American Pharoah with authority
 

Over what? It appear not much. Of course he had it all his way and Victor going for the lead on a sloppy track that AP loves was perfect. For a moment many were thinking he was coming back to the field entering the final turn but . . . taking a breather the others couldn't even catch him. And we all saw what happened next.

So the racing gods shined on AP today offering help from the dreaded inside post by bringing on the storm. He loved it and showed just how much he did.

Here we go again with a chance, with a chance. I would be very surprised if we see any (but a few) of his past rivals at the showing up for the Belmont. It may be a field of 5, who knows. That is 5 maybe that have a chance at all.

Pletcher might have 5 starters himself - they ain't going to hand Pharaoh anything.

Pletcher always goes with quantity over quality. What's his record in TC races and BC races for that matter? I don't expect him to get handed anything but who's out there . . . HELLO!?

What about AP makes him so vulnerable to ridiculous criticism?


He's speed crazy and won't rate, he is too slow and will have traffic problems.

He's overrated. He has perfect trips. The race was handed to him. He doesn't beat anyone that's good, he won't face tough competition next time out, etc.

Why aren't people appreciating a spectacular horse?

This really might just be a truly once in a blue moon horse. Enjoy him. They are rare.

let's hope so :) ............... ;)

I love it. The AP/ALL/ALL $2 tri paid a gran. In a 7 horse race.

Whoever refuses to acknowledge the greatness of this horse is simply blinded by the potential windfall they haven't yet realized by betting against him.

Whether he wins the Belmont or not, no reason he can't go on being special for the rest of his career. We're getting to see a horse this talented so I'm thrilled whatever happens. Obviously a Triple Crown would be great, but he's special regardless.

I assume those of us watching NBC all spied Haskin standing next to Baffert watching the race? I exclaimed and told my family who that was. They were all 'oh have you met him?' Nah, it's just great to see him on tv when you don't expect it. If American Pharoah wins the Belmont, the right eyes, ears, and brain are gonna be right there documenting the whole thing the way it deserves to be.

I think I'd be more inclined to agree with the "greatness" thing if Tale of Verve hadn't finished 2nd.

--Dunbar

So by following your logic, you are willing to dismiss Dortmund as a complete fraud then I assume. Or blanket him the same litany of excuses that were afforded him after the derby.

It's amazing.

The horse was a suck up, beat nothing in the derby with a dream trip, had it his own way by going to the lead against the other two top 3 finishers in the derby...et. al.

Jesus Christ. What the fuc1< do you people want?!

It was the slowest Preakness since 1956 :wf

Which under these circumstances is meaningless. Any speed fig is an utter guess.

Agree 150%. Who cares about the time. Are horses sent out to set records or win races under conditions? If I had a thoroughbred time would only matter in training as training goes. If I have a horse that knows how to win under most any conditions, the time her or she sets to win is irrelevant.

:) Because it's so easy to throw stones. It makes for interesting, allows chest beating and if not ludicrous, banter.

How quickly it has become who did he beat. Just a couple weeks back we were hearing how good this crop is...some people are never satisfied....

I think I'd be more inclined to agree with the "greatness" thing if Tale of Verve hadn't finished 2nd. Maybe it was the rain, maybe TOV felt his oats today. Let's see what he does 3 weeks form now if he ever enters. His past races are no where near AP's and way out of Grade I stakes ranks.

Sometimes I can birdie a par 3 on Colonial in Fort Worth but it has only happened twice in my lifetime and I'm no spring chicken. TOV had the best day of his racing career and still finished 7 lengths behind AP as he mildly galloped across the wire. What's to crow about with TOV, or to question AP's prowess in light of this . . . please???!!!

The horse had everything his own way after Nakatani didn't send Mr Z hard after him, and for whatever reason his two main opponents never fired. It was not the type of performance that'll silence his critics.

My wife (the real T-bred authority) and I are optimistically guarded in our enthusiasm. We as all of you have been through this so many times before. The first I did after the race as I looked at her is said. "OK let's calm down and see what happens, lets play it cool this time", which we have been guilty of doing in past years with Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Smarty Jones, Big Brown and California Chrome . . . getting too wound up in the emotional side of it. It's the Irish in us I guess.

That said we will be emotionally guarded this year for all the right reasons but we want the TC jinx to be broken as badly as anyone!!!

No. By my logic, American Pharoah beat horses in the Preakness that for whatever reason, ran worse than Tale of Verve, who no one is going to put in a list of very good horses yet.

There were 2 other good horses in the Preakness. Did you see the horrific step that Firing Line took out of the gate?

Sorry, I'm not ready to call him a "spectacular horse" yet.

If you want to say American Pharoah's probably as good as Big Brown or Smarty Jones were at this stage of their careers, then fine. But if you're maintaining he's somehow superior to those horses, or that his Derby and Preakness were superior to Funny Cide's, say, then you'll get an argument.

--Dunbar

You guys are far more of the experts, but what I liked about AP's performance today was that he hustled out of the gate when asked, settled when asked (really just loping along), and then fired when asked. His ears were active, "listening" to the Espinosa in the stretch with a hand ride. He looked remarkably "happy" for a horse running in horrible conditions.

