Dominican

miraja2 · #1 04-14-2007, 05:06 PM

I guess he deserves his own thread now.
My gut instinct is to dismiss this horse as a poly specialist because he is now 3 for 3 on the poly and 0 for 4 on the dirt.
Does anyone see it differently than that?
Is there ANY chance he is a factor in three weeks?

Cajungator26 · #2 04-14-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

I guess he deserves his own thread now.
My gut instinct is to dismiss this horse as a poly specialist because he is now 3 for 3 on the poly and 0 for 4 on the dirt.
Does anyone see it differently than that?
Is there ANY chance he is a factor in three weeks?

He's got a really strange stride. I doubt I'll use him in the Derby...

tiznowthegreat · #3 04-14-2007, 05:11 PM

I just believe that closing into those absolutely ridiculous fractions right past 2 of the colts supposedly at the top of the class is something that warrants serious consideration for the derby. No matter what surface, his peformance today puts him into the thick of it in my opinion. I also had him pretty big today so I might be a little biased this soon after the race.

#4 04-14-2007, 05:12 PM

I think Dominican wins the triple crown.

*jumps*

tycharles01 · #5 04-14-2007, 05:14 PM

May be able to get up for a 3rd or 4th in the Derby but like said horse has a terrible looking stride and a few closers going in the Derby. If CQ is ok and no problems he is a much better bet as a closer

Cajungator26 · #6 04-14-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycharles01

May be able to get up for a 3rd or 4th in the Derby but like said horse has a terrible looking stride and a few closers going in the Derby. If CQ is ok and no problems he is a much better bet as a closer

His stride isn't terrible... just different. Not really turfy looking with high knee action, but he strides out kind of flat kneed. I don't know what to make of it really.

Sightseek · #7 04-14-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

His stride isn't terrible... just different. Not really turfy looking with high knee action, but he strides out kind of flat kneed. I don't know what to make of it really.

It looks like he keeps his legs really straight? There was one clip in his workouts this morning on TVG that looked nice and smooth and the rest of the time when I watch him run it's puzzling to me too.

SniperSB23 · #8 04-14-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

I guess he deserves his own thread now.
My gut instinct is to dismiss this horse as a poly specialist because he is now 3 for 3 on the poly and 0 for 4 on the dirt.
Does anyone see it differently than that?
Is there ANY chance he is a factor in three weeks?

I think he's a toss, never been better than 3rd on the dirt. His form wasn't terrible on dirt but not good enough to run better than 7th or 8th in the Derby.

somerfrost · #9 04-14-2007, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

I guess he deserves his own thread now.
My gut instinct is to dismiss this horse as a poly specialist because he is now 3 for 3 on the poly and 0 for 4 on the dirt.
Does anyone see it differently than that?
Is there ANY chance he is a factor in three weeks?

Looks to me that any horse in the starting gate at CD could be a factor this year...Dominican certainly now deserves a shot. Don't know what you can say about a grade one race that goes 26 for the first quarter....this was a mess. Street Sense ran well but had a clear shot and didn't impress...I simply don't know!

GPK · #10 04-14-2007, 05:14 PM

Hard to justify him either way at this point. Very strange race that needs to be replayed a few times before forming any strong opinions on the runners.

SniperSB23 · #11 04-14-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPK

Hard to justify him either way at this point. Very strange race that needs to be replayed a few times before forming any strong opinions on the runners.

I think all you can really do is go back and watch his 2yo races and then watch his 3yo races and see how much you think he improved on the poly and try and add that on to his dirt figures to see how that fits. Not an easy task.

tycharles01 · #12 04-14-2007, 05:19 PM

Stride looks like something is wrong with front left leg but does not seem to bother him. I like the horse just not near level of others.

Just lets not talking about how better he is than Street Sense-- if there was not jam SS would have won the race

blackthroatedwind · #13 04-14-2007, 05:20 PM

Well, he is 2-2 since being gelded.

He is a total toss in the Derby.

Cannon Shell · #14 04-14-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Well, he is 2-2 since being gelded.

He is a total toss in the Derby.

Who isn't?

somerfrost · #15 04-14-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycharles01

Stride looks like something is wrong with front left leg but does not seem to bother him. I like the horse just not near level of others.

Just lets not talking about how better he is than Street Sense-- if there was not jam SS would have won the race

Frankly I don't see where Street Sense had any excuse (aside from the slow pace obviously).

Sightseek · #16 04-14-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Frankly I don't see where Street Sense had any excuse (aside from the slow pace obviously).

I don't think Borel was told to win this no matter what either...

GPK · #17 04-14-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Frankly I don't see where Street Sense had any excuse (aside from the slow pace obviously).

Somer....I don't really think Nafzger is worried about losing this race or looking for an excuse. It's well documented he doesn't want to win all the races....just the right races. Highly doubt SS was cranked for today when the "right race" is just a few weeks away.

GPK · #18 04-14-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I think all you can really do is go back and watch his 2yo races and then watch his 3yo races and see how much you think he improved on the poly and try and add that on to his dirt figures to see how that fits. Not an easy task.

I totally suck handicapping the poly, so it will take even more work for me.

I will watch this race quite few times tonight though, before really forming an opinion. I have been high on Great Hunter for quite a while now...anxious to see how he comes out of this race.

ateamstupid · #19 04-14-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

I guess he deserves his own thread now.
My gut instinct is to dismiss this horse as a poly specialist because he is now 3 for 3 on the poly and 0 for 4 on the dirt.
Does anyone see it differently than that?
Is there ANY chance he is a factor in three weeks?

One thing I like about him is that he seems to have push-button speed, and I disagree that he's just a polytrack horse. He ran a big third in the KJC at Churchill last fall.