ALLEN: ‘ARROGANCE AND GREED ISN’T RIGHT’
The following press release was issued on behalf of Mark Allen, co-owner of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, concerning previously publicized comments by Allen to enter the horse Indy Express in an effort to prevent Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra from securing a starting berth in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. — Ray Paulick
For immediate release (Sunday, May 10, 1015 p.m.)
Indy Express out of Preakness
“When it comes to Rachel Alexandra, I personally don’t think any filly should be in a race against colts at this stage of their careers. I don’t believe in running fillies against the colts. But Rachel Alexandra is a superior filly and could be the exception. Mr. Jackson has a great trainer in Steve Asmussen and I’m sure they will make the right decision and Lord help us all if she does get in.”
“And yes, it’s true that I would like to have my jockey back. Calvin Borel is great and did a great job for us. I also respect him and I completely understand his love for Rachel Alexandra. If the filly gets in we have a commitment from Mike Smith. We have a lot of confidence in Mike, he’s from our part of the country and he’s got some Cowboy in him too, I’ve seen his boots,” said Allen.
“Additionally, my decision to enter Indy Express in the Preakness was strictly business but after consulting with my Dad and Doc Blach, I have decided to withdraw Indy Express to prevent any further miss understandings. They’re advice to me was just to do what’s right, because arrogance and greed isn’t right. Indy Express is a good colt and showing a lot of potential. I’ll just have to look forward to running him later on down the road. The bottom-line for me is that we came here to race and enjoy our win here in Louisville. So, we’ll meet everyone in Baltimore, ready to run,” said Allen.
Tags: ahmed zayat, Calvin Borel, fillies against colts, indy express, jess jackson, kentucky oaks, leonard blach, Mark Allen, mine that bird, preakness, Rachel Alexandra, ray paulick paulick report
May 10th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Twilight Zone.
May 10th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
And today didn’t happen? He must really think we’re stupid.
May 10th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Wonder if that’s a deliberate typo.. from the official Allen press release…
“Additionally, my decision to enter Indy Express in the Preakness was strictly business but after consulting with my Dad and Doc Blach, I have decided to withdraw Indy Express to prevent any further miss understandings.” - “miss” understandings? HaHaHa
May 10th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Barry has it right!
So, now Allen is claiming he had a “message” to call Zayat? Man, Ahmed is being thrown under the bus and now they are backing over him for good measure. But, I can’t think of a more fitting end to this day.
But glad it’s over and may the best horse win. The way it should be.
May 10th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Can we just forget everything that’s occurred between May 3-10?
May 10th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
So, people are disappointed in how these people are behaving. Do you think Mike Smith might decide that he doesn’t like how the owners of Mine That Bird are acting and stiff the horse? I don’t trust anyone anymore. I still think Borel should have stuck with the horse for the sake of the Triple Crown; so I am a bit disappointed that he is thinking more of his pocketbook and the fact that Assmussen has a lot of horses, etc.
May 10th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Why aren’t there more “that’s great, Mr. Allen did what’s best for racing” postings????????? Negativity is no fun.
Cool Story!!!
May 10th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
It’s a sequel to “A Day at the Races.” Who says the Marx brothers are dead?
May 10th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
I think Calvin Borel would ride her for free. And I doubt he thinks he will get on many more Asmussen horses.
May 10th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
This is insane. Just listened to the tail end of Zayat’s interview with Mr. B on TVG…First of all, I am not crazy about them running Rachel Alexandra back in the Preakness. At all.
But Zayat’s reasons were total baloney…Calvin was disrespectful for leaving Mine That Bird, not fair the filly didn’t follow the traditional triple crown trail..blah blah…That and he was really hard to follow. First he was defending his decision, then he changed his mind…
I guess I couldn’t expect him to say “My horse can’t beat her, I don’t want her in and I’m not the only one who feels that way.”
May 10th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Post 6………
Do you think Mike Smith might decide that he doesn’t like how the owners of Mine That Bird are acting and stiff the horse?
You gotta be kidding me…….? Mike Smith takes if upon himself…..to stiff the Derby Winner int he Preakness………LOL you are killing me…………. Keep betting into the same pools as I do Ronaldo……………!!
May 10th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Gee, Mr. Allen, thank you for doing what’s best for racing. It only took a public-relations nightmare and a few hundred-thousand racing fans thinking you and your co-conspirators were selfish, greedy, scared, arrogant and ambivalent about a sport that deserves all the good press it can find anymore. I’m prostrate at your feet. How magnanimous of you. It warms the cockles of my heart…can I stop NOW, Faith? My sarcasm is making me sick.
May 10th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Does Mr. Allen realize that in Australia they race fillies against colts EARLY in their 2yo season and it is truly NO BIG DEAL???
May 10th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
If the Preakness was run in Alaska, Mark Allen’s daddy would know how to fix things right. Money talks.
May 11th, 2009 at 2:28 am
The crash and burn of this sport has arrived. At the highest levels of this once proud industry, it is nothing but pro rasslin’, pure and simple. And to fix a race should be illegal under any guise. It appears that Zayat, Allen and their sycophants (cronies) should be racing at Tampa Bay Downs. What was going to be done - before Zayat opened his big mouth - is criminal, pure and simple.
May 11th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Perhaps JJ should have purchased her before she was a made horse. Then, he could have nominated her to the TC races and this mess would have been moot.
May 11th, 2009 at 8:19 am
“Nobody wants a situation like we had last year with Eight Belles”? That sounds like a threat Mr. Z. Last I checked, colts break down as well, or did it not happen to Barbaro, Waderin’ Boy, Shakis, George Washington and many others. Don’t use a tragedy to justify your stupidity.
May 11th, 2009 at 8:27 am
This cowboy is only semi-literate as well. Or at least whoever writes his press releases. Someone there needs some remedial English.
Check out his quote in the last paragraph:
“miss understandings” — is that like “Miss Congeniality?”
“They’re advice to me” —
He didn’t even screw this one up right. “They are advice to me….?” Huh? Now if he had written “There advice to me……” well, that’s a grammatical error as opposed to bordering on illiteracy.
But I’m trying to be fair. To mention the obvious redundency of “later on down the road” would only be nit-picking. There are other errors but I don’t want to be accused of being the grammar police.
Maybe they want a second opinion?
OK, Mine that Bird was a total fluke who benefited from an off-track, a solid rail, a great ride/perfect trip and the withdrawl of two of the best horses in the division. If Borel really thought the horse had improved greatly and could win again would he really get off a potential Triple Crown winner?
(with apologies to Rodney Dangerfield)
May 11th, 2009 at 8:41 am
All I can say is: What comes around, goes around. Go Rachel Alexandra!! Show those “boys” (wimps) that You Can Run & Beat the Colts as well
You GO Girl !!
May 11th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Obviously there is a problem with the system if the morning line favorite could have been prevented from running in the Preakness.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:47 am
With all the postings about this here on beloved Paulick Report and elsewhere, I’ve wanted to comment on how bizarre all of this is playing out, but I’m simply almost speechless. Sheesh. For what it is worth, however, I do look forward to seeing Rachel Alexandra crush the colts at some point, but I am not a fan of her being supplemented into the Preakness field at such a late date. For one thing, I feel like it is an arrogant, egotistical move by Jackson, although he tried to show what a good guy he is by giving the mount to Calvin. I do understand Calvin would want to stick with the filly that he has ridden in her winning races, so even though it’s setting a precedent by taking off the Derby winner, he stated as much right after he won the Derby, so it should come as no surprise to anyone. The part that really gets me is the conspiracy of the other players to try to keep her out, then backtracking after all the public outcry against them. Unbelievable, bizarre. You were right, Mr. Irwin - Twilight Zone. I can hear the music now. Sorry my speechlessness became so long.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
A public workout against 13 mediocre colts will be entertaining, but is it really going to get Rachel ready for her real competition - Zenyatta? Another Preakness trophy might console Mr. Jackson when Zenyatta thrashes Rachel in the Breeders’ Cup.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:17 am
I am nervous for this race, the Preakness. Too much hype and dirty dealings. I pray Rachel Alexandra will run safe. I pray all the horses to be safe. The Triple Crown has not bode well for too many years. I do not trust. The welfare of the horse comes first.
I wish Calvin had stayed on Mine That Bird. More questions as to why not. Most likely, it was the colt’s best chance to have Calvin ride. Mine That Bird was spectacular in the Triple Crown. Money rules in racing, at the expense of integrity…and morality. Never-the-less, GO Mine That Bird. Show them all!
May 12th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I think I understand why Jess Jackson wants to race Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness against the Colts. Not only does she have a Very Good chance at beating the Colts, but also this might possibly make her eligible for the 2009 Horse of the Year Award. Fillies must race against the Colts to be eligible for Horse of the Year. Remember Zenyatta last year? If only she had raced against the Colts she probly would have won the 2008 Horse of the Year Award. I bet Jess Jackson would love to win HOY again, but with a Filly this time! May God Bless the Races with Safety.
July 27th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
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