2020 Kentucky Derby contender watch

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by moses

Nothing says confidence in a horse’s ability to handle two turns like running him in a $200,000 sprint on the same day and at the same track that a $350,000 8.5 furlong Derby prep is being run.

Nothing says dumb like stretching him out off a six furlong debut win while simultaneously throwing him into a super tough spot as well.

[moses]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Nothing says dumb like stretching him out off a six furlong debut win while simultaneously throwing him into a super tough spot as well.

Haha. I agree with you. I just thought it was funny that Casse said he doesn’t think he’ll have trouble around two turns and then targets a 7f race as his next start. From the sound of it, the Holy Bull could be loaded with talent. It would probably be an impossible task.

Even the Swale is more aggressive than he probably needs to be. He could have done what Maximum Security did last year and run a couple optional claiming races before entering stakes competition. So we’ll see how it plays out. I trust Casse and I like the horse. Hope he does well.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by moses

Haha. I agree with you. I just thought it was funny that Casse said he doesn’t think he’ll have trouble around two turns and then targets a 7f race as his next start. From the sound of it, the Holy Bull could be loaded with talent. It would probably be an impossible task.

Even the Swale is more aggressive than he probably needs to be. He could have done what Maximum Security did last year and run a couple optional claiming races before entering stakes competition. So we’ll see how it plays out. I trust Casse and I like the horse. Hope he does well.

Maximum Security ran in Starter races. BIG difference.

[moses]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Maximum Security ran in Starter races. BIG difference.

Maximum Security was just an example, perhaps a bad one. Roadster used an optional claiming allowance race to prep last year and I think a few of Pletcher’s horses did as well last year. Plenty of other very good horses have followed up their maiden win or preceded a major Derby Prep by running in an allowance optional claiming race.

Casse opted to go straight to a stakes race...which is probably a good sign...to me, it shows a lot of confidence in the horse’s overall ability.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by moses

Maximum Security was just an example, perhaps a bad one. Roadster used an optional claiming allowance race to prep last year and I think a few of Pletcher’s horses did as well last year. Plenty of other very good horses have followed up their maiden win or preceded a major Derby Prep by running in an allowance optional claiming race.

Casse opted to go straight to a stakes race...which is probably a good sign...to me, it shows a lot of confidence in the horse’s overall ability.

Most NW1X races are Optional Claimers these days in an attempt to get more entries.

Maximum Security was a bad example specifically because he was eligible for MUCH easier spots because he ran for a low tag first out.