Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

plodderman — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:05:27 GMT

"I have seen a lot of 3 year old horses before the Derby and it has been a long time since I have seen a monster like Union Rags. He is a force of nature. I like Mark V. in the Louisiana and I expect a big upset in the Wood."

Every year the same thing..... You pick the biggest earner with the best beyer and ride him until he bucks you..... Which is always on Derby Day......LOOK!!!!! Here comes Mark V now. They sent the search crew out and they found him too......Yes, there will be an upset in the Wood. Alpha is most likely a little short and may get topped. As for the Derby, I'm giving huge odds that Alpha beats the Rag of a horse. Hansen too. Both GUARANTEED not to hit the superfecta. FOR THE RECORD. Union Rags couldn't go 1 1/4 miles on the firsr Saturday in may, unless he is vanned in from that distance on race day. Alpha. Handicapping lesson: $250/hr.... nay, $350. Should we go back in time to Uncle Schmoe. Who never beat anyone and still hasn't..... Thank God, people with this mentality help support my way of life.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Slew — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:07:54 GMT

Sorry, I just have a thing for Bernardini foals, and Alpha is last colt standing since the others were sidelined.

However, I do believe he's a Stay Thirsty type, who can stay all day, but may not break any track records. I just feel the competition is fierce this year, with a lot more speed than Alpha has....but it may be a grinder who surprises us all.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

bigred — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:07:05 GMT

Steve, Please do not discount prospective's tbderby win. Although he beat a relatively nondescript field his time was excellent. His 143 2/5 was the 2nd fastest in the history of the race only to Street Sense. And the way he battled and pulled away from golden ticket in th last 100 yds. stamps his class. Golden ticket also had the benefit of a once in a lifetime dream trip. Don't know if any malibu moons have made any noise in the derby but i can tell you he will be a nice overlay in the wood. If Javier Contreras decides to stay in the U.S. he will be a leading rider, no doubt!

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Firehorse21 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:45:28 GMT

Steve great article. Im kind of confused with what Alpha's connections are wanting for the horse. For me as a handicapper i see that their plans are not set and they seem not confident in their horse. Im mean whats the deal to me it seems like they think their horse cant handle it. I mean he hasnt faced very good fields yet and the Wood would be his biggest challenge yet. So im wondering is he as good as everyone thinks because his handlers cant make a decision.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Splits of 12 — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:32:26 GMT

First off, I'd like to say thanks Steve, for your entertaining insight into the Kentucky Derby trail. Alpha is one I've never considered as a serious contender. The reason being is I just never saw him as a threat to Union Rags. Even after the Juvenile loss to Hansen, the Rags has been and will always be my horse to not only win the Derby but the ever elusive Triple Crown, this season. Another horse who I am intrigued in is Steve Margolis', Cigar Street. By Street Sense out of a Deputy Minister Mare who's grand dam is Solar Slew, dam of the mighty Cigar. Hence the name Cigar Street. Any horse who breaks their maiden by 13 and 3/4 lengths merits consideration. I love the breeding, and even if he doesn't make the Derby he'll be running in some nice races later in the year. But my gut tells me this horse is going to explode on the scene, has the look of something special. We'll see.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Dr Drunkinbum — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:05:20 GMT

Get well soon Bob and make a full recovery !!!! I can't even imagine the game without Bob Baffert. Great personality and quite a horseman.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

duchess — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:47:39 GMT

I think what we are seeing with Hansen is a bit of a disagreement between owner and trainer. The owner wanted his colt to run at "home" in the Spiral while the trainer wanted to run him in a more prestigious race for a lot more money in the Wood Memorial. I think that the Bluegrass is a compromise between the two. Hansen will not be running at "home" but still an easy drive from home for family and friends of the owner - and in a grade I for more money and prestige than the Spiral.

I cannot blame the owner for wanting his colt to run close to home (it cannot be easy for a doctor or working people in general to drop everything to travel around to follow a horse) and I certainly cannot blame the trainer for wanting a bigger paycheck and a chance to advertise that he trained a multiple grade I winner.

My husband and I went to watch the Spiral on Saturday. I liked Went the Day Well. He looks like a very green colt who needs more races to really "get it" on the track, but I think he looks to be one who (if he stays sound) will have a pretty solid career. He might very well be too green for the Triple Crown races, but I will look for him to come along nicely in the summer. And if I bred horses, I would pay any amount of money for his dam - by Tiznow and tale female to the dam of Somethingroyal. If you look at his tail female line you will see solid classic Meadow Stud breeding with wonderful classy as anything mares bred to best available stallions from generation to generation.

We had never been to Turfway before. While it lacks the beauty and charm of Santa Anita or Keeneland (it is a functional track, sort of like the old DRC), the employees were very kind and helpful and friendly and when we got there the place was so clean you could almost eat off the floor (including the bathrooms). All in all it was a very positive experience (not to mention very affordable) and we will gladly go back for Spiral day next year if our work schedules allow it.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Pedigree Ann — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:58:10 GMT

I fear that Godolphin is too fixated on making Alpha an attractive stallion prospect to see what their 'strategy' is doing to his racing career. They are looking for the easiest highly graded race they can find, so that he will be a G1 (or G2) winner, no matter what happens thereafter. Yet another consequence of the breeding industry's deathgrip on racing.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Fran Loszynski — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:49:27 GMT

I think it will be better for Hansen in the Bluegrass Stakes. Can't wait for the Kentucky Derby when we all look for that "big" white horse! I don't think we've "tapped" into his real skill yet. Watching him he is testing the waters. He runs like he is an entity by himself almost like the eyes of Barbaro are upon us.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Mike Relva — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:31:38 GMT

BETSY

Connections have the right to do what's best for their horse regarding which race they decide.

