Curlin

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Slewbopper

He is probably a very nice horse. I think he will win the Ark Derby. With only two races under his belt as of right now, I am kind of hoping they give this guy a break and maybe think of the Preakness. Probably won't happen.

Why exactly would he need a break after only three starts?
He had 6 weeks in between his debut and the Rebel, and a month in between the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby.
If that schedule is too taxing for him to make the Derby......he isn't much of a horse.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Why exactly would he need a break after only three starts?
He had 6 weeks in between his debut and the Rebel, and a month in between the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby.
If that schedule is too taxing for him to make the Derby......he isn't much of a horse.

It's not a matter of space in between races, it's a matter of too much, too soon. The Derby is a whole different animal than the Preakness, so I agree that the Derby might be a lot to ask of this horse, even if he does indeed win tomorrow.

The derby is a lot to ask, that's why its the derby. Rapidly developing horses have won on occasion. If Curlins wins at OP he deserves a shot..

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by easy goer

The derby is a lot to ask, that's why its the derby. Rapidly developing horses have won on occasion.

Such as......???

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Such as......???

None in my lifetime.

Unless you count the reincarnation of the ex-claimer from Lukas....who had like 15 races.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

None in my lifetime.

Unless you count the reincarnation of the ex-claimer from Lukas....who had like 15 races.

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

Wouldn't that make them undefeated?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

Did Valhol run in the Derby? Didn't he run very few times prior to it?

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I cant even remember a horse who ran in the Derby with only 3 races let alone won.

Showing Up last year. . .

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Barbaro had just two races over dirt in his career coming into last years Derby.

And had only five races in him.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

It's not a matter of space in between races, it's a matter of too much, too soon. The Derby is a whole different animal than the Preakness, so I agree that the Derby might be a lot to ask of this horse, even if he does indeed win tomorrow.

Well sure, if the connections don't feel the horse is ready for the Derby, they shouldn't run him there.
The original poster mentioned giving the horse a "break" which I took to mean literally a break, which made no sense to me at all.
If Curlin wins tomorrow (and comes out of it healthy) I don't see how anyone could blame them for sending him in the Derby. It would be awfully hard to have an undefeated winner of a major "prep" race.....and then skip the Derby.