Saturday Picks, Part 2

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Slew.em.All — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:37:43 GMT

Curlin ran his race,stop making excuses for him people!.like: Robby moved too soon,how could he sustain that run(bullcrap! that's his signature move,he just got outfinished,period.)..Curlin Fan; NOBODY is unstoppable, except maybe the Great Zenyatta,who I think could run on Turf exactly the same way she does on the Main Tracks elsewhere..and why all the Casino Drive hatred?.Not to make excuses but,he shouldn't have been on the lead,he's a stalker.Don't worry,You'll hear about him A Lot in the near future..Overall I thought it was a very form full 2days of racing.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Curlin Fan — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:13:15 GMT

BIGHORSEFAN, I wasn't knocking Casino Drive's connectins, I was commenting on BB's connections. I have doubted from the time they announced BB's "injury" that he was as seriously injured as they said he was and Ivarone confirmed my suspicions Saturday during an interview where he said that BB was "sound". An injury of any sort takes away from a horse being sound and the injury they claimed BB sustained would definitely take away from him being "sound". I think it was a matter that they didn't want to face Curlin and as such, once it became apparent that Curlin was running the BC Classic, they decided that it was in THEIR best interest to have BB sustain an "injury" and retire him. He would've been healed by the end of Nov and could have faced Curlin at Churchill Downs.

As for Casino Drive, I never believed he was good enough to be in the BC Classic, or any BC race. He only won the Peter Pan back in May and then BARELY won an allowance race. He has never been good enough and now it is time for him to GO AWAY and go back to Japan. Come back after he's actually won something worth mentioning.

As for Curlin, I was concerned about the BC Classic having been his third race in 8 weeks (Woodward, JCGC, and the BC Classic). He also has shown that he does not run well on any surface other than dirt. If the race would've been on traditional dirt, like I still believe it should have been, he would have won. He is unstoppable on traditional dirt. I don't believe we've seen the last of Curlin, from what I've read, Jess isn't seriously considering any stud options for him yet. Unless he improves over synthetic though, I don't think we'll see him at the Breeders Cup next year. I think he's going to go to Hong Kong for December and then come back, rest and have his 5 year old campaign before going to stud. I wish Jackson would take him to Dubai again, I honestly believe with a good rest, he could win the World Cup a second time.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

MikeM — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:22:07 GMT

LPD Agree with you on every point.I too feel that RA moved too soon.Just listen to Dettoris' post race interview in which he said following Curlin was half the battle.I know Curlin is a great horse but just exactly how far does Robby expect him to sustain his move? In Turf racing stratagy play a more important role.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Karen in Texas — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:57:31 GMT

Nick Zito had the right idea and stayed with it--something about dirt being made by God and therefore remains his surface of choice...Jess Jackson knew the surface could be a problem and tried anyway after being goaded into it by the BB group. After seeing yesterday's results, honestly, how could an American trainer of a good to great dirt horse send that horse to the BC at Santa Anita next year?? Should we just rename it The Euro Cup at Santa Anita?

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

MikeM — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:33:23 GMT

So much for Japanese training method's. Did the whole country of Japan bet on Casino Drive? How else can you explain his odds.Just another horse from the "stellar" 3yo crop. Not saying it would have made a difference but I think R A moved too soon. I mean how far do you want Curlin to sustain that move?

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

BIGHORSEFAN — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:03:48 GMT

Curlin Fan, no true racing fan is thrilled when any horse goes away, no not even Big Brown, we liked the horse but not the connections and I thought Casino Drive's connections were fine. They took their shot, the very inexperienced colt gave it his best shot. He did win the Peter Pan G11, and they let him in, Fairbanks also got in as a G11 Hawthorne Gold Cup winner. That's what racing is all about, taking a shot at the big race if you qualify for it and put up your money. People were questioning why a miler would enter the classic, seems like Ravens Pass did okay for a miler that many didn't think belonged in the Classic.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

BIGHORSEFAN — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:53:48 GMT

Yes Draynay she has won on the dirt, at Oaklawn in the GRADE 1

Apple Blossom, against a STELLAR field, including Ginger Punch. She's won on 3 different synthetics and as so many say and said again this weekend synthetics are closer to turf than they are dirt.Guess the Euro's proved that.

