Brancusi

[Wrongly]

Michael Tabor has an intersting colt in Brancusi.  Haven\'t seen the number he was given for the Blue Grass Stake.  Let\'s assume he paired his San Felipe number, how would you view his line going forward?  He\'s progressed four points from his two year old top, so he should be able to progress another two points or so.  That being said would a two point move be enough to win the Derby?

[Michael D.]

Can this horse find another gear? I have been watching him closely (and wagering on him) since his nice maiden race at Sar last year. Unfortunately, the horse loses ground in the stretch every race. I thought his San Felipe race was decent, even though he slowed down considerably at the end. I bet him in the Blue Grass, thinking his excellent distance breeding, combined with the speed favoring Kee strip, would carry him home. I\'m sure he ran a decent number, but his early and mid pace #\'s were excellent (102 & 117), while his late pace # was awful (79). Does this horse really want to run another furlong? The trainer has won the Arc twice, and \'cusi is bred to run long, so I havn\'t tossed him completely, but I would need huge odds to bet him on the win end.

[Michael D.]

that being said, Wrongly, I would not be surprised if Brancusi finds a race down the road, maybe even a grade 1, where he tracks a slow pace and grinds out a win at the end (his sire, Deputy Commander, won the Travers after McCarron nursed him along through a half in about :50.0). I just don\'t see him winning a fast ten furlong race at this time.

[~mike]

According to Tom Durkin\'s call of the \'97 Travers, Deputy Commander pressed Twin Spires and Affirmed Success through fractions of :23 1/5 and :47 1/5. The final time was 2:04 or so, with Behrens and Deputy Commander together through the final furlong pulling away from Awesome Again.

http://www.nyra.com/saratoga/travers2002/video.asp#

[Michael D.]

thanks Mike...... I remembered the race being slow, with McCarron edging Bailey at the wire by a nose (great finish, one of Durkin\'s best calls ever). for some reason, I thought DC got away with slow fractions. strange, if you look Brancusi\'s races, I think he would need a race like the \'97 Travers in order to win. I think the Derby will be a faster race........ thanks for the response.