10/3 (MED): Meadowlands Cup H. (Gr. II)

RolloTomasi · #1 10-03-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Nice call guys. Makes you wonder about the other Headley horses that were very good on dirt and have been not so good on synthetic. Too bad he refuses to ship them.

In Headley's "defense", I don't think he cares for synthetics one bit. I wonder if he was younger, if he wouldn't start to ship his horses. Probably being defiant like the captain of a sinking ship or Charleton Heston or something.

Dutrow just said post-race that the horse will target the Clark.

Too bad, would have been interesting to see him in the BC Dirt Mile. That way, I could have figured out if the move up was cuz of the real dirt or cuz of Dutrow.

King Glorious · #2 10-04-2008, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

In Headley's "defense", I don't think he cares for synthetics one bit. I wonder if he was younger, if he wouldn't start to ship his horses. Probably being defiant like the captain of a sinking ship or Charleton Heston or something.

Dutrow just said post-race that the horse will target the Clark.

Too bad, would have been interesting to see him in the BC Dirt Mile. That way, I could have figured out if the move up was cuz of the real dirt or cuz of Dutrow.

How does Headley not caring for the synthetics affect how his horses run on them? If he has one that likes it, shouldn't it still be able to perform on it even if Headley hates it and vice versa?

RolloTomasi · #3 10-04-2008, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

How does Headley not caring for the synthetics affect how his horses run on them? If he has one that likes it, shouldn't it still be able to perform on it even if Headley hates it and vice versa?

That wasn't the point I was trying to make and it was only a minor point at that.

Bruce Headley was called out for not shipping his horses where they can run on conventional dirt. A valid question in the face of his struggle to maintain his previous rate of success, not to mention the specific stakes-calibur horses in his barn that seem to have lost their top form since the CA mandate.

I only suggested that the reason had nothing to do with his being satisfied/pleased with synthetic surfaces. He was actually one of the voices against its installation to begin with.

King Glorious · #4 10-04-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

That wasn't the point I was trying to make and it was only a minor point at that.

Bruce Headley was called out for not shipping his horses where they can run on conventional dirt. A valid question in the face of his struggle to maintain his previous rate of success, not to mention the specific stakes-calibur horses in his barn that seem to have lost their top form since the CA mandate.

I only suggested that the reason had nothing to do with his being satisfied/pleased with synthetic surfaces. He was actually one of the voices against its installation to begin with.

Ok gotcha. I agree with you too. Remember back when Surf Cat was a 3yo and there was talk about sending him to the Haskell? I remember laughing then about it knowing it was VERY unlikely and sure enough, Headley ended up keeping him home and running in the Pacific Classic. And this was when we still ran on dirt out here.

RolloTomasi · #5 10-04-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Ok gotcha. I agree with you too. Remember back when Surf Cat was a 3yo and there was talk about sending him to the Haskell? I remember laughing then about it knowing it was VERY unlikely and sure enough, Headley ended up keeping him home and running in the Pacific Classic. And this was when we still ran on dirt out here.

I think the only time he's shipped is for the BC, those being Bertrando, Lakota Brave, Son Of A Pistol, Kona Gold, and Kalookan Queen.

Actually, he also ran Dispersal's full brother Disposal in the Kentucky Derby with just 2 starts under his belt. It was the same year that Bertrando should have gone (but was injured), so I guess he's not even immune to Derby fever.

I think Disposal might have run once or twice more after his drubbing at Churchill.

GPK · #6 10-03-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I hear ya. It just seems like a no brainer. Doesn't he have assistants? Can't they ship with the horses? I know he has had his fair share of health problems. You make an intersting point in your last paragraph. Maybe it was a mixture of both.

Surf Cat is the one that is most interesting to me. He clearly doesnt not have that powerful stride he used to have and I have always wondered if it was the synthetic or the injuries he has had....or a combo of both.

RolloTomasi · #7 10-03-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPK

Surf Cat is the one that is most interesting to me. He clearly doesnt not have that powerful stride he used to have and I have always wondered if it was the synthetic or the injuries he has had....or a combo of both.

I thought Surf Cat's last 3 races were good, though I think he doesn't want to go further than 8.5f. He was solid in the San Diego, was in contention but didn't see out the 10f of the Pacific Classic, and made what I thought was a winning move in the Goodwood before hanging down the lane. His only poor efforts were when he was contesting the early pace (Oak Tree Mile and Californian). Certainly he hasn't been running indifferently on them the way Arson Squad was. I think he's interesting in the Dirt Mile if allowed to settle well off the pace.

I don't think he ever won a route race that had decent horses in it.

Going back to Arson Squad, and the Danzig turf discussion, I wonder if Headley wouldn't have held on to this horse if he moved him to the grass. His sire Brahms is by Danzig, and Arson Squad's only grass start was the La Jolla at Del Mar a couple of years ago. He was an even 4th, but I remember him being a little closer to the pace then usual and possibly stuck inside waiting for room on the turn. At the very least, the turf was worth another shot at some point.

RolloTomasi · #8 10-03-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I bet him that day. It is a little puzzling why he didn't get another shot, especially with all of the lackluster performances on the synthetic.

Yeah, I thought he'd crush that day, too. I thought it was just gravy that this horse happened to be a very good sprinter (see his first couple of starts) that could also stretch out.

Of course, at the time, I thought Brahms was going to be a big time sire.

He's in Louisiana now.

RolloTomasi · #9 10-03-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I hear ya. It just seems like a no brainer. Doesn't he have assistants? Can't they ship with the horses? I know he has had his fair share of health problems.

He ought to do something if he cares about his career (or his daughter's--his assistant), cuz how much longer will it be before his other owners begin to see the big picture.

In fact, this looks bad for every trainer in CA with "good" horses that don't put out.