the 2005 whitney..how much.....

[blackthroatedwind]

I don't think weight matters, but that's just me and I suppose I could be wrong, but I never understood why people suggested after the race that Saint Liam was best. Commentator set an extremely honest pace and Saint Liam had the entire stretch to beat him and flat out lost.

If Dutrow was so confident he had the better horse why did he run, not one but, two rabbits in the Woodward?

And, yes, I am way biased about this one.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I don't think weight matters, but that's just me and I suppose I could be wrong, but I never understood why people suggested after the race that Saint Liam was best. Commentator set an extremely honest pace and Saint Liam had the entire stretch to beat him and flat out lost.

If Dutrow was so confident he had the better horse why did he run, not one but, two rabbits in the Woodward?

And, yes, I am way biased about this one.

As Dutrow said, he didn't want Saint Liam all out to defeat Commentator as he had bigger and better races to win.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Running two rabbits at a horse, in a Grade 1 race, with a five horse field, was about as unsporting a move as I've seen, in all the time I followed racing.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Running two rabbits at a horse, in a Grade 1 race, with a five horse field, was about as unsporting a move as I've seen, in all the time I followed racing.

I have a feeling Dutrow isn't going to be up for any "Sportsman of the Year" Awards any time soon...

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I have a feeling Dutrow isn't going to be up for any "Sportsman of the Year" Awards any time soon...

Good one.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I don't think weight matters, but that's just me and I suppose I could be wrong, but I never understood why people suggested after the race that Saint Liam was best. Commentator set an extremely honest pace and Saint Liam had the entire stretch to beat him and flat out lost.

If Dutrow was so confident he had the better horse why did he run, not one but, two rabbits in the Woodward?

And, yes, I am way biased about this one.

I agree with you about weight being overrated although perhaps Saint Liam wins by a nose with equal weights. A major reason that Dutrow used the rabbits in the Woodward wasn't because he thought his horse couldn't beat Commentator, it was because he thought he could beat Commentator more easily with the rabbits and didn't want the race to take too much out of him before the Classic. The prior year going neck and neck with Ghostzapper took so much out of the horse that he couldn't bring him back in the Classic and he knew he wouldn't have forgiven himself if he let that happen again. He talked about it on Capital OTB one morning, interesting interview.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I remember that interview. I guess I just thought it was sh*tty with the 2 rabbits. I know all it's all fair, but it just seemed desperate. Would 1 rabbit not have been enough?

If one works well then two can only work better. Personally I'm not a big fan of horses that can get thrown off their game so much by a couple rabbits so I thought the situation was pretty funny. If Commentator comes back this year then Zito should pair him with Sun King. If anyone tries to put rabbits against Commentator it will set things up perfect for Sun King. If there is no other speed to duel then Commentator wins it on the front end.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Yeah I guess I'm not a big fan of horses that need 2 rabbits to beat another horse. I mean as a front runner obviously getting 2 rabbits thrown at you will significantly hamper your chances. Not too many horses can overcome something like that.

Well I don't think Saint Liam needed the two rabbits to win at all. He could set the pace or come off it.

[Sightseek]

I'm guessing the way Prado pulled Saint Liam back around the first turn he really expected Commentator to come back to him.

http://www.calracing.com/replays.php

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I'm guessing the way Prado pulled Saint Liam back around the first turn he really expected Commentator to come back to him.

http://www.calracing.com/replays.php

Thanks for getting me to watch that again. What a terrific race.

[blackthroatedwind]

No doubt. It was a hot pace and Saint Liam chased him the whole way. Swingforthefences was not a bad horse....and he finished in Schylerville.

[slotdirt]

I don't think seven pounds matters as far as weight goes, particularly in a nine furlong race.

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I don't think weight matters, but that's just me.

weight supposedly is the biggest difference between european and US handicappers. We think it does matter, and ye think it doesn't..

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by brockguy

weight supposedly is the biggest difference between european and US handicappers. We think it does matter, and ye think it doesn't..

Ye? I feel like we should be discussing this over mugs of meade.

Sorry....couldn't resist.

[brockguy]

as long as you bring the drink!!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by brockguy

as long as you bring the drink!!

I can't bring it....but I'm always happy to buy.

[brockguy]

you don't want me to start making it outside my back garden now, do ya?? need to get more honey, have some left over from pancake tuesday!

Originally Posted by brockguy

weight supposedly is the biggest difference between european and US handicappers. We think it does matter, and ye think it doesn't..

weight matters more for you guys cause you run in moss bogs while chasing foxes over 13 mile courses.

but its probably much better for the horses.

Seriously. I think weight takes a lot more out of a horse in the longer Euro undulating soft grass courses.