Mayan King ... The HOTY March Begins

[Independent George]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

There are always the unknown factors of a different track ... shipping ... first stakes race of the year ... etc. etc. etc. ... but ...

... if this race were run at Belmont ... I guarantee you he'd win it.

Take that for what it's worth.

hhhhmmmmmm, about 5 cents, tops.

[1st_Saturday_in_May]

I understand your point BoldBrook, but I look at it like this. Siphon City (pp3), Master Command (pp9), Courthouse (pp10), and Alumni Hall (pp11) do their best running from on or just off the lead. That means, BEST CASE SCENARIO, he is three wide around the first turn but more likely four wide. How many horses win when they are four wide around the first turn in a 9f race? Practically none. And lets say that he is able to weather the frontrunners and finds himself alone atop the lane...then he has to hold off Gouldings Green, Congrats, Real Dandy and Good Reward who will be moving late. He's not receiving enough weight - no more than 5lbs from anyone to make a huge difference and I respect your backing of this horse but his race is likely over before the gate opens.

MAYAN KING actually has a big chance in this race and 15-1 ML is just ridiculous....I think he definately factors after getting in lite and appearing to be sitting on a big race on the stretch to around two-turns...GOULDINGS GREEN has a lot of quality and fits in any Gr. II in the country...if he can get clear running from the rail he will factor....the only other horse I personally think can win is GOOD REWARD on the outside...he has a ton of backclass and is actually bred to be better on dirt than on turf - where he's made his nut....I think he runs big in here, but i still find myself turning to Mayan King when it comes down to value...Also, if Alumni Hall takes to Palm Meadows than he can certainly factor here...he is a weird horse that only runs big on certain tracks but there is nothing that says he won't take a liking to that oval...beware..

(1) Mayan King
(2) Gouldings Green
(3) Good Reward
(4) Alumni Hall

[TheSpyder]

Mr. Mahgninnuc,

Call me dyslectic, but I see it:
1: Alumni Hall
2: Good Reward
3: Goulding Green
4: Mayan King

You guys really know how to hype a horse with the King. With all that you say he surely has not been tested against these tough of horses, is shipping accross the world, and has a pace challenge.

Still opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.

Originally Posted by 1st_Saturday_in_May

I understand your point BoldBrook, but I look at it like this. Siphon City (pp3), Master Command (pp9), Courthouse (pp10), and Alumni Hall (pp11) do their best running from on or just off the lead. That means, BEST CASE SCENARIO, he is three wide around the first turn but more likely four wide.

How did anyone get the impression that Mayan King is a frontrunner?

He's not at all a sprinter or even a miler ... he's a stalking classic distance horse who is just crying out for two turns and 10f ... though this race is only 9f.

He ran on the front end in his last start because he's rounding into peak form and was very sharp in a field which lacked real speed. Granted Post 12 is not a good place to start from ... but there's nearly 3/16 from the starting gate to the turn ... and Mike Luzzi didn't just fall off a turnip truck ... so I wouldn't be too worried about going eight-wide.