Looking for a Preakness pick?

The middle jewel in the Triple Crown is often the middle child, overlooked all too often, but this year the Preakness has an exciting question:  Can the Bob Baffert-trained Bodemeister take the victory he, many believe, should have had in the Kentucky Derby?

For ruminations on this topic and to get ready for tomorrow's race, here are some people with thoughts on the matter:

Kevin at Colin's Ghost:  here
Joe Drape at the New York Times:  here
Steve Haskin at the Blood-Horse:  here

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper Headed to London

By Kitson

Mystery Whisper behind the scenes during his winning weekend at Jersey Fresh,
all photos courtesy of Joanie Morris.

Last month I chatted with Phillip Dutton as he drove south from his farm in Pennsylvania to Kentucky for the Rolex 3-Day Event, which was an "observation" event as part of the selection process for the Olympic team. I asked him about his preparations and hopes for the 2012 Olympics, and the four horses he's campaigning (Mystery Whisper, Ben, Fernhill Eagle and Mighty Nice, more info about them here). He told me -- when it comes to making the Olympic team, "It all depends on how these horses go. So many things can happen, we just do our best and wait it out.”

Phillip's patience has paid off. The US Eventing Association reported this week that after a big win at the Jersey Fresh International Three-day Event  in Allentown, New Jersey last weekend, Phillip and his new ride, the 10-year old warmblood Mystery Whisper fresh from Australia, have made the eventing team. Check out the video of his win here.

This will be Australian-born Phillip's 5th Olympic games, and his second go representing the United States since he became a citizen in 2006. The individual eventing competition in London kicks off on July 28, followed by dressage and jumping. Click here for more details. Thanks for the photos, Joanie!

Katherine Bateson-Chandler's New Ride

By Kitson

Alcazar, photo courtesy of Katherine Bateson-Chandler

I got a little horsie eye candy yesterday from Grand Prix dressage champion Katherine Bateson-Chandler: a picture of her new horse, who started out as Alonzo but as of yesterday had been re-named Alcazar. The 7-year old Dutch-bred Warmblood gelding (recently purchased by Jane Clark) arrived at Katherine's barn in Wellington last month. Check out an article about this gorgeous creature at Eurodressage.com.

The Onion Takes on the Kentucky Derby

By Eliza

A very funny moment from the writers over at The Onion, as they imagine what Derby winner I'll Have Another must have been thinking.  A selection: "Then a horn sounded and it scared the hell out of me and everyone was running," the horse added. "And all I could think was, 'I'm only 3 years old. Please, God, I'm only 3.'"

Speaking of Secretariat...

By Kitson

Three weeks ago I blogged about a little great-grandson of Secretariat being pulled out of a dismal and neglectful situation. Here's a updated picture of the chestnut foal and the TB yearling, Willow who suffered the same neglect. They look so much better and appear to be solidly on the road to recovery at Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue.

Doodle 4 Google Secretariat contestant

By Eliza

Those of you who have kids may have had them enter the Doodle 4 Google art contest, in which young artists drew a Google image about a place and time they wanted to visit.  Piper F., in Grade 7 in Heath, Texas, said she wanted to see Secretariat win the Triple Crown.  Gorgeous "doodle" (these are really full-fledged works of art).  Vote for Piper F.!  Click here to see her work.

Story about racehorse trainer Max Hirsch

By Eliza

Derby week racing focus continues with a link to a story I wrote about the great trainer Max Hirsch. . .
Click here.