2/16 (OP): Southwest S. (Gr. III)

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by philcski

That was clearly his worst career race, and he still won. Bad enough that wiseguys let him go off at 7/2 in the Rebel with Purge favored. As much as I think Old Fashioned is the correct current Derby favorite, this might have been his best career race.



Note in Davidowitz' column about the downhill not affecting races run at a mile.

Incidentally, I remember that column specifically because it made me decide that Peace Rules could be forgiven for the extremely slow final 3F's in the Blue Grass (and even though he didn't win the Derby, he ran extremely well) and Sir Cherokee being an easy toss.

Peace Rules He'd be unstoppable in the older male division now!

[pick4]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Peace Rules He'd be unstoppable in the older male division now!

Peace Rules was as game of a horse as there was. He always ran hard and gave an honest effort.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Peace Rules He'd be unstoppable in the older male division now!

He would CRUSH these, even at his less-than-preferred distance of a mile and a quarter.

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I think it would have been pretty unrealistic to ask for a performance any better than that.

I realize he is the clear cut early Derby Future book favorite ... but more so because of the faults of other prospects than anything else.

Silver City is a very nice sprinter - he got the lead without a great deal of pressure over a track that was kind to inside speed today - and he was no match.

If you look at Old Fashioned's Remsen win .. he was crawling on an uncontested early lead through absurdly slow early fractions. He ran the fastest final 3/8ths in the Remsen since Alydar.. so he made the best of the soft trip and pace and can't be knocked too much.

It was certainly a better performance than Hard Spun's 3yo debut... and this is a Larry Jones horse ... he's a mystic and this horse will almost certainly go forward and get better.

Well I'm definitely going to dvr the derby broadcast so I can skip through the asskissing sessions with Jones.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Well I'm definitely going to dvr the derby broadcast so I can skip through the asskissing sessions with Jones.

this years human interest story no doubt...and yeah, i can understand dvr'ing. you get right to them loading in the gate. but hopefully this year i won't have to watch a dutrow horse win it.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I think it would have been pretty unrealistic to ask for a performance any better than that.

I realize he is the clear cut early Derby Future book favorite ... but more so because of the faults of other prospects than anything else.

Silver City is a very nice sprinter - he got the lead without a great deal of pressure over a track that was kind to inside speed today - and he was no match.

If you look at Old Fashioned's Remsen win .. he was crawling on an uncontested early lead through absurdly slow early fractions. He ran the fastest final 3/8ths in the Remsen since Alydar.. so he made the best of the soft trip and pace and can't be knocked too much.

It was certainly a better performance than Hard Spun's 3yo debut... and this is a Larry Jones horse ... he's a mystic and this horse will almost certainly go forward and get better.

i think i'm more impressed with friesan fire at this point. but a horse who doesn't encounters traffic such as old fashioned in his last two can be hard to really judge. admittedly, watching a horse come from the back of the pack is more entertaining- but it doesn't mean he's better...