5/31 (TDN): Ohio Derby (Gr. II) Smooth Air-102 BSF

[ateamstupid]

I think Smooth Air will stay around two turns for a little while longer.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by arulus

I like following Smooth Air, just because there are so few horses that there are to follow these days! He's a nice little horse with a solid shot at some Grade III's and Grade II's in the future, and he's outrun his pedigree. Plus, maybe they'll run him longer because he seems less likely to rake in the big bucks at stud. I read they're going to aim him next for the Iowa or West Virginia Derby.

Ultimate summer target is the Gr. I King's Bishop (7f) ala Hard Spun..

Congratulations to Bennie and Diane Stutts, the entire Burns Family, Manny Cruz, and Idella, Smooth Air's groom... Now a multiple Graded Stakes winner at one and two turns... He's a really neat little horse.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

Visionaire woulda won by 5.

Please stop.

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Please stop.

I am just messin around. Was a nice win vs a horrendous field. I think if they keep him running vs the 2nd/3rd tier 3 yr olds he will be fine.

However racing Smooth Air in a Grade I up at Saratoga is beyond foolish. Real horses like Harlem Rocker and Assmussen's 3 yr old J Be K would torch Smooth Air.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

However racing Smooth Air in a Grade I up at Saratoga is beyond foolish. Real horses like Harlem Rocker and Assmussen's 3 yr old J Be K would torch Smooth Air.

Pete,

Why would Harlem Rocker be in the King's Bishop? And J Be K? He has one race that stands out as anything impactful. You don't see where a horse like Smooth Air, who has proven most likely to be best at 7f, will be murder turning back to it in August after all this two-turning? I'm not suggesting he's a Hard Spun in talent level, but in amongst this 2008 group, taking that same path should yield similar results. A reminder: He has won the Hutcheson and Ohio Derby; 2nd in the Florida Derby. Off the board once in his career (KY Derby). What is the knock on him exactly? He is a truly handy horse.. a rarity these days actually.

[blackthroatedwind]

They would be stupid NOT to be pointing for the King's Bishop. Win or lose, it's the right spot for Smooth Air.....and as of now he's more than a realistic competitor.

[The Bid]

Smooth Air is more talented than most in here give him credit for, hes like Tueflesberg. Tueflesberg was a top 3 horse in his respective crop, and that was a good group of horses

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Smooth Air is more talented than most in here give him credit for, hes like Tueflesberg. Tueflesberg was a top 3 horse in his respective crop, and that was a good group of horses

I agree that Tberg was underrated, but he was not top 3

[Bobby Fischer]

Go Smooth Air

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Pete,

Why would Harlem Rocker be in the King's Bishop? And J Be K? He has one race that stands out as anything impactful. You don't see where a horse like Smooth Air, who has proven most likely to be best at 7f, will be murder turning back to it in August after all this two-turning? I'm not suggesting he's a Hard Spun in talent level, but in amongst this 2008 group, taking that same path should yield similar results. A reminder: He has won the Hutcheson and Ohio Derby; 2nd in the Florida Derby. Off the board once in his career (KY Derby). What is the knock on him exactly? He is a truly handy horse.. a rarity these days actually.

If Harlem Rocker doesnt get the distance up in Canada one would think that they might turn back and go for those 3 yr old sprints up at Saratoga. J Be K IMHO is much faster than Smooth Air. SO I guess Smooth Air would be running for 3rd.

I am just not as impressed by others with Smooth Air. Todays race was pitiful as he faced a bunch of misfits. His other races are ok. I just dont see him stepping up to Grade I.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

If Harlem Rocker doesnt get the distance up in Canada one would think that they might turn back and go for those 3 yr old sprints up at Saratoga. J Be K IMHO is much faster than Smooth Air. SO I guess Smooth Air would be running for 3rd.

I am just not as impressed by others with Smooth Air. Todays race was pitiful as he faced a bunch of misfits. His other races are ok. I just dont see him stepping up to Grade I.

As far as 3yo sprinters pointing for the King's Bishop go, two up-and-comers would be Two Step Salsa and Black Wolf out west and Behindatthebar and Gayego cutting back. The latter two are probably toast as it stands so who cares. I'm sure John Shireffs lacks the imagination to consider it, but the Mizzen Mast (a powerful winner of the 7f Malibu a few years back) colt, Madeo, would add to an interesting group of horses. Salute The Sarge gets one more shot with a better pace scenario than his last if he ever reappears.

