7/31 (DMR): Wickerr S. (Colonel John return)

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by CSC

11 career races, no apparent turf pedigree, off a 7 month layoff and supposedly returning in a career first time try in a turf stk. Maybe they are praying for rain...

If they are looking for the best possible spot for a win, then I would tend to agree with you. But sometimes, the objective is to finally get a race into a horse and get the conditioning you need to move to the next step. Turf racing is not as hard on horses as dirt racing is (still getting used to this junk track) and a mile race in a decent field will do a lot more than just coming straight into the Pacific Classic off of works and is a lot less taxing than the San Diego Hcp would be. Also, if he was a horse that was primarily a dirt horse, I think the transition to grass might be more difficult. But not for a dominant synthetic horse.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

If they are looking for the best possible spot for a win, then I would tend to agree with you. But sometimes, the objective is to finally get a race into a horse and get the conditioning you need to move to the next step. Turf racing is not as hard on horses as dirt racing is (still getting used to this junk track) and a mile race in a decent field will do a lot more than just coming straight into the Pacific Classic off of works and is a lot less taxing than the San Diego Hcp would be. Also, if he was a horse that was primarily a dirt horse, I think the transition to grass might be more difficult. But not for a dominant synthetic horse.

Given he did win The Travers last year, I would have thought a more abitious approach would have been in the offing. It's not like he wouldn't have options in either the Whitney or The Pacific Classic to choose from. Really Harty could separate Well Armed and C. John without much difficulty. Again it raises an eyebrow with me and it may signal that all is not well with him, he reportedly is getting over an illness this spring, anyway these are reasonable questions any decent handicapper should ask, rather than digest the convienient turf to dirt 'prep' race angle we are supposedly to believe as something that is the norm.

[Bobby Fischer]

We think that Becrux and Prussian figure in this salty affair.











just kidding ( i just wanted to say "we" ) , but I do like those two. Get Funky is mildly interesting. Same with the NZ import.

[gamblin4ever]

It could be Harty is using the race as a prep and seeing if CJ likes the turf for the future.

Harty has a rock solid 3% clip with 1st time turfers. Obviously you guys don't know what you're talking about.

[King Glorious]

It's unfortunate that nowdays, people have forgotten or have no understanding of what a prep race means. They think that every race you enter, you enter to win. I think there are still a few that understand the concept of using a lesser race as a means to get you better prepared to win a bigger one.

Originally Posted by King Glorious

It's unfortunate that nowdays, people have forgotten or have no understanding of what a prep race means. They think that every race you enter, you enter to win. I think there are still a few that understand the concept of using a lesser race as a means to get you better prepared to win a bigger one.

Do you have one of those Colonel John derby buttons?

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

It's unfortunate that nowdays, people have forgotten or have no understanding of what a prep race means. They think that every race you enter, you enter to win. I think there are still a few that understand the concept of using a lesser race as a means to get you better prepared to win a bigger one.

It was different when these horses were running 10-15 times a year. If you plan on a 5 race campaign and at least one is a "prep"...give me a break.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

It's unfortunate that nowdays, people have forgotten or have no understanding of what a prep race means. They think that every race you enter, you enter to win. I think there are still a few that understand the concept of using a lesser race as a means to get you better prepared to win a bigger one.

Like Ron Ellis did with Rail Trip, using the Gold Cup preps, the LeRoy and and the California, to toughen him up for the main goal.