If the thread hasn't been taken seriously. it is more because of the satiric tone and positioning F/L set with it.. not because there is an inability for the assembled to discuss the quality of the crop. Elsewhere, there was a day long delving into Tiago and his merits as a Derby player as well as a thorough analysis of Pletcher's individual disappoin.. uh, prospects.
I think F/L suggested a reasonable premise that this is a sub-par Derby crop and sophomore group in general, so I'm happy to start.
It's a sub-par group as of now, remarkably slow based on Beyer pars with historical Derby preps, but with a twist. They're largely sound and have reversed a recent trend that saw few of the precocious juvenile stars carrying their 2 year old success into a sophomore season.
There is simply one seemingly outstanding horse in Street Sense; a consistant, professional horse in Scat Daddy; a couple of potential stars that may be truly top level thoroughbreds (Any Given Saturday, Nobiz, Great Hunter) and a hatful of late arrivals that could be really nice at some point this year (Curlin, Deadly Dealer, Ketchikan).
After that, there is a serious dropoff to a large group of 'nice' horses that seem largely interchangeable and forgettable... As always though, there is a long way to go before we will get the true read. But as of April 10th? Doesn't look like a particularly memorable group.
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Last edited by Kasept : 04-10-2007 at 08:52 PM.
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