Three Horses To Watch in 2010

In more recent times, patience has not been a virtue in our society. Everyone wants something and, most importantly, they want it RIGHT NOW!!!! With this list of three horses to watch in 2010, I am going to look at one horse who has been there, one who is there, and one who might get there. I certainly think it is an interesting and diverse group.

#1 Rachel Alexandra- Hopefully, she will be anointed Horse Of The Year by the Eclipse Award voters for her 2009 performance, when she went undefeated, beating her own age and sex, the opposite sex, and older horses. She won over fast tracks, sloppy tracks, everything but synthetic tracks. She became the first filly to win the Preakness in over 80 years and was dominating on so many occasions that it was just a pleasure to watch her run and not even think about the wagering aspect of it. I am duly intrigued by what course owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen will take with this legendary runner. She is currently wintering in New Orleans at the Fair Grounds with the Asmussen string there. I know the folks in the Crescent City would love for her to kick off what promises to be a most historic season at their racetrack.

#2 Blame- The winner of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs during the fall meeting in Kentucky has all the makings of a tremendous racehorse in 2010. His three-year-old season did not kick off until much later than most, but he made up for lost time, as the runner-up to the dominating Regal Ransom in the Grade 2 Super Derby and then his Grade 1 win in the Clark. If any horse is going to stand in Rachel Alexandra's way to another undefeated season in 2010, it just might be this guy. You know Rachel will be facing the males again and Blame should be right with her on all of the big occasions. In eight lifetime starts, Blame has never missed the money, winning five times and totaling over $600,000 in purse money. I think he will prove to be a great one in 2010.

#3 Piscitelli- I know you were expecting Lookin At Lucky to be in this third spot. I kind of agree with you, as he will be the juvenile champion in 2009 with only one loss (the Breeders' Cup Juvenile) on his resume'. There was another horse that lost that Juvenile, though, that I find somewhat more intriguing. Piscitelli set the pace in the Juvenile as a 50-1 longshot and actually acquitted himself quite nicely, holding on to finish fourth, less than two lengths off the winner. I think with some maturity and a little more seasoning, he might be able to withstand the closers as we get into 2010 and make himself into a legitimate Kentucky Derby threat. His lone career win came on the dirt at Monmouth and he also proved himself capable on the synthetics as well. Trainer Greg Sacco is looking to get Piscitelli into the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park on January 23 to start his Road To The Roses. I will certainly be backing this opinion on that day for sure.

Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!