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#81
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Dunkirk ran a really good race today - we've said all year how hard it is to close at Gulfstream. He's a very nice race horse. Quality Road is too. |
#82
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![]() Pletcher should be whining to Gulfstream about cutting the purse to $750k from a million. That additional $50k will probably be the difference between being on the right side and the wrong side of the cut line.
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please use generalizations and non-truths when arguing your side, thank you |
#83
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Predicting the pace in the Derby is a dangerous game anyway because many people thought the 2004 pace would preclude Smarty Jones from getting a good stalking trip. Quality Road has proven twice now that he can sit just off of a fast pace and finish well. What about that would make anyone not like him in a race like the Derby? He's also maturing with each start and has learned to rate nicely. Considering Dunkirk won't be in the Derby at this moment, I'd have to see what he does in his final prep if he's in the gate on May 2. NT |
#84
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The $1 million Arkansas Derby may have been a good fit for Dunkirk's running style if Pletcher could have waited 2 more weeks (second in the Arkansas Derby is also worth more than second in the Fla Derby). |
#85
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![]() If one is 8-1, the other is 4-1... no thanks. But, depending on what happens out west, there's a chance Dunkirk will be fourth, fifth and maybe even sixth choice. Last year they were 13-1, 17-1, 19-1... Dunkirk at 19-1, versus QR at say 3-1... makes it interesting from a value standpoint. Interesting discussion too for a horse currently not in the race.
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#86
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#87
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![]() Pletcher was disappointed. He was interviewed right there, on the spot, that moment. With everything considered, and of course his horse got beat fairly easily as well, emotion is going to come into play. No matter how he got beat, he got beat and Pletcher would be disappointed. Easy to understand.
As far as the Derby goes, if they want to try and get in -- rushing, pushing the envelope, etc. -- if that's the price they want to pay, they will pay it. Eric |
#88
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Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln |
#89
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Regardless, I see your point. I just don't see Dunkirk doing anything but sitting on the bubble and waiting. If he gets in, sure he'll run, but I don't see it being the ideal, far from it. Eric |
#90
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Does that also excuse his berating Gulfstream President Bill Murphy? I guess this was the first 'big day' track Todd Pletcher ever ran horses on, so we should all sympathize. They press any further with Dunkirk and they'll be no Dunkirk. He was already noticeably thin and wan...
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. |
#91
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However, if your analysis of him looking less than 100% is on the money, then I'd have to agree that pushing on is a bad decision. I had heard he looked like a million bucks. Last edited by justindew : 03-28-2009 at 11:06 PM. |
#92
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Pletcher's a big boy, playing in the big leagues and if someone in the media wants to "call him out" so to speak regarding these comments, they will. Were there some excuses here? Sure. Like I said, he was disappointed. His horse got beat. Period. Eric |
#93
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#94
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![]() Hey, I only see two track records. Where is the third?
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#95
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This One's For Phil and You Luckie Mann were the only two horses who ran a respectable final time that day. YLM hasn't even had a single workout since that race ... I'm assuming he also suffered a stall injury from the stress of that performance. I have no problem with how fast they make the track ... I personally prefer to see lightning fast race tracks ... I think horses of all running styles handle them better and races are run truer to form - but all I want them to do is to do the best they can at keeping the track consistant throughout the day so that you can do a proper job of analyzing the races afterwards without all kinds of guess work. |
#96
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Nice catch on Dunkirk's appearance---it has not been brought up much . I thought he looked like a skinny filly coming down the stretch, and Kate Moss when they hosed him down--too bloody frail and tucked up . Not an animal you would expect to have the physical reserves/resources to be bound for the classics ... |
#97
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Every year going back almost as far as I can remember people complain about it at the Derby. Yet, you have had 7 of the last 12 Derby winners take the Preakness ... and of the 12 only Monarchos and Barbaro missed the board in the Preakness. You've had a wide variety of successful running styles as well...and considering the massive field size - you've had more fairly run races than you'd expect. I never got the complaining. |
#98
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![]() It doesnt bother me if Pletcher complains... who cares really.. its fucl<ing horse racing. But he has a heck of a horse and it will really upset me if some euro piece of trash who won some stupid race gets in before just him.
He can win the Derby as easily as the other few good horses this year. This was a good race and I'm happy to see some quality horses after last year....
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#99
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![]() I haven't read all of the threads yet, but no love for Big Drama (so far)?
I thought that was pretty impressive off the layoff. Fawkes is doing some fine work with this horse. ![]() |
#100
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__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. |