Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

jayjay — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 07:42:22 GMT

Hey Steve,

Now that most of the anticipated horses have ran, any update to this list ? Or is this a one time list. I'm interested in what you think about who has the "look" of a derby winner. Has this list changed at all ?

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Dave R. — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:17:56 GMT

Just saw that Cal Nation is entered at GP on Saturday in a two turn allowance with field of six.

Good to see him back in a race and fully expect a good perfromance possibly leading to a derby prep race. Hope he runs lights out. That is what it will take for his connections to put him on that course.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Trebloc — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:04:36 GMT

As of this morning Westpoint's website still has Runflatout being pointed to the SA Derby.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Tim — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:09:13 GMT

Mike I must have written at least 50 posts defending Zenyatta. Sh'e one of my all time favorites. Most of my posts were on Shandler's blog, especially when he predicted that Zenyatta would lose 3 times last year. You must remember how many times I told him he was right that RA would lose 3 times?

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

cuban chef de race — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:18:56 GMT

the reason i sense sway away is not going to win next time out is the huge effort he did after such a long lay off,other then to fallow uncle Mo's pattern going to the derby.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

cuban chef de race — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:47:45 GMT

then the factor was suppose to win the San felipe by 10?,wow now my handicapping is going to fly is california for real? or is the same track,i will solve the mystery soon don't worry.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

cuban chef de race — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:23:03 GMT

premier pegasus is a nice colt of course but the horses he did beat were mostly maiden and synthetic track horses the dirt Quality of the San felipe? he closed in 32 and won by almost 8!! not so fast secretariat take the cargo plane to the east.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

cuban chef de race — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:10:39 GMT

stay thirsty has the look of another Brethren winning a slow pace race after a lay off and bouncing like a pin-pom ball in the next race,give toby's corner a fast pace his sire won the wood memorial by 17! lengths wit a beyer of 120! wow ,pletcher's group is starting to lose ground my friends,be ready for more i lost my money men.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

opsherr — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:13:51 GMT

This comment is about a previous blog complimenting R. Dutrow as a good horseman. According to previous charges, fines and supsensions by various racetracks this trainer is not a good horseman but is detrimental to racing. While I admire your writing talent Mr. Haskin, your professional statement is sorely lacking in judgement.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Fran Loszynski — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:09:30 GMT

Zookeeper: Your racehorse runsflatout because you are on the rail cheering him on with your heart. It's a two-way street. You must be pretty special. Hope you're watching the Rebel; it's going to show alot of heart in Elite Alex and Calvin Borel.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Mike Relva — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:10:34 GMT

TIM

Where were you the past couple years when many were slamming Zenyatta and her connections when their format seems to have been similar to Uncle Mo's... saving him for the Derby.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Karen2 — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:54:29 GMT

I don't agree that Runsflatout just ran himself out of the derby picture. He clearly faded but what was with the suicidal pace? Had he settled in nicely off the pace I think he would have had a shot. He may have gotten just what he needed from that race. Loved Jaycito's late closing kick.....

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Billy's Empire — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:07:05 GMT

Tim, you are spot on with your post.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

ilwacocapper — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:02:00 GMT

looks like runsflatout just ran himself out of the derby pictues

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Zenyatta John — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:28:42 GMT

My point was the Runflatout is owned by a syndicate - West Point stable. Merely pointing out that Runflatout might have 30 or 40 owners , not just one who posts here. Not sour grapes , just reality.

Currently I have no owner interests, but have had pieces with Dogwood and Daddio stables.

I hardly degrade Zenyatta Dr Dumbbell, I just point out blatant stupidity as seen through the eyes of a 30 year horse player.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Forbidden Apple — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 04:44:50 GMT

Correction: Premier Pegasus sat 8 lengths off from a 44 2/5 half mile

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Tim — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 03:34:01 GMT

