Preakness Stakes memories

Anybody that knows me, knows that I like to reminisce about things in my life. Whether it was good times with family and friends, hearing a song on the radio and recalling where I was or looking back at 28 years of thoroughbred racing and what it's meant to me. The stories have been many with my love of the ponies, something if you told me in my youth I would be interested in, I wouldn't have believed you. So with the second leg of the Triple Crown today, I'll look back at some memorable Preakness days the last 25 years. Things I remember about the race and what I was doing that day in life.

May 20th 1989 ~ one of my all time favorite runners; Easy Goer was trying to avenge his defeat two week's previously on a off-track at Churchill Downs to Sunday Silence. The summer of '89 was technically my final year as a "single guy", we had our Buzz Club bowling banquet in the backyard of my late best friend; Frank Colvin. I remember watching the narrow defeat of New York's horse to Charlie Whittingham's California sensation. I also remember on that day to NEVER put frozen chicken on a grill without defrosting it first! Two years later, on May 18th 1991 ~ the first "official" public handicapper selection by yours truly was made on the public access show that Nick Kling and I hosted on Gateway Cable; "Down the Stretch". It was in that year's Preakness Stakes and the pick was; Best Pal. I tasted defeat with that pick by my Kentucky Derby choice; Hansel who made easy pickens of the field and who would win the Belmont Stakes three weeks later.

May 17th 1997 ~ the day of my little brother's wedding, as his best man I was quite busy that Preakness day. It was a blanket finish with Free House and Captain Bodgit that I watched from his wedding reception on the bar television and the winner; Silver Charm making it two for two in Triple Crown races. He would meet defeat in the Belmont Stakes three weeks later and break Triple Crown hearts again. May 17th 2003 ~ the biggest score my career was made when the gutsy gelding; Funny Cide blew away in competition by nine lengths at Pimlico and made one handicapper very happy. It was a losing wager on that year's Kentucky Derby and a fun contest by Capital OTB that rewarded me win my biggest payday to date.

May 21st 2005 ~ in one of the most incredible rides by a jockey ever, Jeremy Rose had to hold on for his life as Afleet Alex was rammed into at the top of the stretch, but continued on to win the second leg of the Triple Crown in 2005. I listened to the events unfold via the radio while at a benefit for my best friend Frank Colvin in Fort Plain at Fireman's Park. To this date, Afleet Alex is the ONLY horse that I chose "on top" in all three Triple Crown races. May 17th 2008 ~ the horse I love to hate; Big Brown made short order of that year's Preakness field, but that wasn't the best race on that day. At Arlington Park in the 4th race on their polytrack, Dee Tee Stables won their very 1st race with Kickin' N Screamin'. It was a magical moment in my career of thoroughbred racing, with my first winners circle photo as a owner (even though I wasn't in it). I watched the race from the Gloversville OTB and my loud cheering in the crowded parlor while looking at the race with no volume on a single television set certainly raised some eyebrows. It was my biggest thrill until being in the winner's circle photo for real, two year's later at Saratoga with Ausable Chasm.

These are six famous Preakness days in my life and this race is still my most successful of the three Triple Crown races. It will be tough to top those past memories today, unless I have the superfecta "cold" with my selections or California Chrome wins and heads to the Belmont Stakes and becomes the 12th Triple Crown winner. But first things first, NEVER forget the memories!

Mark Hoffman's 2014 graded Preakness selections

California Chrome (#3) Espinoza / Sherman (3-5)
winner of the Kentucky Derby was much the best with the trip he needed as the favorite last time out, head and shoulders the best 3 yr.old runner in the country comes back in two weeks versus possibly lesser foes than he met in the Derby, tough to take him at "odds-on" but can only see him getting beat if he is a tired horse, I think he gets the job done once again.

Kid Cruz (#7) Pimental / Rice (20-1)
the "new shooter" and most intriguing runner in this race, came from the back of the pack in both local preps here in Maryland, this closer from Linda Rice I was high on going into the Wood Memorial until he had a minor issue, he'll be flying late & with his price is the logical horse to use underneath the "chalk".

Ride On Curlin (#10) Rosario / Gowan (10-1)
had a nightmare bad ride from Calvin Borel in the Derby that got the grand tour of the Churchill strip, never had a chance in the race and gets a new better pilot in the irons today, he'll be closer to the action more forwardly placed.

