A Friendly Reminder
 

There is a nice turf race this coming Saturday on the Belmont undercard. If memory serves me correctly, there is this fantastic 4YO running...maybe you have heard of him...

ENGLISH CHANNEL

This looks to be about his maximum distance, Pletcher better have him cranked hard for this one, because I don't think he's fast enough to win at a mile and I don't think he can win against top company going 1 1/2. Get him another G1, because I don't see him winning another one this year and this is probably his last on the track. Looks like a P4 will be running through this race, so I'll probably use him and Cacique, should be a great race, can't wait to watch.

Sorry Kev, this is the Swallow's race. :p :D

yeah sure...lol

We shall see... :cool:

To be heard on Saturday: "And from the back of pack, Cacique has found his best stride and now hes beginning to ROLLLLLLL!!! And here comes Cacique who runs by English Channel and all the rest, and it will be Caicique to take the Manhattan by two lengths, English Channel was 2nd, and Relaxed gesture was third."

MWind...Pletcher has rarely ever worked EC this fast. You normally see him working 4F in :50.

Horse name English Channel
Notes
Activity type Workout
Activity date 05-28-2006
Track Belmont Park
Surface Inner turf (Dogs up)
Distance 4 Furlongs
Workout type Breezing
Workout time 0:48.12
Track condition Firm

And when Caicique loses again, it will be the **** ride, terrible trip, etc....yada yada yada...Im sure when he loses it will have NOTHING to do with getting beat by a better horse.

Kev you know me much better than that. I call races and trips like I see them, no matter who is involved.
It is not EC's faulty that Pval got locked in the whole way last time with Cacique, thats racing and especially in grass racing, will that happen.
But you have taken something academic and logical and made it personal. Just because you love a ceratin horse doesnt mean that you can just ignore the misfortunes of others blindly.
Kev I always people this, stop and consider, if the trips of the two horses had been reversed, and it was the horse that you love who had been boxed teh whole way and finished with run, would you be telling us all that he had been beaten by a superior horse? I highly doubt it Kev.

I am blinded by my love, no doubt. Just amazes me how EC always seems to get these perfect trips. Great horses really seem to be blessed with those. In the Woodford he was "bottled up" the whole race. The race prior out west he was forced to go 8-10 wide. Im just waiting for the excuses for this Sat.

Kev those were two VERY VALID excuse trips.
Its not the horses fault, I dont think hes a trouble finder. In his US debut the tight turns often affect a lot Euros making their first start here.
The 2nd one the horse was well placed and showewd tactical speed much better than his debut, but simply got locked in. I don't think hes an excuse horse, Kev you just don't get it. You put 10 horses who weigh over 1000 pounds in a starting gate and have em run in close quarters and thats whats gonna happen sometimes. YOu simply cant ignore the nightmare trips hes had. But, EC is a great horse and noone ever said he wasnt. Just that belmonts turns are much more sweeping, and less trouble is anticipated, and I dont think he can hold off Cacique if he has a somewhat clean trip.

I know they were very valid excuses Mike. Cacique is a wonderful horse and with the right trip he very well may kick EC's ass this Saturday, but I admit I am blinded by my love for EC. I admitted that in the previous thread. I just enjoy talking **** when EC wins. I love the fact that I discovered this guy way back in the spring of last year and thought he had the potential to be a world class turf horse. To see him develop the way he has gives me a certain sense of pride in knowing that I was able to spot his talent early.

Just like PROUD TOWER TOO Mike. People thought I was nuts saying he would beat Atillas Storm back in Dec. at Santa Anita. I even said to single him that day and people laughed and thought I was crazy. Its that sense of pride in spotting talent. Then PTT goes to Dubai and kicks ass there...

Kev
ANyone who saw EC's debut was way ahead of you on spotting talent. Lans and I had singled him in the pik-6 as a first time starter due to my clocker's report. I remember the race like it was yesterday and posted about it on the old site afterwards and said you just saw the Arlington Million winner of 2006.
He completely blew the break that day, and I mean he just totally missed it. Pace was slow on firm turf, and I was swearing and upset that we were gonna lose. His stretch run that day to win going away was a sight to behold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the horse and his connections are my faves.
I just think that based on the trips that caicique may have the edge going a mile and a quarter.

Mike...I am sure there were many people that got the jump in spotting him. He debuted in August of 2004 in your hometown. To be honest, I didnt give a rats ass about turf racing back then. I really didnt come onto the ESPN board until November of that year and I was still in love with Harness racing then. My true love and addiction to to turf racing didnt occur until the Colonial meet last year.

Well maybe you have spotted a champ!! This matchup on Saturday will tell us a lot, both horses should fire their very best races. Both are trained by awesome trainers, both will be ridden by awesome riders, and both are making the third start in their form cycles. really no excuses here for both not to fire their best shot.

If Grey Swallow is running I am backing him.

When will Shakespere join the hunt?

Geez I forgot about him. He was awesome last year. WOnder where he is. ANybody know whats up with Shakespeare?

IMO...with the Belmont turning up "weak", this looks to be the race of the day on Saturday.