Long time friend had a tough morning recently. She had a good filly in an easy spot. A 3X, after placing at OP in a 125K stake.

The morning of the race, awake at dawn, first duty, check on the big mare. Foundation mare ( Though some will know the story, I am uncomfortable naming names), undefeated, out of a Hollywood Oaks winner, tossed a graded winner, and the dam of the later in the day allowance entrant.

Mare lame, vet called, ten minutes later she was put down. Next paddock the big mares' yearling colt has a rusty nail imbedded an inch in his ankle, vet not out the driveway, infection very possible, big auction price, now unlikely.

Phone rings, mare in the allowance, vet scratch, apparently kicked the wall.

Point is, for many of the life and blood people that fuel this sport, life is a peak and valley, 365 day a year quest, with nothing to bank, but your dreams.

I have relished her friendship for forty some years and would not have posted if she were not going thru a horses aside, very rough time. As a salute to her, not many people have earned an Ivy league degree (Animal Husbandry), and have won 100 races as a jockey, trainer and owner. Rock on girl.

As for the Preakness, it's a two horse affair. The derby winner, a freak to many, is doing better than he was in Louisville, the 2yo champ, while a rouge is a pure race horse. Trying to beat these two out of the one hole is pari-mutuel suicide. Mild pass to Mikey's catch mount. While he was duller than a fifties penny Derby week, smallish colt would enjoy an aggressive Julien, and not impossible given his late foot, resume and pedigree. bbb