Discreet Cat

Originally Posted by sumitas

it must have something to do with the training. years ago it would seem the horses would be jogged between starts, then go all out for the race. now the top horses are really tightened before a race. efforts that used to be races are now workouts...that's my guess.

Years ago ragozin did a study and distinctly concluded that horses run their best sheet numbers in "easy efforts" and "public workouts". He said it was a total fallacy that more was in the tank in these efforts and that they would run faster with more pressure. Instead they found the opposite. Its why I love betting back against horses off "easy wins". In this case however, I do not think Bernadini will lose. I do not expect him to leap forward in his fig though. I would expect the same kind of figure in the Travers or a slight regression, albeit good enough to win.

[Unbridled]

Originally Posted by boldruler

Of course he does, but what do you expect from a guy whose best horse raced 2.7x a year. Why is it that great horses in the past used to be able to race 10-12x a year and now all of the sudden they can't race more than 2.7x/yr.

I dont know, maybe b/c breeders started breeding horses for speed, due to big yearling/2yo sales, the disappearance of classic distance races (very few 10F and no 12F dirt races b/c the horses ) which lead to those plodding type horses not becoming stallions and unsound,speed horses becoming stallions and those that had speed being bred to mares with speed b/c speed sells. That and medication allowing unsound horses to run and become stallions. just the tip of the iceberg.

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Just to answer a question.

Cigar won Grade I's at 4-5-6
Silver Charm won Grade I's at 3-4-5


Those two are the only ones that come to mind.

Slew, Bid, Affirmed...2,3, and 4
John Henry....5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Forego...4, 5, 6, 7
Silverbulletday...2, 3, 4

I think I could go on and on.