Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

tcc — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:32:16 GMT

Householder;

Was just reading where CTTT's connections, because of his Santa Anita Derby performance has them rethinking about maybe running him in the Derby.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Footlick — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:57:17 GMT

Householder- Comma at the Top has already won on the turf so they have so many options with him. I just think it is a shame. Such a nice horse. I just think about Althea after her spectacular win in the Arkansas Derby, and knowing she wanted no part of 10 furlongs. But there she went to the Derby because they just had to go. She was passed by every horse in the stretch and was never the same after. A nice broodmare, though.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Householder — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:32:39 GMT

tcc. I love hard knocking geldings like Comma To the Top but with the In Excess/Terlingua cross he is built for speed and not for the Derby. Footlick is right. Try him in the Hollywood Gold Cup if you want to test him at 10f. He loves the track. After Anthony's Cross failed to break with blinkers, Comma was the only speed in the Santa Antia Derby. He just kind of nursed it around, with some decent splits, like so many others have done the entire winter meet. Hope to see him on grass someday much like Sydney's Candy.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Householder — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:04:14 GMT

Jimmy. TP also brought us Dunkirk. Wonder what he would have done differently with that one.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

gw_bushwacker — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:17:46 GMT

Uncle Mo's Wood:

23.4 first 1/4

24.4 second 1/4 (slower)

24.4 third 1/4 (even)

25.0 fourth 1/4 (slower)

13.0 last 1/8 (slower)

Mo was slowing down the entire race!! Not one split did he accelerate even though the pace was near crawling!! This is not the race of a superstar nor the race of a Ky. Derby contender. This is the race of another draynay chalk who falters under pressure.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

no mo mo — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:08:00 GMT

jayjay this one's for you,

Remember when draynay was ridiculing about the time another horse ran the 1 1/8 in? Read below to recall how he made fun of it and keep in mind unca schmoe ran his 6f last Saturday in 1:12.28 just .15 off the split he scoffs at and he came home in 37.7 just .1 off the last fraction he scoffs at. According to this he says any horse who runs that has no chance, shouldn't be a Derby horse, and is just plain sad. Here's what draynay said:

Soldat comes home in 37.80 and this is your monster? This is your Derby horse? Please be serious. Coming home that slow after posting a 112.43 is just plain sad.

Draynay 01 Mar 2011 11:42 PM

Jayjay, you are beyond help and I am not just talking about this sport. You watch horse run splits of 112 and finish in 38 and you think these horses have a chance?

Draynay 03 Mar 2011 10:18 AM

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Householder — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:53:30 GMT

trackbrat. Just watch Sunday Silence's Preakness. Easy Goer passes him starting into the final turn and pinches him off. Pat V just backs him out and circles Easy Goer going into the far turn.

Whittingham was training Sunday Silence up to the Preakness in a bar shoe! He had bruised his foot in the Derby.

The ferrier just clipped the bar and he went out and won his third consecutive Grade 1.

After the Triple Crown Sunday Silence then comes back and BOMBS the Swaps to a very game Prized, who would later take the BC Turf at 3.

He then just trains the horse up to the Breeders Cup classic (3-4 month lay off) where he once again beats Easy Goer.

Charlie Whittingham...

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

mr pibb — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:44:32 GMT

draynay,

I just finished counting my winnings from the $50 2-4 exacta in the Wood. I love making money from beating the "unbeatables". I'll send a couple mint juleps to table 55 at Tampa on Derby Day. At least then you'll get something back from the track instead of just handing away your money on losing bets.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Footlick — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:56:16 GMT

I certainly do not think that Comma at the Top wants 10 furlongs. why take a nice horse and overextend him? There are plenty of races out there for him and if they want to try 10 furlongs maybe the Pacific classic. I just hope he survives the Derby if he runs.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Whateveryoucallit — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:33:00 GMT

I heard Uncle Mo is still on the derby trail. After his performance yesterday...I would keep him in the barn on derby day and unleash him in the Preakness Sprint. He's not going a mile and a quarter...not with In Excess in his bloodline.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Matthew W — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:25:26 GMT

S A Derby winner looks like Ky Derby winner....

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Paula Higgins — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:22:37 GMT

Glad to see they still plan to keep Mo on the Derby trail. I think it is way too premature to decide now, not to go to the Derby. See how he comes out of this and he trains. They will have to step up his training though. His last 1/8 of a mile was run in 12.80 according to Jennie Rees. Mike Repole says he is never watching the movie Secretariat again before the Wood.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Jimmy — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:21:29 GMT

I assume that everyone saw that TP's 3 best chances at the Kentucky Derby just threw in clunkers in their Derby Prep. TP may win at a high percentage and may be considered a great trainer, but I question whether he can take a single horse and keep that horse at a high level for an extended period of time. And lets not forget, in the biggest races of Friday and Saturday of the 2010 BC, TP's horses finished dead last (Life At Ten and Quality Road). TP did a poor job preparing Uncle Mo for the Wood, and for a horse that wanted no part of 1 1/8 miles, I find it hard to believe TP can get enough conditioning in Mo to get 1 1/4 miles. Too bad. The kid glove approach fails again.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Linda in Texas — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:52:40 GMT

For throwing a shoe, grabbing a quarter, and whatever else befell Uncle Mo, he is alive, well and has a month of serious training until The Roses bloom.

Don't give up on a dream.i don't for any of them. Ever.

