CHANGE MY LOCATION
Los Angeles Examiners
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Examiner
Most Recent Post
No place for Moseley in Angels’ playoff rotation (thank God); Scioscia still must drop a starter
Big Brown not only horse in town
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Count Racecar Rhapsody trainer Ken McPeek among those hoping for a fast start to today’s Preakness.
McPeek believes if the 11 other horses expend their energy at the start of the 1 3/16th-mile race, his 30-1 long shot has a chance to stun a national television audience watching on NBC this afternoon at 6:15 by upending favorite Big Brown with a late charge.
“Other than Big Brown, it looks like the race is wide open,” he said. “We all know that anything can happen. You can’t have any fear.”
Fear, however, is something not found in McPeek’s horses, including Sarava, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Triple Crown history when he won the 2002 Belmont Stakes at 70-1 odds.
But it would be an even bigger upset if Racecar Rhapsody was to beat 1-2 favorite Big Brown, who easily won the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago.
Another contender to trot into the winner’s circle is Hey Bryn, whose owner, Beatrice Oxenberg, celebrated her 87th birthday on Friday.
Hey Bryn is 20-1 to win, but has finished first in three of four races this season. The horse’s only loss, however, was a fourth-place finish behind Big Brown in the Florida Derby.
“He is the favorite and deserves to be the favorite, but favorites get beat,” said Edward Plesa Jr., who trains Hey Byrn. “We’re not here to run for second money, we’re here to win the race.”
Nick Zito, the trainer of Stevil, agrees.
“I hope we run a good race, get close and try to beat him in the next town,” he said. “To say anybody, on paper, can beat Big Brown is a hard stretch. However, they don’t run on paper. They run on dirt and they run here. We’ll see what happens.”
Zito has experienced success at Pimlico Race Course before, winning the 1996 Preakness with Louis Quatorze. Stevil, however, has had his share of struggles, failing to win his past six races.
But history doesn’t favor the colt coming away with the win. Since 1980, only five horses have won the Preakness after skipping the Kentucky Derby.
“He’s very consistent,” Zito said of Stevil. “He always runs a good race.”
Lexington Stakes winner Behindatthebar, trained by Todd Pletcher, pulled out of the race on Friday.
Big Brown is a 1-2 favorite and Gayego is 8-1, but the remaining 10 horses were all listed at odds of 15-1 or higher as of last night.
“I’d say realistically, everybody in the race, except for Big Brown, are all very equal and could run second or third,” said jockey Jeremy Rose, who won in 2005 with Afleet Alex and will ride Icabad Crane today. “I think Big Brown is the standout. But that’s why they run them. Maybe he doesn’t run his race. But on paper, I think we’re as good as everyone else in the race.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:11 PM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008 re: "Toilet options abound at track"
Report as inappropriate
10:54 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008
re: "It’s a one-track mind for this horse lover"
Report as inappropriate
10:18 AM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008
re: "Will Preakness move? Analyst says ‘neigh’"
Report as inappropriate
8:30 PM MST on Fri., Oct. 19, 2007
re: "Will Preakness move? Analyst says ‘neigh’"
Report as inappropriate
10:07 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 13, 2007
re: "Will Preakness move? Analyst says ‘neigh’"
Report as inappropriate
1:27 PM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007
re: "Will Preakness move? Analyst says ‘neigh’"
Report as inappropriate
12:16 PM MST on Sat., May. 19, 2007
re: "Will Preakness move? Analyst says ‘neigh’"
Report as inappropriate
Danny Burns said:
I was at Pimlico this past weekend and the bathrooms were absolutely filthy. I was lucky enough to of had the opportunity to use the Insta-Wiz and it was magical. It provided full privacy and was much more sanitary than anything else out there. Thanks again Vin for coming up with the idea...you are truly a genius!!
1 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Rafael Alvarez fan said:
if the preakness leaves Baltimore, it's not the preakness now, is it?
2 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
AMERICA CALLING said:
if i could move it i would maryland as it is today doesnt deserve it who wants to come to crime city to see a race of this type maryland voters have no class they elect jerks they cry about it then elect them again wake up people
2 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Move it. Baltimore and Maryland do not want this race. They prove it day-in and day-out. Besides, who wants to visit a tree-lined slum and attend a horse race? Shut down Pimlico and make it public housing. More votes for the demoncrats that way.
157 agree | 151 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Yes for Maryland slots. West Virginia sucks money from Virginia and Maryland. I hate to see Preakness move . It is good for jobs . Maryland deserves to have nice horse race facility with all bells and whistles like everybody else.
195 agree | 214 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Move Preakness Advocate said:
I have been going to Belmont for the last 7 years and have now been to the Preakness twice. Once in the infield and this last time in the GrandConcourseReserve. Aside from enjoying a few races and beers, I don’t think Pimlico is worthy of hosting the second leg of the Triple Crown. It's completely unsafe, both outside the stadium and inside the infield. The overpriced tickets are one thing, but the $70 to park is outright obnoxious! Not to mention it opens up the flood gates for some of the seediest characters looking to make a quick buck by turning their front lawn (or the abandoned lot next it) into a parking lot. I also think everything is priced so high just to keep some of these same people out of the Preakness. It would be one thing if the price of admission reflected condition of the stands and betting booths, but it just doesn’t- Pimlico is in dire need of a make over. Unfortunately, so is most of Baltimore because I've never seen so many boarded up houses in my life.
220 agree | 232 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
BC said:
I can tell you unequivically, that if the Preakness were to move, the cause would be solely the responsibility of the track owners. They will do anything to get slots, including making threats to move the race.
256 agree | 219 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree