Given that Seduction's Stakes is just re-released, and the fact I'm once again forced to be somewhere else during race day (this time soccer), I thought I'd share my picks with you for the Preakness.  In case you're unaware, the race is today, and we're discovering who, if anyone, will have a shot at the coveted Triple Crown.

ORB: Preakness Favorite, 2013 Kentucky Derby Winner

Difficulties arise here because the races are so close together, and that is playing in to many people's odds.  I'm not a huge fan of really anyone in the field, except, for once, the favorite:  Orb.  There are two other horses I feel have even a chance:  Departing and Governor Charlie.  Yes, Goldencents is up there in many people's predictions, the sloppy track at Churchill being excused for his poor showing.  I'm not buying it, even though I liked him for the Derby.

So, with all that said, and after much mulling over what I think my three candidates will do... For me, this is my Trifecta!

1.  Orb
2.  Departing
3.  Governor Charlie

A couple of caveats... Governor Charlie lost training time.  Training is important, but there's a certain amount of 'not forgetting' that comes with a horse who knows its job.  I'm really oversimplfying and doing an injustice to the hard work put into training, but put simply, the horse has to go around a circle to the left, insanely fast, without crashing into another horse.  Training really, to me, is the level of Jockey experience.  In this case, Mylute takes that cake.  But I don't like Mylute for win, place, or show.

Departing has a history of wins under his belt, and it wouldn't surprise me if he does overtake Orb.  Of all of them, he shows the most promise in doing so.  I really wish he'd run the Derby so I could have seen him against Orb.  This horse stands to be a wildcard.  I still don't believe he can pull ahead for a win.  Show it is.

And Orb.  I don't know whether I really like this horse for his ability, or whether I like the hope we might happen onto another Triple Crown winner.  I hate to see the run for the three jewels come to a grinding halt with Orb being beaten at the Preakness.  So my fingers and toes are crossed that he takes home the trophy and we will have much angst and nail-biting at Belmont coming up.

We'll see what happens, I guess!  (And you can decide whether you ever want to listen to my picks again!)

Just as a reminder, don't forget Seduction's Stakes is available now.




Available on all popular digital platforms and in print, but here's the Kindle link:  Seduction's Stakes

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Book of Month Nominee , Claire Ashgrove , Contemporary , Contemporary Romance , Horse Racing , Indie Authors , Kentucky Derby , My Books , New Release , Preakness , Seduction's Stakes , Triple Crown

Good morning, everyone!  It's DERBY DAY!!

And for this racing enthusiast, there couldn't be a better day.  I love, love, love kicking off the run for the Triple Crown.

This year's Derby is interesting on so many levels.  We have a woman jockey, a black jockey, horses that could be full of surprises, and what promises to be a sloppy track.  We have turf runners, unproven candidates, and some last minute jockey change-ups.  All in all... very fun times.

Have you made your choice on who's going to take home the trophy?

Here's my picks, along with my very brief whys:

WIN - Revolutionary
I'm a Pletcher fan, for starters, and Calvin Borel is a world class jock, and they have a post position that suits Borel.  But when it all boils down to why I picked this dark bay contender, it's strict gut feeling.  For more solid reasons: it's all in the pedigree.  This horse is born to win.

PLACE -- Orb
I don't want to like Orb, because everyone else does.  But, damn it, I do.  He's done really well, really recently, and while I just can't see him overcoming Revolutionary, I can't see anyone else in the field who can overcome him.

SHOW -- Palace Malice
Now, before you laugh, look at the running history on this colt's sire side.  By Curlin, he's bred to improve with age, and he's just now three.  His recent performances show betterment in more difficult stakes.  I'm totally behind this horse, not to mention, he's also a Pletcher horse :)

4th -- Normandy Invasion
I think he's a dark horse waiting to surprise us all.  He's performing well in exercise runs and showing a lot of vigor.  The only surprise I see happening is he might just place in the money.

5th -- Goldencents
Really, Normandy Invasion and Goldencents, to me, have about equal odds.

And as a mention... I would really like to like Charming Kitten, simply because I am a huge Prado fan.  It would please me immensely if this horse would pop into the money.  But as much as I would like for that to happen, I just don't see this turf running cutting it on synthetic track.


So.  All that said, I'm celebrating the Derby with the re-release of Seduction's Stakes!  It's a little-known book I published, my first book folks, and I hope you'll grab a copy!

Seduction's Stakes

""Hot, Hot, hot. Seduction’s Stakes is a sexy race to the finish line." USA Today Bestselling Author, Nana Malone"


McCleery Racing didn't become a Thoroughbred racing powerhouse by betting on longshots. Maddie McCleery made it a multi-million dollar player through hard work, logical decisions, and a commitment to never involve herself with men who lived on the sport of kings. But when she sets her sights on a two-year-old colt her rival owns, she never imagines the lengths she'll go to, to bring the future champion home.

Riley Jennings wants unobtainable Maddie almost more than the Triple Crown. After his Kentucky Derby win, however, he sees a way to sure-fire victory. His proposed wager stacks the odds in his favor - if her horse wins the Preakness, he'll accept her terms. If his horse comes in first, they'll negotiate his way.

When the dust settles on the wire, will love claim final victory, or will unexpected tragedy stop them in the gates?





~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Claire Ashgrove , Contemporary , Contemporary Romance , Horse Racing , Kentucky Derby , New Release , Racing , romance , Seduction's Stakes , Thoroughbred , Triple Crown