*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !*

*NOTE - WE WILL CATER TO PAYING CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO ORDER *GOLD RUSH AND EXPERT LEVEL SELECTIONS*
EMAIL US FOR Preferred_VIP Customer Orders. *PRESS HERE TO EMAIL*

*6/06/09 - BELMONT STAKES IS HERE *

__________________________________

The big race is here. The Test of the Champion, The Belmont Stakes. 1 1/2 mile around the huge Belmont Park Oval, the largest in North American.

Borel and Wooley team up again and look to use the powerful closing kick of Mine that Bird to sweep home through the stretch for a massive win in the historic race, or will they ? Being a long time fan of this particular race and attending in person from 1978 through 2002, I can tell you that closers dont win The Belmont.

How many horses were 3rd or 4th in the Derby, closing from behind that never got up in the Belmont. Woodchopper comes to mind, so does Strike the Gold. Massive closers who just could not get up and were too far back to win. Mine that Bird faces this same problem. If you let the speed go, you cant make up enough ground to catch them. If you stay too close, you get tired and cant make it through the long stretch to win.

Middle movers and stalking horses always benefit and do well at this distance. When they make their move and hit the front, they are in an area thats far from the closers and they are moving forward with momentum.

PP#-Name-Jockey-Trainer-Morning Line

1 Chocolate Candy *Gomez* J Hollendorfer 10/1

2 Dunkirk *Velazquez* T A Pletcher 4/1

3 Mr. Hot Stuff *Prado* 126 E G Harty 15/1

4 Summer Bird *Desormeaux* 126 T A Ice 12/1

5 Luv Gov *Mena* 126 D W Lukas 20/1

6 Charitable Man *A Garcia* 126 K P McLaughlin 3/1

7 Mine That Bird *Borel* 126 B L Woolley, Jr. 2/1

8 Flying Private *Leparoux* 126 D W Lukas 12/1

9 Miner's Escape *Lezcano* 126 N P Zito 15/1

10 Brave Victory *Maragh*

*Stick Racing Notes -

Chocolate Candy comes back freshed and ready for a solid performance. Garret Gomez knows how to win the big races, and this one is deadly at 10-1. We LOVE Chocolate Candy.

Dunkirk another who comes in fresh and lightly raced, may be the now horse for team Pletcher. Monster yearling buy bred to win at this distance and is no suprise in here if he does it.

Charitable Man the "NOW" horse, and top trainer McLaughlin brings him in off a smashing Peter Pan win. Having met Mr.McLaughlin in person at Gulfstream when he saddles Cousin Larry's Connie Mack, I have to say Im rooting for him. A true Gentleman and a great trainer, McLaughlin looks to use main goto jockey Garcia for a Belmont 3 for 3 on Charitable Man.

Mine that Bird is now the favorite, thus meaning he cannot possible win. As a longshot and cinderella horse he was compelling. As a favorite, lame duck Triple Crown runner, he's really not that exciting. While he might hit the board, the win looks unlikely. Plus despite the love of Calvin Borel of the media, he did something that hurt the sport, and the Triple Crown by jumping off his Derby winner. No other jockey in history ever did this. Once you commit to a horse for the Derby and win it, your really committed to the Triple Crown on him. While Mine that Bird's trainer accept him back, I as a fan, cannot. The horse is very talented and we love him, but his Derby will be his legacy, nothing more.

Summer Bird made a big middle move only to tire badly in the stretch at Churchill Downs. If Kent can just settle him down and middle move smoothly he might be a big price in the exotics.

Mr Hot Stuff is interesting and may prove to run a bigger race then most think him capable of. We like him, but not for the win. Use him in exotics for a price.

Miners Escape and Brave Victory appear for Zito, who really has not been much of a force in this years Triple Crown. Hard to see his mounts as anything more then a tv appearance.

Flying Private a Lukas chance with a nice fourth in the Preakness. Looks overmatched, but is a nice horse.

Luv Gov a disgrace for Lukas. This horse has no business in the race and its a worthless entry with no chance of hitting the board.

Always remember, The Belmont Stakes is an endurance race. Anyone cannot win in this race as it requires stamina, some tactical speed, and the staying power of a true champion. The horse that exemplifies The Belmot Stakes, is Easy Goer. He was born for that race and he won it impressivly after being defeated twice(Derby, Preakness) on smaller tracks at shorter distances.

