10/25 (BC): Turf; Mile; Turf Sprint (Final)

Handicappy · #1 10-15-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Mile:

Lord Admiral - C. O'Brien
Kip Deville – Dutrow
Goldikova - Head (1)
Whatsthescript – Sadler
Precious Kitten – Frankel
Thorn Song – Romans
Bold Chieftain – Morey
War Monger – Mott
Daytona – Hendricks
Shakis – McLaughlin
Raven’s Pass – Gosden (1)
US Ranger - O'Brien
Ventura - Frankel (2)
Awesome Gem (2)

I really think a key factor to consider is that Kiaran actually went to Sheik Hamdan and encouraged him to supplement. He is no fool around a horses' potential. Shakis is really moving well at the moment and will be running his last race before a wonderful retirement at Shadwell. If he can get a fairly firm turf track, he'll be coming in the stretch.

hockey2315 · #2 10-15-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handicappy

I really think a key factor to consider is that Kiaran actually went to Sheik Hamdan and encouraged him to supplement. He is no fool around a horses' potential. Shakis is really moving well at the moment and will be running his last race before a wonderful retirement at Shadwell. If he can get a fairly firm turf track, he'll be coming in the stretch.

Are you sure about this? . . Personally I was completely unimpressed by his last two. . .

Handicappy · #3 10-15-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Are you sure about this? . . Personally I was completely unimpressed by his last two. . .

Unimpressed! He won the BBaruck with a strong turn of foot blowing by the field in the stretch. He was coming against brown and Proudinski on a very soft surface he usually hates at Monmouth. But even if you weren't impressed. Don't dismiss him outright. Mclaughlin seldom makes bad decisions about his horses. He's entered 4 horses in the past two years in the Breeders Cup and won two. And he would have won a third if Henny didn't spin his wheels at Churchill after he gave the rest of the horses their usual 1/2 length advantage. And a forth if Monmouth's Turf course wasn't a bog for Lear's Princess. He doesn't run them if he doesn't think they can win. And Shakis is fit and ready to run. Worth a look that's for sure.

hockey2315 · #4 10-15-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handicappy

Unimpressed! He won the BBaruck with a strong turn of foot blowing by the field in the stretch. He was coming against brown and Proudinski on a very soft surface he usually hates at Monmouth. But even if you weren't impressed. Don't dismiss him outright. Mclaughlin seldom makes bad decisions about his horses. He's entered 4 horses in the past two years in the Breeders Cup and won two. And he would have won a third if Henny didn't spin his wheels at Churchill after he gave the rest of the horses their usual 1/2 length advantage. And a forth if Monmouth's Turf course wasn't a bog for Lear's Princess. He doesn't run them if he doesn't think they can win. And Shakis is fit and ready to run. Worth a look that's for sure.

Umm he also ran at Keeneland. . . His last two were the Monmouth Stakes - where he had no excuse in the stretch - and the Shadwell Turf Mile - I can't remember his performance there but it wasn't great. AND I'm pretty sure he ran there because of the owners - so KMc doesn't always choose his horse's spots. His Baruch was nice - but also at his favorite track and not at a mile. Shakis will almost certainly be an underlay. . .

Hoss is right about the rest of that garbage. . .

Kasept · #5 10-15-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey2315

and the Shadwell Turf Mile - I can't remember his performance there but it wasn't great. AND I'm pretty sure he ran there because of the owners - so KMc doesn't always choose his horse's spots. .

He just missed behind Thorn Song.

hockey2315 · #6 10-15-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

He just missed behind Thorn Song.

Thanks Steve. . . but I'm still not crazy about his chances. . . There will be better horses in the BC than Thorn Song.

CSC · #7 10-16-2008, 09:13 AM

Goldikova's european form is very strong.

asudevil · #8 10-22-2008, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

He just missed behind Thorn Song.

Needs another 70 yards

Handicappy · #9 10-15-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Are you serious with most of this? First off, Lear's Princess ran in the Distaff last year, not on the grass. Henny hughes would have won the sprint in '06? That's a pretty far stretch I think.

I meant the dirt course. And, a far stretch for Henny? Did you see that horse that year? He dominated every field he was in. Went off as the favorite in the Breeder's Cup. He lost the race on the break. But my point was he wasn't running the horse without having a good sense of his capability. He enters to win. I don't think he would go out on a limb with Shiek unless he had a very good idea that Shakis was rounding into form.

Handicappy · #10 10-21-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Don't they all enter to win for the most part? Shakis belongs in the race I suppose, I just don't think he has a shot.

I know. I do think he has a shot. It will be a firm turf course which he loves and they have him ready to run what will be his final race before going to Shadwell. It will be interesting and he will be running in the stretch.