3/23 (SUN): Sunland Derby (G3), Oaks, Henson, Thomas Mem.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

The Sunland Derby looked ugly. Baffert wins again with his C Grade horses.

C grade? Whos the A then? Bayern??
Chitu is pretty solid, and will likely be better going short.
Midnight Hawk is OK as well. He just needs a better trip then 4 or 5 wide every single time he runs.
I think they are both pretty solid horses who will be more effective going shorter.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

C grade? Whos the A then? Bayern??
Chitu is pretty solid, and will likely be better going short.
Midnight Hawk is OK as well. He just needs a better trip then 4 or 5 wide every single time he runs.
I think they are both pretty solid horses who will be more effective going shorter.

What was so bad about his trip? He got outsprinted by Chitu for early position who was on his outside, forced the issue with Chitu to run, had dead aim on Chitu at the top of the stretch and was flat out run by Chitu to the wire.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by pointman

What was so bad about his trip? He got outsprinted by Chitu for early position who was on his outside, forced the issue with Chitu to run, had dead aim on Chitu at the top of the stretch and was flat out run by Chitu to the wire.

He should have been outsprinted, since when is he a one way speed horse? When is pressing wide a good trip? IMO its the worst trip in racing, the wide no cover trip. All the drifting in the stretch, neither of them are 10f horses.
Listen, I dont like either horse for the Derby. IMO both of them are going to be better 7f-8f horses. I think both of them are pushing it going 9f. I would like to see both of them pointed towards the Woody Stephens and Kings Bishop, but Im sure they are both going to go to the Derby first. They will both be pace casualties. Almost every horse left on the Derby trail is a speed horse. California Chrome, Social Inclusion, the 2 horses who ran 1-2 in the Fountain of Youth, the Rat from NY and even Uncle Sigh. They are all speed horses. Midnight Hawk has some quality. He is losing to California Chrome and Candy Boy. If the Derby was tomorrow those 2 would be 2 of the favorites. I thought Chitu was best when Candy Boy beat him, for whatever thats worth.

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

C grade? Whos the A then? Bayern??
Chitu is pretty solid, and will likely be better going short.
Midnight Hawk is OK as well. He just needs a better trip then 4 or 5 wide every single time he runs.
I think they are both pretty solid horses who will be more effective going shorter.

Baffert usually sends his C-Grade horses to Sunland Park. Governer Charlie and Wanna Runner were Bafferts other Sunland Derby Winners and they were hardly any world beaters. As you said, Chitu will most likely be better going short and not really Bafferts top derby prospect.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

Baffert usually sends his C-Grade horses to Sunland Park. Governer Charlie and Wanna Runner were Bafferts other Sunland Derby Winners and they were hardly any world beaters. As you said, Chitu will most likely be better going short and not really Bafferts top derby prospect.

I guess if we are talking strictly Derby they are C types. I think they are both going to be very good, but at 7f-8f. Of course they can win these 9f softer preps, but I think they will both be more effective going 7f-8f.

[Indian Charlie]

So, how far do you think Chitu and MH will be best at?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

So, how far do you think Chitu and MH will be best at?

7f-8f. Anyone can win a 9f Derby prep on a speed favoring track. It happens every year. If there was a big dirt mile race in the next month and Chitu cutback for it off of last nights race I would take him over any other 3yr in this class.

[pucknut]

800k and no one wants it?
Baffert owns this track at stakes time but no one is game to challenge him
Awesome Gem had it easily too
Smith another smart ride