http://www.tmz.com/2015/06/18/julia-...rican-pharoah/

Apparently Julia Roberts is a fan. Took me aback for some reason but she's got a ranch and has ridden horses for things so I guess it shouldn't have. Also she was 33 when she won the Oscar? Geez. She's one of those people that even when she was younger she always seemed older.

Or better to say what horse will be running with him. He may be "challenged" by a few older but even that is questionable unless he has an off day. At 9 to 10 furlongs who could beat him if he runs his normal race?

That's what's crazy and why the TC seemed certain somehow. How is anybody good enough? He wouldn't fold on any normal day. I wonder what the press would be doing with it if he'd won that first maiden attempt and been undefeated. It might help that he's not so there isn't some 'Is this the day he loses?' drama.

I've said it here before and I'll say it again . . . I don't think we've seen his best yet and the months coming up will tell us just how super this super horse is.

Even Secretariat lost against older horses. American Pharoah could lose against them too.

Against 3 year olds though, he's invincible.

I think it's definitely Haskell and PA Derby. I know Steve doesn't like it, but it worked for Bob last year.

Maybe if he does go there we can emphasize the horrible 29% trifecta takeout. It's robbery. I thought it was the state, but after a year of calling my state rep found out that the state only takes 2.5% of ANY bet. The rest of the thievery is by the track and the PTHA. No big surprise when you realize the Horsemen's Assoc. is run by lawyers in shiny suits.

Thievery, plain and simple. 26.5% of your trifecta ticket off the top. 13% for me, Bob Green and 13% for you, Mike Balezzi. Let's go out and buy some shiny suits.

Do either of those two have any shame ? That's awful to do to people, especially horseplayers. I couldn't sleep at night.

PARX is a corrupt organization, always has been. It's a Lebanese money laundering operation and always has been. I knew it but raced there because there was nowhere else. I raced at Penn Nat, but that's even more corrupt.

I remember back in the late 1990's that I was told Philadelphia Park had never paid any US taxes. I was told that they were in such dire straits they had to take an 18% mortgage and the the only one who would do that was the cousin of the Lebanese owner. This Lebanese owner, to my knowledge, has never seen PARX. Bob Green doesn't own PARX.

He took this huge tax deduction and sent millions back to Lebanon for years and years. And the PTHA stood by and bought in.

That's the real story.

I think it's definitely Haskell"

Its run on Sunday, and is Zayats' home track too.;)

Quit pu$$y footing around already. What are your true thoughts on Bob Green and Philadelphia Park?

Leaning to Saratoga now 6/18
 

Ahmed Zayat @jazz3162
@VinceStone11 right know Saratoga is in the lead. Head of Haskell @JustinZayat @ZayatStables @AshleyZayat8 @TheNYRA
4:53 PM - 18 Jun 2015

http://www.app.com/story/sports/2015...toga/28957893/

I would guess this is an effort to get bonus/appearance money out of MTH.

There's well publicized bonus money already in place.

What is the status on Dortmund he makes a lot of sense in the Haskell

Just worked a tighter half mile (:47+) the other day. Spring and the Classic tries took a lot out of him. Baffert getting weight back on and pleased with progress. Haskell is the working target with Los Al Derby seemingly out.

Thanks, I didn't realize that.


That makes it seem even more unlikely that AP will go to MTH.

Why? All things normal, do you actually think Dortmund can beat him or are you thinking Bob wants a Dortmund win not a second or a third or a . . . ???

Dortmund had his chances to beat him. And of course Bob wants wins.

Because Bob and owners would like first place purse money. The only time I see Dortmund lining up against Pharoh is in the Classic if both show enough form from here to have a realistic chance.

AP had his first workout since the Belmont this morning. He went three furlongs in :36 2/5.

http://www.drf.com/news/premium/amer...three-furlongs

Good sign. He was kind of worked up in the SA parade on Saturday. That's understandable, horses are creatures of habit, like us, and that was an interruption of the normal.

If you look at it, it's perfect timing for 2 more works before the Haskell. If they were going to the Travers, no reason to do anymore than jog and gallop right now and start works in about 2-3 weeks..

Trainers don't "work" horses without a target. Unless he hit's a bump, I think that's the target for sure.

I agree 100% with jms. With 2 of your bigger owners, no sense to beat each other up. There are plenty of spots before the BC for each and they are nice races. Dortmund could take the Saratoga/Belmont route. He's a very good horse and I think this time off will have done him some good. He had a strenuous campaign this year. He may come back bigger and better than ever.

Baffert is very good at this. He's juggled multiple good horses for multiple owners over the years and kept them happy. Either the NY or SoCal route makes sense for Dortmund and he should actually be able to withstand it due to not running in all the TC races.

Two more works? He will work 4 times between now and the Haskell. The Haskell is on August 2nd. He will work every 6-7 days between now and then. He will work on either July 6th or 7th, then again on or about July 13th, then again on or about July 20th, then on or about July 26th.

Look Dortmund goes in TRAVERS IMO that has always been plan Baffert KNOWS AP will trounce him and Baffert KNOWS Shah would love a stallion making G! Travers on Dortmund's resume.. Dortmund is no bum and wiring the Travers is very realistic. AP has done enough till BCC Haskell MAYBE PAC Classic and last race BCC..

I doubt he faces elders until the Classic. Though the JCGC should be every owners goal.

Don't expect to see Dortmund very soon. He's worked twice, ten days apart and is reportedly still very underweight.

