Is Grasshopper a walk over?

rgustafson · #1 09-20-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

There are at least two races being run in this Super Derby and Grasshopper is the lone horse in his. The rest may or may not be competitive with each other but Grasshopper towers over them.

I know it's obvious but why are others even talking about hopelessly overmatched horses?

If the pinheads are idiots(on occaision this happens) and they all go out to beat Hell from the start, Going Ballistic might nail Grasshopper on the wire.

blackthroatedwind · #2 09-20-2007, 08:56 PM

Grasshopper rates just fine and is in a completely different world that the decidedly mediocre Going Ballistic. He can only be second, and may be, if two many others move too soon. But, without an incident, he can't beat Grasshopper.

I think Grasshopper's talent is being massively undervalued by some here. he's VERY good.

ArlJim78 · #3 09-20-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Grasshopper rates just fine and is in a completely different world that the decidedly mediocre Going Ballistic. He can only be second, and may be, if two many others move too soon. But, without an incident, he can't beat Grasshopper.

I think Grasshopper's talent is being massively undervalued by some here. he's VERY good.

there are a few of us here that are very high on him. i bet him to win the travers cause i thought that highly of him.

blackthroatedwind · #4 09-20-2007, 09:08 PM

Not only do I think Grasshopper is very good, I also think his competition in the Super Derby is extraordinarily weak, and just don't see him losing.

I guess he's another horse who people think may bounce.....you know like Lawyer Ron in the Woodward.

ArlJim78 · #5 09-20-2007, 09:13 PM

several people were telling me that Grasshopper would bounce in the Travers, you know, because he was coming off of a big top.

blackthroatedwind · #6 09-20-2007, 09:19 PM

They all bounce.....except when they don't.

Do Neil Howard's horses bounce like horses from other trainers?

King Glorious · #7 09-21-2007, 02:08 AM

While I am not sold on Grasshopper being very good, I do think this is a one horse race and if he loses, it would probably qualify for biggest upset of the year.

miraja2 · #8 09-20-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

there are a few of us here that are very high on him. i bet him to win the travers cause i thought that highly of him.

As I said at the time, I believe Street Sense was actually a good play in the Travers, even at those low odds. I probably underestimated Grasshopper that day, and I may be doing it again in this one, but trying to beat him here makes a lot more sense to me than trying to beat Street Sense in the Travers. I felt I was almost sure that I knew how Street Sense would perform going into that race based on his previous performances at that track and at that distance. I have a lot more questions about how Grasshopper will perform on Saturday. How will he fare in a two-turn race with semi-fast early fractions? Will he be able to repeat his Saratoga performances on another track? The answers are probably yes, but at odds-on I think I'll take a shot.

SniperSB23 · #9 09-20-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

As I said at the time, I believe Street Sense was actually a good play in the Travers, even at those low odds. I probably underestimated Grasshopper that day, and I may be doing it again in this one, but trying to beat him here makes a lot more sense to me than trying to beat Street Sense in the Travers. I felt I was almost sure that I knew how Street Sense would perform going into that race based on his previous performances at that track and at that distance. I have a lot more questions about how Grasshopper will perform on Saturday. How will he fare in a two-turn race with semi-fast early fractions? Will he be able to repeat his Saratoga performances on another track? The answers are probably yes, but at odds-on I think I'll take a shot.

He rated with no problem in sprints, don't see why he'd have a problem in a route. Actually he even rated in a route already as a 2yo. I've loved Grasshopper since early on but even I didn't think he could beat Street Sense. The difference between Grasshopper and this field though is a hell of a lot bigger than between SS and the Travers field.

ArlJim78 · #10 09-20-2007, 11:01 PM

all he has to do is stay in the clear and he wins. it wasn't a fluke that he pushed Street Sense all out and left the rest of the field at Saratoga in the dust. the also rans in the Travers are better than what he faces now.