General A Rod (#2) Castellano / Maker (15-1)
no factor in the Derby after rough trip, also gets a new pilot in the irons today, along with Ride on Curlin are the only two horses that California Chrome faced two weeks ago, may say something about this current group of sophomore horses.

Dynamic Impact (#1) Mena / Casse (12-1)
won the Illinois Derby making first start off maiden breaker with a good speed figure at Hawthorne Park, wore down rival beating him by a whisker at the wire, faces tougher today but has a good stalking style.

Bayern (#5) Napravink / Baffert (10-1)
was D.Q. in last start at Churchill Downs in the Derby Trial going a mile while drifting out badly in the stretch after needless right handed whipping by Rosie, adds speed to the mix, but I question if he wants this added distance to run.

Social Inclusion (#8) Contreras / Azpurua (5-1)
didn't have enough points to get into the starting gate two weeks ago at Churchill Downs, this speed ball hasn't raced since his tiring 3rd place in the Wood Memorial the beginning of April, may dictate the pace and is the short price runner who I'll be leaving out today.

Ring Weekend (#4) Garcia / Motion (20-1)
came down with a fever just before the Derby and missed the race, chased Our Caravan last time out in the Calder Derby (that runner showed nothing in the Peter Pan Stakes last Saturday at Belmont Park) , looks like a grade II or III runner at best.

Pablo Del Monte (#9) Sanchez / Ward (20-1)
got into the Derby field after late defections but chose not to run because of post position, his two dirt races were average and looks like he'll just add more pace to the race, easy throw out here.

Ria Antonia (#6) Borel / Amoss (30-1)
no factor in the Kentucky Oaks, gets third trainer change since the beginning of the year, jockey switch doesn't help her chances either, question why she is even running in this spot, bad move.

California Chrome shines in Kentucky

Quite often in important races with a full field of runners, many times the "best horse" doesn't win. This can be said with many editions of the Kentucky Derby, after all we have a whole lot of young thoroughbreds grouped together and attempting something none have ever done before; going a classic distance of ground. It's takes a special horse and last Saturday evening we saw one.

California Chrome became the fifth favorite since 2000 to win the Run for the Roses. As the 5-2 favorite (lowest since Big Brown in 2008) he went into the race as the best horse and came out of it with the same credentials. The California bred son of Lucky Pulpit sat the perfect trip the entire 10 furlongs of the race and stamped himself as the best three year old colt of 2014 so far. His connections had a story book tale with a likeable crew of owners who reminded me of the Funny Cide group from 2003 and a trainer who once before was at the Derby scene, only it was nearly 60 years ago.

Art Sherman, long time west coast trainer was on the Kentucky Derby trail a very long time ago with the legendary horse; Swaps in 1955. Then, he was the exercise rider for that horse who won the Derby and put California bred runners on the map. Now, this trainer came full circle with his own horse and the storybook tale continues to Baltimore in a week as he attempts victory in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. He was the real deal and best favorite to win this race since Fusiachi Pegasus in 2000.

Six years ago, a runner named; Big Brown won the Derby at nearly the same odds and from post 20. That group he faced that year wasn't that good in hind sight and he would go on the win the second leg of the Triple Crown. But we all know how he broke hearts in the Belmont Stakes and never was much of a runner after that race. I know I'm biased against Big Brown for my own reasons and believe that in the long haul, California Chrome will be a bigger thoroughbred than Big Brown.

While the focus on this year's Kentucky Derby was one of a possible speed collapse for the closers, the time did come up on the slow side with the lowest Beyer speed figure (97) since the inception of these figures. On paper, he was a deserving favorite and with so many of the highly rated two year olds of last year not making the race last week, he had the perfect spot to become the "best horse" to win. Few from the Derby are willingly to follow him in the Preakness and the "new shooters aren't in the same caliber as him. Past history is on his side also, when a dominate Kentucky Derby winner returns in two weeks, he wins. So, I won't be trying to beat him next week. The focus will be on another victory for him and once again the "chance" of seeing history on June 7th at Belmont Park. We have a superstar in the making, with the right connections and horsepower to become a household name.

