Who cares if its ideal? Are you kidding me, a lot of things in racing are not ideal. If he goes in the Classic he is the most likely winner, PERIOD. He is just faster then anyone else.

Do you guys think its fair to say that Rail Trip is likely to improve on dirt and with Dutrow? And if that is indeed the case, wouldn't that put him at least within sniffing distance of Quality Road?

I respect QR and he is the best horse that I have seen run this year. At the same time, he seems very beatable to me for some reason.

Agreed, that is why if one has an opinion that he has a chink in his armour, he is one you try to beat.

We don't know who will be in the field yet, but supposing the field turns up solid, I'm sure there will be better bets.

Case in point....why bother responding?

I agree with the notion that Quality Road is at his "best" going a mile. That doesn't mean that he can't get 10F, but it's probably not his optimum distance.

It's probably a bit hazardous to compare Quality Road's performances in the Travers and JCGC last year because of questions surrounding his level of fitness coming into the Travers. With that caveat stated, when QR ran in the Travers, a 10F race with a legit (23.0, 26.4, and 1:11.0) pace, he tired and was beaten by a mediocrity like Hold Me Back. Because of the relatively soft pace of the JCGC (24.4, 49.3, 1:13.0), that race is probably not the best evidence of his ability to "get" 10F.

If Dutrow does half the work with Rail Trip that he did with horses like Saint Liam and Offlee Wild, and even if he doesn't, the pace scenario is unlikely to be similar to the JCGC. For that matter, a match-up in the Whitney or Woodward would present a completely different ball set-up from what QR faced in the Donn, especially with a legitimate closer like Blame waiting to take advantage.

No way Quality Road is 6-5 if an undefeated Zenyatta shows up! The public will pound Zenyatta at this point no matter what, because she's the "undefeated" champion.

If Zenyatta doesn't show, then I'd agree probably 6-5 on QR.

Why is it about betting, I spent an hour last night discussing why I think Paddy O' Prado is a toss out this weekend, I am the first one to try to beat the chalk, but Quality Road is working on a resume this year and running speed figures that might make him go down as an all time great. I think he is that good, and I dont think Rail Trip going to Dutrow scares anyone in the Todd Barn.

Faster at a mile? Sure. But that doesn't mean he'll be "better" at 10F. In many races, the "fastest" horse doesn't win.

not sure...maybe i'm in the mood to debate?? lol

but, it's really just like any other race, with any other field. can you beat the fave? if so, try. if not, find the plays underneath, or in a sequence. if qr faces off vs a quality 10f'er, try to beat him. but, everyone really already knows that....

he doesn't run enough to be an all-time great. i don't think when people toss that phrase around that they realize exactly what category that puts a horse.

I hate to use Medaglia D'oro as an example because he was better than what Quality Road has shown thus far shown, many will agree he was better at 9 furlongs than 10 and I think the same holds true for QR. Liking a horse at 9 doesn't necessarily mean they will win the Classic at 1 1/4.

Danzig I think the correct way to put it would be he has not run enough yet. If Quality Road runs in and wins the races they are pointing him to, I dont think it will be a debate at that point. Is that fair?

no

an all time great is a horse that transcends time, generations, ages. a horse other horses get compared to. he won't be that.

man o war, yes. citation, native dancer, secretariat, dr fager, the bid, slew, affirmed. those are all time greats. hell, i wouldn't put him with a holy bull or skip away, tiznow...i'd take congaree over him at this point. if he wins the classic, i'd compare him to curlin-that doesn't make him an all time great.

Congaree ran a really good race in the Classic, he and Medaglia D'oro really set it up for Pleasantly Perfect a horse that obviously had an affinity for 1.25 M.

always liked congaree. another horse who wasn't at his best at 10f, but tried his heart out. his big cap loss to milwaukee brew was one of his best efforts.

Interesting you mention Milwaukee Brew, Frankel's other runner. I was waiting all year to put a bet on him in the Classic, unfortunately he was hurt going into the race. He really liked SA and it would have been interesting to see how he would have done given how the race came off.

TVG has Ellis booked for BC so its a logical switch. Not to mention the 6 lengths

Only 2 hours late.

I wouldn't hold the defeat to Zenyatta against St. Trinians that much.

Look, St. Trinians hadn't raced in over 3 months coming into it - and the connections say she lost a shoe on the turn... so I'm willing to forgive the performance.

And lets face it... it's not like Zenyatta is a total bum either. She's easily one of the 35 best mares to run in So. Cal over the last 10 years or so.



Maybe you're right ... but why did you feel the need to add the "at Del Mar" part at the end?

Gio Ponti is based on the other side of the country ... he's run only once at Del Mar on turf (his best surface) and he was beaten by the hapless Madeo as a 4/5 favorite.

It's not like his resume is stellar on synthetics .. off the board in a longshot everywhere Dubai World Cup. 2nd to Zenyatta in the Classic. And 5th to Cowboy Cal in the Strub ... those are his last 3 attempts on a synthetic track.

You made it sound like he has some kind of home court edge at Del Mar.