Disapointing '08 so far for...

[HaloWishingwell]

In the human side of it, Bob Baffert has really hit bottom. He might want to consider moving East and away from those Phonytracks out West.

[jmj934]

I think the Grasshopper has been a huge disappointment in the year 2008. I can remember many people were high on him to start the season.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by jmj934

I think the Grasshopper has been a huge disappointment in the year 2008. I can remember many people were high on him to start the season.

Yes, and when I suggested he may have been one of those horses that really excelled at Saratoga I was scoffed at. Kind of like when I suggested that Street Sense might be a rail runner.

[NTamm1215]

While I think Neil Howard is an excellent horseman, I think Grasshopper has been mis-managed this year. After a very good effort against a really bad field at Fair Grounds in the Mineshaft, he ran well in the NO Cap but was just outmoved and narrowly missed.

Instead of looking at races like the Oaklawn Cap or Alysheba, he was sent to the Westchester, which is run at a distance that doesn't really seem to suit Grasshopper well as it is run at a fast early clip. He utterly lacked punch that day and then was brought back in eighteen days in the Pimlico Special over a sloppy track.

In the long run I don't think he's much horse and he may just be a Saratoga horse for course but now they're kind of on an island. You'd be kind of dumb to run him in the Stephen Foster if Curlin shows up, and there has to be some level of concern that he re-surfaces in the Whitney as well.

Maybe the turf is the future for this guy? Of course it is also worth mentioning that his full brother, Turf War, has been absolutely dreadful this year as well.

So, yes, Andy you were probably right about G-Hopper. As far as your other prognostication, Street Sense did get a rail trip in the BC Classic, he just lost to a better horse.

NT

[NTamm1215]

To get back to the original topic of this thread as well I would have nominated Backseat Rhythm. While she looked good today getting away with murder, she really has been average.

And then there's Blackberry Road.

NT

[blackthroatedwind]

I think you are blaming Neil Howard and forgetting that Bill Farish, who owns Lane's End, owns the horse. You have to realize that the Met Mile is about as prestigeous a race as there is for breeders. Clearly they wanted to see if they felt he could win that race in order to solidify his standing as a stallion. I imagine Bill Farish ( correctly ) made the call. However, after his flat performance in the Westchester they decided to change course. Perhaps running him back in the Pimlico Special in 16 days was a mistake but don't forget it also was a sloppy track.

The bottom line is he's a very nice horse but probably not nearly as good as many ( not necessarily incorrectly ) believed after his bang up races at Saratoga last summer. Making a run at the Met makes real sense. They decided to prep for it to see where he stood....and found out. Right now it's sort of hard to know what to do as he needs to win a big race to be a significant stallion so they will have to take some shots. My best guess is they will point for the Whitney and hope Curlin doesn't show up.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

As much as I hated Daaher's big races - I suppose him.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

As much as I hated Daaher's big races - I suppose him.

#1 for me, I was expecting big things this year, even went to GP for the Donn, and got less than nothing.