All the " chill out " stuff is silly. It's a message board, people react to what other people post, that's what makes it fun. I understand it was an exciting moment for you...great...but some of us think it is a sad moment for the breed. We are all allowed our thoughts and none of us need to chill out. It's a discussion....and a pretty good one.

The fact that you say " And Bob and John, Oh So Awesome or Deputy Glitters would have been much better? " says a lot for just how sad the race was. Of course, Deputy Glitters did run a couple OK races, as did Bob and John, but you're correct, along with Jazil they are all very mediocre supposed top tier horses. And, I totally agree with DrugS, in that this was a decent year for 3YOs and that field wasn't represented by any of them. Though, i would agree that the mile and a half had something to do with that.

Only because u asked, way worse.

Seek Gold was one of the best moments. It showed the crybabies out there who say all day "boo hoo, I can't compete with these guys and ever win a big race, boo hooo hooo, I dont have the stock and they cheat, boo hoo" that it can be done.
The best part was that it showed that if guys would actually just enter horses more often in stakes races, that longshots can and do win. Just ask anyone whose been alive in a pik-4 with all the logicals whose been run down by a 40-1 shot, its happens. I'm tired of the press in their infinite wisdom trying to play trainer and ridiculing guys who take a stab at a race with a longshot.
I thought it was a great story.

I think Reinstedler is a better trainer than Dutrow.

You're right and I take back the chill out stuff, but I did feel like I was being jumped all over for enjoying something that others didn't.

So was his 4th in the Derby a fluke in your eyes, even though he had better horses behind him than in the Belmont?

My mother was the youngest licensed thoroughbred trainer in the State of Pennsylvania at one time. My father also trained horses at one time. Neither were stars. I've spent some time working around horses myself. I spent some time working (albeit as a lowly hot walker) for a veteran trainer who's won races like the Ky Oaks.

I can assure you--I know how to "put a bridle" on a horse. And, even if I didn't know how, and I only was a horse player....that still doesn't mean I would be a fool to suspect that Dutrow Jr. might be using performance enhancers to "move-up" horses.

Look, I will keep this clean and civil....because that's the way Jesus would want it...and it is he who I serve....and he is the reason I am here.

A reading from DrugS 22:30 :

Jesus descended down to Florida, and made his way to a run-down dog track. Walking up amidst degenerate Haitian cab drivers,as well as red-neck sorts who haven't showered in weeks, Jesus could make out the outline of the teacher. Perched at his feet were, skanky coctail waitress from the track's Poker room. "Young ladies, listen to me and I will show you the way. You need not spend money on books, you just need to accept me as your hero. There is nothing I do not know. Come ye, and I will take you to a land of video games and superlative orgasms, and you too can live maybe not so much forever, but for at least the weekend at my roommates place.

Jesus intervened. "Great young teacher, now is not the time for such debauchery. Once again, I will call upon you to expand your conquest in the world of Internet horse racing message boards. It is by my divine order that you can no longer post at Pace Advantage." The young teacher bows his head and says "It is you whom I serve my lord. With all my love, passion, and intelligence. What is it you ask of me?"

"Young teacher, you are to go onto the DerbyTrail message board" Jesus replies. "Be forewarned----you will not be greeted with cookies, punch, and open arms by everyone. You will encounter many scoffers who will doubt you. Some, like Oracle80 will talk down to you and beg to be made an example of. While others, like Balletto, who apparently thinks she is my father, will have the audacity to hurl insults at you. You must not yield to the temptation, young teacher, you must rise above the pack and preach your gift of handicapping enlightenment to the vast and thirsty audience."

Thats pretty funny. Werent you the captain of that PA team that we "made an example of" in that board contest? My apologies sincerely if you were not.

He was fourth beaten ten lengths. Ten lengths is often the difference between first and ninth. He also finished behind Steppenwolfer, another horse I root for, but hardly a superstar ( to say the least ).

It was no fluke, and considering all the speed, the race set up well for him and he got a nice ground saving trip. He ran fair in the Derby but probably better in the Belmont. Both were OK performances but hardly worthy of great respect in a TC event.

I'm not knocking Jazil, and am a bit of a fan, but I am trying to be realistic. I was glad he won the Belmont, just as I was hardly excited when Point Given won it, but I clearly know which performance was better ( as I know you do ).

To each his own. I'm so tired of the pity parties being thrown for guys who flat out don't win despite being sent very expensive horseflesh each year. It can't be that all of these guys are just victims of racings "current state" can it?
Don't any of these guys just flat out stink?

Who knows who's a good trainer and who isn't anymore.

I was not involved in that...

your apolgies are not accepted.

Well I really think that there are a lotta guys who get good stuff each year and just never develop it.
Now I may be off the "mark" but my memory is not "rusty" and I saw some of them when I went to the Breeders Cup when they had it in Dallas.

I feel the same way too, and really don't see myself as being one of those starry eyed unrealistic fans, but him winning was really the best moment for me.

Honestly, the more people that dislike a horse the more I like said horse. (side effects of being on a horseracing board)

No! That, along with Sultra's win in the Frizette rank as the two worst Grade 1 winning performances of the year by far.

Good point.

good = the rise of derby trail.com

good = the total demise of the e.s.p.n board.....


good = the quality of posters here



hell its all good...................

fav moment was probably the laugh I had BC weekend. twas great fun..

loads of bad moments..

