Welcome! I have been winning at the track for a long time, over 25 years. Without fanfare or self-promotion, I have built a solid record of earning money at most major tracks from New York to Kentucky, Florida, and California.
I know you will find this site both informative and profitable. Inside, my team and I offer you horse racing tips and so much more, such as articles on handicapping horse races as horse handicapping books to help you win. I urge you to check this site daily for the latest racing updates and articles, along with free horse racing selections, special guest handicappers, horse racing tips, and of course, just about anything that pertains to the wonderful world of Thoroughbred Racing.
- John Piesen
John Cashes $91.20 exacta box and $573.60 trifecta box in Friday's Pimlico Special!
A FOUR-HORSE BOX?
By John Piesen
One way to play the Preakness is to box the 5-6-7-9 in the gimmicks. After all, those four ran 1-2-4-5 in the Derby, separated by a mere three lengths, and are the only single-digit runners on the Preakness morning line, and likely at post. All drew well, and the other seven look like minor-leaguers.
A glance at the DRF selections shows that 18 of the 24 selectors pick the top four in one order or another. Rodney Dangerfield got less respect than the not-so-magnificent seven in Saturday's 137th running of the Preakness, which this year is second in interest in the Baltimore-Washington area to the division-leaders Orioles-Nationals down the road in D.C.
Hey, maybe boxing the 5-6-7-9 is the way to go. You're only playing $24 (for $2), and chances are you'll come away with a small profit on the deal. Certainly that will be a popular play on-track and at your favoritie off-track venue.
That doesn't necessarily mean that's where I'm going on the John Piesen Hot Line at 1-888-612-2283, or here online. You need of course to check out my ad which can be found amid the Pimlico PPs in the Saturday editions of Daily Racing Form.
As the ad says, I do intend indeed to improve on my 2-3-4 finish in the Derby,
As usual, the most nervous folks going into the Preakness are the boys and girls from the New York Racing Assn. The difference in business between a Triple Crown at stake in the Belmont Stakes (June 9) an no TC at stake is say 50,000 in attendance, and world-wide media attention or the lack thereof.
One -- and maybe the most likely -- scenario is that Bodemeister wins the Preakness (at 4-5), and the next day, the connections of I'll Have Another and Bodemeister will return to southern California for refreshening... leaving the Belmont to Ruler on Ice. Oops, that was last year.
This year the Belmont could be a three-way skirmish among Dullahan, Union Rags, and Mark Valeski.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
First, there is the Preakness.
As mentioned, Bodemeister will be in the 4-5 range, and it's hardly no secret that he's the main speed on a speed-favoring track. Look no further than Shackleford last year.
Trainer O'Neill says he will instruct jockey Guitierrez to try to stalk Bodemeister from the outside.
Therein lies the key to the race. If Bodey gets a clear lead, school indeed may be out. After all, Bodey has a history of winning every other race by nine lengths, be it a maiden-special or the Arkansas Derby.
On the other hand, if I'll Have Another gioes one-on-one with Bodey through intemperate fractions, we could be looking at a speed collapse, and those 5-6-7-9 tickets would be worthless.
Remember when Forty Niner ran Winning Colors into the ground, and set up the Preakness for Risen Star? And only thre Derby runnersup in 50 years won the Preakness.
Strange things have a way of happening in our sport, never more so than in the Preakness.
Personally, my three most memorable Preaknesses were:
- Codex beating Genuine Risk in 1980. It was the first Preakness I covered for the New York Post... and what did I know? Instead of running down to the winner's circle, or staying in the press box to publicly greet the winning connections, I raced down like a crazy man to the jocks' room. There I found jockey Cordero, who rode Codex, on the phone to his wife Santa back on Long Island, pleading with her to stay calm. It was obvious to me that the Cordero household was receiving scores of hate calls in the wake of Angel's "mugging" of Genuine Risk. Even though we had no Sunday paper at the time, no other media person learned of the story, and I was able to break it on the Monday back page. Angel never forgave me for running with it.
- Sunday Silence beating Easy Goer in 1989. This was the single most compelling East-West rivalry in history, and I was the only Sunday Silence guy among the New York media. There's an old axiom about no rooting in the pressbox, but you couldn't tell that to the hordes of media cheering themselves horse for Easy Goer as the two magnificent horses came down as one to the wire. Hell, they were still cheering for Easy Goer during the replays, I kid you not. After the fact, the media found it necessary to blame jockey Day for Easy Goer's loss, and Patrick. to this day, feels he was betrayed by the Eastern -- and particularly the New York -- media.
