Bluegrass Cat

You know something, I thought how great his race was would be lost by many but it appears that many of you appreciated just how great it was. I thought I would be fighting an uphill battle on here trying to extoll the virtues of that awesome performance but you guys are already starting threads or replying with questions about him in the BCC!! WHich means I have missed something as well. That race he ran was so good that he may not care if he wins the Travers, he may try to plot a course to honestly have a shot in the BCC. One things for sure, if hes not ready to run in the Travers he won't be in there.

Oracle, I was extremely impressed by his demeanor during the race. He just seemed to be out there toying around. My question is, and yes its VERY hypothetical, but if he were to skip the Travers and win the BCC, does that put him in the dog fight for champion 3 yo with Bernardini (assuming Bernardini wins the Travers)? It seems like it could go either way at that point. Again, very hypothetical, but hey, im caught in the moment!

Originally Posted by Balletto

Oracle, I was extremely impressed by his demeanor during the race. He just seemed to be out there toying around. My question is, and yes its VERY hypothetical, but if he were to skip the Travers and win the BCC, does that put him in the dog fight for champion 3 yo with Bernardini (assuming Bernardini wins the Travers)? It seems like it could go either way at that point. Again, very hypothetical, but hey, im caught in the moment!

Funny that you use the words toying around and I used the words having a ball out there. I just really didn't expect that kind of an effort and it really blew me away, especially the way that he did it. I had always thought of BC as a workmanlike horse who I had labeled in my own mind as a "grinder" type without the tactical speed or burst of speed necessary to be top caliber. He also always needed to be ridden to give his all in his prior starts and didn't strike me as a particularly "happy horse" out there.
They opened the gates and I had very low expectations for the race, I thought it would be a rather boring affair. I lost my mind as they entered the far turn and the horse was obviously having a blast and Johnny had a hammerlock. He just looked like a completely different animal. Johnny V kind of confirmed what I thought I had just seen when he stood up before the line and vigorously pumped his fist. He wins huge races all the time and doesnt always react like that. I told the guy next to me that it must have felt as good to Johnny as it looked to me because his reaction was definitely the reaction of a guy who has just discovered that he has a very good horse to ride.
I love the sport and really was upset that the Travers had appeared until yesterday to be on the verge of becoming an anticlimactic formality for Bernadini. The Travers should always be much more than that. If Pletcher decides to run the horse in the Travers, it should be a nice show.

I completely agree. We, as fans, needed this showing from another 3yo. Even if we're building up this battle of two titans that never materializes, its still exciting as hell.

I always thought of him as a grinder as well. I look at everything from a pedigree/breeding prospect, and he finally showed the turn of foot that I look for in a good stallion prospect... although I dont exactly own a mare. lol

[Gander]

In my opinion Bluegrass Cat would not have a shot at 3 year old champion unless he won the Travers & BC Classic. If he skips the Travers and Berardini wins the Travers, then it would be unlikely Bluegrass Cat would have any shot at it. Unless of course Bluegrass Cat won both the Jockey Club and the BC Classic, which is a longshot he'd even run in both races.

Originally Posted by Gander

In my opinion Bluegrass Cat would not have a shot at 3 year old champion unless he won the Travers & BC Classic. If he skips the Travers and Berardini wins the Travers, then it would be unlikely Bluegrass Cat would have any shot at it. Unless of course Bluegrass Cat won both the Jockey Club and the BC Classic, which is a longshot he'd even run in both races.

To be honest these connections care less than most would about being champion. They themselves are in the breeding game and they now have an impressive grade one winning son of Storm Cat with a strong bottom line on the female side. He is now officially an ATM machine. What they want are more impressive races from him to strengthen his stud value. I don't think they particularly care about being champion and realize that it is a very long shot that they get the championship.

Originally Posted by oracle80

To be honest these connections care less than most would about being champion. They themselves are in the breeding game and they now have an impressive grade one winning son of Storm Cat with a strong bottom line on the female side. He is now officially an ATM machine. What they want are more impressive races from him to strengthen his stud value. I don't think they particularly care about being champion and realize that it is a very long shot that they get the championship.

So that pretty much answers my question. Winstar is going to have a FIELD DAY with this colt when he retires. From arguably the most stallion-proven and most classy line of La Troienne on the bottom and by Storm Cat... the only problem I see is he's a Storm Cat-Indy-Mr. P-Northern Dancer... there's going to be some interesting inbreeding going on.

Originally Posted by Balletto

So that pretty much answers my question. Winstar is going to have a FIELD DAY with this colt when he retires. From arguably the most stallion-proven and most classy line of La Troienne on the bottom and by Storm Cat... the only problem I see is he's a Storm Cat-Indy-Mr. P-Northern Dancer... there's going to be some interesting inbreeding going on.

Sure will be!! A little West Virginia lovin going on.

Where the men are men, so are the women and the sheep are scared... yee haw!

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Sure will be!! A little West Virginia lovin going on.

make that eastern Kentucky lovin...

I dont know, im a fan of Barbaro. He had talent, no doubt. But he won two G1's in the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby, and then a listed and two G3's. I just couldnt imagine the voting not going to Bernardini or Bluegrass Cat if they beat older horses in the Classic. But I can see the argument... Barbaro was impressive in the biggest 3yo race of the year and has kept his name in the news...