Well I was referring to 2004, so the Rampart would apply, but I think it's safe to say that Sightseek (from October 2003 to the end) excelled at Belmont.

NT

Azeri wasn't a total lock on paper in that years Distaff ... and she was one of my first four or so throwouts in that years Classic.

She was basically beaten 10 with a very good trip at 15/1 odds in a race she probably should have been 50/1 in. As it turned out though - yeah - she probably wins that years Distaff by 2 or 3.

It was a classic case of Lukas overlooking the correct spot to shoot for the moon.

Ok, let me ask you this question. Going into the BC, pretty much everyone had Azeri and Sightseek as the 1/2 older females in the country, in either order right? If you thought Azeri was #1 going in and she would have won the Distaff, how would that have changed your opinion of her? If you thought she was #2 going in, how would a win in a Distaff lacking Sightseek have changed your opinion? I don't think a win would have changed opinions either way. However, as close as the race between them was, a loss in the Distaff would have likely cost her the championship. I thought the Distaff was a no-win situation while the Classic was a no-lose situation.

Sightseek was pretty much fine everywhere ... I know she was 0-for-5 at Santa Anita - had a couple of bad 4ths there - and was beaten everytime she shipped West ... but, she had a few good races there in defeat earlier on in her career.

Seattle Slew's losing effort to Exceller is a great illustration you don't always have to win in College as you say, to further a reputation. I always resented Azeri when she raced under Laura D, but gained a new respect for her under Lukas. I hope Zen's connections realize they may be doing more harm than good.

No one shoots for the moon (and sometimes hits) like Lukas.

Yeah - only because he's had a whole lot to shoot at it with for a long, long, long time.

Chip Wooley can miss with his next 25 and ruin them all badly in the process and he'd still be way ahead of Lukas percentage wise.

Sightseek got smoked at 2/5 by Adoration in the biggest race of her life, that says it all to me.

She was much better than that performance would indicate. She was also much much much much better at Belmont Park.

Paasch is reminiscent of Brian Mayberry back in the early '90s. Very strong in the summer and fall with juveniles before burning them out well before the New Year.

He was loaded for bear a couple of summers ago, with Prime Ruler, Principle Secret, and She's Included. The filly never started again after the BC and the next time the two colts won it was well over a year between drinks for each...and for claiming tags to boot. Honestly, I don't know if he's won a race of consequence with a horse older than 2 (unless you count Prime Ruler's minor stakes win at Fairplex). Other fizzled out 2yo stars include Hello Lucky, Diplomat Lady, and Kamsack (whom he brought out off a 3 or 4 year layoff to run for $25K).

In that respect, its a small miracle Stardom Bound was able to do anything at all this year.

Paasch is reminiscent of Brian Mayberry back in the early '90s. Very strong in the summer and fall with juveniles before burning them out well before the New Year.

He was loaded for bear a couple of summers ago, with Prime Ruler, Principle Secret, and She's Included. The filly never started again after the BC and the next time the two colts won it was well over a year between drinks for each...and for claiming tags to boot. Honestly, I don't know if he's won a race of consequence with a horse older than 2 (unless you count Prime Ruler's minor stakes win at Fairplex). Other fizzled out 2yo stars include Hello Lucky, Diplomat Lady, and Kamsack (whom he brought out off a 3 or 4 year layoff to run for $25K).

In that respect, its a small miracle Stardom Bound was able to do anything at all this year.

Gotta a lot going for him...

When a trainer has stuff.
I prefer rotund trainers, but portly will do.

dont sugar coat it...tell us how you really feel. i spit out my drink reading that. CLASSIC!

Horse needed the easy turns at Belmont to run her best. There have been a number of of large, big-striding horses (e.g. Easy Goer) who find the turns on 8f circuits too tight; they have to shorten stride to maintain their balance, while at Belmont they can continue striding out. Obviously, if running against lesser competition they can overcome the difficulty, but if the competition is top notch they can struggle.

the whole breeders cup was a joke. i think zenyatta is the only horse that won on the poly thats won since in this country, not including turf racing.. oh yeah , its there again this year.:D

Stardom Bound

yea, two grade 1's, its nothing