Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

AfleetAlexForever — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:21:08 GMT

Twirling Candy is likely for the BC Mile. The sprint like 5f work would indicate that.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Bigtex — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:34:08 GMT

I think John Sadler has to love the attention Twirling Candy's NOT getting. Twirling Candy is the other freak athlete in the Classic and when he runs professionally, relaxed, he won't be out of the money and he has the talent to win. The mile 1/4 won't be an issue for him.

I love Uncle Mo and hope for his victory and agree that he wasn't really all that pressed in the Kelso. He looked really relaxed and when he's feeling right, I can tell he has a competitive mean streak in him and he will fight the fight if he has too. He believes he's the best horse on the track.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Linda in Texas — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:08:45 GMT

Alex'sBigfFan, agree so much with your 10/6/11 8:09 PM post.

It really conflicts my ability to understand folks who diss someone because they are outspoken in their love of their horses. And if they happen to have an extra buck in the bank they are chastised, if they have been successful in a business they are raked over the coals. It really gets under my skin. How in the world do those who think that way think the owners of horses got their money so they can provide the race horses for them to bet on.

I get irked to hear from folks who knock the owners in the dirt while betting either for their horses or betting against them and making money from it. You can make as much money betting against a horse as you can betting for it. Whether you bet against one and for another, you are making money. Get over the hit mentality. It is most unbecoming.

And i guess welcome back KY VET, could you lighten up on calling those of us who happen to enjoy Steve's articles YOU PEOPLE. How about using the word "friends" because we all are no matter if we have differing viewpoints. It takes all kinds KY VET and i never stop learning from anyone.

Thanks Steve. Have a nice Columbus Day. I wish i could be in Philadelphia this week end as I have been there in the past and had a great time. Not a lot of celebrating in my one horse town.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

KY VET — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 02:23:44 GMT

Diego....you are one of the few on here that i can tell knows this game a little. Let me tell you, i love UNCLE MO! One of my biggest skills, is knowing what a great horse looks like...I also make a living betting on horses. I like you, USED to think that way..(oh the jockey wasnt whipping hard!) the horse wasnt all out. Mo ran a 118....look, i am not saying mo will lose...What i am saying, is as a professional horseplayer,i cannot bet on him....why? because running that fast is a mistake...it is not how you want him to come into this race....TRUST ME! johnny v should have gone just fast enough to win......I will be cheering for my fav horse uncle mo........

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

dryice55 — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:44:16 GMT

Diego Conde- I agree with your point. Before the kelso, when Mo worked a :46 half mile, people were saying that he worked too fast and it would take too much out of him, Obviously he came back in the Kelso and ran huge. Mike and Todd always say that this colt can do very fast things very easily, so I think this colt is just that good, that he can run super fast times without excessive exertion.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Diego Conde — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 02:10:19 GMT

KY: I agree with the theory but disagree with the example. I invite you to watch the replay of the Kelso. It's my opinion that Mo wasn't used as much as you think. The first 5F were ran in breeze-like fashion. Johnny V was still as a statute. He did move the horse for 2F while threatened by Jackson Bend, but only a couple of under-arm flicks of the whip. Johnny stop moving with approximately a hundred meters to go and stood in the irons before the race was over.

The time was rocket fast, but after watching the replay, I just think he's that good.

If, however the horse was stimulated for more than half the trip, and did run at 100% I have to agree with you. I just think he has 5th gear left in reserve for the Classic.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Alex'sBigFan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:18:44 GMT

"Ooooh, the long pastern bone's connected to the cannon bone, the cannon bone's connected to the splint bone, the splint bone's connected to the carpal bones. Ooooh, dem bones, dem bones, dem bones!!!" Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee.

(Just studying my equine anatomy to prepare for the industry scorn years in advance of ownership since I am not a horsewoman)!

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Michigan Vet — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:56:52 GMT

KY VET, I believe I speak for the community when I ask you to turn off your Caps Lock button. This is akin to screaming on the Internet, and is considered rude. You'll notice nobody else here does it. Your comments are interesting, but agonizingly difficult to read. Thanks!

