Polytrack Sucks!

I'm not sure if I agree or disagree here but IMO the last 5-10 runnings of the Bluegrass have been far frompredictive. Millenium Wind and Sinister Minister looked like HOY candidates over the "old" Keeneland.

Since when do slow fractions cause horses to crash into each other? In theory the most crashing should occur in exhausted animals after fast fractions, not those who have galloped for 7 furlongs.

One thing Bailey said that stuck out was that if this race was run on dirt they would not end up all bunched up like this, a turf like finish for sure.

But then if it was on dirt who would have won?? Would Dominican come flying too late? Would SS have enuf left to finish? WHat about Great Hunter :confused:

Steet Sense is a toss. Shot from the Tampa Bay effort. Horse had the long layoff due to physical issues. Even Carl said he wasn't doing well when they went to Florida. Comes back after layoff since November and grits it out in record time versus AGS.

Now people believe he will win at 10f in 3 weeks time. He was trying to win at Keeneland and if Dominican didn't have traffic issues and they went another furlong Dominican wins by 10.

You do need to wonder if Street Sense can peak for the KD. Curlin will be the fav in the Derby.

I agree. In fact, I've got Dominican winning the triple crown. He will be Bernardini x 10.

He didn't even get motoring until the last 1/16th. Was behind Street Sense and went around him with no difficulty. Watch the horses running out after.

Street Sense staggered off slow fractions. That's a dud on the first Saturday in May.

The way I saw it, and I could be wrong (have been once or twice), is that Dominican was outrun by the leaders to the top of the stretch, then took advantage of the "bumper cars" game that Tuefelsberg created, and got up ONLY because Street Sense was bumped/bothered. Maybe we'll find out more in 3 weeks;)

Forgetting also, that Sense's biggest success has come as a one-run closer. Sitting just a few lengths off of a dawdling pace set by a vanity entrant wasn't exactly his typical running style. It reminded me a lot more visually of the Breeders Futurity last fall over the very same track, albeit with a different pace scenario. And we all know how that story ended.....

On Derby Day you won't find him tracking leaders three lengths off of fractions of 51.2 or 1:16.3 either.

I think he should have won, but it's not like the Derby is going to have the same ridiculous shape that this one did.

That's just what he said and I tend to agree. Do you think it would have been the same had they gone out in 23 and 46? No way, they would have been more spread out and Street Sense and Great Hunter would have been battling down the stretch.

I can't wait. Street Sense was very mildly bumped. He staggered into Great Hunter and shut the door on him. Nafzger when asked, said he wouldn't put blinkers on Street Sense for the Derby. Why make the effort? Street Sense needs more than blinkers. Like maybe a new training program?

Dominican beats him again on the first Saturday in May. If they even run Street Sense. I think he scratches.

he scratches based on what?

Teuflesburg hit Great Hunter didn't he? Looked like Street Sense did too.

Street Sense will get crucified in the Derby.

Comes out of the race bad. Doesn't have a 5 month layoff to work with. Has no chance to win. Lots of reasons.

I feel this way too. If memory serves, they told Mehrtens, on Assault, that "you have the fastest animal for 3/8 of a mile, but you've got to time your run." Something like that. Assult was considered a one run closer from what I read, he sure had a burst.

Curlin might be faster for a short distance. I think he put more ground between himself and Delightful Kiss in the stretch than did SS/AGS in the TB derby. Valid comparison?

i just wonder how street sense will get crucified in the derby, if he's going to scratch for all kinds of reasons.:rolleyes: