Saturdays Top Performers ?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I suppose he will still have license issues but the handicap division has never been more disgraceful than it may be this fall.

I suppose but there might be some improving 3YOs ( what if Mint Lane's for real? ) and it won't take much to beat Einstein.

God, I wonder what is going to line up for the Suburban.

[Cannon Shell]

I know sometimes we may be overly critical of crops and divisions and such things but this is really a totally talentless older horse division with one notable exception. I mean honestly who has any real ability besides Curlin? It is a collection of marginally talented knockarounds who show up once in a while and over the hill horses who were never really that good anyway. I guess some of the polymonsters can deflect the issue a bit but these older horses really suck.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Mint Lane isn't much.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Mint Lane isn't much.

You're preaching to the choir....but where the hell did his race Friday come from?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

You're preaching to the choir....but where the hell did his race Friday come from?

I think there were a lot of smoke and mirrors with his performance Friday.

It was a trip very similar to the one that yielded a 119 Beyer for Commentator and a 118 Beyer for Monterary Jazz - all allowed a free ride on an uncontested lead through very moderate fractions going a middle distance.

[jcs11204]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I think there were a lot of smoke and mirrors with his performance Friday.

It was a trip very similar to the one that yielded a 119 Beyer for Commentator and a 118 Beyer for Monterary Jazz - all allowed a free ride on an uncontested lead through very moderate fractions going a middle distance.

can we please never ever compare commentator to mint lane

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I was comparing similar trips they had - he ran 13 points (7 lengths at that distance) faster than Mint Lane in the two races being compared

[jcs11204]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I was comparing similar trips they had - he ran 13 points (7 lengths at that distance) faster than Mint Lane in the two races being compared

ic... now that we are talking about commentator, whats next ? the whitney ?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I was comparing similar trips they had - he ran 13 points (7 lengths at that distance) faster than Mint Lane in the two races being compared

Please don't encourage him.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I think there were a lot of smoke and mirrors with his performance Friday.

It was a trip very similar to the one that yielded a 119 Beyer for Commentator and a 118 Beyer for Monterary Jazz - all allowed a free ride on an uncontested lead through very moderate fractions going a middle distance.

I understand, but when you consider how slow the track was playing I'm not so sure the pace was moderate at all. But, a lot of races during the week were reasonably fast early and slow late so you might be right.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I understand, but when you consider how slow the track was playing I'm not so sure the pace was moderate at all. But, a lot of races during the week were reasonably fast early and slow late so you might be right.

His expected pace rival didn't break well - and visually they all appeared well within themselves.

The half mile fraction in an MSW race for fillies an hour earlier went a full second faster to the half mile - but that race did fracture and a 32/1 shot who was last after a half did win. Maybe I'm wrong about the pace being very slow - but that's how it seemed to me on first impression.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

His expected pace rival didn't break well - and visually they all appeared well within themselves.

The half mile fraction in an MSW race for fillies an hour earlier went a full second faster to the half mile - but that race did fracture and a 32/1 shot who was last after a half did win. Maybe I'm wrong about the pace being very slow - but that's how it seemed to me on first impression.

It's tricky. I'm not even sure you can compare the mile and 1 1/16th races so readily. However, I tend to agree with your initial comment the more I think about it, if for no other reason than disagreeing makes the performance even more puzzling. As is, it's a tough one to swallow.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I think there were a lot of smoke and mirrors with his performance Friday.

It was a trip very similar to the one that yielded a 119 Beyer for Commentator and a 118 Beyer for Monterary Jazz - all allowed a free ride on an uncontested lead through very moderate fractions going a middle distance.

I dunno how moderate those fractions were.

[jcs11204]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I dunno how moderate those fractions were.

do we really care about mint lane ? and if hes so good, then what is casino drive ? the best horse in the world ?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by jcs11204

do we really care about mint lane ? and if hes so good, then what is casino drive ? the best horse in the world ?

Yeah, because that totally has to be the case if Mint Lane turns out to be good. I care about Mint Lane. You don't have to, but considering your tendency to fall in love with every horse that wins a three-year-old stakes, it's interesting that you don't care about a horse that blew a 106 Beyer.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I dunno how moderate those fractions were.

Every horse was under mild restraint and MSW fillies went a full second faster to the half earlier in the card.

If the figure is to be believed - the horse that impressed me in there was Unbridled's Heart. I was a little skeptical of him - but if the fig is true he's pretty good.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Every horse was under mild restraint and MSW fillies went a full second faster to the half earlier in the card.

If the figure is to be believed - the horse that impressed me in there was Unbridled's Heart. I was a little skeptical of him - but if the fig is true he's pretty good.

Yeah, and that led to a near last-to-first winner at 32-1.

Plus in the other two dirt races, the fractions were VERY slow, and the track had been playing slowly for days.

I'm not saying he flew, but I'd call his pace quicker than average.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

God, I wonder what is going to line up for the Suburban.

I was trying to figure that out the other day and the best horses I could come up with were AP Arrow and Sir Whimsey. Then I vomited.