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Originally Posted by ArlJim78
i wouldn't rule out that part of the decline is merely that he was just not able to handle real competition or adversity, like the off going. He was not a very proven individual, triumphing over adversity or top competition.
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That is about as likely as Indian Vale being able to open up 10 on Hystericalady in the first quarter mile.
The horse worked an effortless 57.46 while well off the rail in what was probably as impressive a workout as any ever.
He's better now than he was last year - when he was ripping out 114-to-116 Beyers - and running away from fields that included Invasor and Sympatico Bribon - as well Silver Train (who won that years Met Mile and Tom Fool with GIANT figures - and was a champion sprinter the year before)
Well, better now with one obvious exception, he makes tremendously hard work of it after half his race is over.
He had BY FAR the best trip of any horse in the Vosburgh and still couldn't reach triple digits - and his mother LOVED the slop so much she upset the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes going 10 furlongs at Saratoga in stakes record time and winning by a pole at 30/1 odds.
Even with the aid of the best trip of his entire life in the Vosburgh - and the sloppy track (he won the Jerome in a canter with a massive fig in the slop at three) - he couldn't run a triple digit figure.
Remember, I only picked him to finish 5th in the Dirt Mile - and not finish last - because that field was beyond awful. He would have been a great bet against in a typical allowance race. His Vosburgh loss underlined the fact that he still has a serious problem.
It's pretty amazing that anyone can have any doubt about something so obvious.