7/31 (DMR): Wickerr S. (Colonel John return)
 

8th (6:30pm PCT) Wickerr S.

1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $85,000

1 Aitcho Smith M E 121 L
2 Sky Cape Baze T C 121 L
3 Becrux (ITY) Talamo J 119 L
4 Tiz West Espinoza V 121 L
5 Generalito Nain (ARG) Pedroza M A 119
6 Silent Soul Puglisi I 121 L
7 Ferneley (IRE) Rosario J 121 L
8 Colonel John Gomez G K 121 L
9 Prussian Gryder A T 119 L
10 Concerto's Thunder Garcia M 119 L
AE Get Funky Valdivia J Jr 119 Blk-On L
AE Pams Pompallier (NZ) Baze M C 114

Kind of an odd spot for his return.

Being naturally suspicious, I'm suspicious.

If they want to get to the Pacific Classic, I think it's perfect.

colonel john = over rated

Depends on your perspective. If you are talking about how good is he on a national level, that's debatable. He's just like Pioneerof the Nile. Both were the dominant 3yo in California leading up to the TC. Pioneer, did somewhat validate himself with a second in the Derby. So did Colonel John with a win in the Travers. If your opinion of him/them were that they were the best 3yo in California, I don't see how they are overrated. If your opinion of him was that he was a top five 3yo nationally, then maybe you have a point.

11 career races, no apparent turf pedigree, off a 7 month layoff and supposedly returning in a career first time try in a turf stk. Maybe they are praying for rain...

You don't think they are licking their lips for the 3rd/4th place $$ they'll get from an $85,000 race?

I laughed.

If they are looking for the best possible spot for a win, then I would tend to agree with you. But sometimes, the objective is to finally get a race into a horse and get the conditioning you need to move to the next step. Turf racing is not as hard on horses as dirt racing is (still getting used to this junk track) and a mile race in a decent field will do a lot more than just coming straight into the Pacific Classic off of works and is a lot less taxing than the San Diego Hcp would be. Also, if he was a horse that was primarily a dirt horse, I think the transition to grass might be more difficult. But not for a dominant synthetic horse.

POTN was 10x the horse of Colonel Tiago. Not that that is saying a lot, of course.

Don't forget, Tiago John ran against the worst crop of 3yos in all of human history. Past, present or future.

He might have but he still was the dominant 3yo in California that year and he did go to Saratoga and be the best of that horrible crop. Nobody is saying that he ranks with the best 3yos in the history of the sport. But in relation to his group, he was among the best.

I just read the reason Tiago John is running in the Wickerr is because Harty doesn't want him to return in the San Diego HCP Sunday, because that is the return target of Well Armed.

ICK

FTFY

Given he did win The Travers last year, I would have thought a more abitious approach would have been in the offing. It's not like he wouldn't have options in either the Whitney or The Pacific Classic to choose from. Really Harty could separate Well Armed and C. John without much difficulty. Again it raises an eyebrow with me and it may signal that all is not well with him, he reportedly is getting over an illness this spring, anyway these are reasonable questions any decent handicapper should ask, rather than digest the convienient turf to dirt 'prep' race angle we are supposedly to believe as something that is the norm.

We think that Becrux and Prussian figure in this salty affair.











just kidding ( i just wanted to say "we" ) , but I do like those two. Get Funky is mildly interesting. Same with the NZ import.

It could be Harty is using the race as a prep and seeing if CJ likes the turf for the future.

Harty has a rock solid 3% clip with 1st time turfers. Obviously you guys don't know what you're talking about.

It's unfortunate that nowdays, people have forgotten or have no understanding of what a prep race means. They think that every race you enter, you enter to win. I think there are still a few that understand the concept of using a lesser race as a means to get you better prepared to win a bigger one.

Do you have one of those Colonel John derby buttons?

whats up with the two r's in wickerr

It was different when these horses were running 10-15 times a year. If you plan on a 5 race campaign and at least one is a "prep"...give me a break.

Bluntly looking at this race last night, I was not too condident in any of these, if I were forced to pick one I guess Tiz West is the best turf horse in here, however he has a tendacy to dissapoint. If Becrux and C John take money he might be the one.

.....i will trade my big brown button, straight up.

Like Ron Ellis did with Rail Trip, using the Gold Cup preps, the LeRoy and and the California, to toughen him up for the main goal.

I like 4,7,9.
Might take a stab in the 6-8 pick 3.

I agree....


:)

Wow, three straight posts from the legend!

It's Legends Day on NT - another showed up today too.


Roll out the red carpets!

NT?

Who's the other legend? Wouldn't that be sweet if Hossy and PG were reunited?

Colonel John takes it - nice run.

He looked really strong.

Looked good! Maybe just the class of an okay group?

Not a bad run from Get Funky who was sent from the gate and never really got a breather.

the pace and final time were very legit, it certainly was not a horrible group.

much the best

couple of ticks off the track record........that imo was his best race, although he WON the travers, i would look to keep him on turf:confused:

Nahhhh

Why settle for 'graceful'/powerful runs like that? We really need to get him back on DIRT, where the real horses run.:rolleyes:

Maybe they can work some speed into him and make him a kickback specialist. :tro:

Not too bad. Will set him up well for his next race.

Maybe that win will spark Gomez to win some more races at del mar. Last I checked he was 2 for 40 at del mar. Somethngs wrong?