No, not that Rachel Alexander, this one!
The 2009 Kentucky Oaks and now 2009 Preakness Winner! Would that she’d only run in the Derby, instead of boot stomping the field in the “fillies only” Kentucky Oaks on the day before, and winning by some 23 lengths. Ridiculous.
Of course, the incredible “last-to-almost-first” race run by Derby Winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness makes one wonder if we wouldn’t still have a Triple Crown contender had his Derby jockey Calvin Borel decided to ride him instead of winner Rachel Alexander (whom he rode to victory in the Oaks) in the Preakness.
The argument could be made that Mine that Bird’s late race speed was not fully exploited by his new jockey, but who knows? I guess the extra 16th of a mile in The Belmont Stakes in three weeks will tell the tale in the end. Stay tuned…
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As promised, here’s the weekly returns on the Jacksonian Core Holdings Portfolio:
| Name | 5/8/2009 | 5/15/2009 | ∆ |
| ANDE | $ 21.50 | $ 21.31 | -0.88% |
| GDX | 37.46 | 37.65 | 0.51% |
| GLD | 89.98 | 91.55 | 1.74% |
| IAG | 9.92 | 9.83 | -0.91% |
| MON | 86.42 | 89.95 | 4.08% |
| NRP | 23.39 | 21.29 | -8.98% |
| PAAS | 19.35 | 18.66 | -3.57% |
| RGLD | 39.90 | 39.97 | 0.18% |
| SLV | 13.79 | 13.77 | -0.15% |
| SLW | 8.91 | 8.58 | -3.70% |
| SSRI | 20.06 | 19.06 | -4.99% |
| TBT | 52.24 | 49.13 | -5.95% |
| TC | 7.98 | 7.65 | -4.14% |
| TSO | 16.72 | 16.60 | -0.72% |
| AVG | -1.96% |
If we take misbehaving outlier NRP from this list, the portfolio would only be down 1.42% for the week. That said, I may consider jettisoning NRP if it continues to break down here. Even its great dividend does not justify this volatility.
Still, as it was designed, the portfolio did much better than the major indexes, as shown below:
| Name | 5/8/2009 | 5/15/2009 | ∆ |
| SPY | $ 92.98 | $ 88.71 | -4.59% |
| QQQQ | 34.23 | 33.37 | -2.51% |
| DIA | 85.47 | 82.78 | -3.15% |
| NDX | 1,394.16 | 1,355.11 | -2.80% |
| RUT | 511.82 | 475.84 | -7.03% |
| AVG | -4.02% |
Ciao for now, race fans.
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Almost had a $5 trifecta winner
Rachel Alexandra
Pioneerof the Nile
Musket Man
Not another tranny? Just kiddin…A+
Might take out some monster this week. See if TBT comes in a little. Loaded with SLV. OTB–Prly–Hou +13…Bos -150
Treep–
I had Musket Man across the board, thinking he got a bad trip in the Derby.
As well, I had freaking Bob Baffert’s Pioneer of the Nile in an exacta box with Musket and Rachel.
I am done with Baffert… he has become like my Yankees — coasting on the rep, getting all the good horses, and coming up empty for years now.
Meanwhile, Rachel aside, Mine That Bird is the real thing. I’ve never seen a horse with that kind of closing speed in a long race in my life. It’s like something out of a “Black Beauty” movie or something — in other words, that kinda shit only happens in Hollywood (and I don’t mean the Park).
Very exciting and I look forward to the Belmont… and maybe a better driver for MTB.
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KC — I love sports, but I’ve never been able to really get into pro hoops. Probably had something to do with the Knicks sucking for most of my sentience.
Love the college game, as I was the son of the Big East, Villanova and SJU on either side. Now I’ve got the Lou, so the tradition continues.
I didn’t really get your “monster” comment — are you going to get some TBT, or one of the miners?
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MONsanto–monster….
I’ve hated pro basketball ever since the roid era. This time of year I’ve been known to peak in on a game…they are still the greatest athletes in the World.
Whats up with Fly and the Harvey Milk comments …thats cold…all I can say is your traffic must be pretty damn good.
Who knew he was such a fan of Sean Penn’s work?
Actually, Fly is just miffed I made disparaging comments on the bailout of the life insurance industry.
As for the traffic….
Apparently, I got copywrite violated by some Frenchie blog, yesterday.
One of Fly’s spies caught it.
Ironic, no?
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Ditto Treepart and Jake’s Baffert commentary. I would only add that in addition to the rider change Birdie, from what I watched, got tangled up a bit in traffic after making his move…did not have the same clear path rail-ride as previous and still dang near won. Yeah, little Birdie’s for real after all as is Rachael.