miraja2 |
09-24-2007 06:01 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlinsky
With all due respect and this isn't just to you, I feel it's absolute bunk to think Street Sense doesn't like poly but I hear it all over the place--I think Bloodhorse might've run something by Haskin or whoever countermanding that which was good. Go back and watch the Blue Grass and smoke over his action which I think was nice and easy. Sure looked like he liked it just fine to me. Notice where he's running--the outside. I'd say his nose loss wasn't even due to that though, it was a headbob situation but SS was most certainly pushing with greater and greater thrust toward the end of the race and we all know he's lengths better on the rail. I saw no wheel spinning and a determined forward effort that's despite the blanket mess that was the oncoming rush at the end there. Great Hunter didn't end up with the best result and SS definitely had his bobbly moments but that was traffic squirreliness, not the track. He overcame and nearly won. I'm not sure the result would've been much different on dirt with all other things being equal. It sets him up well later too. A good spot.
I'm gonna go back and watch the other race but I came out of watching the Blue Grass impressed with him doing what he did not 'wow he hates poly...totally gonna throw that out.' I'd like to hear what Carl and Calvin say about him so I can be sure my thoughts are right but I think he'll have much more trouble with his hanging habit and outside running than the track surface. Now if Hard Spun does like they did in the BG and slows the first quarter to :26 who knows. SS still closed well into that.
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If you'll notice, I chose my words carefully. I said that "Street Sense seems to be a closer that does not like poly." I say that based on the fact that as both a 2yo and a 3yo he was beaten on poly by horses he would come back to absolutely CRUSH on dirt in his next start. Does that mean he is a terrible poly horse? Not at all. But I think all the available evidence from his career up to this point indicates that he is a better horse on dirt than on polytrack. That evidence only consists of two poly races, so it is certainly at least possible (though I think not probable) that he turns in a performance on Saturday that compares with his top performances on the dirt.
The fact that I believe he is a better horse on dirt than on poly in no way means that his connections are making a mistake in running him in this race. As other posters have already pointed out, he has done well using a poly race as a prep for his "big" races in the past.
It also in no way means that he can't win the race. I think he absolutely can.
Sumitas seemed to be saying that if Street Sense doesn't like poly there might be larger implications for the relationship between general trends regarding running styles and synthetic surfaces. My basic point was that taking one horse and using him to make such a broad statement does not - in my opinion - make a lot of sense.
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