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

KY VET — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:14:11 GMT

AS STATED ABOVE...YOU DONT WANT A HORSE TO RUN TOO GOOD IN HIS PREP..UNCLE MO IS A GREAT HORSE. I HOPE HE WINS....BUT THIS IS BIG MISTAKE...AND THE ONE PERSON TO BLAME IS THE JOCKEY JOHNNY V! HE SIMPLY LET HIM RUN TOO FAST. I'M NOT SAYING MO WILL LOSE. I'M SAYING IF HE DOES, THE BLAME LAYS IN THE LAP OF JOHNNY V...NOW, ALOT OF FACTORS MAY HAVE LED TO THIS MISTAKE...HUMAN NATURE.THE FACT THAT (THEY/HE) WANT TO PROVE THE MANY DOUBTERS , THE FREAK THEY KNOW HE IS...ALSO THE BIG MOVE BY JACKSON BEND MAN JOHNNY V SAY "OH YEA? WATCH THIS!" HUMAN NATURE BABY....WHAT THE HORSE NEEDED, WAS A "PAT DAY" RIDE...JUST GO AS FAST AS YOU HAVE TO...THE CONNECTIONS OF THE FILLY DID IT RIGHT, GAVE HE THE "PAID" WORKOUT..RUNNING FAST ISNT WHAT YOU WANT!!!UNCLE MOE'S CAMP DID EVERYTHING PERFECT. IT TOOK A MISTAKE OF THE JOCKEY....TO MABYE COST THEM THE CLASSIC.....EVEN IF MO WINS, IT WAS A MISTAKE....YOU DONT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.....

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

KY VET — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:59:04 GMT

SOMETIMES YOU DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, TRAIN A HORSE PERFECTLY...HAVE THE HORSE ON TOP OF THEIR GAME..PREPARE THEM TO RUN, AND SOMETHING HAPPENS. A HORSE GRABS A QUARTER, GETS BUMPED, OR AN EXCERCISE RIDER LETS A HORSE RUN TOO FAST IN A WORKOUT...THERE ARE MANY REASONS YOU DONT WANT A HORSE TO GO TOO FAST...IF A 5 FURLONG WORKOUT IN 59 IS TOO FAST, IMAGINE WHAT A 118 BEYER DOES TO A HORSE! IN MANY WAYS...STRESS ON BONES , SOFT TISSUE, LACTIC ACID...YOU WANT A HORSE TO SLOWLY GET FASTER! NOT FIRE IN HIS PREP!

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Alex'sBigFan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:09:32 GMT

I don't think it is written in stone anywhere that an owner must be a tried and true horseman himself or herself. For an industry to look down upon or disrespect any owner for that reason alone seems ludicrous. If there is mismanagement or mistreatment of thoroughbreds going on then that is a different case but how many owners today are old time horsemen? And Mike Repole is just like most of us, a fan first, who achieved his lifelong dream of thoroughbred ownership. He has the right passion for the sport and foots the bill for those that do the training and veterinary caregiving and oversees that his beloved horses are taken care of. He even stated he cares about their health over his own and I believe him because I would be the same way. Mike doesn't have to be a horseman, shades of Steve's article "Leave Training To The Trainers" comes to mind. Does he have to surround himself with those that are accomplished horsemen, yes, and I think he has done that to perfection with Todd Pletcher. Even as we blog, he is securing Mo's future beyond the BC Classic. And aren't we as fans encouraging this new breed of owner like Bobby Flay, Mike Repole, Mike Iavaronne, and Toby Keith? The industry needs this type of younger owner as well as the horsemen type owners. Just because one has not grown up and spent a lifetime around horses and cannot spout out what bone is connected to the cannon bone, doesn't diminish their quality of ownership to any degree or lessen the amount of love for the thoroughbred there is in their heart. And we live in the day when the Racing Manger has entered the picture for the owner so there should be enough hands-on people in the entourage.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

darkhors — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 23:48:05 GMT

Hi Steve,

A little off-topic, but I am wondering about something and you are the one person I can think of who might have both knowledge of and interest in this.

Reading the tributes to Steve Jobs last night, I was struck by the advice he gave in his 2005 commencement address at Stanford. He admonished the graduates to "stay hungry, stay foolish." I am curious if this advice might have been the seed for Stay Thirsty's name. Do you know?

I've really enjoyed your recent blogs, by the way.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Freetex — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:08:35 GMT

Karen in Indiana, great observation regarding Scooter Dickey and Flat Out. I guess I'm on his band wagon too.

