Dunkirk

justindew · #1 03-28-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

Racing purists like yourself (supposedly) sure think it is an important race

I'm sure when Tabor and co. plunked down $3.7MM for Dunkirk they were thinking "this is our elusive Preakness horse, and he will avenge Thunder Gulch's loss."

Look, all I'm saying is that I think Dunkirk can make the Derby in a healthy way with one more start. And it would be a shame if he didn't make the field. I would run him in either the Derby Trial, Withers, or Lexington, in that order.

Scav · #2 03-28-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justindew

I'm sure when Tabor and co. plunked down $3.7MM for Dunkirk they were thinking "this is our elusive Preakness horse, and he will avenge Thunder Gulch's loss."

Look, all I'm saying is that I think Dunkirk can make the Derby in a healthy way with one more start. And it would be a shame if he didn't make the field. I would run him in either the Derby Trial, Withers, or Lexington, in that order.

Most ridiculous, ridiculous, least ridiculous

DT: yeah, 2 races in 7 days, 16 furlongs, yeah, that is smart
Withers: Go from Florida, to New York, have to hit the board, then ship to KY.
Lexington: the most logical because of the 20 day spacing between the two, less amount of shipping also

justindew · #3 03-28-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

Most ridiculous, ridiculous, least ridiculous

DT: yeah, 2 races in 7 days, 16 furlongs, yeah, that is smart
Withers: Go from Florida, to New York, have to hit the board, then ship to KY.
Lexington: the most logical because of the 20 day spacing between the two, less amount of shipping also

DT: I mean, I hate to sound like a broken record, but Don't Get Mad did it. Could also serve as a prep for the Preakness is they decide to skip the Derby. And it's at CD, where he'll be.

Withers: Isn't this usually a small field though?

Lexington: Bigger field, and new surface.

Scav · #4 03-28-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justindew

DT: I mean, I hate to sound like a broken record, but Don't Get Mad did it. Could also serve as a prep for the Preakness is they decide to skip the Derby. And it's at CD, where he'll be.

Withers: Isn't this usually a small field though?

Lexington: Bigger field, and new surface.

1 f'n horse in the last whatever years

Antitrust32 · #5 03-29-2009, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justindew

DT: I mean, I hate to sound like a broken record, but Don't Get Mad did it. Could also serve as a prep for the Preakness is they decide to skip the Derby. And it's at CD, where he'll be.

Withers: Isn't this usually a small field though?

Lexington: Bigger field, and new surface.

I kinda understand your reasoning... but Dont get Mad didnt even hit the board. finished 4th as a big longshot (and I did pick him in a RTIP contest in my top 5). He isnt a good example. Dunkirk isnt running for 4th.

Travis Stone · #6 03-29-2009, 03:06 PM

Dunkirk is going straight to the Super Derby (Sep. 19), with a prep in the Super Derby Prelude on Saturday, August 15. Todd will not be attending the Alabama at Saratoga that weekend and will instead enjoy a nice afternoon of racing from the Sky Room on the fourth floor of Louisiana Downs. If he's lucky, ntamm1215 will make a cameo handicapping appearance and give Todd some tips himself at no cost.

#7 03-28-2009, 11:40 PM

I think they should put him on the shelf until the JCGC. He looked awful tired and depressed heading back to the barn.

Antitrust32 · #8 03-29-2009, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I think they should put him on the shelf until the JCGC. He looked awful tired and depressed heading back to the barn.

he was pissed that the track was souped for front runners.

AeWingnut · #9 03-29-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I think they should put him on the shelf until the JCGC. He looked awful tired and depressed heading back to the barn.

Did they have to hose him down or did they just want to?

Either way he didn't look like a monster to me.

Pletcher had no reason to believe the track was going to be groomed to track record conditions. That was a bullcrud War Emblem thing to do.

Kasept · #10 03-29-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

Did they have to hose him down or did they just want to?

Either way he didn't look like a monster to me.

Pletcher had no reason to believe the track was going to be groomed to track record conditions. That was a bullcrud War Emblem thing to do.

Most of the horses were getting hosed down yesterday. It was very warm and pretty humid.

The track was fast... It's Gulfstream Park. It's almost always a very fast track. It was not a ridiculously souped-up track, records or not.

johnny pinwheel · #11 03-29-2009, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Most of the horses were getting hosed down yesterday. It was very warm and pretty humid.

The track was fast... It's Gulfstream Park. It's almost always a very fast track. It was not a ridiculously souped-up track, records or not.

i agree, that track is always fast unless it rains. plus the race was not even close. johnny was looking around ( the wrong side for a second) waiting on the closers, once he shook that horse and turned him loose it was all she wrote. it was not like he won by a neck, the margin of victory was decisive. dunkirk was clearly overmatched yesterday. what do these people expect it was his third start and he was in the florida derby. this is not last year, these horses are fast, he did well to get second.

Bobby Fischer · #12 03-29-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Clearly overmatched?

Face it Dahoss...
It was a horrible performance.

Pletcher had no business running that bum.

HaloWishingwell · #13 03-29-2009, 09:02 AM

Heard Pletcher during the interview mention that had he known the track was going to be so souped up he would have scratched and waited for the Wood Memorial. First off doesn't Gulfstream have the tendency to do this for big races anyway. Secondly wasn't he watching the races as they were happening. Obviously he was concerned as it was with QUALITY ROAD'S speed so with the current track condition, why didn't he scratch?

justindew · #14 03-28-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

You're being silly now. I understand what you are saying, but it's just not realistic, no matter how many times you say it. Because they plunked down the 3.7 is why you don't push now. I realize how important the Derby is, but it's also not the end all be all. Do you think it's just a coincidence he's made 3 starts? Is it possible he's not the soundest of sorts? Your solution to that is to run him more frequently?

My entire argument is based on the premise that he IS sound and healthy. If he isn't, then of course they shouldn't run him.