Bluegrass Cat

Betsy · #1 08-06-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig188

bluegrass cat hadn't run since the belmont, that was his first off a layoff...scary, huh? i say that because most think a top performance is second off...
meanwhile, bernardini, who ran a stunner, will be wheeling back on the least amount of a break he's ever had.

i'm ready for the travers as well. should be one to remember.

BC will have to run at least as well, I think, to beat Bernardini. To be honest, I really think Bernardini can handle anything thrown at him. I don't see any reason why he couldn't race off of "only" a four week layoff, but then I've been made a fool of before by horses, lol. This is what sports is all about - if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. The Travers will be a test for lightly raced Bernardini and now we'll see what he's made of. It doesn't get much better than this.

#2 08-06-2006, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betsy

BC will have to run at least as well, I think, to beat Bernardini. To be honest, I really think Bernardini can handle anything thrown at him. I don't see any reason why he couldn't race off of "only" a four week layoff, but then I've been made a fool of before by horses, lol. This is what sports is all about - if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. The Travers will be a test for lightly raced Bernardini and now we'll see what he's made of. It doesn't get much better than this.

I agree with most your points. I must say, I went from zero to ten on the excitement level for the Travers!

Betsy · #3 08-06-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balletto

I agree with most your points. I must say, I went from zero to ten on the excitement level for the Travers!

I have to admit that I was practically giving the Travers to Bernardini, and looking forward to the win, but I hadn't figured on other colts improving so rapidly. Nonetheless, at some point Bernardini was going to meet stiffer competition (although he already proved to me what he could do when he won the Preakness.......but that's another story), so why not now? Actually, this will be a good thing for him as he starts to run against older horses. At the very least, the Travers may toughen him up; thus far, he's had it easy because he's just incredibly talented. I wouldn't want him to run against the likes of Invasor off of races that haven't mentally prepared him for the tough road ahead.

#4 08-07-2006, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balletto

I agree with most your points. I must say, I went from zero to ten on the excitement level for the Travers!

Yeah that is great huh? Boy was I not expecting that!!!!!! I mean I had conceded the Travers to Bernadini(reluctantly) and on the far turn yesterday I screamed wow this race is over!!! I didn't expect that tactical speed from the 8 pp and talk about easy, wow. When they turned for home those ears were pricked and he was having the time of his life. This is most definitely a new and improved version of Bluegrass Cat. That was not the same horse who ran in the Tri Crown races.

Betsy · #5 08-07-2006, 07:13 AM

LOL So now Bluegrass Cat wins the Travers in a walkover.......Bernardini does the same thing in the Preakness and yet the race doesn't count (in only his 4th start, first around two turns no less), but Bluegrass Cat is awesome? I am not knocking BC (see my posts, obviously), but I do find the attitude amusing.

miraja2 · #6 08-07-2006, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betsy

LOL So now Bluegrass Cat wins the Travers in a walkover........

Who said that? I don't recall anyone saying that.

#7 08-07-2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betsy

LOL So now Bluegrass Cat wins the Travers in a walkover.......Bernardini does the same thing in the Preakness and yet the race doesn't count (in only his 4th start, first around two turns no less), but Bluegrass Cat is awesome? I am not knocking BC (see my posts, obviously), but I do find the attitude amusing.

Betsy I find you amusing as well. Noone said anything about BC winning the race in a walkover. I don't see any posts referring to that made by anyone. I think you are way to hypersensitive to Bern. Ok, so now he has a true competitor in the Travers, you think after that performance yesterday that its off base to say that? Look Betsy, one horse won easily against Ministers Bid and Hemingways Key. The other agaisnt Strong Contender. I don't see any difference between the two and quite frankly even with three weeks would rather have Pletcher in my corner. Bernadini is obviously more established and more talented at this point. But its no longer a walkover for him. Bright One is pretty special as well and will provide pace. No damn way Berandini outruns him early, none. Bright One is a very fast animal. And no way does he not get a challenge in the lane from BC. Bottom line is this, hes gonna get tested early, in between and late in the Travers and will have to work to win it. If you feel that these statements are off the mark then it is you that I find amusing.

ArlJim78 · #8 08-07-2006, 07:43 AM

Great, only three more weeks of this debate to go!

Question: is it certain the BGC will run in the Travers? I thought I heard Pletcher make a remark that 20 days was a little tight.

#9 08-07-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Great, only three more weeks of this debate to go!

Question: is it certain the BGC will run in the Travers? I thought I heard Pletcher make a remark that 20 days was a little tight.

ArlJim he wouldn't commit but he said if he bounced out ok he would see. Johnny raved about him after the race and I'm sure if this horse comes out of the race ok that he will go. One thing about the three weeks rest I will say, bounces seem to affect horses off a top coming back in less than a month more severely when they are lightly raced and do not have a solid foundation. Cat has danced a lot of dances and I truly don't think he would bounce to the moon, especially since Todd's smart enough to train him lightly and just gallop him into the race. A repeat of that effort yesterday may not beat Bernadini but it will make Bernadini give his all.

miraja2 · #10 08-07-2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oracle80

This is most definitely a new and improved version of Bluegrass Cat. That was not the same horse who ran in the Tri Crown races.

He definitely ran the race of his life yesterday, but the Bluegrass Cat that ran in the TC races was pretty good too. He beat a lot of quality horses in the derby and was beaten only by a genuine superstar. Then he was ridiculously wide in a 12f race and still beat decent horses like Stepenwolfer and Sunriver and was right there challenging the leader at the finish.
The horse he was battling down in Tampa this winter/spring (Deputy Glitters) proved in the Ohio Derby that he can run a pretty good race when he feels like it, and the only reason DG turned the tables on him in the Tampa Bay was because BC threw a shoe. The horse has been a solid competitor all year. Now he has simply taken the next step. If he and Bright One are both healthy enough to make it to the Travers it should be an interesting betting race.

#11 08-07-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

He definitely ran the race of his life yesterday, but the Bluegrass Cat that ran in the TC races was pretty good too. He beat a lot of quality horses in the derby and was beaten only by a genuine superstar. Then he was ridiculously wide in a 12f race and still beat decent horses like Stepenwolfer and Sunriver and was right there challenging the leader at the finish.
The horse he was battling down in Tampa this winter/spring (Deputy Glitters) proved in the Ohio Derby that he can run a pretty good race when he feels like it, and the only reason DG turned the tables on him in the Tampa Bay was because BC threw a shoe. The horse has been a solid competitor all year. Now he has simply taken the next step. If he and Bright One are both healthy enough to make it to the Travers it should be an interesting betting race.

Yeah miraja but he had gears yesterday. He also was thrilled to be doing what he was doing. He wasn't all out being scrubbed on to give his best. Ears were flipping and pricked and he was having a ball and looked to truly enjoy the hell out of what he was doing. Something turned his attitude around.

Thunder Gulch · #12 08-07-2006, 09:07 AM

Bernandini was friggin awesome last week, but BGC certainly appears to be a top notch 3yo as well. Pletcher has been a little warm this year as well.

jpops757 · #13 08-07-2006, 09:15 AM

If the Cat passes on the Travers, where would he prep? I would think Pletcher would use a race at CD if it fite the time limitations. Also another race over the BC surface. I dont think Pletcher would avoid Bernardini but he is generaly 2 or 3 moves ahead of everyone else and is thinking about what is best for his horse. Does anyone have a picture of BGC before the derby and a current one> I ay be wrong but to me physicaly he looks so much more developed, biger, and more mature. I would like to see a comparison.