Did anyone watch the Preakness? What a race! .. and if the race had been just a wee bit longer, Mine That Bird woulda taken over the lead. Bird was in LAST place and ran up thru the pack to come in 2nd. That horse doesn't get warmed up till the half mile mark.
The filly was definately struggling through the final furlong, but had the grit to hang in there... her ever shortening strides almost got her beat though.
Little short for Mine... he just ran out of track... should do well in the Belmont at the longer distance.
Musketman was backing up the final half furlong... he was done in deep stretch.
Overall, it panned out pretty much as it figured to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTJUTJJCmR0Rachael has the speed, and Bird has the endurance.
In racing, a horse that pops out of the gate on the front end is a speed horse or "rabbit"... one that finishes strong like Bird is a "closer", an endurance or "distance" horse.
He's not running faster at the end... the pace of the race is slowing down as the others tire, and his endurance is making it appear like he's picking up speed.
On the track, horses with Bird's running style are often referred to as "plodders" because they run at the same speed throughout the race.
They get left behind at the start, and provided the race is long enough to begin tiring the sprinters, they catch up and finish with a flourish... appearing to actually be gaining speed when in reality the front runners are slowing down.
Anyone see the pony horses? Lovely! Did you guys see the paint pony horse that didn't have a bridle on? He was the pony horse for #5 Fresian Fire! Of course I look at ALL the horses not just the race horses Some of them are even ex race horses themselves.
Don't miss the story on Lights on Broadway. He is either in training or trained to be a bridleless pony horse.
http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Lights_On_Broadwayhttp://mythoroughbredblog.blogspot.c...spotlight.html and some more mumbo jumbo horse racing stuff from my horse racing mentor in Ocala:
[QUOTE blueracer]What about the fractions in the Derby? They said Bird's last surge was almost as fast as Secretariat's, just a hair off and the fastest since his. ?? Just curious. That appears he was picking up speed at the end. Great little horse, I hope he wins the Preakness!
[QUOTE redracer]Yeah... They're comparing final fractions.
The opening quarter is faster than the final quarter... always.
When they compare Bird's final fraction to Secretariats, it is only that one particular fraction... either the final quarter or the final furlong... not the overall time.
While Secretariat was a "close runner" and set many of the fractions in his races, as a "plodder", Bird conserves his energy through the first half mile or so, falling way back, and is able to deliver a consistant final fraction which makes the horse appear to be flying when in actuality he is running the same (or perhaps just slightly faster at the end, but not as much faster as it appears) speed throughout the entire race.
The illusion of great speed at the finish comes from the other horses slowing through the final fraction while Bird maintains his steady pace... this also allows Bird to set actual fast final fractions since he hasn't set any fast fractions throughout the first 6 furlongs or more.
Riding a closer (or "plodder") is very nerve-wracking... you can't rush them or they burn out, and apparently Bird needs at least a full 1 1/4 miles to get to the wire in time... the Preakness was too short.
He should do well in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes... and with his great endurance, he may even rival Secretariat's final furlong time for that race too.
Hard to say though since Secretariat ran the Belmont "like a tremendous machine" (quote from the announcer's call of that great race)... in any event, it'll be a great race to watch.
Nothing against the filly, but I'll be surprised if her connections dare to start her in the Belmont...
She barely hung on at the much shorter distance of the Preakness.
If I was her Trainer, I'd probably look for a nice "weight for age" filly/mare Stake to follow up with, or even an open Allowance race... something at a flat mile to freshen her a bit after running so hard in Baltimore.
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