southwest stakes 2/19

[smartyalex]

Originally Posted by The Bid

How many 3yos running right now have laid the 100 ball going two turns?

Hes earned a little respect. He may not win the Derby, but hes much better than people give him credit for. If this horse were in the hands of Pletcher, or Zito, or any other big namer he would be a top 5 Derby horse.

AGREE 100%

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by The Bid

If you think Circular Quay is a serious Derby contender you would have to say T'berger is too

I personally don't think either are.

T'berger, as you call him, really runs by far his best races on the lead, and especially when allowed a comfortable lead through soft fractions, like what happened yesterday.

It's very unlikely he'll get such a trip in the Derby. Regardless of who is training him, he's simply not a Derby horse in my opinion.

Of course, that doesn't mean he's a horse I don't respect. He's certainly been quite the bargain buy....and, if he gets things all his own way, he is capable of running pretty well against pretty good horses.

[smartyalex]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

also doesn't look so impressive when you consider a maiden sprinter, off a five month plus layoff, ran 1:09.92 an hour or so earlier on the card. Basically, running a quarter mile less, in 28.28 seconds less.

This Lukas TC nominated eight-length maiden winner also earned a Beyer Figure of 107.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by smartyalex

This Lukas TC nominated eight-length maiden winner also earned a Beyer Figure of 107.

Wow. That's impressive.

[hailrazer]

Old news now, but here's my 2 cents. I tossed Hard Spun due to value issues. Looked like 4 horses that would love to have the lead if they were allowed to run 23 and 47 flat. Not that fast for Oaklawn at a mile. Tossed Tuefelsburg and Starbase because I thought they needed an easy lead and wouldn't get it. Had just about everyone else except the 2 who was a several notches below. Loved Pletchers horse just because he sent him. Race was over after the half and I cussed the jockeys on other supposed early speed for the next 30 minutes....

IMO, only horse that ran a race to be excited about was Officer Rocket. Had traffic problems thru the 2nd turn and weaved thru stragglers in the stretch while gaining on the winner even with the soft pace. Tuefelsburg ran a nice race, but I don't see that race putting him into TC races contention. Still, a nice horse that is making someone look smart.

[ManilaRose]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I disagree. If this were any other race I certainly think the trip would not even be discussed because it was routine for a horse with the nine hole. We all just see races differently. I just did not see a miserable trip for Hard Spun. Sure the first turn was less than ideal but I thought Pino guided him into a reasonable position without asking him for much on the first turn. From my viewpoint, the second half of the first turn Hard Spun was not more than 2-3 wide. Going up the backstretch he stayed wide but there really was not an option and beside that is not where you lose ground on the straight. Moving into the second turn he looked to be 3-4 wide and he started to gain ground on the leader until he just flattened out. If you think its because Pino wasn't trying thats up to you. I don't think its what the trainer wanted to see, namely to be passed in the stretch by Officer Rocket and Forty Grams.

Of course no one has to give up on a horse after one race, and he could come back to run a better race next time.

My only point is that according to the numbers that I use, his race in the Southwest was only slightly worse than his first route. The increase in difficulty of the trip and the higher level of competition cost him a bit. In my view the race he ran yesterday fairly accurately reflects the current level of talent for this horse.
.

I couldn't agree more. In my opinion the trip in no way makes this a good effort. If the problem was that Hard Spun needs the lead then his Derby hopes are over anyway. I was curious myself to see the speed figures and suspected they wouldn't be alot lower than his last race at FG when he ran the final 1/4 in a very pedestrian time. Maybe he'll come back strong in his next and prove me wrong but I believe what we saw on Monday wasn't as far as most think from what we saw at FG.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by ManilaRose

I couldn't agree more. In my opinion the trip in no way makes this a good effort. If the problem was that Hard Spun needs the lead then his Derby hopes are over anyway. I was curious myself to see the speed figures and suspected they wouldn't be alot lower than his last race at FG when he ran the final 1/4 in a very pedestrian time. Maybe he'll come back strong in his next and prove me wrong but I believe what we saw on Monday wasn't as far as most think from what we saw at FG.

He ran a 95 Beyer in both races.

[Dunbar]

Is there anywhere to see a replay of the Southwest?

--Dunbar

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

Is there anywhere to see a replay of the Southwest?

--Dunbar

yeah, go to rockportharbor.com, click on stable roster, click on hard spun and you can watch the video from there.

[blackthroatedwind]

Rockportharbor.com????

OMG.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I've made it my new homepage!

[stonegossard]

Where do you think list I posted came from?

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Rockportharbor.com????

OMG.

pretty nice site!

[blackthroatedwind]

I've seen a sample of some of the lunacy from there. I would rather drop the toaster in the bathtub than be forced to spend any time there.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I've seen a sample of some of the lunacy from there. I would rather drop the toaster in the bathtub than be forced to spend any time there.

I give the guy (Porter) some credit though...I think he actually arranged a huge BBQ get together for all of the fans on the site back when Rocky was still training and asked Servis to answer questions and such. He also gave away two tickets to the Breeder's Cup in some sort of raffle. May not be everyone's thing, but most owners would rather retire their horse for a large stud fee than have them endure the hardship of having a fan following. For whatever reason his horses get a cult like following. This past JCGC day there was a group of people cheering on "Roundy" in the paddock.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Samarta

yeah, go to rockportharbor.com, click on stable roster, click on hard spun and you can watch the video from there.

Thanks, Samarta!

--Dunbar

[ELA]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I've seen a sample of some of the lunacy from there. I would rather drop the toaster in the bathtub than be forced to spend any time there.

LMAO! Seriously, where do you get these from? I still LMAO about the one where you said (and please allow me the liberty to paraphrase):

"you have a better chance of you, me and Bea Arthur doing an Ethel Mermen routine in the swimming pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel"

Eric

[Samarta]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I give the guy (Porter) some credit though...I think he actually arranged a huge BBQ get together for all of the fans on the site back when Rocky was still training and asked Servis to answer questions and such. He also gave away two tickets to the Breeder's Cup in some sort of raffle. May not be everyone's thing, but most owners would rather retire their horse for a large stud fee than have them endure the hardship of having a fan following. For whatever reason his horses get a cult like following. This past JCGC day there was a group of people cheering on "Roundy" in the paddock.

Yeah he has done some pretty nice things to bring the general public behind the ropes, so to speak. It started before Rockport Harbor was hurt and just kinda grew. Most of the reason was Servis had just finished his run with Smarty and people joined for that more than any reason. But Porter has done some pretty cool stuff...raffling off saddlecloths, pictures, '05 BC box seats, site member outings, etc....