PRIVMAN: Cal Chrome a 'go' in Hollywood Derby

[Indian Charlie]

Destroyed?

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Destroyed?

Baffert love trumps all.......

[LITF]

I think he has to win the the three year old title, regardless of what happened today.

He had the best "three year old" campaign without argument, this season. He won the He lost to Bayern in the PA Derby that was meant as nothing more than a prep for the BC Classic. He lost to Bayern in the Classic by a small margin, with an asterisk. This race should have nothing to do with the outcome of any eclipse voting. Same as if Bayern or Shared Belief run and win the Malibu. Today was an exhibition. I think Chrome was the best three year old from start to finish.

As for Horse of the Year. You can't give it to a four race campaigned grass horse. So, I think he has a shot but I would give horse of the year to Bayer. I know that seems hypocritical but that's how I would vote. Chrome won the three year old races so why not award him for that. Bayern won the big boy race (regardless of the rough running of the race, he won) so why not give him the prize for winning that race. I think that is just.

Hopefully they all meet stay healthy and meet again in next years classic.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by LITF

I think he has to win the the three year old title, regardless of what happened today.

He had the best "three year old" campaign without argument, this season. He won the He lost to Bayern in the PA Derby that was meant as nothing more than a prep for the BC Classic. He lost to Bayern in the Classic by a small margin, with an asterisk. This race should have nothing to do with the outcome of any eclipse voting. Same as if Bayern or Shared Belief run and win the Malibu. Today was an exhibition. I think Chrome was the best three year old from start to finish.

It was only "without argument" if you're a Chromie. He really stood to benefit with another G1. He has 2 losses in the last 5 months (close only works if it's not to a horse also gunning for the same Eclipse who didn't also thump you in the last meeting). I'd hardly call his the clear best 3yo campaign on the year prior to today--it and HOY were a hot mess. He spent much of the latter half of the year not racing and both times lost to Bayern. The Hollywood Derby should absolutely be considered in the voting. It's a G1 race, and as Lukas is proving with Take Charge Brandi, the year ain't done with the Breeders' Cup. It helps Chrome's case to be a dual winner with a latter year G1 win. Dual winners usually beat 3yo BC Classic winners, but not always. A little punctuation mark is in his favor. Not sure why you'd act like it's so obvious before. It wasn't. I absolutely heard debate. I figured he'd come out ahead based on history, but who knows.

[10 pnt move up]

He is going to win, the Derby and Preakness just carry much more weight, and he destroyed Bayern in that race. I would also add lots of voters dont even think he was best in that classic.

And since when did the Penn Derby carry so much weight?

[Frost King]

So if you declare a race a prep, it should not count? Baffert was playing catch up with Bayern all spring. That was his Derby horse. So when he finally gets the horse ready, everything it wins is discounted? He not only beat all of the males left standing at the end, he also has a win over the Champion Female for 2014, Untapable. Which means more that some grass race win over a Canadian filly that is a poly/turf runner, Chrome did not beat the filly that ran faster than him at Churchill Downs that weekend.

[Kitan]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

He is going to win, the Derby and Preakness just carry much more weight, and he destroyed Bayern in that race. I would also add lots of voters dont even think he was best in that classic.

And since when did the Penn Derby carry so much weight?

To be fair, Bayern did get destroyed at the start. Although then we have to talk about the annihilation at the gate in the BC....

[Smarty Cide]

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ra...SFuOUI.twitter

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Smarty Cide

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ra...SFuOUI.twitter

That is one of the worst articles I've ever read, and I think CC should be HOY.

[parsixfarms]

This past weekend's results surely helped California Chrome's case. Not only did he win a late-year Grade I, eliminating the argument that he didn't win a race after May, but the Clark Handicap was won by the Santa Anita Derby runner-up. While Bayern had an admirable campaign by today's standards, I have a hard time bestowing championship laurels on a horse that performed as dismally as he did in the Travers, and was a non-factor in the Preakness.

[FATPIANO]

grade 1 race, that turf race was more like an opt claimer, should have NO impact on Championship, just look at the filed in that race,it is a digrace to call it a grade 1