the best race of his career. A light campaign leading up to his last victory will serve him well as he tries to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

While Bodemeister has strong merits, he also has question marks. At what figures to be a very short price he is a clear play against.

• Preakness Exacta: 2,5,9 BOX
• Preakness Trifecta: 5,9 with 2,5,7,9 with 1,2,5,7,9
• Preakness Superfecta: 5,9 with 5,9 with 1,2,6,7 with ALL

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Alternation

The $300k Grade 3 Pimlico Special is a Grade 1 race in disguise. The 9.5 furlongs race features two Grade 1 winners, three Grade 2 winners and two Grade 3 winners. Of the remaining three horses all are graded placed or overnight stakes winners.

Alternation (Distorted Humor x Alternate by Seattle Slew) figures to go favored after a brilliant win in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap where he controlled the race from start to finish. The three-time graded stakes winner has enough early zip to go wire to wire, but has also scored from as far back as seventh. If the muscly colt brings his best game he could easily triumph here for trainer Donnie Von Hemel and jockey Luis Quinonez.

Todd Pletcher’s Mission Impazible (Unbridled’s Song x La Paz by Hold Your Peace) will get plenty of support. The 2010 Louisiana Derby winner hasn’t won since taking the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap last year, but owns a near miss in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap this year as well as a second place finish to Fair Grounds phenom Nate’s Mineshaft last out in the 2012 edition of the New Orleans Handicap. Tough field are nothing new for Mission Impazible and he will offer value as the “forgotten” horse. JJ Castalleno retains the mount.

It took a few starts for Endorsement (Distorted Humor x Charmed Gift by AP Indy) to get rolling again, but the 2010 Grade 3 Sunland Derby champ has looked stellar in his last two starts. His last trip to the track was an easy two length victory over a salty group in the Grade 3 Texas Mile 21 days ago. Now, the well bred router will get a chance to stretch his legs against some of the best two turns company in the nation. Martin Garcia picks up the mount for Eoin Harty.

Hymn Book (Arch x Vespers by Known Fact) ran a career best race to win the Donn Handicap by a nose two starts back, but didn’t show the same speed last out in the Oaklawn Handicap where he flattened out to be fourth. The Shug McGaughey charge would likely benefit from a wet track as he owns four of his seven wins in the off going. John Velazquez will stay aboard on the six-year-old dark bay or  brown gelding.

Graham Motion trainees win at a 27% clip when racing on 46-90 days rest. That matters because Grade 1 Wood Memorial champ Toby’s Corner (Bellamy Road x Brandon’s Ride by Mister Frisky) enters this race after a 48 day respite. He was shelved prior to the 2011 Kentucky Derby because of an injury and has raced twice since then with a close third place finish in the Grade 2 General George Handicap going seven panels and a distant third place effort in the New Orleans Handicap. Look for him to peak in this spot and run one of the best races of his career under Eddie Castro.

Zayat Stables has finished second in the Kentucky Derby three times. The second time was with Nehro (Mineshaft x The Administrator by Afleet) who will be making his fourth start since closing to be second to Animal Kingdom last year. Like Toby’s Corner, he was shelved last year because of an injury. He returned in 2012 to win by just over seven lengths against a pitiful optional claiming group at Fair Grounds. After that, he failed to fire while finishing sixth in the Oaklawn Handicap. Horse bettors should go ahead and draw a line through that race as it was only his second of the year and the race did not set up in his favor. His excellent staying power will serve him well here. Corey Nakatani will stay aboard for Steve Asmussen.

Many will pass on Yawanna Twist (Yonaguska x Twist And Pop by Oliver’s Twist) thinking he cant go the distance, but one of his best career efforts came at this track and distance when he was fourth beaten just two lengths by Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness Stakes. All three horses who finished ahead of him that day returned to win a Grade 1 race at some point in their career. He is in sharp form with a win in the General George Handicap two races back and a last out third place effort in the Oaklawn Handicap. We know he loves this track and he will be a huge price. That makes him a must use on all multiple race exotic tickets.

Cease, Cherokee Artist and Eighttofasttocatch round out the field.

This is a very tough race and I don’t have an opinion as far as a single horse to win. However, I recommend going deep on the Pick 4 and hoping something crazy happens. Bombers like Yawanna Twist and Toby’s Corner are legitimate win threats.

Don’t forget to play the race at Twinspires.com where new players get a $100 sign up bonus!