Freddy - He's barely beaten Firing Line....twice. That's his claim to fame thus far.

A G!(sic) Travers win will not promote him to "Stallion Making" status any more than it did for V.E. Day. If healthy, he'll be back at 4, and likely 5.

Clearly you have a lack of respect for the mighty Dortmund.

Dortmund sweeps the stalls after AP leaves for a walk or whatever. Nice horse but Dortmund may also carry AP's horse shoes in a bag for him. I hate to say it but Dortmund is very forgettable.

Prestige-wise for AP is Haskell, Travers (nothing better this time of year, nothing) and then BC Classic. Not sure that's in the cards for him but if I owned him and Bobby gave me the thumbs up on his conditioning . . . no brainer.

If and it is a big if, he were to run the table he may get his head carved into Mount Rushmore!!! :D:D:D

You're a sharp one. I never mentioned AP. Its not fair to compare Dortmund to him all of the time.

And DUH . . . you just gave me the platform . . . comprende'? Why take it so personal? Or am I being too intuitive? Lets talk about the horse or his supposed challengers and not diss on those of us pee-ons who only post here only because they have nothing else better to do. But it's so much fun for many of you . . . booooooooooring!

Or, and I apologize if I did . . . did I misunderstand your innuendo?

No SPA. Haskell and PA Derby. Although Dortmund could be a real possibility in the Travers. Wouldn't be surprised for him to find a spot for Lord Nelson, too.

Lord Nelson needs 1 turn. Kings Bishop would be ideal, other then Nevins horse who would you be afraid to run against if you owned Lord Nelson?

But VE day wasn't a multiple grade 1 winner. Dortmund won a grade 1 at 2 years old and winning the travers would give him multiple grade 1 wins at 3. His two losses were to the first triple crown winner in almost 40 years including a respectable 3rd in the derby.

If Dortmund was by ap Indy out of some blue hen mare, I would think a win in the travers would be big for his resume. Are you basing your statement on his breeding?

After the running of the Gold Cup, I don't think they have anything to fear in facing elders in the Pacific Classic.

By the time VE Day broke his maiden (2nd week of May) Dortmund had won four graded stakes and 2 Grade Is. He also finished third in the Ky Derby. There is absolutely, positively no comparison between their respective resumes if Dortmund were to win the Travers, as big an "if" as that is.

I wasn't actually comparing V.E. Day to Dortmund; I was point out that a Travers win will do the same for Dortmund as it did for him.

Dortmund's form is so fluffed up that it would embarrass anyone who actually would take a moment to delve into it.

Los Al Futurity – won a 3 horse photo against the aforementioned Firing Line (who would later outfinish him in the Derby) and the Indomitable Mr. Z. The fourth place horse would come back to win an overnight restricted stake, and is winless since. The Fifth place horse is still winless.

Robert B Lewis – Beat Firing Line by a head, the third place horse by 22 lengths, who is still, along with the rest of the field – winless.

San Vincente – Won by a length in a 10 horse field… Impressive. Except when you look at what he beat:

Prospect Park – 0 for 2 since
Bolo –1 for 3 since. just won an allowance N1X
Lord Nelson – 0 for 2 since
The Gompter - 0 for 2 since
Pain and Misery 1 for 3 since. Just took down the prestigious “Charles Taylor Derby” at Albuquerque.
Ocho Ocho Ocho - 0 for 2 since
Sir Samson – unraced since
Kenjisstorm – 1 for 2 since. The win? A maiden claiming 30K

So the field is 3 for 18 out of the San Vincente; those 3 wins coming by way of a mcl 30, a N1X, and of course the toast of Albuquerque


Santa Anita Derby- Beat 5 others, scoring in a hand ride by almost 5 lengths.
One Lucky Dane – unraced since
Bolo – See Above
Prospect Park – See Above
Cross the Line – 0 for 2 since, well beaten in a AOC affair last
Bad Read Sanchez – unraced since.

So nothing has come out of the Santa Anita Derby to win a race.

My opinion hasn't changed - This horse has been dressed up since Day 1 and hasn't beaten anything of note (save for Firing Line, who is a very nice horse, but not a champion by anyone's count) in his life.

A Travers win, however unlikely (as Nick pointed out), should do nothing to bolster his resume unless he plans to stand in Louisiana, California, or overseas.

I don't think there is a major prep leading up to and including the Belmont that any winner's resume was enhanced by the runners behind them. Dortmund is one of the top runners of this crop to this point.I'd like to see a strong case made for two others.

ROVELL: Ashford/Zayat suggest Pharoah cover will exceed $200k..
 

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/stor...c-stallion-fee

$200k+ says Darren Rovell after talking with Zayat..

Thanks for making me laugh.

Mr Z is a nice horse Bolo, 888, Prospect Park all can be graded winners they all have talent. Firing Line is VERY GOOD. I think the Travers is a perfect spot for Dortmund. You avoid squaring off against AP and IF and its a big IF you win Mid summer Derby arguably the 2nd most prestigious colt race its a huge feather in his cap. You combine the SA Derby and Travers on a stallion resume and you have a full book of mares at a solid opening price point.

If you are Baffert and you have a big owner like Shah you certainly want to enter the Travers as no less then 4th most likely winner. Save AP who would be a dominate favorite in Travers? I think he is pretty good and I think IF he returns to his early form he will be a handful against any of what we have seen to date save AP