Pegasus Thoughts

[jbelfior]

Been hearing all kinds of opinions with many of them resigned to the fact that the only way to make serious money here is with the tri.

So the popular names being thrown out at the bottom of the ticket are Gunnevera (wheels falling off), War Story, and Seeking the Soul.

So one question....getting 3 pounds and inside, on her best day Stellar Wind doesn\'t dust those 3?


Good Luck,
Joe B.

[Mike C]

On her best day she is a contender, but her best days seem to be 2 years ago.
Is the \"X\" in her last race a signal that tomorrow will be her best? I have seen plenty of horses run big figs after a dead rail trip....but IMO she will need near her best to get in the money here. There are too many horses in this race who look like they will run their tops or near their tops, and there are a couple that may run new tops, so I would be hesitant to use Stellar Wind, even with the 3 pounds.

[big18741]

It wasn\'t Stellar Wind\'s best day but she still beat half the field.

Beaten for 3rd by 2 3/4 lengths while steadying on both turns.
Second turn when she was starting to put in a run.
Cleaner trip who knows Joe B?

[jbelfior]

Hey Big:

I know. Saez dropped in on her going into the first turn taking away a spot that Rosario was moving up into and costing her several lengths after she had to check.

Pretty convinced if that doesn\'t happen, and she\'s in Gunnevera\'s spot on the inside, she gets third and I go to Disney with my family. Rough game.


Good Luck,
Joe B.

[johnnym]

Hated Azteca ride,not saying he wins.

[Boscar Obarra]

SA didn\'t show up at all. Doubt any better trip would have resulted in better than a poor third placing.

 He didn\'t get the lead because he wasn\'t right

[TGJB]

I tend to agree. Clearly wasn\'t right, and probably didn\'t make lead as a result.

[jbelfior]

Will toss this out to the board while using some assumptions.


Assume: Collected, West Coast, Gun Runner and Sharp Azteca all line up in peak form.

Assume: a 1 1/8th race around 2 turns and the 4 of them draw posts 1 through 4.

Assume: All 4 riders are instructed to gun for the lead.


In a 5 race sample, how many times does Sharp Azteca make the lead?


Good Luck,
Joe B.

[Boscar Obarra]

As I suggested , maybe 100% if the horse is 100%, and near zero the way he showed up Sat.

 I looked at the replay a few times, the rider didn\'t inhibit him in any way I could see, he just didn\'t have it out of the gate , then got shut off badly.

 Happens all time.

[big18741]

Toast Of New York backed up into Stellar Wind on the second turn when she\'d already made up the ground on Gunnevera while inside of that one on the rail.

At that point Rosario had to hit the brakes with nowhere to go.
Couldn\'t really get her going again till he swung out mid stretch.

It looked like Irad was riding Sharp Azteca hard out of the gate but wasn\'t getting a response.War Story didn\'t do much running either.

[dcbred1]

I apologize for stating the obvious, but both War Story and Sharp Azteca have the same trainer who has a history with medications being used illegally.  Was there enhanced testing for the Pegasus?

[johnnym]

My initial thought as well.

[Silver Charm]

dcbred1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I apologize for stating the obvious, but both War
> Story and Sharp Azteca have the same trainer who
> has a history with medications being used
> illegally.

Yes and he took them himself. Azteca would have trounced earlier in the Card at the flat mile. Had no business wasting time in this race

[heatherk]

Not mentioned enough is the job Team Asmussen has done with Gun Runner. He is ready to fire each and every time he takes to the track. Hats off to them especially since the recent Pita fiasco. Below is a link of an article in Bloodhorse that says it all.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/225843/gun-runner-farewell-brings-out-the-best-of-emotions?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bloodhorse%2FanXz+%28Thoroughbred+News+%7C+BloodHorse.com%29

[belmont3]

https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2018-distance-question-mark-sharp-azteca-and-war-story-fit-pegasus

SA was \"leased\" for the race.

In a TVG interview Saturday, (I forget the name as I was half listening) , a fellow owner or trainer questioned whether SA would gun for the lead. He noted that SA\'s workouts were the type  (slower quarters early and faster late) that indicated they wanted the horse to rate.

To be honest, I was more busy with the AQU card that day and was not paying much attention the the GP under card. But I remember thinking that SA rating in the Pegasus was not the conventional wisdom...and that would be to Gun Runner\'s advantage.
After reading the Navarro published interview above and hearing the TVG interview, I can understand why SA did not attempt to take the lead.

Bob