- Smarty Jones in 2004. When Smarty made the lead turning for home, and drew off by a pole, old Pimlico erupted in cheers, the likes of which you never heard, and never will hear again at the racetrack. And when Smarty was led back to the stakes barn by trainer Servis, lines fomed 20-deep on both sides to cheer him on, and Smarty never turned the proverbial hair. Only the people broke down. Myself included.
Chances are there will not be a similar show of emotion this time, but let's see what we're looking at in the 2012 running, by post position.
- TIGER WALK
Several sharp works, capped by a bullet:47 half, over his home grounds; first-time blinkers, first-time local hero Desormeaux, and can save some ground from the one-hole. His sire, Tale of the Cat, is a personal favorite, and he exits three graded stakes-placings at Aqueduct A longshot, but not the worst by a longshot. - TEETH OF THE DOG
Trainer Matz keeps Union Rags in the barn, and goes to the bench for son of Haskell winner Bluegrass Cat -- which reminds me: how can they run a Triple Crown race without the Toddster? Jersey Joe gives up a bunch of live ones at Monmouth to stick with this guy, who outran his 53-1 odds to get third in what turned out to be a not-so-great Wood Memorial. He won a Gufstream allowance on the lead, but I doubt Joe will send. - PRETENSION
This Bluegrass Cat colt is the only member of the 11-horse field to have actually raced over the track, and that was a last-out victory in the Canonero Stakes on Derby Day. That said, he looks a tad outclassed here. - ZETTERHOLM
While trainer Dutrow sweats out his 10-year suspension, he's merely winning at a 32 per cent clip this year (see Trickmeister in Thursday's Belmont feature). This guy exits three straight Aqueduct wins, and is getting some local buzz. Jockey Dominguez was aboard for the first of those three wins, but (like Castellano) will be watching the Preakness from the jocks' room. Go figure. - WENT THE DAY WELL
Picked him fourth in the Derby, and that's where he finished after he got stopped three times in first half-mile when first-time blinkers. Late-runner still might be in same class as barnmate Animal Kingdom, but if Bodemeister makes an easy lead, he'll be racing for second money. - CREATIVE CAUSE
Reminds me of another 3-year-old CC (Chief's Crown) because he runs big every time. Closed into a fast quarter in the Derby, and holds a decision over Bodey -- while spotting five pounds. Retains Rosario, who is regarded by West Coasters as a modern-day Bill Shoemaker. - BODEMEISTER
Likely that the folks, who bet him down from 6-1 to 4-1 in last flash in Louisville, will try to recoup. The 3-year-old speed-horses have been dropping like flies, leaving him the absolute lone speed. But he has had a demanding schedule; will he crack? - DADDY NOSE BEST
Had some road problems with Gomez in the Derby; gets regular rider Leparoux back. Won't be as far back this time if he breaks cleanly. His trainer (Asmussen) alone gives him a puncher's chance to make up the 11 lengths he got beat in Louisville. - I'LL HAVE ANOTHER
They all say he got lucky in the Derby. True, but the point is that he had the speed to make his own luck. His rookie rider will be asked to make some important decisions this time -- first and foremost, at what point to make his run at Bodemeister. It's not like mankind needs him to win, but it would be a bonanza for racing if he does. - OPTIMIZER
Trainer Lukas, a five-time Preakness winner, is shooting for the stars with this guy, but his two-back Rebel was no mirage. Wayne again shows his disdain for jockeys by replacing Long Jon with Nakatani, and already got what he wanted in Baltimore -- a daily audience with the media, and resultant headlines. - COZZETTI
Like Matz, trainer Romans (see Dullahan) goes to the bench with this Cozzene colt. Worked bullet :58 on Monday at Churchill, but Romans won't be getting the wet track he wants and needs. Has to find a way to make up the 10 lengths he got beat by Bodey in the Arkansas Derby.
Thanks for tuning in. Don't forget the JP Hot Line, and see you back here next Friday for a look back at the Preakness, and a look ahead to the busy Memorial holiday racing weekend.
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