Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Slew.em.All — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:32:43 GMT

Coldfacts & Ranagulzion: the splits for both the Gotham & Wood Memorial were on a slow,drying-out track.It's obvious that IWR is very capable of adapting to any pace scenario,ditto for POTN...seems like you guys are shakin' in your boots,knowing that IWR is a Beast and Nothing fazes him.

Draynay: IWR has the same devastating kick no matter what happens on the front end,he's very tractable and paces himself.That long beautiful stride will certainly come in handy @ Churchill.And we all know he's a BullDog of a Horse,as athletic of a horse we've seen since Afleet Alex. You're right experience does matter...IWR is an experienced,hardened,battle tested tough son-of-a-gun,while QR has a mere 4 starts and only 1 two-turn race to his credit,while only proving that he can sit behind cheap sprinters speed and take over when they retreat.He's gonna' have to show more acceleration down the stretch in the Derby than what he had against a game,but tired Dunkirk(the allowance winner).Experienced ability overrides enthusiasm any day of the week.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

helsbelles — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:16:44 GMT

For Big Red: come to think of it, I believe you are incorrect about ultrasound being the tool used to diagnose the lesion on Pamplemousse's tendon. I distinctly remember they said a scan (nuclear scan I assume) was to be done Sunday. You know what's funny, I disclosed the scoop on The Pample's condition a couple hrs before you did Red, but you got all the credit... that's cool ;-), you are very likeable.

And now we find out Quality Road has a quarter crack!

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

For Big Red — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:57:32 GMT

TO GREG J.: Friesan Fire is still at the top of my Derby list, although I have to admit my heart, and not my head, is picking him. I'm just totally befuddled by the unusual training schedule Larry Jones is using to prepare the colt for the Derby.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

For Big Red — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:55:34 GMT

TO KAREN2: Re your question, "Do you think this is the same type of injury they are referring to?" I don't have enough information to give you an accurate answer. The best I can do is provide you with the following:

In a July 2008 USA Today article, Dr. Mark Cheney, a Kentucky veterinarian, said injuries requiring surgery to remove bone chips from knees and ankles have been reduced in horses training and racing over synthetic tracks.

At the same time, he has seen an increase in the number of injuries to the hindquarters and soft tissue tendons and ligaments as well as fractures involving the sesamoid bones, part of the ankle structure. He said synthetic surfaces do not allow the front hoof to slide forward when it hits the ground.

A Feb. 2008 Blood-Horse article reported that Dr. Sue Stover of the University of California at Davis and Dr. Diane Isbell, who conducts pre-race exams in Northern California, noted that injury rates on synthetic surfaces often dropped when horses ran without toe grabs behind. Dr. Isbell said that some trainers have had success training their horses without shoes and urged the CHRB to allow horses to race barefoot.

All of the articles I've read on the subject indicate that synthetic tracks need excellent maintenance.

However, we can't forget the other half of the team in races, the jockeys. In the Blood-Horse article, Garrett Gomez, David Flores and Hall of Famer, Gary Stevens, praised the synthetic surfaces, despite the glitches.

"My body has felt tremendously better," said Gomez. "They really help with the wear and tear on our bodies."

Stevens said that the majority of his 14 knee surgeries during his career occurred due to jarring on hard, sealed, or inconsistent dirt tracks.

My comment is this: If Gary Stevens blames hard, sealed and inconsistent dirt tracks for shortening his career, imagine what running over such tracks do to the horses. It's no wonder Quality Road came out of the Florida Derby with a quarter crack. The hardness of Gulfstream that day was a disgrace.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Karen in Texas — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:24:38 GMT

Big Red---I am appalled that Mullins attempted to administer anything to a horse in a detention barn given the current state of affairs with drug crackdowns and the decreasing tolerance for any race day medications. When I first saw the report on another blog, I tried to determine what Air Power actually was--what was the active ingredient? The "ads" call it herbal or enzymatic, but without a formulary or pharmacopoeia it is hard to know the chemical components. From what I can tell at this point, it contains "guaifenesin", a commonly used expectorant or mucolytic. It simply decreases the viscosity of mucous membrane secretions. I don't see how it could enhance performance per se, but what was he thinking??

