Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

sceptre — Fri, 23 May 2014 13:26:09 GMT

Perhaps this will ease your mind:

In his INITIAL start it was my perception that Forego had real talent-yet he ran unplaced. I touted him to all my friends. Clearly he later proved to be a far better racehorse than those who defeated him in that first race.

Much earlier, I felt the same about Buckpasser-ran 4th in his initial start. He also proved superior to those who defeated him.

Still believe that Bayern and Social Inclusion have more talent than C.C. Likely Candy Boy as well. Hope Candy Boy is "right", and Sadler decides to run him in Belmont.

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

Pedigree Ann — Thu, 22 May 2014 19:42:37 GMT

"Bayern and Social Inclusion appear to be talents; likely more talented that C.C."

" willingness (some call it "heart"), an athletic frame, athleticism in motion, a demonstrated ability for atypically good acceleration, a racing carriage of the type that has been displayed by many other good ones, a display of some reasonable semblance of stamina comprise the lion's share of my definition"

But...,, but isn't that what California Chrome has and has shown? Yet you believe that horses he has easily defeated have more 'talent' than he? That is what confuses me.

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

sceptre — Thu, 15 May 2014 20:43:43 GMT

Us "folks" will try to answer your (rhetorical)question about "talent". Neither pedigree, nor mere good looks (heavily muscled and big is not my idea of good looks) alone equate with talent, at least for me. For example, no one would refer to a yearling as talented by simply observing him standing still. Rather, willingness (some call it "heart"), an athletic frame, athleticism in motion, a demonstrated ability for atypically good acceleration, a racing carriage of the type that has been displayed by many other good ones, a display of some reasonable semblance of stamina comprise the lion's share of my definition. For example, a horse like Vineyard Haven had fit the bill for me-other than his stamina limitations. He had great talent, but it was limited to about a mile. I mention him in regard to your remark about pedigree. So, try again.

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

Pedigree Ann — Thu, 15 May 2014 17:32:22 GMT

What exactly to you folks mean when you use the word 'talented?' They look good working in the morning? They are big and heavily muscled? They have fancy, stylish pedigrees? Talent is only part of the equation, after all, even with humans - there is hard work, accepting that occasional failures will happen, and being able to keep going when others give up. I'm sure Stymie and John Henry raced against horses whom you or others may have thought 'more talented' but those two just kept coming at them and beat them all in the end.

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

sceptre — Thu, 15 May 2014 01:44:49 GMT

Mr. Vaccarelli:

"Fiasco", is it? This is a contentious Preakness; one of the better ones in years. If I were a bookie, I'd book nearly all I could get on C.C. Bayern and Social Inclusion appear to be talents; likely more talented that C.C. Main concern is their seasoning, and innate ability to "want" that distance in mid May of their 3 yr. old year.

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

BelmontBarb — Thu, 15 May 2014 01:30:10 GMT

As we know the Triple Crown races are knitted close and over the course of many years since the last Triple Crown winner it is obvious that most of these races are not quite what they use to be - those that are skipping the Preakness and taking a "shot" at the Belmont and did not do quite so well in the Derby is the usual scenario. This is not to say that they are not well-bred and impressionable but rather it is almost impossible to be put through such a grueling test that is timely set so close in competition up against opponents and tracks that are unforgiveable. Lines were built to last in the past and now simply are production lines that take all of us across the field of dreams and the dream has not come true ~ as yet. Trainers and Owners and Breeders are dreaming too and desparate to make it happen all to no avail as they put in any good possibility they think could do it..not the case historically - we all knew what we had and that they could do it. No need to question fractions, track and turns or distance. (i.e:just read Memories of a Master by J. Scheinman and take a look at the greats). Unless we search and research and take a step back here the entries and the fish bowl of youngsters will continue to seek a success that is more unlikely than likely.

California Chrome has done a whole lot here and shows and struts his stuff - if he can succeed in conquering it will do a lot for the business of racing and get things hopefully back in gear. He is wished well and it seems to be in the stars for this team making it a must see. We can ask "well, who is he up against" and the answer could be "he's the best of the rest" - and we love him for it.

The note here is simply that if there were an outstanding particular horse that was built to stay on the trail - they would make it through the toughness of the three calls as they did before ~

the trainer would know it and perhaps the percentages would change

Thanks and Good luck to "The Chrome"!

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

sceptre — Wed, 14 May 2014 21:22:51 GMT

It's all part of the trend of horses running less often. Today, I'm actually amazed that any Derby starter, other than the winner, would compete in the Preakness. I don't think that any of this has much to do with the breed being today less sound/robust, or that it's somewhat a consequence of drugs. Rather, trainers today know more than in years past, and they realize that more time between races yields better performance, and a sounder horse. Notice what was said by California Chrome's trainer-he prefers to run ALL his horses with at least a 4-5 week interval between races. Pletcher practices much the same. I see this as one of the few improvements in racing over the years. The fans may not like it, but it's better for the horses and owners (in the end). J.T. Lundy once told me that a racehorse is probably at his best for only four races/yr., and I tend to agree. Not enough is written on this subject.

re: Skipping the Preakness Increasingly Popular for Derby Starters

lawrence vaccarelli — Wed, 14 May 2014 21:08:47 GMT

"this is setting up to be a contentious conclusion to the Triple Crown series".....sorry to burst the balloon your floating here.....there not coming to the Preakness because they are knocked out ! cant answer the bell so to speak...CC is going to run these chumps off there feet and send them scattering to the winds....as for the Belmont....well lets just watch this fiasco first.