Regarding his size, Smarty Jones and MTB weren't exactly huge, they did ok.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Your Only Friend — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:03:28 GMT

"Daddy Nose Best" look pretty good in the Sunland Derby.....my question .....$800,000 only 8 horses ran.....guess it's West Coast Racing....6-8 horses is complete field.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:13:52 GMT

Hey Bloodline Bob I like your screename and as such that it is,I have a question for you.I use the Brisnet PP,s the same ones that Jason And Tom use to make their picks on "That Handicapping Show" my question is I looked at Creative Cause in the Brisnet PP's and his dams average winning distance is less than 7 furlongs eventhough his sire Giants Causeway AWD is over 8 furlongs as a sire.Bloodline Bob give me your take on Creative Cause's breeding.Thanx in advance.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

robinm — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:03:24 GMT

I can't decide if owners/trainers are ducking other horses or looking for the best spot for their colts for other reasons. For sure, the graded earnings aspect has a big impact on where a horse runs. However, in the case of Hansen, with plenty of graded earnings, I have no firm belief as to the reason for the change in plans. I don't think he's ducking anyone, so maybe it really is as simple as waiting for his jockey to heal up. Now Alpha is really a puzzle. He doesn't have an unblemished record to protect, so from that standpoint, he doesn't have to look for an easy spot. I don't think the Bernardini's are any more vulnerable to injury than any other bloodline, so I don't think they are babying him because of his pedigree, though the loss of Out of Bounds may have them a little gun shy.

I'm still of the opinion that horses get more out of racing than from workouts and firmly believe that both horses and fans would benefit from more frequent racing of the top candidates. The horses get more fit and fans have more opportunities to form attachments which helps keep interest high.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

JerseyBoy — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:33:55 GMT

Steve, I get your point about the European training methods, but one point I see overlooked in the Alpha comments is the fact that Alpha is not a Grade 1 winner. The connections can kill two birds with one stone by moving to the Grade 1 Wood.

By the way, I am a bit of an Anglophile. I have a degree from the University of London.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Giddyup — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:49:18 GMT

I am sure Steve remembers well the glory days of the sport when horse owners use to relish the chance to race against the top rivals instead of looking for the "easy route". Is it any wonder the industry is failing to attract new fans at the rate other sports are?

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Paula Higgins — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:31:56 GMT

Steve, this isn't about Alpha but about your column on Riva Ridge with comments from Penny Chenery. I just loved it. A joy from beginning to end and I can fully understand why Penny loved R.R. so much. What a great horse he was. I knew he had saved her farm before Secretariat but I didn't know much else. Now I do.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Don from PA/DE — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 23:33:19 GMT

TJ: No question in my mind, "Gemologist", Wood will be the answer, the big question is whether "Gem" will be able to defeat Union Rags and Creative Cause, is all in KD...I like Alpha, but he will be no match for Gemologist, this guy is a winner x 5...Don

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

myntjulius — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:00:40 GMT

It is disappointing to see such poor management and gamesmanship trying to go for one race. Trying to cherry pick one safe prep race to squeeze your horse into the Derby is disheartening.

I miss the days when racehorses became legends because they dominated their opponents through a long and contentious career. It is one of the things that hurts the industry is that there is are no longer any standout performers to follow and no long term names to identify with. Too many shoot for the one big win and then off to stud. The interest will start to return to racing when a true thoroughbred superstar wins 3 big races as a 2 year old, 4 major prep races as a 3 year old, takes the triple crown and wins the Breeders Cup Classic!! Then march him off to the stud farm as a legend.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Bloodline Bob — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 05:19:00 GMT

Steve, I found it under your Feb.6th Derby Dozen. My 10 horses include an entry in the Sunland Derby{NO SPIN}. I also have NEWS PENDING + MARK VALESKI in my picks. Is your Derby Dozen column now your Derby Trail column or do you have more than 1 column here, Confused Bloodline Bob?

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Bloodline Bob — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 04:53:23 GMT

Steve, I made only one comment on Feb. 7, 2012 @ 11:44 p.m. but now I do not know which date the column is under. I see your 1-31-12 + 2-14-12 columns but not the 2-7-12 column. Oh well, I wrote some horses on there and now I can't remember who they were. Thanks anyway. Have a good Derby.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

Draynay — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 02:39:59 GMT

I have seen a lot of 3 year old horses before the Derby and it has been a long time since I have seen a monster like Union Rags. He is a force of nature. I like Mark V. in the Louisiana and I expect a big upset in the Wood.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

opsherr — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:49:28 GMT

You kind of said it all, Mr. Haskin. There really isn't much to add about Alpha and his connections. Just have the horse show up in May. I do have to comment about Hansen's change of plans. I never believed he would run in the Wood. I think his connections were blowing smoke and they did a damn fine job of it.

Can't wait for next weeks Derby Dozen. Will save my 'to the point' comments for then.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:05:22 GMT

GoldenGiven Ok Bernardini is their only triple crown victory thank you for the reminder.Empire Maker is Judmonte Farms.

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

tjconway — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:57:22 GMT

I still believe Alpha has the most upside right now. If the race were today, my superfecta would be:

1) Alpha

2) Gemologist

3) Union Rags

4) Our Entourage

Still trying to decide who's better Alpha or Gemologist

re: Haskin's Derby Trail: What's it all About, Alpha?

GoldenGiven — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:32:29 GMT

Chief Piccawinna, Bernardini won the Preakness '06 from the Darley Stable. It seems just like yesterday that Empire Maker won the Fla Derby and then the Wood - yet those days are long gone. Off Topic, has Halfbridled dropped anything noteworthy?