Is "Liking the Surface" At Churchill Overrated?

[Kasept]

No you're not. One problem has been however that taking to it or not taking to it has been random with those that make their first start at the Downs. It is frequently 'breakaway' cuppy and certain feet/action grab it and certain ones don't. But having experience over it, or at least having worked over it, is still a big plus to me in the Derby picture. The claim that the strip horses work on leading up to the Derby isn't the same as Derby Day is nonsensical.

When Mike Smith told me beore '05 that he expected a big try from Giacomo after his strong Santa Anita workout the Monday of Derby Week, one of the points he stressed was "all he needs to do is take to the surface"..

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The claim that the strip horses work on leading up to the Derby isn't the same as Derby Day is nonsensical.

I think the claim that the track isn't messed with a ton on Oaks and Derby day is nonsensical.

[PPerfectfan]

I think the fact that some horses love and have run well there plays alot into who I like. It is a fact in the past that some very, very nice horses run like crap there. Holy Bull being one of the biggest. Mike said he hated the track and I think he proved it Derby day. But the fact that SS trains there and won the BC there is just one small reason I love him for the Derby. And if CQ had run anytime in this century, I would have played him also. But the time off is just alittle to much for me.

[avance2000]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I think the claim that the track isn't messed with a ton on Oaks and Derby day is nonsensical.

nope.
as usual, kasept is right.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by avance2000

nope.
as usual, kasept is right.

A very thorough and convincing argument.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Kasept

No you're not. One problem has been however that taking to it or not taking to it has been random with those that make their first start at the Downs. It is frequently 'breakaway' cuppy and certain feet/action grab it and certain ones don't. But having experience over it, or at least having worked over it, is still a big plus to me in the Derby picture. The claim that the strip horses work on leading up to the Derby isn't the same as Derby Day is nonsensical.

When Mike Smith told me beore '05 that he expected a big try from Giacomo after his strong Santa Anita workout the Monday of Derby Week, one of the points he stressed was "all he needs to do is take to the surface"..

And hope that Bellamy Road gets injured and Afleet Alex has a bad trip. What I don't understand is why a trainer would not want to have at least one workout on the track before the Derby if his horse has never been on it just to familiarize the horse with the surface and see if the horse takes to it. What is your take on that Steve?

[parsixfarms]

[quote=Kasept]The claim that the strip horses work on leading up to the Derby isn't the same as Derby Day is nonsensical.

QUOTE]

I have to disagree. Yes, they are still working/running on the Churchill Downs main track. However, to suggest that the "souped-up" race track that typically rears its ugly head on Oaks/Derby Day is the same grade, etc., as the track that horses train over in the weeks prior to the Derby is ignoring the obvious. And the fact that Street Sense and few others are currently on the grounds suggests that the trainers (especially Barclay Tagg) give an awful lot of credence to this "claim."