McCarron reminisces about Preakness rides

In his pre-race analysis of the 138th Kentucky Derby, for both his students at the North American Racing Academy and his own gambling pleasure, retired Hall of Famer and two-time Derby winner Chris McCarron liked Bodemeister, Sabercat, Gemologist, and Union Rags in a four-horse exacta box. He conceded that Santa Anita Derby winner I’ll Have Another had a shot, but he tossed him anyway. Why?

“Because of Mario Gutierrez,” McCarron confessed. “He didn’t really ride a good race in the Santa Anita Derby. He had every opportunity to keep Joel Rosario on Creative Cause trapped around the turn, and he let him out. He didn’t ride aggressively enough, and with I’ll Have Another breaking out of the 19-hole in the Derby, I envisioned him about seven deep going around the first turn because of the horse’s style, wanting to stalk.