Enjoy this race Stick Fans, its the last media appearance for our sport in the mainstream until Saratoga and The Breeders Cup at the end of the year. This years race is exciting and compelling, but the filly really stole all the thunder of the Crowm and you can bet that the number of people watching will be a 1/3 to 1/2 the entire audience less without the Triple Crown possible.

Lets hope the sport can survive the next 3-5 years from now as Indian Gaming, and slot casino's are being opened in almost every state, and Horse Racing tracks are filing backruptcies and looking to sell or open slots themselves to simply survive. Is the golden age of Horse Racing over ? We hope not, but have to realize that Horse Racing may be like General Motors, it will survive, but be a former shadow of itself. I hope it survives. - MC

__________________________________

*6/05/09 - JOCKEY GOES FOR TRIPLE CROWN - Unprecendented run for Triple Crown by jockey and not horse ! *

__________________________________

Well, the owners of Mine that Bird were very forgiving of the fact that Borel helped destory their chance for winning in the Preakness, and have placed him back aboard their Derby winner.

Chocolate Candy returns fresh, Lukas brings in 2 longshots, Zito appears on the scene with 2 entries, andwe will have a lot of news for you later today and tonight.

Please check back with us shortly for updates and selections.

__________________________________

*5/18/09 - PREAKNESS WINNER UPSETS DERBY WINNER - Filly connections help destroy chance for Triple Crown ! *

__________________________________

While the whole racing world lauded the entry of a superstar filly into the Preakness, we have to say it greatly disappointed us.

We have nothing but admiration for the outstanding run and victory of Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes this past Saturday. However, she did in effect kill an honest Triple Crown run by Mine that Bird. Without Rachel in the Preakness, Mine that Bird wins, and shows all his detractors that he is the real deal and his Derby victory was no fluke. If he should run and win in the Belmont Stakes, it would be clear that he had a legitimate shot to do what no other 3 year old has been able to do since 1978, win the Triple Crown. Horse Racing truly needed a Triple Crown winner this year and an exciting cinderella story.

After all the hoopla about General Quarters, the same nostaligia about rooting for the underdog was gone. Mine that Bird was almost treated as a horse that had no business being in the Derby and he upset it. Well, his 2nd place finish in the Preakness from dead last, shows what a powerhouse he truly is.

Its also racing history that a Derby winning jockey gets off his mount to ride anyone else. Calvin Borel showed his great athletic talents, and he must have found it a hard decision to choose between Bird and Rachel. He made the wrong choice. Rachel Alexandra really had nothing at stake to run in the Preakness other then to upset the boys for her future earnings as a broodmare. She will probably not seek a campaign to run against them again. Also, she could have been run in the Travers, or Haskell, and let the boys sort out if a Triple Crown was possible. If she was so much the real deal, and so wonderful, why did'nt they run in the Derby ? Its just picking a spot and poaching the Preakness with a speed horse on a speed track.

By ruining the Triple Crown, the connections of Rachel Alexandra have harmed Horse Racing, not helped it.

A. The Belmont Stakes is now almost meaningless to the majority of new fans who tuned in to watch the Kentucky Derby, our only annual draw to the mainstream sports world.

B. The filly, Rachel Alexandra, will almost certainly not pursue a horse of the year campaign by racing again against the boys. She may be retired to be bred to Curlin, and thus we will never see her again.

C. Calvin Borel did not show loyalty to his Derby winner, and despite all the BS about first call, and loyalty to your regular owners, what was he hoping to prove ? If I owned Mine that Bird, I would never speak to him or even look at him.

D. Horse Racing is on the verge of absolute destruction. Poker and Slots are pulling away the majority of revenue that Racing used to bring in. In addition, without any attempt at showcasing the sport(Jockeys on Animal Planet the one exception), Horse Racing is viewed as a rip off fixed gamble that deserves contempt and to be avoided. Poker is fully embraced and accepted by an enourmous audience with multiple tv shows and exposure. Poker winners are hero's and stars. Jockey's and Trainer's are not showcased, and there is a huge disconnect between fans of the sport and those who run it. Those who run it, stay behind closed doors. Those who try to enjoy the sport, are left on their own with very little interaction between anyone in the sport, even announcers and live touts.

