empire maker

[mholbert]

frankel enters in the jersey derby on monday.

[TGJB]

Wrong. \"Ragozin client\" Frankel entered him in the race.

[Linda]

I\'m confused. There was an article just before the Derby in the Lexington Herald Leader where Frankel was quoted endorsing Thorograph. If he trains using Ragozin theories, doesn\'t he know from Robes\' Preakness analysis that he is compromising Empire Maker\'s chances by running him in a race less than two weeks before the Belmont? Can\'t he see that Empire Maker would end up running on the same kind of \"short rest\" that Funny Cide and all but two winners of the Preakness has run on in the last twenty or more years? To borrow one of Frankel\'s many inappropriate comments after the Derby and before the Preakness, is it possible that it is Brooklyn Bobby and not Barclay Tagg who is unravelling because of the pressure of training a Triple Crown prospect? Or is there another explanation?

[derby1592]

Maybe Frankel is not real anxious to take on Funny Cide in the Belmont...

Also, don\'t forget about the special drug testing that they are supposedly planning (still not sure what it is and what if any consequences will be associated with any positive tests).

I would not be at all surprised to se EM pass the Belmont. Combine that with  Atswhatimtalkinabout\'s sore foot and Funny Cide\'s chances are looking better every day.

Cheers.

Chris

[JR]

It\'s a smart move. An easy race would set him up for the Belmont. I think he also knows the history of horses with a 5 week layoff before the Belmont not winning at a high percentage.

[alm]

I agree with JR in terms of general historical observations.  The Jersey Derby, the Peter Pan, the Metropolitan have all set up some important Belmont winners.

I have bet my share of them.

I don\'t know about this horse, however...he really does seem to need time to recover from race to race.

Ultimately, it might not matter, since Funny Cide seems to have moved to a new level, which these others may never see in their lives.

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

Linda,

This is the horse Bobby said back in 2001 would win the Kentucky Derby. Of course he\'s a bit nervous. That dance he did back and forth regarding a Preakness start when Funny Ride had the picture taken was the epitome of indecision. Peace Rules got so badly dusted in the Preakness he knows he\'s got a major league ball game on his hands now. (I think he knew it right after the Derby) E.M.inem is a good horse. Is he good enough at 12 marks is the question. The Belmont usually isn\'t a traffic race, I\'m sure Bailey will sit E.M.inem just off Funny Ride without losing much ground. After this one the naysayers won\'t be able to say \"traffic stopped him\", \"he covered more ground\" or \"A bad trip was the difference\". IF Funny Ride has a race left in him, E.M.inem will have to be at his best, but even then I don\'t think it will be nearly good enough.

CtC