LestersLegends.com

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Saturday will mark the 138th Run for the Roses as twenty majestic horses compete in the the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. For casual horse racing fans, it is the “unofficial” start of the racing season. So break out your big hats and your mint juleps for “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.
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Over the years some pretty well-know horses have won this event. Names like War Admiral, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Smarty Jones, and Barbaro. On two occasions the two-minute mark has been broken. First, in 1973 by Secretariat, who still holds the record at 1:59.40, and again in 2001 by Monarchos at at 1:59.97. Last year’s winner was Animal Kingdom.
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Here’s a look at the 2012 field:
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Alpha
Bodemeister
Creative Cause
Daddy Long Legs
Daddy Nose Best
Done Talking
Dullahan
El Padrino
Gemologist
Hansen
I’ll Have Another
Liaison
Optimizer
Prospective
Rousing Sermon
Sabercat
Take Charge Indy
Trinniberg
Union Rags
Went the Day Well
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Bodemeister is the Derby favorite.
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If you’re playing on enjoying some Mint Juleps for the race, here are some recipes.
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Food Network
AllRecipes.com
Drinks Mixer
Cooks.com – Several Recipes

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On Saturday Animal Kingdom will attempt to win the second leg of the Triple Crown in the 136th Preakness at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.  No horse has successfully completed the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. The victor will get the Woodlawn Vase and a blanket of Black-eyed Susans.
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Over the years some pretty well-known horses have won this event.  Names like Man o’ War, War Admiral, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Smarty Jones, and Rachel Alexandra.  There have been several lengths to the race, but it’s been 1-3/16 miles since 1925.  Tank’s Prospect (1985), Louis Quatorze (1996) and Curlin (1997) have the fastest times at that length at 1:53.40. Last year Lookin at Lucky won the Preakness.
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Here’s a look at the Preakness 136 contenders (with odds):
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Animal Kingdom: 2-1
Astrology: 15-1
Concealed Identity: 30-1
Dance City Todd Pletcher: 15-1
Dialed In: 6-1
Flashpoint: 20-1
Isn’t He Perfect: 50-1
King Congie: 20-1
Midnight Interlude: 15-1
Mr. Commons: 20-1
Mucho Macho Man: 6-1
Norman Asbjornson: 30-1
Shackleford: 12-1
Sway Away: 20-1
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Alternate: Saratoga Red: 50-1
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Concealed Identity is the offspring of former Triple Crown hopeful Smarty Jones, who won the 2004 Kentucky Derby and the 2004 Preakness before finishing second in the Belmont Stakes.
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Dialed In, the Kentucky Derby favorite, looks to settle the score and dash Animal Kingdom’s Triple Crown aspirations.
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Sway Away is the son of 2005 Preakness winner Afleet Alex. Norman Asbjornson is the son of 998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet.
The Preakness is also known for the Party.  Train, Bruno Mars, and others will be performing.  Click here for tickets to the 2011 Preakness InfieldFEST, presented by Bud Light.

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Saturday will mark the 137th Run for the Roses as twenty majestic horses compete in the the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. For casual horse racing fans, it is the  “unofficial” start of the racing season. So break out your big hats and your mint juleps for “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.
.
Over the years some pretty well-know horses have won this event.  Names like War Admiral, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Smarty Jones, and Barbaro.  On two occasions the two-minute mark has been broken.  First, in 1973 by Secretariat, who still holds the record at 1:59.40, and again in 2001 by Monarchos at at 1:59.97. Last year’s winner was Super Saver.
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Here’s a look at the field:
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Animal Kingdom
Archarcharch
Brilliant Speed
Comma to the Top
Decisive Moment
Derby Kitten
Dialed In
Master of Hounds
Midnight Interlude
Mucho Macho Man
Nehro
Pants On Fire
Santiva
Shackleford
Soldat
Stay Thirsty
Twice The Appeal
Twinspired
Watch Me Go
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Dialed in is the Derby favorite.
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If you’re playing on enjoying some Mint Juleps for the race, here are some recipes.
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Food Network
AllRecipes.com
Drinks Mixer
Cooks.com – Several Recipes

***UPDATE***

Uncle Mo has been scratched leaving the Derby a field of 19.

The Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three races at 1.5 miles or 12 furlongs.  The race is run at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.  The third leg of the Triple Crown is also called the Run for the Carnations.  Some of the famous horses to win the Belmont Stakes are Man O’ War, Sir Barton, Secretariat, Affirmed, War Admiral, Seattle Slew, and Citation.  Secretariat ran the fastest race at the current distance in 1973 with a blazing time of 2:24.00. Last year Summer Bird won with a time of 2:27.54.

Here are the contenders:
Dave in Dixie (Jockeyed by Calvin Borel):  20-1
Drosselmeyer:  12-1
First Dude:  7-2
Fly Down:  9-2
Game on Dude:  10-1
Ice Box:  3-1
Interactif:  12-1
Make Music for Me:  10-1
Spangled Star:  30-1
Stately Victor:  15-1
Stay Put:  20-1
Uptowncharlybrown:  10-1

On Saturday Super Saver will attempt to win the second leg of the Triple Crown in the 135th Preakness at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.  The victor will get the Woodlawn Vase and a blanket of Black-eyed Susans.

Over the years some pretty well-known horses have won this event.  Names like Man o’ War, War Admiral, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Smarty Jones, and Rachel Alexandra.  There have been several lengths to the race, but it’s been 1-3/16 miles since 1925.  Tank’s Prospect (1985), Louis Quatorze (1996) and Curlin (1997) have the fastest times at that length at 1:53.40.

Here’s a look at the Preakness 135 contenders (with odds):

Aikenite  (20-1 odds)
Caracortado  (10-1 odds)
Dublin  (10-1 odds)
First Dude  (12-1 odds)
Jackson Bend  (12-1 odds)
Looking at Lucky  (3-1 odds)
Northern Giants  (30-1 odds)
Paddy O’Prado  (9-2 odds)
Pleasant Prince  (20-1 odds)
Schoolyard Dreams  (15-1 odds)
Super Saver  (5-2 odds)
Yawanna Twist  (30-1 odds)

The Preakness is also known for the Party.  Zac Brown Band and O.A.R. will be performing.  Click here for tickets to the 2010 Preakness InfieldFEST, presented by Bud Light.

Saturday will mark the 136th Run for the Roses as twenty majestic horses compete in the the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. For casual horse racing fans, it is the  “unofficial” start of the racing season. So break out your big hats and your mint juleps for “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.

Purchase the Official 2009 Kentucky Derby Poster for $49.50

Over the years some pretty well-know horses have won this event.  Names like War Admiral, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Smarty Jones, and Barbaro.  On two occasions the two-minute mark has been broken.  First, in 1973 by Secretariat, who still holds the record at 1:59.40, and again in 2001 by Monarchos at at 1:59.97.

Here’s a look at the field, their positions, and their odds:

1. Lookin At Lucky:  2-1 odds

2. Ice Box:  8-1 odds

3. Noble’s Promise:  10-1 odds

4. Super Saver:  12-1 odds

5. Line of David:  25-1 odds

6. Stately Victor:  25-1 odds

7. American Lion:   25-1 odds

8. Dean’s Kitten:  40-1 odds

9. Make Music for Me:  35-1 odds

10. Paddy O’Prado:  15-1 odds

11. Devil May Care:  8-1 odds

12. Conveyance:  10-1 odds

13. Jackson Bend:  12-1 odds

14. Mission Impazible:  15-1 odds

15. Discreetly Mine:  25-1 odds

16. Awesome Act:  8-1 odds

17. Dublin:  10-1 odds

18. Backtalk:  40-1 odds

19. Homeboykris:  35-1 odds

20. Sidney’s Candy:  4-1 odds

If you’re playing on enjoying some Mint Juleps for the race, here are some recipes.

Food Network 
AllRecipes.com
Drinks Mixer
Cooks.com – Several Recipes

This weekend the Breeders’ Cup will signify the end of the thoroughbred racing season. There will be 14 races aired on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2.

The highlight of the racing weekend will be the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will feature Preakness and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird (12-1 odds), Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird (9-2), and the favorite Zenyatta (5-2).

Unfortunately Rachel Alexandra won’t be joining fellow filly Zenyatta in the Cup.