Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

ron in fla — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:02:52 GMT

Hi Steve

It's ron in fla.

I firmly believe the best 3 yr old is Affimatif, unfortunately he looks like another Curlin as far as foundation is concerned. I read at the Downey site that bloodhorse has him running in an allow. again no graded earnings. I hope Pletcher's plans are to run him in allow when he wins by daylight throw him in BlueGrass and i believe if he just runs 2nd he will have enough graded earnings. Do u know what pletchers plans r. and ur comments on the horse. Thanks again this yr for another great information site. between u and downey and dr roman i get all the triple crown info and the best.

Ron

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

VANDAL PA — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:19:20 GMT

STEVE>> LOVE YOUR WRITING STYLE and ANALYSIS', every outing<<, YOU NAILED

QUALITY ROAD and that SUPPORTING CAST IN NEXT 3 SPOTS! <<REVENGE GOT IT SAT 3-7 IN the GOTHAM, Also.>>

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

DaTruth — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:42:44 GMT

Steve, if the Arkansas Derby has been the most influential Derby prep of the last decade, then why do you have to reach back all the way to 1992 and 1996 to find Kentucky Derby winners other than Smarty Jones who raced in the Arkansas Derby. What about the Florida Derby, which has produced three Kentucky Derby winners since 2001.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Bobphilo — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:40:42 GMT

Steve, your best column in a long time on the top Derby contenders and the top upcoming Derby preps.

Keep the good stuff coming.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Ranagulzion — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:15:40 GMT

Gordon: The FOY at a mile at this time of the year is a great build up to the Derby. It may not suit ever trainer's program but watch and see the quality that it brings together and how these horses will move forward. It will also serve to give many pretenders a reality check in terms of speed, ability to rate and closing ability. The only issue is that the Gulfstream track has too much speed bias or bias against closers.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Mike Relva — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:58:54 GMT

TO ROLO:

Quality Road is much more than a sprinter.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Bill — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:02:20 GMT

On the preps. No doubt the Oaklawn sequence makes the most sense.

Alex even jumped into a sprint there to "re-prep" for the Ark Derby.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Gordon — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:01:58 GMT

Very disappointed and bitter that a wonderful facility like Gulfstream Park ; and more especially those in charge (go figure) would change an early season Derby Prep into nothing more than a glorified sprint that is clearly designed for a different type (class) of bloodstock.Forgive me if I seem a little befuddled . However could you be kind enough to respond to the following? If an owner , and his trainer had the good fortune to win the B.C. Juvenile; would they now consider this now ONE TURN SPRINT the correct path in which to follow when trying to prepare for a Triple Crown run .

I notice that in some (several) previous comments the importance placed on speed ; and rightly so , the quicker turn of foot is, in many instances can be the difference in the outcome of sprints of various distances and there is no doubt that speed can have a very great influence in races of the Classic distances (two turn races greater than a mile. One needs to look no further back than the recent valiant but wasted performance of of Hard Spun in his Triple Crown effort to see the value of breeding for the free running individual over stamina. This individuals very speedy pedigree carried him very far , however , the absolute incompetence with which that speed was utilized could not be a better example of how classic breeding for a balance of the two attributes speed and stamina should , in most situations carry the day when properly prepared.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

DONNA — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:07:47 GMT

I wondered why Pletcher sent Take The Points to California to run instead of the Fountain of Youth. I found it puzzeling he wanted to run him on fake dirt. I loved watching the Pamplemousse run in the Sham, he did it with such ease.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

nick — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:04:01 GMT

I feel a need to respond to Justines' remarks on the comparison to Forego...a lot of fans remember him as a router, but he could move quickly as well[Dr. Fageresque]...I remember his race on the undercard of Secretariats historic Belmont, and although we know the track might have been brisk that day, he blistered the opposition in a remarkable fashion as well.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

nick — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:58:05 GMT

Steve, I agree with your assessment of Quality Road, I wish you had written it before the run of Saturdays race...unfortunately for me I was split between Taqurib and Quality, and went to the former[Garcia made my decision]. Saw your Derby doings Mardi gras edition, and noticed Petey Anderson story next to yours.Wasn't he aboard Forego early in his career?

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

August Song — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:58:37 GMT

Quality Road is bred to go a distance. The question last Saturday was whether he would be able to relax being on or close to the pace. John did an excellent job of getting the horse to relax and keeping him on cruise control until the stretch. It was a one turn mile, and there will be those who will doubt his ability to stretch out to a longer distance. Even if he regresses a little in his next start, I would not make the mistake and doubt the horse, or his connections. Jimmy Jerkens is one of the best trainers in racing today. Did people note that it was Quality Road with first time lasix? Did people note the size of the horse? Can you say Foregoesque? Quality Road is the real deal!!!

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Justine — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:26:43 GMT

TonyC: That is one of the best comments I've read regarding the Derby Fever. It's also probably why I still have my hopes pinned on Mr. Hot Stuff. He wasn't good at all last year but he ran quite a bit before the light bulb switched on and he broke his maiden. I think his 3rd place in the Sham was a good effort and hopefully he'll move forward from there.

