Borel to ride Jackson Bend in Wood

[Monarchos1]

I don't know what you are insinuating with LaPenta. He's probably not the easiest owner for a trainer to deal with, but I don't recall his ever insisting that horses be pushed too hard or placed unrealistically. Or sent to the desert to try an unorthodox path. And he's certainly not a sleezy type like some prior Derby winners.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I now wish LaPenta didn't own Miner's Reserve from what I hear of him. I'm glad Fly Down is owned by someone else. I thought Nick said after his allowance win that he could be his Belmont horse (or he hinted at it). If so, may as well take their time with him...

Seems to me like Lapenta and Zito have been a great team.. I don't know either but it seems to be quite successful. They have been together a while and I would assume respect each other?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I now wish LaPenta didn't own Miner's Reserve from what I hear of him. I'm glad Fly Down is owned by someone else. I thought Nick said after his allowance win that he could be his Belmont horse (or he hinted at it). If so, may as well take their time with him...

From what you hear about him? Please - do tell!

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I guess I was insulted, lol. I have no idea what I did to him to deserve that, but oh well...

I wasn't insulting you at all.

I was denigrating the trainer you were being compared to.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I wasn't insulting you at all.

I was denigrating the trainer you were being compared to.

I'm sorry, I know you weren't. For some reason, Indomitable Drug was.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

From what you hear about him? Please - do tell!

A few people on Thoroughbred Champions were talking about how La Penta always pushes his horses and used DaTara as an example (for instance, well after he'd proved he wasn't up to the task, LaPenta/Zito put him in spots he didn't belong). If they are wrong, then I apologize for making such comments. For all I know, those posters could have been people with a grudge for some unknown reason.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Betsy

A few people on Thoroughbred Champions were talking about how La Penta always pushes his horses and used DaTara as an example (for instance, well after he'd proved he wasn't up to the task, LaPenta/Zito put him in spots he didn't belong). If they are wrong, then I apologize for making such comments. For all I know, those posters could have been people with a grudge for some unknown reason.

Or they could have been ill-informed idiots with keyboards.

NT

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Betsy

A few people on Thoroughbred Champions were talking about how La Penta always pushes his horses and used DaTara as an example (for instance, well after he'd proved he wasn't up to the task, LaPenta/Zito put him in spots he didn't belong). If they are wrong, then I apologize for making such comments. For all I know, those posters could have been people with a grudge for some unknown reason.

The folks over there are 80% pretty pony fans who have never had anything to do with campaigning a racehorse. The important word there is racehorse. They all seem to think if a horse runs a poor race he should get "time on the farm." Sometimes what they need in MORE work, harder training but if you do that you are called a butcher.
DaTara won the Belmont. Thats an example of bad management? That fact that that horse won anything is a testament to good management, not bad.
I know Nick and have met Robert LaPenta a few times. He's a very good owner in terms of giving his horses time and running them where they fit. I had the uncomfortable distinction of watching the Wood Memorial with Zito and LaPenta when War Pass was trying to rebound and earn a spot in the Derby. I felt bad for them that day, they really thought that their colt was the goods, he sure had looked like it at 2. They did the right thing and stopped. After an on the board run in the Wood, most owners would have pressed.

It's Zito's call on Fly Down. The colt has not worked since his allowance win and that tell me all I need to know. Miner's Reserve has pedigree and his maiden was pretty nice. At this point, with so many races left and no clear leaders if he were mine, I'd be pointing for the Kentucky Derby. Does that mean "press on at all costs?" No. It means move into a stakes race. Lets face it that G3 Sham last weekend was just that. The allowance that Radiohead won was a tougher event. The 2 colts in the Sham with more than a maiden win were dreadful and the winner was exiting a statebred maiden.
Granted, the stakes get harder now, but spots are out there. I wouldn't want him killed (figuratively speaking here) just for a graded check, but to get an idea how he stacks up against this crop.

As for Jackson Bend, I think he's better at a mile against serious horses but he's not exactly been a dud. His two races for LaPenta were seconds behind well regarded colts. I don't think he wants any part of Eskendereya going 2 tuns but I'm not sure how tough the Wood is going to be.

[Gaining Ground]

Originally Posted by Betsy

I'm sorry, I know you weren't. For some reason, Indomitable Drug was.

i didnt really read it as an insult. you said you were very conservative and he compared you to john ward, who is also conservative with running his horses.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Gaining Ground

i didnt really read it as an insult. you said you were very conservative and he compared you to john ward, who is also conservative with running his horses.

I can see how you think that. I took it to mean though that she is incompetent, since he seems to be an incompetent trainer.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Or they could have been ill-informed idiots with keyboards.

