Blue Grass is wide wide open

[Michael D.]

Buck and flushedstraight - great call on a $30 horse. Keep it up!

[richiebee]

Shanno

Good job, and another feather in Smart Strike\'s cap.

Old Fashioned--another over prepped Rick Porter runner.

[Michael D.]

richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shanno
>
> Good job, and another feather in Smart Strike\'s
> cap.
>
> Old Fashioned--another over prepped Rick Porter
> runner.


Does \"over prepped\" mean too many races? He\'s run 3 times in 4 1/2 months? Worked too fast? He\'s had 2 listed breezes since his last race?

He only lost by 1/2 a length, spotting the winner 4 lbs. And he ran a :12.3 final 1/8.

[richiebee]

Michael D. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> richiebee Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Shanno
> >
> > Good job, and another feather in Smart Strike\'s
> > cap.
> >
> > Old Fashioned--another over prepped Rick Porter
> > runner.
>
>
> Does \"over prepped\" mean too many races? He\'s run
> 3 times in 4 1/2 months? Worked too fast? He\'s had
> 2 listed breezes since his last race?
>
> He only lost by 1/2 a length, spotting the winner
> 4 lbs. And he ran a :12.3 final 1/8.

Michael:

11/3, 1 mile; 11/29, 1-1/8 mile; 2/16, 1 mile; 3/14, 1-1/16th mile;
4/11, 1-1/8th mile. Another way to look at it, 5 2-turn races in 18 weeks.

How many other Derby preppers have that many miles on the odometer?

OF got passed in the lane at 1-1/16th miles and 1-1/8th miles. 1-1/4 miles?

I hope OF is sound. If he is Porter sends him to Louisville. In my opinion,
OF would be a much better fit at Baltimore.

[Michael D.]

I\'m not sure miles matter Richie. Races like the 1m Del race or Remson don\'t necessarily take more out of horses than some of the brutally fast sprints other colts have been running in.

Fair enough though - one could argue that better spacing in \'09 might have the colt in a better position to run well in the Derby and Preakness. Straight to Baltimore could very well be the better option at this point.

[Leamas57]

Someone may have scooped me, but OF is out with injury per DRF article.

[marcus]

Interesting update - was reflecting on yesterday and thinking while watching the race that I didn\'t like how the Horse was moving  - except for at the break . OF\'s stride seemed a bit choppy , he was trying hard but really labored throughout . Sad news to hear he\'s out of the running . . .

[miff]

A shame but I think the horse is safe. He was a dead piece who would have taken some money in the derby.


Mike