Final Preps Will Tell the Story

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Forbidden Apple — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:05:22 GMT

Who cares about a guy who makes $96 million to sit on his butt for half of the game. Basketball is a much more demanding sport.

1)Innis & Gunn- Rum Cask from Scotland

2)Maredsous- Brune from Belgium

3)Dogfish Head- Indian Pale Ale from Delaware

After Alpha wins the Wood, everyone will finally respect him.

Creative Cause will fly past I'll Have Another and Bodemeister.

Union Rags wins the FL Derby in a jog.

Arm Force is a live longshot in the LA Derby.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Mike Monarchos — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:48:59 GMT

One of my favorite beers is Moosehead. Which reminds me of a joke. Ya know how ya can tell if a woman likes Moosehead? ..................Punch line is funny, but probably would be banned from this blog! LOL!

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

JayJay — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 06:48:15 GMT

HAHAHAHA at Draynot's last comment!!! That was classic!

I quote Draynay :

"You can try hating but let me suggest you talk to your shrink about not getting asked to the prom. I went to 3 my Senior year.

Draynay 24 Mar 2012 10:34 AM"

I wasn't sure but now you have confirmed it. You do see a shrink. So three shrinks eh ? Once for each of your ego ? one for each blog sites you post losing picks at ? Why the need for 3 shrinks ?? Oh wait, one for Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road and Uncle Mo...gotcha! Good luck man, hope Union Rags doesn't add a 4th shrink.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Taxman — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 23:21:26 GMT

Bob in Boston - thanks for the dizz on Went The Day Well, my bank account thanks you too!

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 19:20:56 GMT

Carlos in Cali Dr Hansen was quoted in an article that he was running his final prep in Kentucky because more of his family and friends could be there.I believe him %100, and I doubt he will waver from the race as opposed to Alpha.I assume YOU already know this,but I am posting it for those that dont know.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Carlos in Cali — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:11:47 GMT

Let me add: After Hansen's work this morning @ CD,Mike Maker said "the BG is not set in stone". Stay tuned!

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Carlos in Cali — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:07:54 GMT

El Kabong,

Fair point.But,with the exception of Animal Kingdom and Mine That Bird,the other horses you mentioned were on most people's radar heading into the Derby.My reasoning behind it is that I don't see a serious Derby contender who's been running on synthetics or one that will switch to synthetics for their final prep,like SS did. Though I admit Dullahan is interesting enough for me to keep an eye on,I would've preferred seeing him race on dirt prior to the Derby. I know he ran 4th @ CD in last yr's BCJ,but since he isn't in the top tier of most people's short-list,I'll wait and see how he runs in the BG.Strictly my opinion though..

I Hope that makes some kind of sense to you.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

El Kabong — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:54:31 GMT

Carlos in Cali,

While you're handing out synthetic prep hall passes, I'd write one up for Dullahan. Not sure why you would use that as a criteria for elimination with Street Sense and Animal Kingdom both proving that it is not such a bad plan. Hard Spun ran on synthetic prior to Derby and ran second to Street Sense. Mine That Bird was a predominately a synthetic runner, 6 of 8 starts before the Derby and Pioneer of the Nile who finished behind him was also a synthetic strip runner. The advantage that I have been told is that the synthetic surface is easier on the horses physically so it takes less out of them. They apparently don't get as sore, they recover quicker and yet they will gleam all of the cardiovascular benefits. But, I'm curious why you would toss horses for this reason?

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Draynay — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:34:09 GMT

Sorry to burst your bubble Mr. Pibb but I was the starting QB in High School and in College. You can try hating but let me suggest you talk to your shrink about not getting asked to the prom. I went to 3 my Senior year.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Householder — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:05:25 GMT

If any prep is "cursed" it is the Wood.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Carlos in Cali — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:30:00 GMT

I know I mentioned I'll be tossing any horse making their final prep on turf/synthetic,but with Hansen I'm ok with it. He really doesn't need to travel back to NY if he's already training in KY and we already know he likes the CD strip. Fast or off,he runs on any and all types of surfaces. The 3-weeks in between the Bluegrass & Ky Derby shouldn't be a concern,let's not forget Hansen ran lights-out only 2-weeks after breaking his maiden going from 5 1/2f to 1 1/16.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

mr pibb — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:26:11 GMT

LMAO at draynay trying to relive his "glory days" as a backup to the backup of the backup QB on a 1-10 D2 football team that hasn't made the playoffs since 1962. My son coaches D2 football and as he puts it at that low level you just have to fill the roster spots with anything that walks through the door. "Backups like that we call turds, everybody has them but they all stink".

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

draynot — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:02:45 GMT

Starting QB at Lenoir Rhyne University 1982 and Freshman of the year !

Draynay 22 Mar 2012 10:53

Too bad it was an all girls school.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Footlick — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:46:41 GMT

Aaron McC- thanks for the info. I have tried many American Imperial Stouts and you are right about masking the faults, but I always find eventually the aftertaste builds up and attacks. I have written down your other selections and will try them out.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Trebloc — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:34:17 GMT

Last three Wood winners never made it to the KY Derby. Smart move by Hanson's connections.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Householder — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:22:15 GMT

Bob from Boston. My wife was fine with it. She does not allow my girlfriend and I to yell inside the house.

