Beyer on Mo in Classic: Bold but ill-advised

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Havre De Grace has already faced the boys and won. Her connections talk about her as the best horse in the world.... She belongs in the Classic. Not to mention Rachel and Z both faced the boys, and they both won HOTY. That's what HDG connections want, again she is where she belongs, where they have been pointing her. I don't see anything bold. Goldikova has been pointed to the Mile again for a year now. She has had no set backs, no injuries and has run pretty similar races as years past. Whats bold?

Take the blinkers off.

It's the bare bones scenario. Wasn't it bold of Freddie Head to declare right after the 2010 Mile that she would remain in training and target a 4th Mile? How many 6yo foreign mares do you see staying in training long enough to win the same race in the USA 4 years running? She could have dropped 1 or 2 foals worth millions apiece by now.

Wasn't it bold of Rick Porter to target the Woodward after getting beat by females in the Delaware Handicap? Isn't it bold of him to take on males a second time in the same year, when she's already got the Woodward victory in tow and with a Distaff victory nearly a foregone conclusion?

You seem to think that just because Porter and Head are actually following through with the plans they made several months ago, that somehow those plans are no longer bold. I guess they should have taken a cue from John Shirreffs and waited til a couple of days before the race to announce their intentions.

Mo decision might be bold only because he was sick and he is coming off 7f and 8f preps. That's asking a lot, but he is the best horse if healthy. I think he belongs in the Classic.

Maybe. For all we know, Secret Circle is the best juvenile out there, and may end up as a major Derby contender this winter. But Baffert wasn't bold enough to try him in the two-turn Juvenile.