News aggregator Goatzapper is quickly joining the likes of Equidaily as one of the best sources for daily horse racing news. While I am simply a one man team,

The name of the site, a play on the name of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, is one of my favorite places to check for the latest news. It is constantly updated with links focusing mainly on the racing and wagering aspects of the thoroughbred industry.

You can find Goatzapper on Twitter too!

TVG- Watch. Wager. Win!

The $300k Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is race 10 at Pimlico on Friday. The 2012 edition of this prestigious race features a strong field of nine lasses reay to go the nine furlongs distance on the day before the Preakness Stakes.

Glinda The Good (Hard Spun x Magical Flash by Miswaki): This one probably isn’t suited for top competition at this distance, but I must comment on her absolutely tremendous pedigree. She is a half sibling to several stakes horses and the broodmare is half to Grade 1 winner Magical Maiden. That said, I don’t see the closer having a shot at anything more than a minor award. Corey Nakatani rides for Steve Asmussen.

Disposablepleasure (Giacomo x My Canada by With Approval): Who could forget her amazing win the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes last year where she rallied from last to win despite a bad stumble? She hasn’t shown that talent in two starts as a sophomore, but Todd Pletcher seems to think she still has it. JJ Castellano has the assignment on this closing lass.

Welcome Guest (Unbridled’s Song x My Friend C. Z. by Seeking The Gold): Produced a sharp effort last out to be second in the Grade 3 Comely Stakes behind Kentucky Oaks second place finisher Broadway’s Alibi. Before that she broke her maiden by five and two parts of a length against four other foes at Gulfstream. This filly is bred to love the distance, but this is a tough spot to go two turns for the first time. Keep an eye on her for the future, but don’t count on here this time. Ramon Dominguez will be up for Chad Brown.

Mamma Kimbo (Discreet Cat x Bag Lady Jane by Devil’s Bag): Impressive winner of the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes for Bob Baffert last out. She won that race after having just a six furlong maiden win to her name. The second and third place finishers in the Fantasy had little to no impact on the Kentucky Oaks in their next starts so we should naturally question the quality of that group. The 7-5 favorite could get a free lunch on the lead and that will make her dangerous. Without a doubt the horse to beat given her recent works, early speed and ability to get the distance.

Oaks Lily (Badge of Silver x En Silence by Rahy): On figures, this one hasn’t really got a shot. She broke her maiden by a nose at Keeneland, but that was her eighth trip to the races. The works are hot and the connections are dead set on facing top competition. They have secured top jockey Julien Leparoux as well. Cant see it on paper, but there are subtle signs that the Timothy Hills pupil may have turned the corner.

Plum (Pure Prize x Bamba by Not For Love): She beat Acting Happy last out, a five year old mare that won this race in 2010. Her rival had trouble, but it was a good effort nonetheless. Versatile runner can stalk and close, but might have trouble going the distance in this spot. Abel Castellano rides for Rodney Jenkins.

In Lingerie (Empire Maker x Cat Chat by Storm Cat): Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners scooped this filly up and sent her to Todd Pletcher after an impressive six length debut win at Turfway Park. Her first start for the new connections was a second place effort in an optional claiming event at Gulfstream, where she was four and two parts of a length behind the magnificent Zo Impressive. Her last start was in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Stakes at Turfway where she trampled the competition by six lengths in wire to wire fashion. I’m going to look for her to sit right behind the favorite and outlast her in the stretch. She is my top pick to win with John Velazquez a board.

Wildcat’s Smile (Forest Wildcat x Serenity’s Smile by Dixie Brass): Won her 2012 debut against statebred company at Aqueduct on April 20. She was second in the Demoiselle to Disposablepleasure to end her 2011 campaign. It’s tough to see her holding up at this distance second off the shelf against such stellar company. Dominic Galluscio trains and Anna Napravnik will ride.

Zucchini Flower (Flower Alley x Heathers Promise by Silver Buck): She is bred to stay for days and the works are strong. It’s tough to picture her winning based off that last race, but Graham Motion knows what he is doing. Sheldon Russell will be in the irons.

Our top pick to win the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is In Lingerie. She strikes me as a filly that is only going to improve with more distance and she should sit a perfect trip behind the speed. Look for favored Mamma Kimbo to hold on for second place honors. You can bet this race at TVG, where new players get a $150 sign up bonus!

