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

[RolloTomasi]

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.