tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post4935543375969028113..comments2023-11-17T12:09:40.494-05:00Comments on Foolish Pleasure: Where the Road RunsValerie Grashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696887655473752690noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-86395627402197096132011-06-21T02:03:24.448-04:002011-06-21T02:03:24.448-04:00Val,
I haven't been by for a while and love t...Val,<br /><br />I haven't been by for a while and love the look of your site...as elegant as your writing. I will be back more often.<br /><br />I offer that the winter racing in NY and Cali, both having been impacted by rock hard tracks thanks to the sealing done when it rains, causes a myriad of injuries. It's entirely possible that will also occur in Louisiana and Arkansas. I think synthetics are a compelling option and that may leave normally warm California out in the horse racing cold.<br /><br />With STREET SENSE and ANIMAL KINGDOM both coming off synthetic preps to win the Derby and finish 2nd in the Preakness, it is possible that the Kentucky synthetics give young horses the requisite conditioning in the final prep while protecting their bodies.<br /><br />Even this year's Blue Grass winner BRILLIANT SPEED closed well against a slow pace in the Derby and loomed dangerously in the Belmont before flattening out for 3rd.<br /><br />PIONEEROF THE NILE finished 2nd in the '09 Derby after winning the SA Derby on synth. HARD SPUN was 2nd in '07 Derby after winning the Lane's End at TP, completing a synth. exacta. PADDY O'PRADO finished 2nd in the '10 Blue Grass prior to being 3rd in the Derby.<br /><br />If not for PADDY sideswiping him, I still believe LOOKING AT LUCKY would have won the Derby last year after a troubled 3rd in the SA Derby that you mentioned. Until the Haskell Invitational, Baffert was "lookin at unlucky" when peering down his shed row.<br /><br />COLONEL JOHN, trained by former Baffert asst. Eoin Harty, had a horrendous trip in the '08 Derby as the 2nd choice to BIG BROWN but Harty brought him back to win the Travers off a Cali synth campaign.<br /><br />I believe that owners/trainers thinking outside the box, prepping and training on synthetics in Kentucky, will develop more than their share of Classic winners.<br /><br />To find a Triple Crown winner, that special animal will fly over any surface to join a select group. However, he or she will need to be touched by angels to overcome the inevitable potholes that derail champions.<br /><br />Thanks for an enjoyable and thought-provoking read!Amateurcapperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10982902236844905767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-60540226950762474822011-06-20T11:11:56.833-04:002011-06-20T11:11:56.833-04:00Ah, Frank, I need a better fact checker! Does it c...Ah, Frank, I need a better fact checker! Does it count if you "will" a result to happen, like Funny Cide winning the Wood? :-) That said, it's still nearly been a decade...<br /><br />Thanks for correcting me so politely :-)Valerie Grashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696887655473752690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-5722817711652657192011-06-20T10:56:11.671-04:002011-06-20T10:56:11.671-04:00Interesting stuff, Val, but one minor quibble: in ...Interesting stuff, Val, but one minor quibble: in 2003 Empire Maker won the Wood (instead of being runner-up) but it was the Wood runner-up who made more noise in the Triple Crown: Funny Cide, who won two legs of it.Frankhttp://www.thatsamorestable.net/blognoreply@blogger.com