Summer Front

The $200k Grade II Peter Pan Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park is the best betting race of the weekend. The one turn, nine furlong race has attracted a contentious group of twelve sophomore contenders. It will go forward as race 8, making it the penultimate event of the $350k Guaranteed Late Pick 4.

Mark Valeski (Proud Citizen x Pocho’s Dream Girl by Fortunate Prospect) will play the role of 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Larry Jones and jockey Rosie Napravnik. The mid-pack closer was eligible for the Kentucky Derby, but passed in favor of this race. His work tab is strong and a five furlong bullet in :59 3/5 B on May 7 indicates that he is ready to do his best running. The bay colt will be attempting to make amends for his second place finish in the Grade II Louisiana Derby where he was unable to pass long shot Hero of Order in the stretch.

There appears to be a surplus of early pace in the Peter Pan Stakes and the speed of the speed is 7-2 second choice The Lumber Guy (Grand Slam x Boltono by Unbridled’s Song). The Michael Hushion pupil was last seen wiring the field in the Grade II Jerome Stakes over two Bob Baffert shippers, Brigand and Stirred Up. Before that, he led for the first six furlongs of the Grade I Wood Memorial Stakes before backing up to a fifth place finish. It should be interesting to see how he holds up under Michael Luzzi.

Master Rick (Master Command x Whata Gem by Maria’s Mon) also figures to be involved in the early pace at 10-1. Since joining the Steve Asmussen barn he is 2 for 2, with a maiden win and a triumph over Grade 1 winner Drill in the Northern Spur Stakes. He is one of many horses capable of winning this race. Corey Nakatani retains the mount.

My pick to win the Peter Pan Stakes is Summer Front (War Front x Rose of Summer by El Prado). He owns 3 wins from 4 lifetime starts and has proven himself capable of overcoming a bad trip, something he did when winning the Dania Beach Stakes on December 18. His running style will greatly benefit him in this spot as he likes to make a move from mid-pack.

Many will have qualms about his ability to race on dirt, but the young stallion War Front has produced dirt graded stakes winners The Factor and Soldat and broodmare sire El Prado produced dirt graded stakes winners like Medaglia d’Oro, Borrego and Asi Siempre. Admittedly, his pedigree is predisposed to turf racing. However, that does not preclude him from running well on dirt. If trainer Christophe Clement thinks he can do it then I’m inclined to trust his judgement. This guy is too good to pass up at 8-1 with Belmont ace Ramon Dominguez in the irons.

Teeth of the Dog will likely scratch in favor of the Preakness one week later.

Zetterholm, Le Bernardin, Good Morning Diva, Hakama, Big Screen and Street Life round out the field.

Going to play the $350k Guaranteed Pick 4? Here is our ticket: 1,3,4,7,8/ALL/11/5,9. This bet will likely pay at least a thousand dollars if we can get it home! Be sure to play at Twinspires.com where new accounts get a $100 sign up bonus.

I'll Have Another

Bodemeister seemingly had the 2012 Kentucky Derby in his pocket turning for home under the Twin Spires, but it was I’ll Have Another who rallied down the lane to register the 1 ½ length score. It was a neck back to the hard charging Dullahan and ¾ of a length behind that one was Went The Day Well.

The top four finishers have exited the race in stellar condition and all except for Dullahan appear ready to tackle the Preakness Stakes on May 19. Other probables for the Preakness that are exiting the Derby include Creative Cause, Liaison, Hansen and Optimizer.

New shooters for the Preakness include Canonero II Stakes 1-2 finishers Pretension and Brimstone Island, 1-2 Derby Trial Stakes finishers Hierro and Paynter, Jerome Stakes winner The Lumber Guy and Arkansas Derby fourth place finisher Cozetti.

Mario Gutierrez & I’ll Have Another

This time last year jockey Mario Gutierrez was riding at Hastings in Canada’s British Columbia. Now, he is a Kentucky Derby winning jockey. Click here to read more about Gutierrez.

I’ll Have Another is a magnificent horse, but he largely won the Kentucky Derby because of a perfectly executed ride by Gutierrez. He had the horse in the perfect spot and didn’t lose much ground the entire way.

Equally important, he wasn’t stopped or impeded the entire way. Often times the Kentucky Derby is won by the best horse that gets the best trip. That is to take nothing away from this colt though. I’ll Have Another is beautifully bred and fresh; that means he will have at least a fighting chance to win the Triple Crown.

