I think that now that Barbaro proved the 5 week layoff CAN work, you will have a lot of horses trying it. Is it going to work? WHO KNOWS, but you know there will be some that will try it this year. I bet atleast two derby horses come out of the FL Derby.

There normally are a couple... it's just harder to win the derby. Barbaro is a special horse. :D

Either way, I can't wait until the Florida Derby! :cool:

Me too!

Barbaro was a special horse and proved that it could be done. Not saying that it will happen again anytime soon, but people will try.

The horse he beat in an incredible stretch drive in the Fla Derby is going to prove to be something excellent too... this particular preson is crossing his fingers he wins the big one in 9 days...

You're kidding...right?

Oh I think attendance and the casino type of atmosphere is going to work. But I think the percent of revenue that will trickle down to racing will be very little. I really hope I am wrong.

I sent Stronach a letter suggesting that he should hire a company that makes those little scooters and have them configure slot machines on them that will have a built-in accelerator on the lever. They could race year round and the purse could be a $20 slot voucher.

Wouldn't it be great to see 12 grandmas racing down the track pulling the slot lever to make the scooter move faster?

Yep, SH is a nice colt. My fingers are crossed too...

He is a next year horse. He will catnip for Discreet Cat at 8f. Discreet Cat will toy with him.

I dont think the track configuration really has anything to do with the Derby Preps. Most trainers are just trying to get a race for their Derby horse. I dont want to say that they dont care about winning these Preps, but they do understand the bigger picture. As far as layoffs go, some horses thrive off a longer layoff (Barbaro) and some like less time off (Alex). I really think it all depends on this horse. It is the trainers job to make sure he/she knows what is best for their horse so that the horse is 100% and sitting on top of a great race come the first Saturday in May.

Only mildly. I really do want to see SH beat him. Realistically, in a 4 horse field, he's got next to no shot. He'd have to move forward 4-5 lengths from his last (possible) and have DC take 3-4 steps back (not likely without trouble.)

You cant be serious!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you are right about some horses liking time off and some not. I shouldn't generalize because they are all different.

Here we go again with the Discreet Cat goo goos.

If he runs after the Cigar Mile, wake me up!! At least I'm 100% certain that Sharp Humor will be running next year, can't I hang my personal allegiance (if not my wagering dollar) on that?

Discreet Cat is pretty good. Sharp Humor? He's OK.

He could have a decent 2007 if properly spotted. His return was decent but let's not get carried away.

7F feels like about his limit against anybody reasonable.

How do you know we are Discreet Cat goo goos and not sold on Sharp Humor?

I like Discreet Cat but I think his win will be more a result of a mediocre field, Sharp Humor included.

Interesting, because I thought his career best race was on the stretchout in the Fla Derby. Granted it was a speed-favoring track but he was beat about 3 times in the stretch and wouldn't let Barbaro go by until the shadow of the wire... I'm a fan of horses that show guts and he's done that on mulitple occasions.

His return was acceptable. Gold and Roses is OK, a G3 type, but he should have beat him.

I don't disagree that DC will be a very likely winner, but let's not just hand it to him yet...

The percentage that goes to racing is 7 or 7.5% for a fairly extended period. Something along those lines. I've got an article here somewhere with the extact details.

Do you think that the 7 or 7.5 is fair?