Classic Empire

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Actually, you suggested quite directly that Casse may be lying saying how the horse worked today. And you can say whatever you want, but it's 100% plausible that the presence of the other gate spooked him. The 2nd gate is stationed there frequently but probably shouldn't be for just this reason. What about the horse that was leading in the stretch a few weeks ago and spooked from the bird flying across the course or whatever caught his attention? The rest of the field wasn't affected, was it? Their eyes are on the side of their head (not in front) for a reason deigned by nature. In this endeavor, it can work against them.

I watched the replay 10 times...The gate is 40/50 plus yards in front of him and 30 yards to the right. First he broke poorly again with his head cocked to rail, once straighten out he simply refuses. This is not a jumper refusing 2 feet in front of an oxer because he knows he cant make it.

Let's be objective. Colt schools in gate all the time. Colt just warmed up past gate seconds before race. Colt passes gates and like structures in morning work almost daily for months. To suggest that the colt was spooked by an object he sees every day is well suspect. Possible I guess but seems counter intuitive to what his trainer suggested about him right. Said he was a very smart horse? Ok so now we have a VERY smart colt schooled by a first class barn at first class facilities by terrific staff and we go with the very smart colt was spooked by something he just warmed up next too and loaded into and came out of and has been part of his life for 6 months.

The plausible theory is what his head was cocked to the rail, he was left as usual, jock straighten him out and lo and behold he caught sight of the same blue thing he just came out of and loaded into without incident and was scared into a dead stop...OK If that works for you..

I am going to go with Tap it Out, 85ina50 and a bunch of other super talented types that brains didnt match physical make up.

Again you know I hope I am wrong I love good horses