Team O’Neill  & J Paul Reddam

I remember back in 2008 when trainer Doug O’Neill and owner Paul Reddam hooked up to win the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland with a talented colt named Square Eddie. They had brought the Canadian bred colt home from England where he had been racing after being sold for $200k at the Keeneland September Sale.

He was dismissed at odds of 10-1, but Reddam and O’Neill knew what they had with the son of Smart Strike. They even referred to him as “Baby Curlin” in honor of the reigning Horse of the Year that was by the same sire. This is just one of several examples of success O’Neill and Reddam have had together.

Now they are Kentucky Derby winners. It’s great to see a group like this take the most important race in the world. I’ve always been a fan of Doug O’Neill as he trained one of my favorite horses, Lava Man. I wish them the best of luck moving forward and would love to see them bring home the Triple Crown.

Mike Smith’s ride

Many take issue with Smith allowing Bodemeister to run off to the lead and set grueling fractions of :45.39 and 1:09.80. His charge entered the stretch with a three length lead and almost stole the race on the front end.

Detractors say he should have tucked in behind Trinniberg and waited to make a move. While that may have produced a better result, there is really no way to know for sure. Smith thought he had the best horse, laid his cards down the table, and came up just a little short. I cant criticize him; he rode the colt brilliantly.

Bodemeister is probably the best horse of his generation and sadly he entered the race a bit short on experience. If he can run the same race in the Preakness then he will likely win that race.

Union Rags just isn’t that good

We screamed it from the rooftops before this race and we were right. Union Rags just isn’t a very fast horse. He entered the Kentucky Derby as perhaps the sixth or seventh fastest horse in the race and that’s about how he ran as he ended up finishing seventh.

Many will point to a bad ride from Julien Leparoux. It wasn’t the greatest ride ever, but we must remember that he was pinched at the beginning and from the inside he really had no chance to position the horse.

Let’s not judge rider or horse based on a single race. Even with that said, I still feel Union Rags is rated much too highly. I’m not saying he wont come back and win a big race or two, but he wasn’t among the top 3 or 4 sophomores before the Triple Crown and he wont be when it ends.

The connections will point to the Belmont Stakes, a race where I expect the colt to struggle once more. A son of Dixie Union going 12 furlongs? Yea; good luck with that.

Horse to watch? Went The Day Well

For as much deserved hype as Bodemeister is getting, Went The Day Well ran equally well. Take a look at what John Velazquez had to say about his trip.

JOHN VELAZQUEZ (Went the Day Well, fourth) – “We didn’t break out of there well and it was screwed up from there on. I was actually just beating Julien (Leparoux, Union Rags) into the first turn, so that’s how far back we were. The horse next to me clipped heels coming out of the gate, so now I’ve got to steady and go inside of him. We go to the first turn and he gets pushed over and I have to steady again. Now I’m far back with Julien. Now I have to go around the horse in the first turn, got outrun three-wide, went back to the inside, and I got a good trip from there, but I was so far back I couldn’t make up that much ground, no way, not on this kind of track the way it is today.”

Alpha and Hansen can’t handle big crowds

Not yet, anyway. Both colts were quite worked up before the Kentucky Derby and likely lost all chance to win because of it. Hansen ended up ninth and Alpha was twelfth. The latter is going to get a little time off. The Belmont Stakes might be a logical spot for him. With his great stamina pedigree he would have a big shot of winning in that spot. Meanwhile, trainer Michael Maker and owner Kendall Hansen will make a decision on whether or not to send Hansen to the Preakness by the end of this week.

The 2012 Kentucky Derby has re-energized my passion for the Triple Crown. I have thought all along that this is the deepest and most contentious group of sophomores we have seen since 2007 and they proved me right. I look forward to watching the feats of speed that this group is sure to display in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Still looking for a place to bet the Derby? Look no further than the official partner of the Derby, Twinspires.com. It is one of the safest and easiest places to bet horse racing online. New players get a $100 sign up bonus, so don’t wait! Here are some great reasons to play online.

• No crowds! Food is nearby and wont cost an arm and a leg and there is no line at the bathroom. Well, not at my house anyway. You have to like that!
• Easy betting from your mobile phone. Even on the go, your Twinspires.com account is at your fingertips. Don’t have online internet? No fear, you can call in and place bets with a live telephone operator.
•  Free BRISnet past performances. This is the best horse racing information available.
• Real-time racing information including, odds, will-pays, program changes, and track conditions.
• Live video allows fans to watch every race that they bet.
• Features like conditional wagering will make sure your bet is place under if a horse is above a certain number. For example, if you want to bet Horse X at 5-1 and he goes off at 3-1 the computer will cancel the wager if you request it to do so in advance.