DelMar is a tough track for any horse to win on, it definitely plays like a soft turf when it's damp. She runs against top competition in top races and blows them away, no made up races for her. Luckily for all of us you don't have a vote.

Tell us just who Big Brown beat in his last 3 races? Oh right he beat Shakis, ummm I think he finished dead last in the turf mile,yep.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Frankie S — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:52:59 GMT

Draynay/// Did you ever hear of the Apple Blossem at Oaklawn on the dirt.So much for your voting for HOY.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

MikeM — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:41:06 GMT

Where did Shakis finish in the Mile.They sent out a search party to find him.The same horse that almost beat BB in that imitation stake at Monmouth finished last. Oh yeah BB connections said that BB was better on turf than dirt.

Curlin got beat by 2 3/4 lengths on a surface that he obviously did not relish.The winner one of the top turf horses in the world set a course record.It's no coincidence the top two finishers were Euros. Curlin is the TOP dirt horse in the world. There can be no dispute.

If Curlin races as a 5 yo he should go back to Dubai and challange the top Euros to runagainst him. I have a feeling they won't show up.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

sophiekea — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:08:04 GMT

What a great day of racing for turf horses. Anybody who thinks its cool to have dirt horses run on the synthetics to prove they are good or bad is an idiot. Its a totally unfair Breeders Cup at Santa Anita and if next year I have a horse that makes it I wont send it to the Cup. Curlin is the best horse and was humiliated by turf champions in the Classic. If Im a platform diver are you going to tell me I have to do the springboard to win a world championship? Or a beach volleyballer play on a court in the Olympics? Come on, its totally ridiculous what they did and nobody can tell me otherwise. Its a slap in the face to fans and owners of race horses. I guess if I want a horse to win the Breeders Cup I better buy a two year old with turf pedigree next year. But I wont because I want a Derby horse!!! BC 2008/2009 Hoax!!

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

LDP — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:57:16 GMT

Dranay

I will make this plain and clear,GO AWAY!!! BB has no chance at horse of the year why, o because he finished dead last in the belmont, when finally taken off his little pain killers, then ran against mediocer fields after. Lastly, after all the connections talk about they were going to go to the classic and kick everyones butt, they ducked out cause of a cut. Also, don't tell me he wasn't sound enough when Dear old Mike Ivarone came on and said the horse was sound.

O about your Zenyatta question, yes she did win on dirt, remember in the apple blossom, aginst who, GINGER PUNCH!! That would be 07's eclipse award winning female older horse if you forgot. Lasty I forgot to mention the horse i do best with, Curlin. It was the surface, and some ways i think the jockey. RA rode the race like a dirt race, and that obviously didn't work. He should've ridden it like he was in a turf race where you wait and wait, and then that move Curlin used on the corner, would've blasted him past RP, tiago, and Henry. He also shoul've been the one trying to find a horse to follow, sort of like last year when he followe SS and blew past him to a 4 length win. Curlin is the best horse on dirt, and if you cut out his losses on surfaces that he had never run on, he has and unbeaten season on dirt, O that would mean his Classic and his Man o War. Curlin needs more repect than most give him, i would bet any of you if he had both his classics on dirt, like Tiznow, he would have his back to back Classics, like Tiznow. So in my oppinion it's Zenyatta or Curlin for HOY, curlin would get my vote, though Zenyatta will most likely get it.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Curlin Fan — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 03:52:14 GMT

I was watching the BC when Ivarone came on to talk about the death threat he received before the Belmont and couldn't help but notice he let one VERY important thing slip when discussing Big Brown! He said "the horse is sound" when talking about his retirement. Funny, if BB had that injury, would you call him "sound"???? That makes me believe even more that BB was not hurt, at least not as seriously as they said he was, and that they just did not want to run BB in the BC Classic!

