Eat My Dust

Poor Mine That Bird. He has lost yet another jockey. I wonder if having a new rider in the Preakness negatively impacted his performance. Did Mike Smith wait a hair too long to make his move? Would Borel, who rode him in the Derby, have handled the race differently or better? Who knows. Now that poor horse has to adjust to yet another jockey, though Borel may be back if Rachel Alexandra isn't entered in the Belmont. In any event, I hope that Mine That Bird kicks all their asses and makes them EAT DUST in the Belmont, whoever is in the stirrups.

Who's on First?

When filly, Rachel Alexandra, won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths, she was ridden by Calvin Borel. The next day, Borel rode Mine That Bird to an incredible upset victory in the Kentucky Derby. (I just watched the replay on the Kentucky Derby website, and it was a phenomonal effort. Mine That Bird was dead last, by several lengths, for a good part of the race). Anyway, the day after the Kentucky Oaks race, Rachel Alexandra was sold. The new owners of Rachel Alexandra have entered her in the Preakness, which runs tomorrow. Borel has decided to switch back to the filly, leaving Mine That Bird, THE KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER, to last minute jockey, Mike Smith! I don't know what to think of this. Borel had said that if he had to choose, he would choose RA. Plus, he has won 5 races on her, I think. More than anything, though, his choice tells me that Borel thinks Rachel Alexandra has a better chance than Mine That Bird in the Preakness.