5/31 (TDN): Ohio Derby (Gr. II) Smooth Air-102 BSF

[alysheba4]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Nice spelling there douchenozzle. Why don't you jump off my sack? At least Andy is funny when he breaks my balls.

mr. t pitys that flanel wearing poser fool........

[herkhorse]

If I could bet this race I'd play Cherokee Artist Seems like this is the race where alot of Derby hopefuls go to start their fade into oblivion.

[justindew]

Smooth Air is solid.

[hockey2315]

How many he win by? Glad Cherokee Artist got bet way down because I wanted to play him.

[King Glorious]

I don't know why I'm going to try this but here goes. I don't think that First Defence is a better horse than Commentator is. Not even close. Just like I don't think Lamar Odom is a better basketball player than Kevin Garnett is. Again, not close. What Commentator and Garnett have in common is what they are good at, they are GREAT at. Commentator, when allowed to run alone and control a pace, is as brilliant as we've seen in a while. Garnett, when allowed to be a complimentary player, is outstanding too. But when either it taken out of their element and asked to do something different, both of them lose a little something and lesser horses or players can sometimes make up the difference. I think this is what he was trying to get at when he said that First Defence is a better horse; because he's a little more versatile. I remember having a converasation about Candy Ride a couple of years ago along these same lines. I had told someone that singularly, Candy Ride didn't have the resume to be voted as the champion horse on the dirt or on the turf but when combined, maybe he did have the resume to be voted HOY. Or Lava Man. He may not have been the best dirt horse in 2006 and he may not have been the best grass horse either but maybe he was the best overall horse. Maybe none of this makes sense but I think that's what he was trying to get at, that's he'd take a horse that can do more things above average than one that can do only one thing, even if he's brilliant at that one thing. Think of it another way. Would you rather have one player that can get you 45 points if his jumper is falling but he can't ever put the ball on the floor and get to the basket and he can't play any defense and he doesn't rebound well or pass well..........or would you rather have a guy that may only get you 20 points but he can create his own shot, get you 6-8 rebounds, get you 4-6 assists, and also play some defense?

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by justindew

Smooth Air is solid.

That might be the worst ever field in a 300k Race. As long as he keeps on running vs garbage like he faced today he will be fine.


Visionaire woulda won by 5.

[blackthroatedwind]

I like the analogy and what you say makes a lot of sense. Personally I prefer a horse that is truly exceptional in a certain way but obviously a horse with real ability that is tractable has advantages.

The problem in this specific comparison, and I know you weren't specifically espousing this belief, is that First Defence has never really done anything of merit and has, in fact, disappointed more often than not when faced with any real test. Maybe the argument works better between Commentator and Divine Park, in that Divine Park will probably never equal the electrifying performance that Commentator delivered in the Whitney but because of his talent and tractability he is more reliable to accomplish more in a broad spectrum.

War Pass is a horse that also comes to mind. There is no real question that he is a superior talent but there was always the question of whether or not he could rate effectively. As of now it appears he can't and in many ways that may have proven his undoing. War Emblem had those same questions going into the Preakness, but he managed to rate, and ended up winning the race.

[King Glorious]

I think Divine Park is a much better example. I suppose that going into the race, he figured Divine Park and First Defence were both capable of doing the same thing, something that I didn't see before and certainly don't see after. Personally, I'd take the brilliant horse too. If you give me a choice between two horses and say they will run three races each and the average Beyer will be 105, I'd rather have one that will go 105-120-90 than the one that will go 105-105-105.

[The Bid]

Visionaire couldnt get Smooth Air out of a jog, foolish

[arulus]

I like following Smooth Air, just because there are so few horses that there are to follow these days! He's a nice little horse with a solid shot at some Grade III's and Grade II's in the future, and he's outrun his pedigree. Plus, maybe they'll run him longer because he seems less likely to rake in the big bucks at stud. I read they're going to aim him next for the Iowa or West Virginia Derby.

[arulus]

I don't think that anyone is arguing that Smooth Air is a top notch horse. But he's a handy type who happened to be born in a weak crop, and he can do well if put on a strategic campaign. And it's fun to root for him, because the back story is good. I'm tired of Big Brown drama, steriods drama, breakdown drama, trainer drama. I just want to find a couple of cool horses with no controversy surrounding them, and watch them campaign. And, guess what? In a real campaign, sometimes you win, sometimes you get second, sometimes third! I don't mind that. It's bad for the sport if everyone tip toes around and only enters races that they're sure to win. Chances are fun, goals are fun.

Also, I draw a line through Smooth Air's Derby; he got quite a terrible trip, and I thought his finish was actually quite an honest effort. He lost training time due to illness, broke into the air, got bumped around at the started and was heavily checked during the first half of the race, yet still beat about half the field. If all that had not happened, I could see him finishing in the top ten. Maybe even top five, who knows? Sure, it does say something about the weakness of the competition, but it also shows that he really gives an effort each time, and I like that. What was Monba's excuse? Smooth Air is much more likeable than half of the Derby field, like Cowboy Cal, Court Vision, Gayego, etc, who seem to be totally inconsistent and all over the place. And at least he's showed up and raced again and has races set for the future! *yawn* When the hell are Colonel John and Pyro going to surface?

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

Visionaire woulda won by 5.

Please stop.

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Please stop.

I am just messin around. Was a nice win vs a horrendous field. I think if they keep him running vs the 2nd/3rd tier 3 yr olds he will be fine.

However racing Smooth Air in a Grade I up at Saratoga is beyond foolish. Real horses like Harlem Rocker and Assmussen's 3 yr old J Be K would torch Smooth Air.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

However racing Smooth Air in a Grade I up at Saratoga is beyond foolish. Real horses like Harlem Rocker and Assmussen's 3 yr old J Be K would torch Smooth Air.

Pete,

Why would Harlem Rocker be in the King's Bishop? And J Be K? He has one race that stands out as anything impactful. You don't see where a horse like Smooth Air, who has proven most likely to be best at 7f, will be murder turning back to it in August after all this two-turning? I'm not suggesting he's a Hard Spun in talent level, but in amongst this 2008 group, taking that same path should yield similar results. A reminder: He has won the Hutcheson and Ohio Derby; 2nd in the Florida Derby. Off the board once in his career (KY Derby). What is the knock on him exactly? He is a truly handy horse.. a rarity these days actually.