Still Love the grit of Uncle Mo, Havre De Grace and Giant Ryan. I hope Zazu wins the Ladies' Classic, its my affinity for the Z girls.

Steve you sure illicit some great views from your most reliable bloggers like the Karens, Dr. Drunkinbum, The Deacon and Raguzulin (?).

On an aside, I just read Steve's book about John Henry again, just because, and then realized that October 7th is the anniversary of his passing. I will be thinking of him once again tomorrow. I've watched practically every video about JH on You Tube. I also visited with him a few times at the Kentucky Horse Park even though he ignored me completely. What a horse!!

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

KY VET — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:33:43 GMT

WOW. GOOD POST BY DIEGO...WHY DO I KEEP HEARING MO IS GOING TO THE LEAD? HE IS NOT..WHY WOULD HE? WHERE DO YOU PEOPLE GET THAT IDEA? HAS ANYBODY SEEN HIM RUN?...HE IS JUST A GREAT HORSE! HE HAS SPEED! BUT HAS HE EVER BEEN RANK? NO! WHAT MAKES HIM GREAT IS HIS LONG LONG STRIDE...SMALL HORSE WITH GIANT STRIDE! COUNT HIS STRIDES FROM A POINT IN A RACE, THEN COMPARE HIM WITH ANOTHER...YOULL SEE WHY HE IS A FREAK..ANYONE EVER HEAR HOW SMART MO IS? PLETCHER RAVES ABOUT IT...SMART MEANS NOT SPEED CRAZY, RELAXED....UNCLE MO WILL NOT BE ON THE LEAD, WHY WOULD THEY? COME ON PEOPLE, LEARN......

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

NASCAR PRO — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:08:51 GMT

Repole just hedged his bets on UM running in the Classic with his deal for breeding rights he made with Ashford.Do you think this was spur of the moment this has been planned for months.I give him credit for being a great businessman,lets see how good his trainer instincts are with preping at a mile in NY for a mile and a quarter race.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Karen in Texas — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:06:52 GMT

Alex'sBF---Try this link/page. Go to the "how Timeform handicaps" heading. Also, check the date on the Uncle Mo 3-yr-old ranking.

www.timeform.com/display_articles.asp

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

It aint easy being good! — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:56:25 GMT

I agree that uncle mo will not bounce what will do uncle mo in will be game on dude. Game on dude will gun for the lead and with experience being and older horse and have already carried a distance at 1/1/8th mile. Game on Dude is going to wear out uncle mo if you guys dont think so go back and look at the splits in GOD's last race. .....bye bye MO!

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Smoking Baby — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:09:46 GMT

Diego Conde. I'm with you. Giant Oak? Please. All my doubts about Uncle Mo aside. You really have to admit in and of itself that was ONE NICE race he ran the other day against some good horses. There's no getting around the fact that this colt has some serious serious talent.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

TerriZ — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:36:08 GMT

Thanks for your wonderful stories about the trials and trevails of the top three competetors and their connections in the Claassic.

I love how Larry Jones personally

vans and gallops Harve de Grace.

I wonder if anyone has contacted Mr. William Warren the owner of her sire, Saint Liam. After his untimely death, he tried to purchase as many of his progeny as he could. He stated that they all resembled Saint Liam.

It should be some Breeders Cup Classic this year.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Bill Two — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:30:34 GMT

Who has a point there; owners that think they know better than their trainers are in for a rough time. Reminds me of George Steinbrenner before he got smart or Peter Angelos of the Orioles. If you have a good trainer leave him alone to make the decisions regarding where or when a horse will race.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Diego Conde — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:39:24 GMT

My Friend plodderman: Even when the Timely was a one-turn mile the horse relaxed beautifully and sprinted in the stretch. My point being, he's not a head strong, ranked horse that needs the lead and can be "distracted" by a hot pace. The 1:33.4 he posted Saturday was far superior to the time both Grace and Flat Out ran. Provided he is not a one turn horse, which in my opinion he proved in the BC Juv last year and the Wood Memorial (by closing in a decent :12 and change while sick and after grabbing a quarter at the start) he should handle them both...(I'd add, "with relative ease", but a win is a win). In a month we'll see and we shall talk again. Until then...

P.S Zenyatta may have lost to Blame (by a whisker), but she still beat (and was pulling away from) a field of very decent horses including two time CHAMPION Looking At Lucky.