E. Racing trainers and owners show an almost contemt for fans of racing. They dont want to meet and mingle, they simply want to cash in on the big purses. The sport is in deep trouble right now, and if there is no attempt to make the fans feel welcome and part of the sport, it will certainly collapse.

We hope that Horse Racing will be saved, but you cannot escape the feeling that mainstream American Horse Racing is in the same boat as GM. When given the choice to play blackjack, pull a slot machine handle, and be a tv superstar while playing poker, why would anyone want to go see a horse race ? If the mainstream Horse Racing community cannot answer that one question, then it truly has no hope.

Rachel Alexandra won in smashing format from a front running ride. Mine that Bird was second. Musket Man finished third. Longshot Flying Private was fourth. Will anyone remeber this race next year, maybe. 2 years from now ? Possibly. 3 years from now, some who enjoy the sport and follow it. 5 years from now ? NOT A CHANCE. 10 years from now ? They will remember as part of a memorial to a sport that is only seen in Europe and Asia.

__________________________________

*5/15/09 - PREAKNESS NEWS AND ANALYSIS - Race more wide open then derby ! *

__________________________________

If you thought the Derby was a wide open affair, get ready for new faces, and the return of troubled trip superstars.

The Derby strength :

Mine that Bird returns without Calvin Borel. Mike Smith picks up the only 3 year old capable of winning the Triple Crown this year. After a smashing 6 1/2 length victory in the Derby, Bird could not look more imposing. Suddenly, his losing efforts in other minor races now look more powerful and impressive then they did in the past. Maybe he is much stronger then people suspect. DO NOT assume he will run poorly, just because he was a longshot winner in the Derby. This 3 year old may be peaking at just the right time to bring home all the jewels in Horse Racing's Triple Crown.

Pioneer of the Nile and Garret Gomez have no apologizes to make. After sweeping the Southern California preps, Nile ran an ultra impressive 2nd place in the Derby. His Derby effort showcases what a powerhouse this horse is. Baffert stays the course and comes back in the Preakness with the true favorite for the race. This colt has done much more impressive racing with the boys then the lone filly morning line favorite. This is the horse to beat. With his very impressive tactical speed, Gomez can put Nile wherever he wants him, and strike the lead at the top of the stretch before the closers come calling. Baffert looks golden here.

Friesan Fire comes back and looks to avenge his Derby loss. Dont be upset with his finish in the Derby. What was Saez going to do once he dropped back ? Beat the heck out of him to finish 5th or 6th ? By letting Fire drop out of the race when it was clear he could not win in the Derby, Saez gave his mount a very strong second chance at glory. Fire also has fantastic tactical speed, and will be able to grab the lead on the far turn or into the stretch. The only question for Fire is distance. How far does he want to go ?

Musket Man and Eibar Coa come back also from the Derby, after an impressive 3rd place finish. Musket Man has shown he is very capable of running well at a variety of different tracks and under different racing conditions. For all around athlete, Musket Man is cleary an outstanding 3 year old. This one finds his way to the top three almost every time he races, can he put together an outstanding race and win ? Time will tell.

Papa Clem needs that one late run to be a factor. IF he gets in any trouble, he will not be able to overcome the disadvantage. However, if he runs his race, and if he tries to middle move from a close up position, the Papa might run a big one and surpise everyone. He would not surprise his connections or anyone from Arkansas, but he should be a price and he is very capable.

Flying standby is a real puzzle. I keep asking myself, "Whats D.Wayne doing ?" Why did he bring this horse back into the Preakness after such a questionable entry into the Derby that resulted in a dismal performance ? However, D.Wayne is the master. He has the long white beard(not really, just for figurative speech) and long sideburns, and he can call others ... "Grasshopper" Certainly, his disciples have all gone on to greatness, including Todd Pletcher, Dallas Stewart, and Mark Hennig. Is D.Wayne going to spring a major upset in the twilight of his career ? We dont know, but we would cheer for him if he did. We will never forget Winning Colors, one of 3 fillies to ever win the Derby.

