3/7 (SA): SA H. (Gr. I); Kilroe (Gr. I); SA Oaks (Gr. I); Honest Lady (L)

[Kasept]

BIG CAP ML:

1. Matto Mondo, Rafael Bejarano, 116, 6-1;
2. Cowboy Cal, John Velazquez, 120, 5-1;
3. Heroi Do Bafra, Michael Baze, 111, 30-1;
4. Monba, Edgar Prado, 114, 15-1;
5. Colonel John, Garrett Gomez, 119, 9-2;
6. Magnum, Joel Rosario, 116, 12-1;
7. Blue Exit, Robby Albarado, 115, 12-1;
8. Einstein, Julien Leparoux, 121, 6-1;
9. Dansant, Tyler Baze, 116, 20-1;
10. Cause, Jon Court, 110, 30-1;
11. Court Vision, Ramon Dominguez, 119, 6-1;
12. Zambezi Sun, Victor Espinoza, 116, 12-1;
13. Champs Elysees, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 118, 12-1,
14. Stream Cat, Alex Solis, 114, 20-1.

[Indian Charlie]

Colonel John is the ML fave!?

WOW.

Artard.

[2 Dollar Bill]

Originally Posted by Kasept

BIG CAP ML:

1. Matto Mondo, Rafael Bejarano, 116, 6-1;
2. Cowboy Cal, John Velazquez, 120, 5-1;
3. Heroi Do Bafra, Michael Baze, 111, 30-1;
4. Monba, Edgar Prado, 114, 15-1;
5. Colonel John, Garrett Gomez, 119, 9-2;
6. Magnum, Joel Rosario, 116, 12-1;
7. Blue Exit, Robby Albarado, 115, 12-1;
8. Einstein, Julien Leparoux, 121, 6-1;
9. Dansant, Tyler Baze, 116, 20-1;
10. Cause, Jon Court, 110, 30-1;
11. Court Vision, Ramon Dominguez, 119, 6-1;
12. Zambezi Sun, Victor Espinoza, 116, 12-1;
13. Champs Elysees, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 118, 12-1,
14. Stream Cat, Alex Solis, 114, 20-1.

Looks like some can be made here !

[tiznowthegreat]

Love Zambezi Sun here. If he goes off at 10-1 I will unload.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by tiznowthegreat

Love Zambezi Sun here. If he goes off at 10-1 I will unload.

Better make sure he brings his brain this time.

[declansharbor]

Originally Posted by monipenny

I really like Monba in here.

Care to elaborate? I just don't see it, unless of course you're joking.

[ateamstupid]

That's some group of giants they're giving away $1 million to.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

That's some group of giants they're giving away $1 million to.

well said..

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by monipenny

. Giving up the ride on Imperial Council was no easy decision for Frieze and Prado to make, but they will roll w/ there decision.

I would guess that Prado was committed to coming to California even before Imperial Council was pointing to the Gotham.
And even if all things were equal, he's not going to give up mounts on Big Cap day where there's 3 Grade 1 races and plenty of opportunites to earn money, to go to NY to run in a Grade 3 derby prep in early March with a horse that doesn't have any graded earnings as of yet.

[Mike]

I guess my Dansant/Zambezi Sun exacta box will be paying more than I imagined

[eajinabi]

Monba did not run smoothly in the Thunder Road. He was asked to run early and was pushed hard by his jock even though it was a fast pace in front of him. He grinded out that last furloung on determination alone.

That does not mean he is a toss out. I believe he will relish the surface and distance but his best races are done on or near the pace. Is Prado smart enough to do realize that?

[King Glorious]

Matto Mondo
Court Vision
Zambezi Sun

Ventura
Gio Ponti
Artiste Royal

Stardom Bound
Acronym
Beltene

[Bobby Fischer]

Magnum
Stream Cat
Einstein

Monba should run a solid race. Pletcher is no longer an auto-toss, and this is a fairly strong horse. I usually don't like a barns "B" horse, but this is a big enough race that it doesn't really matter.

Deep race with no obvious standout. If I wanted to hit the exacta for almost certain, I would need to box 8.
Of those 8 the longshot is 20-1 Stream Cat, who figures to grind his way past most of the rivals in the late stages.
The lowest ml price who I would exclude from my exacta would be 9-2 Colonel John, who finds life much more difficult facing actual older male turf horses who are suited to the track, than a potpurri of mediocre west coast 3yos.

[letswastemoney]

I would have thought Einstein would have been ML favorite. He probably will be the final odds favorite.

[Habersham000]

Originally Posted by monipenny

Actually I would be hard pressed not to believe Pletcher is almost being blamed for a conflict of interest w/ both Cowboy Cal and Monba in the same race. Thank the lord above they are uncoupled in the wagering for the Big Cap on Saturday. Cowboy Cal had a lot of sentimental reasons for being the only horse that Stonerside kept after selling the farm in Ky and almost every single broodmare and horses racing and in training. Does that mean the racing world rolls over for a feel good guy like McNair to win a $1,000,000 race- No Way. But Monba I can asure is not second fiddle to anyone in here. If anything it's the other way around as Monba w/ edgar easily dispatched of Cowbay Cal in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Which I believe was Monba's best race to date and Edgar really fits this horse also. Also, McNair HAD to liquidate his assets to buy out his partner for full rights to the Houston Texans. Starlight Partners are much more involved in the game then McNair is or maybe will be in the future. So I believe Pletcher is acting in the best interests of both parties. And while I believe IMO that Monba will prove to be best in the Big Cap that's why I love to watch and wager on horse racing.

I know they also kept Stonesider who stands at Highcliff in New York...who is honestly one of the most beautiful horses I have ever seen in person....Anyway I love Blue Exit here, 3rd off layoff, had a rough trip last race and only lost 3/4 of a length to Cowboy Cal. He likes the SA pro-ride surface. He has worked back 3 times since his last race. I think he could upset this field.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by monipenny

Actually I would be hard pressed not to believe Pletcher is almost being blamed for a conflict of interest w/ both Cowboy Cal and Monba in the same race. Thank the lord above they are uncoupled in the wagering for the Big Cap on Saturday. Cowboy Cal had a lot of sentimental reasons for being the only horse that Stonerside kept after selling the farm in Ky and almost every single broodmare and horses racing and in training. Does that mean the racing world rolls over for a feel good guy like McNair to win a $1,000,000 race- No Way. But Monba I can asure is not second fiddle to anyone in here. If anything it's the other way around as Monba w/ edgar easily dispatched of Cowbay Cal in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Which I believe was Monba's best race to date and Edgar really fits this horse also. Also, McNair HAD to liquidate his assets to buy out his partner for full rights to the Houston Texans. Starlight Partners are much more involved in the game then McNair is or maybe will be in the future. So I believe Pletcher is acting in the best interests of both parties. And while I believe IMO that Monba will prove to be best in the Big Cap that's why I love to watch and wager on horse racing.

Oh yea. It is a blessing to all those planning on using Monba, that they remain uncoupled. I don't necessarily think Monba is worse than Cowboy Cal, although the public clearly does. Cowboy Cal is a very good horse from a mile up to about 9 furlongs on the synthetic, especially if it is playing to speed. However 10 furlongs is going to take a lot of heart for him. I like Monba slightly better for win and place, and much beter for 3rd and 4th. Would like to see him run well.

Einstein really ran a big race last time, and there is a big temptation to feature him because of the public probably missing that he was probably best in the Donn. Einstein is probably also the answer of "Who is the best older turf horse in this race?" - which is usually the question that leads to the key horse in a 10 furlong synthetic race.

Magnum was the most impressive visually of all last out.