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A drastic step in New York  

New York Seizes Control of Horse Racing Tracks – Page 1
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/york-seizes-control-horse-racing-tracks/t/story?id=16404770

With the Belmont Stakes — and a potential Triple Crown victory for I’ll Have Another – just weeks away, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that the state will seize control of the scandal-plagued organization that operates the Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga racetracks.

Under the terms of a deal completed Tuesday morning, a 17-member “turn-around” board will run the New York Racing Association for the next three years. The board will include elected members of the state legislature, appointees chosen by the governor and representatives of the NYRA and the horseracing industry.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Velazquez will ride Union Rags for Belmont
http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/triplecrown2012/story/_/id/7961842/john-velazquez-union-rags-belmont

Trainer Michael Matz confirmed May 22 that Union Rags will be ridden by jockey John Velazquez in the June 9 Belmont Stakes.
In the colt’s previous three starts, he was piloted by Julien Leparoux, who guided him to victory in the Feb. 26 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

I’ll Have Another ‘A Very Happy Horse’ | BloodHorse.com
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69962/ill-have-another-a-very-happy-horse

An assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill said Triple Crown contender I’ll Have Another was a happy horse the morning of May 21 and could go to the Belmont Park main track later in the week.

“He looks fantastic this morning,” said assistant trainer Jack Sisterson. “He ate everything up last night and is a very happy horse. He walked the shedrow this morning. I have to speak with Doug, but it’s likely he will go to the main track at some point this week.”

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Cauthen Compares Affirmed, I’ll Have Another | BloodHorse.com
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69956/cauthen-compares-affirmed-ill-have-another

Steve Cauthen sees comparisons between Affirmed, the colt he rode to the 1978 Triple Crown as a fresh-faced 18-year-old youngster, and I’ll Have Another, poised to become the first 3-year-old to do it since.

Cauthen, known at the time as “The Kid,” can also relate what to the “new-kid-on-the-block” Mario Gutierrez is going through after guiding I’ll Have Another to close wins over Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

“I guess I’m having a flashback,” Cauthen told The Associated Press May 20 from his breeding farm in Verona, Ky. “He’s a new kid on the block like I was. The kid’s got a great attitude and a great smile. And, like me, he’s been put in a position to ride in these kinds of races and a shot at maybe winning the Triple Crown. And the trainer and owner (Doug O’Neill and Paul Reddam) have confidence in him.”

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

I’ll Have Another wins Preakness Stakes – latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre-preakness-20120520,0,3090549.column

BALTIMORE — The amazing story moved up to incredible. I’ll Have Another ran true to his name.

On a Saturday that brought blue skies, perfect temperatures and a record crowd of 121,309 here at venerable Pimlico racetrack, the horse who has never been favored in a race and has been mostly under-appreciated by the public, even the racing public, won the 137th Preakness.

Now, it is I’ll Have Another who will take a shot at history. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. There have been only 11, going back to Sir Barton in 1919. The last horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness was Big Brown in 2008, and he was mysteriously pulled up in the Belmont.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Not only is there the possibility of a Triple Crown winner, but the numbers from the Preakness are very encouraging!

Preakness Stakes draws record crowd, increased handle
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/05/19/preakness-stakes-draws-record-crowd-increased-handle.aspx

A record crowd of 121,309 turned out to Pimlico Race Course to witness I’ll Have Another’s dramatic victory in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on Saturday, or at least partake in the race’s infield festivities. The figure narrowly surpassed the previous record set in 2005, when 121,263 witnessed Afleet Alex win the second jewel of the Triple Crown. This year’s attendance was a 13% increase from last year’s total of 107,398. All-sources handle rose 5.3% in 2012, from $76,376,698 to $80,463,005, both for 13 races

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Bodemeister Still Heavy Preakness Favorite | BloodHorse.com
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69907/bodemeister-still-heavy-preakness-favorite

As of 11 a.m. EDT Saturday, Bodemeister remained the heavy betting favorite for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), sitting at odds of 9-5 while Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner I’ll Have Another is the 3-1 second choice.

Bodemeister, runner-up in the Derby, was 8-5 on the morning-line when odds were set on May 16. I’ll Have Another was 5-2.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Desormeaux Taken Off Preakness Mount | BloodHorse.com
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69883/desormeaux-taken-off-preakness-mount

After being taken off his mounts at Belmont Park May 18 for running afoul of New York’s rule on alcohol impairment, Kent Desormeaux also lost his mount in the May 19 Preakness (gr. I), Tiger Walk. 

Ramon Dominguez will replace Desormeaux on Sagamore Farm’s Tiger Walk, a 30-1 shot trained by Ignacio Correas.

“It was a team decision,” Correas said. “Ramon is a great rider. We’re happy to have him.”

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

I talked about this horse in my 2012 Preakness ValueCapping video Rant. You can see it at www.winnersform.com/Preakness-2012

Longshot Zetterholm Barely Getting Noticed | BloodHorse.com
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69865/longshot-zetterholm-barely-getting-noticed

While most media and fans were following the every move of I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister at the Preakness Stakes barn on the day before the second leg of the Triple Crown, over in stall 40 a colt that nearly nobody noticed was lazily sleeping away the beautiful morning at Pimlico Race Course.

Zetterholm, one of the longshots in Saturday’s Preakness, had just finished up his breakfast, and did not seem to have a care in the world as he caught up on his rest.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

On the other hand, it must be noted that horses have been running on dirt for millions of years.

A One-Horse Race For Dirt Tracks At Preakness | WAMU 88.5 – American University Radio
http://wamu.org/news/12/05/17/a_one_horse_race_for_dirt_tracks_at_preakness

Horse racing on the Pimlico Race Track, like most in the United States, is a dirty affair, by definition.
Every one of this year’s  Triple Crown events — including the Preakness in Maryland this weekend — will be run on dirt tracks. Some members of U.S. horse racing want to end that tradition and lay down potentially safer, though much more expensive, synthetic tracks. With grandstands increasingly empty at Maryland’s tracks, critics say track owners are putting profits over safety.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology