JC / Railbird

Three Days Out

When asked, before the 1983 Preakness, about Marfa’s quarter crack:

Lukas responded: “When you get so close to one of these Triple Crown races with a good horse you do everything you can to make the race.”

The reporter countered with this remark that ended the press conference: “That sounds great Mr. Lukas, but isn’t it the horse that’s going to have to run around the track on Saturday; not you?”

Deputed Testamony won, Marfa finished fourth.

Posted by JC in Racing on 05/08/2014 @ 9:00 pm / Tagged D. Wayne Lukas, Deputed Testamony, Marfa, Preakness Stakes, Racing History / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Royal Potential

Jay Hovdey:

The mob cries for the instant gratification of another Rachel Alexandra when Untapable, allowed to evolve in her own time, could be another Royal Delta.

Posted by JC in Racing on 05/07/2014 @ 6:00 pm / Tagged Untapable / Follow @railbird on Twitter

The Last Leg

The way the Preakness Stakes is shaping up, California Chrome won’t meet many of those he beat in the Kentucky Derby again until the Belmont Stakes. That’s the race the Derby winner is most vulnerable, writes Sam Walker:

It is hard to be positive about the Belmont after [his Derby] run. Off such an ideal pace it would have been nice to see that margin of superiority extend ever further to the line, or at least hold true. But the fact is it diminished and over another furlong he might not have won.

The last Belmont quarter can be a killer. Just look at the recent sectional times:

Posted by JC in Racing on 05/06/2014 @ 9:48 am / Tagged Belmont Stakes, California Chrome, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Triple Crown / Follow @railbird on Twitter