Champs Elysees....

[RolloTomasi]

I didn't see the race, but in previous races it didn't look like Champs Elysees was a horse particularly suited to 12f. I wonder if today's performance goes along with that. Its actually pretty curious how Frankel has managed some of the Juddmonte horses in recent months.

Ventura, for instance, wows them on turf at Santa Anita, then shows up on poly at Keeneland (which she duly wins). Instead of exploring more synthetic options, he puts her back on turf on Derby day on a less-than-firm course with a dubious pace scenario. Thousand Words, hopeless in his first synthetic start at Santa Anita, lights them up when placed back on turf, looking like a future stakes horse. Instead of keeping him in CA and pointing to the thus far, weak lineup pointing to the Shoemaker Mile (Ever A Friend being the heavy), he flounders twice going 7f on poly and dirt in KY. Storm Military was another poly guinea pig.

Champs Elysees himself was briefly mentioned for the one mile Shoemaker (a hint at Frankel's own distance concerns), when in reality, based on his good Big Cap effort, you'd anticipate he'd be eyeing the Hollywood Gold Cup. Personally, I think he showed up for today's race because it seemed like a gimme based on the other horses that entered.