Bombs Away in Blue Grass

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Mike — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:10:13 GMT

why are they going to enter Anak Nakal in the derby!!!! This horse is a dog. He doesn't belong any where near the derby. Give another deserving horse a chance that is not quite there earnings wise.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Billy D. — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:02:43 GMT

I'd like to adjust my earlier Ky Derby Superfecta prediction. I neglected to include Monba. Of course Colonel John on top, keyed over Bob Black Jack, MONBA & Z Humor. In my opion, these 4 horse all have the right style, pedigree and more upside than any other 3 yr. olds this year, save for Big Brown. I think BB's speed and inexperience is going to be his death knell. Good luck, or should I say 'Good Night and Good Luck'?! As for reports I've read about Garret Gomez replacing 'CNak,' I hope not. Nakatani deserves to win a Derby after paying his dues playing second fiddle to Pincay, Eddie D. and McCarron all those years. Alex Solis deserves a Derby win too, perhaps more so, however at least Solis won a Preakness.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Bryce be Quick — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:53:08 GMT

If EVER there was going to be a year and a field where a Filly of Eight Belles quality should run and maybe win, this is it. For many of the same reasons, particularly given the likely early fractions and Adriano's running style, and yes, his May foaling aside, why we shouldn't we look at his next couple of workouts before concluding he is somehow Derby-unworthy? Also, let's see what Prado concludes when selecting his preferred mount?

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Householder — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:54:37 GMT

Tiznow won the Breeder's Cup Classic at 3 against the Irish Champion and a KY Derby Winner. He then goes on to set a couple of track records at 1 1/4 in several different states. I would not bet against Col John not liking the dirt or not liking the additional 1/8 mile. Throw out War Pass and Pryo, keep BB, and go deep with anything that has campained this year at Santa Anita which includes Bob Black Jack.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

draynay — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:56:39 GMT

Lol.. you have to be kidding me... Col John has never run on dirt and now he is going to run with Big Brown??? The California horses will not hit the board and to compare Bob Black Jack to Hard Spun is a insult. Hard Spun ran a 46 half in the Derby a 1:11 and a 1:37 mile if Bob tried that they would have to drag him across the finish. You have to stay within 4 or 5 lengths of the leaders to have a chance at the top of the stretch and only a few have proven they can do that like Smooth Air. Late closers will have too much to do running 10 to 15 lengths off a 1:11 only 1 horse could do it last year and that was Street Sense and no horse this year comes close to a Street Sense. Big Brown will win easy coasting around in 46 1:11 and 1:37 etc... I am going to go with Smooth Air and Visionaire finishing 2nd and 3rd.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Jason Shandler — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:45:58 GMT

I had good info that Jones and Porter were going to run Eight Belles in the Derby, that's why I put her in my top 7. I think she is the real deal and certainly can compete against this crop of 3-year-olds. As far as Adriano, kind of disappointing to hear he is running in Derby from my end. I covered the Lane's End and was told by the owner (Donald Adam) that he is "going to do the right thing" with this horse and let him mature. Adam went on to say that he is a May-foal, not even 3-years-old on the biological clock and that a run in the Derby could set him back a long ways. Well, this is a perfect example of a person getting Derby Fever and not considering what's best for the horse. Have to disagree with you on this one Bryce, Adriano has no shot in the Derby.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Bryce Be Quick — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:11:38 GMT

Which is the bigger developing storyline: Rick Porter saying he is now inclined to run his gray girl, Eight Belles, in the Derby, or Adriano's work with stablemate Longley over the dirt at Churchill Downs having his superlative trainer, H. Graham Motion and owner/breeder Mr. Donald Adam, rethinking if may be their supposed "turfer" deserves a shot at the Derby? Memo to In-Edgar-We-Trust Prado-- take the trip on Adriano and secure one of the better Derby upsets-- I am sure Mr. Tagg can find someone else to ride Tale of Ekati, and Pletcher doesn't deserve to have you on Monba.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

toughcookie — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:05:46 GMT

Why run Cowboy Cal on dirt? Pletcher will get enough attention with

Monba.Cowboy Cal could be the

next turf monster but all they

will be talking about is his

last place derby finish.No respect

for the Derby! Pletcher just wants

the spotlight.(THANKS FOR MONBA)

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Billy D. — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:05:13 GMT

After watching another Derby fave, Pyro bow out of the Picture, I don't see how the 'experts' can make Pyro a favorite after he chased home a speedbal in War Pass who couldn't even win a 1 1/8th race (the Wood) in trotting horse time. I was more surprised at how bad Big Truck ran after those sparkling workouts than Pyro. I've constructed what I believe is a Derby winning ticket; Of course Colonel John on top, keyed over Bob Black Jack, Court Vision and Z Humor. Toss the cheap speed. CJ had the most impressive last 3/8ths of any derby prep and the pp's don't lie. Synthetic or dirt, they all have to run over it. For those who make excuses for Pyro, I can't see it, he's a throw out, I never thought he'd win the Bluegrass, 4th place at best. War Pass and Big Brown will kill each other on the front end trying to make the lead and set it up 4 'CJ.' Even if they don't 'CJ' has the right running style and pedigree to get the distance. Unless he gets sick or hurt between now and Derby day, I can't see the 'Colonel' losing this year. Good luck to all who cash winning tickets on Derby day.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Householder — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:18:09 GMT