General Quarters... ? I dont know what to say. When he runs big, watch out, he can win any race he is in. However, Im still perplexed at how a horse can lose in minor stakes at a smaller track, and then come back to win a grade 1(Bluegrass) at a top track. The only other horse I can think of that did that was....well....Mine that Bird. Oh boy.

The New Blood :

Speaking of fillies....have you checked out Rachel Alexandra ? This little girl lured Calvin Borel off his Derby winning mount(He probably had a committment to her), with a monster 20 length win in the KY Oaks. She is undefeated this year 4 for 4. Rachel gets a very disadvantaged outside post position, and her speed will be put to the test as she will not get easy early fractions. If any filly ever deserved a shot against the boys, Rachel is the lady. She has to hope she can get clear early and slow the race down without being run over by the others, including Pioneer of the Nile. This is one of the nicest fillies we have seen since Ruffian, or Go for Wand. If she can pull off the victory here, she solidifies her place in racing history.

Big Drama won the Florida Stallion Series in a sweep at Calder. He then came back and won the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream before being disqualified to 2nd place. Johnny V picks up an interesting mount. Speed closest the rail, BUT does he want to go this distance ? This one either runs big or is off the board.

Luv Gov..... ? ...... ? ...... ? What ? I dont get it, but hope does spring eternal. If you thought Birds victory in the Derby was the biggest upset of all time, well, it was. If Lov Gov wins here, it would have to rank as the single greatest upset of all time in horse racing.

Terrain, and the CONFEDERATE Grey colors of Adele Dilshneider bring another contender to the front. While I must admit this one has little chance of winning, he may swing into the stretch with a powerful late run that could land him in the 3rd or 4th spot. Hard to gauge if this one can pick up the pieces if the speed horses collapse on the front end.

Take the Points and Tone it Down serve the same purpose as Terrain. Try to pick up the pieces if a speed pace burns off some of the favorties. Any of these three can possibly run 3rd or 4th and make a big price for the triple and super players.

Triple Crown ?

The only horse who can do it would be Mine that Bird. While he does look like a longshot who phreaked in the Derby slop, dont count him out so soon. Instead of looking at the Derby as a crazy finish, look at it as a vindication of Mine that Birds power. He closed like Forego through the slop, and won pulling away in a 1 1/4 mile race. If he is truly peaking right now, not only will he win again the Preakness, but he will win the Belmont Stakes, and we will have our first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

For the record....I truly hope Mine that Bird wins this race. Horse Racing needs a hero so badly it hurts. At a time when the slot machines and indian casino's are taking over America, Horse Racing really needs to catch a break to survive.

Best Racing Stick Fans - "MC_Excelsior"

__________________________________

*5/14/09 - PREAKNESS POSTS UP - Rachel Alexandra Favorite *

__________________________________

Jockey Calvin Borel opts to ride Filly over Derby Winner ! Rachel favorite for race after 20 length romp in KY Oaks. Derby winner, Mine that Bird gets no respect at all 6-1 morning line.

More being posted soon. Check back often tonight and Friday - MC

__________________________________

*5/06/09 - ONE OF THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN KENTUCKY DERBY HISTORY *

__________________________________

Before we start, let us send a BIG Wave of The Stick in congratulations to Mine that Bird, jockey Calvin Borel, his owners, and his trainer, Bennie Wolley, jr. He ran his race, showed his courage and heart and he was victorious in the Derby.

Mine that Bird proves the age old axiom, "on any given day, any horse(or team) can win". This years Kentucky Derby was one of the most stunning upsets in the history of the race.

While we do not want to take anything away from the winner, even the most seasoned handicapper would have been very hard pressed to come up with a figure for this horse that would indicate he was capable of winning this race.

Where do we start ? How about at the start of the race. Eventual winner, Mine that Bird broke....well.....dead last in a field of 19 on a sloppy racetrack. Unamed RABBIT, Join in the Dance, did exactly what he was supposed to do, run on the lead and set it up for Dunkirk. Not one announcer seemed to notice that very obvious fact. Shame on the mainstream for not noticing this trainer tactic to insure a pace for his favorite closer. Todd Pletcher tried to set the race up for his Dunkirk, but after stumbling, Dunkirk had no chance. However, the rabbit did accomplish one thing...he set the race up for a stone cold closer.

