Fabulous Strike races tomorrow

Fabulous Strike will be racing Sunday at Belmont in the Tom Fool Handicap. The race is at seven furlongs. He usually does not win at the longer distances, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

Rachel Alexandra wins by almost 20 lengths

Rachel Alexandra had to beat only two others today at Belmont, with the two scratches in her race. A fast pace was set by the two front runners. Rachel was held back just behind them. This made the race even easier for her. Tough if she was racing up there with them, she probably would have still won with ease. She took over the race in the stretch and just kept extending her lead to win by almost 20 lengths. This is a rare type of horse. She has been doing so well lately that it is now hard to imagine anyone that can beat her.

Rachel Alexandra at Belmont

Rachel Alexandra is racing today in race 9 at Belmont. This is a small field of just four others she has to beat. Two other horses though are also front runners like she is. What usually happens though if one horse is much faster than the others, is that the speed duel should have no effect on the fastest horse. She is much quicker than the other two. It is unlikely they will be able to keep up with her. It should be a fun race to watch.

Naughty New Yorker vs Commentator

Naughty New Yorker is finally back after a year off. He has a pretty tough task his first race out in facing Commentator. Commentator is a Grade 1 winner and has almost $2 million in earnings. These two New York bred horses have never met in a race before. They both have been working out really well. Commentator is the only front runner and will have the advantage here. It looks like Naughty New Yorker will need a win to hit over $1 million in earnings. His current total is $981,124. It should be an exciting race to watch.

Naughty New Yorker working out well

My favorite horse Naughty New Yorker has been working out some fast times lately. Today he worked 4f in 47.16 at Belmont. He is 7 years old now. He has not raced since last year. Hopefully he will be back soon in action. With the slower Beyer figures it seems this year for many of the top horses, maybe he will be able to do well in the in some of the Graded races also. He is just under $1 million in earnings.

Summer Bird wins Belmont Stakes

Summer Bird won the Belmont Stakes yesterday. The race turned out to be pretty exciting to watch, even though a lot of the Kentucky Derby horses were not in it. Birdstone is producing some big winners. Mine that Bird who won the Preakness is also from Birdstone. I think Dunkirk bounced back well off his Kentucky Derby race. It was a little strange to see him on the lead though. He should run more good races this year.

Fabulous Strike in stunning victory

Fabulous Strike ran a giant race today at Belmont, almost in a record setting track time. He ran a final time of six furlongs in 1:07.85. The record is 1:07.66. He went four furlongs in 43.62, five furlongs in 55.28. He was able to hold off a late run from Benny the Bull to get a 1 1/4 length victory.

Fabulous Strike hits $1 million in earnings

Fabulous Strike now has over $1 million in career earnings. Fabulous Strike is a 6 year old horse. He is racing this Saturday at Belmont in race 6.

Belmont Stakes

Belmont (race 11)
A field of 10 will race this Saturday in the Belmont Stakes. Some horses to consider:

Dunkirk: His first race back since the Kentucky Derby. He should run well after his time off.

Charitable Man: Big win last out. Uncertain though if he can run another big race back this soon.

Mine That Bird: Lost to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. He seems to be on a run lately. He can probably get the 1 1/2 mile distance easy. He has a short time off though from his last race to run a long 1 1/2 mile distance.

This race is full of closers. Miner's Escape is the only front runner in here. The winner will be determined by class and who can go the 1 1/2 mile distance. I like Dunkirk. He needs to run like he did in the Florida Derby. If not, Mine That Bird looks to take it.

Rutherienne hits $1 million in earnings

Rutherienne now has over $1.1 million in career earnings after winning this Saturday at Woodbine. Rutherienne is a 5 year old turf mare.

I always use the $1 million mark as a guide in determining how much a horse has accomplished in their career. The horses who can earn this amount or more are real race horses. It is a great accomplishment for a horse. The majority of them will never earn near this amount.

Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness

Rachel Alexandra controlled the pace in the Preakness and was able to win on the lead. She got maybe a little tired in the end but still hung on. Many of the horses from the Kentucky Derby looked tired and had very little energy. Only two weeks rest between races is usually not enough for most of them. They should bounce back and run well in summer.

Preakness

Pimlico (race 12)
A field of 13 will race this Saturday in the Preakness at Pimlico. A filly is also in the race; Rachel Alexandra. Some horses to consider:

Mine That Bird: Won the Kentucky Derby on a rail trip. Unlikely to repeat again.

Musket Man: Had a great last work. He came in 3rd in the Kentucky Derby. Looks like he can rebound pretty quickly here and do well.

Friesan Fire: Good last work. Came in 18th in the Kentucky Derby. Looks best for an off-track. Maybe a little below the top ones here.

Pioneerof the Nile: Good last work. Came in 2nd in the Kentucky Derby. He had outside post in his last race. Should run well if he stays behind the leaders.

Rachel Alexandra: She has the fastest Beyer of all of them so far; a 108. Last workout though shows she will probably not repeat the same performance as her last race. She will also have to overcome the outside post.

A few front runners will be trying to get the lead. Rachel Alexandra, Tone It Down, and Big Drama will all be out there early on. This should set the stage for a closer. Unless Rachel Alexandra can get away early and not be effected by the pace, Pioneerof the Nile looks to be the winner.

Pioneerof the Nile works for Preakness

Pioneerof the Nile worked today at Churchill Downs. He did 4f in 47.60. It was 4/42 for the day at the distance.

Mine That Bird wins Kentucky Derby

Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby by over six lengths yesterday on a sloppy track. A major upset. The track was mostly favoring horses that ran on the rail. He had the rail most of the race. Had the track been fast, I think the results would have been much different.
For his first time on a dirt track, Pioneerof the Nile ran a great race, coming in 2nd. He beat out all of the dirt horses except the winner. I think Pioneerof the Nile is clearly the top 3 year old in the country. His future races should be great ones.