Watched Flower Alley work this morning

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

The point wasn't about Bluegrass Cat. At least Bluegrass Cat has actually had a gutcheck. Bernardini hasn't and that's what Mike was saying. IF he can handle running next to someone in the lane, then he wins for fun, but whose to say he can handle running next to someone down the stretch?

AT least someone gets the point of it. Dalakhani never gets points because he too busy just trying to shoot people down rather than EVER add something of interest of a ticket that people can make money on.
Bluegrass Cat was a mediocre horse until his last race, I think I described him as such right here many times. I've never been a big Bluegrass Cat fan or supporter.
Thats why when i saw the Haskell I just couldnt believe what I was seeing, I really couldnt. That was a completely different animal mentally then the one I saw before. I was wondering if they made a mistake and mixed up the halters in the Whitney the day before and ran FA in the Haskell.
The horse had never shown good speed before and had not been so settled and controllable. He had always run in spots before, not always mentally focused on his race at all times. He always had to be ridden very hard to get postion or run down the lane.
In the Haskell he was keen early, settled exactly when asked afterhe got position, and then responded under no urging to enagage the leader and when set down in the lane switched leads on cue and took off like a jet plane. That was a breakthrough race for him and I think that the lightbulb finally went on over his head. He gets it now, and certainly acted like a horse who not only enjoyed what he was doing but knew what he was supposed to do as well.
His workout the other day was anxiously awaited by everyone to see if the lightbulb had indeed stayed on or if it was perhaps a fluke. The clocker/extrainer I sat next to turned to me after the workout and said "Son, did you see that?! Lemme tell you what son, that was the work of the MEET and I seen em all!!!!". I think hes mentally awoken and perhaps had much more talent than I ever gave him credit for. Quite frankly I thought he always got too much hype because of his trainer and the fact that he was by Storm Cat. This is a dynamic game, and we are allowed to change our opinions based on what we see develop. I think he can win this Saturday.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by oracle80

AT least someone gets the point of it. Dalakhani never gets points because he too busy just trying to shoot people down rather than EVER add something of interest of a ticket that people can make money on.
Bluegrass Cat was a mediocre horse until his last race, I think I described him as such right here many times. I've never been a big Bluegrass Cat fan or supporter.
Thats why when i saw the Haskell I just couldnt believe what I was seeing, I really couldnt. That was a completely different animal mentally then the one I saw before. I was wondering if they made a mistake and mixed up the halters in the Whitney the day before and ran FA in the Haskell.
The horse had never shown good speed before and had not been so settled and controllable. He had always run in spots before, not always mentally focused on his race at all times. He always had to be ridden very hard to get postion or run down the lane.
In the Haskell he was keen early, settled exactly when asked afterhe got position, and then responded under no urging to enagage the leader and when set down in the lane switched leads on cue and took off like a jet plane. That was a breakthrough race for him and I think that the lightbulb finally went on over his head. He gets it now, and certainly acted like a horse who not only enjoyed what he was doing but knew what he was supposed to do as well.
His workout the other day was anxiously awaited by everyone to see if the lightbulb had indeed stayed on or if it was perhaps a fluke. The clocker/extrainer I sat next to turned to me after the workout and said "Son, did you see that?! Lemme tell you what son, that was the work of the MEET and I seen em all!!!!". I think hes mentally awoken and perhaps had much more talent than I ever gave him credit for. Quite frankly I thought he always got too much hype because of his trainer and the fact that he was by Storm Cat. This is a dynamic game, and we are allowed to change our opinions based on what we see develop. I think he can win this Saturday.

Mike, I'm going to take your word on BG's work because I didn't see it myself. Question though... what were your thoughts on the Haskell while BC was in the paddock and post parade? I thought for sure he was going to blow it because he was so washed, but he proved me wrong. Do you think the fact that he was as washed as he was will have any affect on the Travers?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Mike, I'm going to take your word on BG's work because I didn't see it myself. Question though... what were your thoughts on the Haskell while BC was in the paddock and post parade? I thought for sure he was going to blow it because he was so washed, but he proved me wrong. Do you think the fact that he was as washed as he was will have any affect on the Travers?

Pletcher says he is one of few horses that you want to bet with both fists if he is on his toes and "washed" up. Before the Bluegrass he was as calm as can be and we all know how he ran that day.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Pletcher says he is one of few horses that you want to bet with both fists if he is on his toes and "washed" up. Before the Bluegrass he was as calm as can be and we all know how he ran that day.

