If Calvin Borel has a one year deal to ride Rachel Alexandra, then he’s doing the right thing by riding the horse. As much as Chip Woolley and Mark Allen want to have Borel riding Mine That Bird; Borel has to do the right thing for the people who just spent big money on a horse and want that investment to pay off.
Borel also has to make a judgment for himself. He’s never won the Run for the Black Eyed Susans before, and it would be part of his legacy and his chance to establish himself as a Hall of Fame jockey. If Rachel Alexandra is as good as everyone thinks she is; this decision is a no-brainer.
Horse racing IS better off for having Rachel Alexandra in the field Saturday, as it offers the compelling “boys vs. girls” storyline the sport was playing up before Eight Belles’ run in the Kentucky Derby a year ago. Obviously a Triple Crown run would be better for the sport, but almost NO ONE thinks that is possible. A win for Rachel Alexandra might not make the Belmont quite as exciting, but a 2nd place finish by Rachel Alexandra could set up for a “Battle of the Sexes” run in the third leg of the Triple Crown.
Let’s see what everyone else has to say…..
Best of Sunday’s WNST Blogs:
Drew Forrester says commitment to Pie could affect Birds’ LF decision
Nestor Aparicio says Pie reached base 3 times in loss
Glenn Clark hopes to see Washington do “Squirrel” in Baltimore
Nestor Aparicio says Freel trashes time with Orioles in Chicago media
Glenn Clark says Stevenson, Salisbury to face off in quarterfinal showdown Wednesday
Nestor Aparicio says all KOBST finalists to attend event in Dundalk Wednesday night
RAVENS:
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Gooden ‘front runner’ to start next to 52
The Official Site says Harbaugh reported L.J. Smith had groin issue over weekend
The Official Site’s Geoff Peckham profiles cheerleader “Abbie M.”
The Sun’s Ken Murray says Gooden plans to be ‘new and improved’ Bart Scott
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Mason could miss Training Camp, but says he’ll be ready for season opener
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Rosburg doesn’t think Gano, Hauschka ready to be NFL kicker yet
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Grubbs missed minicamp due to ankle surgery
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Kruger struggled on Day 1 of minicamp due to lack of sleep
Examiner Phil Macek says Birk Ravens’ best offseason acquisition
Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson says Gooden showing off speed thus far in offseason
Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson says Washington ‘most impressive’ of receivers trying out over weekend
ESPN.com’s James Walker says Marcus Smith ‘flashed some ability’ during minicamp
ORIOLES:
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Uehara’s solid start wasted by pen in loss to Yankees
The Official Site offers numerical evidence of loss
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says after day off, Birds host Rays tomorrow with Hendrickson facing Sonnanstine
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Trembley was interested in Rich Hill’s performance Sunday
The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Birds celebrate Mother’s Day by going all pink Sunday
Yankees Official Site’s Bryan Hoch says Yanks get 3 run bomb from Damon to beat O’s
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Scott to have MRI on shoulder
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Jim Johnson touched up by Damon to take loss
The Sun’s Dan Connolly says McCurry ‘raising eyebrows’ at Delmarva
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Huff homered, showed up Chamberlain with fist pump
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Trembley should have left Uehara in game
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Chamberlain got last laugh by shutting O’s down after Huff’s homer
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Salazar, Reimold could be options if Scott heads to DL
Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan says former Oriole Freel ‘devastated’ he couldn’t get on field for Cubs
The Sun’s Dean Jones Jr. says Hill throws 6 scoreless innings for Tides as they beat Bisons
Carroll County Times’ Rich Dubroff says 33,000 saw Yanks top Birds at Camden Yards Sunday
Carroll County Times’ Rich Dubroff says Trembley doesn’t plan to keep 3 catchers when Wieters gets call up
The AP says Rivera put finishing touches on win for 6th save
Frederick News-Post’s Adam Pohl says Bobby Stevens went 5-5 with 2 HR’s for Keys in win
New York Post’s Mike Vaccaro says Cervelli’s infield single set table for Damon’s winning homer
New York Times’ David Waldstein says Cano added homer for Yanks in win
New York Daily News’ Mark Feinsand says Huff-Chamberlain rivalry not slowing down
Newsday’s Anthony Rieber says Teixeira also homered in win for Yankees
Newark Star-Ledger’s Marc Carig says Phil Coke threw 2 shutout innings in relief of Chamberlain
TERRAPINS LACROSSE:
The Official Site says Phipps makes 9 saves to help Terps win Tournament opener at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Official Site says loss to Terps ends perfect season for Irish
Inside Lacrosse’s Joe Camarda says Terps look Irish leading scorer Ryan Hoff ‘completely out of the game’
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Terps face Syracuse next Saturday at Hofstra
Examiner Steve DeClue thinks Cottle may have ‘saved his job’ by beating Fighting Irish
The Diamondback’s Michael Katz says Irish struggled shooting ball in loss
Washington Examiner’s Kevin Dunleavy says Phipps helped Terps go 20-20 on clears
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Groot scored two goals in win
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says after lackluster season, Terps have chance to advance to Final Four
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Terps only road team to win first round matchup
TERRAPINS BASKETBALL:
Examiner Steve DeClue says Stephenson likely to choose between Arizona, Memphis
HOPKINS LACROSSE:
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Cavs only team Petro has losing record against at Hopkins
NAVY FOOTBALL:
Go Mids’ Adam Nettina says Dobbs amongst players who showed ‘most improvement’ in Spring
HORSE RACING:
Preakness Official Site says Zayat told Maryland Jockey Club he’d only enter Pioneerof The Nile
Daily Racing Form’s David Grening says Mark Allen will NOT enter Indy Express, block Rachel Alexandra
Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee says Rachel Alexandra ‘sharp’ in run at Churchill Downs
Thoroughbred Times’ Jeff Lowe and Steve Bailey say Mine That Bird owner Allen wanted to block Rachel Alexandra so Borel could ride his horse
Thoroughbred Times’ Mike Curry says Asmussen thought Rachel Alexandra’s workout ‘beautiful’
The Sun’s Jeff Barker says Preakness week begins with ‘cloudy’ future due to Magna bankruptcy
The AP’s Will Graves says Lukas will only enter Luv Gov if it doesn’t block Rachel Alexandra
Washington Post’s Andrew Beyer thinks Laurel racing should be eliminated, Pimlico meet should be shortened
SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:
-Dave Cottle is safe. If the Terps hadn’t made the Tournament, I’d think it would be a discussion. If the Terps had been blown out by Notre Dame in Round 1, it would be a discussion. But even if they are blasted by the Orange at Hofstra Saturday, Cottle is safe.
Talk to you tomorrow.
-G
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