Jan 24th at GP just keeps looking weirder and weirder

[miraja2]

Very interesting post by DrugS....but I have a question (perhaps a stupid one) regarding the Dunkirk part of it. I didn't use Dunkirk in his race on Thursday either, but is the 20 point jump really that shocking given that it was only the colt's second race? Is it possible that his much faster race the second time is the result of him actually being a much better horse at that point than he was on 1/24, rather than a track issue on that day?
Also, wouldn't we expect a colt with his pedigree to post faster numbers going two turns and 8.5f than he did going one turn and 7f? Add in the fact that his trainer has truly outstanding sprint/route and 1st time route numbers, and perhaps his major improvement is even more predictable.
Then, as you said, the other two runners from that race that have run back big (Santana Six and Ziegfeld) were both tremendously compromised by the pace that day. I know their jumps in Beyer #s were enormous, but if the pace meltdown due to a three-way battle was a big part of it, than is that good evidence of something being done to the track after their race?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I didn't use Dunkirk in his race on Thursday either, but is the 20 point jump really that shocking given that it was only the colt's second race?

IMO yes. 98 is the fastest Beyer any horse in this entire crop has run in there 2nd career start and going a distance beyond 6fs. And it flirts awful close with the magical 100 number ... which only six Derby starters have done in the last 6 years ... 3 of them subsequently winning the Derby, two finishing 2nd, and the other being Showing Up.

Originally Posted by miraja2

Is it possible that his much faster race the second time is the result of him actually being a much better horse at that point than he was on 1/24, rather than a track issue on that day?

Even if you ignore Beyers 100% - he ran light years better than he did the last time.

Last time - his main competition in the race were involved in a vicous pace battle through wicked fractions and he rated off of them - and won in a race where the final 3/8ths were almost 40 seconds flat.

In start #2 he was caught out tremendously wide going into that first turn by Prado - who abandon the mount but still felt the need to race ride him. Inspite of that he beat the field with disdainful ease. Obviously he had a right to improve some 2nd time out ... but that was serious improvement.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Even if you ignore Beyers 100% - he ran light years better than he did the last time.

No question, and if a horse improved that much at any other time in his career, it would obviously be extremely strange. To me it just seems far less strange given that the jump came between his first and second lifetime starts, and also came with a significant stretchout to a distance he was likely to prefer.
Of course, I didn't think any of this before the race, so this is obviously just me searching for an explanation after the fact....but to me it doesn't seem THAT odd for him to have improved a great deal given these circumstances. Although, as you point out, the improvement appears to have been quite enormous....so who knows.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by miraja2

No question, and if a horse improved that much at any other time in his career, it would obviously be extremely strange. To me it just seems far less strange given that the jump came between his first and second lifetime starts, and also came with a significant stretchout to a distance he was likely to prefer.
Of course, I didn't think any of this before the race, so this is obviously just me searching for an explanation after the fact....but to me it doesn't seem THAT odd for him to have improved a great deal given these circumstances. Although, as you point out, the improvement appears to have been quite enormous....so who knows.

Yeah - I'd never call that a suspicious improvement. Any horse is capable of exploding or deflating in just career start #2.

I'm just suspicious about the Beyers that day. It appears either the numbers for the early part of the card might be slower than they should be ... or TOFP and YLM actually might have run better than the 116 would indicate.

[ArlJim78]

I'd say yes the beyers may have been low that first time. The second start by Dunkirk was solid by all accounts.

also, Georgie Boy looks like a new animal now and I'm not sure if he's only a sprinter either.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I'd say yes the beyers may have been low that first time. The second start by Dunkirk was solid by all accounts.

also, Georgie Boy looks like a new animal now and I'm not sure if he's only a sprinter either.

This is because Walsh went old school on him and let him work himself into shape. 7f and 8f are probably his best distances, have to think they have the BC Sprint circled with him also.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Georgie Boy was in awesome form before she backed off and gave him all the time.

He was by far the best 3yo in So Cal during the Derby prep season imo - and I know he will route well - because he already has.

I just thought both of his two comeback races this year weren't much at all. And his last two wins ... while clear-cut and all in important races - I think they weren't a great deal either.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

IMO yes. 98 is the fastest Beyer any horse in this entire crop has run in there 2nd career start and going a distance beyond 6fs. And it flirts awful close with the magical 100 number ... which only six Derby starters have done in the last 6 years ... 3 of them subsequently winning the Derby, two finishing 2nd, and the other being Showing Up.




Even if you ignore Beyers 100% - he ran light years better than he did the last time.

Last time - his main competition in the race were involved in a vicous pace battle through wicked fractions and he rated off of them - and won in a race where the final 3/8ths were almost 40 seconds flat.

In start #2 he was caught out tremendously wide going into that first turn by Prado - who abandon the mount but still felt the need to race ride him. Inspite of that he beat the field with disdainful ease. Obviously he had a right to improve some 2nd time out ... but that was serious improvement.

If Edgar took off Dunkirk because he thought Alma D' Oro was better, he really don't know what he has underneath him. Funny that a rider opts off the horse that the leading rider in the counrty flies coast to coast to ride in an N1X ALW.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

If Edgar took off Dunkirk because he thought Alma D' Oro was better, he really don't know what he has underneath him. Funny that a rider opts off the horse that the leading rider in the counrty flies coast to coast to ride in an N1X ALW.

Prado has been horrible. Prado off angle is slowly becoming considered alot more....

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by Scav

Prado has been horrible. Prado off angle is slowly becoming considered alot more....

I have to wonder if Prado was given the opportunity to ride him back, given the Kamikazi mission he went on going into the clubhouse turn.

Then My first inclination was that it was Dutrow's idea. Who knows..

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

If Edgar took off Dunkirk because he thought Alma D' Oro was better, he really don't know what he has underneath him. Funny that a rider opts off the horse that the leading rider in the counrty flies coast to coast to ride in an N1X ALW.

Isn't Alma a Dutrow horse who Prado is essentially the main man for?