A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

MIKE RELVA — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:17:41 GMT

TO:JON

Tell you what,if anyone thinks Rags was a fluke,they would be fooling themselves. As for Stardom Bound,she's for real!

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

slyder — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:19:00 GMT

jon,

You make it sound like Rags To Riches was some flop they way you put it, has everyone forgotten she beat Curlin and you can't take a horse seriously who she beat. Rags was no Da Tara and certainly not a mere maiden when she faced and beat Curlin and if she had been born a year later she could have won a Triple Crown.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

SlewStable — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:22:56 GMT

In watching Mr. Fantasy I see a horse that could be something special. He is calm, cool and seemingly more mature than his age. I'm looking forward to the Gotham to see how he progresses.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

jon — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:55:59 GMT

Mr. Fantasy certainly looks like the real deal, and Stardom Bound seemed to be weakening a bit in Las Virgenes. As for Curlin...has evryone forgotten that Rags to Riches beat him???? He is overrated. I cannot take him seriously since that Belmont where he was supposed to leap to greatness and a better horse beat him.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Ranagulzion — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:32:08 GMT

Slew.em.All: The last laugh will be the best laugh. I think my turn to laugh will come. Its still early days my friend.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

LDP — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:58:01 GMT

I just read that VH ran forth, beaten 10 1/2 lengths behind desert party. The winning time for Desert Party was 1.37 and 3/5, which means VH's final time was probably around 1.39 1.40 for the mile, since 1 lenth eqauls about 1/5 of a second. Looks like Old Fashions 1.38 aint so bad after all is it Dray. I wouldn't give up on him though just yet, since in was his first race in god knows how long, but if he's gonna win the Derby, he needs to step up more than that.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

draynot — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:11:39 GMT

nay nay,

I figured somewhere in the past there might have been one or two who ran those types of fractions. That just goes to prove my point again, you almost always never have to run those types of fractions to win a Derby. If I recall that day there were a number of track records set. Bill Finley wrote that "The Churchill Downs track was harder and faster than nearby I-264 during an afternoon in which three track records fell. It took that kind of surface for it to be accomplished with those fractions, an obvious freak occurence.

I see another of last years Preakness contenders (Stevil)went down in a mere allowance race on Wednesday.

Just goes to further show what a weak field that was. I guess you'll need to hitch your wagon to another pony after Vineyard Havens performance Thursday nay nay. I believe Alan Shuback described it this way. Vineyard Haven "caved in" at the quarter pole. Just goes to show you can't judge a 3 yr old by what he did at two. Others catch up and sometimes leave them in the dust of Dubai.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

LDP — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:07:55 GMT

Hey Mike, now that i don't have Curlin aroud you mind if i become a fan of Zen this year? Looks like it could be a year for the fillies, since we have Zen, SB, PS, Cocoa Beach, and Music Note around. Then again maybe some of the Ok horses last year will turn out just to have been late bloomers and steal the show. How about the three year olds this year too. This years crop, so far look pretty good with POTN, OF, FF, Mr.F and some others. O and if Midshipman, desert party and VH can come over and strut their stuff, we'll have a very good group of horses over all this year.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Slew.em.All — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:53:44 GMT

Wanda: no need for apologies,I was mainly tired of people bringing up last years baloney,as your are too..So,lets concentrate on the TC Trail and this years 3yo crop,for now...there's plenty of horses and preps left to talk about.

But a little banter now and then won't hurt,will it?

I hear Beethoven is tearing up his barn in Fla..that's a good sign,I guess he's ready to roll.Don't sleep on him people!

