Country Star

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I don't think anyone can really know what to expect from Country Star when she runs on dirt. Her pedigree projects well enough for dirt - and Frankel's most recent interview gave the impression he thinks she will handle it well - but it's hard not to forget a horse like the Frankel trained Cantabria bet to odds-on favortisim in last years Grade 2 El Encino.

It was her dirt debut, and she was being bet on the basis of a performance over the HP cushion track. She ran a very non-threatning 5th, always struggling.

From a gambling standpoint - I don't want her first time she runs on the dirt. Would she be a bet against? - because she projects fairly well to handle the surface - I don't think she has to be.

As for the soon to be champ,

Indian Blessing is a natural sprinter - and a very good one at that - who's managed to win a pair of soft division Grade 1 races at distances beyond her scope despite staggering away the final quarter mile on fumes.

A lot can happen between now and the Oaks - but riders on horses of all styles rarely bide there time in very important races when accomplished horses like IB are free running on the lead - if IB can sustain or somehow raise her repute from now until the Oaks ... you get the feeling that the race could have a collapse scenario... and some horse who fits the profile of a Lemons Forever (beyond talentless - but always grinding) will run a race that will make such a horse look far better than she really is.