Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 681314)

In the last 5 years O'Neil has had 23 appear to have broken down. He makes a lot of starts but that is a lot of dead horses. Dale Romans with a similar sized outfit during that same period had 5 break down.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 681279)

The big difference between the 2 situations is the Zito horses were never any good, they have been slow from the start. They obviously want to sell them at that price but more importantly from the trainers standpoint, get a win to pad the stats. Since trainers are almost exclusively selected, hired or fired based on win %, Zito figures he can pick up a couple more cheap wins (like C. Clement does every year at Suffolk) as he already was 2 for 3 there. He won one and lost that one and now has 3 more wins to add to the %.

O'Neil drops horses that have been successful at higher levels when they are broke down hoping to get the claimed and maybe even win as well.

There is a big difference between selling slow horses and broke down ones.

And I do not think that it is the responsibility of the owners who bred or bought the horses at auction. It is the responsibility of the current owner and trainer to protect the horse. If they can't spare the couple of grand they shouldnt be in the "business".

Originally Posted by randallscott35 (Post 681315)

Chuck, "It is easier on them." ---o'neill.

Originally Posted by freddymo (Post 681317)

I agree that the situations are different TOTALLY.. I doubt HoF trainer Zito give a flyin Fcuk about winning a Mdn 4 at Suffolk.. It's just the easiest way to stop the bills to his owner..

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 681320)

He likes wins like everyone else. Maiden 4's show up in the win column the same as grade 1's.

Originally Posted by Scav (Post 681273)

It isn't tough, why does a guy like LaPenta even have to run those horses for 4k, why not just retire them to an adaption facility, donate 6 months of care ($1500 roughly at an adaption facility) and clean the books.

These guys are sharp enough to understand that if their trainer is telling them they should run their 6 figure horses for 4k at Suffolk that they aren't very good horses.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 681320)

He likes wins like everyone else. Maiden 4's show up in the win column the same as grade 1's.

Originally Posted by freddymo (Post 681339)

Winners share was 5k I wonder if he will even bill the trainers award?

Originally Posted by tiggerv (Post 681341)

It's been a real treat to handicap the horses he sends to CT that can't cut it at Philly or Penn National. I don't remember any breaking down but I could have missed one.

There is actually a lot of money to be made off him since most of his horses go off as heavy favorites or close 2nd choice. Toss the low level claimers and assume the ALW horses are live.

Since Feb1
Starter/Allowance/Stakes - 7 Starts 5-0-1
Claiming 10K+ - 6 Starts 2-3-1
Claiming < 10K - 14 Starts 2-1-1

He has been listed as owner for several that have come to CT directly from SoCal. All have run in claimers and he is 1 for 7. I'm not sure how shipping across the country to run for 11K purses makes sense, but he must be making money off it.

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER (Post 681289)

"O’Neill said he turned down offers from individuals to buy Burna Dette beforehand because the owner wanted to win the race and hoped to keep the horse."

Can you really, ever again, trust anything coming out of that mouth?

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 681342)

I'm sure he doesn't work for free

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER (Post 681237)

He really entered Tuscan Evening (having a heart attack) into this discussion? WTF ...

Originally Posted by the_fat_man (Post 681268)

Someone enlighten me here: are claiming horses typically insured? And, if so, is it for a preset level or does it fluctuate depending on the last race level?

Originally Posted by freddymo (Post 681523)

I guess but sometimes a freebie is appropiate.. Zito has done awesome for Lapenta but maybe this cast aways are on the arm?

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS (Post 681526)

Tuscan Evening was 0-for-11 in Europe - and was beaten 20+ lengths in a maiden race at Cork in Ireland in her final Euro start.

Obviously our medication had moved her way up.

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS (Post 681526)

Tuscan Evening was 0-for-11 in Europe - and was beaten 20+ lengths in a maiden race at Cork in Ireland in her final Euro start.

Obviously our medication had moved her way up.