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Greg J. — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:19:36 GMT

For Big Red,

Thanks for update on "The Pamplemousse", So sad....But could have been worse...

As far as Mullins, I think it would be incredibly naive to think it was only that one horse, "Gato Go Win" that got "Air Power", So I believe they will come down hard on him to set an example, He will be suspended and "I Want Revenge" will be trained by someone else up to the derby...My two cents...

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

helsbelles — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:18:27 GMT

For Big Red: why can't they do ultrasound on the legs of all the horses the morning that they race, or the evening before a workout? Disaster was averted. Remember all the rumors that The Pamplemousse was not training well? I talked myself out of going to SA saturday because I did have concerns about his running style, and the fact that a rabbit was to be entered to press him even more worried me. But it all worked out, thankfully.

And this latest development with Jeff Mullins really looks bad on the face of it. Still LOVE the horse though.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Karen2 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:53:37 GMT

Thanks for the update Big Red. I am still trying to mend my broken heart. What a shame. But like you, I am thankful this was caught before the race. So just to recap on my question.... I have heard trainers such as Baffert and Zito complain about the injuries suffered on synthetic. More soft tissue injuries. Do you think this is the same type of injury they are referring to? Now I'm left searching for a new favorite for the derby. I really can appreciate all of them. QR is hard to look past for so many reasons. I was such a huge Smarty fan. He was a tough horse and not near the size of QR. If QR has Smarty's toughness and that much more in size...... he could be a freak. I've seen some good performances out of him but so far nothing that is over the top. It seems he is much like BB in the fact that he hasn't faced much adversity. Can he keep his cool when he does?

Greg: I also was wondering about RA connections and if they feel like taking on the boys in the Derby. How good is this horse? She doesn't seem to have any competition with the ladies.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

DONNA — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:54:57 GMT

We better hope the Bluegrass doesn't pop a dazzling winner this Saturday or Dray maybe hop the fence once again. LOL. I was at Hawthorne Saturday and must admit was surprised at Musket Man. I was down at the rail by the winners circle and he didn't even look like he had ran a race, looked like he could go around again. He may be a sleeper or a good exotics play for The Derby.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

For Big Red — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:52:22 GMT

TO ALL: What do you think of the situation with Jeff Mullins giving Gato Go Win medication with an oral syringe in the detention barn before the Gotham Stakes on Saturday?

According to the news posted here on B-H, the medication was "Air Power," an over-the-counter herbal cough formula. Product details on Air Power claim it does not "test positive in a race or show jurisdiction."

Mullins also trains I Want Revenge, but he didn't try to give that colt anything in the detention barn before the Wood.

Here's a link to the manufacturer's web page about the product: www.finishlinehorse.com/.../OCTOBER06.asp

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Kat — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:40:37 GMT

PON was not happy with the way the Santa Anita pace was unfolding, and asked Gomez to move up early. . . . :)

For what it's worth, Imperial Council flipped before the race. Game over.

So sorry to hear about The Pamplemousse and condolences to his connections. It was fun while it lasted.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

For Big Red — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:23:01 GMT

TO KAREN2: You wrote, "I wonder if this is the common soft tendon injury that the trainers say they see much more of on synthetic."

I live in the Los Angeles area. Yesterday, I watched the "Trackside at..." TV show from Santa Anita, and they did a brief phone interview with Alex Solis (the son, not his father, the jockey). Alex essentially said the colt's tendon in his left front is torn. The ultrasound they did showed a small lesion/hole in the tendon. They won't know how bad it is or how long it might take to heal until they do more tests. At the moment, they think it could take up to a year to heal. Right now they are trying to be upbeat and hoping the colt can race again, but the possibility exists that he might be retired later this year on time for the 2010 breeding season.

To me, this sounds very, very similar to the injury that ended Risen Star's career (and broke my heart).

