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#1
05-31-2008, 06:44 PM
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Visionaire woulda won by 5. 
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#2
05-31-2008, 06:52 PM
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King Glorious
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.
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Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB
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#3
05-31-2008, 07:00 PM
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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.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020) Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
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#4
05-31-2008, 08:28 PM
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Visionaire couldnt get Smooth Air out of a jog, foolish
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g
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#5
05-31-2008, 08:50 PM
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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.
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#6
05-31-2008, 09:00 PM
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Congratulations to Bennie and Diane Stutts, the entire Burns Family, Manny Cruz, and Idella, Smooth Air's groom... Now a multiple Graded Stakes winner at one and two turns... He's a really neat little horse.
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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#7
06-01-2008, 11:25 AM
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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?
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#8
06-01-2008, 10:53 PM
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tale of ekati is a failed experiment to add a little class to a tale of the cat.
At least smooth air is easy to root for.
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#9
05-31-2008, 09:02 PM
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#10
05-31-2008, 09:28 PM
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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.
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#11
05-31-2008, 09:55 PM
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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.
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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#12
05-31-2008, 09:58 PM
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They would be stupid NOT to be pointing for the King's Bishop. Win or lose, it's the right spot for Smooth Air.....and as of now he's more than a realistic competitor.
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Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB
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#13
05-31-2008, 10:01 PM
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Smooth Air is more talented than most in here give him credit for, hes like Tueflesberg. Tueflesberg was a top 3 horse in his respective crop, and that was a good group of horses
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ySSg4QG8g
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#14
05-31-2008, 10:56 PM
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#15
06-01-2008, 09:25 AM
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I assume he meant in the third tier of top 3YOs. As for Smooth Air, while I agree that it's funny that all the Smooth Air fans disappeared after the Derby, but not unexpected, I don't see why he shouldn't be pointed for the Kings Bishop. His Hutchenson was OK, albeit on a wet track, and the upside to winning a race like that is huge. It is, quite simply, the race he belongs in. That's not to say he will win.......but if you owned him wouldn't that at least be your goal?
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Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB
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#16
06-01-2008, 10:45 AM
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As a helper, here's the list of Top 3yo Beyers: RTE: Big Brown CD 03 May 1 1/4M 109 Big Brown GP 05 Mar 1M 106 Big Brown GP 29 Mar 1 1/8M 106 Harlem Rocker AQU 26 Apr 1M 106 Gayego OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 103 Coal Play MTH 25 May 1M 70Y 102 Eight Belles (f) CD 03 May 1 1/4M 102 Recapturetheglory HAW 05 Apr 1 1/8M 102 Smooth Air TDN 31 May 1 1/8M 102 Z Fortune OP 12 Apr 1 1/8M 102 Casino Drive BEL 10 May 1 1/8M 101 Instill HAW 26 Apr 1 1/16M 101 J Be K AQU 26 Apr 1M 101 SPR: Motovato CRC 25 Apr 7F 111 Bob Black Jack SA 26 Jan 6F 109 Storm Mesa (f) LS 26 May 7F 108 Dancing in Silks HOL 27 Apr 6 1/2F 103 Gattopardo LRL 01 Mar 7F 103 Georgie Boy SA 10 Feb 7F 103 Gayego SA 20 Jan 6 1/2F 102 Mucho Macho BEL 17 May 6F 102 Informed Decision (f) KEE 11 Apr 6 1/2F 101 Jockey Ridge GP 18 Jan 6 1/2F 101 Lantana Mob PIM 17 May 6F 101 Lieutenant Ron AQU 06 Apr 7F 101 Zaftig (f) BEL 03 May 7F 101
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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#17
06-01-2008, 12:46 AM
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If Harlem Rocker doesnt get the distance up in Canada one would think that they might turn back and go for those 3 yr old sprints up at Saratoga. J Be K IMHO is much faster than Smooth Air. SO I guess Smooth Air would be running for 3rd. I am just not as impressed by others with Smooth Air. Todays race was pitiful as he faced a bunch of misfits. His other races are ok. I just dont see him stepping up to Grade I.
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#18
06-01-2008, 01:52 AM
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Still, if I had to put money down right now, I'd go with El Gato Malo once he's definitely exposed at races beyond a mile.
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#19
06-01-2008, 10:40 AM
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Though it is premature to even mention HR to great horses, I see alot of simularites in this mating as to the one with Ghostzapper. Ghostzapper was out of Baby Zip(who also produced City Zip) and sired by Awesome Again. Stamina on top and speed on the bottom pedigree, there was a time it was thought GZ might be stretched to go beyond his miler's pedigree but we all know what he did in the BC Classic. Which makes HR an exciting horse to follow with the possible simularities. Last edited by CSC : 06-01-2008 at 11:00 AM.
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