Good decision if it's the one he makes. He has no chance tomorrow and could at least get lucky enough to get clear in the Gotham.

You definitely don't want horses to face any unneeded adversity. It's not like they are real athletes anymore. They sure are pretty to look at though. And that's the priority.

Well, really, the highlight of any horsies life is when they get their cherry popped.

It's really very exciting! You can almost say it's the climax of their career.

I don't know Coach... Feels like this would be a justifiable and judicious move. By going to Gotham you get the added benefit of a read on the horse at 2 turns. And as Nick said, he can't win this Hutch. All he can do is burn up and waste a start. Why not put yourself in position to succeed AND learn something you need to know about the horse at the same time?

I don't think he has much of a shot in either. He's not fast enough for these sprinters in the Hutch (unless he runs back to his debut when he showed huge speed) and he is almost certainly not a two-turn horse. I love his sire, so I'd like him to be a good one, but I think he's somewhat overrated.

Because losing is not the end of the world? Sometimes it can be extremely beneficial, especially in the development of a young athlete.

Plus owners and trainers need to keep their word. When you commit to a race stick with it. Don't be a b.itch and duck because things didn't go your way.

That makes me wonder why they tried to throttle his speed in his maiden victory. The fact that they entered him in the Hutch tells me (not that I needed any confirmation of it) that they don't think of him as anything more than a sprinter.....so now changing course ? I really don't think it will matter, but I'd prefer that they let him come out of the gate going blue blazes and see if he can hold on. He at least showed some guts in his debut.

But I don't see what they'd be learning. They clearly don't think he can rate or else they wouldn't think of scratching him......and with his damsire and his speed, there's no way he's getting two turns. If they wanted to learn about this horse, they wouldn't have entered him in the Hutch in the first place. I don't think it's a good idea to point a horse for so long to one race and then just shift gears.

It's the way in which it was said but let's just drop it now, okay?

Steve who are your choices in these three? I have a big wad of cash ready for some mountaineer otb action tomorrow and am just starting to handicap.

2nd Place finisher in Oh Carole's Alw win (Funny Sunny) just demolished the field at 4/5 in Race 4 today (2/25/11).

They might learn what Kiaran McLaughlin said he's interested in learning.. what kind of horse this might be long term. Rating has nothing really to do with this situation. If you mean 'take back', that's a different scenario. They're drawn on the rail going 7f. It's a death sentence for him to be hard used early to gain position before the gap and then gut out another 5/8's. It's a hopeless draw and situation in a race that has too much speed.

And point a horse for 'so long'? It's been 3 weeks. It's better to run here and finish 7th than wait a week and try running an extra 300 yards? It's hardly imperitive that Crossbow run in the Hutcheson. Sophs at this trime of year have lots of options and staying fluid can be a positive. He'll be half the price in the Gotham (Noms) that he'd be in this Hutch. His damsire is Forest Wildcat so he's 'definitely not' getting two turns? Another Stonerside product out of a Forest Wildcat mare that comes to mind, Texas Wildcatter (Monarchos), was beaten a nose by Visionaire in... as it happens... the Gotham. The idea with a horse like this is to find spots to get graded black type. They're far more like to hit the board with him in the Gotham than in the Hutcheson.

And, when he shows that he can't go long, he can still turn back to 7F for the Bay Shore on Wood Day five weeks later.

He has NO chance in the Hutcheson. It's a no lose switch. Plus, what killers are pointing for the Gotham?

No chance because he's not good enough or because he's a speed horse? I don't think he's good enough for either, so I guess it really doesn't matter. I do think he has some guts, so I would have taken my chances in the Hutch. He didn't fold in his debut, maybe he'd do ok in that race.

I'm sure there are no killers in the Gotham (well, one of my favs is running, but still), but I don't think he wants to run one step past 6 furlongs. I know he won last out at 7, but instead of pulling away from Sovereign Default, he almost lost that race.

