While stretching him out may not have been the 'right' decision, what trainer with a horse that can run isn't looking for a way to stretch them out and get into the Derby?

One could reason the cause of this 'outmatching' in the Hutcheson...

For me it's a Poly thing. I just see it as a third surface at this time.

At this time of year, we all tend to get caught up in what each race means in terms of a horse's Derby chances. Coming into today I didn't think Hard Spun was going to be a legit contender for the Derby, and I still don't think he will be.
BUT, this was still an impressive and important win for Hard Spun. Whether we like it or not, being able to win on poly is becoming a pretty important aspect of the game these days. Joe Got Even (my pick for this race) is a pretty decent stakes horse at TP and he ran his usual decent race today. Hard Spun defeated him easily despite being close to a hot pace and a bit wide. That's fairly impressive.
Today didn't convince me that he is going to win or be close on Derby Day, but it did convince me that he could be a very quality stakes horse this year on multiple surfaces.

Excellent points.

didn't it have something with graded earnings?

He did what he had to.

Does Pletcher reconsider sending 'Saturday to the Bluegrass considering he needs more graded stakes earnings?

I don't think it was the right decision, and nothing in the Hutcheson showed me that it was. Trainers and owners get hopeful, they aspire to be in the Winners Circle in May and not all horses can be.

Just the way I feel about this particular horse.

I agree with this...the Bay Shore could be an excellent race each year if more and more owners remained realistic.

Yeah Zito could learn alot from Grits. He's practically a novice at putting horses in the right spot. :D :D :D :D

Please be nice to me Pants. You made me cry the other day, and I hate it when that happens. I'm ill equipped for the unexpected. I've dealt with enough, I don't need you to work me over on a daily basis.

You make me cry everyday.

I don't mean to. I like you, and I'm sorry that you don't like me.

You're starting to grow on me. If you're lucky i'll start calling you my beauty mark.

I'll look forward to that, maybe you'll come around. In the meantime, I'll laugh at your photos and your fine sense of humor.

Damn, I may even buy you dinner, but that's pushing it--real hard.

I assure you that if we did meet that the dinner would be on you, especially if it's loaded with curry.

Pants, who taught you how to dance like that--with your boombox and all??

Hammer

Disappointed to see this performance knocked today. You can question the validity of poly all you want. But he was very professional today and impressive in my book.

Did anybody knock him?

When you title a thread like "not really impressed", what other context is there....Did i say you knocked him andy, no....I'll take this performance over either horse in the Tampa Bay Derby....and that's saying nothing of whether I would bet Hard Spun going forward.