Voodoo, huh?

[golfer]

This, from Larry Jones' article in the NY Post (he talks about Ragozin instead of TG, but we'll let that slide):

BALTIMORE - My numbers guy, Bill Castle, who is Mario Pino's agent, gave me something to think about. He said that, off the "sheets" (Ragozin speed ratings), the horses coming out of the Kentucky Derby are going to regress slightly. The good thing is, even if they do, it would still be enough to win the Preakness. The question is, which one of the Derby horses is going to regress the least?

The sheets guys don't know your individual horses, but they do know what horses have done in the past that fit these same circumstances. They gave us a lot of confidence, going from the Lane's End to the Derby with that six-week layoff, that Hard Spun was on a great progression. They had seen when he had five weeks between races, he ran very large. So they said not to worry about the six weeks. They didn't feel that was an issue with this horse. Now their issue is two weeks. That's the reason they're saying we'll all regress.

But right now, the way my horse is acting, this one race in two weeks isn't going to be an issue with him. From me galloping Hard Spun and being around him, I've got to think he's still sitting on a very good race. I don't expect to see a lot of regression out of him.

Mario said to me the other day, "Larry, I don't think this horse has lost one once of weight." If anything, he's getting bigger and stronger, which you hope always happens with a 3-year-old. I know he hasn't missed one bite of food.

I couldn't ask for the horse to do better than he's doing. He's not showing any wear and tear of racing. Everything right now is as good on him as it was the day we started, and I can't say that about any of the other 48 horses I have in my barn.

I generally find things about most horses I wish I could change, but with Hard Spun, I'm like the proud papa. The reason I don't wear a lot of button-up shirts is because I'd just pop the buttons off when my chest swells when I see him.

He's special, and we're lucky to have him. Man, what a horse.