Damn, that would have been nice to know on Haskell day. LOL

[KY_Sasquash]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Damn, that would have been nice to know on Haskell day. LOL

he was even worse in the Derby post parade.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by KY_Sasquash

he was even worse in the Derby post parade.

It may have helped if had watched him in the post parade. He screwed up my tri. (Well, I screwed up my tri, but whatever.) I had Barbaro to win, Steppy to place and Showing Up to SHOW UP.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by KY_Sasquash

he was even worse in the Derby post parade.

Yes, I remember that very well because I couldn't believe that the horse ran so well.

Someone also said he wasn't washed out at Keeneland? All the horses were washed out on Bluegrass day because I remember it being incredibly hot. Most even had sweat dripping off of them. I really don't think BCG took to the track that day.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by KY_Sasquash

he was even worse in the Derby post parade.

where he beat everyone except barbaro!!

also, to those who think/have posted that bernardini wins 'for fun' or 'by open lengths' against older, please keep in mind that secretariat, felt by many to be the best of the entire 20th century, went 1 for 3 against older. it's not that easy. a good four year old beats a good three year old. it remains to be seen what bernardini can accomplish against more mature colts.

and as for his jim dandy showing what he can do....two words--bellamy road. and if you're reply to that is but look what bernardini did in the preakness, that race fell apart. and again, look at bellamy roads last before the wood. his average margin of victory before faltering in the derby was over 16 lengths. and that's just one example. there are PLENTY more. please don't call him great until he finally shows he is. and if you think i'm too hard on him, who i enjoy like hell seeing race, he's been nothing short of amazing so far, just remember that i never bestowed the term 'great' on ghostzapper! take a lot of heat for that, but the guy didn't run enough. great should only be given to those who show they truly are. give bernardini time. please enjoy him, i do...but wait a while to call him great. he won't mind.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

where he beat everyone except barbaro!!

also, to those who think/have posted that bernardini wins 'for fun' or 'by open lengths' against older, please keep in mind that secretariat, felt by many to be the best of the entire 20th century, went 1 for 3 against older. it's not that easy. a good four year old beats a good three year old. it remains to be seen what bernardini can accomplish against more mature colts.

and as for his jim dandy showing what he can do....two words--bellamy road. and if you're reply to that is but look what bernardini did in the preakness, that race fell apart. and again, look at bellamy roads last before the wood. his average margin of victory before faltering in the derby was over 16 lengths. and that's just one example. there are PLENTY more. please don't call him great until he finally shows he is. and if you think i'm too hard on him, who i enjoy like hell seeing race, he's been nothing short of amazing so far, just remember that i never bestowed the term 'great' on ghostzapper! take a lot of heat for that, but the guy didn't run enough. great should only be given to those who show they truly are. give bernardini time. please enjoy him, i do...but wait a while to call him great. he won't mind.

I agree, Danzig.

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Pletcher says he is one of few horses that you want to bet with both fists if he is on his toes and "washed" up. Before the Bluegrass he was as calm as can be and we all know how he ran that day.

Hes a Storm Cat with that hot blood. I guess I don't know how to gauge him based on that. I do know that Saratoga is his home and that walking over fro Todd's barn at Oklahoma will be lots easier than it was to ship to Monmouth. Todd's awesome about paddock schooling as well and I expect to see him at least once this week in the paddock, maybe twice. Todd leaves nothing to chance. Like all great profesionals he addresses every detail and tries to make much of his own luck.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by oracle80

Hes a Storm Cat with that hot blood. I guess I don't know how to gauge him based on that. I do know that Saratoga is his home and that walking over fro Todd's barn at Oklahoma will be lots easier than it was to ship to Monmouth. Todd's awesome about paddock schooling as well and I expect to see him at least once this week in the paddock, maybe twice. Todd leaves nothing to chance. Like all great profesionals he addresses every detail and tries to make much of his own luck.

So how many Pletcher Boobleheads did you spin for anyway?!?!

(I'm only joking, but you've got some goo-goo fest going over him)

Originally Posted by Sightseek

So how many Pletcher Boobleheads did you spin for anyway?!?!

(I'm only joking, but you've got some goo-goo fest going over him)

I didnt take any.
I admire Todd because hes only one year older than I am and what he has accomplished is incredible. I also like trainers that try very hard at all times and that you can count on as having done their very best with a horse to get it to win.