Welcome to the Kentucky Derby, Shackleford

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

what is his game?

He ran fine in turf races, when he rated.

Well, turf for one thing.

I was mostly referring to race style. Like, you know, go to the lead, run without restraint, that sorta thing.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Well, turf for one thing.

I was mostly referring to race style. Like, you know, go to the lead, run without restraint, that sorta thing.

The problem is that he has only run well with perfect trips....either setting a modest pace or stalking in the clear. Yes, he has talent, but no ability to overcome even the slightest adversity.

However, given the dearth of speed in US turf racing, he could do very well in our turf races.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The problem is that he has only run well with perfect trips....either setting a modest pace or stalking in the clear. Yes, he has talent, but no ability to overcome even the slightest adversity.

However, given the dearth of speed in US turf racing, he could do very well in our turf races.

I was trying to say that I think he ran a race that was better than generally acknowledged here.

I've never thought all that much of him to begin with. I had low expectations of him today, and until the end of the race, I thought he was running pretty hard.

As for his Derby prospects? It's a two horse race at this point, and he is not one of those two.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I was trying to say that I think he ran a race that was better than generally acknowledged here.

I've never thought all that much of him to begin with. I had low expectations of him today, and until the end of the race, I thought he was running pretty hard.

As for his Derby prospects? It's a two horse race at this point, and he is not one of those two.

I don't know how you can say he ran better than generally acknowledged. He never ran a step. He finished behind Flashpoint. Think about that for a second.

He did beat Stay Thirsty. Funny, he was quite the internet darling going into the race, and now. shockingly, his supporters have completely evaporated.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I don't know how you can say he ran better than generally acknowledged. He never ran a step. He finished behind Flashpoint. Think about that for a second.

He did beat Stay Thirsty. Funny, he was quite the internet darling going into the race, and now. shockingly, his supporters have completely evaporated.

Keep in mind, I had very little in the way of expectations of him, and in my eye, he was at least trying in a spot that he was a big disadvantage in. I never once in the race thought he was the winner, but I did say to myself during the race something to the effect of "at least he isn't spitting the bit and is trying to rally".

I guess I'm trying to say that while everyone else is off the bandwagon, he just moved up a little in my modest estimation.

It's all relative.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Keep in mind, I had very little in the way of expectations of him, and in my eye, he was at least trying in a spot that he was a big disadvantage in. I never once in the race thought he was the winner, but I did say to myself during the race something to the effect of "at least he isn't spitting the bit and is trying to rally".

I guess I'm trying to say that while everyone else is off the bandwagon, he just moved up a little in my modest estimation.

It's all relative.

I feel that way about many posters on the internet....yet the number on my ignore list only goes up.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I feel that way about many posters on the internet....yet the number on my ignore list only goes up.

I try to not resort to such things, but that suggestion you gave me the other day, I added that one to my Morty list.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The problem is that he has only run well with perfect trips....either setting a modest pace or stalking in the clear. Yes, he has talent, but no ability to overcome even the slightest adversity.

However, given the dearth of speed in US turf racing, he could do very well in our turf races.

Little Mike...

With the way he was bet yesterday and, with his top form right now, I am shocked that Dale Romans didn't wait and run him in the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

[/b]

Little Mike...

With the way he was bet yesterday and, with his top form right now, I am shocked that Dale Romans didn't wait and run him in the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland.

Speed carries much better at GP than KEE.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Speed carries much better at GP than KEE.

Did you watch the turf races there last spring?
Or are you just typing to increase your number of posts?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

Did you watch the turf races there last spring?
Or are you just typing to increase your number of posts?

Yes. You have a horse who obviously likes a harder turf course. He gets that at GP. He doesn't at KEE

And if you had read the article, Romans wants to go in Woodford, therefore, the Makers Mark was never a thought.

[Patrick333]

I think after this weekend Shackleford will be on the outside looking in as far as the Kentucky Derby goes.

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by Patrick333

I think after this weekend Shackleford will be on the outside looking in as far as the Kentucky Derby goes.

I think he may be a little short on earnings once all is said and done, but there will be a handful of horses currently in the top 20 that will not go to the Derby, whether it's common sense, injuries or something else.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

[/b]

Little Mike...

With the way he was bet yesterday and, with his top form right now, I am shocked that Dale Romans didn't wait and run him in the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland.

Maybe he wasn't confident Comandeered would be at Keeneland to ride shotgun and hand Little Mike the victory.

Don't get me wrong, he's a nice horse, but his run is over.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Maybe he wasn't confident Comandeered would be at Keeneland to ride shotgun and hand Little Mike the victory.

Don't get me wrong, he's a nice horse, but his run is over.

Who gets exposed first outside of GP, Little Mike or Tackleberry?

[justindew]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Who gets exposed first outside of GP, Little Mike or Tackleberry?

Zito's 4-time winner from yesterday. S.S. Whatever.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by justindew

Zito's 4-time winner from yesterday. S.S. Whatever.

I guess he always has the Claiming Crown.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by justindew

Zito's 4-time winner from yesterday. S.S. Whatever.

s.s. stone

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Who gets exposed first outside of GP, Little Mike or Tackleberry?

That's a little unfair, as Tackleberry had an amazing meet, and Little Mike is OK as well. However, that course was kind to Little Mike, and yesterday's race was a complete farce. If Johnny doesn't pull that move into the first turn, or better yet, actually rides properly, the result would likely have been much different. He took out the other speed and let Little Mike loaf along, relatively speaking. What was that horse even doing in the race...especially given that absurd game plan?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

That's a little unfair, as Tackleberry had an amazing meet, and Little Mike is OK as well. However, that course was kind to Little Mike, and yesterday's race was a complete farce. If Gomez doesn't pull that move into the first turn, or better yet, actually rides properly, the result would likely have been much different. He took out the other speed and let Little Mike loaf along, relatively speaking. What was that horse even doing in the race...especially given that absurd game plan?

I can't stand Tackleberry, so I guess we see that differently. I feel like he's getting a lot of praise because he ran often and showed determination.

You're referring to Commandeered, right? Gomez was on McLaughlin's horse that came from the back and just missed. Commandeered was a worthless entrant in that race because his turf win was a farce. I'm still hoping Matz puts Julio Pezua on Nicanor so he can get the lead, which he desperately needs to be a factor at all.

If I had to choose which one is more likely to win a graded stake outside of Florida the rest of the year I'd go with Little Mike.