Verrazano -- The Real Deal or Paper Tiger?
 

Several years ago there would be a lot being said about a horse being the early favorite having only made 3 career starts and none as a 2 year old. In an era of a "New Normal" in horse racing, it seems that the old rules don't carry as much weight in people's minds in that search for their "Derby Horse."

Will experience matter for Verrazano? The Tampa Bay Derby was a solid race, but did he really beat anyone?

Which horse(s) look to have more potential as we enter the last few weeks of Derby preps?

I don't think this is a horrible group of horses going into the Derby, yet so many of the horses lack the familiarity that we were treated with last year since so many of the Juvenile runners made it into the Derby field.

It could be a bit of each for Verrazano as I do think he is the real deal, but also think his lack of experience could hurt him.

He hasn't seen dirt in the face yet and while it's possible he's just faster than everyone else, a stumble, step slow and/or the 20 horse field might be his first encounter with being behind horses early.

I agree this isn't a bad group and actually think 5-10 of them are actually okay. They just need more. More seasoning, more races, more training, more everything.

Verrazano dusted the allowance field he faced 6 years to the day of Curlin's maiden romp.

Last year's crop was decimated by injuries at year's end, hopefully this year is no repeat!

Interesting fact. Verrazano will go into the Derby with one more race than either of them, but profile-wise I was thinking he might be another Dunkirk -- if Pletcher could somehow get a Curlinesque campaign out of him, that would be brilliant!

I would have less hesitations on this horse if he were trained by Mott or Sheriffs than Pletcher.

An awful lot is going to have to go right for him if they expect him to win like he did in the Tampa Bay Derby. I'd love to seem them rate him a bit in the next prep (Wood presumably?)

That's my question about him, too. I thought Haskin's comment about him on his Derby list was interesting:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentu...well-farm.aspx

He didn't say anything about his dapples, however.

I am not sure an offspring of More Than Ready can go the mile and quarter. Hungry Island was best on turf at a mile and not as effective going longer. Not sure that is a great comparison but they are similarly bred.

My video was going out, but I wasn't so impressed with Verrazano there.

[quote=Sightseek;922532]My video was going out, but I wasn't so impressed with Verrazano there.[/QUOT


Why? I think the jury is still. Looked to me like Vyjack wanted no part of 9f. And Normandy ran at him off a super slow pace.

He's either a free runner at a high pace all the way around or a dud.

They better plain on being on the lead in 1:11@6f and go from there

he looks to be a grinder at a high speed, no quick move

but if I could get 5-1 on Orb.....................ah

Who will JV choose to ride? If he chooses Verrazano does Rosario pick up Orb, then who gets Vyjack. I JV chooses Orb would Castellano get Verrazano over Revolutionary and Normandy invasion? Some interesting decisions to be made.

Vyjack wins the Jackson Bend Award for Heart.

Considering the pace and the hype, Verrazano should have won by much more if he was the horse he is supposed to be.

I wouldn't even bet him to win at the Derby at your imaginary OTB.

You should take him at my OTB!!!
I agree about both V's and think Normandy ran well.

:D

I hope they put Jose Lezcano back on Normandy Invasion if Javier goes elsewhere.

Yes, his trip in the Risen Star was bad, but it was a prep for a prep and a comeback race.

I trust Lezcano as much as anyone on a horse with Normandy Invasion's style.

the sucker favorite for the KY Derby, i hope he takes all the money and the hype

another gemologist... NY horses are no threat

I'm leaning this way. Still a few more big preps and the derby pace won't be a crawl. He will have to run hard early or do something he's never done.

Like many of our U.S. bridges here is another one that you take a big risk on by riding on it.

V may noy be the best horse in pletchers barn
Revolutionary may be better
Golden cents PF keep ascending
that horse could be a monster and the man with the playoff beard and happy hour personality could be sipping mint juleps again

Goldencents will be a huge story going in to the Derby when Louisville caps it off Monday night

Why are NY horses no threat? Where do superior horses come from? Please enlighten us.

And who qualifies as a New York horse? Any horse who has ever had one lifetime start in NY even if all others were elsewhere?

Verrazano is a KY bred who has three starts in Florida. That is a very broad definition of NY horse.

Paul

Well put. This horse has done everything they've asked of him. I would've rather seen a win like that yesterday than another romp. So many things need to go right to win the Derby, regardless of where he won his preps, he will go into the starting gate(hopefully) being as prepared as he could be.

To answer the real question, I'd say paper tiger. At least as far as the KY Derby is concerned. That's not to say he could be the real deal in a race like the BC Dirt Mile.

His Performance Genetic report:

http://performancegenetics.com/wp-co...Rock-2010c.pdf

rosario is on orb for the derby, so i figure johnny v will stay on verrazano.

johnny V was hurt bad sunday any updates

A rib crack and a small chip in the wrist. Neither of those are a concern, but it seems he may have had a mild concussion.

Will rest 3 weeks and start riding Wednesday of Derby Week.

Yes, but what about Verrazano's emotional conformation and sense of herd dynamics. :)

:D

Stay safe with all the bad weather rolling through your area.

thanks. just read a few minutes ago about some possible tornadoes in a county about an hour north of here. lots of rain here-with flash floods a real possibility. northern ark, southern mo also had some tornadoes.

He looks like quite the big boy next to Revolutionary:

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/news/vi...ll-downs-41613

(bonus vid of Mine That Bird chasing his new pony friend!)

Those were awesome. :)

:D

That was great. Thanks for posting.

Countdown until the announcement that he is getting some time off for a Gulfstream campaign...

He wants no part of 1 1/4. I know, I'm Captain Obvious with that assertion.

The problem though is he really was never running at 8 furlongs in this race.