Triple Crown Trail: What’s Next?
June 9, 2009 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Horses, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
With the three-year-old spring season in the books, let’s look ahead to the 2nd half of the year.
Derby winner Mine That Bird has returned to Churchill Downs, and he is expected to start twice prior to the BC Classic. He will get a much needed vacation after participating in all three legs of the Triple Crown. A better ride might have netted him a win in the final jewel, but Calvin Borel is only human and would be the first to admit that it was not his best effort.
Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra passed on the Test of Champions and worked a six furlong bullet in 1:13-4/5 on June 8th. She may show up in the June 27th Mother Goose at Belmont Park.
Surprise Belmont Stakes hero Summer Bird could go the Jim Dandy-Travers route. Note that he is stabled at Louisiana Downs, and we have a little $750k event called the Super Derby on September 19th. Young conditioner Tim Ice has plenty of options with the son of Birdstone.
Other than Rachel, the 3yo division lacked quality pace players in the Triple Crown series. I am looking for late developing sorts and quality early/pressing types to step up in the coming months, and Quality Road sure fits that bill.
The James Jerkens trainee is back in training following quarter crack issues. He breezed three furlongs in :38.83 on June 8th. He is working with bar shoes on and still has a long way to go, but the Travers is likely on his plate if his health continues to improve.
Mr. Jerkens also has late bloomer Convocation, who romped to a flat mile maiden victory on the Belmont Stakes undercard. The Dwyer on the 4th of July might be his next target.
Todd Pletcher’s Dunkirk ran a big race to land the place in the Belmont, but the 3yo stable star of the day was Munnings, who garnered a 110 BSF in excellent Woody Stephens tally. The Dwyer or Haskell, followed by the King’s Bishop, are the preliminary plans Pletcher has mapped out for the son of Speightstown.
Nick Zito trainee Just Ben turned in an outstanding effort on the Belmont undercard. He could be a big player in the 3yo sprint division.
Derby-Preakness show finisher Musket Man is pointing to the Haskell Stakes, and Derby runner-up Pioneerof The Nile has returned to SoCal to prepare for the Swaps Stakes.
Dunkirk and Belmont 4th place finisher Charitable Man are likely Travers candidates.
Now that the dust has settled, I am looking forward to new shooters jumping up and biting the familiar faces in the near future.
Image: Newscom
