4/21: Derby Works & Notes

[blackthroatedwind]

I look forward to a full post-Derby review of this thread. Aside from horses changing their colors for the Derby, I think the misleading information will be plentiful.

We'll see.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I look forward to a full post-Derby review of this thread.

When is there ever an after-the-fact review?

[Travis Stone]

Every horse is supposed to look good, work good, look sharp, work sharp, handle the surface in the mornings etc. etc. etc. Why? Because they're the best right now. They are the top 20, figuratively, of the group... they've survived a massive crop of peers, tons of races, lots of issues and have made it. So, to expect journalistic eyes (of all walks... even those who don't watch horses daily, but write about it in blogs and in papers as if they do) to separate them like one might a group of $10k claimers on a Thursday afternoon is wishful thinking.

For 364 days out of the year most people bet, wager and handicap without a single word about how a horse looks. This race is no different.

[Star of the North]

Still looking for the video of the actual works....

Anybody have a link to some video?

So far I have found video of Mike Welsch telling me about the works...

and the YouTube page for Kentucky Derby has Michelle Yu showing me how to make a julep....

Did anyone working at the track today maybe point a camera at a horse?

Any help appreciated,

SOTN

[Sightseek]

The only person who films their horse's works regularly is Susan Casner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2HabJMs-z8

Keeneland didn't post work videos this year.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I would probably expect the nation's highest priced yearling at public auction sold in '07 (Dunkirk) to look the best. And the nations highest priced 2yo sold at public auction in '08 (Desert Party) should probably work the best.

Horses like General Quarters (who was a 20k yearling - and debuted for a tag) shouldn't be dazzling either in the flesh or AM. Same goes for Musket Man - who was a 15K yearling and a 35K May 2yo sale RNA.

The two best horses in I Want Revenge (95K May 2yo RNA) and Quality Road (110K yearling RNA for a sire's who's avg was 2.5 times higher) should probably not be getting rave reviews at this time ... but since they are trained by a pair of magicians .. I wouldn't get that excited if they are.

Basically ... the only way I'd upgrade a horse is if there was a strong consensus going around that a horse like General Quarters or a Musket Man just looks amazing in the flesh and turned in some jaw dropping works.

The only way I'd downgrade a horse is if a horse like a Dunkirk or a Desert Party are getting poor reviews all around.

[Bobby Fischer]

I like to see videos of the works

[justindew]

KentuckyDerby.com will have videos of all Churchill works very soon.

[MISTERGEE]

learning how to make the julep may actually help more

[Hoist Her Flag]

I'm not saying he won't handle the surface.....but I'm shocked that anybody would say he is certain to after today's stroll.

Thought you have been saying since January he won't handle the surface. You also said Old Fashioned would have issues when facing a real pace which he did.