showing up .........
 

a friend of mine has a real dislike for the horse, i dont know why? he wants to give me 30-1 that showing up wont be turf horse of the year. i think its a pretty good bet to take, there isen't much out there in my opinion, if he improves off of last year he will have a huge year.

I am a big Showing Up fan, ever since the Secretariat at Arlington, however there could be a few issues that keep him from having a year that earns him honors.

First, it became pretty clear in the Man O' War last year that Showing Up probably doesn't want a mile and a half. I know that the MOW was his first start against older horses, but with his pedigree I just don't see 12 furlongs as a very good distance for him. The flip-side of that is a mile on the turf. Personally I think a mile should be a distance where he can be better, but either way he is a horse that seems to be best somewhere in between 8 and 12 furlongs, as his two best wins have both been at 10 furlongs.

This of course uses the rationale that it will be hard for him to get an Eclipse without winning a BC race. That's not necessarily a certainty either.

NT

Agree that he will do well because there truly is not much out there. The Tin Man is a year older and that could be considered a question mark. Miesques Approval's comeback left alot to be desired. Lava Man will go turf to dirt but is a possibilty. English Channel seems to be a contender but where is he? I think Becrux might make some noise but he is a miler.

SO all in all SHowing Up should be a major player in alot of Grade I's this year. Do also agree that mile and a half is NOT his best distance but horse has alot of guts and determination and that matters. Was troubled also by news that California racing officials were thinking of having him scratched before Hollywood Derby because he seemed muscle sore I believe. Heard that in interview with Barclay Tagg on local OTB channel awhile back.