Quote:
Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
While based on strict running lines you can categorize Soup and Sandwich and Midnight Bourbon as "pressers/stalkers", neither horse has displayed the ability to willingly settle early and finish in a two turn race.
Soup and Sandwich's second start was a public workout between races. It was a 3-horse field and he was snatched up early going into the first turn. Made a decisive move on the far turn but never drew away and was all over the place in the stretch. In the Florida Derby with a big field and a loud crowd he broke like a shot and dueled with a Mott horse before pulling himself to the lead (mouth open, jock's feet on the dash board). Swept up entering the stretch by the winner and stayed on the wrong lead.
Midnight Bourbon set the pace or dueled in all 3 Louisiana races and basically stayed one-paced throughout. Those races were relatively slow early, too. He's a frontrunner, but he's also a slow frontrunner. A decidedly non-frontrunning CA colt shipped into the LA Derby (Hot Rod Charlie) and ended up setting the pace (with MB lapped right on him). In his 2yo races when outfooted early, he runs even worse, giving way in the stretch (Iroquois, Champagne).
Rock Your World hasn't settled early either. He was part of a 3-horse duel in his sprint debut. In the Pasadena Stakes, Commander Khai (who broke his maiden on the lead going 5f) ran off for the first 3/4s. Rock Your World sat in second but was not restrained by the rider, just looked like he couldn't keep up with the run-off. He had to come under a ride to reel him in. Despite his speed, Rock Your World has shown the ability to finish as he's had another gear in the final furlong in both his last two starts, which makes him more attractive than the other 2 if you like him. But if he does not go to the lead, there is no telling how he will react if restrained early or how he will handle kickback for several furlongs for the first time.
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Agree to see all three of these horses as borderline speed and think Midnight Bourbon really wants the lead to be most effective when you look at his longer races. As indicated, of the 3 Rock Your World has the better ability to finish. Just my opinion but with Caddo River now in the mix I see some contention on the front end.