But... you haven't answered my question! Will you...or won't you? Or...are you just too chicken to make a deal with...a woman?

hhhhmmmmmm, about 5 cents, tops.

I understand your point BoldBrook, but I look at it like this. Siphon City (pp3), Master Command (pp9), Courthouse (pp10), and Alumni Hall (pp11) do their best running from on or just off the lead. That means, BEST CASE SCENARIO, he is three wide around the first turn but more likely four wide. How many horses win when they are four wide around the first turn in a 9f race? Practically none. And lets say that he is able to weather the frontrunners and finds himself alone atop the lane...then he has to hold off Gouldings Green, Congrats, Real Dandy and Good Reward who will be moving late. He's not receiving enough weight - no more than 5lbs from anyone to make a huge difference and I respect your backing of this horse but his race is likely over before the gate opens.

MAYAN KING actually has a big chance in this race and 15-1 ML is just ridiculous....I think he definately factors after getting in lite and appearing to be sitting on a big race on the stretch to around two-turns...GOULDINGS GREEN has a lot of quality and fits in any Gr. II in the country...if he can get clear running from the rail he will factor....the only other horse I personally think can win is GOOD REWARD on the outside...he has a ton of backclass and is actually bred to be better on dirt than on turf - where he's made his nut....I think he runs big in here, but i still find myself turning to Mayan King when it comes down to value...Also, if Alumni Hall takes to Palm Meadows than he can certainly factor here...he is a weird horse that only runs big on certain tracks but there is nothing that says he won't take a liking to that oval...beware..

(1) Mayan King
(2) Gouldings Green
(3) Good Reward
(4) Alumni Hall

Mr. Mahgninnuc,

Call me dyslectic, but I see it:
1: Alumni Hall
2: Good Reward
3: Goulding Green
4: Mayan King

You guys really know how to hype a horse with the King. With all that you say he surely has not been tested against these tough of horses, is shipping accross the world, and has a pace challenge.

Still opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.

How did anyone get the impression that Mayan King is a frontrunner?

He's not at all a sprinter or even a miler ... he's a stalking classic distance horse who is just crying out for two turns and 10f ... though this race is only 9f.

He ran on the front end in his last start because he's rounding into peak form and was very sharp in a field which lacked real speed. Granted Post 12 is not a good place to start from ... but there's nearly 3/16 from the starting gate to the turn ... and Mike Luzzi didn't just fall off a turnip truck ... so I wouldn't be too worried about going eight-wide.

Any talk about HOY has gotta have Surf Cat in the mix. The only thing holding this horse back is not shipping out of Calif.

Tell that to ... Whirlaway, Armed, Capot, Counterpoint, One Count, Kelso, Roman Brother, Arts And Letters, Personality, Secretariat, Conquistador Cielo, and Charismatic ...

... all of whom lost allowance races ... or even maiden races ... during their Horse-Of-The-Year campaigns.

Still ignoring me, eh, Bold??

I just saw the past performances for this race ...

... and Mayan King has the highest Beyer rating ... tied with Master Command ... so ...

... where is all this skepticism coming from?

Also ... I didn't realize that Prairie Meadows racing is at night. Yikes! It'll be midnight in New York by the time this race is run. Shipping ... post 12 ...screws in the ankle ... no decent Italian food ... and now a midnight post time ... Mayan King will have to be outstanding to overcome all this ...

... but fortunately ... he is.

Yeah but can he beat Three Hour Nap?

BB,

I should have let Contessa know... "Sam and Gabe's".. A very good Italian Steakhouse in Des Moines. Kind of a Gene and Georgetti's (Chicago)..

You've likely not been to Des Moines.. You'd be very surprised. It's a pretty sophisticated town.. A small version of Kansas City basically.

Does the fact that Rathor and Noble Causeway were totally buried in the Suburban make any difference to your analysis of this race?

I could swear Bold is ignorning me.............

Were you being sarcastic? Being a small version of Kansas City does not make you a sophisticated town. Kansas City is about as sophisticated as a 3-legged goat.

Rathor sure didn't flatter Mayan King in the Suburban, buit this is an easier group and I'm still going to go with Mayan King at 10-1 or better...he is the value here....Rathor didn't enjoy a good trip either....what the hell was he doing towards the rear in a race with a slow pace...weird....he certainly wasn't ready for a top effort today if he was that disinterested early on in the race.....I went with Dutrow and he just grinded along...Invasor was the best, hands down...

You can't know Kansas City that well to say that Mira.. I lived in Kansas City for 2 years.. Worked on and off in Chicago since 1983.. I'll give you Chicago over KC downtown, etc.. But beyond the "city", I'll take KC (The Plaza, et al) and its' 'livableness' over "Chicagoland" any time... And Des Moines is a spotlessly clean, friendly, wealthy small city...

Bold Brooklyn
 

Bold:

Have placed a small win and place bet.....
How do you get your info?
Are you privy to Gary Contessa and his stable as far as info?
Or, are you just handicapping the race like everyone else?

Best of Luck,

PSH

I travelled frequently to Nevada, Iowa ... just outside Ames ... in the early 1970's.

They were in-and-out business trips ... buzzing through the Des Moines airport many times ... but never saw the town.

I advised Gary to pack his own pasta and biscotti ... and I wouldn't be surprised if he did!

After seeing today's Suburban ... I think Gary made a mistake by not staying home. But the ladies in Iowa are probably thrilled to have Keith Partridge visit them.

No ... because neither is a 10f horse.

Both would have been competitive at 8f ... possibly with Rathor defeating Invasor ... but 10f is way beyond their scopes.

On the other hand ... Mayan King is a true classic distance horse ... and when he's had a couple of graded-stakes under his belt ... and stays sound d.v. ... I think he can handle Invasor at 10f.