Funny Cide

[TC]

Just purchased my first set of sheets ever.  Couldn\'t even wait until tomorrow when I would of gotton the whole seminar for the same price. Derby fever, what can I say.

From a beginners point of view, it looks to me that Funny Cide is most likely to pair up his new top. If the top horses regress a little and Funny Cide doesn\'t get in a speed duel with Indian Express he could win this. At 11 or 12 to 1 it could be the start of a nice ex and tri. Of course I am sure that New York Money will pound the EM-FC ex.

Before looking at the Thorograph sheets my top pick was Ten Most Wanted. Now its Funny Side first and Brancusi second. Of course this is all before post position draw which with this group I think will have a significant effect on the outcome.

[alm]

Really doubt it...his comeback was an optical illusion...he might pair up, but EM was just toying with him...imagine what EM\'s number could have been if Bailey asked him at the head of the lane...then imagine EM pairing up THAT number in the Derby.

[JR]

imagine there\'s no countries...

[RICH]

Empire maker should not win, he ran the # he ran and was bearing in down the stretch. Two monster efforts that will no doubt have an affect on race day. I wouldn\'t bet your money on the 3 third monster effort that would be needed at 7/5. I am just hoping he stays in the race. A definite toss to win. We don\'t buy sheets to jump on this type.

Good Luck

[tonyk]

horses keep getting faster,the bar is constantly being raised ,EM won the Wood easy and could have run much faster,if he doesn\'t lose in B\'more he will win the triple crown.

[RICH]

Same story , different year. It\'s just not worth it. He is as fast as several others in here. Yes, the bar is raised higher each year and you still have to deal with frankel. But how many early 3yr olds have ever ran three 0\'s in a row.

[JR]

Precisely the fact that horses are running faster is why, I think, we are less likely to see a triple crown winner. These days, in order to win the Derby, the winner has to run a 0. To win the triple crown, you are asking a young 3yo to run three career efforts in the span of 7 weeks. What we are seeing, more often than not, are 3yos running career ending efforts.

If I were to place the blame anywhere, it would be on the use of steroids. Steroids build muscle mass that enhance a horses strength and enable him or her to run faster. They don\'t, unfortunately do the same for bone or joint strength, the areas where most injuries occur.

The bottom line is, most of these horses that run competitvely on Saturday will be damaged goods by June.

[RICH]

JR, with that being said, we have EM in his third race of a seven week cycle looking for another 0. The guy above is talking triple crown that would be 5 races. This is his Belmont in that 3 race cycle and a toss to win.

[JR]

I sarcastically responded to another poster\'s prediction of a bounce by saying he\'d go sub zero. Really, I\'m betting against him and his somewhat unorthodox (was he hurt or was he just goofing) last 1/16 in the Wood and his double 0\'s and his recent foot bruise. Honestly, I wouldn\'t be surprised if in the end, he scratched. Heartbraker for Bobby but I don\'t believe he\'d run a sore horse. And this horse has every right to be feeling some pain. Strip away all the hype and you \'re still left with a horse with a pair of 0\'s after a 6 point jump. Your move.

[alm]

I think that everyone on this tree is right in a way...but this horse may very well be an EPO horse...if this is the case, (this is an honest question, not a challenge) is there a chance that he can move forward through the numbers without any backsliding?  At least, until the negative effects of the EPO kick in?

[Frank]

Do you really believe the bar is being raised? Do you really believe that horses are getting faster and faster? If so, why is Secretariat still the fastest at 10 furlongs at CD? Why does the Bid still hold track records at SA? Why do the fastest times ever recorded at AQU still belong to Easy Goer, Riva Ridge and Damascus? Have the surfaces gotten slower?

Frank

[Tabitha]

Alm, you mean Funny Cide\'s Wood was an optical illusion, but Empire Maker\'s very same Wood was bona fide? How bout this for perspective: E.M.inem just ran faster than Bobby or Jerry wanted him to and has now come down with a foot bruise. The paths wide and the finish didn\'t bother you? Another furlong and E.M.inem finishes on the inner rail of the Inner Dirt. Take you\'re 8-5 and bet with both hands. Heck he might even win, who you gonna put in second Kafwain?  lol


Tabi

[alm]

My point was simply this:  FC was not rebreaking in the race, just running on gamely....he appeared to be gaining because EM was slowing....so I don\'t disagree with you, I am just not impressed with what FC did in that race.

If you are right about EM, then we might throw both of them out.

[MO]

The track was scraped that day for Easy Goer, who by the way was owned by Phipps and it was Phipps who made sure the track was scraped for EG\'s Belmont. In addition, Sunday Silence was not allowed to work out at Belmont, a trend Baffert picked up on and when given the opportunity to ship to Belmont, he trained at CD. And he got nosed twice for the TC. (bottom line, no horse who was not NY based has ever won the Triple crown. Think about it!)

I always though EG was the better horse. He just hated CD (as do his offspring) , got nosed at Pimlico and romped at Belmont. But after years of retrospection, I can\'t forgive Phipps for the unfair advantage he gave his horse. Money talks and you know what walks.

[P-Dub]

Hey Mo, Whats your excuse for the BC Classic??