As sad as this is, I thank God the state/track vet called Canani on this. If that tendon had snapped during a race, it would have been a catastrophic injury of the type we've all seen way too many of in recent years. This way, it's a treatable injury that will heal in time. Even if he never races again, the colt will have his chance at stud.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

LDP — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:13:27 GMT

Paula,

I too did not like the ride SB got. Keenland has a very short stretch, and i think because of that i think Mike Smith should've either had SB a little closer to the pace or made a much earlier move. I also think the track had something to do with it. Keenlands polytrack is quirky and i wonder if thats why SB only made a half hearted rally. What do you think?

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Greg J. — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:47:58 GMT

Steve,

I was wondering, What are the chances that "Rachel Alexandra's" connections will put her in the KD over the Oaks?, I am curious, After her performance in the fantasy stakes at Oaklawn Park it has to be considered !, I am sad the "The Mousse" is Out, Just hope he recover's and races another day....

"Friesan Fire" is still at the top of my list, BUT "I Want Revenge" was Incredible over the weekend..., Thanks...

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Speedball — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:54:22 GMT

I also think Mr.Hot Stuff deserves a spot in the starting gate. Chocolate Candy and the Pioneer were great, but from rewatching a the race, it looked as though Mr. Hot Stuff encountered the most traffic problems before he could start his closing run, and Chocolate Candy got the jump on him. I don't know what his graded earnings was for third,but he only had 24K before the race.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

helsbelles — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:41:05 GMT

I just read that tests done sunday revealed a lesion on the tendon of The Pamplemousse's left foreleg, and he is expected to be sidelined for 6-12 months. (Thank God for Dr. Jill Bailey.) When we first started talking about Pamplemousse, I mentioned that his running style reminds me of that of my favorite Georgie Boy. And sure enough, this time last year Georgie was sidelined for 8 months with a soft tissue problem. IMO, that unusual running style, exciting though it is, does lead to physical issues more often.

There are a couple folks here that are anti-IWR. You know who you are (I don't want to embarrass you). But it is funny to me because I know where it is coming from. One person previously wrote that IWR had a better chance of sprouting wings then winning the Gotham, and the other person chastised Steve Haskin for devoting an entire article to IWR (before the Gotham), when in his opinion there were more deserving horses. I think there is egg on some folks faces.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Draynay — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:36:39 GMT

Like everyone I have my favorites and I really liked Imperial Council but lets face facts folks you don't need to get hit with a brick to figure out who is going to win the Derby. I am a racing fan and like all of you I have my favorites but its now April and its time to pick your horse and I am picking Quality Road. He is simply too big and too strong and too fast for everyone else. Now I know many of you like I Want Revenge but look at the easy pace he has run into the last 2 races and look who he beat. If you think I Want Revenge is really all that because he beat a weak group that couldn't get it together in deep stretch fine... but take a look again at what Quality Road did against a very hard charging Dunkirk. How many horses have you seen get headed at the top of the stretch by a horse running a 108 Beyer that day and win? How many lengths would Dunkirk beat the field in the Wood by? I Want Revenge won by less than 2. Will IWR have the same kick when he sees a 1:11 in the Derby? Do you really think he is going to catch Quality Road when a flying Dunkirk could not? After the Derby come back here and tell me how that worked out for you. IWR with his 19 year old jockey is not your Derby winner folks. I will take Quality Road with Johnny V on board all day long over him....Experience matters.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

da3hoss — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:31:53 GMT

I've liked CC from way back, I was happy with his race, with the steady fractions of the race he had nothing to run at and he he did a heck of a job getting up that much to POTN...I do think he's going to run best on dirt and more distance.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Ranagulzion — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:29:17 GMT

COLDFACTS: I just love your comparitive analysis of the Gotham, Wood and Average Kentucky derby splits. Man you're on the ball and keeping all the IWR fans honest.

