How good is Lava Man?

[blackthroatedwind]

I want your definition of a freak.

You are biased towards horses from Churchill....don't ya think?

Oonagh MacCool's Beyer speed figures were in the high 90s and she earned them with relatively soft trips. Hardly makes her special in my book.

I never said I " hated " Happy Ticket. In fact, I like her as a horse, and said as much. I just don't think her best races are going 1 1/8. I also said this regardless of her win which I obviously knew was at Churchill....at the expense of the former racehorse Oonagh MacCool who I already said why I was not a big fan of.

I certainly prefer horses that are performing well as we get close to the BC and neither of the horses we are discussing fit into that category.

I think Todd Pletcher is an excellent trainer, to say the least, and he also runs an incredible operation. However, his record of both keeping horses together for a long period of time ( obviously there are exceptions ) and, more importantly, returning horses that appeared headed in the wrong direction is unimpressive.

While I prefer to see how the final preps ( The Beldame, Spinster and Lady's Secret ) play out, I am inclined to like Pine Island and possibly Baletto as of now.