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#1
09-26-2009, 12:59 PM
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I'm not a big fan of some of the things I've read by Plonk, but I agree with this article.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...emy&id=4499660 
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#2
09-26-2009, 01:12 PM
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reminds me of when wally hall wrote after the preakness that jess jackson should retire his filly before she suffered the same fate as eight belles. good thing jess ignored his bs advice, as it would have robbed us of some really good races.
no telling what lava man will or won't do-but i doubt the gelding is on many peoples' radar. not only that, but how is the risk with him any more or any less of a risk then with any other horse in training? was anyone appalled when personal ensign returned to racing after breaking a leg? how many horses have taken off months, years (jambalaya leaps to mind) and didn't garner any attention? why is lava man so special? he didn't suffer a catastrophic injury-he started to tail off. he's had time, he's had treatment, and he's possibly back in action. the very fact he's getting some attention will most likely keep his owners from continuing should he show any signs that the comeback needs to be aborted. the hysteria regarding his attempt to return is something to see, that's for sure. the odds for him are probably no worse than for any racehorse-and is probably better than many lower level and mid level claimers.
__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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#3
09-26-2009, 01:43 PM
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__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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#4
09-26-2009, 01:45 PM
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I think people might forget he was beaten a neck and just 3.5 lengths with a questionable ride in the final two starts of his career - both at the Grade 1 level.
He's had major peaks and valleys in his form before. He ran Beyers between 101-to-107 in four out of five races to end his 3yo season .. including a half length defeat in the Grade 1 Malibu. Just 4.5 months and 3 very bad races later .. he was back in for a tag and went unclaimed at almost 7/1 odds. All 5 times he left the state of California he performed miserably. By far and away his best effort in those 5 tries outside of the state was when he gallently was beaten 16 lengths in the BC Classic - and finished only a mere 11.25 lengths behind Giacomo that day. I can see the arguements for both sides why he should and shouldn't come back. Even though his best surface has been eliminated - what carries the day for me is that he's not coming back into strength. Richard's Kid just won the Pac Classic - the Cal bred divisions aren't loaded with talent - the turf handicap division out there is hardly stellar. I don't blame them at all for bringing him back ... and I'm sure they'll keep him on a short leash ... one very bad work or one bad race would be enough.
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#5
09-26-2009, 03:12 PM
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Quote:
I felt they used Old Friends poorly. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think you get everybody excited about him coming and then he wakes up one morning and gets Stem Cell Wheaties in his breakfast. If the folks at OF are thrilled, I'd like to know about it. Plonk's article referenced a few horses, but one that occurred to me was Black Gold.
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#6
09-26-2009, 08:21 PM
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Quote:
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