The Pamplemousse vs. Pioneerof the Nile vs. Stardom Bound is something I have to see in person. I can't wait.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Kat — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:19:13 GMT

In regards to Manila, he was eulogized in another article which ended with this. I thought it was worth repeating.

To put Manila's racing career in its proper perspective, it is worth remembering that the late Joe Hirsch paid him a profound compliment. In response to a reader's question about the best grass horses he'd ever seen, the dean of American turf writers answered thus:

"Round Table and Manila."

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Coldfacts — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:00:04 GMT

OLD TIMER, 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones was sired by Elusive Quality. 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ravens Pass was sired by Elusive Quality. If I am correct both races are run at 10 furlongs.

Mr. Prospector was considered a sprinter. However, he sired Belmont winner Conquistador Cielo, Preakness winner Tank's Prospect and Derby winner Fusaichi Pagasus.

There is consensus in the breeding industry that exceptional milers make the best stallions. Elusive Quality won the Poker S. (G3, 8F) NWR: 8FT- 1:31.63

Speed is more important than stamina in thoroughbreds. Stamina can be built with specialized training but speed comes directly from genes.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

SSC — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:22:09 GMT

steve - didnt mean a recap - meant a preview of the Gotham - sorry for the confusion

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Wanda — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:47:33 GMT

Does anybody think that some of these 3yr olds are running for the money and not the Derby? I mean if their fit and ready they have to earn their keep right?

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Steve Haskin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:28:12 GMT

SSC, yes, in next Monday's Derby Trail column, as I recap all the major 3-year-old races. It's the only stakes next week, so not much else to write about.

Rich, it does? I dont even talk about Dunkirk or Old Fashioned. If you're referring to winning the Derby, I'm not leaning toward anyone right now.

Tony C, I couldn't agree with you more.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Steve Haskin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:23:45 GMT

Danylson, I was on At the Races yesterday talking about Manila. For pure talent, brilliance, and raw ability, Manila was the best grass horse I've ever seen. The first year I covered racing as NJ correspondent for the Thoroughbred Times was 1986, and I had to privilege of covering three of Manila's races -- the U.N. twice and Ballantine's Scotch Classic. You can't believe what a magnificent horse he was to look at, especially up close. He was a big, tough guy who was as determined as any horse you'll ever see. His BC Turf win was one of my favorite moments. I've always a warm spot in my heart for Manila.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

TonyC — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:16:44 GMT

Steve- Year after year when Derby fever ignites it appears that most of my handicapping bretheren start looking for love in all the wrong places. Other than some quality outstanding 3 YO's from the past, a good deal of Derby winners wait to fire their best shot in the big dance. What I am saying is that we need to look beyond the apparent standout prep winners to find the ones moving methodically towards May 2nd. For me, I search for the ones with some 2 YO foundation, good efforts against top 2 YO's in graded stakes races, steady movement forward at 3 with solid performances (not necessarily winning)in their prep races. Most of all, they need some indication in their recent pedigree that says they are bred towards the 1 1/4 distance. Although very impressed by some of the recent performances, I am not over the top about anyone yet. Questions remain about distance, surface, ability to relax and rate, consistency, fitness, and other factors. So let's sit back, relax, take a deep breath, and see what happens over the next month before getting our panties in a twist about some recent run away winners.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Ann in Lexington — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:07:05 GMT

I wouldn't expect Beethoven to improve any more. He was bred to be a good 2yo and that was what he was. But now the rest of them are catching up in maturity and he has lost his advantage.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

rich loughrey — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:47:34 GMT

Your article looks like you are leaning to Old Fashioned or Dunkirk. I was very impressed with Pioneer of the Nile's last race and he is in the hands of a master and winner of three Derbys.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

SSC — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:43:12 GMT

steve - will you do a summary of your thoughts on The Gotham -

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Dave R — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:28:07 GMT

I thought Theregoesjojo really ran a nice race in the FOY as did Quality Road. I think all the others can be discounted at this point. TGjojo was a bit slow out of the gate in the FOY which has not been a problem for him previously. He was asked early to move up into mid pack behind quick fractions and then showed a very good acceleration around the turn and kept on coming down the straight. He is a horse to watch and is in good hands with McPeek and Desormeaux.

re: Ky Derby Trail: Road to the Roses

Draynay — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:25:12 GMT

Raceposter and Steve I think Quality Road is sitting in a great position. He only needs to run in the Florida Derby 4 weeks from now and then off to the Derby because he has enough Graded Stakes winnings and will come into the Derby 3rd off a layoff. Quality Road has proven himself Beyer worthy to win the Kentucky Derby. Getting 2 turn experience will be key and the Florida Derby will give him a chance to rest for 5 weeks. A brilliant performance by him in the Florida Derby will set Quality Road up nicely to meet the talent coming in from California this year. Bring on Dunkirk.