Holiday Week/Weekend Stakes Beyers

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Underwhelming performance in an underwhelming field.

Hard ridden throughout, struggled to match strides with the unheralded Straight No Chaser (who by the looks of his stride in the stretch--and subsequent wilt--could use a few months off), and did just enough to keep a bunch of midwest allowance horses and some old Santa Anita Derby also-rans from putting any pressure on him late.

My prediction for the rest of his career:

2nd in the Saudi Cup
last in the San Diego
retired

To be fair, that could be Country Grammer's 2023 campaign, too.

I give Taiba credit for still finishing fairly well after being taken a bit out of his game to chase the quick pace. The race was actually closer to a half a second faster than the La Brea ( if you correctly time the races ) but still, in relative terms, it was a bit underwhelming. Like Freddy, though, I give him a ton of credit for surviving the foolish early handling and think he's better than you do.

I would vote for Epicenter, I intentionally do not have a vote, as 3YO champ but it's fair to say Taiba made more than a reasonable case to win the Eclipse. I wouldn't argue with someone that gave him the award, I just think overall Epicenter deserves it more. It's close.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I give Taiba credit for still finishing fairly well after being taken a bit out of his game to chase the quick pace. The race was actually closer to a half a second faster than the La Brea ( if you correctly time the races ) but still, in relative terms, it was a bit underwhelming. Like Freddy, though, I give him a ton of credit for surviving the foolish early handling and think he's better than you do.

Taiba is a nice horse but he'll never realize his full potential considering what he's been put through. I don't bank on him making more than 3 or 4 starts next year, if that.

I'm not sold on the whole "he's not a sprinter" post-race vibe from his connections; Smith is usually full of BS, it's not like Baffert can't put speed into a horse, and Taiba broke like a shot, dueled a rival into submission, and drew clear in 1:09+ (good for a triple digit BSF) in his belated career debut.

I would vote for Epicenter, I intentionally do not have a vote, as 3YO champ but it's fair to say Taiba made more than a reasonable case to win the Eclipse. I wouldn't argue with someone that gave him the award, I just think overall Epicenter deserves it more. It's close.

If Epicenter retired after the Travers he might actually garner more support; some people might not be drawing a line through his BC Classic.

Still, Epicenter should have absolutely been in the Belmont and could have had the requisite classic win that would easily trump Taiba's manhandling of the overrated Forbidden Kingdom.

[Kasept]

Cyberknife deserves at least some discussion in this. Isn’t he the 3yo champ free and clear if the Dirt Mile goes his way?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Cyberknife deserves at least some discussion in this. Isn’t he the 3yo champ free and clear if the Dirt Mile goes his way?

No. He got drowned by Epicenter and proved inferior to Taiba in their two meetings. The BC Dirt Mile is pretty much an irrelevant race ( even though he ran extremely well ).

He might be third over Modern Games.

Don't worry, Al will still ( eventually ) speak to you if you're honest.

I'd write more on this subject, but I intentionally don't have a further opinion!

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

I'd write more on this subject, but I intentionally don't have a further opinion!

I would rather read a posted opinion, even if I thought it was silly vs. reading a cryptic post on how I can't read it.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by freddymo

I would rather read a posted opinion, even if I thought it was silly vs. reading a cryptic post on how I can't read it.

It's not cryptic. It's a shot at me for saying that I intentionally don't vote for the Eclipse awards. He's pathetic and desperate for attention.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Cyberknife deserves at least some discussion in this. Isn’t he the 3yo champ free and clear if the Dirt Mile goes his way?

I think Cyberknife is a good measuring stick between Taiba and Epicenter.

Taiba lost to Cyberknife, while Epicenter trounced Cyberknife.