I know where I’m betting the 2012 Kentucky Derby; Twinspires.com. You should too! Just click the banner above or either of the 3 links in this post to claim your $100 sign up bonus!

Javier Castellano, shown here giving Gemologist a kiss, was involved in a spill at Churchill today

Welcome to the final installment of the 2012 Daily Derby News Blitz.  It has been a fun pre-Derby season, with many talented colts graduating from major races all across the United States set to converge in Louisville tomorrow.

The Derby boys will have to wait though, because today was all about the ladies.  The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks was the highlight at Churchill Downs Friday.  Threats of rain didn’t deter a large crowd from packing in under the Twin Spires.  The weather took a more dangerous turn right near Oaks time, and the infield had to be evacuated.  Even this didn’t dampen the mood, and once the fillies were cleared to come to the paddock, the day brightened instantly.  Jockey Javier Castellano, who was set to ride favored Grace Hall in the Oaks, suffered a frightening spill in the previous race.  However, once back in the jockey’s room, the rider declared he was alright to ride and was soon given the leg up on the favorite.  However, it just wasn’t her day.  It was all about girl power as Believe You Can, with female rider Rosie Napravnik aboard, crossed the finish line first after a gutty stretch duel with Broadway’s Alibi.  Grace Hall ended up 3rd.  With the victory, Napravnik became the first female jockey to ever win the Kentucky Oaks.  It was also the first Grade 1 win for the 24-year-old rider.  The charismatic cowboy Larry Jones, who also trained the Kentucky Oaks winner in 2008 (Proud Spell), was all smiles in the winner’s circle this evening.

For those who pegged Believe You Can in the Kentucky Oaks, take a look at the payouts for the Oaks/Derby Double for a $2 bet!
1. Daddy Long Legs, $1,788
2. Optimizer, $2,415
3. Take Charge Indy, $617
4. Union Rags, $208
5. Dullahan, $370
6. Bodemeister, $276
7. Rousing Sermon, $2,436
8. Creative Cause, $389
9. Trinniberg, $2,239
10. Daddy Nose Best, $483
11. Alpha, $537
12. Prospective, $2,588
13. Went the Day Well, $867
14. Hansen, $662
15. Gemologist, $338
16. El Padrino, $637
17. Done Talking, $2,735
18. Sabercat, $1,676
19. I’ll Have Another, $731
20. Liaison, $3,224

The track could end up muddy or sloppy for the Derby tomorrow.  Throughout the entire day, a 40% chance of rain is slated for Louisville.

There were no horses scratched from the Kentucky Derby today, despite swirling rumors about Creative Cause.  The odds have changed somewhat throughout the day, as bettors finally get a chance to wager on the horses they like.  The current favorite is now Union Rags at 6-1.  Bodemeister, the morning-line favorite, has drifted up to 8-1.  Lots of money has been coming in on Take Charge Indy with Calvin Borel set to ride him, lowering his odds all the way down to 8-1 off a 15-1 morning-line.  Below is the full field, with morning-line odds next to them followed by their odds at 6:35 this evening.
1. Daddy Long Legs, 30-1,    26-1
2. Optimizer,               50-1,    31-1
3. Take Charge Indy, 15-1,     8-1
4. Union Rags,            9-2,      6-1
5. Dullahan,                 8-1,      10-1
6. Bodemeister,           4-1,      8-1
7. Rousing Sermon,     50-1,    20-1
8. Creative Cause,       12-1,    12-1
9. Trinniberg,               50-1,    41-1
10. Daddy Nose Best, 15-1,   14-1
11. Alpha,                   15-1,    22-1
12. Prospective,           30-1,    69-1
13.Went The Day Well, 20-1, 20-1
14. Hansen,                 10-1,    7-1
15. Gemologist,           6-1,      8-1
16. El Padrino,            20-1,    34-1
17. Done Talking,       50-1,    34-1
18. Sabercat,               30-1,    38-1
19. I’ll Have Another, 12-1,    17-1
20. Liaison,                 50-1,    60-1

Thank you for following all the excitement leading to the Kentucky Derby with the Daily Derby News Blitz at Gradedstakes.com!  Good luck to all the horses and their connections, and may they all return safely from their run in the 138th Kentucky Derby.