John Shirreffs

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by JerseyJ

Please, take a look at After Market's PPs for a second...After Market finished a non-threatening 6th at 28-1 in the Kilroe Handicap and then was a non-threatening 5th with a perfect trip in a conditional money allowance. Finally he got into the winners circle in a weak 5 horse rendition of the Inglewood Handicap. Then he continued to get great setup, after great setup before coming home east and losing the Kelso BC Mile...Did he really improve that much out West or did he just beat up on crap out there???

Well, to be fair, After Market was coming off a layoff or so in the Kilroe (not to mention he was about 40-1). I think those first couple of races were classic "prep" runs (with 4 or 5 wins under his belt in NY, he couldn't really start the season in soft spots).

For comparison, see Kotashaan's record off a long layoff in the fall of '02. He was UNP in an allowance, 4th in the San Gabriel at 20-1, before chasing Star Of Cozzene a couple of times and then going on a massive tear early in '03 that was only derailed by Luazur at Del Mar and Kent Desormeaux in Tokyo...