Arlington Million winner 2009

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

He actually ran a good race in the Manhattan, I always had a fondness for him(BTN), but seriously why would anyone bet U.S based turfers when the Euro's are so specialized at it.

Of the nominated I'll repeat it again, I hope Cumani takes a shot with Cima De Triomphe, his preparation sort of reminds me of Spirit One's a year ago.

I liked his Manhattan quite a bit, and have had a soft spot for him myself since the Lone Star Breeders' Cup win.

Just don't particularly like his style over this course whatsoever. Deep closers over this course (or any turf course, for that matter) are usually a bad bet, and at Arlington, if it's a horse that takes any time at all to get rolling (ie, without a Euro style turn of foot) they're much too late once they straighten and get moving.

[CSC]

I liked his Manhattan quite a bit, and have had a soft spot for him myself since the Lone Star Breeders' Cup win.

There's a race on youtube of him winning the Manhattan that shows him weaving through the stretch to just get up, beating Shakis among others, that was one of my personal favorite races. Typical Dominguez ride!

Just don't particularly like his style over this course whatsoever. Deep closers over this course (or any turf course, for that matter) are usually a bad bet, and at Arlington, if it's a horse that takes any time at all to get rolling (ie, without a Euro style turn of foot) they're much too late once they straighten and get moving.

I think this is where the European training is more advantageous to the way North American horses are trained for turf races. The Euro's train their horses to race quietly early on in their races, saving their energy for one quick burst in the stretch. In general NA horses make their move on the turn whereas can wait a little longer, regardless at a price I will always look for a decent Euro horse to bet in a race such as this, if not for the unknown factor. I know we like to think we have the best horses running over here, and for dirt races I would tend to agree, but on the grass the Euro's are far superior.