Just over a week ago, shortly after Mine That Bird crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs, many of us were wondering who these guys were that brought this longshot to the Derby. We're beginning to find out.
On Sunday, Ahmed Zayat, owner of Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof The Nile, said in an HRTV interview that he had received a phone call from Kentucky Derby-winning owner Mark Allen. Zayat said that Mine That Bird owner Mark Allen suggested a scheme to keep the Kentucky Oaks winning filly Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness.
Because she was not nominated to the Triple Crown, Rachel Alexandra will have to be supplemented for $100,000 to enter the Preakness by her new owners. The entry conditions of the Preakness state that no supplemental entry will be allowed to run at the exclusion of a Triple Crown nominee regardless of earnings.
With a full field of fourteen expected, it may be possible for Allen and Zayat to enter other Triple Crown nominated horses they own for the sole purpose of excluding the filly from the field.
Owners paid $6,000 to nominate their horse to the Triple Crown on March 28, 2009. It then costs $10,000 to enter a horse in the Preakness and an additional $10,000 start in the Preakness.
Zayat suggested Allen had said he will enter a winless colt named Indy Express, in addition to Mine That Bird, in an attempt to to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the field.
Zayat also admitted that he may enter a second horse alongside Pioneerof The Nile.
The Mark Allen camp issued a press release later Sunday in response to the above comments by Zayat and reports by other media. You can read the full release here Under "Other Horse Racing Links > Mark Allen Press Release"
2 comments:
Interesting article and shameful example of why some people are horsemen and some people are not. Of course this could and most certainly is media driven, we really dont know what was said over a phone conversation
Good points on all fronts. He is quickly becoming the guy we all love to hate and in a warped kind of way, that's good. And something tells me his partner Dr. Blach, may have his hands full with this partner.
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