Mine That Bird OUT of Travers
 

Chip says he "wants to give the colt time to heal"

Thats a shame because he would have certainly taken money and allowed a nice colt to be sent off at huge odds.

Why does this surprise anybody?

Let's hope he comes to the Super Derby...

The article says they're waiting for the Goodwood. I get the feeling their whole schedule is being cleared next month for the Ruidoso Downs appearance.....because it doesn't make sense to wait for the Goodwood (what happened to their Pennsylvania Derby backup plan?)

I would say the Super Derby has a chance...

No surprise--probably the right thing by the horse. The Goodwood is logical as well.

He ran like a monster at Santa Anita last year. I love the Goodwood idea. Good thing that no-talent bum Dick Mandella isn't training him anymore.

Why?

Because it gives them a chance to return to the sight of his last place finish in the star studded Juvie of 2008?

I think it's the owner who wanted to give him more time, I think Chip was ready to rock and roll with this horse. The owner has been skiddish since the day he went in.

If he is being an overprotective 'daddy' then you can't fault him for that but they at least should have gotten their stories straight about this infamous spot that "magically" appeared this morning. Dr. said it's been there and will be there for quite some time and has no bearing on the horse but the owner said they "found" a spot. Oye

Part of me thinks the owner didn't want to bring this horse down for some whacky sideshow Quater Horse Post Parade Event in defeat.

Too bad I really really think this was his to win.

But as I said, if he's just being overly cautious then you can't fault him for that.

My understanding is that they are intending to go to the BC. If that is so, you might as well know where you stand beforehand. If he runs up the track in the Goodwood, maybe they just punt on the BC and target the Clark.

Looks like we'll see him in the 'Clark' then..................

Could be. It sounds like they now want only one more race before the BC. If that is the case, the Goodwood is as good as any, and better than many (the layoff from the Super Derby into the BC is 7 weeks, for example--probably a little more than they'd like.)

If he craps the bed at SA again, they can comfortably go to the Clark and maybe plan on reappearing at the Donn after a break.

You can only do what the horse allows.

i think the 3 yo championship is something they want, and they can't afford to lose to a 3 yo not named rachel alexandra. that and the meds would have to cease to run him...

My opinion is that they really wanted to run in the Travers but things didn't break their way. By things, I don't mean the surgery. I believe physically, he's ok to go. I mean that I think they were hoping the field would come up really light. Probably hoping that Rachel would go in the Alabama. Hoping that Quality Road would go in the King's Bishop. Hoping that Kensei or Summer Bird would skip here and go in the Penn Derby. Rachel's people kept her out but he's still got all three of the others to beat and I think that is what's playing the biggest part in this. It's my feeling now that he's going in either the Penn Derby or the Super Derby and I'm leaning towards Philly. I think the Goodwood is just talk. What sense would the Goodwood make? If they go there and he runs horrible again, then what do you do with him? Still take him to the Classic over a track he's run bad on twice....against the best competition of his career? I'd say take one of the other purses and then go all in for the Classic. If he likes the track, he does. If he doesn't, he doesn't.

I wonder if Jeanine will drop the expert conditioner now. . .

Who will Mike Smith choose in the Goodwood???? Tiago or Mine That Bird?? He's loyal to the Mosses

Put Smith on Tiago, Chantal on MTB like she was back in the day, whip out the cameras for Jockeys season 3 and get to filming.

I don't know that I buy that they just played Travers chicken and lost. I think the inflammation issue might've been there the whole time and two things happened (assuming it's true that they didn't just 'find' the thing as I've heard has been disputed amongst the rumor mill.):

1. They were hopeful that it would go away which wasn't entirely implausible

2. They were possibly fudging so there wouldn't be bad press while they waited for it to heal. Then they could run and win or, should they lose, avoid criticism for abusing an ill horse because hey nobody knew about the inflammation. If they say 'oh he's fine' and he becomes fine in time to run, no harm no foul. If they tell us about the inflammation and claim he's now fine to run but ends up in distress, boy would they catch it from the public.

I think it is as simple as Wooley thought the horse was ready to go but the owners didn't believe he could come back from surgery that quick so are being cautious.