Denman made the same "call on his class" in last year's Sunshine Millions Classic that Lava Man won by about 3. It's an annual ritual.

While not, in my mind, the most impressive performance yesterday, I was very impressed with Lava Man. I will be very interested to see what he can do in Dubai... I thought the Mane was clearly the "Mane Event" yesterday; damn that was F*&^in' awesome

Asked about his next race: “The Dubai turf course ($5 million Duty Free, $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic, each on March 31) is still a potential spot, so we’ll kind of see how the champagne goes down . . . “ Asked if the Santa Anita Handicap (March 3) is a consideration: “Oh, for sure.” (source: stakes quotes santaanita website)

I love the horse, but O'neil must have been freebasing Vueve Clicquot on the walk to the winners circle if he thinks thats a prudent option. LM has trouble shipping in the continental U.S. and he thinks Dubai is worth consideration? I don't think anything other than running in the Cali trifecta (Big Cap, Hollywood GC, Pacific Classic) is even worth discussion.

I guess the feeling is there are not any great spots for him between the SA Handicap and the Hollywood Gold Cup so why not at least consider taking a shot. On the other hand, is it worth going to Dubai and risk screwing him up, though I think the " Dubai ruins horses " thinking is flawed.

On another note....how do you freebase champagne? Just curious.

pen torch, champagne flute, 1 inch diameter plastic tubing. Apply tools in the usual fashion and enjoy.

Once again, McCann's Mojave fools me. I thought he was staggering at the end of the Cal Cup when he won it, just barely beating lesser horses. Thought he couldn't use his sprinting class against the field in Florida. Guess what? He looked the same way on Saturday as he did in the Cal Cup, like he might pack it in at any step, but he kept on going. It must just be his style of running.

Why was Durkin all worked up about her break? She bobbled very slightly and he delivered a monologue as though she broke five slow.

Very easy answer. Because he bet her. I catch him and Imbriale doing some very biased laced calls some times. Guarntee Tommy boy had a wad on her and 3 hours later was drunker than a skunk in a Miami night club doing the cha-cha-cha (if ya know what i mean).

Ive heard him make the call a few times fairplay, I just like that call. I dont know why.

Smokey Stover's win clearly the most impressive to me.

If anything, Lava Man may have been a little lackluster in victory. Both of his turf races last year were FAR more impressive! O'Neill might be best suited to keep this horse away from the turf until Hollywood Park. He was a terror on HP's turf course last year.

And your failure to bet him, as you have touted him for going on a year, was the least impressive performance of the day.

I don't think it was a particularly great race overall, but I was pretty impressed with Miss Shop's performance...they came home pretty quick and she looked good.

I dont remember any of the races...

LMAO

I was in the same boat as Lori. :o

Brian,
I'm with you on Miss Shop. I talked with one of my friends last night and it seems like all the backstretch people have nothing but good things to say about H A Jerkens. Hobeau farm! Daughter of Deputy Minister...
Miss Shop!!!

May Nights trip was good until the field turned for home. The hole disappeared and I believe she got bumped by the winner. Not only that but there were horses in front of her so she was locked in really w/nowhere to go.

You can't find anyone at the track with anything bad to say about Jerkens. He has probably, from what I've heard both directly and indirectly, helped more people around the racetrack than anyone ever. To me nobody represents all that is great about this game as well as the Chief does.

Hell, he even worked with Cannon Shell, and if that isn't magnanimous I don't know what is.

Hes ridden some pretty obscure jockeys on some very good horses. Cant think of anyone else in the game who just doesnt care which jockey is on his horses.

Blackthroat,
Well said!
I don't know Cannon Shell (yet), but the Chief is a once in a more than a few.

He gave me a tremendous vocabulary to work with.