re: Hoping to Turn Medal into Roses - by Eric Mitchell

Coldfacts — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 14:04:51 GMT

Medal Count is one of my top 5 contenders. He has contested two races between 04/04/14 and 04/12/14. He finished a fighting 2nd in the Bluegrass which was his second race in 8 days. He was only beaten by one of 13 fresher horses. He now has a window of 21 days to recover and continue his preparation for the Derby.

I am of the opinion that he will be one of the fittest horses entering the starting gates off his quick back to back races? I am by no means comparing Medal Count to Secretariat. However, if two races in the month preceding the Derby worked for Secretariat one can only hope it will for Medal Count.

Most will dismiss him due to his synthetic surface performances. I would hasten to request caution about such an assessment. Derby winners Barbaro & Animal Kingdom were more proficient of Turf. Mine That Bird and Pioneerof The Nile finished 1st and 2nd in the Derby and all their previous victories were recorded on synthetic tracks.

Medal Count’s capacity to recover was severely tested in the Bluegrass and he passed the Lactic Acid test with flying colors. He will stay 10 furlongs pulling bus. His sire Dynaformer did not have a many Derby starters but boast a record of one win and two 3rd place finishes. Very few if any of the sires of Medal Count’s opponents boast such a record.

Dynaformer clearly injects a lot of stamina in his progenies and with so much early and tactical speed in the Derby class of 2014, a progeny of the stallion with the test and proven record in big races is likely to prevail.

re: Hoping to Turn Medal into Roses - by Eric Mitchell

Ta Wee — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 13:39:02 GMT

Medal Count looks to have the ability to really quicken and sustain his move. His breeding strongly suggests he'll handle Churchill's most quirky dirt surface. Very dangerous indeed.