Shared Belief

[Calzone Lord]

I was a little surprised he didn't have his own thread, yet.

I did a blog post on him today, covering him, his brilliant Hollywood Futurity win, and the speed figure questions surrounding the race.

http://www.horseracingnation.com/blo...red_Belief_123

Considering the realities of modern two-year-old racing (very lightly raced, prone to setbacks, etc) I think this years crop has an unexpectedly high number of top quality prospects going into the New Year.

[10 pnt move up]

He is a synthetic specialist, get that through your head.

[santana]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

He is a synthetic specialist, get that through your head.

I am not sure on what makes you an expert on what 2yr old is a synthetic specialist....but that 2 yr old ran his lights out....until proven otherwise, I will be rooting for him to be the next great one.....

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by santana

I am not sure on what makes you an expert on what 2yr old is a synthetic specialist....but that 2 yr old ran his lights out....until proven otherwise, I will be rooting for him to be the next great one.....

I think people are mostly speaking as bettors, not fans. He'll be 2 to 5 or so next time.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

He is a synthetic specialist, get that through your head.

i'll withold judgement til he runs on a track other than synthetic. some horses aren't limited to one surface. we'll see.

personally, i'm hoping his form translates to dirt and/or turf.

[10 pnt move up]

I suppose most did not see my comments in the Cashcall thread, my response in this one was completely tongue and cheek.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I suppose most did not see my comments in the Cashcall thread, my response in this one was completely tongue and cheek.

i know i don't read every thread in every room, so i certainly missed it.

[10 pnt move up]

Someone there said this horse should not even be considered a Derby contender at this point since he has not run on dirt, I thought that to be a bit ridiculous.

[Alabama Stakes]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i know i don't read every thread in every room, so i certainly missed it.

since when ?

[declansharbor]

Perfect horse to try to beat next time out. If he romps, just sit back and enjoy the show.

[Indian Charlie]

Afternoon Deelites is a poor comparison.

[cakes44]

Certainly does not have the running style of a synthetic specialist. In fact, usually horses that have his running style on synthetics move up on dirt.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by cakes44

Certainly does not have the running style of a synthetic specialist. In fact, usually horses that have his running style on synthetics move up on dirt.

Gypsy Robin is a speed demon, and she fares much better on synthetic.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Gypsy Robin is a speed demon, and she fares much better on synthetic.

So your point is that in general the statement was wrong?

[Indian Charlie]

Pacific Classic next.

I would like to see him stay on dirt, as I think the Del Mar surface is an abomination that is especially ill suited for a horse that runs with Shared Beliefs style.

I've never been a fan of synthetic racing surfaces, but the cushion track at least played fairly similar to dirt, which was one of the two reasons I had no doubt Shared Belief would like dirt racing.

I'd hope Dorf gets some work with him over the track, but hell, that terrible surface has seen many horses work great over it in the mornings only to see them unable to run a step in the afternoon.

I'd just as soon see him go in one of the Arlington turf races, over anything at Del Mar.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Pacific Classic next.

I would like to see him stay on dirt, as I think the Del Mar surface is an abomination that is especially ill suited for a horse that runs with Shared Beliefs style.

I've never been a fan of synthetic racing surfaces, but the cushion track at least played fairly similar to dirt, which was one of the two reasons I had no doubt Shared Belief would like dirt racing.

I'd hope Dorf gets some work with him over the track, but hell, that terrible surface has seen many horses work great over it in the mornings only to see them unable to run a step in the afternoon.

I'd just as soon see him go in one of the Arlington turf races, over anything at Del Mar.

I don't know what the track will be like this year at Del Mar. I thought last year was a definite abomination. There was actually a fairly big speed bias there last year. The track isn't usually like that. It usually plays like your typical synthetic track. Turf horses usually like it. Acclamation who is a grass horse won the Pacific Classic in 2011. Synthetic horses usually like it. Dullahan, who didn't seem to run really well on anything but synthetic (he won the Blue Grass at Keeneland), won the Pacific Classic. I don't see any reason why Shared Belief wouldn't love Del Mar. He ran great at Golden Gate in both of his races there. He ran great at Hollywood Park which was really a track that played half way in between a dirt and synthetic track.

Shared Belief looks like he can run on anything. So far he's run on 3 different tracks and he's undefeated. No matter how Del Mar plays this year, I would bet that Shared Belief has no problem with the track. He seems like a pretty adaptable type of horse. The handicap division on the west coast is terrible right now. I would definitely make Shared Belief the favorite for the Pacific Classic even though I rarely like 3 year olds in there.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I don't know what the track will be like this year at Del Mar. I thought last year was a definite abomination. There was actually a fairly big speed bias there last year. The track isn't usually like that. It usually plays like your typical synthetic track. Turf horses usually like it. Acclamation who is a grass horse won the Pacific Classic in 2011. Synthetic horses usually like it. Dullahan, who didn't seem to run really well on anything but synthetic (he won the Blue Grass at Keeneland), won the Pacific Classic. I don't see any reason why Shared Belief wouldn't love Del Mar. He ran great at Golden Gate in both of his races there. He ran great at Hollywood Park which was really a track that played half way in between a dirt and synthetic track.

Shared Belief looks like he can run on anything. So far he's run on 3 different tracks and he's undefeated. No matter how Del Mar plays this year, I would bet that Shared Belief has no problem with the track. He seems like a pretty adaptable type of horse. The handicap division on the west coast is terrible right now. I would definitely make Shared Belief the favorite for the Pacific Classic even though I rarely like 3 year olds in there.

I didn't follow Del Mar last year and don't know anything about it being speed favoring.

Poly, Tapeta and Cushion are quite different from each other. Cushion plays the most like dirt.

His wins at Golden Gate were against such vastly inferior competition that I think those two races are pretty useless for evaporating him fairly.

I do think it's likely he'd win the Pacific Classic, but in my estimation, he is the most vulnerable in that spot.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Pacific Classic next.

I would like to see him stay on dirt, as I think the Del Mar surface is an abomination that is especially ill suited for a horse that runs with Shared Beliefs style.

I've never been a fan of synthetic racing surfaces, but the cushion track at least played fairly similar to dirt, which was one of the two reasons I had no doubt Shared Belief would like dirt racing.

I'd hope Dorf gets some work with him over the track, but hell, that terrible surface has seen many horses work great over it in the mornings only to see them unable to run a step in the afternoon.

I'd just as soon see him go in one of the Arlington turf races, over anything at Del Mar.

Million dollar bonus is big as he is a gelding right? They arent shipping east for the Travers when they can ship to Delmar for same money. Who is going to beat him in Pac? Game on Dude loose on lead?

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Million dollar bonus is big as he is a gelding right? They arent shipping east for the Travers when they can ship to Delmar for same money. Who is going to beat him in Pac? Game on Dude loose on lead?

You miss my point.

Clearly he's the best horse aiming for the race.

I have my concerns that that racing surface is anti conducive to him running his optimal race.

I think the bonus, while nice, is of secondary value. The purse money from the three races is much greater than the bonus.

I'd guesstimate first place prize money from all three races to be around $3.9 million.

[10 pnt move up]

I am not sure he can run down a loose on the lead GOD, Hollendorfer will probably enter a rabbit again.