I think Divine Park is a much better example. I suppose that going into the race, he figured Divine Park and First Defence were both capable of doing the same thing, something that I didn't see before and certainly don't see after. Personally, I'd take the brilliant horse too. If you give me a choice between two horses and say they will run three races each and the average Beyer will be 105, I'd rather have one that will go 105-120-90 than the one that will go 105-105-105.

Visionaire couldnt get Smooth Air out of a jog, foolish

I like following Smooth Air, just because there are so few horses that there are to follow these days! He's a nice little horse with a solid shot at some Grade III's and Grade II's in the future, and he's outrun his pedigree. Plus, maybe they'll run him longer because he seems less likely to rake in the big bucks at stud. I read they're going to aim him next for the Iowa or West Virginia Derby.

I think Smooth Air will stay around two turns for a little while longer. :cool:

Ultimate summer target is the Gr. I King's Bishop (7f) ala Hard Spun..

Congratulations to Bennie and Diane Stutts, the entire Burns Family, Manny Cruz, and Idella, Smooth Air's groom... Now a multiple Graded Stakes winner at one and two turns... He's a really neat little horse.

Please stop.

I am just messin around. Was a nice win vs a horrendous field. I think if they keep him running vs the 2nd/3rd tier 3 yr olds he will be fine.

However racing Smooth Air in a Grade I up at Saratoga is beyond foolish. Real horses like Harlem Rocker and Assmussen's 3 yr old J Be K would torch Smooth Air.

Pete,

Why would Harlem Rocker be in the King's Bishop? And J Be K? He has one race that stands out as anything impactful. You don't see where a horse like Smooth Air, who has proven most likely to be best at 7f, will be murder turning back to it in August after all this two-turning? I'm not suggesting he's a Hard Spun in talent level, but in amongst this 2008 group, taking that same path should yield similar results. A reminder: He has won the Hutcheson and Ohio Derby; 2nd in the Florida Derby. Off the board once in his career (KY Derby). What is the knock on him exactly? He is a truly handy horse.. a rarity these days actually.

They would be stupid NOT to be pointing for the King's Bishop. Win or lose, it's the right spot for Smooth Air.....and as of now he's more than a realistic competitor.

Smooth Air is more talented than most in here give him credit for, hes like Tueflesberg. Tueflesberg was a top 3 horse in his respective crop, and that was a good group of horses

I agree that Tberg was underrated, but he was not top 3 :zz:

Go Smooth Air

If Harlem Rocker doesnt get the distance up in Canada one would think that they might turn back and go for those 3 yr old sprints up at Saratoga. J Be K IMHO is much faster than Smooth Air. SO I guess Smooth Air would be running for 3rd.

I am just not as impressed by others with Smooth Air. Todays race was pitiful as he faced a bunch of misfits. His other races are ok. I just dont see him stepping up to Grade I.

As far as 3yo sprinters pointing for the King's Bishop go, two up-and-comers would be Two Step Salsa and Black Wolf out west and Behindatthebar and Gayego cutting back. The latter two are probably toast as it stands so who cares. I'm sure John Shireffs lacks the imagination to consider it, but the Mizzen Mast (a powerful winner of the 7f Malibu a few years back) colt, Madeo, would add to an interesting group of horses. Salute The Sarge gets one more shot with a better pace scenario than his last if he ever reappears.

Still, if I had to put money down right now, I'd go with El Gato Malo once he's definitely exposed at races beyond a mile.

I assume he meant in the third tier of top 3YOs.

As for Smooth Air, while I agree that it's funny that all the Smooth Air fans disappeared after the Derby, but not unexpected, I don't see why he shouldn't be pointed for the Kings Bishop. His Hutchenson was OK, albeit on a wet track, and the upside to winning a race like that is huge. It is, quite simply, the race he belongs in. That's not to say he will win.......but if you owned him wouldn't that at least be your goal?

That's a fair concern, until they do it you just don't know...I believe Harlem Rocker will get a route due to his sire's pedigree, "Macho Uno" who won the Suburban, Ohio Derby, BC Juvenile just to name a few races, plus he is a half brother to Awesome Again. There's plenty of stamina influences in his pedigree. Though his dam Freedom Come was primarily a sprinter, and HR is her first foal there is not much information to conclude if she can produce stamina ladened horses. The second dam however, "Zee Lady" did produce a horse named Boozeboom who won the Affirmed Handicap and placed in the Swaps stakes.

Though it is premature to even mention HR to great horses, I see alot of simularites in this mating as to the one with Ghostzapper. Ghostzapper was out of Baby Zip(who also produced City Zip) and sired by Awesome Again. Stamina on top and speed on the bottom pedigree, there was a time it was thought GZ might be stretched to go beyond his miler's pedigree but we all know what he did in the BC Classic. Which makes HR an exciting horse to follow with the possible simularities.

Smooth Air isn't in the Top 10 among this crop of 3 year olds? Name 9 (after Big Brown) that have proven themselves better with their record, established speed, utility, etc.. Whatever criteria you want to use.

As a helper, here's the list of Top 3yo Beyers:


RTE:

Big Brown CD 03 May 1 1/4M 109
Big Brown GP 05 Mar 1M 106
Big Brown GP 29 Mar 1 1/8M 106
Harlem Rocker AQU 26 Apr 1M 106
Gayego OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 103
Coal Play MTH 25 May 1M 70Y 102
Eight Belles (f) CD 03 May 1 1/4M 102
Recapturetheglory HAW 05 Apr 1 1/8M 102
Smooth Air TDN 31 May 1 1/8M 102
Z Fortune OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 102
Casino Drive BEL 10 May 1 1/8M 101
Instill HAW 26 Apr 1 1/16M 101
J Be K AQU 26 Apr 1M 101


SPR:

Motovato CRC 25 Apr 7F 111
Bob Black Jack SA 26 Jan 6F 109
Storm Mesa (f) LS 26 May 7F 108
Dancing in Silks HOL 27 Apr 6 1/2F 103
Gattopardo LRL 01 Mar 7F 103
Georgie Boy SA 10 Feb 7F 103
Gayego SA 20 Jan 6 1/2F 102
Mucho Macho BEL 17 May 6F 102
Informed Decision (f) KEE 11 Apr 6 1/2F 101
Jockey Ridge GP 18 Jan 6 1/2F 101
Lantana Mob PIM 17 May 6F 101
Lieutenant Ron AQU 06 Apr 7F 101
Zaftig (f) BEL 03 May 7F 101

Smooth Air is certainly a top 3yo in this crop, without question. He does nothing wrong, runs his race everytime hes lead over and does it against whomever enteres

As far as Tueflesberg goes he was a superstar, absolutely a top 3 horse in his crop. His talent was never realised by the average fan. I do not mean that as a dig, I just do not think you understand how superior of an animal you have to have to do what he did.

For him to outrun those stats and win the Woody Stevens, win Southwest, get beat a neck to Street Sense in the Bluegrass is mindboggling. Had he been in top connections care you are talking about a multiple G1 winner whos still running.

His trainer was 8 wins out of 271 starts, take him out of the equation and shes 3 for 250. Now either that horse was amazingly talented, or someone has fudged the numbers

Steve if you put Gayego, Coal Play, Recapture the Glory, and Smooth Air in line. You were given one pick to run on with as a DT horse who would you select?