English Channel ducking the big boys??
 

This outta fire up GPK! :D Seriously though, I can understand why they're keeping him at the Spa.




http://drf.com/news/article/77094.html

Makes a ton of sense, really...I like him staying stretched out..

Pletcher is the best for a reason...I question nothing he does.

I agree.. I'm kinda glad EC and Cacique can go their seperate ways for now.

me too....would love to now see Cacique win the Million and just flatter EC even more.

Me too! :)

Kev, Cacique has only finished 2nd to him, yes twice but once with a load of traffic trouble. EC finished off the board in the Manhatten. Jury is out on who is better.

I realize off the board is still off the board, but he was beaten what, 1/2 length?

and the Manhatten was an incredibily slow paced race, where IMO EC was a bit rank in the early going of that race.

Regardless of distance and shipping, I think Pletcher is smart to keep him away from the Arlington Million. There are a few horses in there that could possibly donkey work English Channel and Cacique.

I would keep EC at home too, and get the easy check.

The euros that are coming can work English Channel, and I'm not saying that with even a tinge of hatefulness GPK.

Good luck to Cacique in that one......he will need it.

I think the little filly who is running in the Beverly D named Rising Cross could beat EC and Cacique.

Hey bro, I know your not saying that with any hatefulness, because it's the truth. I think it's apparent that I am probably the biggest EC fan on the planet, but I am no where near foolish enough to believe that he is better than some of those Euros. Only an idiot would believe that. Anytime I have ever talked about him being the best, I also say in the US or North America. EC would have to run the race of his life to even think of beating some of those big boys from across the pond. I'm not sure what Euros are coming over for the BC this year, but no one is more ecstatic about that race than me. I think he did himself very proud in last years BC Turf (5th place) in being the top finishing American horse in that race....as a 3YO. I talked alot over the winter about how great I really thought he was gonna be this year as a 4YO and he has done NOTHING TO DISSAPOINT ME. He is tons better than he was last year and thats why I can't wait for the BC. One thing for sure, I will be able to get some kind of price on him in that race and I will place my usual $100 win bet on him and scream like crazy during the race as they are coming for home.:D

I think he is really good too Kev, and have followed him since he broke his maiden impressively. I think Pletcher is really smart here to stay away and poor Cacique might not know what he is in for. Watch for the little filly from the Epsom Oaks running in the Beverly D that day, she is a running little thing. RISING CROSS

Will do Mood. Thanks for the heads up my friend.

but couldn't you cover the first five horses with a baby blanket?

Zippy thats really an inaccurate take on the situation. Its a long year and EC will still have the Turf Classic and the BC Turf to run in. The Arlington Million is a great race, but when it was conceived there was no Breeders Cup. It was the Breeders Cup before the Cup was invented. A brilliant creation which brought Euros to our country to face our very best for a lot of money. Its created spectacular finishes and awesome races. The problem is that the race is a real gut-wrencher. Having to ship there and face not only the great American horses but the Euros as well has caused more than one horse to bounce the rest of the year.
EC is already a grade one winner. By keeping him at home and not having to ship to face a hard field, they won't wring him out and save some horse for the two biggies that follow. Its just an excellent move in management by a trainer who manages his horses and plots things as well as anyone. To get to a goal, you define the goal and work BACKWARDS in planning, not forwards. Obviosly they are working backwards from the BC Turf and trying to get him there with the best possible chance of winning. Todd's the sharpest knife in the drawer, that i can assure you.

"The Secretariat was a hard race to gauge," Pletcher said. "He was on the lead, and he doesn't prefer that. He ran okay, it just wasn't his best race, and makes you wonder if you need to try that again."


Humm....someone has been saying that since that race was over last year.....

You just had surgery, quit patting yourself on the back you may hurt it again:eek:

I am very excited English Channel stays here. Should be the premier race of the meet (in my opinion). Even if the rest of the card isnt all that great, you still have simulcasting from the big day at Arlington. I'm looking forward to next Saturday.

You just had surgery, quit patting yourself on the back you may hurt it again

LOL! Kev still claims hes the biggest Surf Cat fan on here. How soon he forgets who knew and loved Surf Cat since his very first start!

I've been around long enough to know the truth!

You used to love Cosmos Mariner too...is he still running, saw him win at the Big A in the late winter.

Last I knew Cosmos Mariner was running in New Jersey. He kind of faded from my favorite list. It use to be kind of a joke between Scuds and I. He never was really up there with my gal Butterface or my son Gander.

Oh no Timmy...I know you claim Surf Cat. I read about him before you told me about him, but the day he won last year when you and I talked, that was the first time I had spoken to anyone about him.

Can I claim Proud Tower Too, since I was the one that said single him at 22-1 in his stakes bedut??:D :D

only way I am gonna hurt my back is by putting my foot up your ass....SIDEWAYS.:mad:

We can share Surf Cat, but Proud Tower Too is all you buddy. We both should have had win money the day after Christmas. I dont want to think about him. That day was all speed. Uggggh.

You own rights to English Channel. Heck of a horse.

I have Butterface (LOL, who else wants her!).

Anxious to see how EVER A FRIEND stacks up today. I don't if he has the early speed to go with the great AHS, but with a well timed run, Bejerano may be able to work some magic with him.

I think he has a wonderful shot today Kevin as does Mott's charge Titled. Those are the 2 I would use.

how's the weather thus far?

He is running from Arlington because there is only room for one star on that day, and unlike EC, Showing Up won't choke in the Secretariat and lose to a nobody like Gun Salute. I would keep EC at Saratoga too because he is going to need to be 100% ready to go in the Turf Classic because the horse the bloodhorse called the "new star of american turf racing" loves the Belmont turf.

You need counseling Bold Ruler. Horses don't choke. They don't understand that its a pressure filled situatiuon or what not or how much money is on the line. He simply didn't like that course or shipping that day, etc. Whatever it was that was last year. Hes obviously developed into something more. And before you go and get all excited about Showing Up, you might wanna take a look at what Euro's will be in the race.

I think I own the rights to Shaconage, but she's retired and wasn't really all that good anyway. Think I'll need to find a new horse to which to hitch my wagon.

And "runnning" isn't exactly how I would put it. His trainer just happens to be the best trainer alive and he spots his horses with perfection and always a plan.

There are two euros coming and neither is anything to write home about. It is a two horse race between Showing Up and Go Between.

I am well aware horses don't choke and I don't need counseling, but you might want to learn what trash talking is. We will get our matchup in a few weeks at Belmont. Personally I think EC made the right move staying at Saratoga, but Relaxed Gesture is going to beat him anyway.

Matchup? More like a slaughter.

You are going to be surprised about this one. Trust me. I don't know if you know Tagg but when he starts talking Eclipse he isn't kidding. That guy is the most pessimistic guy alive, he wouldn't say it if he didn't really believe it. Showing Up is a february foal and he has matured a ton since the derby. He will have no problem with the older horses.

I already have you pegged. Just trying to get people riled up. I will simply let EC's running speak for itself.

Here we go again...Tagg...the pessimist...Come on man...you gotta come up with something new....You know as well as anyone that SU isn't prepared for older turf horses right now.

How could English Channel duck the "big boys?" EC is the big boy. You can't duck yourself. Keep him at the Spa, keep him sound and fit and keep your eye on the main goal. Even though I am not a fan of the horse, he sure is fun to watch run.

EC dominates that matchup...

He is better at this point than EC was at 3, and EC lost the Turf Classic by a nose to Shakespeare when he was 3. No American turf horse has anything on SU. The Euros are a different story.

As soon as they invent a Time Machine, let us know, so we can race them both as 3yo's...