May 21st: What Happened Today?

Well, the world didn’t end today (snicker), and my favorite racehorse of 2011 just won the Preakness Stakes.  While Animal Kingdom was very impressive winning the Kentucky Derby 2 weeks ago, and I kind of expected him to repeat in the Preakness (and he would have, if it had been the 1/16th mile longer, like the Derby!), I have been a fan of Shackleford ever since he missed a stakes win by the barest of heads as a 26-1 shot.  I like the way he moves, and I like his heart.  Don’t often like front-runner horses. (I favor the come-from-behinders like Zenyatta — big, loving sigh–but he is all heart, and I just can’t ignore that.)

While I would have liked to see a Triple Crown winner this year–it’s been 33 years since Affirmed won the last one–I am thrilled to see Shackleford take the second leg of the triple.  I’ve said over and over (everyone here’s tired of hearing it) that he may not mature enough by the end of the Triple Crown races, but I fully expect to see him haul in a big one or two by the end of this year.  And if he runs again at 4, he seems likely to improve with maturity.

Way to go, Shackleford!  :)

Oh, and the right wing religious nutters missed again.  (Surprise, there.)

Advertisement