4/22-23 (KEE): Doubledogdare (G3); Elkhorn (G2), Ben Ali (G3)
 

I guess we now know why none of these turds ran in the Oaklawn H.

Goodness gracious.

Did you watch the Oaklawn Handicap?

Feels like those third and fourth place finishes could have been second and third at Oaklawn....which was worth more than first and second at Keeneland.

Regardless, the results don't really matter. They should have run at Oaklawn. I don't want to hear "owners would rather win at Keeneland than Oaklawn" as I honestly doubt the Sheik cares where Proxy ran!

And 13 days later Churchill will be running the $500K Alysheba. Shoulda carded the Ben Ali for the 1st week of Keeneland.

Kind of surprised Mott didn't bite with Olympiad for that $1 million at Oaklawn. But he was quoted as saying he's looking to win a Grade 1 with the colt so he might not show up for the Alysheba, either. The Churchill Downs Handicap a day later offers a Grade 1 ranking and a $750K purse. And could set the horse up nicely for the Met Mile to boot.

Mott would run him against Speaker's Corner in the Met....but he should. We'll see. Olympiad is not nominated to the Churchill Downs. He is nominated to the Alysheba.

Thanks.

I know it is wishful thinking getting to see Olympiad in the Met Mile.

Was really hoping for a match up with Pappacap after that one wins the Pat Day Mile.

Jack Christopher is running there. Byk's Eclipse finalist will have to find another spot if he wants to win a race.

I was hoping Belmont had some sort of Withers substitute for that horse.

Back to Olympiad, might be tough for him to get a Grade 1 if he doesn't take his shots now at CD and Belmont. The Alysheba and Stephen Foster are Grade 2s and Life is Good should be back for the Whitney.

Or maybe they got their eye on the prestigious "Defunct Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita" out west. I'm sure management will pay for the shipping costs in order to secure a 5-horse field.

...or Mott could randomly run him on turf....or maybe one of the two Grade 1 Steeplechase races at Saratoga.

Agree. I would have thought he would cutback at Churchill. Then again, he can't get a worse ride than he got in the Cigar last year, so maybe that's the long term goal.