Curlin

[Mac88]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

The Sammy Davis is a two-turn, 1 and 1/16 mile race at Tampa on February 17th and it is indeed a prep for the Tampa Derby, which is exactly one month later. The Hutcheson is a one-turn race at the championship distance of 7 and 1/2 furlongs and it is on the same card as the Fountain of Youth. I guess it can be considered a prep for the Florida Derby. It has also been mentioned as Street Sense's first of two preps for the Ky Derby.

Either way Curlin will face much better competition and the Sammy Davis would be on two weeks' rest. The logical spots for Curlin IMO are an allowance around Fla Derby Day, the Wood Memorial/Blue Grass/Ark Derby, then the Ky Derby, a la Eddington. In the same vein though, should Curlin not win that last graded race, he will not be in the gate on Derby Day.

NT

Agree with your spacing for him, but lets be honest he needs to devlop rapidly along that time frame. Of course if he wins the allowance and one of the three major preps you mention connections are going to throw him in the gate first Saturday in May no matter what. But he would need to be a freak of sorts and I hate using that word. The way he bore out is very troublesome in my opinion. Could be immaturity but while I am no expert, could be something a little more.

Still I agree skip Sam Davis and point for allowance to be sure to see what you really have under the hood. Logical first step to me