2/19 (FG): Risen Star (G2); Mineshaft, FG, Rachel Alexandra (G3's)

[lemoncrush]

Looks like a lot of need-the-lead types in the Risen Star.

Machen will be ridiculously overbet based on his two local blowouts, but the race may set up nicely for him.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

Looks like a lot of need-the-lead types in the Risen Star.

Machen will be ridiculously overbet based on his two local blowouts, but the race may set up nicely for him.

Howard is bringing him back really fast for Howard. Isnt his normal MO to wait at least a season in between starts?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Howard is bringing him back really fast for Howard. Isnt his normal MO to wait at least a season in between starts?

Where'd you get that idea from?

He might take at least a season in between victories, but certainly not starts.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Howard is bringing him back really fast for Howard. Isnt his normal MO to wait at least a season in between starts?

You are confusing him with John Ward.

[lemoncrush]

Machen is 6-1 on the M/L.
That's way off.
I would be shocked if he's any higher than 5-2.

[jms62]

Machen wins a maiden and Optional Claimer and he is being treated like the next coming. Winning against 50.3 and 115.3 while looking somewhat Green. Sorry I do not see it. I will be double fisting it in on Rogue Romance.

[miraja2]

I don't usually pay a lot of attention to workout times because (as has been talked about many times before on this site) if you didn't see the work or even hear the trainer discuss it you can't really know much about the work. The raw times of the workouts don't usually reveal a lot.

That being said, I'm curious about how people look at works that appear unusual for a trainer's typical pattern. I ask here because Justin Phillip's last two works seem unusually quick for an Asmussen horse training for a route.

Do people think that means anything because it breaks with a trainer's typical approach? Do you consider that a good sign? Or maybe a bad one? Or....is it completely meaningless.

Just curious.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by jms62

Machen wins a maiden and Optional Claimer and he is being treated like the next coming.

Nice post.

I'm going with Decisive Moment.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I don't usually pay a lot of attention to workout times and such because as has been talked about many times before on this site, if you didn't see the work or even hear the trainer discuss it you can't really know much about the work. The raw times of the workouts don't usually reveal a lot.

That being said, I'm curious about how people look at works that appear unusual for a trainer's typical pattern. I ask here because Justin Phillip's recent work seem unusually quick for an Asmussen horse training for a route.

Do people think that means anything because it breaks with a trainer's typical approach? Do you consider that a good sign? Or maybe a bad one? Or....is it completely meaningless.

Just curious.

Without having seen it and just generalizing.
As long as the horse wasn't running off on the rider I look at it as a good sign. A Horse that is training faster than their trainers usual, makes me think he is sitting on a big effort. Unless of course it was a Funny Cide pre-Belmont type effort.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

Looks like a lot of need-the-lead types in the Risen Star.

Machen will be ridiculously overbet based on his two local blowouts, but the race may set up nicely for him.

He is likely to be overbet, but looks much the best to me. The only horse IMO that can compete with him is Santiva and that one needs to take a few steps forward off of his 2yr old form.