Moving into the turn and down the long Churchill Downs backstretch, Pioneer of the Nile was in the perfect position for his running style. In fact, Nile would have been a smashing winner, if not for the superior final run from Bird.

As we turned into the stretch, the famous, calvary charge began. Horse fanned out 5 and 6 and 7 wide to find a path to come home to victory. This allowed a large hole to open up on the rail. Well, for those who know Calvin Bor-RAIL, thats his favorite spot on the racetrack.

Shooting through with a very powerful close, Mine that Bird, showed he was much more of champion then his losses at Sunland Park would suggest.

Third place finisher, Musket Man, continues to impress, and showed great determination in a solid third place finish. Musket has shown he can ship to different tracks, face different competition, and still run big every time. Our All around athlete award has to go to Musket Man for showing up big every time hes asked to run.

Papa Clem, and Chocolate Candy actually reversed their roles form their previous races. Papa Clem choose to be up close, while Candy decided to fly from the back of the pack.

Massvie Trouble Trips : General Quarters stedied not once, but twice and could not improve from 10th place. Dunkirk, stumbled and then steadied, so even though the indication was there for him to run a big race, he also faltered.

--------------------------------

Race Result :

1st Place : #8 Mine that Bird *Borel* $103.20 Win

2nd Place : #16 Pioneer of the Nile *Gomez* $8.40 Place

3rd Place : #2 Musket Man *Coa* $12.00 Show

Exacta : $2,074.80

Triple : $41,500.60

Superfecta : $557,006.40

--------------------------------

Now, onto The Preakness Stakes at Pimlico(Hopefully NOT for the last time !)

Expected to return for a Triple Crown bid will be, Mine that Bird. If he can run big, he vindicated his Derby victory, and no one can call him a phreak !

Best Racing Stick Horse Racing Fans ! - MC*

__________________________________

*5/02/09 - DERBY DAY*

__________________________________

The most famous American Horse Race is today. This one race transcends our sport, and is truly a part of Americana, the fabric of our culture. Please enjoy the race, and remember that it harkons back our sport to a time when it is on top.

With all the difficulties in our economy right now, lets forget about our troubles, and enjoy the greatest race we have.

Hopefully this year we will have a Triple Crown winner ! We have been waiting ever since 1978 and the great Affirmed won the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.

***CALL US 561 361 7146 FOR OUR DERBY SELECTIONS***

UPDATES - I Want Revenge is scratched and will NOT run !

Our 20 horse field is now down to 19 with the scratch of the favorite.

Also, rain is expected in Louisville.

(These are not our selections, just notes and insights)Please note this year we are only doing over the telephone selections.

Friesan Fire looks to be the only horse with mud experience winning the LA Derby. Also, if you like Fire, Papa Clem may also show some ability in the slop.

Dunkirk looks to break the not running a s a 2yr old jinx.

Musket Man seeks to show he can win on yet another racetrack, as his travels show him to be the only one who did not stay in the same area.

General Quarters catches two big breaks with the defections of Quality Road, and I Want Revenge. Its now or never for this talented, but irregular runner.

Chocolate Candy and Pioneer of the Nile both come from California with a lot of talents, but are they on the same wavelength for Churchill after enjoying the speed ovals of California. This race is a 1 1/4 mile event and there have been so few speed horses who held on or did not tire being near the front end.

This years Derby is one of the most wide open ever. Please enjoy it responsibly, and lets all have fun watching our race !

*4/22/09 - WE'RE BACK AND THE KENTUCKY DERBY IS HERE !!!*

__________________________________

*CHURCHILL DOWNS*

WE HAVE TO TELL ALL OUR FANS WE ARE BACK AND READY TO GIVE YOU ALL THE TOP STORIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT HORSE RACING AGAIN.

PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN AS MANY NEW STORIES AND SELECTIONS INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED.

WE MISSED ALL OF YOU GUYS, WE HOPE YOUR HAPPY TO SEE US BACK, THE STICK HORSE RACING DOT COM WILL NEVER EVER DIE. WE MAY GO DORMANT FOR A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS, BUT WE ALWAYS COME BACK TO YOU GUYS, WE LOVE YOU, AND WE HOPE YOU LOVE US ALSO.

HORSE RACING WILL NEVER DIE ! - "MC"