Dunkirk

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

The animal hasn't changed at all. The approach has.

The 'understanding' has changed, trainers and owners realize that by spacing out races, they get more efficient and productive runs.

[Scurlogue Champ]

The understanding of what? The animal?

Check the Australian Group One Runners and their PP's to see how inefficient and unproductive 7 and 14 day spacing is.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

The understanding of what? The animal?

Check the Australian Group One Runners and their PP's to see how inefficient and unproductive 7 and 14 day spacing is.

On dirt or turf?

And Austrailian competiton and US Competition is about 10 times different.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

The understanding of what? The animal?

Check the Australian Group One Runners and their PP's to see how inefficient and unproductive 7 and 14 day spacing is.

If everyone was doing the same thing then others would do it too. Since the guys with the best horses are spacing races the rest of the sport follows along. If you have good horses and start running back quick or break a few down you risk losing your business. If someone were to start doing it and winning, the risk would be much more acceptable.

[VOL JACK]

Beyers:
Dunkirk 100
Q road 103

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

If everyone was doing the same thing then others would do it too. Since the guys with the best horses are spacing races the rest of the sport follows along. If you have good horses and start running back quick or break a few down you risk losing your business. If someone were to start doing it and winning, the risk would be much more acceptable.

Gracias.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

At what price? Do you think it's just a coincidence he's made 3 lifetime starts by May of his 3 year old year? They paid a ton for him and he's bred to be any kind. If the game plan was Florida Derby-Kentucky Derby, and he doesn't get in, you wait the 2 more weeks and run in the Preakness. He ran his eyeballs out today. I just don't think it's in anyone's best interests to rush at this point. It's 2009, no one does what you are proposing anymore and there is a reason for it. The game here has changed, whether we like it or not.

No one cares about the dumb Preakness.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by justindew

No one cares about the dumb Preakness.

Racing purists like yourself (supposedly) sure think it is an important race

[justindew]

Originally Posted by Scav

Racing purists like yourself (supposedly) sure think it is an important race

I'm sure when Tabor and co. plunked down $3.7MM for Dunkirk they were thinking "this is our elusive Preakness horse, and he will avenge Thunder Gulch's loss."

Look, all I'm saying is that I think Dunkirk can make the Derby in a healthy way with one more start. And it would be a shame if he didn't make the field. I would run him in either the Derby Trial, Withers, or Lexington, in that order.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by justindew

I'm sure when Tabor and co. plunked down $3.7MM for Dunkirk they were thinking "this is our elusive Preakness horse, and he will avenge Thunder Gulch's loss."

Look, all I'm saying is that I think Dunkirk can make the Derby in a healthy way with one more start. And it would be a shame if he didn't make the field. I would run him in either the Derby Trial, Withers, or Lexington, in that order.

Most ridiculous, ridiculous, least ridiculous

DT: yeah, 2 races in 7 days, 16 furlongs, yeah, that is smart
Withers: Go from Florida, to New York, have to hit the board, then ship to KY.
Lexington: the most logical because of the 20 day spacing between the two, less amount of shipping also

[justindew]

Originally Posted by Scav

Most ridiculous, ridiculous, least ridiculous

DT: yeah, 2 races in 7 days, 16 furlongs, yeah, that is smart
Withers: Go from Florida, to New York, have to hit the board, then ship to KY.
Lexington: the most logical because of the 20 day spacing between the two, less amount of shipping also

DT: I mean, I hate to sound like a broken record, but Don't Get Mad did it. Could also serve as a prep for the Preakness is they decide to skip the Derby. And it's at CD, where he'll be.

Withers: Isn't this usually a small field though?

Lexington: Bigger field, and new surface.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

You're being silly now. I understand what you are saying, but it's just not realistic, no matter how many times you say it. Because they plunked down the 3.7 is why you don't push now. I realize how important the Derby is, but it's also not the end all be all. Do you think it's just a coincidence he's made 3 starts? Is it possible he's not the soundest of sorts? Your solution to that is to run him more frequently?

My entire argument is based on the premise that he IS sound and healthy. If he isn't, then of course they shouldn't run him.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by justindew

DT: I mean, I hate to sound like a broken record, but Don't Get Mad did it. Could also serve as a prep for the Preakness is they decide to skip the Derby. And it's at CD, where he'll be.

Withers: Isn't this usually a small field though?

Lexington: Bigger field, and new surface.

1 f'n horse in the last whatever years

I think they should put him on the shelf until the JCGC. He looked awful tired and depressed heading back to the barn.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by justindew

DT: I mean, I hate to sound like a broken record, but Don't Get Mad did it. Could also serve as a prep for the Preakness is they decide to skip the Derby. And it's at CD, where he'll be.

Withers: Isn't this usually a small field though?

Lexington: Bigger field, and new surface.

I kinda understand your reasoning... but Dont get Mad didnt even hit the board. finished 4th as a big longshot (and I did pick him in a RTIP contest in my top 5). He isnt a good example. Dunkirk isnt running for 4th.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I think they should put him on the shelf until the JCGC. He looked awful tired and depressed heading back to the barn.

he was pissed that the track was souped for front runners.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I think they should put him on the shelf until the JCGC. He looked awful tired and depressed heading back to the barn.

Did they have to hose him down or did they just want to?

Either way he didn't look like a monster to me.


Pletcher had no reason to believe the track was going to be groomed to track record conditions. That was a bullcrud War Emblem thing to do.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

Did they have to hose him down or did they just want to?

Either way he didn't look like a monster to me.

Pletcher had no reason to believe the track was going to be groomed to track record conditions. That was a bullcrud War Emblem thing to do.

Most of the horses were getting hosed down yesterday. It was very warm and pretty humid.

The track was fast... It's Gulfstream Park. It's almost always a very fast track. It was not a ridiculously souped-up track, records or not.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Most of the horses were getting hosed down yesterday. It was very warm and pretty humid.

The track was fast... It's Gulfstream Park. It's almost always a very fast track. It was not a ridiculously souped-up track, records or not.

i agree, that track is always fast unless it rains. plus the race was not even close. johnny was looking around ( the wrong side for a second) waiting on the closers, once he shook that horse and turned him loose it was all she wrote. it was not like he won by a neck, the margin of victory was decisive. dunkirk was clearly overmatched yesterday. what do these people expect it was his third start and he was in the florida derby. this is not last year, these horses are fast, he did well to get second.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Clearly overmatched?

Face it Dahoss...
It was a horrible performance.

Pletcher had no business running that bum.