Racetrack Lenny

Off To The Races

Congratulations to the New York Giants for their thrilling win in the Super Bowl. Their win ushered in the season I live for- the Triple Crown Races!

As in 2007, there appears to be a talented bunch of 3 year olds going into the prep race season. Pyro was a most impressive winner of the Risen Star Stakes, a Grade 3 race run at a mile and an sixteenth at the Fair Grounds in Louisiana. Sent off as the 4/5 favorite, Pyro under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, looked hopelessly beaten at the three-quarter pole given the pedestrian pace of a 24-2/5ths for the opening quarter and 1:14-3/5ths for three quarters. Despite that, Pyro closed like a roaring freight train to win going away. He looked like he could have gone around one more time. It was impressive and it stamps Pyro as a major player.

Second choice, Z Fortune, (Garrett Gomez up), ran a good race by stalking the pace and taking command at the head of the stretch. Don't discount him. He lost because Pyro was clearly better and because I don't think Garrett Gomez ever saw Pyro coming.

Visionaire, the third place finisher, stalked the pace all the way but ran an even race and couldn't sustain a bid in the stretch despite the slow fractions.

Another Derby hopeful, Blackberry Road, under jockey Calvin Borel, was closing from far back; however, the rail never opened up for Calvin Bo-rail and Blackberry Road had to settle for a 5th place finish.

So, those 4 are truly in the mix and there are a lot of races to go. A new wrinkle to this year's handicapping mix is the surface horses will run on. With new "cushioned tracks" being used at several major racetracks around the country, many Derby hopefuls will train and/or race on those surfaces and the Derby may be their first time on dirt. Bettor beware! I'm always wary of betting a horse to do something he's never done before. We'll keep an eye out for you.

All for now, may the horse be with you!

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 2:45 PM