More excuses for Pryo? Looks like he got bumped by the 9 who lugged in a bit at the top of the stretch. We all know this won't happen on Derby Day. He works so slow how will anyone be able to tell if he "rebounds" from this disaster. His dominant performance against the second place horse in the LaDerby (this horse, who I already forgot, first race in stakes company) who ran 1:13 certainly tells me nothing. Gayego certainly further illustrates the mistake of dismissing the west...and there he is again...Bob Black Jack who Gayego has to catch in the San Felipe only to get nailed at the wire by the utra consistent Georgie Boy. Then there is the fourth place finisher in the SA Derby...he was a hell of a lot closer to Pyro in the LaDerby than he was to Col John. War Pass, Pyro, BB...take them. The Derby exotics will be determined by the west this year! How about a Col John, Gayego, Bob Black Jack (This years Hard Spun...no one knows when his will stop running) and, BB superfecta. With the exception of BB the east will just continue to take turns beating one another...probably through the remainder of these horses careers.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Bryce Be Quick — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:53:48 GMT

You Pyromanics have got to be thrilled with the Bluegrass results-- I think you just got a much better price in the Derby, and may well get rewarded for your loyalty as a consequence? Coupled with Gayego's results and similar past efforts, seems a plausible case can be made it is easier for dirt-pedigreed horses to go from synthetic to dirt than it is going from dirt to the artificial surfaces?

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

TWtwo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:56:51 GMT

Congrats jason, what a call. I hope you hit the tri and super too. Great job! I wish I had seen it before Sunday.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Dutch — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:21:29 GMT

Very nice job, Jason. Your analysis was right on the money about Todd Pletcher getting those horses into the Derby picture.

The big question right now is whether or not Pyro bounces back at Churchill Downs. He looked great in the Blue Grass post parade, but he obviously didn't run a step. He's definitely a better horse than he showed yesterday.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Mike — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:53:00 GMT

Can anybody tell me waht's going on with Denis of Cork?

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Johnny — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:35:01 GMT

McCarron on TVG said Pyro was urged. I couldn't tell, but the former Hall of Fame jockey would certainly know. I hadn't kept up on Pyro's workouts, but someone told me these were not good either.

I just hope the horse is physically and/or mentally OK. It could also be that he didn't like the Poly. This was his first time on a synthetic surface, although he never responded and finished 10th out of 12. It might turn out to be a matter of drawing a line through the race, like most people I'm sure have probably now done with War Pass' Tampa Bay. Pyro has always been a very nice horse, and even though I'm not one of his fans, I'd like to see a horse that's done what he has, come back well. Pyro will return to a dirt surface in Louisville (assuming he's OK), so hopefully he'll bounce back.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Slew.em.All — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:11:27 GMT

No Worries! Obviously Pyro just didn't like the synthetic surface.He was "spinning his wheels from the get-go".Everybody knows he's much better than that!He deserves a Mulligan...It's onward to the Derby,where he broke his maiden at 1st asking,so we know he likes Churchill.And his odds should be Juicy!...

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Antman — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:16 GMT

Draynay, Pyro got an 84 beyer, where did you get that so fast? I can't wait to see the replay of the race. If Pyro was Urged even the slightest I probably have to jump ship. My only hope is that they said if you can't win it, ride him home safely. What a major dissapointment. Will have to watch the works at CD when Pyro goes there, cuz that was a sickening race. I can only speculate now as to what happened, I might say I OVERATED him lol. I can't wait to watch the replay with open mind and see what the heck happened. Hey Johnnie and tough cookie nice picks, Johnnie hope you boxed that exacted. I played Stevil. I got waxed. Later

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

JJFlash — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:55:31 GMT

You nailed it, bro!

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Mike — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:16:41 GMT

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Nice work

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

draynay — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:14:54 GMT

The only Bomb in the Bluegrass was Pyro... is he done running yet?

An 84 Beyer for Pyro right before the Derby tells me to toss him. Well who does that leave....yep Big Brown and Smooth Air 7 lengths behind him.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

kerry — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:01:40 GMT

miner's claim.lets go husbands do it for barbados

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

plus or minus — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:24:24 GMT

this race reminds me of old trainers story who told his jockey to bring his horse in third for a prep for the derby. when the race was over he asked, could you have beaten the top two, and the jockey responded, yes but i don't know about the fourth or fifth place horse.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Bryce Be Quick — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:46:36 GMT

As Jason knows, I am just your basic horse nut and not a handicapper by any means, and thus do not belong on this blog. That said, you pros looking for a price should think about including Miner's Claim in your exotics if you are looking for a pay day. Nice breeding and looks to me ready for this race on this surface?

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Householder — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:00:51 GMT

The only thing that is going to beat Pyro is the extra 1/16 of a mile.

re: Bombs Away in Blue Grass

Johnny — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:03:00 GMT

Pyro doesn't have to win the Bluegrass, but he needs to run well. Any smart handicapper will figure it out and it shouldn't affect the odds that much, unless he has a poor race.

I'm not a Pyro camp follower, but this horse has been the model of consistency, so I don't know how the Beyer people, or BB people can knock him. All the horse has been doing is win.

One more thing: If you remember, last year's BG field was not formful. In fact, it was as bizarre a race as I've ever seen. Now that Polytrack has been around for another year, I hope this edition will be much better than what we saw last year, a race that the eventual KY Derby winner lost.