Flashpoint's Owner Issues Swale Challenge

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Hey we don't want to tire him out

If Bolton and Baffert take him up on the $1 mil, is it reasonable to conclude they've said "ah screw it" on the Derby and just decided to take the money and run at a shorter distance? I gathered that Baffert wanted to stretch him at Sunland and see what he's got, so would Sunland Derby then Swale mean he's as good as saying we've for sure not got a Derby horse? It'd be ironic if The Factor's Derby consolation prize is the same race Ford is using to prep for the Derby.

What's the winner's share of the Swale at $150,000? Both Flashpoint and The Factor are at $90,000 GS earnings right now. I doubt it'd give Flashpoint enough if that's his only race pre-KD. Not sure why they can't just go with a different schedule. I kinda want The Factor to do well at Sunland, partly to get a horse race shown repeatedly on The O'Reilly Factor and partly so the shenanigans with the Swale are less likely.