Does anyone on this blog really believe that Mike Repole will give up on Uncle Mo? I hope to tell you he won't as it is not in his vocabulary as we all know from his posts.

Frankly speaking, Uncle Mo did quite well if all the issues were present that have been mentioned here.

So hopefully no gloating at someone elses misfortunes, it is rude, unsportsmanlike, and downright ugly and to wishfully predict injuries is really sick.

I wish the best for all horses and their owners. At least they all came back to their stalls on their own power to live to race another day. It is not over til it is over.

So i still look for Uncle Mo to be a big part of the triple crown races. Don't write anyone of them off yet. It just wasn't Mo's day.

He still was right there!

And thanks Mike Repole and family for your generosity with your time, your honesty and your super positive attitude. Today is a new day. Give Mo a few days off to make sure he is sound, then back to the track twice a day to build him up. And i hope no one talks Mike Repole into not racing Mo in the KD, that would be a huge mistake. This is his first loss. And i hope that the jockey is not blamed and fined for Mo throwing a shoe if he did.

I would also get Mo to Churchill Downs soon as possible or so to get him accustomed to the track, the water, the air and the surroundings. Same as i would suggest for all that will be racing there. And i would pipe in noise so they will all be ready for the crowds come Derby Day and

not find out the hard way that it is coordinated total chaos. Either that or ear plugs last resort.

As you all know, i am not an expert or a handicapper and for sure not a trainer, just know a little about horses and their comfort zones especially the high strung Thoroughbreds.

Hang in there Uncle Mo and Mr. Mike Repole.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Carlos in Cali — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:26:42 GMT

I hope Arthur's Tale makes it into the Derby field,he's improving rapidly and with a better trip would've took the Wood Memorial.

I had him and Toby's Corner underneath UM,thinking UM would cruise,but it's obvious 'Mo has far greater distance limitations than I thought.They should point the average miler towards the Derby Trial,not the KY Derby. :)

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

RACINGFAN — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:16:50 GMT

I read somewhere that when Mo grabbed the quarter he pulled the shoe off the hoof with a quarter crack..... Anyone else hear that? May explain the mild campaign he has had so far this year and why he was short yesterday. Can't say I have ever "given" him the Derby but I don't understand all those who knock a horse if he (or she) doesn't win every time. Very few horses retire undefeated so eventually nearly all of them are gonna lose. He is a terrific horse so maybe we should give him and his owner a break. Obviously Mo isn't offended, but if I were Mr Repole I wouldn't be too thrilled with all the crap being said, especially after being so nice trying to include the fans.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Kris — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:02:03 GMT

Toby's Corner had the roughest trip in the field, just look at the charts. So I can't figure out why this horse isn't getting more respect.

There's no reason he can't win the Derby. He has 2-year-old foundation, has won in slop and on fast tracks, has decent breeding, etc., etc.

Dialed In looked like a fast cow closing in the FD and yet he's the new hype horse while Toby gets dissed. It doesn't make sense. Dialed In closed on a speed biased track but that doesn't excuse his crawling finish. Toby closed much better on a track that was even more speed biased. (Aqueduct's speed bias rating was 100% for the Wood, Gulfstream's speed bias was 67% for the Florida Derby).

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Ted from LA — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:47:12 GMT

The Wood has not been friendly to Derby favorites over the past few years.

mz = poetry in motion.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

tcc — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:43:54 GMT

Householder, GunBow:

If Comma To The Top does run in the Derby, will he be a Closing Argument type horse, or will he be a Sidney's Candy type horse going into the Derby?

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

thomas — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:42:57 GMT

where's is everyone hearing that mo is off the derby trail? last i checked they said he's on his way to churchill come monday.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Katie — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:37:41 GMT

Churchill Down confirmed that Mo is still planning to go to Churchill on April 18th

The rumors aren't truth

twitter.com/ChurchillDowns

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Playfriskyforme — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:36:46 GMT

Wow i love you Uncle Mo cool aid drinkers.Lets the excuses flow.Bottom line Tobys Corner is the better horse right now and going forward. Uncle Mo is just like Fly so Free,Arazi,and Favorite Trick to name a few.The typical two year old overhyped champion whose class is leaving him behind.tThese are the same people who still think Easy Goer was better than Sunday Silence.Mo had an easy lead with little pressure and was simply ate up in deep stretch thanks again Steve Haskin I cashed big yesterday in the Wood you have loved Toby for months we you get to Los Angeles dinner is on me.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

Edward — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:14:04 GMT

Someone from HRTV quoted a reliable source saying Uncle Mo is off the Derby trail.

Stay tuned.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

2 time valley player of the year — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:08:34 GMT

what's with Pletcher thinking 2 races in 6 months would have his horse ready?Go back to the old days of training get them experience and i doubt Mo can get a mile and a quarter.As for Baffert's Santa Anita winner well War Chant was well bred and Danzig side gives him every chance to get Derby distance and more , Remember Hard Spun and of course Danzig Connection who won the Belmont.Enough of this treating the horses as weaklings who can't run at least once a month.Citation in 1948 ran 20 times won 19 second the other and won the Triple Trown!!Wide open Derby with Dialed in looking real good but the traffic in Derby will be a problem for a closer.

re: Weekend Derby Prep Analysis

John — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:02:40 GMT

I just read a rumor that indeed Uncle Mo has been pulled from the Derby Trail.

Can anyone confirm this?