American Pharoah with authority
 

Over what? It appear not much. Of course he had it all his way and Victor going for the lead on a sloppy track that AP loves was perfect. For a moment many were thinking he was coming back to the field entering the final turn but . . . taking a breather the others couldn't even catch him. And we all saw what happened next.

So the racing gods shined on AP today offering help from the dreaded inside post by bringing on the storm. He loved it and showed just how much he did.

Here we go again with a chance, with a chance. I would be very surprised if we see any (but a few) of his past rivals at the showing up for the Belmont. It may be a field of 5, who knows. That is 5 maybe that have a chance at all.

Pletcher might have 5 starters himself - they ain't going to hand Pharaoh anything.

Pletcher always goes with quantity over quality. What's his record in TC races and BC races for that matter? I don't expect him to get handed anything but who's out there . . . HELLO!?

What about AP makes him so vulnerable to ridiculous criticism?


He's speed crazy and won't rate, he is too slow and will have traffic problems.

He's overrated. He has perfect trips. The race was handed to him. He doesn't beat anyone that's good, he won't face tough competition next time out, etc.

Why aren't people appreciating a spectacular horse?

This really might just be a truly once in a blue moon horse. Enjoy him. They are rare.

let's hope so :) ............... ;)

I love it. The AP/ALL/ALL $2 tri paid a gran. In a 7 horse race.

Whoever refuses to acknowledge the greatness of this horse is simply blinded by the potential windfall they haven't yet realized by betting against him.

Whether he wins the Belmont or not, no reason he can't go on being special for the rest of his career. We're getting to see a horse this talented so I'm thrilled whatever happens. Obviously a Triple Crown would be great, but he's special regardless.

I assume those of us watching NBC all spied Haskin standing next to Baffert watching the race? I exclaimed and told my family who that was. They were all 'oh have you met him?' Nah, it's just great to see him on tv when you don't expect it. If American Pharoah wins the Belmont, the right eyes, ears, and brain are gonna be right there documenting the whole thing the way it deserves to be.

I think I'd be more inclined to agree with the "greatness" thing if Tale of Verve hadn't finished 2nd.

--Dunbar

So by following your logic, you are willing to dismiss Dortmund as a complete fraud then I assume. Or blanket him the same litany of excuses that were afforded him after the derby.

It's amazing.

The horse was a suck up, beat nothing in the derby with a dream trip, had it his own way by going to the lead against the other two top 3 finishers in the derby...et. al.

Jesus Christ. What the fuc1< do you people want?!

It was the slowest Preakness since 1956 :wf

Which under these circumstances is meaningless. Any speed fig is an utter guess.

Agree 150%. Who cares about the time. Are horses sent out to set records or win races under conditions? If I had a thoroughbred time would only matter in training as training goes. If I have a horse that knows how to win under most any conditions, the time her or she sets to win is irrelevant.

:) Because it's so easy to throw stones. It makes for interesting, allows chest beating and if not ludicrous, banter.

How quickly it has become who did he beat. Just a couple weeks back we were hearing how good this crop is...some people are never satisfied....

I think I'd be more inclined to agree with the "greatness" thing if Tale of Verve hadn't finished 2nd. Maybe it was the rain, maybe TOV felt his oats today. Let's see what he does 3 weeks form now if he ever enters. His past races are no where near AP's and way out of Grade I stakes ranks.

Sometimes I can birdie a par 3 on Colonial in Fort Worth but it has only happened twice in my lifetime and I'm no spring chicken. TOV had the best day of his racing career and still finished 7 lengths behind AP as he mildly galloped across the wire. What's to crow about with TOV, or to question AP's prowess in light of this . . . please???!!!

The horse had everything his own way after Nakatani didn't send Mr Z hard after him, and for whatever reason his two main opponents never fired. It was not the type of performance that'll silence his critics.

My wife (the real T-bred authority) and I are optimistically guarded in our enthusiasm. We as all of you have been through this so many times before. The first I did after the race as I looked at her is said. "OK let's calm down and see what happens, lets play it cool this time", which we have been guilty of doing in past years with Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Smarty Jones, Big Brown and California Chrome . . . getting too wound up in the emotional side of it. It's the Irish in us I guess.

That said we will be emotionally guarded this year for all the right reasons but we want the TC jinx to be broken as badly as anyone!!!

No. By my logic, American Pharoah beat horses in the Preakness that for whatever reason, ran worse than Tale of Verve, who no one is going to put in a list of very good horses yet.

There were 2 other good horses in the Preakness. Did you see the horrific step that Firing Line took out of the gate?

Sorry, I'm not ready to call him a "spectacular horse" yet.

If you want to say American Pharoah's probably as good as Big Brown or Smarty Jones were at this stage of their careers, then fine. But if you're maintaining he's somehow superior to those horses, or that his Derby and Preakness were superior to Funny Cide's, say, then you'll get an argument.

--Dunbar

You guys are far more of the experts, but what I liked about AP's performance today was that he hustled out of the gate when asked, settled when asked (really just loping along), and then fired when asked. His ears were active, "listening" to the Espinosa in the stretch with a hand ride. He looked remarkably "happy" for a horse running in horrible conditions.

Who cares about the critics, nothing will silence them . . . it's what they get paid for or satisfy there ego for. Mr. Z got what he deserved. He ran the best race of his life and it was for noting. BTW- I disagree, Mr. Z was sent (going) as hard as Mr. Z could go notta . . . don't believe otherwise. You can't believe Nakatani was holding him back can you?