Performance of the Weekend?
 

What horse(s) did you think put in the best performance(s) of the weekend?

Goldikova and LAL.

I agree with Deb LAL

Katie Lee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKcN2_tqqAE

And Goldikova of course.

The horse everyone is talking about who won big on the turf at Belmont today looked impressive. Jaycito ran a gutsy race going wide both turns and running down the favorite.

What was so good about Lookin At Lucky's performance?

He took advantage of a fast pace that absolutely collapsed in front of him - and beat a laughably overmatched field in moderate time. The 3yo fillies in the Indiana Oaks only ran 1/5th slower at the same distance 30 minutes prior - and each of the top four finishers from that race ran a faster final 2.5 furlongs than LAL did.

You're right about the race. What impresses me about him (and Blind Luck) is that they run their race every time regardless of track or surface.

Obviously Haynesfield and Redding Collery both ran awesome races.

They probably won't survive a torrid pace in the Classic with other quality speeds like Quality Road ... but I'm not going to pretend they both didn't run better races than horses like LAL, Blame, Zenyatta .. who all will figure to benefit next month.

That's because they are closers.

Haynesfield.

I'm not sure what that has to do with it.
Neither horse has really run a bad race and I will be using both on BC day. Just my opinion (and money :D).

How they figure to run in the BC or how they run in the past has absolutely nothing to do with how well they ran yesterday.

In general - stretch running horses are a lot more consistant than horses with front running or pressing styles.

Zenyatta

Yes she seems to be very consistant (in general) :tro:.

Pretty epic stuff - wearing down the mighty 3yo filly Switch.

Satan's Quik Chick getting a share of 3rd place first off of about a 9 month layoff after being soundly beaten at Tampa Bay Downs in her prior start.

Right up there with Secretariat's Belmont and Spectacular Bid's Big Cap in terms of sensational individual performances.

Unthinkable for a DEEP CLOSER to be undefeated.

19 times Zenyatta has beat what came to race, its not her fault that the Moss's decided to keep her at home. Still pretty amazing.

Ever heard of Personal Ensign?

That stretch running style is preffered on synthetic.

Even on dirt - where a tactical speed running style is a big edge - they can always run a rabbit at you - you're always at the risk of getting into an insane speed duel like Life At Ten and RA got into in the Personal Ensign - a poor start is no big deal for a deep closer - but it can be death for a speed horse.

There goes another thread.

Ror !!

God forbid if Zenyatta decides to run next year...

Hey! I picked LAL and Goldikova!!!!:D

You're right she sucks. Since you're a real fan and expert you'll find something else to marvel at and rejoice in. Me, I'll trudge along with 19 for 19 and 5 second final 16th's.

Nice looking animal … but not sure what was so impressive about the NY-bred yesterday.

Allowed to run by himself thru slow early splits

Yeah, that was awesome.

He'll probably turn back into FC at CD…

It's a hell of a lot more impressive than Pepper's Pride - that's for sure.

Pepper's Pride was never even quick enough to get to the early at the first call in any of her races against New Mexico breds... which probably helped her go 19-for-19 more than anything else.

Basically, Pepper's Pride wasn't fast enough to ever get involved in any duels - and because her competition was so horrid - she merely needed to bide her time and wear them down.

Sacred Kingdom, who nearly died from colic earlier this year, making his triumphant return to Sha Tin. He won the Sha Tin Sprint Trophy.

Ultra Fantasy, 8 year old Hong Kong Raider, showing the Japanese once again that they can compete on the highest level by winning the Sprinters Stakes in a shocker.

Zipping. Grand old man who showed the kids how it's done by winning the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Nine years old... he beat a field comprised of I-can't-even-count-how-many multiple G1 winners. The field included Shocking, Shoot Out, Metal Bender, Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracey, Monaco Consul... shall I continue?

Better Than Ever, the Singapore sensation, who remains undefeated. 11 starts, 11 wins... a hard-fought edition of the G1 Kranji Mile. His 7 year old stablemate, the very popular Waikato, almost did it this time but he prevailed in a heart stopper.

... and of course the champions Goldikova, Zenyatta and Katie Lee. I just figured they get a lot of attention and these old guys? The racing world is lucky to have these old men. :tro:

Sharp post

Where did I say sucks?

Come home times are exceptionally fast in synthetic races out West - especially when the early pace is so slow.

Here's a 13.54 final 1/8th from her when she had a fast pace in front of her ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOz9P...eature=related

Dude, be fair... she beat Hang Glide.:p

Seriously I liked Pepper's Pride (for what she was and for what she did... in her home state) but WHY CAN'T THEY STOP?

She shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Citation, etc.,

I can't believe TVG et al have her listed on their visuals

Ridiculous.

He was probably the guy who was sending in death threats to Rinterval.

Friggen Rinterval has lost 20 out of her last 21 races ... she got smoked at Presque Isle - of all the horses to recieve death threats.

You didn't say sucks. I did. I'm probably a little overprotective of the queen. Sorry.

Pepper's Pride would have been a high priced claimer if she didn't have her New Mexico bred status. She was good enough to eventually get through her alw conditions on a middling to decent circuit - and would have eventually been running for 32K to 50K claiming tags.

She's the greatest female synthetic horse of all-time as far as I'm concerned.

Better than even Nashoba's Key, St. Trinians, Informed Decision, Ventura etc.

She's probably the best North American based synthetic horse ever male or female as well.

Sharp post

She would have been a Superstar in any era on any surfaces. Her races at Oaklawn were also dominant.

I wasn't at all impressed with her Apple Blossom win this year. Her '08 AB win was solid - but nothing really special. She gets another chance to prove what kind of dirt horse she is in the Breeders Cup to those who doubt her greatness on that surface.

Was the obviously enhanced crowd noise really necessary? It made it hard to hear you, even though it was obviously fishy to say the least. There was a time when it was suddenly gone too, like you clicked a button or something.

If you've done Saturday's card at Hawthorne yet - What did you get for pace and final for the Hawthorne Gold Cup?

I haven't, I'll let you know tomorrow.

Whats kinda sad is the predicament that her owners have put her in, if she loses many are going say "see I told you so", yet in reality its not all that easy for 6 year olds to win the Classic, its only happened a handful of times.

This could have been avoided quite easily.

She probably still jogs but you never know in horse racing.

Richard's Kid is no slouch - on synthetics of course.