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

[Handicappy]

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.