Circular Quay: Just a Deep Closer or More?

Past Post · #1 03-12-2007, 09:36 AM

Like I said on saturday,I think he is the main bullet in the gun for Todd.He will be my board horse for the derby,just like stepeenwolfer was last year.I luv the fact that he LUVS Churchill Downs.

PPerfectfan · #2 03-12-2007, 09:50 AM

It cant hurt that he loves CD. We all know there are nice horses that go there and just hate the track. I dont think he has to be as far back as a stepp. or Jazil and hopefully he will make the Derby and get a good post... Well that is what they all hope.lol I really like the colt. Not to change the subject, but what is up with Principal Secret? I havent seen anything in awhile.

jpops757 · #3 03-12-2007, 10:25 AM

I have been on the band wagon and then I jumped ship.Im trying to get back on board. The nproblem with these deep closers are they have a bunch of built-in excuses that go with the style they run. Something to think about is if Pletcher gets 5 or more in the derby who will get this colt and thus be saddled with the problem of carving the trip if Gomez and JR opt for others. A new ridder could be very eventful. Has Pletcher already secured a a comitment for this horse if he makes it regardless of any others ? I know its early but the Jock could be the differance with CQ because of his running style

Antitrust32 · #4 03-12-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Past Post

Like I said on saturday,I think he is the main bullet in the gun for Todd.He will be my board horse for the derby,just like stepeenwolfer was last year.I luv the fact that he LUVS Churchill Downs.

I was hanging out with a galloper for Pletcher the other night. She said Scat Daddy has Pletcher's heart (because he used to own him).

I think she thought that AGS was Pletchers main bullet but its pretty close between AGS and CQ (she told me he was a given right before the LA derby)

Thunder Gulch · #5 03-12-2007, 10:39 AM

He was on the move well before the turn on Saturday and carried it from at least the half mile pole all the way in. I did notice that he seemed to relax when he made the lead, but was still able to finish the deal. Did he let up because he was on the lead, or because he was almost empty? That's the million dollar question regarding CQ.

cmorioles · #6 03-12-2007, 11:20 AM

The pace, in my opinion, was smoking hot in the LA Derby. CQ almost had to win by default.

tycharles01 · #7 03-12-2007, 11:25 AM

Closer!!! Only way this horse does anything is if the pace is blistering and in this years 3yr old crop there is no TOP Speed

Would be a good mile horse with a rabbit

Sightseek · #8 03-12-2007, 11:27 AM

He got a 102 for his efforts the other day. Ketchikan a 99.

Cajungator26 · #9 03-12-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

He got a 102 for his efforts the other day. Ketchikan a 99.

Thanks for posting this...

Ketchikan is a hell of a nice colt... if they can get him to calm down a bit, he's definitely one to watch.

Thunder Gulch · #10 03-12-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycharles01

Closer!!! Only way this horse does anything is if the pace is blistering and in this years 3yr old crop there is no TOP Speed

Would be a good mile horse with a rabbit

The class of the 3yo crop may not be the need to lead types, but you can bet that there will be a couple of early speed types that pull wirejobs in the G3 preps that make for a hot pace in the Derby. If that happens, CQ is a player.

horseofcourse · #11 03-12-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycharles01

Closer!!! Only way this horse does anything is if the pace is blistering and in this years 3yr old crop there is no TOP Speed

Would be a good mile horse with a rabbit

In all honesty I don't get the title of this thread. Of course he's a closer. He's always back in the pack. He's been 1st or 2nd every time he's stepped on the track other than when he got stopped cold in the Risen Star and I am quite certain he finishes 1st or 2nd there as well if ont for that incident. He is a very good 3 yr old closer...end of story. How good is the only debate and is he good enough to win the Derby. Of course he benefits from a fast pace as all closers do. HE always gives a good effort...even in the Risen Star it was a top notch deed gathering himself fro stopping and finishing 5th.

randallscott35 · #12 03-12-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardus

And, CQ is not a plodder. He has the turn of foot that is necessary to win the Derby, too.

Has he gone 10 furlongs yet? That turn of foot isn't always the same at a distance. Aldebaran anyone.

the_fat_man · #13 03-12-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

The pace, in my opinion, was smoking hot in the LA Derby. CQ almost had to win by default.

I'm not a big fan of this horse, and agree that the race had to fall apart--- which makes the 2nd place horse's performance all the more impressive.

Yet, I certainly thought that Zanjero and certainly Birdbirdistheword would get a jump on CQ. In other words, they'd move before CQ did.
Zanjero, up to the race, had been moving too soon, IMO, and I was interested in seeing what would happen if they timed his move a bit better,
and Bird...was moving with Street Sense (and thus, ahead of CQ) in the Keeneland stake.

As it shaped up, CQ did all the middle running and the other 2 could only try to pick up the pieces late ---it was all they could do to get by Liquidity, and never threatened the top 2.

And this is troubling, because CQ usually lets all the others run first and then simply picks up the pieces. This was an improved effort, IMO.

tycharles01 · #14 03-12-2007, 04:32 PM

He could win the derby as could about 10 other horses right now

Just depends on who is in. If there are some straight speed horses a closer has a great chance however if is just your normal stalk whoever is out front, there is no way that a closer could come throught all that traffic to win

Remember guys the Derby is not a Gr 3 with 7 horses entered and a closer is someone who come threw at the end. Kinda hard to go from 15 back threw all those horses

miraja2 · #15 03-12-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycharles01

He could win the derby as could about 10 other horses right now

Just depends on who is in. If there are some straight speed horses a closer has a great chance however if is just your normal stalk whoever is out front, there is no way that a closer could come throught all that traffic to win

Remember guys the Derby is not a Gr 3 with 7 horses entered and a closer is someone who come threw at the end. Kinda hard to go from 15 back threw all those horses

Yes but as Cardus pointed out in an earlier post, a lot of other closers have done it. I am not saying CQ will....but it is not exactly impossible.

Merlinsky · #16 03-15-2007, 03:05 AM

All I know is people go on about traffic in the Derby and how so-and-so had bad racing luck but I've always thought closers that win the race are the ones that make their own luck. You don't only have a jockey knowing what hole to go through but you have a horse willing to do it, even if it's the tightest squeeze he's ever seen in his life. Maybe he bounces off the rail or cuts between horses and wants to win so badly he won't take no for an answer when a lesser horse might've said 'hey it's been a hard race, I'm calling it a day'. I think it can be done and masterful to watch.

Strike the Gold was my first Derby pick and first winner so I have a certain affection for a horse that sparks comparisons to the ol' boy--sure I was a total sucker for the sob story they told on Alydar during the Derby coverage but I liked the look of StG in and of himself.