Who cares about the critics, nothing will silence them . . . it's what they get paid for or satisfy there ego for. Mr. Z got what he deserved. He ran the best race of his life and it was for noting. BTW- I disagree, Mr. Z was sent (going) as hard as Mr. Z could go notta . . . don't believe otherwise. You can't believe Nakatani was holding him back can you?

Agree 150% with everything you saw and said, he did everything that a champion race horse is supposed to do when his jockey asked him to. He ran an excellent race but I will say the rain and sloppy conditions didn't hurt his performance. I think he relished it.

So far I ask, who has he really beat? Is there a horse out there that's close to or worthy of giving him a real test. We may see in 3 weeks and/or on down the road but so much can change and happen . . .

Look, he has done little, if anything, wrong in his young racing career, and some already said here . . . let's enjoy him and I add get behind him in force and cheer him and connections on (who are also awesome horse people) and truly hope we are all not disappointed one more time.

Yes, the next test is whether he can run just as "happily" for a mile and a half. And we can hope that Baffert and Espinosa have learned lessons from their past "almosts."

I think I would be more apt to do this if he were trained/owned by anyone other than who he is. I can't stand them.

I for one, Am so excited for the prospect of a TC winner this year. I think we might just see it and that gives be a Boner :D




..............and Baba Booey to y'all

Arletta, ya knows I how much luvs ya but this may be the first time we differ widely . . . but that's OK. It's about the horse and horse racing. If AP wins the Triple Crown, who's picture will be on the cover of all the media/new papers (do they still exist), and magazines? I rest my case. :)

:D Chill my friend, relax . . . 3 weeks to go and if he does win, I can't imagine what you'll feel like?:eek::zz:;)

The closest comps to this horse recently are Smarty Jones and Big Brown. I honestly don't think American Pharoah's Ky Derby/Preakness performances are as good as those two and those two appeared to absolutely tower over their class. Things tend to happen at Belmont Park as horses attempt to win the triple crown. Right now I'd put his chances at less than 20 percent chance to win that race. I think many of the last 13 who have tried it in the last 37 years are better than American Pharoah and they all failed. I hope I'm wrong as I'd like to see it done again.

I'll feel like Sightypoo and Deb-o-Deb riding the sybian........

I'd put his chances at about 20%. Other than Materiality it doesn't appear (at this point) to be much speed in the race (though maybe Carpe Diem shows more). We do still have three weeks so who knows who ends up showing up. I think 20% means he has a huge chance of winning but it's still a long way out and anyway I'll be playing against the potential triple crown aspirant. I do think, after last year, Victor puts him on the lead and we'll see how long he lasts. I'm sure he'll get run down late, maybe he doesn't even hit the board, but, still, who cares. The important part for the game is that he makes it there in tact (knock on wood). It's going to be a great day...and if he does win it...well, ****, it's going to be nuts and rightfully so.

As for the crop suddenly being subpar, that's just embarrassing. I was pumped to see Firing Line and Dortmund throw down with AP in the stretch again but clearly Mother Nature was rooting for the Pharaoh. (Tale of Verve won't finish anywhere near the board in the Belmont) Anyway, they'll regroup and win there share of races. Hopefully we see them back at in the summer/fall. (Calling it now, Dortmund will win the Haskell) I still think this crop is one of the best we've seen and wouldn't be surprised if those two have something to say in the BCC at the end of the year.

Don't get caught up in the time. It doesn't mean anything. That race was fantastic today! Just what we needed. Thank God AP handled the slop. On to Belmont...where Frosted will win, spoiling another crown bid...but who cares. All that matters is that we head to Belmont with the chance. The result is irrelevant.

Pharohs opponents couldnt come within 7 lengths of the slowest time since 1955 let that sink in for a second when you say time doesnt matter.

It is a little surprising to me that you have something against one of the best trainers of all time.....:zz:

If the connections ever read any of your posts from Clyde/Mortimer/whoever the weirdo is, I'm sure they'd be THRILLED to hear of your distaste.

Good god! The horses needed water wings and you wanted them to set records? They needed life preservers!
Can you run in ankle deep water as fast as you can on dry pavement? If that was wet fast I'm scared to see what mud looks like there. They would be sinking to their withers.

:tro:

If this was Phipps colt it would be the second coming of Messiah.. Its a colt owned and operated by newbies who have been extremely successful and lucky in what is an impossible business to win at

Not quite. He earned $45,000 for finishing 5th and beat the Derby runner-up. If you ran this race 100 times, perhaps he does better. And what did he deserve exactly? To be vanned-off?

I think you're a year late with this post. Oh well, you know what opinions are like. Everybody has one. Then again that's what this place is all about.

Time doesn't matter, again, unless you want to put your time figs in the record book to be forgotten except by people like you. What matters is winning races, especially the big ones. And for that matter with your logic . . . then how poorly did the others run, although many likely just hated the rain, the slop and/or the track while one loved everything about and romped. That's why we call it horse racing.

I watched the race with my son and his friend, who are both 20. They have really taken to the game. They are excited about possibly seeing a triple crown.
I explained to them that I was 9 years old when the last time we had a triple crown winner. This is just one reason why the American Pharoah story is great. We are getting younger people in the game, by drawing attention to what greatness in this game really is. I'm looking forward to June 6th!!!! Plus it's my wifes birthday.

I should have said Wayne Lukas got what he deserved for his ignorant reason for entering him in the first place.