8/29 (SAR): 146th Travers Day; 6 Graded Stake Undercard

[Danzig]

Smart transition likes the track. Anyone considering him at all?

[RHT2004]

Originally Posted by Danzig

Smart transition likes the track. Anyone considering him at all?

Huge fan of his. Almost commented on him in my last post. Problem is, I like him a lot for next year or later this year. He seems to improve every race. But this is asking a lot. This is obviously a giant step forward. I will use him in the 3rd spot w/ Upstart, who I also believe ran a lot better then it seems last time out, and you can easily call that race a prep for this spot.
I don't like Texas Red at all. He got his prep before the Jim Dandy, Frosted didn't. Frosted was ridden like the only goal was to win the Travers. Felt to me like Rosario never really got after him in the Jim Dandy. I have to hope they make Texas Red the 2nd choice based on the 2yr old form and winning the Jim Dandy, then try getting him right out of the number with AP obviously on top. Good Luck.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by RHT2004

Huge fan of his. Almost commented on him in my last post. Problem is, I like him a lot for next year or later this year. He seems to improve every race. But this is asking a lot. This is obviously a giant step forward. I will use him in the 3rd spot w/ Upstart, who I also believe ran a lot better then it seems last time out, and you can easily call that race a prep for this spot.
I don't like Texas Red at all. He got his prep before the Jim Dandy, Frosted didn't. Frosted was ridden like the only goal was to win the Travers. Felt to me like Rosario never really got after him in the Jim Dandy. I have to hope they make Texas Red the 2nd choice based on the 2yr old form and winning the Jim Dandy, then try getting him right out of the number with AP obviously on top. Good Luck.

I firmly believe Texas Red is a serious racehorse and even a BCC contender. I'm likely going big on an AP/Texas Red cold exacta.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by cakes44

I firmly believe Texas Red is a serious racehorse and even a BCC contender. I'm likely going big on an AP/Texas Red cold exacta.

Maybe a $4 exacta?

[SniperSB23]

Any word what time American Pharoah is going to the track on Thursday? I know he's scheduled for 8:45 to 9:00 on Friday but would rather just make one trip up and catch him and Funny Cide.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Maybe a $4 exacta?

Yep, it will be monster score...

[RolloTomasi]

Sure would like to have seen Mr. Z in the Travers and not the King's Bishop. There is no pace rival whatsoever to accompany American Pharoah in his next cakewalk. I presume either Joel Rosario or Kent Desormeaux (likely the latter) will send half-heartedly not wanting to make it easy for the Triple Crown winner while also knowing that their mount's best chance will be compromised. Frosted is starting to have the look of a dedicated bridesmaid, so I would prefer if he was sent up on the engine early. Desormeaux, however, has a penchant for taking early runs at odds-on favorites regardless of his own mount's chances, and given Texas Red's early presence in a slow-paced Jim Dandy, I foresee either a hustle from the gate or some ridiculous mid-race move that will lead to a hanging stretch run.

Meanwhile, as they round the far turn, if either gets close enough to AP to actually put some real pressure, expect Keen Ice to look like Concern circa '94 for about a 1/16th of a mile. Once they straighten up, he'll look like Hold Me Back circa '09.

The silver lining in all this is that AP will be the first horse to win the top 5 races in NA for 3yos (at least since the creation of the Haskell). I think the only Triple Crown winner to also take down the Travers was Whirlaway in 1941 (Affirmed won but was DQ'd for sawing off Alydar).

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Sure would like to have seen Mr. Z in the Travers and not the King's Bishop. There is no pace rival whatsoever to accompany American Pharoah in his next cakewalk. I presume either Joel Rosario or Kent Desormeaux (likely the latter) will send half-heartedly not wanting to make it easy for the Triple Crown winner while also knowing that their mount's best chance will be compromised. Frosted is starting to have the look of a dedicated bridesmaid, so I would prefer if he was sent up on the engine early. Desormeaux, however, has a penchant for taking early runs at odds-on favorites regardless of his own mount's chances, and given Texas Red's early presence in a slow-paced Jim Dandy, I foresee either a hustle from the gate or some ridiculous mid-race move that will lead to a hanging stretch run.

Meanwhile, as they round the far turn, if either gets close enough to AP to actually put some real pressure, expect Keen Ice to look like Concern circa '94 for about a 1/16th of a mile. Once they straighten up, he'll look like Hold Me Back circa '09.

The silver lining in all this is that AP will be the first horse to win the top 5 races in NA for 3yos (at least since the creation of the Haskell). I think the only Triple Crown winner to also take down the Travers was Whirlaway in 1941 (Affirmed won but was DQ'd for sawing off Alydar).

If you subscribe to CJ's pace figs, the pace in the Haskell was extremely fast probably meaning the end to the career of Competitive Edge circa TAP 2000-2015. If you subscribe to CJ's pace figs the brilliant Beholder wouldnt/couldn't get a sniff of AP's butt crack without succumbing to the same fate as others.