Bluegrass Cat

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Great, only three more weeks of this debate to go!

Question: is it certain the BGC will run in the Travers? I thought I heard Pletcher make a remark that 20 days was a little tight.

ArlJim he wouldn't commit but he said if he bounced out ok he would see. Johnny raved about him after the race and I'm sure if this horse comes out of the race ok that he will go. One thing about the three weeks rest I will say, bounces seem to affect horses off a top coming back in less than a month more severely when they are lightly raced and do not have a solid foundation. Cat has danced a lot of dances and I truly don't think he would bounce to the moon, especially since Todd's smart enough to train him lightly and just gallop him into the race. A repeat of that effort yesterday may not beat Bernadini but it will make Bernadini give his all.

[KY_Sasquash]

A heads up to those that saw Bluegrass Cat washed out. no need to worry about that hindering his performance (stating the obvious b/c he won so impressively) he was washed up in the derby and even acted up on the track too, its just that storm cat coming out in him.

[Thunder Gulch]

Bernandini was friggin awesome last week, but BGC certainly appears to be a top notch 3yo as well. Pletcher has been a little warm this year as well.

[jpops757]

If the Cat passes on the Travers, where would he prep? I would think Pletcher would use a race at CD if it fite the time limitations. Also another race over the BC surface. I dont think Pletcher would avoid Bernardini but he is generaly 2 or 3 moves ahead of everyone else and is thinking about what is best for his horse. Does anyone have a picture of BGC before the derby and a current one> I ay be wrong but to me physicaly he looks so much more developed, biger, and more mature. I would like to see a comparison.

You know something, I thought how great his race was would be lost by many but it appears that many of you appreciated just how great it was. I thought I would be fighting an uphill battle on here trying to extoll the virtues of that awesome performance but you guys are already starting threads or replying with questions about him in the BCC!! WHich means I have missed something as well. That race he ran was so good that he may not care if he wins the Travers, he may try to plot a course to honestly have a shot in the BCC. One things for sure, if hes not ready to run in the Travers he won't be in there.

Oracle, I was extremely impressed by his demeanor during the race. He just seemed to be out there toying around. My question is, and yes its VERY hypothetical, but if he were to skip the Travers and win the BCC, does that put him in the dog fight for champion 3 yo with Bernardini (assuming Bernardini wins the Travers)? It seems like it could go either way at that point. Again, very hypothetical, but hey, im caught in the moment!

I dont know, im a fan of Barbaro. He had talent, no doubt. But he won two G1's in the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby, and then a listed and two G3's. I just couldnt imagine the voting not going to Bernardini or Bluegrass Cat if they beat older horses in the Classic. But I can see the argument... Barbaro was impressive in the biggest 3yo race of the year and has kept his name in the news...

Originally Posted by Balletto

Oracle, I was extremely impressed by his demeanor during the race. He just seemed to be out there toying around. My question is, and yes its VERY hypothetical, but if he were to skip the Travers and win the BCC, does that put him in the dog fight for champion 3 yo with Bernardini (assuming Bernardini wins the Travers)? It seems like it could go either way at that point. Again, very hypothetical, but hey, im caught in the moment!

Funny that you use the words toying around and I used the words having a ball out there. I just really didn't expect that kind of an effort and it really blew me away, especially the way that he did it. I had always thought of BC as a workmanlike horse who I had labeled in my own mind as a "grinder" type without the tactical speed or burst of speed necessary to be top caliber. He also always needed to be ridden to give his all in his prior starts and didn't strike me as a particularly "happy horse" out there.
They opened the gates and I had very low expectations for the race, I thought it would be a rather boring affair. I lost my mind as they entered the far turn and the horse was obviously having a blast and Johnny had a hammerlock. He just looked like a completely different animal. Johnny V kind of confirmed what I thought I had just seen when he stood up before the line and vigorously pumped his fist. He wins huge races all the time and doesnt always react like that. I told the guy next to me that it must have felt as good to Johnny as it looked to me because his reaction was definitely the reaction of a guy who has just discovered that he has a very good horse to ride.
I love the sport and really was upset that the Travers had appeared until yesterday to be on the verge of becoming an anticlimactic formality for Bernadini. The Travers should always be much more than that. If Pletcher decides to run the horse in the Travers, it should be a nice show.

