7/2-4 (BEL): Suburban/Dwyer; Futurity/Matron/Bed o' Roses; Prioress

[PatCummings]

I played Flat Out in the Foster and basically just forgot to yesterday. My loss. But the reason I was really on to him had to do with the interview Steve had with Brian Pochman from Lone Star before their big race.

Pochman revealed that every Kentucky horseman he talked to before the LSP Hcp asked whether or not Flat Out was coming to the race. He found that so odd because Flat Out, at that point, was just an allowance winner off a long layoff, and that it was somewhat indicative that this horse had been looking really solid in the mornings at Churchill.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Pochman revealed that every Kentucky horseman he talked to before the LSP Hcp asked whether or not Flat Out was coming to the race. He found that so odd because Flat Out, at that point, was just an allowance winner off a long layoff, and that it was somewhat indicative that this horse had been looking really solid in the mornings at Churchill.

I would say it had very little at all to do with how Flat Out was training.

I would think the reason (any sharp Kentucky) horsemen (with at least one halfway ok horse) most likely wanted to know if FO was going to Lone Star - was because the Lone Star Park Handicap had a 300K purse, Graded status, and handicap conditions ... and it only ended up as a field of five with Flat Out.

If Flat Out doesn't go - it's a field of four and becomes a very attractive spot to run.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

I would say it had very little at all to do with how Flat Out was training.

I would think the reason (any sharp Kentucky) horsemen (with at least one halfway ok horse) most likely wanted to know if FO was going to Lone Star - was because the Lone Star Park Handicap had a 300K purse, Graded status, and handicap conditions ... and it only ended up as a field of five with Flat Out.

If Flat Out doesn't go - it's a field of four and becomes a very attractive spot to run.

And it's not an attractive place to run with five horses, one of whom is coming off a five month layoff, preceded by a 19-month layoff? Bull. How many times are trainers, with horses good enough to be considered for a $300k G3, worried enough that several of them ask specifically about the plans of a horse who has done nothing but win a $50,000 3YO stake in January 2009 and a non-descript allowance event at the Fair Grounds in December 2010?

[Calzone Lord]

You're not making a lot of sense here, Pat.

A competent trainer is one who pays a great deal of care in placing his horses and finding the best spots possible. To do this, you need to worry a lot about who is going where.

If I had an older alw quality horse nominated - and I was interested in taking a shot in a 300K handicap that might only draw three or four other horses - sure, I'd be calling every jockey agent, every turf writer I can think of asking about Flat Out or any other similar contender.

If every trainer was so affraid of running against Flat Out because he was supposedly working so good - why didn't all of these trainer and clockers bother to bet him?

When I was winning those fantasy contests, once a week I would call up trainers and ask them what spots they were considering for a certain specific horse. You can't even manage a friggen fantasy stable properly without knowing who is going where and how tough it might be to finish 3rd.

[PatCummings]

Think what want to think, Doug. Maybe we will disagree here regardless

[JJP]

Not sure how the Prioress has managed to maintain its Grade 1 status. Other than Indian Blessing, the roster of winners over the past 10 years or so is quite forgettable.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by JJP

Not sure how the Prioress has managed to maintain its Grade 1 status. Other than Indian Blessing, the roster of winners over the past 10 years or so is quite forgettable.

Carson Hallow and Xtra Heat ( and even Dream Rush ) not included of course.

If you want to debate this, fine, but a little honesty never hurts.