Sekrah,
Thanks for the response. We\'ll just have to respectively disagree about Shirreffs\' camp being afraid of Rachel. Since Z is 6 years old now, and even last year at age 5, he isn\'t gonna empty her tank early in this campaign. No question, they hope to be hale and healthy come BC Classic time. You and I both know, Rachel and Z will both be tested greatly this year if they take on older males. If Asmussen wants to empty Rachel\'s tank before the real huge money on BC day, then he\'s just repeating the same mistake from last year. Asmussen isn\'t stupid, these 2 horses campaigns will be carefully crafted and thought out. If they remain healthy and are training and running well, their meeting(s) will be unavoidable. Please understand, John Shirreffs is going to give no advantage to Asmussen when it comes to site location, more liberal drug policies, etc. Why should he? You think its a shock that Asmussen has had zero success in the Kentucky Derby with the huge number of horses he\'s had over the years? What about TAP? Think what you want, they are both great trainers by their successes, but if they don\'t have an edge in the drug game, they\'re no-shows.....their lack of results in these premier events speak directly to that aspect.
You fail to realize Shirreffs wins over 35% in Grade 1 stakes over the last 2 years, and only a portion of those wins belong to Z. The guy knows horses, and it\'s hard to knock the success of Life Is Sweet as well as Z. Granted, you amd I BOTH question their campaigns, but you can\'t knock success when the end result is BC Distaff Champion and BC Classic champion in the same year.
Personally, I think you have little regard for anyone else who was a victim of Esk pulling out of the race.
I\'m a little disappointed for mjellish, even though he WILL absolutely land on his feet Derby day. I give him enough respect as a smart guy and a helluva handicapper to know he will go to Plan B and still position himself for a nice score. You could consider doing the same sekrah, and that\'s not a smart ass remark, okay? If you\'re as good a handicapper as you portray yourself to be and 90% of the field is 8/1 or longer, and 80% of the field is 12/1 or longer, you should be able to make a decent score.
If you are anything like me (unlikely), you should have been handicapping the Derby horses the last week with the idea that Esky would play no role in the race from a pace perspective, etc. Get creative and get busy with your thought process and make the best of it.
Enough about Z from me. I know TGJB wants this forum filled up with pre Oaks and Derby talk, as it should be.
Good luck,
Peace out
