What is Godolphin thinking?
 

http://www.drf.com/news/article/106859.html

I don't get it... why would Godolphin point Music Note for the Filly and Mare Sprint? That is very disappointing - I can only assume by Mettee's comments that they are higher on Cocoa Beach than MN?

Music Note is not a sprinter even though she just won the Ballerina.....she barely lost the 3 year old filly championship last year. What kind of sense does this make?

you dont think its a matter of how much easier a race the sprint would be to win?

Though she also just proved that she could beat two of the biggest threats in the division.

Seems to make a lot of sense to me.

I know you have a thing for Music Note, but come on. She's clearly a VERY talented sprinter and there's much reason to believe that she's better at 7F than 8, 9, or 10.

Like BWS said - makes a ton of sense.

And if they're high on Cocoa Beach they're crazy.

This is a joke right? She just destroyed last year's champion and the leader so far for this year in only her second race back and you think it makes no sense to point her towards the FM Sprint? Not just beat them but destroyed them.

You're right, I think they should run her in the Marathon and put Castellano back on her, maybe he'll make a Jorge Carreno like mistake and think they only have to go around once. It would at least be a better excuse than putting her to an all out drive with over 50% of the race to go like he did in the Ogden Phipps.

NT

You're on fire today!

OOOOOOOOOO

Wow.

Wow.

I am floored that anyone can think that Godolphin is making a sensible decision with Music Note.

This is absolutely retarded.

First of all people, Indian Blessing is not even close to the same horse she was a year ago. I would not be surprised if she is soon retired.

Second of all, Informed Decision is miles better over synthetic than she is on dirt. Yeah yeah, she won at CD on derby day, I know.

A healthy Informed Decision and Ventura will easily beat Music Note going 7 on synthetic.

How the hell can anyone think she beat a quality field Saturday, and even worse, to say she's clearly a superior sprinter off of one start against a really bad field of 'g1' DIRT sprinters, it's just nuts!

She certainly showed a fairly high cruise speed. She ran a lot better then I thought she would BUT I think Bin Laden is in charge of the D Barn at Saratoga this year.. I wonder how Wolfson got his merch thru.. Maybe he was wearing a kofi.. KIDDING

So, then why not point Cocoa Beach to the sprint?

I guess to me it sounds like they don't think she's as good as Cocoa Beach so they are going the path of least resistance.

they have to run her somewhere-and does anyone really think she can battle zenyatta to a better finish then she had a year ago? the sprint might not be a great choice, but i guess they feel they have a better shot at a win there then in the distaff.

Yes, but she also won a few big name grade 1 stakes last year going two turns.....I guess I don't see why a filly who came a few votes short of winning a championship last year is being reduced to a sprinter. Yes, reduced. To me, she's not a sprinter - she won because she's a very talented filly who was primed for a peak effort. It just bespeaks no confidence in her.......but I have no choice, lol. Wherever MN runs, I will root for her.

reduced? it's shorter, not easier.

Well, given the quotes in that article, it's obvious they are very happy with CB.

What makes you think MN is better at 7 furlongs than at longer distances? I don't see it.......is it based on one perhaps fluky performance?

Can you at least not be condescending because I obviously disagree with you?

MN stank last year going 2 turns.....right?

It's more prestigious to win longer races than sprints...that's why I said reduced. Mettee raved about Cocoa Beach, so I guess they think they have a better chance at winning the Ladies Classic with her......

I don't think her performance the other day was fluky - I think it was VERY impressive even though the two horses she beat may have been compromised.

The bottom line is that she's somewhere at the top of the F+M sprint division, but probably isn't in the same league as Rachel (won't matter for the BC), Zenyatta, Icon Project, and Careless Jewel.

Godolphin also has Seventh Street.

I would love the chance to bet Informed Decision over Music Note on the plastic.

She just won a G1 over the pro tem leader of the division and the most likely possible additional challenger (Informed Decision and Indian Blessing) at the distance of the BCF/M Sprint. She beat the two fillies (mares) that she'll need to beat at SA and looks like she likes sprinting, her 3yo campaign notwithstanding.

Isnt Zen going to the classic ;)

I would think MN is better suited for an awful rendition of the classic than she is the filly sprint. Unless, of course, Zen shows up in either the Classic or filly sprint.

i would be beyond amazed if zenyatta showed up in the classic. hell, i can see why they'd want to run music note there and use seventh street in the distaff. they're deep on fillies, and music note showed a new dimension. i don't see the big deal.

What did she show? That she could beat two off-form (IB is toast and ID was on the wrong surface) fillies that when on their games would trounce her? And beat a couple of badly out matched other ones?

she showed she could sprint-so now, instead of multiple entrants in the distaff, they have a horse for the sprint. i doubt she'd win either one-but i can see why they're trying.

I understand your reasoning, however you must keep in mind Godolphin have multiple assets, though it may not seem logical I'm sure they have discussed it between themselves the best place to allocate their assets for the rest of the season. If you ask me they are pretty sharp bunch and we have seen them try some strange things in the past but ended up being the correct choice, Sahktee in the classic for instance comes to mind.

Right. If they want to keep the two separated, they should send the one who wants at least a mile in the less prestigious sprint instead of the more versatile one (distance wise at least) who is not a grade 1 winner at the distance of the f+m sprint.

Makes sense. . .

They also retired Bernardini before he had a chance to show what he could do and skipped the BC Juvenile with Ruler's Court - I understand what you're saying, but Godolphin has made some bad decisions.

I guess I shouldn't have said the Ballerina was fluky because MN is a talented filly. It just feels like to me that she's sort of being shunted aside for Cocoa Beach......who really hasn't been that good this year. I just can't get that excited about MN being pointed to the Sprint....

Again, sprinting against nothing proves nothing.

By that logic, a horse that works in 112 can sprint.

the ballerina, at 7f, is her first win in about a year. she may be talented, but they have others who they apparently feel are moreso for that distance. you keep talking about cocoa beach, but as someone pointed out, they also have seventh street. they may not have planned a bc trip for music note at all, but after her win, they're giving her a shot.

well, let me put it this way. i really don't care where they run her. i wouldn't bet her in whatever race she showed up in anyway.

And what about Darley Stable? Doesn't Shiek Mohammed have a stake with them? A plethora of riches.

I admit that I forgot about Seventh Street........

He owns Darley and Godolphin. Cant remember the difference between the two but its something.

why would you question them when they are winning everything? someone started a thread making fun of vinyard havens entry into the kings bishop and he was the only one that could keep up with cap. candyman. they know what they are doing and the horses are running. don't question success.

Ruler's Court was injured.

They are also pointing Seventh Street and Flashing to the Sprint.

Which I think means Music Note is back pointing to the Ladies Clasisc.

NT

Sounds like they need to create a BC Filly And Mare Dirt Mile...

Don't say that too loud...Greg Avioli is already hot on the trail of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Filly Quarter Mile Sprint and you shouldn't derail the mind of a genius.

NT

Did he abandon his hopes for a Breeders Cup Sprint for 2yo and 4yo fillies in favor of a race with just the 2yos?