So what do you do with Stormello now??
 

Is he shipping back to train on the poly, stay in FL to train?? Go in the FL Derby, go over the pond.

I guess the logical thing to do, if I was his trainer would ship to N.Y. for the Wood...that would make him well traveled for the Derby.

I think traveling takes to much out of a horse, and will catch up with him for the worse.

His only bad race was shipping to Churchill for BC Juvenile and then he came back to win at Hollywood. With his trainer's thinking...my idea may come up.

This I can beleive
:)

i think the wood is logical, possibly the bluegrass

I would try like hell to get this colt to relax, if they could just get him to relax even a little bit he could be a danger, he has a ton of heart to go with his speed. I really fell in love with him after the Fountain of Youth, if he had relaxed just a little, he would have blown that foeld away, he overcame a lot and still was fighting to the end, definately the best horse out of that race yesterday.
I will say also I always had Great Hunter pegged as a plodder, but he made a move into the stretch that was visually very impressive, he won like he was much the best, he is a beautifully put together horse and moves very nicely. I may be a bit biased but I have to say I think the California horses looked the best on Saturday.

Disussed races over weekend with some friends of mine and I came to same realization although they dont quite agree at this point. West coast might be a bit better at this point. Stormello while not running figure wise so fast is as game as they come. Bias, no bias, whatever, he showed a TON of heart and determination. Notional has already come East to win. Liquidity goes this weekend in LA Derby in which I feel he has a huge shot, and also he is my choice so to speak for Derby.

Great Hunter impressed me also with his move but so did Sam P who looked beat at top of lane and conitined on to get within a length or so of Great Humter at wire. He reminds me a bit of Invisible Ink, Pletcher horse from 2001 as I can see him running on to get an underneath slice on Derby Day. ALthough he is technically East Coast based, I do agree though, West might have taken lead

Great Hunter seems to be a horse who will wear out if he runs to quickly in the beginning of a race. But as the race moves on he adjusts and then I think he has a great deal of speed when others are dying. I think he has that extra gear as long as he is not used early.

So as a Derby horse he would do fine with a slow pace up front, because I think he can run faster a lot faster when he is tired compared to other horses. On the other hand, a speed duel may also help him as long as the stalkers get to close on a fast pace. His problem, more than others, will be traffic. Getting to run smoothly and not too fast in the first part of the race.

I don't quite agree with that. Great Hunter did look good. Even thought Stormello showed alot of heart, if you go back and watch that race again, No Biz and others were charging as well. When these races get stretched out he seems like he will get passed. Maybe a legit 1 1/8 horse, a 1 1/4 is still a question mark. Scatt Daddy looked better, he was hard charging and still looked to go more.

I think this is faulty logic and a common mistake of handicappers who watch the replays. If he learns to relax on the lead (which he should be able to do over the next couple months, hopefully) and not cut out 22 and 23 fractions all the way around, he should have some left in the tank for the final furlong. He's an impressive contender right now. I wouldn't fall into the trap of thinking he can't go another furlong. Each race is it's own animal. Just my two cents.

Very true, but what I look at during these preps though, is 1) how did the winner look in winning? did he win charging down the final furlong or did he just hold on? and 2) how did the other horse racing look, same idea as above, did they finish strong? or just held on to their position.
Time will tell.

I don't like Great Hunter. I'm assuming you guys do realize that was Sam P. he was beating, and Gomez was already getting into Sam P. with a half-mile to go.

It's not like he was all out to beat him....Sam P has also showed moments of promise at time too and was clearly the second best horse in the field in my opinion.

What happened to the UAE Derby? Are they not taking him there anymore?

I heard he was heading back to California Wed. From there??????????????

I would send him to the Blue Grass and have him kept there and train on the poly until the derby. If he is sent to AQU then they would probably send him back to HOLLY then back to CD which does not make sense

He should just retire now. He has done enough!

givem the roses immediatly

Par for the course, LOL.

Eric