Cosmonaut is going to the Arlington Handicap, Distorted Reality too and maybe Operation Red Dawn (was split 50-50 between them the last I heard).

Thankfully those defections detract very little from the awesomeness of the Man O' War. :)

I wonder if any of the others will see Curlin and head to AP instead?

Actually that's not true as two of them would have helped make the pace at least a little honest.

Maybe I'm just sick of burning money on Cosmonaut. Either way, those 2-3 horses weren't among those that had me excited for the race.

There goes any chance for Grand Couturier.

Get Shake the Bank in here...

Clement may have been planning to send Operation Red Dawn with Gio Ponti, who he now is not sending to Arlington.

Anyone hear if Mission Approved might go? Contessa doesn't like to miss any dances, as his 15 for 202 record at the meet shows, so he may run this horse, even with the three week layoff. He'd obviously add pace. With the current cast assembled Sudan might be free and clear early. It's a good thing he's not much horse.

NT

I think they draw on Thursday

It's a Grade 1 for $500,000. If all it takes to scare you away from that is a horse who's never tried turf, you need to get into a different sport.

I won't argue that at all.... but with some... you never know.

So, you really think that horses like Cosmonaut, Operation Red Dawn, etc. actually a shot on the turf against Curlin? With pace, without pace, never been on the turf, whatever.

Those horses probably have little chance against others, but EVERYBODY has a legitimate chance to beat Curlin. This is exactly a situation nobody should be afraid to try the champ.

You have the horse that pushes the BIGGEST GEAR in the country and now he's going a distance of ground on a WIDE turf course. His acceleration on dirt is nothing compared to what's going to happen on the grass. This isn't Backseat Rhythm beating Sentimental Union, with a pace advantage.

He may win, but assuming he will have even similar ability on the turf as he does on the dirt is an amateurish opinion. I look forward to betting against Curlin and any horse in a similar situation. It's a big winner over the long run.

In a way, I hope I lose, as I like Curlin and respect his connections for stepping outside of the box and trying something creative and exciting. I am looking forward to this race as much as any I have witnessed in a long time. But, I'm a horseplayer first, and Curlin is a bet against considering his likely low odds.

I hope anybody able to attend Saturday does so, as this is an unmissable event, in a game with way to many humdrum big races.

To bet against him (with the probable field) is equally 'amateurish'.

Plenty of other opportunities out there. I'm just going to watch this one.

Baloney....it can't be amateurish to bet against any overbet horse.

Depending on whether or not I play the Pick-4, and depending on whether or not I like prices in the other legs, I may use him at least for protection.

By the way, Fat Man, you biking your butt out there Saturday?

At what price would you consider Curlin to be overbet?

That's hard to say but I would guess anything below even money.

Thanks.

I am torn. I think I am going to sit this one out and just enjoy.

Best of luck to you.