As good as you are at \'capping this race Jim I will play devils advocate and write that this years KY derby winner did run this past w/end.
While neither winner has much shot ( the Bayou bred in New Orleans cannot get ten panels in a Sallee van, and the Pletcher does not have enough foundation) the show horse in Hallandale seems very live.
This years crop is very subpar and I suspect a zero could win the roses. General a rod has run that integer.
A son of the solid racehorse Roman Ruler himself a grade one winner who fetched a half a million as a yearling, out of a Darby dan family (4th dam tossed Carocalero a French champion who would run all day without a drink of water) this colt has done little wrong.
Off the pace in Lexington to win clear in his first start double M makes the unusual move and puts the shades on. Robby cannot keep him off the pace and while a bit wide in hot splits he beats them all aside from the last to first favorite dropping out of the breeders cup.
On to south Florida he runs down \"Red\" to win, then drops a photo to that same rival, before an honest third Saturday.
Does he need to improve, sure. His zero in the GP derby was a relatively easy trip and he is already \"home\" in south Louisville. Can he improve, probably.
Maker does his best work in Ky but his comments about this colt are somewhat telling. To wit according to the drf, January, \"he (General a rod) is a big immature colt with a ton of talent\". Then in March Mike is quoted \"he is the whole package, a big good looking colt... a professional push button horse\".
Personally, my own assessment is this colt has a problem with lugging in as he did again Saturday. He also never works in company and I would suggest he needs a rider with softer hands. Rosario will probably bolt for the Winchell homer so the mount is open, perhaps. Mike has promised \"some adjustments\" so we will see.
Disclaimer He is my winter book horse. bbb
