As expected Crist is the man about the girl

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I could care less about being on a Top 100 list. That's not the point..it's a personal agenda he has about the surface..nothing more, nothing less

Agreed. And that personal agenda has zero to do with Rachel Alexandra. It has to do with defending Curlin's legacy. A horse who was over the top by Breeder's Cup day. The track was the excuse going into last year and it was the excuse coming out of the race. The track had nothing to do with his loss. He made a huge move to get the lead and hit the wall. Horses who dislike track surfaces do not handle it in fits and starts. I never bought Skip Away's "track" excuse after the 1998 Classic. The horse was beaten four lengths and it had to be the track. He was done in by two long hard campaigns that saw him post bullets in 59 of 64 published works.

By Cup day Curlin was not the same horse. All out to beat Past the Point, less than scintillating effort in the JCGC. It's funny, when it's a horse we like (Curlin) it's considered "professional" or "workmanlike". When it's a horse the majority of people on this board have fallen out of favor with (Zenyatta) it's "boring"

I think he should be at Santa Anita with Rachel. Zenyatta notwithstanding.

[Bobby Fischer]

Originally Posted by Revidere

By Cup day Curlin was not the same horse.

This is the problem with Jackson's sour grapes(and many fans) - Curlin's performance is being judged by his finish position, when in actuality he was compromised by Robbie Albara'duh' while battling two of the world's best horses. It was a extremely strong effort. In spite of the sentiment, Curlin's BCC was actually an indication that Curlin did in fact handle the surface! You simply /can't do that much running on a surface you don't handle. Had he received a world class ride these horses would have dueled late with significantly different energy than what we saw.

Curlin's BCC was arguably his best race of 2008, depending on how you rate his DWC.

I do agree however that some of Curlin's late season efforts were not as impressive as Curlin on cup day or Curlin's better lifetime efforts. Interestingly(well only to a racing-nerd), Curlin's Man O'War turf effort was also highly misconstrued by the public. Red Rocks was able to effectively set an easy pace, well clear of the dueling cheapies. Albaraduh went wider and earlier (foreshadowing the Classic to anyone who would listen). While critics said he hated the turf, he had just run equal to Red Rocks while that rival received his optimum trip. Again counter-indicative of hating the surface.
Curlin almost certainly had a slight preference for dirt, but the deciding factor in the Breeders Cup Classic was not Curlin's preference, rather it was the level of genuine quality in the older handicap division vs the world class intermediate turf stars.


Rachel gives every indication that like most great horses she is versatile enough to run a big race on most surfaces.

[CSC]

[Indian Charlie]

This discussion is about as fruitful as a discussion between Pro Lifers and Pro Choicers.

Come to think of it, those two discussions are pretty similar, save the blood throwing and stuff.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

This discussion is about as fruitful as a discussion between Pro Lifers and Pro Choicers.

Come to think of it, those two discussions are pretty similar, save the blood throwing and stuff.

Sometimes you just can't stop from posting even though you know you shouldn't

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Sometimes you just can't stop from posting even though you know you shouldn't

Yep. I figure why should everyone else get to do that. I don't want to feel left out.

What's your excuse?