I think Denver should pick up Terrel Owens.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Bob from Boston — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:30:45 GMT

My girlfriend who is a big Police/Sting fan pulled two dollars in change (all quarters) and let is all ride on Giacomo. She was the only one yelling at the OTB.

Householder 23 Mar 2012 11:54 AM

What did your wife think of that?

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Aaron McC — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:07:32 GMT

Footlick - Try any American Imperial Stout (BORIS the destroyer from Hoppin Frog is good and distributed in my area, but any will do: theyre pretty much all the same). You'll get "heaviness" and some complexity. The knock against them is that their very complexity is easy to do and hides flaws (just dump a lot of malt and hops in a pot). Its like a lot of contemporary thoroughbreds top class thoroghbreds: fast and powerful but so many of them fall apart over longer distances and rigorous schedules (If you're really open minded and into the big beers, try New Holland's Smoked Rye Doppelboch, Charkoota. Funky.) I too like a lot of European beers, though theyre not all heavy. But, its much much harder to brew low alcohol beers with complexity. Look for a local Kolsch (eg, New Holland Full Circle - floral, yeasty) or Pilsner (eg Victory Prima Pils - floral and hoppy). Beautifully made, complex, full, but not heavy, these are beers that can help us stand up to the rigors of the Triple Crown, that can help us go the distance without fading, passing out, or stopping to piss over the infield rail, in the stretch.

Sorry for going on - but you guys have touched on my other passion.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Footlick — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:06 GMT

It seems to me that a beer with a higher alcohol content ends up having certain ingredients in it that makes it a more complex, mature tasting beer. I suppose that is why many people like a higher alcohol content beer. I like beer that has body, that I can feel the heavyness in my mouth, that has a richness to the taste. That is why I gravitate toward the foreign brews and away from the American brews. If somebody can steer me to some American brews that can really compare, I'm more than willing to try them. So far I haven't found them, and I have tried many that have been mentioned.

As far as Alpha is concerned, Jason is right. Kieran does not call the shots. So don't blame him for the indecision. And I agree that wherever he finishes, the Wood was the right choice for his last prep.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Householder — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:57:36 GMT

Skyfire wait until Peyton realizes that he has no one to throw the ball to because they all went to San Francisco!

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Householder — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:54:28 GMT

My girlfriend who is a big Police/Sting fan pulled two dollars in change (all quarters) and let is all ride on Giacomo. She was the only one yelling at the OTB.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Jason Shandler — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:24:14 GMT

Aaron McC knows his beer! I'm not a big fan of IPAs myself, and I certainly dont think a beer is better just because it has a higher alcohol content. I prefer smoother, easier drinking beers, that's why I like the English ales, and stouts like Guinness. Don't get me wrong, I would rather drink water than a Bud Light or Miller Light, but a beer with a lot of hoppiness isnt my preference.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Aaron McC — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:15:44 GMT

Monarchos Matt - Hyping IPAs and beers over 5.5% is like saying the best horses in the world only run on dirt in Louisiana. Try Weihenstephaner hefeweizen (5.4 ABV) probaly the best hefeweizen - when fresh - in the world. Try most british ales (Riggwelter from Black Sheep which just climbs over 5.5) which rely on subtle minerality - not heavy hops and alcohol - for effect. Don't get me wrong, I love a big American IPA (and by the way Ruthless is a Rye IPA, technically, Carlos and Founders Reds Rye, when fresh, is the best on the market) though I prefer those with a little Brettanomyces or Belgian yeast like Stone's Cali-belgique). And Im poor enough to appreciate the alcohol level of most recent American Beers. Best beer Ive had in the last year: Rodenbach Grand Cru - a flemish sour (topping out at 6% ABV, though the original is pretty good at 5%). Had it after drinking a $90.00 Cab from Prichard Hill with a wine salesman buddy and it blew him away.

But bejeezus, American IPAs are more overhyped than Favorite Trick.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

Jason Shandler — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:15:36 GMT

Steve: To be fair to Kiaran, he doesnt make the final decisions. You have to understand who he is working for.

Also, even with the flip-flopping on Alpha, in the grand scheme of things it really isnt that big of a deal. In fact, the Wood is the best spot anyway. The timing is better and it's a better prep. If the horse is good enough, none of the indecision will matter.

The Hansen situation is a different matter. I think they made the wrong choice.

re: Final Preps Will Tell the Story

RiverCitySmitty — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:16:11 GMT

Ped. Ann: I didn't mean to disparage Gemologist who is a very good horse. What I was trying to get across was that none of the three I mentioned currently have enough graded earnings to ensure a spot in the derby. Bodemeister looked worn out in his last and I actually still prefer Liaison as Baffert's best shot. I think Baffert has said he thinks Liaison may not like SA's surface so perhaps he might pop up in the Wood. He already has enough $$ so he doesn't really need a win just a good effort. The others all need a victory to get in and a troubled trip could keep any or all of them home. Remember Eddington and Rock Hard Ten from a few years back? Both were highly touted Ky Dby prospects, but finished 3rd in their final preps and ended up with not enough money. (Rock Hard Ten was DQ'd from 2nd and Eddington missed 2nd by a nose)

As far as beer goes, I like Abita Turbo Dog.