Harlem Rocker Ohio Derby bound?
 

Enough of Big Brown threads, read today that Harlem Rocker may be headed towards The Ohio Derby and then The Plate. Let's see...

The plan has been to send him to the Queensplate, then there was talk about the Preakness, which Mr. Stronach vetoed.

The Ohio Derby on May 31 or the Plate Trial on June 1 at Woodbine are each being considered as a prep for the Queensplate.

Personally, since Harlem Rocker hasn't raced on Poly, I'd rather see him head to the Plate Trial.

The Ohio Derby is a grade 2 I suppose and the Queen's Plate is a restricted Gr.1 for Canadian breds. The Plate Trail I'm assuming is not as big purse wise, if Pletcher thought this horse was good enough to go in the Preakness I would think he would like to strike while the horse is feeling good about himself. Poly is a question that hasn't been answered yet and that is a fair concern.

HR has been pointed towards the QP for a long time now. Some aren't happy with Mr. Stronach's overriding Pletcher's thoughts of the Preakness, but then is everybody ever happy with a decision of the connections?

Ohio Derby purse is $300,000, Plate Trial $150,000 (last year's figures)

If Harlem Rocker wins the Plate Trial and the Queensplate, it would be the first time since 1992.

The only reason to run in the Ohio Derby is it makes sense financially but the owner doesn't usually make decisions based on money. I think they will wait and see what Big Brown does but you have to think the Travers is their target.

The Travers has been mentioned, as well as the Haskell, but the main focus is the Queen's Plate. I haven't heard any mention of the other two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. I guess it would depend on how he finishes in the QP.

The final leg of the CTC is 1-1/2 miles on the turf which may be interesting if he makes it that far.

He's running in a prep for the Queen's Plate at Woodbine in early June....presumably to see how he handles the Polytrack.

After the Queen's Plate I doubt he runs in Canada again. Haskell, or Jim Dandy, and Travers will be his goals regardless of Big Brown. He could have beaten him this past Saturday and he certainly can beat him in the Travers. In my opinion the biggest question is the distance. Right now he has shown himself very good at a mile.

What a waste of talent. . .

I like the 1 1/2 m on the turf idea but I don't think this horse is going to want turf or 1 1/2m.

Nothing is set in stone. He can't run in both the Ohio derby and the "prep" which is the Plate Trial.

Right....he's not running in the Ohio Derby.

So what do you like about it?

I like the idea of a hamburger, but I really can't stand meat or bread.

That in order to win the TC you have to win on different surfaces. I guess now that they are run on polytrack it is not that different. If the Belmont was a 12f turf race it would be very interesting because not only would the horse have to be good on dirt at shorter distances but he would have to be good on turf at longer distances. Secretariat would have handled it. But I don't know about many others.

Harlem Rocker will not run in the Ohio Derby.

nominations: http://www.thistledown.com/NR/rdonly...erbynoms08.pdf

Reported off Jennifer Morrison's site:

QUEEN'S PLATE NEWS OHIO OUT, WOODBINE IN FOR ROCKER

HARLEM ROCKER is now not going to the Ohio Derby and is apparently being pointed to the Plate Trial Stakes on Sunday June 1.
That should elminate any kind of element of surprise for the June 22 Plate since he will be meeting most of the stronger challengers for the Canadian classic.
Todd Pletcher trains the grey son of Macho Uno.