Talented 3-year-olds ready to run
If there was any doubt about the glamour division in horse racing, this weekend will settle it. The best of the 3-year-olds, including all three winners of the Triple Crown events, will be showcased on the East Coast.
Preakness winning filly Rachel Alexandra is the star attraction of the weekend as the 4-5 morning-line favorite in Sunday’s $1.25 million Haskell at Monmouth Park. Her main foes will be Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird and improving colt Munnings.
On Saturday, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is the 3-5 morning-line favorite in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby, and an open field of seven will compete in the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. The top finishers from the three stakes will make up the bulk of the Travers field Aug. 29.
I know it’s bad form to put the cart in front of the horse, but if things work out this weekend, the Travers could be a remarkable race.
With three rich stakes tugging at the 3-year-olds, each field is small: seven in the Jim Dandy, six in the West Virginia Derby and six probable starters in the Haskell. However, there is potential for all the favorites to get beat at extremely short odds.
Munnings is a colt coming into his own for the Haskell. He is quick and exiting two excellent sprint stakes wins. He’ll be in front. Rachel Alexandra would be advised to sit off that one and try to gobble him up in the stretch.
Mine That Bird will be at a tactical disadvantage at Mountaineer, a speed favoring track. Big Drama figures to get all the best of the early pace and could prove hard to catch. And finally, the Charitable Man that I expect to see in the Jim Dandy is the one that rolled to victory in the Peter Pan.
• CONTEST NOTES — I came across two more contests for locals.
The Rampart and Cannery race books are offering a twin quinella five days a week with a $1,000 jackpot. And Jerry’s Nugget is giving away $500 in its Del Mar Saturday contest.
Keep in mind there will be two big-money handicapping tournaments in August: the $125,000 Guaranteed Race Handicapping Challenge at Wynn Las Vegas on Aug. 7 and 8 and Pick the Ponies from Aug. 27 to 29 at the Las Vegas Hilton.
• GOING TO THE DOGS — After years of finagling, pari-mutuel wagering will be offered on dog racing in Nevada. Palm Beach will begin today, with Derby Lane soon to follow.
Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.