so, does this mean mafaaz will be skipping the derby?

Any horse that drinks Guiness daily is a friend of mine.

Weird race in the Blue Grass.

General Quarters actually ran decent and finished in under 36 seconds for the final 3/8ths.

Its hard to know what to make of races over that track. It seems like front runners are carrying home, and I'm not sure how much stamina to give them credit for.
JoJo had such a perfect trip and came up empty.

I played no-shows Charitable Man, Mafaaz and Patena :o

I was surprised to see him so close to the pace, just like I was in the FL Derby.

yea, it was one of those times when his raw pace numbers would have him close, but his running style would suggest he would be farther back. Add the switch to Borel into the mix as well...

The track is playing fair. I think you are reading too much into it. I didn't see a single instance where a frontrunner got carried longer than they can go, or a closer's advantage either.

It's been front-running all week. Jockeys have been fighting for the lead, and making early move-ups to get forward position. I've hit two big races by playing the speeds (vs. Stardom Bound, Ventura).

It is always possible that it has changed back to a fair track today, all I really watched was the Blue Grass so far.

I think the rail is deep at Keeneland right now... horses are swimming over it.

its not the speed
 

Hello, closers on santa anita poly don't closer at other tracks. Front Runners don't fade at other tracks. Well Armed Papa IWR etc

Ventana, Evita, Stardom etc. Did people really thing the 5 best closers all came from Santa Anita.

This explanation I could buy more than being speed friendly.

I also played the speeds against Stardom Bound, but it really wasn't because speed was good, more because I knew Stardom Bound was very vulnerable at 3/5. Check today's charts- the winners at the 1/2 mile call (3/4 in routes) were 6th, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 7th, 3rd, and 2nd.

However, speed on the turf is NOT good. Of course, the one speed all YEAR I absolutely needed to come back found a way to wire the field :rolleyes:

Seitz won another today with a bomb.....Seitz on FIRE!!

I know. I didn't miss him this time. ;)

Apparently he wasn't on the decline:o

Who? Jojo? He's not a router, he's a one-turn closer.

Hopefully they will consider a prep race this time, but they went from thinking Charitable Man was ready for the Derby to now pointing to the Travers.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/102949.html

It will be a miracle if he's up to running in the King's Bishop that day.