No Derby for Hard Spun ???

[johnny pinwheel]

that horse has alot of early tactical speed the preakness is probably perfect. in the big field of the derby(usually with several that don't belong) he could be burnt in a fast pace. very rarely does a horse win up front because thay are going 1 1/4 the first time and the first half blisters the front pack. thats how some of these "bomb" closers win the race , the most recent was giacumo.

[whodey17]

Churchill's surface can get "cuppy" but we all know it is far from "cuppy" on Derby day. The track is like a concret surface on that day. In addition, the stretch is much longer that Oaklawn's and it isn't downhill. I have no clue what these people are thinking. It pisses me off at times when people cannot stick to a plan. I have to give credit to Carl N. He had a plan for Street Sense ever since the Breeders Cup and he hasnt wavored from it. Win or lose at lease he stuck to his plan.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by whodey17

Churchill's surface can get "cuppy" but we all know it is far from "cuppy" on Derby day. The track is like a concret surface on that day. In addition, the stretch is much longer that Oaklawn's and it isn't downhill. I have no clue what these people are thinking. It pisses me off at times when people cannot stick to a plan. I have to give credit to Carl N. He had a plan for Street Sense ever since the Breeders Cup and he hasnt wavored from it. Win or lose at lease he stuck to his plan.

Aside from changing what race SS would make his debut in this year he has stuck to the two race campaign.

NT

I am not sure why they think Oaklawn and Churchill Downs are so similar. Hard Spun though doesn't appear to be in the elite category. The Lexington is another polytrack race which he obviously handled. If I am correct, Hard Spun will be worth quite a bit in the breeding shed, and maybe they feel a win in the Lexington will be worth more than a 5th or 6th place finish in the derby, which is the best I could see him doing.

[Jax Cajun]

Originally Posted by Benevolus

I am not sure why they think Oaklawn and Churchill Downs are so similar. Hard Spun though doesn't appear to be in the elite category. The Lexington is another polytrack race which he obviously handled. If I am correct, Hard Spun will be worth quite a bit in the breeding shed, and maybe they feel a win in the Lexington will be worth more than a 5th or 6th place finish in the derby, which is the best I could see him doing.

Exactly, they see Hard Spun as their meal ticket. They'll never get another horse this good.

[cmorioles]

And people laugh when I say I would have a better idea of where to place horses than mosts trainer would. Could he be more clueless about his own horse?

Cannon, note I said "most"!

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

And people laugh when I say I would have a better idea of where to place horses than mosts trainer would. Could he be more clueless about his own horse?

Cannon, note I said "most"!

I think Larry is a very good trainer but it is hard to believe that he is waffling so much therefore I am putting most of the blame on Porter. I mean unless there is a physical problem that we dont know about why would they want to pass on the Derby in a year where the firld has so many question marks? I know Porter has a presence in the mid atlanic region but the Preakness is a consolation prize except to the Derby winner. They talk so much about a specific surface that this horse handles or does not handle as though they can "manage" that part of the scenario. Like it was stated before, the surface Derby Day usually has no relation to the one that is used for training a month before.

[blackthroatedwind]

I just love the " Hard Spun didn't like Oaklawn " comments. Funny, he ran arguably his best race there, and certainly his best dirt race, so I guess it is fair to assume that he really hated the other surfaces he ran on.

What a joke.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

Actually, you said "mosts".

Cut the guy a break....he's in Belgium.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by whodey17

Churchill's surface can get "cuppy" but we all know it is far from "cuppy" on Derby day. The track is like a concret surface on that day. In addition, the stretch is much longer that Oaklawn's and it isn't downhill. I have no clue what these people are thinking. It pisses me off at times when people cannot stick to a plan. I have to give credit to Carl N. He had a plan for Street Sense ever since the Breeders Cup and he hasnt wavored from it. Win or lose at lease he stuck to his plan.

Good points