Today, we have a prep race for the Belmont Stakes in four weeks. The mile and an eighth; Peter Pan Stakes will be contested on the huge Belmont Park oval with seven runners entered. The morning line favorite at 2-1 is Tonalist (#4) trained by Christophe Clement. This lightly raced son of Tapit makes his fourth career start after a runner-up 2nd place finish behind Constitution in a optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on February 22nd. He has had a few minor setbacks since then and has been pointed for this race. He'll be my top selection off his bullet workout in return. For 2nd, I'm going with the much improved Our Caravan (#6) who was big in winning on April 5th in the Calder Derby going a mile in a eighth. It was a huge reversal in form from his two pervious stakes starts at Gulfstream Park. I'll round out my selections with Commissioner (#3) trained by Todd Pletcher. He has been no factor in his last three stake starts and gets one last chance today and may improve over Big Sandy with it's wide sweeping turns.

Mark Hoffman's 2014 graded Kentucky Derby selections

Intense Holiday (#16) Velazquez / Pletcher (8-1)
when several of your horses along the Derby prep trail fall by the wayside, you look to the horses that finished behind them, this Starlight runner ran behind Honor Code & Cairo Prince last Fall in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct going a mile and an eighth, had a sharp workout over the Churchill strip and gets Johnny V in the irons, can set the trip as a mid pack runner behind the speed, this is a timid choice at best.

California Chrome (#5) Espinoza / Sherman (5-2)
this popular California bred runner deserves favorism in the 140th edition of this race, his three races at Santa Anita are the sharpest of any in this field and is definitely the "horse to beat", my only question mark with him is; how he'll react when he is pushed by the other speed horses & how he'll race at a track away from the west coast.

General A Rod (#8) Rosario / Maker (15-1)
I've been following this runner since New Year's day when he had a nice win in the first Derby of the year at Gulfstream Park at a mile, followed that up with a 2nd & 3rd in the other two major preps there and runs for new connections today, was an even 2nd over the Churchill strip as a two year old and will be a square price here.

Ride On Curlin (#19) Borel / Gowan (15-1)
consistent sort only shows once out of the money in nine career lifetime starts, trainer has him and only two other runners in the barn, has a tough post to go from & you get hurt with his odds because of Calvin in the irons, good exotic play.

Tapiture (#15) Santana / Asmussen (12-1)
winner of a grade II stake over the track as a two year old, started the year off good with a victory and place at Oaklawn in their stake preps, had a dud in the Arkansas Derby as the 2nd choice finishing a dull 4th, may rebound today at a track he likes, Santana returns to the irons today, don't over look!

Candy Boy (#18) Stevens / Sadler (15-1)
intriguing longshot closer disappointed in the Santa Anita Derby finishing even 3rd with no late kick after showing one in the RB Lewis Stakes in his previous race, has to maneuver from the outside & show he can also run well away from the California tracks, should be a factor late.

Wildcat Red (#10) Saez / Garoffalo (15-1)
the speedy Sunshine state runner has out run his pedigree in his two turn races at Gulfstream, today he meets other speedy types and gets a true test today on the front end, he may not get the Derby distance..... but, will go down fighting with his gutsy efforts.



Danza (#4) Bravo / Pletcher (8-1)
upset winner of the Arkansas Derby at 41-1 for Mr. Pletcher, never raced two turns before that race, third start off layoff, could be the "now" horse or could bounce from that effort, still don't know what to make of him...... but would be no surprise in this year's field.

Samraat (#6) Jose Ortiz / Violette (15-1)
solid NY bred had his five race undefeated streak snapped in the Wood Memorial, but was game in defeat coming back again to be 2nd best, hopefully would get cooked in a speed duel with the other front runners, game as any in this field!

Wicked Strong (#20) Maragh / Jerkens (6-1)
returned to form with a going away victory in the Wood Memorial, draws the far outside post..... but is a closer, will make presence felt in the stretch, likely the 2nd choice.

Medal Count (#14) Albarado / Romans (20-1)
another closer who has shown versatility on all three surfaces, his two stakes on real dirt..... he showed nothing, but did break his maiden at Ellis Park in a off-the-turf event, best of the polytrack runners in my opinion.

Uncle Sigh (#3) Irad Ortiz / Contessa (30-1)
the other NY bred, broke slowly in last with wide trip and was no factor, gets an equipment change today with BLINKERS ON, trainer had the best quote of Derby week about this runner...... look it up!