P.S.S Giant Oak? Really? Are you part of his connections or something? I just can't see it? Giant Oak? Was that a typo?

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

The Deacon — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:54:13 GMT

Sabrina: No offense but good horses don't normally bounce after 1 race, especially after a healthy layoff. He may not win, but he won't bounce, trust me on that.

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

KY VET — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:26:06 GMT

AS I STATED ABOVE, UNCLE MO IS THE BEST HORSE...HE HAS RUN THE FASTEST. END OF STORY! NOW, DOES THAT TELL US HE IS A GREAT BET IN THE CLASSIC? IN A WORD....NO!!! YES HE IS THE BEST HORSE IN THE RACE..BUT WHY THEN IS HE NOT A GREAT BET? HE WAS ON A LAYOFF DUE TO ILLNESS, RAN GOOD 1ST RACE BACK, THEN FREAKED 2ND START BACK....THIS IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN...HE MAY BE KNOCKED OUT...GREAT RACES PUT ALOT OF STRAIN ON A HORSE....FOR THIS REASON, AND THE FACT THAT THE FILLY AND FLAT OUT ARE COMING INTO THE RACE GREAT, I WILL NOT CHOOSE TO BET MY FAVORITE HORSE..UNCLE MO...FUNNY THING IS, IF MO LOSES, THE IGNORANT WILL PULL THE DISTANCE BREEDING CARD OUT.....WHY ARE THOSE OTHER 2 COMING UP TO THE RACE GREAT? THEY ARE COMING OFF RACES THAT SHOULDNT KNOCK THEM OUT!...NO RACE THAT IS TOO GOOD..JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL..NOTHING TO THROW THEIR SYSTEM OT OF WACK...SOMETIMES SLOWER IS BETTER! THATS WHY I KILL THIS GAME!

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

KY VET — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:07:21 GMT

WHY DO I, AS A PROFESSIONAL HORSEPLAYER, MAKE SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS GAME? I UNDERSTAND THE SPORT! I KNOW THE HORSE, I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE....PAY ATTN.AND LEARN SOMETHING. YOU PEOPLE ARE MISSING THE WINNING FORMULA! MOST OF YOU ARE GOING ON THE WRONG THINGS! ITS NOT HARD TO FIND THE "BEST" HORSE...ITS UNCLE MO....IN THE CLASSIC..YOU DISTANCE, AND BREEDING PEOPLE..ARE IGNORANT..IT IS BAD SCIENCE...YOU ARE DEALING WITH SUCH LOW NUMBERS..IT TAKES 1 HORSE, TO CHANGE THE BREEDING NUMBERS....HOW MANY GRADE 1S ARE AT A MILE1/4 OR MILE/1/2? HARDLY ANY!!!! DID SECRETARIAT HAVE GREAT DISTANCE BREEDING? SEATTLE SLEW? ANY HORSE? OR DO THEY NOW HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY WON? IF MO WINS, RUNS NEXT YEAR, THEN INDIAN CHARLY HAS GREAT DISTANCE BREEDING...IT IS A JOKE! YOU ALL DONT REALLY KNOW HOW LITTLE IT TAKES TO CHANGE BREEDING...ALLS YOU PEOPLE NEED IS COMMON SENSE...TRUTH IS, IT IS WHO IS BEST ON THAT DAY..THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT...RACING HURTS HORSES! THEY DONT RUN THE SAME EVERY TIME!A HORSE LOSES, AND SOME PEOPLE SAY IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE, OR JOCKEY, OR SOME STUPID REASON....WHEN MOST OF THE TIME IT IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. LIKE THE HORSE WAS TIRED, OR HAS A PROBLEM...TO THE POINT..US PROFESSIONALS USE THE PAST TO PREDICT THE FUTURE! EACH RACE DOES SOMETHING TO THE HORSE!! SOME GET SHARPER, SOME REGRESS!

re: Countdown to the Cup: A Classic Pick 3

Ranagulzion — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:05:10 GMT

Steve,

You've stirred up a lot of love for Flat Out but Tizway is still the horse they'll all have to beat in the Breeder's Cup Classic. Uncle Mo and Havre de Grace are the main dangers. I also think that Twirling Candy is coming under the radar to run big. If there is to be an upset he is certainly capable as a very talented colt that is still maturing but whom many observers might have given up on.