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Originally Posted by Kasept
Rarely have I seen such inane reaction to an off performance. I suppose it's because we get so few starts from the classic-campaigning runners, but some of what's been written is so outlandish that it's hard to believe.
People claim they're fans of racing... Well if they are, then they should be well aware that horses lose. They have off performances and toss clunkers. They run through issues like spiked fevers and stay on schedule for races and get beat because they aren't 100% that day.
No one recalls Holy Bull being beaten 24 lengths in the Fountain of Youth? Afleet Alex' Rebel? Real Quiet's Golden Gate Derby? Obviously not because the same ridiculous comments that are sprinkled throughout this thread, and the laughable 'oh my gosh' thread, were said about those 3 year olds, Croll, Ritchey and Baffert at the time.
It could be that we've been conditioned to think that an off effort means a soon-to-be-discovered hidden problem and immediate retirement because connections don't work through issues anymore. And while everyone is entitled to offer their opinion on the topic, some degree of reasonable and rational reaction coupled with a dash of historical perspective is highly suggested.
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Steve, you left out the most important point which is this horse was 1-20.
1-20 is an awful lot of historical perspective. So much so, perhaps, that even the most expert among us would be hard pressed to recall the last undefeated 2 yo champ who went down badly in an important prep race at that kind of price. Add to that the extra flavoring of the horse being off for a day or two due to fever or whatever.
That is the correct perspective? Maybe not. Then again, ....
Yes, I remember Holy Bull and Real Quiet. And, like a lot of people, I remember Spectacular Bid's Belmont and Secretariat's Wood where they were both compromised by condition issues. Don't you think Bid's and Secretariat's people felt pressure to run despite being less than 100%?
But you are right; they are not machines and they are not always going to be 100%. The owner and trainer can run their horse whenever and however they choose.
When you go down at 1-20 as the undefeated 2 yo champ when perhaps, or even likely, not 100%, there is going to be a lot of elbow room in that reuinion tour.