Derby Fever: Where 'stupid' is contagious

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Merlinsky,

I'm surprised by this largely unfair and under-researched comment. His Remsen placing? I think you'll find half his earnings come from the deceptively good and quite courageous 4th he ran in the Wood while his stablemate was running 2nd. Comparing Atomic Rain's Derby intentions to Mine That Bird's is a gross insult to Breen and The Halls. While Atomic Rain doesn't necessarily need to go in the Derby and probably won't get in, he's Alydar compared to Mine That Bird.

And Hold Me Back's Remsen form is not in question... As DrugS has laid out a number of times in his prep analysis, the glacial pace in the Remsen was 100% responsible for him having zero chance to produce any rally.

He was also 7th in the Sam F. Davis. Ok so I missed the Wood earnings. I did a search but didn't catch it. I watched the Wood again and I'm sorry I just don't see where you look at that and go 'we're going to the Derby!' Now watch him win this thing. He does seem nice enough, but what excuse am I missing that he couldn't manage a top 3 in a graded stake all spring? He was holding position at the end of the Wood but not threatening 3rd place from what I could see. In fairness I do apologize for comparing him to Mine That Bird, it wasn't fair to the horse, nevermind the connections. This is Derby fever, though, and it's questionable to send him unless he's got an excuse, even if it it's a 'he wasn't mentally ready but now he gets it' thing. I don't see how we can ignore that.