7/19 (BEL): Coaching Club American Oaks (Gr. I)

#1 07-17-2008, 05:19 PM

Might as well cancel the race.

declansharbor · #2 07-17-2008, 05:24 PM

Suroor's entry should give them a furlong head start to make it somewhat interesting.

Handicappy · #3 07-17-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by declansharbor

Suroor's entry should give them a furlong head start to make it somewhat interesting.

I've been a huge fan of Lil Belle but she will be off her game in this. Hasn't run since the Ken Oaks and only recently started back in late June with only three works going in here. She won't be fit for this and they are probably using her to help Music Note. They aren't even running Lil Belle under Godolphin. First race off of the "promotion" is never a good angle either.

Kasept · #4 07-17-2008, 06:09 PM

They are running Little Belle under Godolphin according to the PP's. I think she's an utter mediocrity that got fortunate with the poly-aided Gr. I.

ateamstupid · #5 07-17-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

They are running Little Belle under Godolphin according to the PP's. I think she's an utter mediocrity that got fortunate with the poly-aided Gr. I.

I'd love to see a Little Belle/Christmas Kid match race.

blackthroatedwind · #6 07-17-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

They are running Little Belle under Godolphin according to the PP's. I think she's an utter mediocrity that got fortunate with the poly-aided Gr. I.

Amen to that. Where is her good race?

Acoma may be a LOT better than people are giving her credit for.

miraja2 · #7 07-18-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Acoma may be a LOT better than people are giving her credit for.

If I play this race, I think that will be the direction I go if the price is halfway decent.
Her last race - which was her first on a fast dirt track since her debut - was a significant improvement over her previous efforts on poly and the slop, and she still won both of those races too. I don't really like the 2f stretchout, but at least the pedigree is right for it.
I know there isn't usually a lot of value on a horse with a 3-race winning streak, but with two G1-winning daughters of AP Indy in here, there might be in this case. I think she looks competitve.

blackthroatedwind · #8 07-18-2008, 07:21 AM

I'm not buying the Music Note hype.

Handicappy · #9 07-18-2008, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

They are running Little Belle under Godolphin according to the PP's. I think she's an utter mediocrity that got fortunate with the poly-aided Gr. I.

"Utter Mediocrity" Darn! Unfortunately her promotion will ensure we won't find out how capable she is or isn't.

NTamm1215 · #10 07-18-2008, 06:01 AM

I don't think Little Belle is much but at least she's shown up in every race in which she's been entered. Perhaps she was able to trade decisions with Proud Spell because of the Polytrack but at least LB wasn't one of the dozens who has been atrocious on Poly.

Who would have thought the Busher would have brought forth two graded stakes winners less than 3 months after it was run? The funny part about that race is that Love Co was a heavy favorite and she was last found wiring NY bred N2X stalwarts like Twistaway and Reyana's Jet.

NT

blackthroatedwind · #11 07-18-2008, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handicappy

"Utter Mediocrity" Darn! Unfortunately her promotion will ensure we won't find out how capable she is or isn't.

So, you have a built in excuse......if she runs well she's the good horse you think she is and if she runs poorly it's Godolphin's fault.

Handicappy · #12 07-18-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

So, you have a built in excuse......if she runs well she's the good horse you think she is and if she runs poorly it's Godolphin's fault.

I am not sure why everyone is so "utterly" down on her. She has run 5 times this year. Against some very good company. She has been apart of the exacta each time with three wins. Maybe her figures don't look like the best but I am not saying she is the best by any means. She always shows up and runs well on different surfaces and different tracks. Horses that always show-up and run well are bound to score on occasion (be it by luck, trip or whatever). And game horses like her in the stretch make for exciting racing.
But I'm not looking for an excuse. Not at all. And I am not saying she is the best. But I am saying she is far from "not much" and "utterly mediocre". She's got over $500,000 this year so far. I wish I owned a mediocre horse like that.
I don't think she will run well at all tomorrow. I'll be surprised if she hits the board. But on her best day, I think she'd be close but I don't think she can match the best of the division on their best day. If that makes her "not much" or "utterly mediocre" to some, so be it. Unfortunately I think they are running her just to ensure an honest pace for Music Note. They seldom, ever, run horses against each other.
I have spoke about Godolphin before. While I think Sheik Hamden has the best interests of the game at heart, his Brother, Sheik Mo, tends to do all sorts of things that only deter a good horse from developing further. Barrier Reef, Day Pass, Etched, Unbridled Heart and on and on. So, really not an excuse.