As most of you guys all know, I am not a horse bettor... but having had the privilage of spending about 8-10 hrs per day, 7 days a week, hanging out in sportsbooks for about a 7yr period, I got the opportunity to meet many of Las Vegas' most successful horse handicappers. Now just like I did heading into the Kentucky Derby, I also did for this week's Preakness....I asked the guys who I know are the best horse cappers who they liked and the strangest thing happend....
At 3 different sports books, 3 different horse handicappers all brought up the same thing. Now I am aware that these are definately the most difficult races for them to capp, and it has always been that way which is why the majority of pro's do not look to the biggest races to make thier biggest profits....so I was not expecting to walk away with a "Lock" horse for the Preakness, but I did figure that I may at least get pointed in the right direction to make a "guess"....but as I said, to my shock, all 3 men brought up the exact same thing...."Forget the Preakness"...
Its the Belmont that will be the most interesting race in years and if Big Brown can do his part and win this weekend, then we will be in for a treat from what I was told. They all mentioned a horse that is expected to be a "Monster"....the name of this horse is "CASINO DRIVE" and it was bought at the yearling sale at Keenland in 2006 for $950,000 by a Japanese businessman who took the horse to Japan to train....it has only run 2 times, once in Japan where he won by over 11 lengths, and then finally made its debut here in the states at Belmont in the $200k Peter Pan and destroyed the field again by iver 5 lengths and those who saw the race say that he had even more gears for sure....
So if Big Brown can win on Saturday, we will get to see a block-buster of a horse race when the Belmont gets here, because Big Brown will be going for the Triple Crown...and Casino Drive will be front and center looking to show the world why he is the next super horse...what is even more ironic is that Casino Drive is from the mare, Better Than Honour...and I was told by those sharp horse bettors that Better Than Honour has produced back-to-back Belmont Winners, Jazil in '06 and then Rags to Riches last year who upset Curlin who was Horse of the Year...which means that with Casino Drive scheduled to show up at the Belmont, his mare will be going for #3 in a Row there...
It really was so strange to see all of that excitement in these guys eyes and words as they spoke about Casino Drive like it was something that comes along once or twice in a life-time...and the one gentlemen, who over 5yrs ago bumped into me at a sportsbook and said, "Ace, there is a monster coming named Fusaichi Pegasus and you can get over 25-1 for the Derby on him"...and I went right to the window and bet Pegasus and watched him win the Derby...and now this same exact man said, "Ace, this chestnut looks like Secretariat and if they don't mess him up, he has what it takes to be one of the best EVER"...
Like I said, I am not a horse guy but I am sharp enough to know that there are guys out there that are...and the 3 men I am refering to are some of the sharpest and most successful horse bettors of all time...and I now find myself on the sideline this weekend, looking to cheer in Big Brown at the Preakness...so that I can get a chance to finally see this "Monster" that everyone keeps talking about which will come over from Japan...looking to spoil the Triple Crown chances....and I can't wait to see some excitement get back in a sport which has needed it now for a while and from what I hear...just may get it.