Best individual performance by a Derby horse this year

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by KY_Sasquash

I dont like the surface comparison either and agree it sounds fishy, but I also wonder if they arent trying to ask him to do too much in a short period and ruin their horse for the rest of the year and beyond. If he won the Bluegrass then he'd be one of the top betting choices for the Derby, which would be 3 weeks after the Lane's End, where he just won with his lifetime top Rag. Thus that would be 2 tough races in a row going into the derby on three weeks rest, and his 3rd Triple Crown prep/race since March24. Seems daunting to me. If he wasnt cooked after the Bluegrass, then I think he would after the derby. If you had Hard Spun in your barn, how would you handle him assuming he came out of the Lane's End in good order?

Obviously we are assuming he is in good shape and good health. I would run him in the Bluegrass and then determine where he is at after the race. If he is too drained or comes out of it with an issue then you pass on the Derby. Likewise if you run up the track. I'm not really critizing passing the Derby (though it seems odd) but what I am critical of is all the waffling regarding surfaces. Like if you ran in the Bluegrass there would not be ample time to train on CD's surface? It is though they are looking for an excuse not to run. If they truly believe that the horse would not benefit from the Race, then fine, I appluad them for thinking of the horse. But the surface thing is silly.