California Chrome: Pennsylvania Derby

King Glorious · #1 08-23-2014, 03:19 AM

So a California based horse is shipping east to race for $1 million and people are complaining? I don't get it. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the race four weeks after the Travers so any of the runners out of that race can easily come back in Pennsylvania. Plus, the owner and trainer of Tonalist and Bayern are also guaranteed the same bonus as Chrome's people are. I understand it's not the Haskell or the Travers and doesn't have the same prestige but it has the same money and if none of those others big guns go to Parx, Chrome will be 1/2 in a $1 million race. Forgive my ignorance but I can't for the life of me understand how it would make more sense to go to a tougher race for the same money when you are the current leader of the division. If they want him, he's coming to their back yard so they can go get him. The leaders aren't usually the ones doing the chasing.

Danzig · #2 08-23-2014, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

So a California based horse is shipping east to race for $1 million and people are complaining? I don't get it. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the race four weeks after the Travers so any of the runners out of that race can easily come back in Pennsylvania. Plus, the owner and trainer of Tonalist and Bayern are also guaranteed the same bonus as Chrome's people are. I understand it's not the Haskell or the Travers and doesn't have the same prestige but it has the same money and if none of those others big guns go to Parx, Chrome will be 1/2 in a $1 million race. Forgive my ignorance but I can't for the life of me understand how it would make more sense to go to a tougher race for the same money when you are the current leader of the division. If they want him, he's coming to their back yard so they can go get him. The leaders aren't usually the ones doing the chasing.

people wanted him to come east-now he is, and the owners are just horrible people.
had he stayed west, the owners would be horrible people for not coming east.

Dunbar · #3 08-23-2014, 01:01 PM

Interesting perspectives in this thread, but IMO this made the most sense:

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

So a California based horse is shipping east to race for $1 million and people are complaining? I don't get it. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the race four weeks after the Travers so any of the runners out of that race can easily come back in Pennsylvania. Plus, the owner and trainer of Tonalist and Bayern are also guaranteed the same bonus as Chrome's people are. I understand it's not the Haskell or the Travers and doesn't have the same prestige but it has the same money and if none of those others big guns go to Parx, Chrome will be 1/2 in a $1 million race. Forgive my ignorance but I can't for the life of me understand how it would make more sense to go to a tougher race for the same money when you are the current leader of the division. If they want him, he's coming to their back yard so they can go get him. The leaders aren't usually the ones doing the chasing.

--Dunbar

Pants II · #4 08-24-2014, 08:07 AM

It is no different than Roger Federer playing the Queen's Club tournament and skipping Wimbledon and using the Queen's Club as a prep for the US Open.

No sane person would defend that.

This is why horse racing is a non-story. Too many cowards and idiots that defend them.

If the horse was only moderately good he would've entered in the Travers and cakewalked the field yesterday. It was a horrible race with over-rated mediocrities.

King Glorious · #5 08-24-2014, 11:37 AM

I'm pretty sure the purse money for the Queen's Club is nowhere close to comparable to Wimbledon.

I understand your point and don't totally disagree with it. I think that the sport would be much better off with a coordinated stakes schedule among the tracks and maybe even with defined rules on who can and can't enter certain races. There is no doubt that the Travers is a much more prestigious race to be in but with the way things are now, there is also no doubt that it's not as important as it used to be. With the addition of races like the West Virginia Derby, the Penn Derby, the Indiana Derby, and even the Pacific Classic, the options are more plentiful than they used to be. So if I want to blame anyone, I blame the sport. I don't blame the owners for taking an easier path to the money and the championship. We've seen Lookin at Lucky, Curlin, and Big Brown recently win the Eclipse after not running in the Travers.

The fact is, after yesterday's race, even though you may call them cowards, they are looking even better. They didn't lose any ground in the championship race. They probably increased their lead. They will still be running for $1 million and they are going to be odds-on to win it and strengthen their position even more.

Danzig · #6 08-24-2014, 12:07 PM

it would have been rushing to get chrome ready for the travers. definitely has a lot more prestige, but the penna derby makes far more sense for a variety of reasons.
later in the year, better spacing to use as a single prep for the bcc, since they say only one race prior to the classic. better distance, more prep time to bring the horse back from a tough spring campaign as well as a hoof injury. shorter distance, not as tough competition, same age group, and a sweet purse.
what's not to like in regard to long term goals?

Pants II · #7 08-25-2014, 07:36 AM

KG I understand your point about the money. But remember this is the same two guys that turned down upwards of 6 million before the Derby for what was it...a 51% share of the horse?

I just don't understand these guys is all. They're all over the place.

zig...the horse would have been ready for the Travers. It was their decision to give him a layoff during the most active time of the sport. What exactly are they laying him off for again? The Japan Cup?

Come on.

It's just frustrating watching a good horse waste his 3 year old season in a barn. A horse that arguably won't be as good due to the layoff.