would quality road have beat zen in the b.c.

The Indomitable DrugS · #1 02-16-2010, 08:08 PM

While it's true that he's no Yankee Bravo ... I think you fail to realize that the Jockey Club Gold Cup was just Quality Road's 3rd start in over 6 months time.

There was nothing wrong with QR's performance either - the track was wet and slow - Fabulous Strike was nailed late by Kodiak Kowboy in the Vosburgh and a race featuring the two best sprinters in the world went in a very slow raw time of 1:10.08

They start on something of a dog leg turn at Belmont at 10fs - and the pace was hardly as slow as you think given the condition of the track. Getting beat one length by a Belmont and Travers winner - and running a 110 Beyer is no great disgrace.

SCUDSBROTHER · #2 02-16-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I think you fail to realize that the Jockey Club Gold Cup was just Quality Road's 3rd start in over 6 months time.

There was nothing wrong with QR's performance either - the track was wet and slow - Fabulous Strike was nailed late by Kodiak Kowboy in the Vosburgh and a race featuring the two best sprinters in the world went in a very slow raw time of 1:10.08

They start on something of a dog leg turn at Belmont at 10fs - and the pace was hardly as slow as you think given the condition of the track. Getting beat one length by a Belmont and Travers winner - and running a 110 Beyer is no great disgrace.

I didn't say there's anything wrong with any of his performances. He's just not a natural 10f horse. When they leave Gulfstream, you'll see he will struggle to hold going 10f against the top natural 10f horses. He might get home in some weak 10f stakes. They'll think they have a 10f horse, but they don't. They should point to the B.C. Sprint, or MILE. That's probably not what they want. So, he'll fade in the last 8th of a mile in the Classic (twirling away.. ala Cutless Reality 22 years earlier.)

Revidere · #3 02-17-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Getting beat one length by a Belmont and Travers winner - and running a 110 Beyer is no great disgrace.

Didn't she beat same Belmont, Travers, JCGC winner by 3 lengths?

Don't give me the surface. He ran his race. She was just better.

NTamm1215 · #4 02-17-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revidere

Didn't she beat same Belmont, Travers, JCGC winner by 3 lengths?

Don't give me the surface. He ran his race. She was just better.

A horse like Summer Bird who does not really have a strong turn of foot is at a huge disadvantage on the Pro-Ride. He's at his best when he can gallop horses into the ground, he's a grinder. The Pro-Ride works against him in a huge way as it is a surface where horses who can wind up and make one powerful run are at their best.

Count me among those who wouldn't be surprised by a different result if a healthy Summer Bird and Zenyatta met at 10fs on a dirt track.

NT

Danzig · #5 02-17-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revidere

Didn't she beat same Belmont, Travers, JCGC winner by 3 lengths?

Don't give me the surface. He ran his race. She was just better.

don't give you the surface? you can't ignore it or pretend it's equal to dirt, or that some horses don't like it better than others.

Revidere · #6 02-17-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

don't give you the surface? you can't ignore it or pretend it's equal to dirt, or that some horses don't like it better than others.

I'm not pretending or ignoring. In what way did he display a dislike for the surface? He ran real well.

Danzig · #7 02-17-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revidere

I'm not pretending or ignoring. In what way did he display a dislike for the surface? He ran real well.

not saying he disliked it. but zenyatta obviously loves it. and there's no telling how they'd do on dirt. maybe she'd still beat him, maybe she wouldn't. i don't think just by them facing off on synthetic that you can say with surety what would occur.

The Bid · #8 02-17-2010, 04:30 PM

I would say she handled it okay if she beat Ginger Punch by 8 by Oaklawn as easy as she wanted. Not bad when you beat up on a mare like that who banked over 3 million and won 6 or 7 G1s

Danzig · #9 02-17-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bid

I would say she handled it okay if she beat Ginger Punch by 8 by Oaklawn as easy as she wanted. Not bad when you beat up on a mare like that who banked over 3 million and won 6 or 7 G1s

i thought the discussion was about whether she could beat QR or summer bird on dirt? the answer is, who knows?

Antitrust32 · #10 02-17-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bid

I would say she handled it okay if she beat Ginger Punch by 8 by Oaklawn as easy as she wanted. Not bad when you beat up on a mare like that who banked over 3 million and won 6 or 7 G1s

you have to be joking about Ginger Punch... she was the most overrated but useful horse in my lifetime... made a ton of money by beating slow horses in slow races, but she wasnt anything special.

The Indomitable DrugS · #11 02-18-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bid

I would say she handled it okay if she beat Ginger Punch by 8 by Oaklawn as easy as she wanted. Not bad when you beat up on a mare like that who banked over 3 million and won 6 or 7 G1s

Ginger Punch didn't fire at all that day ... and even on a good day she had very moderate ability.

Brownie Points was 2nd in that race. The same Brownie Points who is 1 for her last 7 in dirt races ... and that one win coming at Praire Meadows.

Even worse than that - stablemate Tiago ran the same day - and that bum was markedly more impressive.