Circular Quay the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Thats what I think was funny after the Derby. The wet track thing popped up, and then the Preakness field was crushed. Good Lord look what the animal did at Belmont. He got pushed hard by two diff. very good horses and still barely went down. Smarty ran on any dirt you gave him.

CQ is gonna need a Giacomo set up and I dont see that happening for a while. Some lessons were learned in that burn up that have not had time to become a passing memories.

The setup that Giacomo got wasn't even as good as when Monarchos won. Remember, the pace in the 2005 Derby was so fast because Spanish Chestnut was entered as a "rabbit" for Bandini. Didn't really work out since the went 16th and 19th.

I'm not particularly a Circular Quay fan, but he is not nearly as much of a plodder as Giacomo. CQ basically took the lead at the 3/16 of the La Derby. I think more tactical speed may be found in that horse. It definitely can't hurt down the line.

And, yes, you're right, Smarty was going to win that Derby rain or shine. He had the perfect target in front of him who couldn't get classic distances.

NT

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I'm not particularly a Circular Quay fan, but he is not nearly as much of a plodder as Giacomo. CQ basically took the lead at the 3/16 of the La Derby. I think more tactical speed may be found in that horse. It definitely can't hurt down the line.

And, yes, you're right, Smarty was going to win that Derby rain or shine. He had the perfect target in front of him who couldn't get classic distances.

NT

After I watched the Bashford Manor stakes (CQ's 2nd start) I compared him to Afleet Alex because of the sudden burst of speed he showed. I've cooled off that comparison since, but I agree he does have tactical speed, and doesn't need the race to fall apart to get a piece.

And being that the derby field is now just about guaranteed to be a full field of 20 just about every year, I think the pace is always going to be fast up front. Too many jocks fear falling behind a wall of horses and losing all chance of getting good position.

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

After I watched the Bashford Manor stakes (CQ's 2nd start) I compared him to Afleet Alex because of the sudden burst of speed he showed. I've cooled off that comparison since, but I agree he does have tactical speed, and doesn't need the race to fall apart to get a piece.

And being that the derby field is now just about guaranteed to be a full field of 20 just about every year, I think the pace is always going to be fast up front. Too many jocks fear falling behind a wall of horses and losing all chance of getting good position.

There are too many horses right now that can run closer to the pace than CQ and have a great turn of foot in the stretch. Any Given Sat., Great Hunter, Scat Daddy, Street Sense... too many at this point. CQ hopes they dont make it to May.