American Pharoah...

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

So American Pharoah, who we were told has three or four gears, and can run as fast as need be to win ( essentially ) any race, needed 32 stings of the whip to run ( effectively ) the same race he ran in Arkansas?

American Pharoah got a dream trip to win the Derby by three quarters of a length over a horse that didn't change leads in the stretch. The pre-race BS about this horse was completely exposed.

Can't remember where i read this, but Doug S. was preaching to everyone that would listed that just because a horse is winning easy like AP did in Arkansas, doesn't mean he will have another gear when asked hard. Compared it to his evaluation of Officer winning all those races geared down, then having nothing more when faced with adversity in the BC Juvenile. He was spot on.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by outofthebox

Can't remember where i read this, but Doug S. was preaching to everyone that would listed that just because a horse is winning easy like AP did in Arkansas, doesn't mean he will have another gear when asked hard. Compared it to his evaluation of Officer winning all those races geared down, then having nothing more when faced with adversity in the BC Juvenile. He was spot on.

That is often a complete fallacy, but not always.

We've all seen horses get asked by the jock and respond by speeding up.

We've all seen horses having to gear down because of traffic trouble, break free and explode.

There is little difference between those two scenarios and one in which a horse going easy then getting asked for more.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by outofthebox

Can't remember where i read this, but Doug S. was preaching to everyone that would listed that just because a horse is winning easy like AP did in Arkansas, doesn't mean he will have another gear when asked hard. Compared it to his evaluation of Officer winning all those races geared down, then having nothing more when faced with adversity in the BC Juvenile. He was spot on.

it's true that horses might not have more than what they had. who knows, ap might not have prevailed had the jock not worked on him down the stretch.
but horses don't necessarily have to be encouraged. when they hit their stride, good luck.
for instance, dr fager when he broke the mile record. secretariat when he coasted in the belmont. and then some horses quit when they get out front...buckpassers moves had to be timed just right.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Danzig

it's true that horses might not have more than what they had. who knows, ap might not have prevailed had the jock not worked on him down the stretch.

And maybe if Firing Line had been given a crack when prompted to switch leads he would have and this thread would have been titled Firing Line.