Who owns California?

[gamblin4ever]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

its great and exciting and everything, but the fields are just not that good.
AP Xcellent got beat by a claimer (Sun Boat) in the gR11 Californian.

Now he gives the immortal Lava Man everything he can handle in a GR1 race?
While another claimer (Big Booster) makes a bold stretch move and finishes within a length of the top pair.

remember Lava Man was claimed for 50K.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by gamblin4ever

remember Lava Man was claimed for 50K.

but he isn't considered a 50K claimer anymore now is he?
Isn't he the winner of like 6 or more GR1's?
Should $50K claimers routinely be able to step up and run competitively in these GR1's in Ca. They do and I have no problem with it. Also I enjoy Lava Mans will to win.

[gamblin4ever]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

but he isn't considered a 50K claimer anymore now is he?
Isn't he the winner of like 6 or more GR1's?
Should $50K claimers routinely be able to step up and run competitively in these GR1's in Ca. They do and I have no problem with it. Also I enjoy Lava Mans will to win.

Just reminding that @ one point Lava Man was a claimer..remember Bluesstandard..Heck of a stakes winner also.. You never know what u have in a horse no matter what the cost

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by gamblin4ever

Just reminding that @ one point Lava Man was a claimer..remember Bluesstandard..Heck of a stakes winner also.. You never know what u have in a horse no matter what the cost

John Henry anybody? Claimed for $25K (but inflation since then means it is about even with the Dude's price). Stymie, one of the immortals of the breed, was claimed for $1500!! Brass Hat ran in a Maiden claimer 15K first out. Even Princequillo, the great stayer of the 1940s and a pillar of the breed ran in claimers before his prowess as a stayer was recognized.

Running in a claimer at some point in a horse's career does not mean that horse is garbage forever and ever. He may have an unrecognized problem, a trainer who doesn't understand his particular talents, or been a slow maturing sort who can't compete with the Storm Cats of the breed when they are 2 or 3.

[Echo Farm]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

John Henry anybody? Claimed for $25K (but inflation since then means it is about even with the Dude's price). Stymie, one of the immortals of the breed, was claimed for $1500!! Brass Hat ran in a Maiden claimer 15K first out. Even Princequillo, the great stayer of the 1940s and a pillar of the breed ran in claimers before his prowess as a stayer was recognized.

Running in a claimer at some point in a horse's career does not mean that horse is garbage forever and ever. He may have an unrecognized problem, a trainer who doesn't understand his particular talents, or been a slow maturing sort who can't compete with the Storm Cats of the breed when they are 2 or 3.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe John Henry was ever claimed. (he did run in cheap claiming races) Do you have any references to back that statement up?

(not that it really matters in this discussion, but I'd like to know where / when / connections on both sides)

http://horseracing.about.com/library...y/aa100997.htm
http://thoroughbredchampions.com/bio.../johnhenry.htm

[Danzig]

altho john was sold MANY times, he was never actually claimed out of a race.