Quote:
Originally Posted by NTamm1215
Andy brought up when he was on with Steve last Monday that Eskendereya's Pilgrim is a race that some ought to consider when they bring up that he may have to come from farther off the pace. He raced in and among horses for some period of time and proved to be more than up to the task when the question was asked. I'd be concerned if I felt that he may have some underlying distance issues but one thing I know I'm confident about is that the longer they ask him to go the better he's going to run. That being said, should things not work out on May 1 I hope that he is pointed directly at the Belmont because I think it's a race for which he's tailor made.
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The BC Juvenile may not portend how a more experienced Eskendereya will perform on May 1, but looking to the Pilgrim as a predictor is probably fraught with peril, unless you are looking for the following similarities: Dean's Kitten will flounder on dirt, and it will be a strung-out field with over 30 lengths from the winner to the last-place finisher. The Pilgrim was a 5-horse field. Comfortably running covered up in a short field with moderate fractions (23.4, 47.4, 1:12.4, 1:37.4) in a one-turn mile is a far cry from the likely Derby scenario.
If history is any guide, assuming soundness and a trainer calling the shots, if Eskendereya fails to win the Derby, I would be shocked if Pletcher did anything but pass the Preakness and point to the Belmont.