We're on the same page here. :D

Now THIS I agree with 100%!

I'm glad to hear!

Can I be your #1 fan now?

And.....don't be fooled by what Balletto has in her sig....she apparently left out 'tasy'

LOL (10 word min)

Best: Saw the Caribbean Classic live. Never had a better time at the racetrack.

Worst:
tie: Barbaro/NYRA spiral/Bad Track Surfaces/Eight Straight Losing days in November.

The difference between Sutra and Seek Gold and Jazil is the caliber of race they performed their miracles in. The Belmont is billed as a classic race. It's one of the nation's most recognizable races. I personally feel like it should be won by horses "worthy" of winning it. I realize that statement will get me into trouble because it can easily be said that any horse that wins any race is worthy of winning it and to an extent that's true. But at the same time, we should be honest enough to know the difference. For example, I would have been disappointed had a horse like Charismatic, Funny Cide, or War Emblem won the TC. To me, they weren't worthy of being on the same pedastal with Secretariat, Affirmed, Citation, and Count Fleet. We'd like our champions to be the horses that we know are the best horses, not some horse that lucks up and catches lightning in a bottle or is just the best of a really bad lot.

None of this should take away the enjoyment u felt from having Jazil win the race. We all have our favorites for whatever personal reasons we have. But I think DrugS' point was more a shot at the race than it was at Jazil. I think he would have had the same feeling no matter which of the horses that were in the race would have won. I know I would have. In a year in which we had some really standout 3yo's, (IMO the top five of this year has been better than the top five in any of my 20 years as a fan), it's sad that the winner of a race such as the Belmont is still eligible for a nw2x race.

Jazil would have beaten Bernardini w/o much trouble at 12F. His Derby coming from last at Churchill was better than Bernardini's Classic at the same distance. Stretch it out to 12 and he'd beat Bernardini. Invasor too.

High point of the year -- Barbaro still alive.

My personal racing high point of the year -- Lemons Forever in the Oaks.

Low point of the year -- Lost in the Fog.

My personal racing low point of the year -- having to suffer through that Bernardini drivel from May until November. Now the spaceship has picked up most of the Bernardinians and transported them back to Bernardinia. Where they can pretend that he beats Seattle Slew and runs 1:58 or so.

These are personal but:

Year's Best Walking into Saratoga for the first time and taking it ALL in the 4 days we were there.

Close 2nd Would be Breeder's Cup Day

And worse was BC day when Hooves got the call from Steve that Pine Island had been put down.

She was a talented girl, wasnt she? Talent wise, she was right there with any Euro filly.

I love me some Red Rocks as well.

Hey, we're right there together. Jazil is a true distance type horse going against runners with superior speed.

And as I stated, as well as Sightseek, it was PERSONALLY satisfying.

He happened to be my favorite yearling colt at the Kee sept sale. He was very intelligent and had an aura about him. I was glad to see him amount to what he did. Hate him or love him, you can never take away the fact that he's now a Classics winner.

I loved Balletto, but she ended up being a HUGE letdown everytime it actually mattered. Sort of a dissappointment across the board this year.

In a bad way, that was a memorable part of this year for me.

Well we can now add "dilusional" to long list of Druggie's attributes.

You might be the only person alive who believes that Jazil's dead heat for 4th place, while well beaten in the Derby---was so impressive that it would somehow translate to a winning performance over Bernardini and Invasor at slightly further distance of ground.

Invasor and Bernardini are both excellent horses. Heck, the 3rd place finisher to them that day isn't so bad either....he did win a pair of Grade 1's this year..and his win in the Clark was a totally emphatic score over a big field of a average to mediocre types.

Jazil's only other lifetime win, besides the phony Belmont Stakes (when he won from last-to-first in a race that featued a TOTAL pace meltdown up front) came in an AQU maiden special weight race that was taken off-the-turf! He managed to win it by a head, over the great Tasteville, with a 78 Beyer figure. Some horse eh?

Ugh, I grudgingly agree.

best part about that post i made was that it totally made for an ideal double-meaning :)

touché my friend!

The most "memorable" moment will be the Barbaro breakdown. You see a handful of exceptional winners every year, but a breakdown like that on that stage is something I won't be able to get out of my mind.

The Kentucky Derby and Balletto consistently hangin' like Mr. Cooper.

Bethani and I were talking earlier...no one makes us laugh out loud as much as you do...:D

love the old school TV show references.

high point--barbaros survival against all odds. that horse is no quitter.

low--losing lost in the fog to cancer, and pine islands bc.

best - invasor proving me right, the bernmafia wrong, and making me a whole lot of dough all in one glorious race.

worst - without a doubt the preakness. first (and most importantly) we saw the end of a career that could have been one of the most spectacular we have seen in years. and secondly it marked the begining of some of the worst months in the history of racing.....the lost era of bernardini.

that was fun for me too, thanks for reminding me how fun it was!

Best Moment = the most exciting race for me personally this year was The Azeri at Oaklawn...Round Pond and Happy Ticket literally go eyeball to eyeball from gate to wire and Round Pond wins by an eyeball...great race...

Worst Moment = Being mistaken for a woman in the early Derby Trail days....lmaooooooooooo.....:p

I gotta go with this pair...although The Introduction to Derbytrail.com is a biggie,too!;)

goes without saying i suppose!
it should get a special award.