Vicar's in Trouble (#1) Napravnik / Maker (30-1)
wire to wire winner of the Louisiana Derby in his last start, has got real "trouble" with tricky inside post, Rosie may be forced to "go" from the spot & get involved a speed duel, hasn't been training the best either...... toss!

Dance With Fate (#12) Nakatani / Eurton (20-1)
closing winner of the last Blue Grass Stakes on polytrack at Keeneland, has become a "wise guy" longshot runner by some....... not me!

Chitu (#13) Garcia / Baffert (20-1)
winner of the Sunland Derby was a question mark running in this race, had shoe problems in recent workout here, Baffert's last bullet after the scratch of my original top pick in this race; Hoppertunity.

Commanding Curve (#17) Bridgmohan / Stewart (50-1)
late entry to this race after his stable was declared this past weekend, trainer had 2nd place longshot closer last year; Golden Soul, not much to say about this runner who is similarly to that runner-up, maybe a superfecta play.


Harry's Holiday (#2) Lanerie / Maker (50-1)
finished 13th in the 14 horse Blue Grass field, another that could add speed on the front end.

Vinceremos (#9) Rocco / Pletcher (50-1)
stopped and finished dead last in the Blue Grass, a 4th or 5th tier Pletcher runner, toss!

We Miss Artie (#7) Castellano / Pletcher (50-1)
connections have made it clear...... this is a prep race for the Queen's Plate at Woodbine in a few weeks, bet him then!

If first you don't succeed ....... or second ....... or third

A wise man once said; "The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray". Not a better quote for this year's Kentucky Derby trail for yours truly. I was quite excited last Fall when a nice two year old colt from the Shug McGaughey barn made a name for himself on the NYRA racing circuit. His name was Honor Code and in my last column for 2013 I was singing the praises of this juvenile. I ended that column with this paragraph; "With what we've seen so far this year with the Juvenile runners, the group is evenly matched with no runner head and shoulders above the rest. Just in the two starts that Honor Code has made, he has the right connections with the right breeding and that exciting running style to be a force next year as a three year old. Next week in the Remsen Stakes here at Aqueduct, going the two-turns for the first time, Honor Code just may be the exciting horse that will turn heads next spring leading up to the 2014 Kentucky Derby". Unfortunately, he would only race once this year and then go on the sidelines with a minor injury. Meanwhile, there was another horse in the McGaughey barn that was just as talented, if not more. Top Billing had major potential with his three races at Gulfstream this past winter. He was being pointed toward either the Florida Derby or Wood Memorial when once again, a injury put him out of commission and out of the Derby. I saw a pattern starting with horses I liked for the First Saturday in May.

That leads us to this past Thursday morning. I was going to try and buck a 132 year old jinx or trend. After weeks of three year old prep races, I was already to select the Bob Baffert trainee; Hoppertunity. Even though he was unraced as a two year old (the last Derby winner who fit that same profile was Apollo in 1882) he had a foundation this year with five starts and two solid efforts in graded stakes competition. He was the alternative to the morning line favorite California Chrome in my opinion. I split the 20 horse field into two separate categories, the contenders and the no shots. There were several of my 10 contenders which figured, but were hard to use in my top spot. As I was ready to work on my graded Derby entries, I found out the news that Hoppertunity was a scratch for this year's Derby. Disappointment reigned again with my top Derby pick, this time only two days before the race. One time before in 1992, years before I was a public handicapper, my top selection; AP Indy was scratched the morning of the Derby. That year, Azari was the odds-on favorite, I went against him finishing in the money. I was right on that count, but with nothing to show for as my other picks were "up the track". Most recently in two different Belmont Stakes, my top picks were also early scratches after the draw. In one case, a horse was going for the Triple Crown (I'll Have Another). But, when it comes to this race; the Kentucky Derby, losing a horse you really like so close to the big race, really really hurts!

Here are my selections for the Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby stakes undercard (races 6 thru 11). Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (6th) : 3/9/1/4 ~ Humana Distaff (7th) : 3/8/2/6 ~ American Turf (8th) : 8/4/5/11 ~ Churchill Downs Stakes (9th) : 4/11/10/2 ~Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (10th) : 1/10/7/3 ~ Kentucky Derby (11th) : 16/5/8/19.

My pick 6 stakes play : 3- 3/8- 8- 4/11- 1/10- 5/16 ($32) good luck!