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Slew.em.All — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:33:35 GMT

So..me and the Gang watched VH's race in Dubai,and...well,what can u say?..it didn't go well for him.Although I believe every horse deserves a Mulligan,especially coming off a lay-off,he just doesn't look like a Derby contender to me.His female side of the family is "strictly" sprinters pedigree!..His stride looked horrible!.either he disliked the track or something is wrong with him physically..Either way,he better win impressively next outing or forget about the KY Derby,because they're saying he might have a prep here in the US..Think about it: the UAE Derby in late March,fly all the way back here for a prep in mid-April,then turn around and race in the Derby(and that's probably the best case scenario)....NO WAY!!! Not Happening!

BTW: his stablemate Desert Party looked pretty good.

Ranagulzion: you were saying about Jose Adan?....lol j/k.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Wanda — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:21:12 GMT

Hey Big, hows sunny Cal? I think you called it right on that one although Slew.em.all has a point there. I'm sorry I got away from the subject at hand Slew. As for the other comment there's a very small group of people that want to talk about the same thing over and over again. The point has been made many times last year on this blog so why rehash the same argument? I want to hear about everything including ALL sane opinions on the 3yr old crop this year. You know how lucky we all are to get together here from all over the world and talk racing? Don't lose sight of that and try not to get caught up in a verbal exchange that means nothing at the end of the day.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

SamNotSpam — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:12:43 GMT

So Jason, here in the UK they're offering me 25-1 Mr. Fantasy to win - sounds like they've been reading your blog! Seriously though, I think that's pretty short considering - what do you think (seeing as you got 75-1)!!

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

MIKE RELVA — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:05:59 GMT

TO LDP:

I understand!

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Sunny Crest Farm Bill — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:53:13 GMT

Well, as in my previous blog as I stated on Jan. 14th " I hope I can bet Mr. Fantasy @ 100-1 odds."

I got it @ Wynn's Casino in Vegas last month. The pit boss didn't even have his name listed, so I told the teller his name and she punched him in as a contender for me and I got down for the 100-1. Now I see in Feb.he's only in the field @ 5-2.

Guess my flight from NY to Vegas was well worth the travel.Besides my bet was free, as I won the $ I bet playing Black Jack & " LET IT RIDE !"

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Wanda — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:35:08 GMT

Hey Jordan how are you? I will keep an eye on Silver City but got to stay with my HH. I can't wait to see Bear's Prospector come back off his last start he should be right there. And of course VH on Thursday. Should be an interesting week with the roadtotheroses contest coming up.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

zarvona — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:04:01 GMT

well the sports guys poll sees it this way (although I don't agree!)

yet this might be much the way of Pool #1...

votes

Old Fashioned (58)

Pioneer of the Nile (37)

Vineyard Haven (33)

Patena (28)

Mid Shipman (26)

Friesan Fire (25)

Capt. Candyamn Can (18)

Giant Oak (15)

Hello Broadway (14)

West Side Bernie (13)

Stardom Bound (f) (8)

Flying Pegasus (8)

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

LDP — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:29:52 GMT

Mike, I get what you mean. I know i can get quite hot headed when some push the right buttons. I've been watching races for 8 years, more so over the last 4-5 years. But i've been a horse person for 9 years, and you should see the amount of of books i have on horses. Basicly if i didn't have school, i'd be around horses 24/7. I will admit i don't know a lot about racing, but i know enough about racing and horses in general to make up for it. That is why when i read some ppl posts against me, which imply that i haven't the slightest clue on what i'm talking about, it infuriates me. Thats at times why i get so defensive against you and dray, cause from what i read sometimes it seems like you think i'm stupid. As you also can tell i don't like anyone trashing anything my favorite horse has done. I say favorite, because i never got to see Cigar, Holly Bull, Skip Away, Sec., or the Bid, like some others have, so Curlin form what i see is great, and from what i've seen the best so far. I do understand what you mean about ppl trashing horses like Cigar and those above, it grates on my nerves to, because i have watched tapes and can't believe ppl would do that to such a spectacular beautiful animal. Are we good?

