Normandy In Out of Preakness

I agree they are doing what's best for the horse. Plenty of big races down the line.

E1 -- I wouldn't consider NI a plodder. He was mid-pack placed and spurted off (did not grind) when asked around the turn in the Derby. He is more versatile than one may believe though he may not want 10f (still up for debate). As for Orb, he is a closer but as I pointed out before the Derby he can close into sloooooow fractions and even if he doesn't have natural early speed it doesn't seem to matter -- that is where class comes into play. Just because a horse is a 'plodder' shouldn't be a knock, he can go 10f and win impressively that says more than going fast early and flattening out with 2f to go when we are talking about Classic horses.

Horse's will play to their style, it wouldn't be a horse race if it was a horizontal line of horses the whole way around. Orb is a good horse, and he should have a nice shot this Saturday.

thanks cait,

As for Departing it's really hard to say, he was 3rd behind Rev and Mylute in the LA Derby and appears to be coming into form, but one must not forget those two were well clear of the field. I tend not to get too enthused by the Illinois Derby as it has produced only one serious TC contender in recent years (frontrunner War Emblem) and the other big shots (Sweetnorthernsaint and Recapturetheglory) both ran OK in the Derby (7th and 5th) but still didn't pan out to expectations. I'd say the best thing he has going for him is freshness and his connections. I really can't see him doing any worse than 5th, though I can't see him finishing ahead of Orb, Mylute, and Governor Charlie if he gets an easy pace to go at.

Based on his last two races and how he looks coming in I see him getting between 3-5th. I don't think he'll win but he'll probably round out the latter half of the super.

Right now the field is actually pretty well sliced up between closers and front runners. There is a lot of speed, I'd say about as many as 5 contenders are front runner types and if you coun't Itsmyluckyday then 6. There should be plenty of pace (who knows maybe they'll dwadle like the Derby was "supposed" to be hahaha) and I think Titletownfive and Gov. Charlie probably battle it out with Goldencents 1 off of them and Oxbow, Itsmyluckyday 2 or 3 off him. Followed by that pair is probably Will Take Charge, Mylute, Orb, followed by Departing.

I wouldn't be suprised at all if Amoss tells Rosie to get Mylute into the game a little early so maybe he'll be up by Itsmyluckyday or Will Take Charge. The back two will be Orb and Departing. I just don't think Departing will have the same sort of kick as Orb or even Mylute. It really all depends on how fresh everyone is who ran in the Derby.

I haven't won the Preakness since 2010 so what do I know....still that's how I see it being played out.

Orb is the horse to beat, Governor Charlie is in my opinion the most dangerous in terms of being a 'game changer', and Mylute and Oxbow always run pretty tough races even if they lose. Departing is questionable but he's only lost 1 race (against very good horses) and he appears to be peaking so he should run somewhere in the super. If I had to make a bet this minute:

SuperWheel: Orb/Gov Charlie with Orb/Gov Charlie/Mylute/Oxbow with Oxbow/Mylute/Departing with Oxbow/Departing

I did not like Oxbow's work today, he usually doesn't work slow like that -- it was probably his most unappealing work since December of his 2yr old season. Before today I could see Oxbow finishing no worse than 3rd, but now I wouldn't be surprised if he bombed....but I still feel he's better than most in the race and I would use him if I used a SuperWheel in the 2-3-4 slots.

trying something different with oxbow= $5.00 photos in front of k mart this weekend for kids 12 and under!