Love this filly. Been following her since January and was at Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom. She's very special to me. :)

OK;)

There's no reason to believe that Harlem Rocker couldn't have won on Saturday. . . He would've won by just as many lengths (at least) if you took out Big Brown and put him in. . .

Stronach has shown patience if the past is any indication, Awesome Again was a later developer than Touch Gold and it's fair to say Awesome Again became the better horse when their careers ended. Stronach never rushed that horse and he won the Plate off a Mdn win I believe mostly on talent alone...He certainly has becone the better sire, I think the comparison with Harlem Rocker is a good one!

From what I hear Mrs. Stronach may have been the supposed " patient " one here.

He should have run in the Preakness. It's a shame he didn't.....but not for Big Brown.

I thought he should have also, I thought he had a shot. A big shot!

I suppose, the woman didn't want to see HR subjected to another beating like he got last out in that ridiculously easy win.:rolleyes: The conversation probably went something like: "But Frank, if he won so easily, why did the jock beat him up in the stretch and why did he lug in so badly late?"

As the great Ron Turcott said about Sham, "we'll really never know"

Even after KD easied up BB at the 1/16 pole, it was still one of the best final 1/4 times in Preakness History, so Frank made the right move. Maybe he could be a IEAH advisor too.

On the topic of a weak turf division, with Einstein being the top turf horse thus far this year and looking for a little competition. Some good news read today is that Sky Conqueror is back in training, this should add a little depth to the division.

On the topic of Disappointing of '08, you have to belive Majestic Warrior is a huge one for Steinbrenner and Mott.

In the mile turf division, the Kipper is back from his BC Mile win and looking good - he beat Einstein, who really prefers longer, in the Mile at Keeneland.

Agreed Kip Deville is a real nice horse, I was more or less thinking of possible Arlington Million type races or extended distance turf races. With Tin Man, Showing Up retired and Jambalaya still on the sidelines an infusion of new blood would be a welcome change.

Yeah, except he's running two more times this year. I don't really count that as being "back".

Well, you could say he's " back " on the shelf.

Personally I think Einstein is a better horse for what it's worth.

My #1 cant wait for is Euroears, flat mile or sprint , turf or dirt.

I think the Grasshopper has been a huge disappointment in the year 2008. I can remember many people were high on him to start the season.

Yes, and when I suggested he may have been one of those horses that really excelled at Saratoga I was scoffed at. Kind of like when I suggested that Street Sense might be a rail runner.

While I think Neil Howard is an excellent horseman, I think Grasshopper has been mis-managed this year. After a very good effort against a really bad field at Fair Grounds in the Mineshaft, he ran well in the NO Cap but was just outmoved and narrowly missed.

Instead of looking at races like the Oaklawn Cap or Alysheba, he was sent to the Westchester, which is run at a distance that doesn't really seem to suit Grasshopper well as it is run at a fast early clip. He utterly lacked punch that day and then was brought back in eighteen days in the Pimlico Special over a sloppy track.

In the long run I don't think he's much horse and he may just be a Saratoga horse for course but now they're kind of on an island. You'd be kind of dumb to run him in the Stephen Foster if Curlin shows up, and there has to be some level of concern that he re-surfaces in the Whitney as well.

Maybe the turf is the future for this guy? Of course it is also worth mentioning that his full brother, Turf War, has been absolutely dreadful this year as well.

So, yes, Andy you were probably right about G-Hopper. As far as your other prognostication, Street Sense did get a rail trip in the BC Classic, he just lost to a better horse.

NT

Really? At what distance? 8-8.5 furlong race kip beats Einstein 9 out of 10times. At 9f its a good race, but I'd still give the nod to KD.