4 more days until the 3 year old season
 

Imagine, just 4 more days to Jan 1 and (in my opinion) the Triple Crown trail starts. Seems like yesterday when Barbaro was storming home by 8 to win the 06 Derby. I have been pretty pumped about the 07 Derby for quite some time due to the talent level of the 2 year olds (soon to be 3). I am looking forward to the new faces on the scene, as well as seeing how horses like Quay, Street Sense, Scat Daddy, No Biz Like Shobiz etc etc have developed. I have a feeling we are in for a special treat in 2007.

Too bad the article in either the DRF or Blood-Horse indicated that we will be seeing as little as possible of the contenders pre-Derby.

I missed that article. I think trainers and owners are going to look at the layoff Barbaro had and try to repeat the path he took. But it seems we have some good (soon to be 3 year olds) in Florida, Oaklawn and Cali. I think the triple crown trail is going to be very competitive.

I don't even know why anybody bothers to race anymore. Just tell everyone how good they are and retire 'em to stud. Racing is just a needless frivolity.

Or so it seems.

It does seem that way. Too bad the sport doesnt allow stars to develop. That would develop new fans more than any slot machines will. KP

Well slots arent intended to create racing fans. The whole industry is so screwed up that it is almost impossible to fix without completely destroying it.

Too bad there isn't more media coverage of horses like Arromanches. That was a great story that Gander put a link up too. After reading about that horse and what it has been thru and still goes thru, just to eat, I would travel to see it in person. I can't say that about many.

I was watching the Dick Van Patten interview on TVG last night for like the 1 millionith time. Anyway, he said something in the interview that made total sense to me. He said, the more you know about horse racing the more fascinating it really is. I really got into racing once I understood the entire process from breeding to retirement. I dont think having stars not retire is good enough.

I agree. I don't pay any atttention to the people who decry the fact that some horses are retired early and who long for the old days. Fact is, that's just the current dynamic of the industry. That will change sooner or later as the economics of the sport change. If you can't be excited over a new year of racing and feel compelled to comment negatively on a thread where others note they are looking forward to same, well that's just unfortunate and chances are those folks don't get excite about much.

I'm certainly looking forward to the coming 3 yo winter stakes and to seeing how the top 2 yos from last year progress as well as seeing later developing colts and fillies emerge.

My glass ain't half empty. My glass ain't half full. I'm just halfway to the next glass.

Not to go off topic, sorry
Your avatar, that episode was on 2 or 3 nights ago. Made me laugh cause I said out loud, hey thats StS's avatar.

Those are the horses I'm most looking forward too! Stable mail is full of possibilities. :)

Guess that's the beauty of this sport, seems there's always something just around the corner.

We're all familiar with some of the big name 2YOs ... anyone have a new name or two we can all keep an eye on?

one good work at a sale...one good race at either 2 or maybe 3 and really that's enough....
why do you demand so much anyway?...an owner can tell you who is great...and they know better than you.

Just my short list :D , not graded stakes winners or horses "in the headlines" like Nobiz, Street Sense, Any Give Saturday etc., but several look to be training for a start soon or are coming off maiden wins. First Defence, and Frankel's other trainee Les Grande Trois will most likely not be Derby bound. Still have some more in my Virtual Stable I'm looking forward too, but I should get some work done today....

Diamond Fever - Seeking the Gold - Radiant Ring (Halo) trained by Matz

Electricity - Storm Cat - Heavenly Prize. Phipps/McGaughy full brother to Good Reward, Pure Prize

First Defence - Unbridled's Song - Honest Lady. Frankel/Juddmonte half brother to Phantom Rose.

Gabriel's Hill - A.P. Indy - Lailani Darley & trained by Eoin Harty

Grasshopper - Dixie Union - Grass Skirt. Farish/Howard

Longley - Seeking the Gold - Personal Girl. Graham Motion trainer

Mandurah - A.P. Indy - Morning Pride. Another Darley boy trained by Harty

Marchfield - A.P. Indy - Pico Teneriffe...canadian bred, Queens Plate bound for Melynk?

Mr. Sidney - Storm Cat - Tomisues Delight $3.9M yearling, LOVED this guy, 3/4 to Bluegrass Cat bought by Circle E & trained by Kimmel

No Reply - Deputy Commander - Regrets Only. Darley purchased for $475OBSMAR, trained by McLaughlin

Point Gold - Point Given - La Chaposa (PER) Mott trained 1/2 to You and I and Chaposa Springs

Point of Reason - Forest Camp - Pretty Reason. $825K FTFEB Winstar/Pletcher

Positive Force - Storm Cat - Brushed Halory. $2.2M Darley purchase

Ravel - son of fupeg, trained by Pletcher broke maiden at Hollywood

Sahara Heat - A.P. Indy - Sahara Gold

Sam P - Cat Thief - Affirmed Legacy (Affirmed) recent winner at Churchill for Pletcher

Sandwaki - 1/2 to Quiet Royal, dam is a 1/2 sister to Dare and Go. Group 3 winning colt in France, now trained by Pletcher

Seeking No More - Dynaformer - out of very useful dam, Seeking Regina

Shaami - Gone West - Keeper Hill. Shadwell/McLaughlin connections

Time Squared - Fupeg - Indy Glory $1.05M KEEAPR. Biancone trainer

That's a nice list Sightseek. This crop may not turn out as good as '06 but there should be some big surprises over the next few months. I'm thinking some horse is going to come outta nowhere and knock off the big names.

The Barbaro layoff is definitely going to make trainers try to get into the Derby by taking the minimum number of shots at it per horse. Maybe some nag that ran 12 times before the 1st Saturday in May will step up and win big.

Interesting to see how the artificial tracks play into it also. The Bluegrass might re-assert itself as a premier prep race instead of producing flukes like Sin Min and whoever won it the year before (Bandini?).

My ultimate dream is that Most Distinguished breaks his maiden in a big stakes and goes on to win the Derby. (I liked him as a yearling and he has been teasing me with 2nd or 3rd place finishes all summer long :D )

I think my Kate Beckinsale dream has a better chance of coming true.

I think you're probably right. :D
He's got to break his maiden one of these days.......