Still, if I had to put money down right now, I'd go with El Gato Malo once he's definitely exposed at races beyond a mile.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Come on man. No way Teufelsberg was among the top 3 talented that year and there is no way Smooth Air is in the top 10 talented this year. He'll be able to earn a lot of money this year if placed correctly. But he isn't much IMO. Where were all the Smooth Air people after the Derby?

I assume he meant in the third tier of top 3YOs.

As for Smooth Air, while I agree that it's funny that all the Smooth Air fans disappeared after the Derby, but not unexpected, I don't see why he shouldn't be pointed for the Kings Bishop. His Hutchenson was OK, albeit on a wet track, and the upside to winning a race like that is huge. It is, quite simply, the race he belongs in. That's not to say he will win.......but if you owned him wouldn't that at least be your goal?

[CSC]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

If Harlem Rocker doesnt get the distance up in Canada one would think that they might turn back and go for those 3 yr old sprints up at Saratoga.

That's a fair concern, until they do it you just don't know...I believe Harlem Rocker will get a route due to his sire's pedigree, "Macho Uno" who won the Suburban, Ohio Derby, BC Juvenile just to name a few races, plus he is a half brother to Awesome Again. There's plenty of stamina influences in his pedigree. Though his dam Freedom Come was primarily a sprinter, and HR is her first foal there is not much information to conclude if she can produce stamina ladened horses. The second dam however, "Zee Lady" did produce a horse named Boozeboom who won the Affirmed Handicap and placed in the Swaps stakes.

Though it is premature to even mention HR to great horses, I see alot of simularites in this mating as to the one with Ghostzapper. Ghostzapper was out of Baby Zip(who also produced City Zip) and sired by Awesome Again. Stamina on top and speed on the bottom pedigree, there was a time it was thought GZ might be stretched to go beyond his miler's pedigree but we all know what he did in the BC Classic. Which makes HR an exciting horse to follow with the possible simularities.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Come on man. No way Teufelsberg was among the top 3 talented that year and there is no way Smooth Air is in the top 10 talented this year. He'll be able to earn a lot of money this year if placed correctly. But he isn't much IMO. Where were all the Smooth Air people after the Derby?

Smooth Air isn't in the Top 10 among this crop of 3 year olds? Name 9 (after Big Brown) that have proven themselves better with their record, established speed, utility, etc.. Whatever criteria you want to use.

As a helper, here's the list of Top 3yo Beyers:


RTE:

Big Brown CD 03 May 1 1/4M 109
Big Brown GP 05 Mar 1M 106
Big Brown GP 29 Mar 1 1/8M 106
Harlem Rocker AQU 26 Apr 1M 106
Gayego OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 103
Coal Play MTH 25 May 1M 70Y 102
Eight Belles (f) CD 03 May 1 1/4M 102
Recapturetheglory HAW 05 Apr 1 1/8M 102
Smooth Air TDN 31 May 1 1/8M 102
Z Fortune OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 102
Casino Drive BEL 10 May 1 1/8M 101
Instill HAW 26 Apr 1 1/16M 101
J Be K AQU 26 Apr 1M 101


SPR:

Motovato CRC 25 Apr 7F 111
Bob Black Jack SA 26 Jan 6F 109
Storm Mesa (f) LS 26 May 7F 108
Dancing in Silks HOL 27 Apr 6 1/2F 103
Gattopardo LRL 01 Mar 7F 103
Georgie Boy SA 10 Feb 7F 103
Gayego SA 20 Jan 6 1/2F 102
Mucho Macho BEL 17 May 6F 102
Informed Decision (f) KEE 11 Apr 6 1/2F 101
Jockey Ridge GP 18 Jan 6 1/2F 101
Lantana Mob PIM 17 May 6F 101
Lieutenant Ron AQU 06 Apr 7F 101
Zaftig (f) BEL 03 May 7F 101

[The Bid]

Smooth Air is certainly a top 3yo in this crop, without question. He does nothing wrong, runs his race everytime hes lead over and does it against whomever enteres

As far as Tueflesberg goes he was a superstar, absolutely a top 3 horse in his crop. His talent was never realised by the average fan. I do not mean that as a dig, I just do not think you understand how superior of an animal you have to have to do what he did.

For him to outrun those stats and win the Woody Stevens, win Southwest, get beat a neck to Street Sense in the Bluegrass is mindboggling. Had he been in top connections care you are talking about a multiple G1 winner whos still running.