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Julie L. — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:02:03 GMT

With all this talk going on this blog I am going to stick my neck out here and say that the one to beat in the Kentucky Derby will be Pioneer of the Nile with I want Revenge closing fast. Just a thought. But if you look at his performaces and his breeding he shouts out Derby winner.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

BIGHORSEFAN — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:21:59 GMT

slewemall, we're conversing with our fellow bloggers in a sane civil manner.

The discussion USUALLY starts with horse racing related subjects (like the trip to Vegas i.e. betting the Derby futures, the snowboarding related to the cold weather in Kentucky etc. the beach, well that was Jason who started that, or didn't you READ his blog before you posted?) and then drifts but how many times can some people talk about the same thing over and over?

Whenever the TRUE horsemen came on here and tried to talk strictly horses from an insiders point of view they got shouted down.

Me, I'd much rather have a little pleasant personality attached to the unknown names than to hear the same thing said 5,000 times by the same person.

You can ignore the innocuous friendly banter once or twice per blog between posters who connect, but that's impossible with people who barrage us with the same opinions over and over and over and say it in a nasty, confrontational way.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Draynay — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:30:20 GMT

Zebra do you really think I need someone to agree with me? My opinion is just that my opinion. You don't have to agree with it and you don't even have to like it. However it may or may not help shape your own opinion one way or the other. That is what good blogs like this one do. You may not like what I have to say but you will always know where I stand and why. And for your information Draynot... Monarchos ran a 1:10 and won the Derby.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

Zebra — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:42:51 GMT

Am I the only one on this blog who thinks Draynay and Mike Relva are the same person

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

JordanA — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:42:29 GMT

Because MIKE RELVA, this is the 2009 Triple Crown Talk. The BB, Curlin etc has been beaten with a stick. It's over it's done it ain't going down in the history books as the greatest race it's going down as the subject that was talked about more than the horse actually ran. PLEASE LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HORSES IN THIS YEARS DERBY!!! (sorry to yell, seems like some just can't hear, or don't want to listen)

Bummer on your bet Wanda.

Actually Silver City might be the better Calhoun horse.

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

MIKE RELVA — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:08:04 GMT

TO SLYDER:

I'm not going to debate what BB did or didn't do,but I can tell to without a doubt for him to accomplish what he did with his feet always being a work in progress is something special. It's not his fault who he ran against or that he was at the mercy of a trainer that's a jerk!

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

MIKE RELVA — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:03:48 GMT

TO LDP:

I don't balme you for being a loyal supporter of Curlin. I think he's a great horse,just don't care for the trainer. We all have our favorite horse. I knew Zenyatta probably wouldn't win HOY,but I supported her from the beginning. When I watched her run early last year I felt she was something special. My gf lives in Calif. so I fly there often. What I despise is individuals that know next to nothing slamming horses,(I'm not referring to you). But some on this blog and others will slam a horse no matter what accomplishment. That makes me sick! For example some currently on this blog have slammed the great Cigar. Of course,that's their right of opinion,but I ask how do you claim to know a fraction regarding racing and slam an animal like him? I've seen Cigar several times at the Horse Park and can tell you I felt in the company of greatness. That's what kills me that some are stupid enough no matter what they find a lame excuse to not give credit when it's due!

re: A Kentucky Derby Fantasy?

draynot — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:01:09 GMT

draynay,

I see plenty of potential in Old Fashioned. What you don't seem to understand is that Old Fashioned may well be capable of those types of fractions but it would be a huge mistake for his trainer to have him cranked to the gills this far out from the Derby just to please people like you. On the other hand Old Fashioned may not be capable of going on in the Derby after keeping up with those types of fractions. But we are talking the KY. Derby here and I challenge you to come up with any horse who ran a 1:10 6F fraction IN THE DERBY and went on to win. Certainly your Big Brown didn't accomplish that, he ran a 1:11.8 6f time and a 1:36.4 mile in his win. You don't have to run the fractions you keep throwing out in the Derby to win especially if the competition is anything like last years was.