I am thrilled that Midnite Lute won, I've been a fan of his all along! He was SPECTACULAR!!! I am also VERY thrilled that Casino Drive came in DEAD LAST, since I never thought he had any business running in the BC Classic, since he really hadn't won anything to deserve it. Maybe now he'll go back to Japan and we'll never hear his name again.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Draynay — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:40:47 GMT

Zenyatta horse of the year ? Why because she is a poly specialist ? Has she won on dirt or turf ? Or do we now give horse of the year to poly specialist ? Big Brown is horse of the year. And for the last time Curlin got beat by 2 better horses. The track didn't beat him a record performance beat him get over it.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Dreamer's Mom — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:26:07 GMT

Risking a tongue lashing from you all, but I thought it was a wonderful day of racing! Curlin got beat, but ran a beautiful race-just got beat.

Could not be happier for Migs! Talk about the good guys getting one! Wow! The joy on his face was priceless!

Happy day all around. No one got hurt and a couple of longshots hit-Merry Christmas!

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

BIGHORSEFAN — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:33:19 GMT

Jason, I know Jordy told you we came up with a new betting methodology, worked pretty well but Conduit got us. We had Baffert's two cause he's a UA grad (majored in party animal 101 I think) so we had Midshipman and of course Midnight Lute for Coach O. missed the pick 6 but did okay. Curlin looked just like he did on the Turf. Someone on one of these asked why everyone was saying the Euro's are coming, well now we know why. This track definitely seemed to favor the Euro's. So, look forward to that next year too. Then back to the norm if CD keeps the dirt. So does that mean that the first lady Zenyatta gets your vote for HOY???? She deserves it, SHE is the ruler of all.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

JordanA — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:05:34 GMT

And of course we always bet on Mikey. got the tri, Brad is feeling better, course could be the beverages. Heck we're not even in our box anymore.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

JordanA — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:01:25 GMT

On the Iphone, we've been enjoying the beverages, unusual for us. We decided to got with the Euros. Ravens Pass, Henry and the Duke, the track is 147 degrees.

Wooohoo just got our two Euoros in. Not sure where the Duke ended up.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

MARC HALLAS — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:41:43 GMT

I am with u Jason,I think Mark Casse is an awesome trainer,I have made quite a few scores with his horses shipping in from Canada over the years,I like Skipadate alot today my self

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

JordanA — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:07:22 GMT

We now have a new betting method. My buddy is betting on anything that reminds him of UA, he had Desert Code since Tucson is in the desert. Then Diabolical since he thinks the whole retirement of the coach is just that. I guess we have him going with Well Armed and Surf Cat (he's a surfer).Fatal Bullet and Midnight Lute, not sure what that means but I'm seeing a pattern here involving weapons.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

MARC HALLAS — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:32:49 GMT

I THINK FATAL BULLET WILL SHOW HOW FAST HE REALLY IS TODAY,TAKE A SHOT WITH STUDENT COUNCIL IN THE EXOTICS

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

citicivil — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:52:38 GMT

GO CURLIN

Soldier Of Fortune

Midnight Lute

Bittel Road

Midshipman

Pyro

Zappa

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

JordanA — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:01:16 GMT

Jturf Westphalia

Sprint First Defence, Fab Strike

Must go with Midnight Lute for my buddy Brad, he's crushed about Lute Olson leaving his AM.

Soldier of Fortune Turf

Classic?? Duke

Sort of blah in our bunch, yesterday was like a funeral even though we did okay, betting wise, with Zenyatta and ZJ (Stardom Bound) winning it was fairly chalky.

I have other picks, supposed to be warm today, everybody is screaming Curlin, but if it gets hot on the track, nahh. Let's say The Duke, like Aidan and don't really know where else to go.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

rowner — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:41:15 GMT

I like delightful kiss too. Sprint Fabulous Strike looks good but curious about Fatal Bullet. Any one have any ideas?

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

rowner — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:35:40 GMT

Classic Curlins race to lose. I likeTiago in a upset but not going to ignore euro's Ravens Pass and The Duke. Go Between also looks worth a bet because of his synthetic form.

re: Saturday Picks, Part 2

Pony — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:47:55 GMT

If Curlin's close to the pace then he'll win. Otherwise, I see Go Between or a Euro taking the Classic.