I just want to say a few things about all the negative comments made about Uncle Mo on a lot of the blogs on here. Lots of people are saying any horse could run their final 2 eighths in 11.1 and 11.3 after the slow early fractions that Uncle Mo set in the Timely Writer. Yes they could but Uncle Mo did it while under a hold the entire way while being let out just a notch in the stretch while most horses would be under a drive. Also the run up in one mile races at Gulfstream is only 5 feet as opposed to 45 feet for 6 furlongs and 80 feet for 9 furlongs,so a one mile race is almost timed like quarter horses. As far as the myth that Uncle Mo isn't bred for 2 turns he's inbred to the great Nearco and he looked great galloping out 9 furlongs in the Timely Writer in 1:49. I just don't understand how people can complain about waning interest in thoroughbred racing when they want to see their stars lose. An undefeated colt with speed to spare, who can rate off the pace, rate on the lead with a high cruising speed, come home in 22 and change while never asked for his best, and 3 gears we have yet to see is exactly what the sport needs. Best of all he hasn't missed a day of training so he seems to be pretty sound. One more thing I read on one blog where someone posted that Mike and Todd keep him at his home track. Uncle Mo has run 4 times at 4 different tracks in 3 states.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

El Kabong — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:49:31 GMT

Short Bus Driver,

You have another pick up on aisle jon.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

bellesforever — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:44:49 GMT

Thank you for mentioning Break Up The Game..I for one love Shug and would love to see him have a good one this year and have had BUTG in my stable.He does look like he would love more ground..

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Freetex — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:50:17 GMT

Zookeeper.

Watching Runflatout was breathtaking. What a horse! I am so glad he came out of such a grueling race in good measure.

I hope Always A Princess will make it through her surgery successfully.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Short bus Driver — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:51:18 GMT

OK now, am I the only one who thinks Jon is insane?

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

EdK — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:29:32 GMT

Since yesterday we've got a lot more information. Most unusual of all is Gourmet Dinner moving from his Gulfstream barn to Ocala - doesn't sound good. Next is the amazingly easy win by Uncle Mo - all within himself, though against a soft field - but he's still tops for me. Brethren beaten by two bottom feeding long shots - he got an easy lead but faded and looked tired - I can't be excited about a horse that stumbles with only a few bites at the apple in an abbreviated prep season. Lastly was Premier Pegasus who annihilated his competition in the San Felipe. With the Rebel, LaDerby, and a few other preps upcoming, horses will further shake out.

With you my top Derby horses now are Uncle Mo, Soldat, Mucho Macho Man, and Premier Pegasus.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Forbidden Apple — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:45:11 GMT

Jon,

What planet are you living on? Premier Pegasus ran on a DIRT track known as Santa Anita. It is a historic racetrack that deserves enormous respect. Lookin At Lucky was recently the 2 y.o champion in 2009 and the 3 y.o. champion of 2010 and he was a Cali horse. You must have gone to the same handicapping school as Draynay. Why do you disrespect and hate Cali horses?

Pluck was not nearly in peak form, it was a prep race for a more meaningful race in his future. His goal is the French Two Thousand Guineas, not an allowance race at Tampa.

As for Uncle Mo, what challenge did he turn away? The only speed in the race scratched out, leaving Mo with a huge advantage. The second place finisher had one career race at 6f before yesterday. Take a step back from your delusions and think about what you are saying. World records and breaking Secretariat's Belmont record are not in Mo's future. The horse got away with fractions of 25 2/5, 49 2/5, 1:13 2/5, 1:24 1/5, and 1:36 2/5. Of course he finished fast, but any horse could finish fast after running 1:13 3/5 for the first 6f. On your comment of no colt faster than Mo, I will only mention a few other 3 year old colts that are faster than him. The Factor, Premier Pegasus, Sway Away, and Flashpoint are the first four that quickly come to my mind. Premier Pegasus sat 2 lengths off from a 1:08 4/5 pace and then blew past the field going a mile in 1:34 2/5. I understand that this was Mo's first race back and yes he did gallop out well, but your comments are ridiculous. Yes, everyone that follows horse racing would love to see a Triple Crown winner. I just don't see how you come to this conclusion based on a paid public workout by Uncle Mo.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

JOE — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:40:16 GMT

jon.

It looked like yesterday on the 12th that Uncle Mo had all he could just to beat that field. First thing is all the other jockeys let that horse go to the top and set the pace. I was just waiting for one of the others to blow on by him but they just sat there and let him go. A mile and a quarter ( no way ) will Mo be at the finish. It really looks like Uncle Mo and Brethren really can not go a mile and a quarter at all.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

Karen in Texas — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:12:28 GMT

Aleine---The blog "Tracking Barbaro's Brothers", now moderated by Greg J., can help with any information you might need regarding Serano, Mr. Matz, or the other brothers.

jon---In your 12:32 P.M. post today, you say that since Premier Pegasus ran on polytrack it "doesn't count"...He ran on dirt yesterday at Santa Anita and he ran exceptionally well.