Bayern

[richiebee]

Time for Baffert to try to go back to one turn races with this one?

[miff]

With a heavy heart, Bayern downgraded to pea heart slug,who woulda thunk it?

[richiebee]

Mike:

(some opinions with an assertive tone)

If sound, it wouldn\'t surprise me if Baffert gave him a few months and pointed
him at the BC Sprint or maybe more rest and point him to the opening day 7/8s
feature at SA.

Bayern\'s speed/stamina skills are obviously diminished, but he remains an
outstanding gate horse, and if managed judiciously (I am thinking Secret Circle
here) could be effective in graded races up to a distance of one mile.

[ringato3]

Richie,

If I knew you, I would offer you 7-5 that BAyern is retired.  No mas for the horse.  I love the horse and have some fond memories of scores with him last year, but there is no way around it, he has been DISGUSTING this year.  Excuse after excuse.  There really aren\'t any.  He has been horrid this year, as a 4 year old, at a time when in theory he is supposed to be faster and stronger.  

I don\'t think we will get a chance to see if your last point is right, but I will assertively disagree based on his figures this year.  He has tried different distances and surfaces and been awful on all of them.  Baffert has been soft, then tightened the screws, alas no horse.  He has gone 7 furlongs, 1 mile, 1 1/16 and now 1 1/4 and been equally horrid at all distances.  

On a separate note, and in now way did this excuse Bayern or help Queen B, who was astounding, but sometimes you really have to wonder what goes on in a jockey\'s head.  Tyler Baze, sitting 2nd pressing a 22.2 opening quarter going 1 1/4 miles, behind a horse who has been quitting, thought attacking the pace to a 45 half was going to help him win.  Does it get any dumber than that?

Rob

[miff]

Bayern does not display the same gas or toughness as last year.Loss of early speed for a horse like Bayern is an absolute sign of either unsoundness or loss of will.

[TheBull]

Richie, if you are referring to the opening day feature of the Santa Anita winter meet, the Malibu, I believe that is restricted to 3yos. However, at this point of Bayern\'s career, that may not even be enough of a drop to help him.

[richiebee]

I stand corrected.