Hi-Ho Pimlico!

OK, so it's not "Get Your Preak On", but a throw back slogan to my younger days when I was a grandstand denizen and ticket puncher at Old Hilltop. A ghost of Preaknesses past. Still, I like the new slogan and the effort being made to energize the second jewel of the Triple Crown and inject some youthful exuberance.

It's no secret that I want to win the Preakness someday. The other two jewels would be nice, but if I could only choose one, I'd want the Woodlawn Vase - probably because I spent so much time there a lifetime ago and where I kindled my love of the game. Obviously I don't have a horse in the race this year (you wouldn't hear the end of it if I did!) but I also don't have a black cloud over my head when it comes to picking a Preakness winner.

While there are several nice newcomers to the Trail this weekend, I see myself going very chalky in this one.

1. Aikinite (Pletcher/Castellano) - Hasn't won since first out back in August. Some nice efforts including a wide second in the Derby Trial last out, but probably a step below these - especially over a dry track.

2. Schoolyard Dreams (Ryan/Coa) - After a heart pounding finish and loss by the slimmest of noses in the Tampa Bay Derby, he put in a Derby dream ending flat as a pancake Wood.

3. Pleasant Prince (Ward/Leparoux) - The stand out effort in the Florida Derby appears to have been an anomaly.

4. Northern Giant (Lukas/Thompson) - Best bid was over the synthetic. Another still eligible for a NW2 allowance.

5. Yawanna Twist (Dutrow/Prado) - Interesting runner up in the Gotham and Illinois with four solid efforts lifetime but certainly not flattered by the company he kept in either.

6. Jackson Bend (Zito/Smith) - Though steadied early in the Derby, he never worked his way back into contention like Lookin at Lucky did. Still a bridesmaid after a sizzling two-year old season. If anyone can shake it off and jump him up, it's Zito, but this one seems to slide a bit with extra distance. Could be a sprinting monster.

7. Lookin at Lucky (Baffert/Garcia) - Baffert is hoping that a change in jockey will change the horse's luck. Rough trip's have been the hallmark of his three year old season. May be the most talented colt in the race. If he can finally actually get lucky, he's a winner.

8. Super Saver (Petcher/Borel) - Great trip, loved the slop and Calvin was king. This year he stays on the Derby winner as he tries to win back-to-back Preaknesses. With a seeming lack of solid pace in the race, could Calvin take the field wire to wire? Could be.

9. Caracortado (Machowsky/Atkinson) - $40,000 would have bought you this one in his debut. A disappointing race in the Santa Anita kept this one out of the Derby which may have been a blessing. Fresh and ready he's a sentimental favorite but probably a cut below the top three here.

10. Paddy O'Prado (Romans/Desormeaux) - Desormeaux returns to where he rode as a bug boy back in my Maryland heyday. A solid race in the Derby showed he could handle the dirt track, though he's never ran over a dry, fast dirt course. He really stepped up when the spotlight was on though this time he'll probably not be so far back and need to press the pace a bit.

11. First Dude (Romans/Dominguez) - Hard to fathom that this one has a shot.

12. Dublin (Gomez) - Gomez finds a mount but he certainly didn't get any luckier with the Irish here. His preps were a series of almost theres and his Derby was flat. It's tough to imagine that Dublin has the chance to win his first race since last September against this field.

The lack of a real speedster or two in this group makes it an interesting race to figure out. No one in here is a confirmed front runner, but the Derby winner has done it in the past and this race sets up for him to take to the front and do it again. If Paddy O'Prado takes to his flank early and Lookin at Lucky can finally catch a break I think that Lucky can take this one with Super Saver holding for second with Paddy holding off Dublin for the show spot.

Selections:

1. Lookin at Lucky
2. Super Saver
3. Paddy O'Prado
4. Dublin

Working For the Weekend

At least that's how it works for most folks. This weekend, it's working all weekend! Of course when you;re in the racing business, that's how it has to be. And if you're a trainer, groom or rider...well, then it's part of the fabric of your life.

This weekend is a busy one. We're finally opened up at Canterbury Park and live racing begins tonight at 7 PM CDT. The threat of some thundershowers are hanging over us a bit, but hopefully they'll stay away and the bright sunshine that greeted me when I rolled out of bed this morning will stick around all day.

My plan this weekend: live Tweeting (click to start following me on Twitter) from Opening Night tonight with a Blog to follow complete with photos; I Am Woman goes again tomorrow afternoon right before; the Preakness Stakes; live Tweeting from the Upper Midwest Two Year Olds in Training sale with a Blog follow up; a brief preview of Fizzy Pop's race on Sunday; live Tweeting from the races on Sunday; a final follow-up Blog recapping a very busy weekend.

Unfortunately some coverage is going to suffer and, because this blog is Owning Racehorses not Picking Stakes Winners, it's going to be coverage of the Preakness. That said, click on the TBA logo above and you'll be swept off to the Thoroughbred Blogger's Alliance homepage where opinions and analysis abound!

My two cents: another intriguing race. I love the filly and think, if she's good as she seemed in the Oaks, the boys'll wish they blocked her out but there are some sound reasons why she might not be the choice in here. There is the threat of rain at Pimlico (well, word is it poured all last night in Baltimore) and maybe the stars are aligning for Mine That Bird. I think this is a race to watch rather than wager unless you have sound reasons for bouncing out the favorite. To me, Pioneerof the Nile showed me something on the dirt. Sure, it was sloppy dirt, but dirt none the less. He's my pick in here followed by Rachel Alexandra and I'd have to wheel the tri here with Papa Clem, Musket Man, Friesan Fire and yes, the speedster Big Drama to perhaps hold on for a piece. That said, this is too chalky a tri for me and I'll just be enjoying this one at Canterbury Park.

The other story getting the short shift this weekend will be I Am Woman's race. She's in the 10th at Pocono Downs tomorrow a NW$4250 in Last 5 Starts or NW3 Lifetime. She qualifies under the money condition and, with a purse of $8500, she's theoretically stepping up a bit in class from her Late Closer last weekend where she finished a dismal 6th. With Tim Tetrick in the bike, she has a shot, but if she can do it, it'll be at a price. I'm hoping to catch her race live before I head down to Shakopee to cover the sale.

It's going to be a very busy weekend, but we're racing again and that never feels like work!