Grandchildren race

This year's Triple Crown has produced two of what I call "grandchildren" races. That is, races I'm already excited about telling my grandkids about, telling them, "I was there."

First, there was Mine That Bird's upset victory in the Kentucky Derby. What story line from that race will stand the test of time more: Calvin Borel's amazing ride or Mine That Bird paying $103 to win and keying a six-figure super. I guess the latter would stand the test of time more if I had a piece of it!

Then there was the Preakness Stakes, which was so packed with drama that the storylines began BEFORE the Derby when Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) by 20 1/4 lengths. A billionaire winemaker bought her, a millionaire oilman tried to keep her out of the race, and anyone with any remote interest in racing weighed in on her presence in the Preakness.

All those storylines were an afterthought by 6:25 p.m. EDT on May 16 when Rachel Alexandra turned for home to the roar of 77,000, and fans got a little extra mustard when the Derby winner surged in the final sixteenth but could not get to the Oaks winner. A Oaks-Derby exacta in the Preakness truly is one for the ages, and I expect tales of this race to not only stand the test of time but also enter the racing lexicon.

So now it's on to the Belmont sans a Triple Crown try but with plenty of great stories to go around. Mine That Bird is likely to go, and he might be alone among the Derby-Preakness contingent. The bigger question is not when Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird will face each other again but when will Rachel Alexandra meet up with defending undefeated older female champion Zenyatta?