NT

That's always a possibility, lol

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Linny

The folks over there are 80% pretty pony fans who have never had anything to do with campaigning a racehorse. The important word there is racehorse. They all seem to think if a horse runs a poor race he should get "time on the farm." Sometimes what they need in MORE work, harder training but if you do that you are called a butcher.
DaTara won the Belmont. Thats an example of bad management? That fact that that horse won anything is a testament to good management, not bad.
I know Nick and have met Robert LaPenta a few times. He's a very good owner in terms of giving his horses time and running them where they fit. I had the uncomfortable distinction of watching the Wood Memorial with Zito and LaPenta when War Pass was trying to rebound and earn a spot in the Derby. I felt bad for them that day, they really thought that their colt was the goods, he sure had looked like it at 2. They did the right thing and stopped. After an on the board run in the Wood, most owners would have pressed.

It's Zito's call on Fly Down. The colt has not worked since his allowance win and that tell me all I need to know. Miner's Reserve has pedigree and his maiden was pretty nice. At this point, with so many races left and no clear leaders if he were mine, I'd be pointing for the Kentucky Derby. Does that mean "press on at all costs?" No. It means move into a stakes race. Lets face it that G3 Sham last weekend was just that. The allowance that Radiohead won was a tougher event. The 2 colts in the Sham with more than a maiden win were dreadful and the winner was exiting a statebred maiden.
Granted, the stakes get harder now, but spots are out there. I wouldn't want him killed (figuratively speaking here) just for a graded check, but to get an idea how he stacks up against this crop.

As for Jackson Bend, I think he's better at a mile against serious horses but he's not exactly been a dud. His two races for LaPenta were seconds behind well regarded colts. I don't think he wants any part of Eskendereya going 2 tuns but I'm not sure how tough the Wood is going to be.

Fly Down worked yesterday, by the way, but I appreciate your post. That's good to hear about La Penta (I never had a problem with Zito)... now I feel badly, lol.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Gaining Ground

i didnt really read it as an insult. you said you were very conservative and he compared you to john ward, who is also conservative with running his horses.

Ah -I didn't exactly know what he meant. I just know that I've not seen too many positive things about Ward written here, so I assumed the worst.

LOL I would rather not be known as the John Ward of posters as, despite my post about Miner's Reserve, I believe race horses should actually be raced. I was furious last year when Godolphin decided they were going to run Music Note all of about 4 times. I guess I should have been grateful they didn't retire here, but I almost wish they would have. What kind of campaign was that?

[Indian Charlie]

I think John Ward manages Godolphin now.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I think John Ward manages Godolphin now.

LOL...He must. I saw Girolamo on the work tab some time ago, now he's stopped working. If he's not hurt, they must have decided to put him away to point for a 1 race Fall campaign.

[Monarchos1]

Originally Posted by Betsy

.

LOL I would rather not be known as the John Ward of posters as, despite my post about Miner's Reserve, I believe race horses should actually be raced. I was furious last year when Godolphin decided they were going to run Music Note all of about 4 times. I guess I should have been grateful they didn't retire here, but I almost wish they would have. What kind of campaign was that?

Since you think race horses should be raced, does that mean you objected to the way Zito managed Commentator?

[Linny]

Commentator wouldn't have stood up to more than they did. They knew how brittle he was.
I hate it too when perfectly sound horses are trained forever only to pull up with a fracture a week before their forst race in 4 months. Why not get him out there while he's training bullets for 10 weeks???!!!!

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Betsy

Ah -I didn't exactly know what he meant. I just know that I've not seen too many positive things about Ward written here, so I assumed the worst.

LOL I would rather not be known as the John Ward of posters as, despite my post about Miner's Reserve, I believe race horses should actually be raced. I was furious last year when Godolphin decided they were going to run Music Note all of about 4 times. I guess I should have been grateful they didn't retire here, but I almost wish they would have. What kind of campaign was that?

I think the campaign actually helped her, her sprint at Toga was her first fast race EVER... Then she came right back to run fast again beating Pletchers horse... Her 3yo campaign was nice and SLOW.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Monarchos1

Since you think race horses should be raced, does that mean you objected to the way Zito managed Commentator?

I didn't follow Nick Zito and Commentator so I don't have an opinion. I'm not suggesting they run 12 times a year, but or 4 times for a perfectly healthy horse is ludicrous.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

I think the campaign actually helped her, her sprint at Toga was her first fast race EVER... Then she came right back to run fast again beating Pletchers horse... Her 3yo campaign was nice and SLOW.

Music Note was not a slow filly as a 3 year old.