Hope he doesn't draw far outside in the Gotham, then we may not see him till the Wood. :)

Steve, if they wanted to learn more about him, they never would have entered him in the Hutch in the first place. No, this is a desperation move pure and simple. My point about rating was that he ran his best race in his debut, when the jock (stupidly) had him set an insane pace along with Escort. Granted, his Beyer wasn't all that great, but his subsequent races when he set softer fractions (granted, he dueled with Sovereign Default in his last) have not been as good. I think they need to let him wing it and take their chances, regardless of what race he's in. It's his pedigree and running style as much as anything else - and his performance, frankly - that makes me think he's a pure sprinter. If he gets two turns in the Gotham, it will be because he got clear and set a slow pace or the race just falls apart.

Speaking of pace, does it look like Soldat is the sole speed in the FOY?

I'm ashamed to say I think Toby's Corner is a pretty nice horse...I know I am in the minority.

He is my clear cut #1 Derby Horse. With that being said, Soldat can defeat him.

"Far Outside" will probably be the 5 hole

Supposedly its like a 9 horse field right now

Gotham fields by year going back to 2006.

2010 - 10
2009 - 9
2008 - 9
2007 - 9
2006 - 10

The 7th is an amazing betting race. My only toss so far is El Kingdom, all the others are right there.

Reb is very interesting to me with that 46 work two back and a sneak good return race.

I've got it narrowed down to Jimmy Simms and Mystic if he draws in. Jimmy Simms looks like he might end up setting or being right on a moderate pace and he ran better than it looks last time. Same thing could be said for Mystic who made the first move last time, maybe a little early and made the kind of move you like to see for a horse the next time around.

Good betting race though.

Davona Dale
1. Oh Carole
2. Dancinginherdreams
3. R Heat Lightning
4. Hot Summer

Hutcheson
1. Travelin Man
2. Manicero
3. Leave of Absence
4. Razmataz

FOY
1. Shackleford
2. To Honor and Serve

I will be at Gulfstream today and am really excited about the racing program.

Are there any "can't misses" today? I believe we'll see competitive racing throughout the day.

Good luck to all on a great day of thoroughbred racing !!

Oh Carole/R Heat Lightning
Madman Diaries/Manicero
Soldat/TH&S

Hutch
10-Royal Carrier
5-Flashpoint

FOY
2-Gourmet Dinner
1-Soldat

Borderland
4-Its My Party
2-Expecting Cash

I don't know what sort of a price you'll get but Achaemenes in the first was thoroughly brutalized in his last, is half to Unrivaled Belle and drops to Mdn 50. He doesn't need to beat much in here, and with a clean trip looks pretty bulletproof.

Thanks. I looked at him - He is probably well meant in here.

In the big races - I really like:

Oh Carole
Madman Diaries
THAS

I'll be in the paddock for the 6th.

Looks like great weather for today...

GLTA

As expected, McLaughlin wimped out with Crossbow. I didn't see the other speed horses scratching............

Look up the word obstinate if you aren't familiar with it.

lol

In the first I would try Cho looks like the one
In the fountains of utes THS will be super tough with only two preps a loss doesnt help the psyche Mott's gonna have em cranked and ready to go
Soldat will be a nise target to site in and pounce on at the top of the stretch:$::{>:

I have a few other words I could ask you to look up, lol. What's your problem, seriously? I disagree with you and you have to be rude? You still have not explained why McLaughlin entered this horse in the Hutch if he wanted to learn about him. Why didn't he just point for the Gotham? By the way, none of the other speed horses scratched, so he looks like McLaughlin was the only trainer afraid to run.

:tro: nice call, 2-1 and wins for fun!

Maybe it is the repeativeness, just thayin

:eek:

Oy vey... You belabored a nonsensical point and then when that wasn't enough further ridiculously assign a cowardice label for the highly logical move of bypassing this spot for a better one. You're obstinate beyond belief.