Go For Wand
 

Who do we like?

Anyone, ESPN showing this?

i don't know, is jara riding anyone?????? that kid is SOMETHING. riding with a maturity far beyond his years. his ride on angara was something. going to check out the race real quick, but i doubt espn shows it.

Something new and different
 

Pletcher and John V. and hope to get 8-5

hmmmm...

take d'tour has come into her own lately, but her previous experiences at two turns would tell me to look elsewhere--as if her odds wouldn't be enough to do so anyway. and then there's the fact she's never run this far. absolutely a bet against. i'd use her in tris, not sure i'd put her in an exacta, but some might disagree. but could she steal it on the front end? i think her winning streak ends today.

so, who to go with?

a tough spot for summerly to come back in.

i think i'd go with pool land, as i think pletcher will run her and probably oonagh. depends on the tote tho, pletchers may be bet down as well. he's certainly cleaning up on stakes so far.

also like balletto here.

Spun Sugar, I have liked this horse for well over a year.

Pletcher runs 1-2-3 in here, just spin the dial or guess on which one finishes where. Its that wide open between his 3 fillies.

supposedly only two TAP horses will run.

summerly, classy charm are scratches. apparently todd is going for the tri now--might as well!

bhorse article said pletcher was waiting to see how the race shaped up to decide which of the three would sit...change of plans apparently.

I liked Oonagh a lot more before Summerly and Classy Charm scratched. Not sure if Pool Land will push Take D'Tour or not but 2 of the 4 expected pace are now gone. I'm liking Take D'Tour a lot more and Balletto a lot less now.

1. Oonagh Maccool
2. Take D'Tour
3. Spun Sugar

seems like OM is ready for a top...
http://www.brisnet.com/Promo/Free_PPs/brd_comp.pdf

I agree a lot with this assessment. I think Oonagh Mccool is still the best in this race... I'm hoping Pool Land pushes Take D'Tour up front... if not it could be a problem for the rest of the field. If that pace scenario takes place, the only horse OM has the worry about is Spun Sugar in my opinion....

Zippy, I'm banking on the idea (who knows if its good or not) that Pletcher entered Pool Land as more or less a rabbit to help out Spun Sugar and Oonagh. Did he? Who knows and thats the problem. If she is only entered for her speed, she is a very classy rabbit and much more talented than the allowance horses that we usually see as rabbits. If thats the case then Oonagh has no problem here - like sumitas said shes looking like a top is coming and if thats the case she is arguably the best Distaffer in the land. If Pool Land doesnt sit back, then there is a problem for the Pletcher trio as Take D'Tour will run away from them. Just dry capping the card (saving money for next weekend) plus my confidence is shot after yesterday and thus far today at Toga.

I read an article (can't remember if it was DRF or Bloodhorse) where Pletcher was quoted as as saying "he's not going to use one of his horses as a rabbit because they're all quality mares"... but I don't buy it. Pletcher also went on to say Take D'Tour got an easy lead in her last two races and that it wouldn't happen this time. I think Pool Land will be sent!!

Let it all hang on Oonagh Maccool baby!

Oonagh Macool is the the best mare in this group around two-turns, but I really believe Balletto will improve around two turns and is "the bet"' in this race at around 10-1.

Are you on Darley's payroll, Joel? ;)

No, but if you want to know what I think about many of their horses you need only to read the piece I wrote about Darley's dominance that I worte a few months ago...

I despise Darley but give the guy credit. They are dominating. They throw out Songster tomorrow too.

For the record though, going into the weekend Lael had 69 starters and had earned about 3.5M, Darley had 162 starters and had earned about 2.5M.

Lael has made more money on nearly 100 less starts.

Damn, great finish. Couldnt tell between Balletto & Spun Sugar. Oonagh Maccool looked like ****

Looks like Spun Sugar by a nostril

1. Spun Sugar
2. Balletto
3. Pool Land
4. Take D'Tour
5. Nothing But Fun
6. Oonagh Maccool

And where is that piece published??

thats what i am talkin bout

Finally I cashed a ticket. She was a great value in that one.

the betting public lost on this one. throw out last time out with this horse. Spun Sugar is no joke, point blank.

Yeah I went 10 and 5 on her. Nice return for the value.

LINK


...it is here on Derby Trail...I wrote it as a favor to Steve Byk....I am involved in a lot of journalism in the industry but this was written strictly for this forum...I wrote this after Bernardini cruised in the Preakness and I had an epiphany.....

BTW, Balletto should have won the Go for Wand at 11-1 with a better trip....SS just had a bigger heart and Balletto hung inside the sixteenth pole....

Stop it with the should have won garbage. SS was the well deserving winner. I give you a ton of credit for your article, but the best girl one today.

I hope Darley won't go backrupt with just a second place check. ;)

I have read it Joel, and I agree that all of the horses you mentioned are very talented.

When they have so many horses to choose from, it is due time that they start winning the big ones regularly.

They sure do have a lot of slow-ass horses around the world though. Some in Australia and the U.K. that I have seen don't belong in a claiming race at Churchill.

I wonder what their success rate is as far as earnings/costs? How many horses do they race/breed every year that never amount to anything?

Is there anywhere to look at this data?

Do you feel that their business practices are prudent? Although it is hard to envision making decisions where money was no issue.

By the way, I think Shamardal will be a very successful stallion for them. Your thoughts?

I love Sharmadal and do think he will be a very productive stallion for them if the Giant's Causeways prove to be decent studs...

As for whether or not they run a prudent opperation...of course not, but what big time owners are rational with their money in this game?....none of them....owning racehorses is a losing proposition for 95+% of owners and that is just a fact...the economics of this game are ass-backwards....the top trainers and jockeys are the only horsermen who make money in this game because the owners are the ones that pay the bills on everything...just a disappointing fact on how upside down this game is.....

You have to treat this game as a hobby and not an investment...you have to know that every dime you put into this game you can't really count on getting back....that is why the wealth of the Shieks should allow them to be dominant....there is no financial risks for people that wealthy...