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Originally Posted by Linny
The folks over there are 80% pretty pony fans who have never had anything to do with campaigning a racehorse. The important word there is racehorse. They all seem to think if a horse runs a poor race he should get "time on the farm." Sometimes what they need in MORE work, harder training but if you do that you are called a butcher.
DaTara won the Belmont. Thats an example of bad management? That fact that that horse won anything is a testament to good management, not bad.
I know Nick and have met Robert LaPenta a few times. He's a very good owner in terms of giving his horses time and running them where they fit. I had the uncomfortable distinction of watching the Wood Memorial with Zito and LaPenta when War Pass was trying to rebound and earn a spot in the Derby. I felt bad for them that day, they really thought that their colt was the goods, he sure had looked like it at 2. They did the right thing and stopped. After an on the board run in the Wood, most owners would have pressed.
It's Zito's call on Fly Down. The colt has not worked since his allowance win and that tell me all I need to know. Miner's Reserve has pedigree and his maiden was pretty nice. At this point, with so many races left and no clear leaders if he were mine, I'd be pointing for the Kentucky Derby. Does that mean "press on at all costs?" No. It means move into a stakes race. Lets face it that G3 Sham last weekend was just that. The allowance that Radiohead won was a tougher event. The 2 colts in the Sham with more than a maiden win were dreadful and the winner was exiting a statebred maiden.
Granted, the stakes get harder now, but spots are out there. I wouldn't want him killed (figuratively speaking here) just for a graded check, but to get an idea how he stacks up against this crop.
As for Jackson Bend, I think he's better at a mile against serious horses but he's not exactly been a dud. His two races for LaPenta were seconds behind well regarded colts. I don't think he wants any part of Eskendereya going 2 tuns but I'm not sure how tough the Wood is going to be.
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Fly Down worked yesterday, by the way, but I appreciate your post. That's good to hear about La Penta (I never had a problem with Zito)... now I feel badly, lol.