Good Day for West Point and Carl Nafzger
 

After watching the Beldame it would be nice to have Lear's Princess and Lady Joanne heading into the BC Distaff.

The race is 27 days away, and perhaps things will look different as we get closer, but that was hardly a scary bunch.

I can't recall a year where the 3YO's were SO dominant coming into the Classic as this (maybe '89 with Sunday Silence/Easy Goer?) We didn't really get to see the 3yo fillies against older but given that the very just-OK Ginger Punch was 8/5 I think that says a lot.

Hystericalady was pretty awesome in her Mth run, she may end up favored if Nashoba's Key stays on turf.

Ginger Snap was actually even money. Must have been the tough trip that did her in. Or, perhaps she was overcome by the odor of her stablemate First Defence's performance.

Why, pray tell, was he 3-1?

Why, pray tell, were Indian Vale and Unbridled Belle allowed to go off at semi-insane odds of 7-1 and 6-1, respectively?

I bet Indian Vale heavy, and was pretty disappointed to lose that photo (bet 4 races, ran 2nd with Talent Search @ 18-1, Indian Vale @ 7-1, and that crazy longshot putover attempt 1 in the last @ 24-1) but hit that exacta box (which was almost as insane at $72) really hard. Fun day at Belmont today. Got there just in time for the 7th, wish I could have been there earlier.

I played Indian Vale but didn't like the winner at all.

Thought we were winners midstretch after she put away Ginger Junk. The photo in the last was particularly painful. They tried to put one over there, and almost pulled it off. a big bet came in on that horse with about 1 MTP after she was seemingly purposely mis-spotted in her previous race (an OPEN N1X in which she was never allowed to run).

I never even looked at the last.....after seeing it was yet another NY bred 6F turf race.

Tough beat. I'm sure Luis Rivera was the difference.

In 2002, the three-year-olds were receiving most of the praise going into the Classic: Medaglia d'Oro, War Emblem, Came Home, and, to a lesser extent, Harlan's Holiday, Hawk Wing, and Perfect Drift. However, other than Came Home, none had beaten older (not sure about Hawk Wing). Perhaps, the most comparable year could be 2000. Albert the Great dominated the Gold Cup after being beaten by Fusa$hitty in the Jerome. Giant's Causeway had run real strong against the elders in GB & I. Lastly, Tiznow and Captain Steve had proven to be the two best out west. Concurrent with their rise, Lemon Drop Kid, Golden Missile, and Behrens began to slide off their best form leading many to target one of the three-year-olds.

Good calls on 2000 & 2002. The group in 2002 was far less talented than this years', however...

3yos swept the first four spots in the '94 Classic. Concern over Tabasco Cat, Dramatic Gold, and Soul of the Matter.

Not to mention Holy Bull was beating everyone up from the end of May onward.

At least part of that has to do with Pletcher's horrendous New York performance the last few month I would think.

i thought unbridled belle ran a very nice race (considering the overall lack of quality in the division that is) and should be a factor in the distaff. especially if they really are going to run take d tour in the distaff like they say. otherwise, i think HL has that race for the taking.

i'm obviously on the minority on this one too, but i think LR quite possibly cost himself that race and will be very tough to beat in the bc classic.