2/26 (GP): Fountain of Youth, Hutcheson, Davona Dale (G2's)

slotdirt · #1 02-26-2011, 05:14 PM

So...Gourmet Dinner isn't horrible. That is all.

Kasept · #2 02-26-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slotdirt

So...Gourmet Dinner isn't horrible. That is all.

2011 model of Jackson Bend. Very game and hard-trying.

The Indomitable DrugS · #3 02-26-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slotdirt

So...Gourmet Dinner isn't horrible. That is all.

I still think his best game would be a fast paced 7f race. I wasn't watching him close - but he seemed to have a perfect position and looked ultra menacing on the far turn only to hang in the stretch. I would have made a strong bet on him today had he run in the Hutcheson instead.

I liked To Honor And Serve's race. He was wide on both turns and had every right to be flat off of the layoff. It was the kind of performance that gets people to overreact. Funny Cide was like a fading 5th with a similar wide trip in his 3yo debut -- he was a very fast 2yo and after that race - I think he was an incredible high price in Derby futures.

Soldat had every advantage in the world going for him coming into this race - he had a great draw, you knew he would send, and speed typically dominates these Derby prep races - especially at 9fs. Soldat's going to be another in a long line of speed horses who brings strong form into the Ky Derby only to see himself get cooked by sprinter/miler speed.

freddymo · #4 02-26-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I still think his best game would be a fast paced 7f race. I wasn't watching him close - but he seemed to have a perfect position and looked ultra menacing on the far turn only to hang in the stretch. I would have made a strong bet on him today had he run in the Hutcheson instead.

I liked To Honor And Serve's race. He was wide on both turns and had every right to be flat off of the layoff. It was the kind of performance that gets people to overreact. Funny Cide was like a fading 5th with a similar wide trip in his 3yo debut -- he was a very fast 2yo and after that race - I think he was an incredible high price in Derby futures.

Soldat had every advantage in the world going for him coming into this race - he had a great draw, you knew he would send, and speed typically dominates these Derby prep races - especially at 9fs. Soldat's going to be another in a long line of speed horses who brings strong form into the Ky Derby only to see himself get cooked by sprinter/miler speed.

What is the Hutch fig going to be 106/7

The Indomitable DrugS · #5 02-26-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

What is the Hutch fig going to be 106/7

It's hard to say - at a glance. I'm playing a few night tracks now and this figure isn't going to be an easy one imo.

The race went a little less than 2 full seconds faster than some lightly raced bums in the first race at the same distance. The 7f and 8f races there require seperate variants.

Sightseek · #6 02-26-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

It's hard to say - at a glance. I'm playing a few night tracks now and this figure isn't going to be an easy one imo.

The race went a little less than 2 full seconds faster than some lightly raced bums in the first race at the same distance. The 7f and 8f races there require seperate variants.

Anything good at Charles Town?

freddymo · #7 02-26-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Anything good at Charles Town?

He is dating a male groom that is very good to him

The Indomitable DrugS · #8 02-26-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

He is dating a male groom that is very good to him

The male grooms I date are all small potateo's ... you date the ones working for the star trainers at Palm Meadows. First class FreddyMo all the way.

Kasept · #9 02-26-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I still think his best game would be a fast paced 7f race. I wasn't watching him close - but he seemed to have a perfect position and looked ultra menacing on the far turn only to hang in the stretch. I would have made a strong bet on him today had he run in the Hutcheson instead.

There ya go... Same approach that would have benefitted Jackson Bend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I liked To Honor And Serve's race. He was wide on both turns and had every right to be flat off of the layoff. It was the kind of performance that gets people to overreact. Funny Cide was like a fading 5th with a similar wide trip in his 3yo debut -- he was a very fast 2yo and after that race - I think he was an incredible high price in Derby futures.

And Funny Cide was in the 13 hole that day in the Holy Bull. Hit the gate too. 73-1 (or maybe 93-1) in the first round of KDFW. Agree Honor/Serve gets value of multiple works out of this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Soldat had every advantage in the world going for him coming into this race - he had a great draw, you knew he would send, and speed typically dominates these Derby prep races - especially at 9fs. Soldat's going to be another in a long line of speed horses who brings strong form into the Ky Derby only to see himself get cooked by sprinter/miler speed.

A reminder of the last several FOY winners...

Eskendereya
Quality Road
Cool Coal Man
Scat Daddy
Corinthian-DQ (First Sam)
High Fly
Read the Footnotes
Trust N Luck
Booklet
Songandaprayer

herkhorse · #10 02-26-2011, 05:46 PM

Am I the only one who wants to puke every time someone writes "THAS"?

ateamstupid · #11 02-26-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herkhorse

Am I the only one who wants to puke every time someone writes "THAS"?

