Nice point about Bandini needing earnings. Ravels effort was good, but have been tricked by this kind of thing before. WIll be skeptical for time being. Anxiously awaiting return of CP West who I thought was impressive but immature in Futurity last fall, and just read in Haskin article wrenched ankle in BC Juvenile. Maybe a possibility to follow on trail this spring

I agree that it was a pretty good time and as I stated earlier I like Ravel quite a bit. Although they are older horses, I don't believe comparing it to the Strub is a great measuring stick. I think the horses in the Strub are 2nd level handicap division horses at best.

#1 on my Derby list, the best runner of this year so far (of the 3yrs.)
let's hope he isn't like Bandini!

Ravel looks like a nice horse.Right now,most people would certainly take him over Liquidity,but I like the versatility,and competitiveness of Liquidity.He is starting to get reliable good position in races.He gives himself a chance.A lot of good horses in the Derby get lost.They just see nothing but horses everywhere.They can't see the leader.They get in tight..etc.etc. Remember,there will probably be 15-20 horses.There is something to be said for a competitive horse who will break well,and be top 4 into the 1st turn.He is getting beat,but I wouldn't rule him out just yet.

Ravel is getting his love.......

When I say turning it on, I like to see a horse that has the ability to, at any point in the race, throw in a quarter-mile fraction of around 23 seconds. Watching Ravel, he went in 23.57, 24.69, 24.49, 23.92, 12.24 in that race (approximate fractions). That is just running evenly throughout. Nothing necessarily wrong with that but I like to see a little quicker turn of foot at some point and I didn't see that from him. I didn't see him closing into the pace at all as much as I saw the leaders giving way and Ravel just keeping his pace. I think that's what fools a lot of people into thinking a horse closed when he really didn't. He just didn't lose as much speed as the others that were dropping back faster.

The late great Bam Bam Bigelow...another forty something wrestler who died much too soon! :(

He's this year's Jazil....He'll spoil No Biz Like Showbiz's Triple Crown :rolleyes:

Wait, the big dude with all the tattoos in my avater is a now dead wrestler?

I could have sworn he was the former chairmain of the RNC....and Gerald Ford's old secretary of health and human services.

He lived in my town...He was a trainwreck. Almost killed himself and his girlfriend in a motorcycle accident back in the fall...Unfortunately, it was a matter of time:



WWE.com has learned that former WWE Superstar Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow has passed away in Florida.

Kevin Doll, the Public Information Director for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Bigelow was found dead early Friday morning in his home in Hudson, Fla.

"We can confirm that Scott Bigelow was found in his home this morning. At this time the cause of death is unknown," Doll told WWE.com.

Doll also confirmed that the Pasco-Pinellas Counties medical examiner has taken the body and an autopsy will be performed.

Bigelow, 45, worked for WWE, ECW and WCW extensively throughout his 20-year sports-entertainment career. A former ECW Champion, ECW Television Champion and WCW Tag Team Champion, he is perhaps best known for his rivalry with Lawrence Taylor that culminated in the main event of WrestleMania XI in 1995.

He used to wrestle at a local bar on tuesday nights for beer money...Sad.

Fupeg isn't one of my favorite sires out there, but there is no denying he can get a real fancy looking one:

Ravel:
http://www.horsephotos.com/watermark.jsp?photoID=52899

Time Squared:

http://www.horsephotos.com/watermark.jsp?photoID=52903

Neither seemed particularly naughty in the paddock or post parade (at least during the coverage by HRTV) although TS doesn't seem particularly interested in running either.

I really don't like FuPeg, but he throws some gorgeous babies.

He did have a 23.57 and a 23.92 Those were basically 23 3/5 and 24. I know it's nitpicking but I want to see a little faster. Because of run-up distances, I don't place too much value on opening quarters. And personally, considering how the pace was allowed to run early (I will admit that it's good to see a horse relax when the pace is slow like that), I would have expected a come home 8th in the range of 11 2-3/5. In retrospect, the race wasn't a bad one. There was nothing wrong with his effort. I just didn't see the things that I like to see to have them "jump" at me and get excited about.

I think you are nitpicking a little. The race was fairly fast, 102 Beyer, and the horse finished strong. For the third start I don't think you can ask for much more. I don't think anyone is saying that the performance necessarily jumped out at them and was overpowering. I would just call it a very solid performance and will be watching this one closely in upcoming races.

the ones that I had the pleasure :rolleyes: of working around were .... well ... they were pretty....