7/12 (BEL): Man O' War (Gr. I)

Scav · #1 07-11-2008, 11:54 AM

Does he have to win to go to the Arc?

I would have to say yes

texarkana · #2 07-11-2008, 12:15 PM

Asmussen says "no":

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/46041.htm

Quote:

If everything works out in the Man o’ War, a race Asmussen said Curlin doesn’t have to win but has to “look the best,” the colt would likely prep for the Arc in the Prix Foy (Fra-III) at Longchamp.

Although I think it's pretty far-fetched to believe he could lose to a field of has beens and still look good enough to be considered Arc material.

Scav · #3 07-11-2008, 12:16 PM

Glad that ESPNews is showing it, going to have to find it somewhere in Wrigleyville after the Cubs game, I am sure Cubbie Bear will have it on somewhere.....

brockguy · #4 07-11-2008, 12:18 PM

he gets 4 pounds off red rocks, i reckon if RR runs his race, Curlin would have to beat him by about 10 lengths to be considered a challanger for the Arc..

ArlJim78 · #5 07-11-2008, 12:27 PM

i'm curious if they have a plan B, should he not look the best. they've already implied that the BC classic is not interesting, because winning it back to back has already been done.

Gate Dancer · #6 07-11-2008, 12:45 PM

Let's say his performance in the Manhattan is adequate but not scintillating. How about giving him a chance at the Breeders Cup Turf? The field shouldn't be as deep and he would have a chance to the have the only BC Classic/BC Turf double.

sumitas · #7 07-11-2008, 12:51 PM

I'm guessing he wins this race solidly.

ArlJim78 · #8 07-11-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gate Dancer

Let's say his performance in the Manhattan is adequate but not scintillating. How about giving him a chance at the Breeders Cup Turf? The field shouldn't be as deep and he would have a chance to the have the only BC Classic/BC Turf double.

i think you mean the Man o War, not the Manhattan.

I would say if he's only adequate in the Man O War, that's not going to cut it in the BC Turf either.

I mean I have no problem if they run him in these turf races, but they seem to be on a mission to prove his greatness, and to do something no other horse has done before, which to me means more than just acquiting himself well.

who knows.

texarkana · #9 07-11-2008, 12:56 PM

Didn't his connections toss around the idea of further international racing beyond France?

Should this weekend's turf experiement prove a colossal flop, they could always aim for something like the Japan Dirt Cup to increase his bankroll and international resume.

stonegossard · #10 07-11-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

Glad that ESPNews is showing it, going to have to find it somewhere in Wrigleyville after the Cubs game, I am sure Cubbie Bear will have it on somewhere.....

Go to Yaktzee's right across from the stadium. A good buddy of mine bartends there. They should be able to put ESPNews on a tv for ya.

Scav · #11 07-11-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonegossard

Go to Yaktzee's right across from the stadium. A good buddy of mine bartends there. They should be able to put ESPNews on a tv for ya.

What side of Addison, north or south? I have never heard of it, although I have probably been in it

miraja2 · #12 07-11-2008, 01:45 PM

What about the Woodward followed by the JCGC? Does that just make too much sense to even be considered or what?

I don't understand the fact that they want this horse to prove his greatness and yet at the same time want to avoid high weights. If he is as good as they seem to think, why not run him in some real handicap races?

I think the fact that they are trying him on turf is very interesting, but if it doesn't work out tomorrow (and I'm not completely sold on the fact that it will) why not return to dirt, spot the other contenders some weight and then try to beat them? It seemed to work out okay that way for top horses for about a century. Why couldn't it work for Curlin?

Thunder Gulch · #13 07-11-2008, 03:06 PM

Not necessarily win, but certainly must look like one of the best.

sumitas · #14 07-11-2008, 06:58 PM

A very interesting article on dirt to turf super stars here.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...emy&id=3479881

Scurlogue Champ · #15 07-11-2008, 08:14 PM

If he doesn't go to the front, get the lead with some sensible fractions, and fight them off at the end, there is no way he wins.

Sudan will wire this field.

When Better Talk Now and co. start running, Curlin won't know what to do.

Has to go to the front...

hockey2315 · #16 07-11-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scurlogue Champ

If he doesn't go to the front, get the lead with some sensible fractions, and fight them off at the end, there is no way he wins.

Sudan will wire this field.

When Better Talk Now and co. start running, Curlin won't know what to do.

Has to go to the front...

WTF are you talking about? For the record - I'm not handing Curlin the win - and I'll play against him - but this makes no sense. Sudan isn't wiring the field for two reasons: 1. he sucks and 2. Mission Approved. He won't get the easy lead he got at Golden Gate and Mission Approved won't get the easy lead he got at Woodbine - so neither of them can capitalize on a pace advantage to make up for a significant talent disadvantage. Better Talk Now is obviously over the hill (even though he'll be the one I'll bet because his last was ok) and Red Rocks appears to be as well but still has a shot. Grand Couturier needs :46 and 1:11 to win and won't get that and the Darley horse is slow and has never run a competitive race. If Curlin takes to the turf - which isn't definite - it would take a throw-back effort by one of the two BC winners for him to not win by daylight. Whether or not he wins will have little to nothing to do with how the race is run barring some unforeseen anomaly.

Mike · #17 07-11-2008, 08:30 PM

I'm looking forward to this race more than any race I can remember in my 10+ years of seriously following horse racing

I can't go against Curlin...so I'll throw him in a 3 horse tri-box with Red Rocks and Sudan

sumitas · #18 07-11-2008, 08:41 PM

Lava Man, as pointed out in the article, is the only horse since Vanlandingham in 1985, to win Grade 1s on dirt and turf. This is a huge race. The biggest since the Kentucky Derby (well, maybe tied with the Belmont S.).

Oaklawnfan · #19 07-11-2008, 09:02 PM

He's the best damn thing we've seen in a long while. While I'd like to bet against him. I can't.

Scurlogue Champ · #20 07-11-2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey2315

WTF are you talking about? For the record - I'm not handing Curlin the win - and I'll play against him - but this makes no sense. Sudan isn't wiring the field for two reasons: 1. he sucks and 2. Mission Approved. He won't get the easy lead he got at Golden Gate and Mission Approved won't get the easy lead he got at Woodbine - so neither of them can capitalize on a pace advantage to make up for a significant talent disadvantage. Better Talk Now is obviously over the hill (even though he'll be the one I'll bet because his last was ok) and Red Rocks appears to be as well but still has a shot. Grand Couturier needs :46 and 1:11 to win and won't get that and the Darley horse is slow and has never run a competitive race. If Curlin takes to the turf - which isn't definite - it would take a throw-back effort by one of the two BC winners for him to not win by daylight. Whether or not he wins will have little to nothing to do with how the race is run barring some unforeseen anomaly.

I'll bet you 20 bucks Sudan wins.

PM me