Can we all agree the derby is a joke and the focus of real fans of our sport should be on the Breeders Cup? A horse that's 50-1 -- and should be 500-1 -- fools us with a ridiculous rags to riches story. A trainer with a single win this year, with a horse that hadn't run a beyer figure north of 81 -- suddenly can storm from about 30 lengths back to win by 7.
We'll see the truth emerge in the coming days. And it'll probably be another black eye for the sport. As much as it's fun to watch the big money get crushed on derby day - you have to hope this win was remotely legit. I'm saying it wasn't.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Okay - I'm back - and calling BS.
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Nice to see you again The E-Vat, your straightforward opinions are always welcome to Drew Clear.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that I thought when I saw that horse win like he did, and then re-checked his past performance, was that something was fishy. Then when the trainer seemed annoyed and not jubilant during his interview just after the race, I couldn't help but think he was worried about something.
There may have been a strong rail bias, but you just don't make up that kind of ground, and improve that much from all other races historically. The "dosage" they quoted as being over 5 is a product of his recent stallions in the pedigree being new, and from brilliant but versatile stallions. Birdstone won the Belmont, and damsire Smart Strike is known for Curlin who won at 10F numerous times. Either it was a perfect track for him, with a perfect ride, or something's up. I hope its the former.
And maybe another chance for Steve Roman to revise history and add some horses to his archive. I may be wrong but Strike the Gold had a 9 dosage before the Chef-de-dosage woke up and changed his mind.
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else, we'll probably learn that this horse was bred to run the distance and will have a dosage below 3.
Now the real question - where's Billy Patin with that buzzer when you need him???? I've got a horse running in the 5th at River Downs on Wednesday and he needs a little encouragement!!!