[Gander]

In my opinion Bluegrass Cat would not have a shot at 3 year old champion unless he won the Travers & BC Classic. If he skips the Travers and Berardini wins the Travers, then it would be unlikely Bluegrass Cat would have any shot at it. Unless of course Bluegrass Cat won both the Jockey Club and the BC Classic, which is a longshot he'd even run in both races.

I completely agree. We, as fans, needed this showing from another 3yo. Even if we're building up this battle of two titans that never materializes, its still exciting as hell.

I always thought of him as a grinder as well. I look at everything from a pedigree/breeding prospect, and he finally showed the turn of foot that I look for in a good stallion prospect... although I dont exactly own a mare. lol

Originally Posted by Gander

In my opinion Bluegrass Cat would not have a shot at 3 year old champion unless he won the Travers & BC Classic. If he skips the Travers and Berardini wins the Travers, then it would be unlikely Bluegrass Cat would have any shot at it. Unless of course Bluegrass Cat won both the Jockey Club and the BC Classic, which is a longshot he'd even run in both races.

To be honest these connections care less than most would about being champion. They themselves are in the breeding game and they now have an impressive grade one winning son of Storm Cat with a strong bottom line on the female side. He is now officially an ATM machine. What they want are more impressive races from him to strengthen his stud value. I don't think they particularly care about being champion and realize that it is a very long shot that they get the championship.

Originally Posted by oracle80

To be honest these connections care less than most would about being champion. They themselves are in the breeding game and they now have an impressive grade one winning son of Storm Cat with a strong bottom line on the female side. He is now officially an ATM machine. What they want are more impressive races from him to strengthen his stud value. I don't think they particularly care about being champion and realize that it is a very long shot that they get the championship.

So that pretty much answers my question. Winstar is going to have a FIELD DAY with this colt when he retires. From arguably the most stallion-proven and most classy line of La Troienne on the bottom and by Storm Cat... the only problem I see is he's a Storm Cat-Indy-Mr. P-Northern Dancer... there's going to be some interesting inbreeding going on.

Originally Posted by Balletto

So that pretty much answers my question. Winstar is going to have a FIELD DAY with this colt when he retires. From arguably the most stallion-proven and most classy line of La Troienne on the bottom and by Storm Cat... the only problem I see is he's a Storm Cat-Indy-Mr. P-Northern Dancer... there's going to be some interesting inbreeding going on.

Sure will be!! A little West Virginia lovin going on.

Where the men are men, so are the women and the sheep are scared... yee haw!

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Sure will be!! A little West Virginia lovin going on.

make that eastern Kentucky lovin...

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by oracle80

You tell Albertrani that a guy name Pletcher is looking for him. lets get it on!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to see what Bernardini can do if he actually gets a challenge, that will be the exciting thing, I think Deputy Glitters ran about as well as Flower Alley.

[GenuineRisk]

Does anyone know where I can find a free video of the race? I forgot to set my DVR (stupid GR) and missed it and stupid ESPN is only showing the stretch run for some reason.

I should note I'm a mac user-- calracing.com doesn't work on macs.

[irishtrekker]

NTRA.com -- go under "races" and look it up under August...they had it earlier today, anyway.

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I can't wait to see what Bernardini can do if he actually gets a challenge, that will be the exciting thing, I think Deputy Glitters ran about as well as Flower Alley.

Yeah I know, you just keep bashing Todd!! The guy has by all accounts(I'm sure even his own) a bad weekend yet manages a 3rd in the Whitney, a win in the Matchmaker stakes yesterday, a win in the million dollar Haskell, and an allowance win at the Spa yesterday. I guess he should be looking for some rope to hang himself with. His stable banked a million bucks this past week.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by irishtrekker

NTRA.com -- go under "races" and look it up under August...they had it earlier today, anyway.

Thanks, Irish! That did the trick...