One more twist and turn on the derby trail with The "Mousse" out due to injury. It certainly alters the anticipated pace scenario in favour of "el numero uno" Quality Road unless Big Drama's connections take a second look. Perhaps IEAH might even consider throwing in This One's For Phill to enhance the chances of IWR and Patena(if he gets in on his Blue Grass performance). I've already taken Steve Haskin to task for ignoring the quality performances in the Swale Stakes and their potential impact on the Derby. It wouldn't be to his credit if an amateur like Ranagulzion has more insight than the pro, would it? The drama contines folkes.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Mike S — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:14:06 GMT

I WANT REVENGE has really come out, in a big way, and shown himself as the one to beat in the Derby. I thought THE PAMPLMOUSSE was going to be equally as tough, until his injury forced him to the sidelines. I also have to give a lot of credit to PIONEER OF THE NILE and CHOCOLATE CANDY. I also think MR. HOT STUFF is going in the right direction, and I think he deserves a spot in the starting gate.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Skyfire — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:43:20 GMT

Draynay your team is Vineyard Haven

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

gw_bushwacker — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:34:05 GMT

LMAO @ draynay, first Imperial Council was having his coming out party in the Gotham and now he's merely an Allowance horse. Good one nay nay, you flip flop more than a politician. I'll give you this though you are on the right "team" now.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Karen2 — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:55:40 GMT

I am so dissapointed that the Pamp will not run in the derby. I don't usually pick a favorite this time of year but he won me over with his big stride and his big personality. I wonder if this is the common soft tendon injury that the trainers say they see much more of on synthetic. I hope to see him back in the races when he is healed. What a bummer.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

GunBow — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:39:10 GMT

Matthew W: I liked Pioneer's race in the Santa Anita Derby as well. He does have a tendency to loaf, but when horses come to him, he always finds more and holds them off. I agree, that he will need to relax better in the Kentucky Derby. However, Gomez was not happy with the way the SA Derby pace was unfolding, and asked Pioneer to move up early. What I like is that although the Santa Anita Derby is not the biggest prize on the horizon, Gomez rode to win the race. With a slow early pace, Gomez moved Pioneer up to the lead and took command of the race. Instead of being at the mercy of the pace or a victim of circumstances, Gomez took the race by its throat and decided to control things himself. In addition to winning the race, I think Pioneer will benefit from the race Gomez rode. Gomez could have sat back all the way and just accepted the slow pace and then come with his run late, unconcerned with winning or losing with the belief the SA Derby was just a prep for Kentucky. But would Pioneer have gotten much from that? Remember, 12 of the last 13 Derby winners ran 1st or 2nd in their final prep. To be sharp for the Kentucky Derby, a horse needs to get alot out his last prep, and Pioneer did.

The same is true for I Want Revenge. After missing the break, Talamo could have simply taken IWR around the track, not even attempting to win the race. After all, isn't the Wood just a prep? While it may have kept IWR safe, would it have given IWR any foundation for Kentucky? Has a horse won the Derby recently after basically running a non-race in the final prep? The answer is, of course, no. All of the 34 last Derby winners ran at least 4th in their final prep. Anyways, the Wood was a grade 1 race, with all the breeding implications that it holds, and carried a $750,000 purse. No, Talamo wasn't just going to carousel around out there; he tried to give IWR a chance to win, something I'm sure bettors appreciated. And then the amazing happened, IWR did win.

And it wasn't like Talamo, or Gomez for that matter, rode his mount all-out. Although Gomez and Talamo rode to win, they didn't get to the bottom of their horses, and should have left something in the tank for Louisville.

re: Ky. Derby Trail: The Key Word is Prep

Matthew W — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:31:39 GMT

Dray you build a strong case for Quality Road...I would like to see one more but if you're right that will be two for two cuz I know you had Brownie....I think Quality Road is like Freisan Fire, as we just don't know enough--you cannot throw out either horse as they are both precoscious! I have pretty reliable here-say that FF is the nuts! Also I cannot deny I Want Revenge is the one to beat....AM ROOTING for Corey/Mr Hot Stuff as the closer with hidden class! Tiznow did it with Well Armed/Harty.... now there's Mr Hot Stuff/Harty.....Tiznow bringing back tried and true stamina lines to The Sport Of Kings....1 1/4??...better watch out for the Tiznow colt....