Musket Man part 2

[Travis Stone]

I mis-read your post... I'm sure i'll have tickets with him on top as well, but I think it's a bit crazy to just put all eggs in his basket. He does have plenty of ? marks, despite being a winning machine... outrunning Giant Oak is nothing to be proud about, but winning a lot is. It's a good race this year, very competitive.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I mis-read your post... I'm sure i'll have tickets with him on top as well, but I think it's a bit crazy to just put all eggs in his basket. He does have plenty of ? marks, despite being a winning machine... outrunning Giant Oak is nothing to be proud about, but winning a lot is. It's a good race this year, very competitive.

I think that as more races are run, that statement will be proven false.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

I think that as more races are run, that statement will be proven false.

Do you think Giant Oak is getting better? I thought his improved effort in the Ill Derby had more to do with weaker competition.

He may be a decent horse and I like that his connections are being careful with him but I like him in teh American and/or Hollywood Derby more than any others this year.

NT

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Do you think Giant Oak is getting better? I thought his improved effort in the Ill Derby had more to do with weaker competition.

He may be a decent horse and I like that his connections are being careful with him but I like him in teh American and/or Hollywood Derby more than any others this year.

NT

Oh I definitely like him for the Mid-America triple this summer if that's the route they go with him. His maiden race was phenomenal and I think he's going to prove to be a pretty serious grass runner...not sure we still know how good he is on that surface.

It's not that I think he's a Gr I type dirt horse or anything, but his three non-turf races that were run on the square (ie, no track made of soup and no horrific traffic trouble) were plenty solid for me to give him credit. On top of that, I am pretty confident that he'll get better as the year goes on.

He's long in the tooth for excuses, but it's tough to really know, because I'm still not sure we know how good he may or may not be, and my money is on us finding out this summer that he's a hell of a racehorse.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Oh I definitely like him for the Mid-America triple this summer if that's the route they go with him. His maiden race was phenomenal and I think he's going to prove to be a pretty serious grass runner...not sure we still know how good he is on that surface.

It's not that I think he's a Gr I type dirt horse or anything, but his three non-turf races that were run on the square (ie, no track made of soup and no horrific traffic trouble) were plenty solid for me to give him credit. On top of that, I am pretty confident that he'll get better as the year goes on.

He's long in the tooth for excuses, but it's tough to really know, because I'm still not sure we know how good he may or may not be, and my money is on us finding out this summer that he's a hell of a racehorse.

Understandable and I wouldn't be altogether surprised to see him have a very productive "2nd half."

I also applaud Chris Block for being so prudent because in the hands of many other horsemen there would be no hesitation about his plans for May 2.

NT

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Understandable and I wouldn't be altogether surprised to see him have a very productive "2nd half."

I also applaud Chris Block for being so prudent because in the hands of many other horsemen there would be no hesitation about his plans for May 2.

NT

Strangely enough, it sort of struck me as odd that Block even took him to the IL Derby at all. That seemed out of character for him, but I respect him more than probably any other conditioner in Chicago, so I figure he's got the right idea, but I've seen him run so many horses UNDER their heads in Chicago that it was a bit surprising to see him continue on with Oak in the IL Derby.

The Mid-America triple could be ripe for the taking though, especially given the fact that if he runs in all three (and hits the board in the American Derby), he'd get entry and starting fees for all three for $800 total while racing for something like $800,000 in purses and a half-million bonus for sweeping it.

Not saying he could for sure do it, but the first two legs of that usually come up pretty easy...so why not?

[FATPIANO]

Musket Man has done very little wrong, On Derby Day the price will be right, He has the right style and every race he runs ,seems to get better and better, He has room to improve (only a 98) and I want a horse who is not over the top. I want a horse with room to improve.kgar311, you are right. he is the horse to watch on Derby Day. BY the way he is the first horse to arrive at Churchill Downs, he is gonna get very familiar with the track. see u at the windows..........