Triple Crown Game - Third Leg: The Belmont Stakes

Alright!!!! The second leg of the game goes off on Saturday. The Preakness Stakes! As before, I'll update once they have the post positions and jockeys as there is currently only 5 horses confirmed.

It looks like Rachel Alexandria, the Filly who won the Kentucky Oaks with ease is thinking about entering the Preakness which would make Calvin Boreal choose between the Derby winner and the Oaks winner (as he won with both of them).

 

From what you know, which do you think he should pick, if he has to make such a decision?

 

I'd pick the filly. She was absolutely amazing in the Oaks race.

 

while Mine that Bird is still considered somewhat of an underdog, so to speak? At least as much as a Derby winner can be, I suppose.

 

The last I heard, Calvin is choosing to ride Rachel Alexandra if she ends up running in the Preakness.

I need to do early picks again, though I know RA isn't confirmed in the race yet.

Win: Big Drama
Place: Rachel Alexandra
Show: General Quarters

 

A mudder doesn't always do well in the dry.

 

Where does it say that Mine that Bird was a mudder? I think he wouldn't have gone off at 50-1 if he had been.

 

Just a theory.

 

Here are the confirmed contenders, there still could be another added:

Horse ----------- Jockey
Mine That Bird - MIKE SMITH
Big Drama - JOHN VELAZQUEZ
Flying Private - ALAN GARCIA
General Quarters - JULIAN LEPAROUX
Luv Guv - JAMIE THERIOT
Musket Man - EIBAR COA
Papa Clem - RAFAEL BEJARANO
Take the Points - EDGAR PRADO
Terrain - JEREMY ROSE
Pioneer of the Nile - GARRETT GOMEZ
Friesan Fire - GABRIEL SAEZ
Rachel Alexandra - CALVIN BOREL
Tone it Down - KENT DESORMEAUX

 

Considerably fewer horses this time.

 

Here are the confirmed contenders, jockeys, and post positions.

Horse ----------- Jockey

1. Big Drama - JOHN VELAZQUEZ
2. Mine That Bird - MIKE SMITH
3. Musket Man - EIBAR COA
4. Luv Guv - JAMIE THERIOT
5. Friesan Fire - GABRIEL SAEZ
6. Terrain - JEREMY ROSE
7. Papa Clem - RAFAEL BEJARANO
8. General Quarters - JULIAN LEPAROUX
9. Pioneer of the Nile - GARRETT GOMEZ
10. Flying Private - ALAN GARCIA
11. Take the Points - EDGAR PRADO
12. Tone it Down - KENT DESORMEAUX
13. Rachel Alexandra - CALVIN BOREL


As of right now, Rachel Alexandra is going off as the favorite, Pioneer of the Nile is at 5-1, Mine That Bird and Friesan Fire are at 6-1,

 

Friesan Fire didn't exactly live up to expectations in the Derby. Still, its a great name

 

Yeah, the Derby is a different race from other races though. It always nets the biggest field with 20 horses. In a 13 horse race there is less to get tangled up in.

 

True, they're all different from each other. Isn't the Belmont the longest of the three, which is why so many have won the Derby and Preakness in recent years but not the Belmont?

 

Yeah, the Belmont is a beast of a race.

 

Mine That Bird is a horse that comes from behind, and you need time; and the Preakness is too short.

 

Win: Mine That Bird
Place: Rachel Alexandra
Show: Flying Private

 

Win: Rachel Alexandra
Place: Friesan Fire
Show: Mine that Bird

 

Just to be contrary:

Win: Mine That Bird
Place: General Quarters
Show: Rachel Alexandra

 

Win: Terrain
Place: Take the Points
Show: General Quarters

 

1. Rachel Alexandra
2. PioneeroftheNile
3. Musket Man


This seems like a very strong preakness field compared to previous years.

 

I like when the girls win, so I'm rooting for Rachel Alexandra to win, but my picks are going to reflect that the fillies hardly ever beat the boys in big races like this. I'm hoping she proves me wrong.

1. Friesan Fire
2. Rachel Alexandra
3. Pioneerof the Nile

 

Winner: Pioneer of the Nile
Place: Take the Points
Place: Friesan Fire

 

WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE FILLY DID IT!!!!!! Practically wire to wire! 85 years since a filly has won and she did it!

Win: Rachel Alexandra
Place: Mine that Bird
Show: Musket Man

Amazing finish for Mine that Bird too. Shows that they really do have a good horse there and the Derby wasn't a fluke. I'd like to see those two square off again in the longer Belmont. I think Mine that Bird would've caught her if the race was longer.

 

I knew I should have gone with the favorites instead of the field for today's pick for the 'streak of colors'.