No Wood for Circular Quay

King Glorious · #1 04-04-2007, 06:04 AM

I shouldn't have to start with this but on these boards, sometimes it's necessary.......I'm sure Pletcher knows his horses better than I do. Now, having said that, I don't like this at all. I'm not too concerned about the layoff. In today's game, it's just not as big a deal as it used to be. Used to be that u could count out all of the horses using only two preps because 90% of the field had three. Not this year. A couple of contenders will be coming in with only two so it's not as big a disadvantage now. I believe that Notional and Scat Daddy are the two biggest obstacles for Circular Quay to have to beat in the Derby.....and both of them will be coming in off of a five week layoff, which everyone said couldn't be done......until last year. So the game has changed and along with it, many old "rules" are being changed also. So the layoff is not a huge concern. Of course, it's not ideal but it's not that big a deal to me. What I find of greater interest is the fact that they had a plan for Any Given Saturday and now they are changing it, leading me to believe that he will be one work short for this race. I think this is going to be the last time we see this horse this year.

King Glorious · #2 04-07-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I shouldn't have to start with this but on these boards, sometimes it's necessary.......I'm sure Pletcher knows his horses better than I do. Now, having said that, I don't like this at all. I'm not too concerned about the layoff. In today's game, it's just not as big a deal as it used to be. Used to be that u could count out all of the horses using only two preps because 90% of the field had three. Not this year. A couple of contenders will be coming in with only two so it's not as big a disadvantage now. I believe that Notional and Scat Daddy are the two biggest obstacles for Circular Quay to have to beat in the Derby.....and both of them will be coming in off of a five week layoff, which everyone said couldn't be done......until last year. So the game has changed and along with it, many old "rules" are being changed also. So the layoff is not a huge concern. Of course, it's not ideal but it's not that big a deal to me. What I find of greater interest is the fact that they had a plan for Any Given Saturday and now they are changing it, leading me to believe that he will be one work short for this race. I think this is going to be the last time we see this horse this year.

Another hard race for AGS. He's toast now. Brilliant plan. Send a short horse to a race that's supposed to be easier and he still doesn't crack the top two. How much did he earn today? Great plan. I'm glad as hell that it blew up in their faces.

Danzig · #3 04-07-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Another hard race for AGS. He's toast now. Brilliant plan. Send a short horse to a race that's supposed to be easier and he still doesn't crack the top two. How much did he earn today? Great plan. I'm glad as hell that it blew up in their faces.

75k.

how much did he need? more than that, then yeah, the plan blew up.

King Glorious · #4 04-07-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

75k.

how much did he need? more than that, then yeah, the plan blew up.

If they were just looking for an easier race where he could get the earnings needed, I don't understand why they didn't go in the SA Derby or the Illinois Derby or hell, even the Transylvania.

Danzig · #5 04-07-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

If they were just looking for an easier race where he could get the earnings needed, I don't understand why they didn't go in the SA Derby or the Illinois Derby or hell, even the Transylvania.

pletcher already has two in the sa derby. for some reason, suddenly CQ was pulled. i don't think he was pulled in favor of AGS-i think he threw AGS in there when he had to pull quay...and knew that it was a decent payday if he finished top three.

i have to say tho, the more i think about it, the less i think that pletcher intended to finish third. first or second--he didn't give the opposition enough credit, but that WAS sightseeings top career performance....
if he turns out making the field, then todd was 'right'--altho he may have won the earnings battle, and still managed to lose the war....of course he does now have an extra week between ky and today, unlike the bluegrass in a week. AGS will need it.

hockey2315 · #6 04-07-2007, 07:23 PM

I don't think AGS is done by any stretch. . . Todd's great at having horses ready to peak on big days and today was not the objective. . . 75K should pretty much guarantee AGS a spot in the Derby now and he's the only Pletcher horse that I think has a shot in May. . .

Rileyoriley · #7 04-07-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I don't think AGS is done by any stretch. . . Todd's great at having horses ready to peak on big days and today was not the objective. . . 75K should pretty much guarantee AGS a spot in the Derby now and he's the only Pletcher horse that I think has a shot in May. . .

I haven't given up on him yet either. I expected him to regress off his last race and then when Pletcher changed the game plan with him, I knew he was toast. I'll watch how he trains and looks up to the derby.
I was impressed with Tiago. Like his stride and his pedigree. The Pleasant Colony line does seem to like CD.