Curlin

[The Indomitable DrugS]

A lot of people thought it was a mistake for Bernardini to run last year. He was lightly raced, didn't break his maiden until March, had never been beyond a mile, had never raced around two-turns etc etc.

From a workout standpoint, Curlin was babied going into the Derby more than any other horse. Even the sheet players, who are as prissy as people come with patterns and time between races, I believe should be ok with his pattern and timing coming into this race.

Keeping one of only three serious contenders in the barn for a classic, and hoping all will be well and you'll have the best horse come Travers day, that isn't wise. A lot can go wrong from now until August...you can't take a chance at winning the Preakness for granted.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

A lot of people thought it was a mistake for Bernardini to run last year. He was lightly raced, didn't break his maiden until March, had never been beyond a mile, had never raced around two-turns etc etc.
From a workout standpoint, Curlin was babied going into the Derby more than any other horse. Even the sheet players, who are as prissy as people come with patterns and time between races, I believe should be ok with his pattern and timing coming into this race.

Keeping one of only three serious contenders in the barn for a classic, and hoping all will be well and you'll have the best horse come Travers day, that isn't wise. A lot can go wrong from now until August...you can't take a chance at winning the Preakness for granted.

Yes but Bernardini, skipped the derby, so it wasn't the same as Curlin who is a lightly raced horse attempting back to back classics in two weeks. I can see both sides. I'd run him in the Preakness, providing that it looks like he handled everything in the derby well.

I guess I don't see anything wrong with running him back, but I also think that not many horses start so late and go immediately to back to back classics in races 4 and 5, so you do have to pay close attention.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

A lot of people thought it was a mistake for Bernardini to run last year. He was lightly raced, didn't break his maiden until March, had never been beyond a mile, had never raced around two-turns etc etc.

From a workout standpoint, Curlin was babied going into the Derby more than any other horse. Even the sheet players, who are as prissy as people come with patterns and time between races, I believe should be ok with his pattern and timing coming into this race.

Keeping one of only three serious contenders in the barn for a classic, and hoping all will be well and you'll have the best horse come Travers day, that isn't wise. A lot can go wrong from now until August...you can't take a chance at winning the Preakness for granted.

that's what i've said many times over the years. got absolutely roasted by a few for suggesting nick zito was wrong to skip the bcj a few years ago when he seemed loaded for bear, that plum ripe for the picking. he wanted to 'save' his horses for the following spring. er, that went well.
when a horse is ready and raring, run him. when he's not, don't.