Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Oldie — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:46:09 GMT

Lmaris I must say your comment on a very well written piece was completely uncalled for. Every horse pointing to the Derby has a story, and in this case the trainer also has one - and one that needs to be told over and over again. What possesses you to take issue with such a nice piece of writing about not only a horse with Derby hopes, but a trainer whose live was saved by organ donation? Seriously, I would love to know, because it just seems so ill-tempered to me.

Frankly I'm tickled to read the story, this is a horse maturing before our eyes whose stride consumes ground in a natural and exciting way. I hope for the best for him and his people!

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Mike in SB — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:04:13 GMT

I have noticed several people saying that Todd Pletcher wants to give Uncle Mo a light schedule so he will be fresh for the Triple Crown. I believe this is the opposite of what he should be doing. All three Triple Crown winners from the 70's started their 3 year old campaigns in March and had at least 3 starts, with the last one coming two weeks before the Derby. They were fit and ready for three tough races in five weeks. I can't see Uncle Mo being ready for the Triple Crown the way he is being trained.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

old timer — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:30:48 GMT

This is off the derby subject, Steve. There was alot of talk last year about how "racing" did essentially nothing to publicize or hype Zen in order to bring in new fans. Same story re Rachel in 09. I have an idea for NTRA, or whomever: Fan tours to Kentucky next spring to visit the 2 queens and their babies, as well as horse park and maybe Sires as well. Aimed at fans who don't or can't travel around the country to see their favorites. Some of use can't afford it, unless they race close to us. I saw Rachel at Saratoga, but never Zen. I have several friends just in my small rural area who would be thrilled to sign up if it were not mega money.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Steve Haskin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:39:17 GMT

Cuban, let me try this one more time. You can send as many comments as you wish, but put them all together in one or two posts at a time and not 8 or 9 separate ones simultaneously. The moderators have to read each one and post each one. If you cant understand that and do not wish to post here anymore that is up to you.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Matthew W — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:54:59 GMT

If I had Premier Pegasus, I would not trade horses with anybody right now.....

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

cuban chef de race — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:10:16 GMT

my friend haskin,if you think i am confusing your blogers is up to you,when i do comment something about the derby is to share my experience about the race so that the blogger can respond with their opinion and that way we can help each other to find good information that can benefit all of us,i am not a cocky blogger but i said premier pegasus was the horse to benefit most from the San vicente losers and he did,i said that Sway away had a good chance to loose after the San Vicente because he was hard redden in that race and he lost,and that he closed the race in 12 1/5 and the factor closed in 13 0/0 flat and that may be the factor was better then the San Vicente and he was,i don't see any bad blood from any of your bloggers for my participation here but you,i hope to win even if i do not comment any more brother.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Steve Haskin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:58:19 GMT

Cuban chef de race, please rein yourself in. If you have 15 thoughts at one time, kindly put them in one comment and not 15 separate ones. Moderators or myself have to read each one and post each one, which is a hassle. One comment, please.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Tim — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:02:17 GMT

You're right on the money foxhillfan. Todd's making sure Uncle Mo has plenty in the tank for the Triple Crown. Todd and Mike know that Uncle Mo is heads and shoulders above the rest of this crop. Just look at Smarty Jones, if he didn't have 4 preps he may have won the Triple Crown. Actually I know he would have. There was no reason to run him in the Count Fleet.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

cuban chef de race — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:08:49 GMT

i don't think brethren is ready for the derby but he can run fractions of 44 4/5 and 1:08 4/5 like he did in his Belmont debut and may push the factor farther then people think his workout pattern has been breezy all the time at palm meadows if you see them change to handily you may see a tester for the factor even when we hope he will loose.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Robbie joe — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:02:20 GMT

First of all, I want to thank for all the information you give me each week.From the old stories to the derby dozen. Don't always agree with the order of your list but i am not gonna bash you for it I cannot believe the nerve of some on here. I bet there are days when you want to just take your ball and go home. Thanks again for all the info and goodluck on the road to louisville.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

cuban chef de race — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:00:36 GMT

this is the country of heroes, what you do last time out is the rule to be fame i need to pick the derby winner not the rebel or fountain of youth winner get off from that cloud to pick the winner you most be really a smart and lucky player,if you think they want to put money in your bank account when the derby is 6 weeks away yet i wish you luck my friend,i know how to find value even on may 7.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

cuban chef de race — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:34:38 GMT

it is not the same to pass stamina from the dam side like urban sea did to 12 furlongs galloping runners on turf then to 10 furlongs dirt runners that need to spend more energy in the early part of a race,the pace factor in 12 furlong races in Europe is totally independent then a 10 furlong factor on dirt in America,how many European turf runners have won the Kentucky derby? not many even want to try,so miswaki been out of a buckpasser mare is a plus but many contenders have buckpasser and princequillo in their bloodlines in this derby,so pedigree is very important to win the derby but it is not all you need to win.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Marianna Haun — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:16:57 GMT

