As someone who agreed 100% with the DQ in the Derby, I think Max losing today isn't really much different than most 3 year old racing. Good horses lose races. He got some serious pace compression here, from a horse who looked him in the eye and gave him all he could handle, but then that stumble probably interfered with his momentum a bit.......plus, he needed the race.
Basically he got a paid workout and made some $$ for his owners.
Due to my basic feeling about the trainer, I 'm unsure if Max will have a *long* career, but I hardly think losing a race to a horse who was "better on the day" is the end of the world.
I would like to see him in more different situations, at different tracks, and follow his 3-4 year racing career before I make any prognosications for him.
3 year old jump up all the time. 2-3 year olds show preciciousness and then it goes away. I guess we will see what develops.
2019 Three-Year-Olds
He was sort of pressed in the Derby, but I suspect this was by far the fastest pace he has ever encountered. Were it not for the DQ, the conversation after the Derby probably would have focused on its historically slow pace.
That being said, he didn't look great either before or during the race. Not like there weren't signs beforehand that he wasn't ready for this...
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Happy Endings
- Posts: 1426
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:12 pm
Well that Pegasus result just blew the division wider open, if that's possible! I always wondered how MS would do if he got pressured throughout and didn't get a breather in the middle of the race. Some would say he needed the race, but he was only off for 6 weeks, not 6 months. 6 weeks really isn't a layoff. And this was a shorter race. If he was that much better than all the others, it seems like he should have won this race easy.
Race fractions for comparison. This was clearly the first time he was made to work for it:
FL Derby .24.42, .48.98, 1.12.90, 1.36.34, 1.48.86
KY Derby .22.31, .46.62, 1.12.50, 1.38.63, 2.03.93
Pegasus .23.58, .46.82, 1.10.57, 1.35.98, 1.42.59
Race fractions for comparison. This was clearly the first time he was made to work for it:
FL Derby .24.42, .48.98, 1.12.90, 1.36.34, 1.48.86
KY Derby .22.31, .46.62, 1.12.50, 1.38.63, 2.03.93
Pegasus .23.58, .46.82, 1.10.57, 1.35.98, 1.42.59
curious that country house isn't just freshening up for the fall, he's just OUT ALL YEAR. wonder if there's something up we don't know abt? illness, injury, etc. not accusing them of a cover up, it's not our business. just seems a little long for him to be out.
that said, the horse always comes first, and i'd rather they be too cautious than not cautious enough with him. i applaud the care and love they show.
that said, the horse always comes first, and i'd rather they be too cautious than not cautious enough with him. i applaud the care and love they show.
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Somnambulist
- Posts: 7732
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:59 pm
He ran 3 races in 6 weeks to qualify for the Derby. My guess is that's his problem.
"Life's no piece of cake, mind you, but the recipe's my own to fool with."
If I recall, they were originally just planning on a vacation, but then he didn't show much interest in going back to training, so Plan B was to give him more time before returning to training. Like you, I prefer they rather be too cautious than rushing him too much. By the time you figure on getting him ready to run again, and then a couple of prep races, you're pushing the envelope for the BC. The BC isn't that far away.sweettalk wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:24 pmcurious that country house isn't just freshening up for the fall, he's just OUT ALL YEAR. wonder if there's something up we don't know abt? illness, injury, etc. not accusing them of a cover up, it's not our business. just seems a little long for him to be out.
that said, the horse always comes first, and i'd rather they be too cautious than not cautious enough with him. i applaud the care and love they show.
I think he's all right. I haven't seen anything that makes me think he'll be a divisional leader, and I have my doubts about him getting a mile and a quarter.
Navarro Calls 3-Year-Old Shancelot ‘The Best Horse I’ve Ever Trained’
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thor ... r-trained/
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thor ... r-trained/
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ThreeMustangs
- Posts: 1715
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:37 pm
- Location: Florida
Code of Honor is an easy winner of the Dwyer (G3). Velazquez dropped his stick—good thing he didn’t need it.
from DRF Anderson.
Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018, is under strong consideration for the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on July 13, trainer Bob Baffert said on Saturday.
Game Winner is one of three Baffert-trained nominees to the $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby, which is run at 1 1-8 miles. His other nominees are Kingly and Mucho Gusto.
Baffert said he is likely to have two runners in the Los Alamitos Derby and could send Mucho Gusto to the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 20. He stressed that the plans are tentative.
Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018, is under strong consideration for the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on July 13, trainer Bob Baffert said on Saturday.
Game Winner is one of three Baffert-trained nominees to the $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby, which is run at 1 1-8 miles. His other nominees are Kingly and Mucho Gusto.
Baffert said he is likely to have two runners in the Los Alamitos Derby and could send Mucho Gusto to the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 20. He stressed that the plans are tentative.
I've found it easier to tear up tickets at 8/1 instead of 8/5.
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ThreeMustangs
- Posts: 1715
- Joined: Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:37 pm
- Location: Florida
Game Winner won easily.stark wrote: ↑Sun Jul 07, 2019 8:43 pmfrom DRF Anderson.
Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018, is under strong consideration for the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on July 13, trainer Bob Baffert said on Saturday.
Game Winner is one of three Baffert-trained nominees to the $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby, which is run at 1 1-8 miles. His other nominees are Kingly and Mucho Gusto.
Baffert said he is likely to have two runners in the Los Alamitos Derby and could send Mucho Gusto to the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 20. He stressed that the plans are tentative.
I've found it easier to tear up tickets at 8/1 instead of 8/5.
Iroquois Winner Cairo Cat Returns in Curlin Stakes
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... lin-stakes
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... lin-stakes
Well-Traveled Tone Broke Takes the Prince Of Wales
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... e-of-wales
Omaha Beach Returns to Work Tab at Del Mar
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... at-del-mar
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... e-of-wales
Omaha Beach Returns to Work Tab at Del Mar
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... at-del-mar
"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."
~ Robin Williams 1951 - 2̶0̶1̶4̶ ∞
~ Robin Williams 1951 - 2̶0̶1̶4̶ ∞