Dawn at the Downs
 

Just got back from my fourth day at Dawn of the Downs. If you ever get the chance to go it is alot of fun, especially if you have some people with you that have not been to the track alot and seen horses work. They have what you might call a "play by play" person, Caton Bredar, and big screens working so you know when any Oaks or Derby horse in on the track. Also you can get breakfast and coffee. Its really a nice way to spend your morning.

Just some observations from seeing the horses in the morning (not that this translates to how they will run but just some observations). Its interesting to see how similar the horses attitudes are from day to day.

Pyro: each day was a little bit cantankerous. some might say rank.

Colonel John. a beautiful animal. very relaxed and calm. has the "it" look

Adriano: never looked happy. looking around everywhere. skiddish

Eight Belles: a big filly with a long neck. (lol). very, very alert looking. her excerise rider had not missed too many meals.

Big Brown: a crowd favorite. most mornings people actually clapped when he went by. not sure if its the "UPS" angle or cause he is the favorite. seemed like he always wanted to run off.

Denis of Cork: you dont win races in the morning but none looked or acted better. one of the smaller horses

Recapturetheglory: seemed like he was always held "under wraps" neck always bowed.

Cool Coal Man: missed him alot as Nick Zito would not use the "yellow derby saddle cloth" on him. Not sure if he feels like it is a jinx or just doesnt want anyone to notice him.

Tale of Etaki: seemed to stay on the track longer than most horses each day. Maybe he just galloped further than most.

Gayego: early worker usually before sunrise.

Visionarre: The horse just doesnt look like he is in the best form. most of the derby/oaks horses had great looking coats and attitudes but this one would go by and you would say ho-hum. nothing striking at all.

Like I said this is really not any information about who will win you can make your own judgements about that but just thought I would share. Its funny how it only takes a couple or three mornings to see a horses personality and how consistent they act on the track.

have a good derby.

Eight Belles has had big ol' Larry Jones on board the last few days at least. No wonder it looked like the rider had eaten a few too many doughnuts!

good stuff.

noticed Brown got the 3furlong breeze today to hone his early speed. Was rank and wanted more.

lol @ larry jones

Smooth Air with a curiously slow 3F work, too. I really really hope for the connections' sake that illness didn't zap him.

Big Brown 3 ticks faster than next 3F work on day. That's fast.

he'll need it to clear from post 20......good luck!

Havnt heard much about Monba's workouts any news on him?...and was really high on Adriano until I read Jermey Plonks piece on him this morning........ "Simply put, Adriano strides like a turf horse. After watching his high leg action, especially a near "climbing" motion in his left front, there's no doubt in my mind that turf would be his best surface. But he seems to cover the ground in fine time despite his inefficient leg action, witnessed by his workout this week in 1:00-4/5, when I would have sworn he went in 1:04. If he is to win the Derby, it will be in spite of it not being conducted over his best surface. That's not impossible; Barbaro looked infinitely more efficient striding on the turf early in his career than his dirt races, including his 2006 Kentucky Derby tour de force".


Any thoughts? Maybe Prado knows something we dont...