His trainer was 8 wins out of 271 starts, take him out of the equation and shes 3 for 250. Now either that horse was amazingly talented, or someone has fudged the numbers

Steve if you put Gayego, Coal Play, Recapture the Glory, and Smooth Air in line. You were given one pick to run on with as a DT horse who would you select?

[arulus]

I don't think that anyone is arguing that Smooth Air is a top notch horse. But he's a handy type who happened to be born in a weak crop, and he can do well if put on a strategic campaign. And it's fun to root for him, because the back story is good. I'm tired of Big Brown drama, steriods drama, breakdown drama, trainer drama. I just want to find a couple of cool horses with no controversy surrounding them, and watch them campaign. And, guess what? In a real campaign, sometimes you win, sometimes you get second, sometimes third! I don't mind that. It's bad for the sport if everyone tip toes around and only enters races that they're sure to win. Chances are fun, goals are fun.

Also, I draw a line through Smooth Air's Derby; he got quite a terrible trip, and I thought his finish was actually quite an honest effort. He lost training time due to illness, broke into the air, got bumped around at the started and was heavily checked during the first half of the race, yet still beat about half the field. If all that had not happened, I could see him finishing in the top ten. Maybe even top five, who knows? Sure, it does say something about the weakness of the competition, but it also shows that he really gives an effort each time, and I like that. What was Monba's excuse? Smooth Air is much more likeable than half of the Derby field, like Cowboy Cal, Court Vision, Gayego, etc, who seem to be totally inconsistent and all over the place. And at least he's showed up and raced again and has races set for the future! *yawn* When the hell are Colonel John and Pyro going to surface?

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Smooth Air isn't in the Top 10 among this crop of 3 year olds? Name 9 (after Big Brown) that have proven themselves better with their record, established speed, utility, etc.. Whatever criteria you want to use.

As a helper, here's the list of Top 3yo Beyers:


RTE:

Big Brown CD 03 May 1 1/4M 109
Big Brown GP 05 Mar 1M 106
Big Brown GP 29 Mar 1 1/8M 106
Harlem Rocker AQU 26 Apr 1M 106
Gayego OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 103
Coal Play MTH 25 May 1M 70Y 102
Eight Belles (f) CD 03 May 1 1/4M 102
Recapturetheglory HAW 05 Apr 1 1/8M 102
Smooth Air TDN 31 May 1 1/8M 102
Z Fortune OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 102
Casino Drive BEL 10 May 1 1/8M 101
Instill HAW 26 Apr 1 1/16M 101
J Be K AQU 26 Apr 1M 101


SPR:

Motovato CRC 25 Apr 7F 111
Bob Black Jack SA 26 Jan 6F 109
Storm Mesa (f) LS 26 May 7F 108
Dancing in Silks HOL 27 Apr 6 1/2F 103
Gattopardo LRL 01 Mar 7F 103
Georgie Boy SA 10 Feb 7F 103
Gayego SA 20 Jan 6 1/2F 102
Mucho Macho BEL 17 May 6F 102
Informed Decision (f) KEE 11 Apr 6 1/2F 101
Jockey Ridge GP 18 Jan 6 1/2F 101
Lantana Mob PIM 17 May 6F 101
Lieutenant Ron AQU 06 Apr 7F 101
Zaftig (f) BEL 03 May 7F 101

Steve
While he ran a nice Beyer yesterday it was a HORRIFIC field.

3 yr olds in my opinion who are better than Smooth Air....

BB
Casino Drive
Colonel John
Bob Blackjack
Denis of Cork
Gayego
Harlem Rocker
Georgie Boy
J BE K
Tale of Ekati



Notice I left off Visionaire.

[hockey2315]

I'm not an Smooth Air hater like some, but, there are a bunch of horses with a lot more potential. . . He's accomplished more at this point then most, though. He's solid, but there's definitely a ceiling as to how good he can be.

Harlem Rocker
Casino Drive
Unbridled's Heart
Lt. Ron
Biker Boy
Georgie Boy
Pyro (did everyone forget about him?)

If we count the fillies Eight Belles and Proud Spell

Motovato if he ever runs back to anything close to that race at CRC (I think I read that Wolfson's shipping him up to run this weekend in the Woody Stephens)

Maybe J Be K. . .

[hockey2315]

I can't decide if Denis is more talented. I've been on his bandwagon for a long time but I'm still not so sure he is. If they send Samba Rooster to the King's Bishop he'll be dangerous.

[The Bid]

Sometimes the average fans still fail to understand