Random thoughts about the handicap division
 

BC Classsic run-backs:

Haynesfield 2nd to 35/1 shot Jersey Town in Cigar Mile

Musket Man 8th beaten many behind Jersey Town at 7/2 in Cigar Mile

First Dude 4th at 4/5 odds behind Tackleberry in Sunshine's Million Classic. 6th at 9/2 odds in Big Cap

Fly Down 5th at 5/2 odds behind Giant Oak in the Donn.

Etched 14th at 14/1 odds on the Tapeta

2-year-old Uncle Mo ran 3 points slower - but with wind factored in - Ragozin had him clearly faster than Blame and Zenyatta. Suddenly, that's starting to seem a tad bit less amazing.



As for more recent races...

Nice pedigree:


Nice N1X Alw horse:


Nice win at Fresno:


Alydar might have been able to suck up for 8th.

And finally - to refresh - Giant Oak won the Donn and there are people who believe Tackleberry is the best horse in America.

You are wrong about the Uncle Mo thing seeming less impressive.

Not really. I went with the word amazing instead of impressive - but if the BC Classic form held up better - it would make Uncle Mo's achievement look more amazing/impressive.

You only had two two-turn dirt routes that day. By comparison - the BC Juvie was insanely fast and the BC Classic was very slow.

Horses like Stay Thirsty, JP's Gusto, and Riveting Reason all were beaten 15+ lengths with no excuses in the BC Juvie ... all of them have had some Graded Stakes success since.

I think all that matters is that Uncle Mo, in his third career start, ran every bit as well as or better than the Horse of the Year and Zenyatta (hehe) did over the same track. Seeing First Dude and do what First Dude does (not win) doesn't take anything away from Uncle Mo's feat. Now if Blame came back and lost to Tackleberry, you might have something.

I know this is a bit off topic but perhaps it is related... Today I was thinking it's a shame that Blame was retired. This would have been an incredible year for him to be in the Handicap division. He would have probably owned everything and could have put together quite an incredible Campaign, no?

If everything went well he would have won wheel barrows full of cash.

Since he probably would have only run two or three times before the Breeder's Cup, it would have been a small wheen barrow though.

Paul

The connections of Blind Luck might be kicking themselves a bit - she's been subjected to tiny fields - and brutally slow paces - at shorter distances on that speed friendly dirt.

Going 10 furlongs - in an 11 horse field - with a very true pace on - I get the feeling she not only would have won yesterday ... but it's possible the ease of her victory might have surprised a lot of people.

This is very well said, she is a 10 panel horse. At least she was last year. Not too many options for her other than the fellas.

She's being taken to Oaklawn for the Azeri on 3/19, which is also going to be the 2011 debut for Havre de Grace.

Not what I read this morning anyway ....

On the overnight for Santa Anita, the first line item was something to the effect that anyone that wanted an invite to the Santa Margarita should call the racing office

Such an invitational, lol

Who knows, that's what HRTV reported this morning. Considering that the two anchors on just now called Janice Blake a he, and couldn't pronounce Persephone or Alke, what comes from that network can always be questioned.

Same could be said for any good even decent older horse the past 5 years. Curlin would dominate, Commentator would dominate, Quality Road would even dominate. There would be no Blame to run him down and he would go into the BC Classic as the horse. This division, especially the East Coast is trash. Maybe Giant Oak is just getting better and he is OK, but what does that really say? The West might have a prayer. I think Twirling Candy is OK. He was rank after breaking slowly, I give him a pass. I know I like Game On Dude moving forward. Huge premature move in the Belmont last year and has come back strong this year. Still lightly raced and Im sure he can improve still. Misremembered is a beast if he can stay healthy and Sidneys Candy is still out there. Im pretty sure he is capable of being better on dirt if they wanted to go that way with him.

Quality Road would be kicking ass at Gulfstream...then would suck ass the rest of the year.

Suck ass like he did in the Met?

nice sig btw.

Exactly, Paul!


--Dunbar

[quote=RockHardTen1985;758915] This division, especially the East Coast is trash. Maybe Giant Oak is just getting better and he is OK, but what does that really say? The West might have a prayer. I think Twirling Candy is OK. QUOTE]

really? the whole division is trash...east and west....twirling candy sucks at 10 furlongs....when he wins one let me know.........thats how bad it is. a horse like that is the favorite at 10 furlongs....hes ok at like a mile....he may win one though because hes running against first dude......lol