THaS crazyyyyy man

Sightseek · #12 02-27-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herkhorse

Am I the only one who wants to puke every time someone writes "THAS"?

Now that you mentioned it, no you're not!!

Danzig · #13 02-27-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Now that you mentioned it, no you're not!!

i've paused more than once to remember who those initials belong to...seriously, peope write a paragraph, but can't write a full horse name in that paragraph? but then, i can't stand seeing b4...but the word 'alot' still curls my toes more than anything. it's a lot people!! two words, look it up.

Kasept · #14 02-26-2011, 05:49 PM

From Mrs. Weber regarding Honor/Serve: "Pulled up fine. We survive to fight the next battle."

blackthroatedwind · #15 02-26-2011, 06:25 PM

Thinking this was anything other than a very disappointing effort by To Honor and Serve feels like seeing what you want to see as opposed to what you really saw. For the first time he hasn't had an absolutely perfect trip, and he didn't exactly set the world on fire, and his trip was far from bad. How good is Gourmet Dinner....and he buried him. Yes, he had a better trip, but To Honor and Serve is supposed to be a superior horse to him....and it wasn't close today.

Sorry, but it seems to me that horses that are going to the Derby off two preps are likely a lot more cranked up than people seem to want to believe. To Honor and Serve packed it in after seven furlongs today. After today I am inclined to go to the " horse he was dressed up by two straight dream trips " side of the fence.

miraja2 · #16 02-26-2011, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

horses that are going to the Derby off two preps are likely a lot more cranked up than people seem to want to believe.

Do you think it there might be a difference when it is a horse like this who doesn't need the graded earnings to get in?

On the one hand I'm always a bit hesitant to write off a disappointing performance on the grounds that the trainer didn't have the horse "cranked," because I'm somewhat skeptical of trainers ability to control when a horse is "cranked." On the other hand, with horses on the Derby Trail, where there is one definite goal race, I suppose it is possible that connections hold something back with a horse like this whose position in the field is already assured if he's healthy.

randallscott35 · #17 02-26-2011, 07:03 PM

If Drosselmeyer can win a classic then there is hope for To Honor.

blackthroatedwind · #18 02-26-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

Do you think it there might be a difference when it is a horse like this who doesn't need the graded earnings to get in?

On the one hand I'm always a bit hesitant to write off a disappointing performance on the grounds that the trainer didn't have the horse "cranked," because I'm somewhat skeptical of trainers ability to control when a horse is "cranked." On the other hand, with horses on the Derby Trail, where there is one definite goal race, I suppose it is possible that connections hold something back with a horse like this whose position in the field is already assured if he's healthy.

You are sort of suggesting it is some exact science where a horse has a certain amount to give and his trainer can sort of dole it out at will. That is not the case.

I guess what it really hinges on is Uncle Mo. If he keeps it together, the others are in trouble, but if he doesn't, it's wide open. But, it's hard to be overly encouraged by To Honor and Serve today, especially given the questions his 2YO races offered. He didn't give the right answer today. But, I suppose it's early. I just don't want him going forward. But, I also hated Soldat today.

miraja2 · #19 02-26-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

You are sort of suggesting it is some exact science where a horse has a certain amount to give and his trainer can sort of dole it out at will. That is not the case.

I didn't mean to suggest that exactly, which is why I said in my post:
"I'm somewhat skeptical of trainers ability to control when a horse is "cranked.""

I just sometimes wonder if, when it comes to horses on the "derby trail" with the necessary graded stakes earnings in hand, trainers do try....whatever is they try....to get their horses to "peak" on Derby day. I do remain skeptical about how successful they would be at doing this, but it at least seems more probable to me with a horse in To Honor and Serve's position than is typically the case when people use the "it was just a prep race" excuse.

The Indomitable DrugS · #20 02-26-2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

My opinion on this is that your Facebook avatar is much better than the Brett Favre one.

I suppose.

By the way - had To Honor And Serve won the race - Jerry Brown might be calling him the fastest 3yo ever... or at least fastest pre-Derby 3yo.

The horse who won the ALW that went 20 Beyer points slower ran a 1 last out. Soldat ran a Negative 1.50 last out - once you factor in the weight and ground loss on there scale - I think it's a pretty safe bet To Honor And Serve ran a new lifetime top today. Had he won today - I can't even imagine how strong the hype would be from those guys.