The Factor has plenty of heart. He is expressing the heart of his broodmare sire, Miswaki, who passes the Princequillo heart, the same large heartline as Secretariat. Add that heart to his speed elements and the Kentucky Derby is right down his alley. A couple of other horses expressing the Miswaki heart were his other maternal grandsons, Sea the Stars and Galileo. They inherited it from their dam, Urban Sea by Miswaki. All of those horses went on the win Group 1 races when they won the Arc in France. I like his speed elements and I love his X Factor elements. Marianna Haun

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

GoldenBroom — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:00:04 GMT

foxhillfan: thanks for pointing out what is really at the base of much of our scrutiny and (highly criticized premature hopes when comparing young horses to the "greats")...I think people are tired of trying to pick the Derby winner as a stand alone single race winner only to see him derailed by a long shot in the mud or come up lame or just miss in one of the 3 races. It's a triple crown we want. And to hope and pull for a youngster to be the next super horse - well it's natural (not realistic) because seeing so many promising horses and smart, successful trainers fail at the task, it truly seems as if a horse with an S on it's breast and a red cape will be needed to break the longest drought in it's history.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

foxhillfan — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:17:29 GMT

I believe Pletcher wants to push Uncle Mo only as much as necessary to get him ready for the Derby. I feel he believes Mo is a Triple Crown threat. With this strategy if Mo should win the Derby he will have a better chance of lasting all three races. In other words he is not getting Mo ready for the Derby but for the Triple Crown. The only problem with this is it makes winning the first jewel a little more difficult Maybe Pletcher just really believes in this colt's abiity.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Mike Relva — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:32:01 GMT

LMARIS

Talk about "splitting hairs". Are you serious?

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

RiverCitySmitty — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:32:56 GMT

Thanks for giving a little ink to Willcox Inn. He closed well under Napravnik in the Grindstone which had an extremely slow pace. Hopefully he'll do well in the Blue Grass where he's being pointed and have sufficient earnings to make his dirt debut @ CD. Rosie riding for the Roses would make for a nice story.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Zenyatta John — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:28:46 GMT

Thanks Zarvona for the update -

copying and pasting explains it all.

Lou Brissie just worked out again yesterday - check our Brisnet - Handicapper's Edge, I read it just to keep up with workouts.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Point Given — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:25:23 GMT

If the Connections of The Factor decided to run him in the KD, they can assure themselves that none of those in the field has ever ran in the 1 1/4 mile race yet.The only thing TF must do is keep on"WINNING" and I "CAN'T WAIT" to watch him running in KD and in the end,TF will cook them with his brilliant speed and those at his rear end can only smell TF's cooking.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Steve Haskin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:52:12 GMT

I thought Comma to the Top ran a terrific race and should run another big one in the SA Derby. My main concern with him is the 1 1/4 miles. There's not a lot of stamina in his pedigree. But I really impressed with the way he hung in there in the San Felipe.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

JCLA — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:47:45 GMT

Don't sleep on Animal Kingdom. He broke his maiden going a mile and an eigth last fall at Keeneland, and should really relish the classic distances. Leroidsanimaux horses have shown an affinity for turf, but I expect him to give a good account of himself in the Spiral this saturday

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Steve Haskin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:44:21 GMT

Rondo, I did ask Shug about Break up the Game and he's very high on him. Called him the complete package. But he's not going to rush him. He is looking to the summer and Travers, but he'll run in some big races before then.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

Rondo — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:08:41 GMT

Hi Steve -- Thanks for the article. In the course of your interview with McGaughey, did he happen to let on what he thinks of Break Up the Game (not as a Derby contender, of course, but just in terms of potential)? Also, do you have any sense of whether Al Stall's Sour will be given a chance to make the Derby (I realize he doesn't appear fast enough at this point, but I love the pedigree). Thanks!

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

El Kabong — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:38:27 GMT

Steve,

Thanks for the update on Santiva.

I read that Kiaran is pleased with the "take dirt" training he gave Soldat in his recent work. Sounds like they are on board with your advice about taking him back for the FD. Soldat is just a smart horse and I think he will do what he thinks is best to win. From the company I see lining up, there just doesn't seem to be a strong pace horse showing up. Oh well, hope the training continues to progress. We'll just have to be patient and let Soldat run his race.

p.s. the negativity is out there, and it's not because of you. Keep up the grace under pressure, it's the only option, and as you know, it's nothing personal.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: Talking Points

cuban chef de race — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:34:53 GMT

do you want to see monsters on paper that were never seen at the derby last turn? holly bull a 115 beyer in florida derby and 113 beyer in the blue grass,unbridled song a 114 beyer in florida derby and 109 in the wood,hansel a track record in the former Jim bean 9 fur.in 1:46 3/5!! and then won the lexinton by 9!! and the list is long and sad, they also were compared to spectacular bid and they were not my friend,the speed is great when is allow to use properly and at the derby distance you better pray for it,i know what i mean do you?.