Buffum's Derby Trail
 

Could this be the new way to get to the Derby?

UAE 2000 Guineas (250,000)

Al Bastakiya ($250,000)

UAE Derby (2,000,000)

I was not aware that those races were graded earnings race however everywhere I looked they said he is still on the Derby Trail and is the Godolphin rep.

Yep the Indiana Derby

This horse is really not that good.

Zanzamar will win the 2000 Guineas.

I expect Paulinho will do pretty well.

Honestly, I think the other Godolphin runner (Splash Point) will do better but we shall see.

I don't even know what's happening with him. He's not been moved to Godolphin yet because he's not on their site and now Godolphin bought a horse to run in the UAE Derby. I wouldn't count on seeing him anytime soon, anywhere. Too bad, too, because he ran a bang up race in his debut and I like to think the horse deserves another crack, but I'm not holding my breath.

http://www.godolphin.com/HorseDetail...d=1_2_1&id=951

He's entered on Thursday.

Thank you!

Sure. :)

No clue what they are doing with him either. I was just not aware that those horses could qualify a horse for the Derby?

All "graded/group" money counts. The Derby and Guineas are Group races.
I don't like this horse at all. I am sure his big number against Cool Blue Hot Red (or whatever hs name is) was wildly inflated. I doubt he'll stand up to some of the southern hemisphere horses in Dubai, much less the US based 3yo's. He might win an allowance at AQU in November, for Darley and K Mac.

Now I can bet this horse with confidence if he runs in the Derby

Thanks Big Mac Mccray.

PPs for Thursday (R6) just incase anyone who may not know the usual places to find them wants to check the field...

http://amwestentertainment.com/pdfs/...s-20110010.pdf

Buffum has NO chance in the 2,000 Guineas. None.

But he is there Derby horse. The website says so.

Yea thank you cause I actually miss Rare Bog and maybe this will bring him back!

And he has no chance of winning on Thursday. I don't care what website says anything - I could own one 3YO and he could be my Derby horse too, they own a bunch, and trust me, consider all of them Derby candidates - for the Irish Derby, English Derby, UAE Derby, etc...

The horse has talent, I don't see Zanzamar losing that race, at all.

Buffum isn't even nominated to the Triple Crown. None of the Godolphin runners are.

I won't redboard about boxing any exacta :D but Splash Point won (I was wrong there), Zanzamar 2nd, not sure where Buffum finished.

I think Buffum actually ran OK for his first start back.

I know you're alive in your pick 3...

Good luck.

I used the 4, 6 and 8 in the last race. We shall see.

With the payouts I wish I went a bit lighter in first leg and maybe used the 6,8 in this. I could have had the winner in the first leg going 3 deep, I would have needed all 4 in middle leg though. Good Luck to you.

He did run well, better than expected, but if Mike De Kock had any control over the jockey bookings on his horse, he would have won with Soumillon riding Zanzamar instead of Richard Hills, who should be totted off for that tragedy of a ride.

Buffum was fifth, I believe.

Splash Point is not Godolphin. He's owned by Sh. Mo's son i believe.

Well this is why I thought he was Godolphin....

http://www.godolphin.com/HorseDetail...d=1_2_1&id=838

Good for you :tro: (and for her. I had given up on her but nice to see her win)!

Pretty much all the same.

Any idea how many lengths he was beaten? This was also his first go on synthetics....Thanks!

Splash Point is a 3 year old, but it still just seems so odd that Southern Hemisphere 3 year olds (our 4 year olds) are allowed to compete in this race.

I want to say maybe 4-5. He made a wide premature move and made the lead in the stretch. He was not in good position early IMO seemed stuck in between horses and even dropped back at one point before making his run. He might actually be OK.

Thanks! I thought he had shown a lot of ability in his debut, so I'm glad to see he ran closer to that race than to his Remsen; it's nice to see that he clearly handled the synthetic track fairly well. Hopefully he'll bounce back from this race in good shape.......

I actually think he needs to get off the synthetics. That quick move might do it on dirt, who knows. As for Graded earnings wont he have to run really big in his next 2 just to have a chance?

It all depends on your view. In the southern hemisphere, they ARE 3yo. Being six months older, or so, they carry more weight, so it is equitably distributed, really.

Since he doesn't run in the royal blue, I figure that they didn't have him on the A Team ...yet. he ran well and as a northern hemisphere bred he could find himself in the KY Derby hunt. He won a $250k Group race.

Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum ownes Splash Point

He got $150,000 towards the KY Derby with 2 more big money races so he could be a possiblity?

Something to look for is IF Buffum wins or comes in 2nd in the 2 million dollar race he WILL make the KY Derby

The UAE Derby has a $2m purse so an on the board finish should get him into the Derby, money wise. The al Bastikiya is listed, not group so earnings there don't count.

I'm not thrilled about synthetics either -and I'm very much looking forward to seeing him get back on dirt. I don't know that I'd push him towards the Derby because even if he runs well in the UAE Derby, he'd probably need another prep here. That's 3 races plus all that travelling - and he's not a big colt (not unless he developed over the winter). Still, if they do decide to make a go of it with him, then I have to assume they think he can handle it. This really just does not seem an ideal way to prep for the KY Derby, but it's the Sheikh's horses and he can do what he wants to.

That's true - didn't think about the weight at all; thanks!

I'd be shocked if any of the Godolphin horses running in that race today come within 1,000 miles of Churchill Downs by May...been wrong before, but just my feeling. Also, Godolphin could potentially start Xin Xu Lin in the UAE Derby fresh in from South America, so winning the big one isn't a cakewalk. I don't think they are thinking Kentucky Derby at all.